From: Mekerr13 at aol.com <Mekerr13>
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 22:31:57 EDT

This is an answer to Nancy Mercado who wondered how Dinky Hocker was recevied at the time of publication and if it was difficult to get it published. Ursula Nordstrom was the editor at Harper Brothers then and she was the first person to read it. She loved it immediately! I think I was lucky that it went to her. I requested her because Louise Fitzhugh, a close friend of mine, raved about Ursula, and also about Charlotte Zolotow, who also liked the book a lot. The only thing they were worried about was the title. Ursula wanted me to change it to Inside Dinky Hocker (inside every fat person is a thin one screaming to get out). My agent said to keep the title. I never regretted keeping it, but a lot of teachers didn't like it, and when it was made into an afternoon special it was called simply Dinky Hocker...Now all these years later there is a YA book from a Brit called SMACK. Funny that you should mention Paul Zindel. Before I wrote this first YA, I read books published back then and thought I would never be able to write for that market, for they seemed so lightweight, so white bread. Then I read Pigman, and it inspired me, and I hoped I could write something half as good. I always thank Paul when I see him. By now he must be tired of me fawning over him. Thanks for your comment. Ciaoi! mekerr
Received on Wed 12 Jun 2002 09:31:57 PM CDT