40 Comments
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George Saunders's avatar

Thanks for being there - I will try to figure out a way to post it here. What great interviewers and minds Leigh and Anand are. A real pleasure after a long travel day. :)

Rachel's avatar

Hoping for a link! Or failing that, the recording.

Fred V.'s avatar

Only caught the last amazing 15 minutes. Please tell us if there's a way to see or hear the whole thing.

Also, your generosity of time, spirit and kindness continues to astonish and inspire. I wish more than anything for you right now to get back to your happiest place of writing, family, and dog.

Airports, get thee behind me! Hotels, be gone!

Adding in general that Vigil is going so slow for me that I now know I'm not in the right place of physical mind or circumstance so I have to set it down until some healing occurs. This both breaks my heart, but lets me look forward to knowing when it's right and will bear all possible fruit within me. I've read about 60 [pages and can feel that it's way ahead of me, so I need to catch up then start it over. And man, it so hard to look at it every day leering at me from the coffee table (I will NOT shelve it) and know its door is not yet open to me. But I comfort myself by drinking from the refilled Voss water bottle I bought at your LA event :)

George Saunders's avatar

Fred, please take care of yourself and know that Vigil isn't going anywhere. When you see that copy, imagine it saying, in my voice, with maximal kindness: "No rush, man! Heal! Heal!"

Fred V.'s avatar

Thanks for taking the time to write that George. It means more than you know, the contact. That is, in fact, exactly what I'm doing., It's just admittedly weird for me to have a long-awaited new book from (let's just say it) my absolute favorite living writer, and not be devouring it. But yes, I know it'll be there on my coffee table, taunting me, when I'm ready, and hopefully today's injections into L4-L5 of my tiring spine will brighten future days. (or was it the facet of L2-L3....it's such a morass now, the historical data, one could write a book about it, were one someone who did such things.)

Thanks again. Truly.

Best part might be just telling (wait, do I mean lording it over?) my daughter so she can again say "Geeez, Dad, you get emails and messages from George F'ing Saunders! !!" I am, once again, marginally cool to a 23 year old. Who'da thunk it? Having played Pinball with Bruce Springsteen in 1992 was already beginning to lose its lusterous cache. Thank god story-club came along!

She's right too, I feel properly blessed to be a part of this whole shebang. I'm also happy to report that, as she told you at the signing in LA, VIGIL will be the first novel she reads for pleasure in 7 years. I love that!

Beth soderstrom's avatar

haven’t received a link? will there be a recording - am in the UK

Beth soderstrom's avatar

think the link is only to

paid subscribers of the ink?

Sea Shepard's avatar

I love Anand! So many of my friends love him and none of us can pronounce his last name so I’m going to work on that today.

Fred V.'s avatar

George, if you see this, or if anyone else made notes, there was a spot near the end of the conversation wherein you/George recommended several new writers. If anyone has those names I'd be so grateful.

George Saunders's avatar

I mentioned Alex Sammartino, Annie Liontas, and Sydney Rende.

Fred V.'s avatar

Thanks. All on my list, once VIGIL lets me in, or I force my entry!

Beth soderstrom's avatar

claire keegan was one of them, irish writer

Fred V.'s avatar

thanks, where was a pen when I needed one?

Brian Stanko's avatar

Great discussion on so many levels. Thank you.

Carmel's avatar

Really enjoyed that. Thank you George and Anand.

I met you in Bristol George, another great night. Thank you for allowing the quick photo with you, as you signed my book. Carmel

George Saunders's avatar

That was a great night, with Max. And I remember saying, rather stupidly, something like, "We live near Carmel (CA)." Or maybe I just thought it. :)

Beth soderstrom's avatar

LOVED this so much, thank you - “anxiety reduction & playfulness” as writing prompts 👍

Fred V.'s avatar

yes, loved that.

Nomadic's avatar

Not getting a link, posting from Northumberland (UK), hope to see this!

Leigh Haber's avatar

Excited to speak with you soon, George!!

Diana Mullins's avatar

The link for today's interview is available to Paid Subscribers to The Ink, correct?

MaryZ's avatar

I could watch only for about 7 minutes, although I am a paid subscriber. Any advice?

George Saunders's avatar

I'm sending the whole thing out later today to paid subscribers...

Jude Nagurney Camwell's avatar

I enjoyed this very much.

Carmel's avatar

Yes, it sure was a great interview with Max. Don’t recall you saying you lived near. But it’s a small world, or that’s what we Irish constantly say. I flew from Dublin to Bristol, and it was well worth it. Thanks again. Carmel.

Hope that live event will be shared on Substack, as another Story club requested. My friend, also a Story Club member, also missed it.

Diane P's avatar

That may have been the best interview of George that I’ve ever heard. Absolutely beautiful conversation. I’m also hoping for a link that I can share (and re-watch).