So,SRD saved my life. I'd like to thank him. How?

[Compassion]

So I'm a 30 year fan, one of those who read Covenant as they came out, like many here. And like many I found resonances in SRD's works as my own life changed.

I'm going to be deliberately a bit obtuse here as from what I'm talking about my identity could be determined fairly easily. Which I don't want to do in this context. (I'm not in any way famous outside a small group of similar people, and in that group only as "the guy who...")

Recently I was engaged in a difficult task of physical endurance. One of those world-famous ones you hear about. I'd trained for 2 years.

It started well, but due to a cumulative sequence of small events, it all went wrong. And then went further wrong.

At one point, well past my own expected physical boundaries, and in physical danger, I reached the crux point. I was looking at failure. Failure of such consequence that I remain unsure I would ever have mentally recovered.

And at that point of both physical danger and overwhelming despair, without planning, I thought of SRD, Covenant and Morn Hyland. And therefore I thought of helplessness and ordinary people, and the power of despair. And how you could make a decision to accept your own powerlessness and despair and yet keep going. So I did. And I made it obviously, and in the end, achieved what I had set out to do and am now in some ways transformed.

When I was recovering I said to myself I would write or thank SRD personally for his writing in such a way as to help save my life.

And since I am in Europe and he is in the US that means writing. I've not a fan letter writer. This isn't a fan letter. It's something far more important to me.

Can any of you advise how I would go about contacting SRD? I'm happy to provide an email through PM if someone believes they can help. I appreciate any and all assistance.

[Menolly]

Welcome back to the Watch, Compassion.

Have you tried submitting your letter to the Gradual Interview on SRD's site? As the "contact information" page says:

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
All general correspondence to Steve, such as fan mail and miscellaneous questions, MUST be submitted via the Gradual Interview, located in the "from the author" section of this site. Any such correspondence sent to the contacts below will NOT be answered or forwarded.

I know from personal experience that SRD does reply privately on occasion, as many here on the Watch will confirm from their own experience. I'm not saying he will necessarily reply to you, but that is the way to contact him for such a letter.

[aliantha]

Compassion, I echo what Menolly's said. Submit your letter to the Gradual Interview on SRD's website. Be sure to include your e-mail address, tho. There have been several instances in which SRD has posted a response in the GI but said that he would have sent a private message if the person had included an e-mail address.

[Loredoctor]

I know from personal experience that SRD does reply privately on occasion, as many here on the Watch will confirm from their own experience. I'm not saying he will necessarily reply to you, but that is the way to contact him for such a letter.

Donaldson sent me a personal email about three years ago. I couldn't believe it.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Steve is very humble and generous by nature and truly cares about and appreciates his fans on a deep, genuine and serious level. Write to the gradual interview and tell him your story.

[wayfriend]

Ditto what everyone said. Post your thoughts in the GI. Include an e-mail. Express that you'd prefer a personal reply to a posted one (if that is so).

On a similar note ... when I first got to the Watch, I had an idea about a thread where people could post, anonymously if preferred, some sort of testimony as to how SRD's writing affected their lives, got them past tough times, helped them find meaning in their lives, that kind of thing. I never did get to that. But I think that there're a lot of people who owe SRD for helping rescue some part of their lives, although they don't always come out and admit it.

There are some other "questions" in the GI that admit as much.

[Vader]

I got an email reply as well last year.

[Compassion]

I appreciate the responses. I'll take your advice. Can you advise on how he would like to be addressed (you all seem to be on first name terms!), and if I can request him to keep it private?

[aliantha]

Well, Jenn's one of his readers.

I think he answers to pretty much anything, so feel free to call him whatever makes you most comfortable. And sure, if you don't want him to post it in the GI, I would say so.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

[Cameraman Jenn]

Oh and if the fanmail to his GI doesn't work, he seriously and truly loves it when you stalk him by going to all his book signings alternating naked with wearing a ranyhyn costume and demanding he sign your books three times with three different personalized messages. Make sure to ask him to show you how to perform VSE on you the nights you go naked. On the nights you go dressed as a ranyhyn, make sure to ask him to speak to you only in ur-vile tongues and ask him if he has any hurtloam to cure your leprosy.

[Seareach]

...you're naughty!

[Cameraman Jenn]

Sometimes I just can't help myself.... as everyone on the watch should know by now...

AND, thanks for reminding me, Sea..

He especially likes it when you resort to giantish laughter during his readings at signings and then start up a caamora in the middle of it using his books for fodder. That's his special favorite.

[Compassion]

I guess I'll just have to hope that almost dying attempting one of the world's most difficult physical feats will be sufficient.