My apologies to anyone who's been waiting around my blog for
me to update it. Life and deadlines have been getting in the way. Rest assured,
everything is going great with BODIE TROLL. Issue #2 came out the last week of
June, and it's already selling out. I just turned in issue #3, set for an August
release, and I'm writing issue #4 right now.
Outside of Bodie, I wanted to report on something very, very
special that happened to me. In the early hours of July 4th, I received an unexpected
e-mail from Karen Falk, archivist for The Jim Henson company, and the woman
responsible for every major book on Jim's life and works produced in the past
decade. Here's what it said:
Dear Jay:
I was doing
some research in our archives and came across the fan letter you wrote to Jim
Henson when you were 11. He was very encouraging in his response so I Googled
you to see if you went on to become an artist – and indeed you did. Congratulations
on what appears to be a successful career. Thought you’d like to see a copy of
your letter and Jim’s response (attached).
Best,
Karen Falk
Archives
The Jim
Henson Company
This was the
most unexpected and joyful news I'd ever heard. I had indeed written Jim Henson
when I was eleven, in January of 1986, and sent him a birthday card for Kermit,
who along with the Muppets had just turned 30. A month later, Jim wrote me
back. Not a form letter, and not a stamped signature, but a typed letter,
signed with a green felt tipped pen. That letter meant the world to me. So when
I lost that letter a year or so after Jim died, I was devastated. Twenty-some
years of regret, having lost my hero, and then losing one my genuine connection
to him--all erased with a simple e-mail that I never, in my wildest imaginings,
expected to receive. Here are the scans of my letter to Jim, and Jim's letter
to me, courtesy of Karen Falk (click on images to enlarge):
Needless to
say, Karen Falk received a glowing message of appreciation from me, and a
signed copy of Bodie Troll #1 will find its way to her in the coming week.
Now, those
who know me and my work know how Jim has always been my hero, and my work
(particularly Bodie) is very reflective of Jim's creative influence. So getting
this letter back...man...it's like being reunited with a long lost and beloved relative.
And it couldn't have happened at a more desperate time in my life, when I feel
like I need Jim the most. I'm not religious, but who knows...maybe he's been
watching me and my work all this time. The serendipitous arrival of Karen's
e-mail is hard to ignore.
Thanks for
listening. And for anyone in my past who doubted me when I said Jim Henson
wrote me a letter...well, "told ya so" seems pointless. I probably
quit talking to you people years ago. =0)
--Jay
