Letters from the Inside, Michael Swango, #1

Dear K,

Hi! What a surprising & welcome card to receive for New Years. Can't think of a better way to start off 09 (well, maybe two, or three...!)

I wondered who the lovely brown-haired woman on the front of the card was--and of course found out right away. Very interesting design. Do you ever wear that dress anywhere else? My only regret is that I could not see your eyes. Are they also brown? Feel free to send another photo or photos.

Your note & card were most intriguing. Just to mention a few things from what you wrote: Not so lonely here--and less so after receiving your card. If you've followed things in the media, and you're in PR, then you probably know there is a lot of fiction mixed in with fact.

Trying to compete in public relations in NYC must be dog-eat-dog, regardless of the size of the firm. Plus there are so many huge PR megafirms. I am very curious [annoying so, as you will hopefully discover!] --please tell me what you do at your firm and what sort of clients you represent. But I am even more curious about your freelance writing. I would be most interested & humbled to read any and all of the stories you have published about your life. Were they published in magazines or on-line. Journals or anthologies? I have tried my hand at a few projects, but nothing has really clicked. Would love any suggestions you might have.

Be advised: Because of the rules here--don't send more than four or five pages (and any one time) of printed-out material, either directly from a source or printed off a computer. Obviously--your written or typed letters can be as long as you want. And I hope they will (eventually) be long and detailed. As will mine, if you will allow...

Love your look; love your age, Kelly. I must warn you: I tend to be very direct and very willing to talk & share--in detail--on anything and everything.

Would very much like to correspond with you at length if you are willing and have the time. You sound pretty busy, Kelly.

So--let me get this relatively brief note in the mail to you. I wanted to get something off to you right wawy so you knew that your card had arrived.

Please feel free to ask me anything and talk about anything--if I can do the same. I am tremendously engaged in the news & politics & books & especially films. Not bored at all--especially with your intriguing note brimming with possibilities!

No question that my taste in films & literature tends to the unusual and the "not for all tastes" and the dark and the bleak and the sensual and the ultra-sensual. For instance--concerning the films up for awards consideration this year--my personal favorite (though I have not, of course, seen it) is Revolutionary Road--starring Kate Winslet & Leonardo diCaprio, but as far from Titanic as one can get. This is a bleak tale of dreams dead & lives destroyed.--AND the booked on which it is based which is a must read: by Richard Yates, from 1961.

Two others are "The Wrestler" with Mickey Rourke; and "The Reader," also starring Kate Winslet.

None of these is Little Miss Sunshine as you can tell!

Plus-again, although I have not seen it--I am utterly fascinated by the Charlie Kaufman film starring Philip Seymour Hoffman; "Synecdoche, New York"...By everything I have read, including the brilliant review by Manohla Dargis in the N.Y. Times.

In fact, if you see (or have seen) this film- please feel free to describe its plot and to give me your detailed comments. It appears that people either absolutely love the film, or despise it. Oh well!

So: There you have it. Again--so glad to receive your card. Would love to get to know you much better. EXPLORE ALL THINGS INSIDE and OUTSIDE... I hope you're not shy [certainly not someone who works in PR in NYC and puts her life on paper!]

And as I said earlier (I tend to repeat myself and talk, talk, talk--so just tell me when I bore you!)--I would love to share as much of myself & my feelings & ideas & desires as you are willing to accept and totally delve inside...

Take care, K, & hope to hear from you soon.

Warm thoughts & a safe & happy New Year.

XOXO

[Guilty pleasures include Gossip Girl.]

XXX Michael

P.S. Exactly what parts of your life do your stories explore? To quote Iris Murdoch: "The banal or the sensual, the sacred or the profane?"

P.P.S. In my next letter(s)--will send some articles I think you might find interesting.