Readers and Writers

And a letter to Alison Croggon

A couple of weeks ago, the author Bri Lee wrote about receiving a letter from a reader of Eggshell Skull. The letter prompted Bri herself to write to author Maggie Shipstead about the impact of her novel Great Circle on Bri.

Before graciously reproducing her letter to Shipstead, Bri said:

The act of writing it just now forced me to articulate the immense meaning I’ve drawn from that book.

I can think back to a few books through which I felt like I’d mentally shifted paradigms in that goose-tingly way when you read something that resonates so deeply with what you thought was ineffable. That’s the good stuff!

So why does it seem like a crazy thing to just, you know, reach out to an author and tell them? Maybe it’s not so crazy and people just don’t talk about it when they do. (I’d love to hear if you’ve ever written to an author!)

I am a chronic reader and yet, until this Sunday evening just past, I had never written to an author of a book I have loved. One author I have long considered writing is to Alison Croggon. And you know what, to her I wrote.

I’d been circling around what to write to Alison for a good long while (years in fact), and this was a nice kick in the butt to just put down how I felt and send it off.

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Dear Alison 

I am writing to say thank you for the beautiful poetry and books you have written. In particular, the books of Pellinor have been a favourite of mine for the last 15 years.

I first read the Pellinor Quartet in the late 2000s when I was 15 after spotting a copy of The Gift sitting on the shelf in my school library in south east Queensland. It was the green cover with the dark figure. I'm not sure what made me pick it up, and I don't remember the remaining three books there on the shelves (I think I bought the rest), but it must have been one of those serendipitous moments when your hand rests on exactly what you need. 

I have always loved fantasy books, but the Pellinor Quartet has stayed with me because of the loving way in which you illustrate reverence for the beauty in life's simple gifts - mushrooms in butter, soft and well-made clothing, song and dance and community, the tender comfort of friendship. I was one of those kids who loved anything that involved singing, dancing, playing instruments, and acting in a place I felt did not very much value those things apart from how academically well-rounded it made my school look. Reading your books taught me that there are those who value creativity and the arts the same way I do, and I reread them every couple of years to remind myself of this. 

I'm 30 now, and I've followed your work as I've gotten older because of the care with which you treat your subjects. I've got a copy of your translation of Rilke's Duino Elegies on my bedside table and Monsters on my bookshelf. I'm hoping to pick up some of your collected poetry soon. And I was so pleased when the Bone Queen was released! One of my favourite scenes is where we spy through the townschildren's eyes a morose Cadvan lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling. The image was so sharp and conveyed so much, but it also made me laugh for how dramatic Cadvan can be. It was such a pleasure to visit Cadvan in his youth, and to understand the events underpinning the complexity of his character. 

The thing I think about most though is how much kindness is valued in Annar. It is in stark contrast to the way many people continue to live their lives in our world. But! It's books like yours that, when put into the hands of a young person, might just show them that life is complicated for all of us and the greatest thing we can do is to show others, even those we don't know, a little kindness. I live my life by the idea that I never know what another person is going through in the moments I interact with them. And I always remember those books which also treat me with kindness.  

So, again, thank you for your beautiful words. Poetry sings through every one of them.

All the best,

Jess

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P.S. The highlight of my week was receiving a response from Alison, so take this as encouragement to write your own letter! :)

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