Lincoln, Nebraska 68505
February 9, 1972
Honest to Goodness! You make me cry. I hope you'll be sorry when you receive this letter.
Why in the world don't I ever hear from you? It's been at least a century since your last letter, judging by my feeling.
So much has been happening this last year. We are pretty well swamped with correspondence and honors. Money has been pouring in in a perfectly scandalous manner, and it scares me. I don't feel natural with it.
Soon the Pocket Book edition will come out en masse with 200,000 in the first printing. We hv asold the paper rights of WHEN THE TREE FLOWERED to Simon and Schuster, who own Pocket Book.
Harcourt Brace asked me to write a concluding chapter for my autobiography (Boyhood and Youth). I did it as requested and our family and friends insist that it is one of the best things if not the best that I've ever done. Really, that little book has got a wallop in a quiet, unassuming way. I really like it myself.
But here is what I am most interested in just now. What are you doing with the biography? If you have plans can you share them with me? What is happening now if it is not fame is significant noriety toriety and the time may arrive as a result when your biography will be in demand.
If Pocket Book goes to town as it almost surely will either Harcourt Brace or Simon and Schuster might be interested.
How are you and the doctor and do you hear good news from Stewart?
I received a really lovely letter from the President about my 91st birthday. We know it was genuine as one of his aids called us up and assured us that "we here are aware of you."
John
John Neihardt
