Those who read my first novel, Danger Peak, will know that the very last line in the Acknowledgments (and the entire book, if you don’t count my bio) is the following:
(Special thanks to) my Sixth Grade teacher, Mr. Joyce, for telling me I was the “finest creative writer” he ever taught.
I was aware that he had retired, so I tracked his address down on Google and mailed him a signed copy of Danger Peak. A few weeks later, the book was returned. Apparently, he doesn’t live there anymore. I’ve asked on social media if anyone I know has his new address, but I wasn’t successful there either. So, out of desperation, I’m posting my letter to him on this here blog, just in case the Interweb gods bring us together. (Hey, stranger things have happened; I once had the showrunner of the new Muppet Babies cartoon “like” my blog on his show on Twitter.) Here is the letter, dated October 29, 2022:
Dear Mr. Joyce,
This is Michael Perone. You probably don’t remember me, but you taught my Sixth Grade class from 1988 to 1989. (You taught my sister the following school year.) I hope you don’t mind me tracking you down with the help of Google, but I thought it would be absurd and a bit unfair to mention you in my book and not send you a copy. I am a writer today and have written for The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City Paper, and Long Island Voice, among others, though my main job is a senior editor for a nonprofit in Manhattan. Earlier this year, I published my first novel (what you hold in your hands). Danger Peak is a coming-of-age/action-adventure novel set in the late 1980s. Think Stand By Me meets The Goonies with a dash of magical realism.
So far, the book has been pretty well-received. It has won several awards (the stickers you see on the front cover), and it was a finalist at both The New York and Hollywood Book Festivals. Recently, it won in the category of Young Adult Action and Adventure at The 2022 Fall BookFest Awards. It also has over 10 five-star reviews on Amazon (only half of which were written by friends and family!), and Kirkus Reviews wrote it’s “(a) compelling bildungsroman about grief and finding wisdom.” If nothing else, I learned the word “bildungsroman” from this experience.
I’m an overly nostalgic person (writing a novel set in the ‘80s should’ve been the first clue), and I realize I’m romanticizing Sixth Grade. Rereading the diary I wrote during this school year, there were a few times we had our scuffles: you yelling at me for talking out of turn (I used to talk a lot in class) or warning me that “junior high is going to eat (me) alive.” (You were 100% right.) But the point is this: Years after graduating elementary school, I wouldn’t have taken myself seriously as a writer if you hadn’t told a packed auditorium/cafeteria during my Moving Up ceremony that I was the “finest creative writer” you ever taught. Your kind words are acknowledged in the last line of my book.
I hope you are well and enjoying retirement. If you want, you can drop me a line at the above address or email me at (REDACTED). For more information on my book, please visit www.dangerpeak.com. (Note to my blog readers: My website’s address has since been updated.) If I don’t hear back from you or if you don’t like my book, please know I’ll hold absolutely no hard feelings. Your inspiration all those years ago was more than enough.
Sincerely,
Michael Perone
P.S.: Sorry for all the parenthetical asides. (I couldn’t help myself.)
In other Danger Peak/Déjà View news, the Goodreads giveaway for Déjà View is about halfway through now. So far, around 1,500 people have entered. Not too shabby! If you haven’t already, enter the contest at the links below for your chance to snag a free, signed copy of my latest novel:
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Déjà View
by Michael Thomas Perone
Giveaway ends February 1, 2024.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
MTP
P.S.: Next week’s blog: Another Oldie but Goodie
P.P.S.: Déjà View is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble:
Michael Thomas Perone 