From: Norma Jean Sawicki <nsawicki>
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:19:55 -0400

I was fortunate to meet John Donovan shortly after I entered publishing. He had worked at St. Martin's Press and resigned to head the Children's Book Council. Unfortunately, for me, I joined St. Martin's about six months after he resigned. He became, and was, one of my closest friends ( away from publishing ) until the day he died. I still miss him, and "talk to him." When Frank Upjohn, the CEO of St. Martin's, and to whom I reported, decided to retire he offered John his job but John turned it down. Knowing John and I were good friends, he took me into his confidence, told me to take John to dinner...anywhere...spend as much as you want but talk him into taking my job...he is perfect for it, said Mr. Upjohn. John and I drank more than we ate...and talked and talked...I begged, cajoled, etc., but John was adamant...he was devoted to the work of the Children's Book Council. And yes, at the end of the evening, I cried...I thought working with him at St. Martin's would be great fun...and more importantly, the man was a visionary.

As to John wearing his writer's that...initially he was stunned when I'll Get There was deemed a "gay novel;" then he was amused and would sometimes laugh a whole lot as he recounted various "happenings." To his way of thinking, the relationship in I'll Get There is different but not unlike two girls who are best friends and often hug, and hold hands.

John, to the very core of his being, believed and often said to me,
"A writer should take pleasure in the doing and not the reception, the reception is academic." I once asked him if he was working on another book...he said no...he did not have anything "new" to say and would wait until he did. A gifted writer and an extraordinary man. Norma Jean
Received on Wed 23 Jul 2008 12:19:55 PM CDT