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“When I was 42, Knopf bought my first novel, and I called

Sue before I called my mom.”

Sue Grafton, Woman of Letters

An author recounts her close relationship with her I’m writing you half a page on the
feeding of your cat?”
longtime friend
Sue taught me that “hand-wringing” is
part of the writing process; that two-
millimeter calligraphy pens are ideal for
signings; that, if you position yourself in
By Carol Weston the middle of a group photo, no one can
cut you out. And that you need backbone:
she and Steve teased me for having baked
As E.B. White said, “It’s not often that cookies for my editor; they informed her
someone comes along who is a true friend editor that Holt had better get behind E
and a good writer.” Sue Grafton was the Is for Evidence because it was going to be a
big sister I never had: encouraging when bestseller. (Holt did. It was.)
I needed courage, honest when I needed Soon emails replaced letters, and Sue
Weston (l.) and Sue Grafton in Louisville,
truth, and funny. Ky., on Grafton’s 68th birthday. and I phoned on birthdays.
When I was 42, Knopf bought my
e met in Columbus, Ohio, My dad died, and Sue wrote, “I always first novel, The Diary of Melanie Martin,
in 1981. I was 24 and writing feel that it is a compliment to grieve and I called Sue before I called my mom.
Wfor magazines; she was 40 deeply.” In 1983, she got a word pro- In 2013, after a long, painful rut, my new
and writing for film and TV. I read that cessor, a Fortune 32:16, and opined: agent sold Ava and Pip. Sue wrote, “You
she was giving a talk, so I looked up her “Looks like NASA Ground control in our are da bomb!... What agonies you’ve
number and called. Days later, we were office now.” been through!... Go get ’em, champ! I
meeting every morning to run laps Harper & Row bought my first book, am sooo proud of you!!!” She posted on
around Schiller Park. Girltalk: All the Stuff Your Sister Never Facebook: “GRANDPARENT ALERT...
Sue told me she’d just finished a novel Told You. “I can just picture you and Rob My grandkids love the Ava Wren series....
and handed me a box with a stack of dancing around the house like nuts,” Sue If the author doesn’t continue the series,
typewritten pages. The title? A Is for wrote. “Truly, life doesn’t present us with I’ll extract my revenge in blood.” (My
Alibi. She knew my dream was to write a that many moments to celebrate and it’s Amazon numbers spiked.)
novel, too. nice to go all out when they come. I’m On December 14, I emailed about the
When I moved away, we began trading really proud of you and I won’t tell a soul wildfires near Montecito, Calif., where
letters every two weeks. Sue called them that you’re not really as humble and love- she lived. She replied: “Our house is still
“wall-to-walls”—sheets of paper full of able and modest as you pretend to be. on mandatory evacuation. Wish us luck!”
words, no margins. Hers often ended: Don’t tell on me either.” My last words to her: “Luck Luck Luck
“Love, love, love, love, love!” After Sue In 1985, Sue came to Manhattan to Luck Luck Luck!!!!!!”
died, I found the trove and started attend the Edgar Awards. She and her Two weeks and one day later, she
rereading. husband Steve slept on our sofa. (Twenty- passed away. I called Steve. “It’s so
She’d found a new jogging partner and four years later, she would be named a weird,” I sobbed. “It’s taking over
wrote, “I’m always talking about Carol grand master at the Edgars.) Before fame Twitter! The whole world loved Sue. But
this and Carol that. I miss you so much!” and fortune, Sue even cat-sat for us. not like we did.” ■
and “I gnaw my nails over B.... Some “Chanda slept on my neck, my shoulder,
Carol Weston is the author of 16 books; the latest
days I think it’s fine and other days I in my armpit, on my face,” she wrote. is Speed of Life (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky,
think it’s shit.” Two paragraphs later: “Can you believe 2017).

TO SUBMIT AN ESSAY FOR THE SOAPBOX COLUMN, EMAIL SOAPBOX@PUBLISHERSWEEKLY.COM.

88 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ■ JANU AR Y 22, 2018