A Message for Helen DeWitt

Hello, Ms. DeWitt,

I'm very sorry to hear of your troubles with publishers. I'm having trouble with publications too. It would appear, too, that almost every author is having trouble with publishers right now (except that bloody James Patterson with his "book-every-eight-minutes" schedule". I'm writing because your debut novel, "The Last Samurai" was one of the most interesting books I've come across in years. Finally! A book which doesn't offer easy cuts and simple solutions--something which was never made for the Nora Roberts crowd. And yet entirely readable; completely worth any effort you need to expand upon the book.

Have you considered going to an independent press? Or maybe seeing if you can get in contact with Grove (publishers of Henry Miller, William S. Burroughs among others) or New Directions (Roberto Bolano, Tennessee Williams, Anne Carson [who, it seems to me, shares your affinity for all things complex, though more linguisticly than statisticly]) or even Milkweed editions (David Rhodes, Susan Straight)?

Or why not take the Virginia Woolf route and publish through your own press? Or pull a Stephen King and publish a serial via the internet, with a 'suggested donation' price (though that didn't work for him in the long-run). Or try Lulu.com and sell through the internet, with no restrictions on your work. Maybe a great patron will come along and finance you. I'd do it but I'm strapped for cash myself.

But whatever you do, please know that your fans (including myself) will support you. We love your books. This is why I write.

Adoring fan, much love, hope things will get better, etc.,

JPC