In this drafted letter, Robert Cormier responds to Agee's correspondence. He opens by sharing how impressed he is with the students' insights and interpretations. In a section that is largely penciled out and re-written, Cormier shares his…
Robert Cormier's hand revised draft of his letter to Maxine Shosto addresses her questions regarding After the First Death. In particular, he talks about the ambiguity in the book and says that it is because life is ambiguous. He had mislaid the…
In this drafted letter, Robert Cormier responds to Raymond Wynter's questions. He explains that the idea for the novel came from an act of vandalism reported on the news. Specifically, he wanted to understand why kids from 'average' families would…
In this drafted letter, Robert Cormier thanks Rebecca for her correspondence. He shares how glad he is that the novel has helped her to understand different viewpoints and perspectives. He explains how seeing something from another person's point of…
In this five-page typewritten letter from Cormier to (who appears to be his editor) Craig, dated 29 Jan 1991, there are pages of line-by-line changes in the manuscript of We All Fall Down. These changes appear to be among the most final, perhaps at…
This typed two-page letter by Robert Cormier dated 9 Dec 1991 to "Craig" is written line-by-line responses to Craig's editorial questions concerning a draft of Tunes for Bears to Dance To.
This May 7, 2000, one-page letter by Robert Cormier to Jason Campbell at the American School in Dubai, appears to address questions about where he gets his ideas for writing. Referenced are Tunes for Bears to Dance To and Tenderness. For Tunes,…
Robert Cormier responds to Kevin's inquiries regarding the ideas for the novel, After the First Death. He cites three main sources of interest: 1) his home near Fort Devens and the possibility of a terrorist attack, 2) the Abraham-Isaac Bible story,…
In this one-page typed letter, Robert Cormier addresses the teacher of a class of students who have sent him their projects. He wrote back to them, and as a cover, included this cover letter to their teacher, Mrs. Anti. Generously, he offers to…
In this letter to Ms. Rosenzweig's class of eighth-grade students, Cormier addresses many points. First, he explains the title of the book. Then, he looks at various characters, including Mr. Levine and Mr. Hairston. He discusses the influence of…
Robert Cormier's letter to Norma (no last name), also a published writer, of 19 March 1982 is a very personal letter. He makes reference to a poet they both know and Cormier does this wonderful "tell her 'wow' for me" note in the letter in an…
Robert Cormier's letter to Betsy Larsen, answered only three weeks after her letter was written, thanks her for writing. In it, he explains one detail she picked up on: the fallen hammer in Tunes for Bears to Dance To. He gives her a glimpse into his…
Robert Cormier wrote a rather long, two-page letter in response to Alyssa O'Brien's letter to him. He encouraged her in her quest to be a writer and mentioned that he found her writing to be very clear. He was touched that she had read so many of his…
In this brief, but appreciative letter, Robert Cormier thanks Amanda for writing, expresses satisfaction that she has transformed herself into a reader, and offers an explanation for the title Tunes for Bears to Dance To, about which she inquired in…
In this one-page typed letter dated April 14, 1998, from Robert Cormier to Brooke Hausman and Carly Meltzer, he shares his writing technique of "gradual release," that it takes him 1.5 to 2 years to write a book, and that emotions are the engine for…