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About
Our Friend John
Linda Stewart-Oaten
Santa Barbara, CA
A little shy. Big bow
tie. (Why not spats?) Loves his cats. Blows his nose. Knows his
prose. Kind of mellow. Stegner Fellow. He's got Susan. She's got
him. Life's sweet, never grim. Cute little kid. Freckled face. Cover
Boy. (Just ask Grace.) He's a pirate. Runs a tight ship. Give him
grief, he'll bust your lip. (Okay, that's not true. But he's the
Captain, we're the crew.) Piano man. Sinatra fan. (Doesn't quite
scan.) Few words left, much to say, before we let him sail away.
Up the coast and over the hill. All the way to McKinleyville.
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The Shadow of Their
Smiles
Grace Rachow
Santa Barbara, CA
As they haul words
from seaside paradise to northern unknown
I'll think of them
standing politely at writers' functions
swing dancing on the Conrads' deck
Susan's cheshire wisdom
and John's flashy grin
cover stories that go deep
in the color of some dawn
I'll remember how long ago
they were kind about my stories
how John told me
kindly
that “kindness of strangers”
was not an original phrase
even though it was... to me
and he flatly refused to believe
I was not well read.
I know kindness when I see it
kindness of strangers
kindness of friends.
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The Third Week in
June, 1996
Toni Lorien
Santa Barbara, CA
I remember weaving down
the 101 at 2:00 a.m. Exhausted, but satisfied after four hours—of
perching next to Susan, Grace and Linda on those hard Miramar chairs
in a room filled with writers, each with fifteen minutes to read.
We revealed our work, exposing our writers' souls. You sat beside
the podium, keeping time and offering just the right words to transform
our pieces. Now I hear that you're leaving us for a place I can't
even find on a map! How is this possible? You belong with us—safely
ensconced in the Montecito room.
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Farewell
Karen Kasaba
Santa Barbara, CA
I know a big-time commodities
trader who's on the phone all day. He spends six minutes on each
call, no more, no less. Six minutes is all you need to say what
you need to say, he says. You're in and out, have a laugh, do business,
get on with the day.
You both taught me to
compress. You taught me that short stories and music are shaped
like something familiar and universal: sex.
Ninety-nine words to
let you know you've touched my life and made it better, when two
will do. Your choice: Thanks, John. Or, Miss you.
With keen appreciation,
Karen Kasaba
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Dear Susan and John
Karin Finell
Santa Barbara, CA
This is sad news. Another
literary couple leaving Santa Barbara. First the Davies flew South,
now you take wing and fly North. Who will fill the space you leave
here, in the Middle Kingdom, the great and sunny Center? Who could
fill your space at our candlelit table on the terrace, swapping
stories and sipping on yet another glass of Chardonnay under the
full August moon? You must have your reasons. Pleading with you
not to leave won't do it. But, you will be sorely missed. Santa
Barbara will be slightly more Barbarian without your literate and
compassionate influence.
With Love,
Karin Finell
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Thanks
John (I never knew his wife)
Mary Rose Betten
Camarillo, CA
I love steppin' into
the writers den with Daniel. He don't use no whip or chair. Just
us sittin' there in our place lookin' to him and he trains us about
words real gentle like. He sort of hums about sentences and paragraphs
and how it all began makin' writing sound sweet as a song.
Without him we'll most
likely get all long in the tooth and let ourselves go unpublished
but we'll have sweet memories of days in the den with Daniel back
when the world was young and we were full of the confidence he showed
us.
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The Gifts of John
& Susan
Jack Foster
Santa Barbara, CA
They're what the Welsh
call “god-sends”—
people who give us their insights and knowledge,
their lunch-hours and evenings and weekends,
their love of jazz and words, their pledge
to help writers, their
faith in beauty's power,
their kindness, their friendship.
They're the west wind that makes us flower,
the flood tide that lifts our disheartened ship,
the sunrise that rips
our hearts asunder.
To kittens, they're catnip;
to dull skies, lightning and thunder.
Indeed, they've given so much, you wonder
if there's enough of
either left to make the trip.
Their bodies may leave, true; but their souls linger.
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Aloha John and Susan
Leslie Westbrook
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Before you were mister
and misses
And both toiled under the goat's watchful eye
When our biggest concerns were
A keen viewing spot for summer solstice or fiesta
Whether type was set correctly
Galleys proofed and pages ordered
And not war
Our paths would cross
Always warmly
Then some sweeter verbal
Shorthand promulgated through the decades as
We watched each other gray and widen.
Wiser or wizen, my fellow
archeologists in search of well-told tales
And misplaced commas?
Perhaps a bit of both.
Yet I expect we shall continue to converge
From time to time
Either here
Or
There.
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SUDS
Maxi Dickinson Decker
Santa Barbara, CA
Susan and John Daniel.
One never knows where one's influence reaches. For me you gave that
extra boost that got my SUDS, Around the World on a Horse, published
on iUniverse.com. Thank you and bon voyage.
Masterpiece
Jim Alexander
Santa Barbara, CA
I first met Jeff Daniels
while I was a consultant on the movie Dumb and Dumber. Surprised
at this megastar's affability, we were soon like peas and carrots.
One night, at my suggestion, we sprinkled fairy dust on our tongues
and before long we found ourselves at Disneyland on Mr. Toad's Wild
Ride. It was then that Jeff told me the secret of life that I will
share with you now. Wait…John Daniel? Not Jeff Daniels?
Oh. Well. John Daniel is a lovely man. A charming, penetrating man
with a stunning wife but, alas, I'm out of words.
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99 for John and Susan
Katie Ingram
Ojai, CA
Well,
I pout,
shout
and spout—
sure signs
nothing
can be done
about done things:
this runaway pair
the call to change,
holding your nose
to yell “here goes.”
I love your books, ideas,
notes, and, Wow,
how you wrangle writers!
You are my Santa Barbara.
My heart aches:
pirate and mate
move on.
Who am I to talk?
I'm in Ojai.
Like your “Arcadia,”
it's not perfect.
Incognito yuppies crowd
the downtown trails,
missing all the funky spots.
Red-neck mufflers roar,
but it's a poet village too.
I see familiar faces.
Yours will live
in my mind's places.
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Happily Ever After
Jocelyn Mariah Kremer
Santa Barbara, CA
Once upon a time there
was a storyteller named John Daniel. He was a wise, kindhearted
man and friend to writers across the land. His own stories amused
and enlightened people, and he opened his heart to collect stories
from others. Just like the Wizard helped travelers to Oz discover
their gifts within, John Daniel helped people find the “writer”
in themselves—he even helped many become Published! One day
he had to move far, far away, and the people were sad until they
realized that—just like his stories and those he'd collected—he'd
live happily ever after.
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Johnny,
We Hardly Knew Ye
Steven Anders
Santa Barbara, CA
I'm drawn to anyone who
embraces taboos without hesitation. You clearly did last year, on
a late June afternoon at Westmont College, the alcohol-free site
of the Thirtieth Santa Barbara Writer's Conference.
As you leaned over the
side of a pickup truck, reaching for a plastic cup I'd surreptitiously
filled with vodka poured from an Evian bottle, another writer friend
introduced you as John Daniel, the renowned publisher.
We were several putative
inebriates huddled together in our giggly rule breaking, and it
didn't take long for me to want to know you.
But I hardly do.
What a loss.
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Exceptional
Brian Nace
Santa Barbara, CA
We first met in the pirate
workshop you had at the SB Writers Conference. I traveled between
the two competing workshops, and I soon found yours to be exceptional.
Night by night, your audience steadily grew with devotees captivated
by your style and demeanor. I appreciated your wit, your kind words,
and the encouraging criticism that you gave to even the most difficult
and even academic readings. Your professionalism, your wisdom, and
your obvious compassion for the writer and the writing process are
attributes both to the community, and to the conference. I sincerely
hope to see you return.
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Dear John
Harriet Robbins Ackert
This is not your typical
“Dear John” letter sending notice to the “JOHN”
that the writer no longer cares to see him. Oh, no! This is the
other way around! This “'John” has given the writer notice
that he will no longer be around, a very disturbing turn of events.
This writer has relied, leaned, and rejoiced in his aiding and abetting
her publishing efforts, much to her satisfaction. Profit, no, but
satisfaction, yes.
Great sadness colors
the writer's sincere wishes for good fortune and happiness to follow
him (& Susan) to McKinleyville all the days of their lives.
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Fabric
(for John Daniel)
Susan Miles Gulbransen
Santa Barbara, CA
I don't know when John
came into my life,
a very long time ago
the thread of the man wove itself
into life's pattern
joined the fabric
made the material stronger.
His soft voice broke
through
words of wisdom
uncommon, worth listening to.
He spoke (we heard),
“Put a lid on it, kid.”
gave us permission to use ninety-nine
words
when I knew nine hundred would do
tight stories, better for it.
The
thread thins out, disappears
no longer in the pattern of now
its bright color and strength
give my fabric a patina few can craft
my blessing.
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To John and Susan
Perie Longo
Santa Barbara, CA
So you're cruisin'
north away
carting books
literary fray
Taking devotion
of publishing us
such commotion
heartfelt fuss
we poets lament
your parting, though
we've not paid your rent
our hearts are in toe
but lo you leave
to a cooler clime
may this and that weave
with rhythm and rhyme
May you milk the earth
and your wind be private
days full of mirth
and sweetly quiet
I wish you health
that peace abide
naturally wealth
at least golden tide
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Beloved Publishers:
Susan and John Daniel
Frances Halpern
Santa Barbara, formerly of The Bronx, NY
THE REFORMER'S APPRENTICE
ON HER WAY HOME
FIRST LADY OF DOS CACAHUATES
DEAD DOWN UNDER
PRODIGAL SOULS
ERNIE'S WORLD
SQUEEZE OF LIME
SANTA BARBARA'S FLYING
A STUDIO
HOLLYWOOD'S REVOLUTIONARY DECADE
WHAT! AND GIVE UP SHOW BUSINESS
AN AMERICAN FAMILY
JOURNEY OF LOVE
HOME IS WHERE THE BUS IS
TRAVEL HERE AND THERE
POSTCARDS FROM THE MOON
ONE FOR THE BOOKS
SMART VERSE
THE PRIVACY OF WIND
TALKING TO THE WORLD
RED TILES BLUE SKIES
SANTA BARBARA STORIES
YELLOW BRICKS AND RUBY SLIPPERS
LOVE AMONG THE WILD GODS
BABIES BY THE DOZEN
ALL FOR ANIMALS
CLASS WAR IN AMERICA
SUBVERSIVES
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