First Words

Most kid write stories. A few of them grow up to be successful authors. Before Stephen King created Carrie, he created Jhonathan, at age nine. And before there was Rabbit Angstrom, there was Manuel Citarro, detective in John Updike's hard-boiled mystery, written at fourteen. Before Jurassic Park, there was young Michael Crichton's story about the mysteriously wounded man lying unattended in the street.Editor Paul Mandelbaum persuaded our most popular American authors to share their childhood writings and their treasured photographs. What he's gathered is a fascinating, delightful collection of writing and early snapshots that reveal young minds at work, wrestling with early versions of ideas that were to take hold of their writings in later years. Of course, the young Madeline L'Engle would wonder about space and the meaning of eternity. Of course, Margaret Atwood would question conventional female behavior, arguing for the right to smoke cigars.First Words is an inspiration to budding writers and enthusiastic teachers, and a revelation for readers everywhere.This revised and condensed edition includes the following writers:Margaret AtwoodRoy Blount, Jr.Paul BowlesPat ConroyMichael CrichtonRita DoveClyde EdgertonGail GodwinAllan GurganusCharles JohnsonStephen KingMaxine Hong KingstonUrsula LeGuinMadeleine L'EngleJill McCorkleNorman MailerJoyce Carol OatesWilliam StyronAmy TanJohn UpdikeGore VidalTobias Wolff

Paul Mandelbaum grew up in Washington, D.C., and attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop. A freelance journalist and writer, he has taught magazine journalism at the University of Iowa and Drake University, was an editor at Baltimore magazine and Managing Editor for Story magazine. He has published fiction in numerous journals, including Prairie Schooner, DoubleTake, Black Warrior Review, and Poets and Writers. He lives in Culver City, California.

Editor Paul Mandelbaum persuaded twenty-two authors to share their childhood writings and their treasured photographs. What he's collected is a fascinating revelation of young creative minds at work, wrestling with early versions of ideas that were to take hold of their writings in later years. Of course, the young Michael Crichton would describe what goes on in a dissection lab. Of course, Madeleine L'Engle would wonder about space and the meaning of eternity. Margaret Atwood would questions conventional female behavior, arguing for the right to smoke cigars. And Stephen King would write a macabre story of slicing and piercing at age nine. First Words is an inspiration to budding writers, encouraging teachers, and just plain readers. FIRST WORDS features the early works of: Margaret Atwood, Roy Blunt, Jr., Paul Bowles, Pat Conroy, Michael Crichton, Rita Dove, Clyde Edgerton, Gail Godwin, Allan Gurganus, Charles Johnson, Stephen King, Maxine Hong Kingston, Ursula K. Le Guin, Madeleine L'Engle, Jill McCorkle, Norman Mailer, Joyce Carol Oates, William Styron, Amy Tan, John Updike, Gore Vidal, Tobias Wolf

On March 4, 1983, Charles Rothenberg deliberately set fire to the bed where his six-year-old son, David, lay sleeping. Although David did not die, burns covered 90 percent of his body and left him severely disfigured. Rothenberg admitted his guilt and spent seven years in prison. This book is the troubled life story and in-depth study of Charles Rothenberg through over 140 letters, personal interviews, and his own writings. It is told by Harry J. Gaynor, a recognized authority on child abuse by burning and President of the National Burn Victim Foundation; the Rev. Dr. Jack Wilson, a minister and counselor; and Dr. Andrew Savicky, a psychologist. The authors reach beyond the bizarre facts of this story and enter the mind and emotions of Rothenberg to gain some understanding of what led to this crime. They attempt to employ that understanding to protect children from abuse.

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