A name I never expected to see in my inbox

‘Who is your greatest literary influence?’

It was at the launch of my novel Garnet at the Cobargo RSL Hall in March. It’s one of those basic questions you expect as a writer and, for me, the answer was easy. Her prose, her humility, her humanity, her powers of observation. The stuff she notices. The simplest, most ordinary, most essential things that make it onto the page.

The next question. ‘Would you like her to read your book?’

‘Well, of course!’ I laughed. Everyone laughed. As if that were ever going to happen…

But later that afternoon, a text from a friend who’d been in the audience. ‘Lovely launch and talk … If you would like to give me a book and a note, I would be delighted to use my connections to deliver them to her.’

My heart jumped. A copy of Garnet would land in the mailbox, even the hands, of my literary hero. Of course, that didn’t mean she would read it. So many writers must ask her to read their books. But what was there to lose?

I wrote her a short letter and gave it and a copy of Garnet to my friend. A few days later, she sent me another text: ‘Posted parcel yesterday.’ It was winging its way to Melbourne. Still I kept my hopes at bay.

Ten days later I was checking my email and up popped a name I never expected to see in my inbox. As I read the email, I confess to choking up a little. Even the Mechanic got teary – he knew what this meant to me.

She said, ‘People send me scores of books and they sort of stack up beside the bed … but I opened Garnet and didn’t put it down for three days. It really got a grip on me.’

She said, ‘I wept over the fate of Brendan… when I realised you weren’t going spare us that pain I let out a tearful cheer for your seriousness.’

She said, ‘… the way you write about WORK, everything I learnt about farming, and cooking, and India – it’s so rich and detailed and so HANDS-ON — the ordinary things you give value to – I was filled with respect and delight.’

She said, quoting a ‘battered old TV footy commentator’ speaking with a Western Bulldogs player after a match, ‘Thank you. For the joy you gave us.’ And signed off, ‘Warmest thoughts, and sincere congratulations, Helen Garner.’

 

I’ll be at Bega Library speaking about Garnet at 10:30 am on Saturday 13 June. Would love to see you there if you’re around.