Glad the book is selling fairly well. How did the Heinemann edition do? Is going to Pittsburgh in a few days. Miss Lewis sailing for Naples toward the end of the month. W. S. C. [Stout #281]
Will finish the novel by summer at the latest. It will be twice as long as O Pioneers! and more interesting. How about calling it The Song of the Lark? Willa Cather [Stout #291]
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]
Please have foreign words set in italics. Copyeditor didn't in O Pioneers!. Also names of operatic roles. Hopes he has a proofreader who is fluent in Spanish and someone who can check the German used in the music lessons. Willa S. Cather [Stout #304]
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]
Appreciates his understanding her purposes in the book. Was encouraged to undertake it by his review of Pioneers. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #338]
People she knows from Sweden and Norway have indicated possible interest there in translations of O Pioneers! and The Song of the Lark. Could he take it up with publishers, perhaps enclosing a copy of Edward Garnett's article in last February's Atlantic? Is enclosing a list of the best people to write. He can get their attention by mentioning that reviewers have thought Thea Kronborg was modeled after Olive Fremstad. Please send three dozen copies of the advertising booklet for her to send to people who inquire. Finishing some short stories for Reynolds to place, but will start on the next book soon. Hopes he can come to New York to discuss the Scandinavian possibilities. Will have a phone in soon and send him the number. Might he be there next Thursday [Dec. 21] for dinner with the Hambourgs, S. S. McClure, and Harry Dwight? McClure will tell everyone about the war. Willa S. C. [Stout #375]
Has heard people are having trouble finding copies of O Pioneers!. Latest statement seems to indicate they are letting it go out of stock. Since it is selling a few hundred a year in its fourth year, would think they would want to keep it available. Certainly an author wants that. Willa Cather [Stout #377]
Has set aside "The Blue Mesa" to work on a novel with western setting about the same length as O Pioneers!. Is about half through the first draft. How late could she get manuscript in to have a fall publication date? May have it by end of May or middle of June. If a fall publication this year not possible, will probably set it aside and do more stories. Reynolds can get $700 each for them. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #382]
Glad to accept contract for Continental rights of the next book. Will certainly accept reduced royalties on O Pioneers! in a soldiers' edition. Century will start "Office Wives" series in January and wants the book rights. Trusts Houghton Mifflin will not mind. Wants to discuss the physical design of the novel when he comes to town. Will invite Benda to dinner and ask him about doing head and tail pieces. Otherwise, would prefer no illustrations. Has tried drawing her own. Willa Cather [Stout #394]
