Chuck Palahniuk responds to your letter

Saturday the mail arrived as it does any old Saturday. As I dreaded hitting the mailbox for one more catalog and two more bills I was excited to see "a package" It was this

.

I read the return address and it read "Palahniuk" and an address in NYC for his publisher.

Chuck Palahniuk had responded to my letter!

A few weeks back I read on Pop Candy a story that author Chuck Palahniuk was going to take a full month to respond to "fan mail". In the last year (I think?) Rolling Stone magazine had written an article about Chuck and how when he responds to folks he always puts in "prizes" if you will in the packages. Chuck's most famous book is probably Fight Club (thanks to the movie of course). Anyhow, I read the "rules for submission" in which they aid "Tell Chuck something you hope to accomplish as well as a recent accomplishment". I tossed something together quick. Asked him what music he listens to, if anything, when he writes, sealed the letter and that was that.

I cut open the package with glee..what was in here? I shook it like it was Christmas morning..cut it open to reveal this:



It was packed to the top with goodies and FILLED with confetti.

I moved thru the prizes..it was great. Here is a few of the things out of the box:


Next I came upon not one but two cds. They were called "Chuck Palahniuk's Tour Stories Volume 1 and 2". CD1 on the inside read "Bedtime stories for "me" and the second cd was signed:



Finally I came upon the letter back to me. It was 2 pages long and he answered my questions. In my note I spoke how I wanted to help Little March (7 year old daughter) learn to ride her bike w/out training wheels, and how I got some recognition recently for my other music blog on Boston.com. Here is his letter (not sure how good it will be blown up but)



and this was his signature on the second page:


So here was all the loot laid out:


The coolest of the cool came in a small white box that was signed. The last paragraph on page one he said that he didn't write all day the day he wrote to me but he made me a necklace. The three center slabs are Chinese, yellow opals..between those are carnelian agates then tigers eye and disks of citrine. Next comes yellow adventurine and gold coral. Chuck collected rocks on book tours and got the passion from his father. The final sentences were the best "My dad was a rock hound, and I've caught the bug. Please be careful what passions you pass down to your kids.

Here it is:


The stones spell out to (my full name) from Chucky P..its very very cool.

So here is the inventory of what was in the box:
A whole lot of confetti to pack it in...
2 page letter from Chuck
1 packet of pop rocks
2 packets of flower seeds (money plant and Forget me nots)
2 Superballs
1 Beanbag dog (which is my power animal)
1 Fake cut off finger
1 Whitman Sampler
1 small box of Jnr. Mints
1 pack of birthday candles
1 Christmas ornament
2 cds (personalized)
1 egg of Silly Puddy
1 small box of crayons
1 small coloring book
1 magnetic chess set
10-15 glow in the dark stars and planets
1 very large temporary tattoo
1 necklace made special for me.

Little Marches comment when all was said and done..."I want to write to him so I can get a box of prizes!"

This was one freaking cool piece of mail.