I recently finished reading "The Man with the Golden Typewriter," a book of letters by Ian Fleming. I should say I love the James Bond books and many of the movies. I prefer the oldest and newest of the films although my favorite list includes some from various periods. There is something a little voyeuristic about reading someone's letters and sometimes I felt a little like a spy myself. Interestingly, given the various sources - from fans to agents to experts in various areas to publishing people and even other writers - I think it is possible to see both the differences and similarities in Fleming's approach to his recipients, and get some small idea of what he was like. One thing that unites many of his letters, I think, is Fleming's generosity. By generosity, I mean his willingness to share information, time, and praise, more so than money, although there are examples of the latter as well. Some of his responses to fan letters, including those that contained elements of criticism are amazing - both that he took the time and that he clearly had read and considered the information. In a couple of instances, he recruited individuals who critiqued elements of the books to consult on future works.
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AuthorI am Sheryl L. Chatfield, Ph.D, C.T.R.S. I am a member of the faculty in the College of Public Health at Kent State University. I also Co-coordinate the Graduate Certificate in Qualitative Research and I am a member of the Design Innovation Team at Kent State. Archives
February 2024
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