I’ve been randomly sharing samples of Fan Mail & my responses on this site since 2008. However, I haven’t posted as much Fan Mail the past couple of years, largely because I haven’t gotten as much. The pandemic shut it down — publishers don’t seem to forward mail the way they once did — and who knows. Maybe schools aren’t focusing on that kind of thing as much anymore. Everyone’s exhausted. Maybe it’s my own fading star. The ebbs and flows of a long career. I don’t know.
But look at this: an email from a reader who remembers a beloved book that I published in 1986, my first book ever, Maxx Trax: Avalanche Rescue!
–
–
Pretty amazing, huh?
What a gift to receive such a message.
Dear Mr. Preller,
–
I was reading Maxx Trax to my daughter and decided to look you up. I am happy to see that you continue to write children books.
–
Thank you so very much. Your book has been in my life since 1986. When I chose it out of a school book fair. You’ll have to thank the artist as to a kid the picture on the cover caught my eye.
–
–
–
–
This book has traveled with me to Japan back to the US and again Japan. I’m not military so that says something about the books importance while moving.
–
My son has a special place on his shelf.
–
–
–
–
I just wanted to let you know all these years later it is still one of my favorite books.
–
Keep up the fantastic work.
–
Jeremy
–
I replied . . .
–
Dear Jeremy,
–
Wow, what a great letter. Thank you so much.
–
The Irish have an expression, “Flowers for the living.”
–
We don’t have to wait for someone to die before saying something nice to them.
–
You did just that and I appreciate it.
–
Yes, yes, yes, that was my first book, written at age 25 in 1986 and, I think, a story that stands up today. Long out of print, of course. I wrote a sequel but for insane reasons (money, I suppose), Scholastic changed illustrators and went an entirely different direction. A total failure and the end of that.
–
The first book, your book, sold more than a million copies out of the gate. I was a junior copywriter at the time and I people were pretty surprised. However, I doubt there are many copies left in the world today. Hold onto your beloved, ragged copy.
–
–
–
Gratefully yours,
–
James Preller
–
P.S. You might enjoy more background info about my very first book by clicking here!
–
–
–
–
Leave a Reply