I found Bob Vickrey’s wry, gracious wisdom on every page of this material. Whether he’s extolling Larry McMurtry or eulogizing the fading cultural emphasis on reading, I hear a subtle truth spoken plainly, and there are few things I enjoy hearing more.

--- Eamon Dolan

Vice President and Executive Editor at Simon & Schuster

Bob Vickrey peddled the works of many writers in his years as a publisher's sales rep. He was passionate about many of them. Little did I know that he was himself a brilliant writer of prose, a storyteller who in very few words can convey a mood, a character, a time or a place. He weaves humor and pathos into his pieces, generally an appreciation of someone dear to him--a teacher, a high school pal, a famous writer, his father. I can't wait to read the entire collection so that I can sell it in my bookstore.

--- Gayle Shanks

Owner of Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Az.

Bob Vickrey is of my tribe—a fellow Texan and a fellow bookseller—so reading his wonderful essays is like staying up late talking with an old friend. I enjoyed hearing what Bob has to say—about reading and writers, about life and the people who shaped his—and I enjoyed his particular way of saying it—friendly, insightful observations. As a bookseller, I find that readers are looking for books that will make them feel connected and will lift their spirits up; Bob has written such a collection, one that will be appreciated for its humor and its humanity.

--- Allison Hill

President/COO of Vroman’s Bookstore, Pasadena & Book Soup, West Hollywood, Ca.



I loved these essays. They're insightful and appreciative and beautifully bridge the old with the new.

--- T.Jefferson Parker

Author of “California Girl” and “The Jaguar”

Bob Vickrey writes a love letter to the world of publishing that seems to have been lost forever. Bob was a book rep of the first order, and like me, he was in it because he loved books and literature. Our time is past, but oh lordy, there was glory then. This is a terrific collection of stories.

 --- Pat Conroy

Author of “The Prince of Tides” and “The Death of Santini”

I’ve spent some very happy moments reading these columns. Bob’s voice is alive with the romance of publishing in those earlier days. He evokes the special relationship between author and sales rep that existed then. The sense of solidarity among publisher, salesperson, buyer, and author was truly remarkable. We were all in it together—those relationships and the special feeling of our shared profession.

--- Jonathan Galassi

President and Publisher of Farrar, Straus, & Giroux

People learn to write in all sorts of ways. Some go to places like Iowa for graduate school. And, of course, some just have basic ability. Bob Vickrey learned to write by reading. Over time he has become a craftsman who understands what words sound like and what images are created by those words. So, now it’s time for him to tell you about that journey.

 --- David McHam

Professor of Journalism at the University of Houston