Is sending most of the novel. About 20,000 words yet to write. Believes it is very good. Feels envious of Doubleday's sales methods. Houghton Mifflin ought to push this book more than they did O Pioneers! Parts of the story are drawn from her early years, including the death of the railroad man, which happened when she was about thirteen. Story is full of the West. Has hit it with this one! Willa Cather [Stout #295]
Will change "billiards" to "pool" and refrain from making Dr. Archie governor. Sorry he objects to the diminishing scale of the book, but that was her plan, to emphasize Thea's youth. Hopes he can come see her this weekend. Can't phone; has no telephone. Willa Cather [Stout #296]
Will expect him Sunday. W. S. C. [Stout #297]
Only the epilogue in Moonstone yet to do. Please return all the "ten years later" part if he wants Archie rewritten. W. S. Cather [Stout #298]
Is enclosing two postcards of Breton's The Song of the Lark; prefers the one in brown tones. How does he like the later chapters of the book? Can't revise until she gets a short story done for McClure's and gets her brother sent back to Pittsburgh. W. S. C. [Stout #299]
Enclosing a first draft of the epilogue. Worried he is not satisfied with the book. Can call off the contract if he wishes. P.S.: If they go ahead she wants three pulls of each galley proof, one of which will go to a musical expert for checking. Willa Cather [Stout #300]
Feels reassured by his letter [of Apr. 29]. He was right about the tide in Venice. Wishes he could have been there for the dinner party she gave for Olive Fremstad. W. S. C. [Stout #302]
Glad to have eliminated the governorship for Dr. Archie. Has made a suggestion about the jacket to Miss Van Tuyll. Also, has returned thirty-three pages of proof. It's pretty rough. Willa S. Cather [Stout #308]
Likes the jacket, but the copy is wrong—Moonstone, Colorado, not Arizona. Also, Thea and Fred go to Mexico, not New Mexico. Wishes it could say something about her artistic growth in the cliff dweller ruins. Actually, not so very happy with the cover. Couldn't it be more like British edition of Pioneers? Henry James seems patronizing in his essay on the Fieldses. Willa Cather [Stout #311]
Can't let him use the snapshot of her with Olive Fremstad, but has had some new photos taken. Should capitalize on current interest in cliff dwellings in advertising the book. Willa Cather [Stout #312]