BEATNICK BOOMER BETWEEN J.D. SALINGER AND J.K ROWLING

early Salinger

early me

Geoff (find his genius on Amazon.com) Peterson and I were talking long distance this afternoon. The recent PBS special on J.D. Salinger came up. We agreed J.D. might have been a borderline pedophile, but that's not the subject of this post. What came up between us was Salinger's reclusive retirement—a major theme of the special—and notable withdrawal to concentrate on his art, but I learned something from the special I didn't expect. Catcher In The Rye is still selling 250,000 copies a year, enough dough to supply a reclusive writer with all his earthly comforts while he scribbles away. Jerry (to his friends) was able to concentrate on his writing while making a living by it. Isn't that what all writers want to do? 

early Rowling

I've been confused. I'd no idea Salinger had it so easy after Catcher made him rich and gave him the option to become a recluse who wrote. In Rowling's case, she's had the option to give away money she doesn't need and become a well known philanthropist. I'd always thought of J.D's dedication to his craft as a sacrifice, but I've only my personal experience to go on. My experience is of a constant confusion of time in order to make a living and the destruction of several marriages to go on.

J.K. Rowling, Jerry Salinger and I have a lot in common. They wrote best sellers and I wish I could. Why is it, then, that when I say I want to make money writing and buy a condo in Portland, I feel like the beer chaser that follows a shot of the best whiskey?