BooksBarbecue
Back The Messy Lives of Book People Save as PDF
Chapters (48)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. THE BOOK AHEAD BLOG
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. HOW I WRITE
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. THE CONSTELLATION AFTER-PARTY
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. BESTSELLER ESSIE STARLING HAS DIED
  44. 36
  45. 37
  46. Acknowledgments
  47. Questions for Discussion
  48. Booklist

Thank you for the exquisite cuff links. I’m extremely flattered you remembered my birthday, the only person on campus that did! After careful consideration, I’m afraid I can’t accept them, even as a thank-you for help with your submission. The hard work was all yours. I appreciate your invitation to dinner to celebrate your novel’s acceptance by a publisher. I’m pleased for you and sorry I have to decline. I have a lot of work to do for the university and I’m sure you have a lot of other friends to raise a glass with.

All my best,

Grant

———

May 19, 1989

Dear Elsbeth,

I feel I must write to you about something of concern to me. The other night, we almost kissed and I shouldn’t have let it happen. Your delight and exuberance about your writing are infectious and we almost crossed a line that needs to remain firmly in place. I find you funny and kind, my intellectual counterpart, but I’m a happily married husband and father and wish to remain that way. I can’t offer you anything more than support for your work and a shared love of character journeys. I’m sure in the light of day, you’ll feel the same way, too. I hope the summer break gives you time to think things over.

Best wishes,

Grant

———

November 1, 1989

Dear Elsbeth,

Thank you for the invitation to your party today. I’m afraid I won’t be attending and wanted to give you this letter in person. You’ve done amazingly well and I wish you all the best in your career as Essie Starling.

A colleague recently asked me about my girlfriend. I honestly didn’t know who he meant until he described you. When I insisted our relationship was platonic, he told me that rumors were circulating around the campus. Although we know our connection is innocent, others do not, and I cannot put my job or family at risk.

I know you say you love me, but you’re still so very young. And life isn’t that simple. One day, I promise you’ll meet someone who can make you happy. That person isn’t me. I’m pleased for your success and will always cheer on your career from afar.

Best regards,

Grant

34

CEREAL BOX

Liv staggered back and fell onto the bed scrunching the letters in her hand. Confusion rattled inside her. She wanted to hate Essie, but couldn’t help feeling the slightest touch of empathy for her, too. She wished she could reach into her own chest and rip out her emotions.