Dan Jorgensen's Blog, page 32
May 1, 2025
A very successful 'Catch'
“Every writer I know has troublewriting.” – Joseph Heller
Born in New York City on May Day,1923 Heller was an unknown writer when he pitched his ideafor Catch-22 to Simon & Schuster and editor JosephGottlieb decided to take a chance. The rest, of course, ishistory. The novel, published in 1961, became one of the all-time best sellers and asuccessful movie, its title embedded in our language.
Originally, he intended for his book's title to be Catch-18, and the first chapter was actually published as a short magazine article with that name. But famedauthor Leon Uris had a new book called Milas 18,so to avoid confusion Heller changed his to Catch-22. Ultimately, the book catapulted Heller intoa highly successful career writing books, plays and movie scripts.
Besides his famous book title,Heller (who died in 1999) coined a couple of other phrases that have becomepart of the world’s lexicon. “Somepeople are born mediocre, some people achieve mediocrity, and some people havemediocrity thrust upon them,” he said. And “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to getyou.”
April 30, 2025
'Writing stories for all the ages'
“It's a wonderful thing to write forchildren. I move between the two: I write an adult novel, andthen I write a children's book. I quite enjoy that. It's a nice change of paceeach time.” – John Boyne
Born in Ireland on this date in1971, Boyne has authored 18 novels for adults and 7 for younger readers,publishing in over 50 languages. A graduate of Trinity College in Dublin –where he still makes his home – Boyne started writing in college and was first published at age 22. His first adult novel (andstill one of his most popular) was 2000’s A Thief Of Time.
His multi-award winning 2006novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas also was adapted into apopular movie by the same name, and in 2022 the sequel All TheBroken Places was another huge bestseller. Boyne’s most recent adult works are the 4-book series Water, Earth, Fire and Air, and for younger readers he authored The Dog Who Danced on the Moon in 2024.
“I think that books for young peopleshould have serious and important themes, they shouldn’t be trivial,” hesaid. “So the books I write, they wouldbe the kind of stories you would write in an adult novel only they just happen tofeature a child at the center of them.”
A Writer's Moment: 'Writing stories for all the ages'
April 29, 2025
'Tools of thought'
“I think that novels are tools ofthought. They are moral philosophy with the theory left out, with just theexamples of the moral situations left standing.” –Jill Paton Walsh
Born in England on this date in1937, Paton Walsh (who died in 2020) was a novelist and children's book writer,perhaps best known for her Booker Prize-nominated novel Knowledgeof Angels, and the Peter Wimsey–Harriet Vane mysteries, acontinuation of a series started by master British crime writer Dorothy Sayers.
Paton Walsh also earned considerableacclaim for a series featuring college nurse and part-time detective ImogineQuy, set at fictional St. Agatha College in Cambridge.
But, while that is what many adultscite about her work, it probably is her children’s book audience that should beconsulted first, since she penned more than two-dozen highly successful booksfor children and young adults, including the much honored A ChanceChild and Grace.
An oft-traveled speaker, Paton Walshstill adhered to “the writer’s life.” “However much travel one might do, howevermany tours and appearances,” she said, “the job entails solitude: long hours inlibraries and long hours at a desk.”
A Writer's Moment: 'Tools of thought and moral philosophy'
April 28, 2025
'Right story, right time . . . and a bit of luck'
“I think writers have to beproactive: they've got to use new technology and social media. Yes, it's hardto get noticed by traditional publishers, but there's a great deal ofopportunity out there if you've got the right story.” –Ian Rankin
Born in Scotland on this date in1960, Rankin is best known for his “Inspector Rebus” novels. But, he said he did not set out to be a crimewriter and, in fact, didn’t think he had “the right story” atfirst.
His first novels – Knots andCrosses and Hide and Seek – he listed as“mainstream,”keeping in the tradition of Robert Louis Stevenson and MurielSpark. But the publisher disagreed and listed them as crimefiction and the rest, as they say . . .
So far, he’s had nearly 50 bookspublished in the genre and 15 of them have not only been best sellers but alsoadapted for television movies – a record most writers would love.
Celebrating his birthday at his homein Edinburgh, where he sets most of his novels, Rankin enjoys “schooling” hisreaders on the nuances of his home town, weaving little details about the city throughout each book.
Rankin, whose first job was in hisdad’s grocery store, has had lots of “life experiences” (always a plus fora writer). He’s worked as a grape-picker, swineherd, taxman, alcoholresearcher (I’d definitely like to hear more about that job), hi-fi journalist,college secretary, and punk musician in a band called The Dancing Pigs.
As for writing, he said, “You need agreat idea, but then you've got to carry it through. If you get it right,you're going to be a critical success. But not everyone who works hard gets itright, or has the success they deserve: there's an element of luck.”
A Writer's Moment: 'Right story, right time . . . and a bit of luck'
April 26, 2025
Gifts that are 'immeasurable'
“Thegifts that one receives for giving are so immeasurable that it is almost aninjustice to accept them.” –Rod McKuen
Born in Oakland, CA on April 29, 1933 McKuen was one of the best-selling poetsin the United States during the 1960s and '70s. By the time of his deathin 2015 he had produced more than 30 books of poetry and hundreds of recordingsof spoken word poetry, film soundtracks and classical music, earning twoAcademy Award nominations and one Pulitzer nomination along the way. For Saturday’s Poem, here is McKuen’s,
Twenty
People riding trains are nice
they offer magazines
and Chocolate-covered cherries,
they offer details you want most toknow
abouttheir recent operations.
If I’d been riding home to you
I could have listened with both ears
but I was on my way away.
Across from me
there was a girl crying
(long, silent tears)
while an old man held her hand.
It was only a while ago you said,
Take the seat by the window,
you’ll see more.
I filled the seat beside me
with my coat and books.
I’m antisocial without you.
I’m antiworld and people too.
Sometimes I think
I’ll never ride a train again.
At least not away.
A Writer's Moment: Gifts that are 'immeasurable'
April 25, 2025
'Filled with things for our enjoyment'
“Your attitude is like a box ofcrayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and yourpicture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture byincluding humor, and your picture begins to lighten up.”—AllenKlein
Born in New York City on April 26,1938 Klein is an American humorist, author and lecturer whose writings focus onthe stress relieving benefits of humor. His work in that field has ledto myriad writings and 8 books. And heis the recipient of The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor’s “LifetimeAchievement Award.”
Among his books on the effectivenessof therapeutic humor is the best seller The Courage to Laugh: Humor,Hope, and Healing in the Face of Death and Dying. Klein also has edited numerous “Happy” booksof quotations, including Always Look on the Bright Side and PositiveThoughts for Troubling Times.
The term Eternal Optimist might notbe a stretch in describing Klein. “The lesson adults can learn (fromusing humor),” he said, “is that the world is filled with things for ourenjoyment.”
