prominent comments for a long lost and unknown dude

1.)  John Cheever — on notifying me by letter that he’d recommended me for the then just forming NYU MFA in creative writing program:  ” Linter, I had many better students than you;  always saw you like you weren’t all there.  I came to learn you were indeed there, only “there” was some place else.  The paperwork’s in the mail.  Best, John”

2.)  Stanley Bard, Chelsea Hotel legend/owner –on having me in theelevtor while he charmed some Swedes on the history of the hotel.  ”Oh, yeah, Dylan Thomas, Arhur Miller lived here, Marilyn Monroe was often here.  Julian Schnabel, Andy Warhol…  Today we have many working artists…”  Then he tossed a thumb over his shoulder signaling my inclusion…”Oh, that guy… He’s a class act.”

3.)  Sean Penn calling me at three AM to tell me that an epic script of deep personal meaning I’d written for him was, “everything I ever dreamed of.”

4.)  Raymond Carver in response to a cold letter I sent him from nowhere, based on no connection whatsoever — “It sounds to me that you’re doing everything right.  Surely, a publisher is not far from your reach.  If I can do anything to help further, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

5.)  Federico Fellini — in a letter after some time of corresponding.  ”Maybe you’ll come to Rome some day soon and we might talk about doing a film together, in English.  I’ve had many offers over the years to come to America and do a film in English, yet it simply never seemed to come together properly.  But  doI have a feeling that you and I just may be able to get the trick right.”

6.) From a letter sent to me from Pete Townshend, who at the time was working as an editor at Faber and Faber Publishers in London.  ”I found the novel stunning, sadly the decision makers here at Faber shot me  and my recommendation to publish to shit.  For reasons too stupid to discuss.  I tried, David, because I felt your work to be exceptional, period.  Keep pushing and stay in touch if you want.  Yours, Pete”

7.)  Creative Artists Agency on my very first script, Turned All The Way Around — “Should be a cult classic, along the lines of “Taxi Driver.”  HBO Films on the same script –”This is the worst script ever written.”

8.)  John Barth remarking in class on one of my stories — “I quite like the work, I really do.  Why do  I feel I’m the only one here who feels this way?”  (Silence from the class).  ”Right, then — It’s the writing of a rather unsettling naif and  I understand why this work is not everyone’s cup of tea.  David’s pathological literary masturbation aside, this is nonetheless very strong writing.”

9.)Professor John Tuttleton, head of the NYU English Department commenting on the A he gave me for my thesis, which was my first novel, American Express –”Hypnotic prose with a hero who is far too vulnerable.  The ‘voice’ is genuinely unusual.”