From: enthrall@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Andrew Wolf)
Subject: Re: To Andrew Wolf
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 06:59:20 GMT

In article <1993Jan20.050441.20159@news.columbia.edu> etb@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Elam T Birnbaum) writes:
>Andrew, did you e-mail me before? If you did, I think I erased the
>letter, so I need you e-mail address. I would like to hear the story
>of your visit with him.  
>Elam
>

No prob.  The reason I didn't just post the story was because I didn't know
if there was anyone out there who hadn't heard it, and I didn't want to
waste the bandwidth.  However, I have gotten a slew of replies, so I will
post the story now:

Last Spring Break I flew to Florida to visit my Uncle, who owns an
Antiquarian Book store.  That was Friday night.  Saturday, he took the day
off and offered to take me "anywhere" I wanted to go.  After considering
DismalWorld, I asked if he would mind going on a "wild goose chase" to
attempt to find Piers.  "Sure...."  So we got up early Sat....

It took about 4/5 hours to get across the state, <not the whole way, of
course> and as book dealers do, we stopped along the way at any place he
might find a good book.  We visited the local library where Piers had just
signed on to do a reading/lecture later in the year, but they didn't know
where he actually lives.  "It's the best kept secret around" I was told.
They did, however, show us on a map how to get to the address I had.  His
old one.

So we set out once again to find his old house.  We got there, but it was
deserted.  I did remember from a letter he wrote me that when he moved, it
was to a plot of land that had trees on it.  Well, that street petered off
into a forest.  So, we followed it for about an hour, getting lost, but the
scenery was quite lovely.  When we emerged at a house, there was a man
there.  He gave us a map and set us back to where we started.  Now the
house had a car and a doberman out front.  Against my Uncle's better
thoughts, I approached and made friends with the doberman <his name's
Calaban> and knocked.  

The guy who answered was in a towel, and his hair was wet.  Whether or not
I got him out of the shower, I do not know to this day.  However, I told
him my story <written Piers for around 7 years, live in CA, college in IL,
here on Spring Break, and does he know how to get a hold of Mr. Anthony>

He told me he does have the man's phone number, and would call.  Cool!  So,
I used the restroom <first running water in 5.5 hours!!> and as I get out,
I hear him say "Okay, Piers, sure...no problem.  Goodbye."  Wide-eyed, I
listen to him tell me, "Piers says you can come over for a while, if you'd
like."  If I'd like?!?!  Whoa!!!  He also said that he "had some business
there" and it was a long ways away, so he'd lead us in his car.

We followed about 15 miles in the opposite direction <the way we came> and
then left the highway and got onto a dirt road.  The road led onto some
Private Property, and we entered.  The first sign I saw was wooden,
hand-carved, and said "Ogre Glen" or "Beware of Ogre"...I don't
remember...it's in my notes at home.  Then we saw the house.  I got out of
the car, to be greeted by Piers himself!  The sign right by the house says
"Unicorn Point", and is where Blue used to come, before she died.  

He then asked us inside.  Downstairs is his writing space, and computer,
and he showed it to me.  Dazzled me with his memory, as he brought up facts
about me that I had only mentioned to him years before in letters...he
keeps them all, you see.  The we went upstairs.  This is where he keeps all
the gifts he's gotten from fans--some really impressive artwork!  Also his
first-editions of all his works, each series having it's own bookcase.  All
different editions, including some in French, Japanese, and Hebrew!

After lots of stories, questions, and answers, my uncle said "We've imposed
too much already..." and we descended the stairs.  I then pulled out my
checkbook, asking if I could purchase the couple new books I hadn't yet
bought, but he would have nothing of the sort.  "I have author's copies of
just about everything I've written...I have to give them away.  What would
you like?"  He gave me a few, and signed them all.  Then the guy who led me
there in the first place suggested that he give me a t-shirt, and sign it.
So I got a promo shirt for _Through the Ice_.  

It turns out that the guy works for Piers, doing research <like for _Tatham
Mound_).  What a great first day of break!!!

---

Well, there it is.  Hope it was entertaining.  Thanks to all of you who
sent me mail.  If I can answer anything else, please feel free to write.

Take care,
Newsgroups: alt.fan.piers-anthony