Pat very much enjoyed hearing from his readers and was often moved and inspired by your comments.
As you know, Pat Conroy died on March 4, 2016. This site continues to be managed by his longtime friends and literary agents. You may join in a community of his readers by sharing your comments about Pat’s books or anything else that comes to mind in this guest book. We, the family, the agents and the friends are deeply moved by the outpouring of love you, his beloved readers, wrote here… Much gratitude to you all; Thank you.
Read what others are saying or click the button to add your own thoughts
wrote on October 29, 2019
In the early 70s I was a copywriter Doubleday book clubs in NY.
One day a shoebox was dumped on my desk. It was the manuscript for a memoir they'd bought. It wasn't published yet, still in typewriter type and a pile of pages.
"Write something to sell it ."
Gee thanks. Started reading and wasn't sure what the title, "The Water Is Wide," meant. But it grabbed me right away.
Hmmm, this might sell some books, it was a terrific read.
I wrote what I had to, the book club edition did pretty well, and Pat Conroy ended up doing ok too.
It was cool to be at the beginning of that. RIP
One day a shoebox was dumped on my desk. It was the manuscript for a memoir they'd bought. It wasn't published yet, still in typewriter type and a pile of pages.
"Write something to sell it ."
Gee thanks. Started reading and wasn't sure what the title, "The Water Is Wide," meant. But it grabbed me right away.
Hmmm, this might sell some books, it was a terrific read.
I wrote what I had to, the book club edition did pretty well, and Pat Conroy ended up doing ok too.
It was cool to be at the beginning of that. RIP
Agency Reply:
Rik, this is so sweet to read and to know one of those in publishing at that time who worked on those "piles of various formats papers" Pat Conroy used. Indeed the book did very well and continues to be cherished. I know (from emails) some people who became teachers because of the book...
Thank you so very much for sharing this with us Pat's friends and readers.
Thank you so very much for sharing this with us Pat's friends and readers.