The prologue

[Rob Wick]

Please forgive me, but I've just got to brag a little.

I've been very fortunate in that I've got the support of some good friends (and excellent writers) when it comes to my own writing. This weekend, I took a major chance and asked Kathleen Brady, author of the only biography of Ida Tarbell in print, if she would read my prologue. She said she would be happy to. Happily, and then somewhat nervously (OK, I was tremendously nervous) I sent it to her. I don't want to repeat the whole thing, because much of it is technical, but here's part of what she wrote back:

"You write wonderfully well, and my initial reaction was to tell you that the prologue is perfect. Putting more thought into it (and listening to the little jingle bell that was going off in my head) I still think it is close to perfect, but I do want to raise a few points."

Part of my goal was to capture the pathos of what it must have felt like for Tarbell to realize her time in the sun was fading. Here is what Brady told me:

"I do think you have captured Ida's melancholy mood and her graciousness."

Finally:

"Your prologue is so beautiful that I winch as I draft this email because I am more interested here in giving you ideas than in presenting my best prose, syntax or spelling."

She closed with "Go get 'em Rob!!!

Yeah, I'm happy.

Best
Rob