Re:

Jeffrey,

Thank you for always taking the time. I appreciate a ha=sh word or five. I do well with criticism. Though It was a little hyperbol=c of your buddy to tell me he wouldn't hire me as a waitress. Please. =et's not get carried away. I learned to read in first grade so I would=never have to do a job like that. And I'm not in NY to look for a &quo=;busy work" job. I don't need to leave LA for that. I can just wo=k as a receptionist in a dentist's office.

I don't like to defend my seriousness. Or my intent=ons for working with an NGO I've been involved with most of my life. I='s the only organization that has made any difference in that region a=d I will always support it. If one can help -- one measly week out of an e=tire year where one otherwise indulges oneself -- then one should. My moth=r and father are involved and right now, while I don't have money to d=nate, I can donate my time and I do. But I DO understand that if I were gu=g-ho about any old job at Phaidon I would be doing photocopies for =eon while he's in Greece. No question about it. And banging down his d=or instead of waiting for him to show me what's on offer. But there IS=no job, and Phaidon is not a place where I can magically create a position= I'm either in Editorial or I'm in Sales. It's pretty simple. =t's an antiquated business and it's not going to change any time s=on. I'm not going to become more serious because I helped to put toget=er a book here or there when I'm not on staff as an editor with the au=onomy to commission several projects at once. I'm not a 23 year old aristant. Freelance publishing (god knows if that even exists) also isn'= a real way to make money. If there's not enough money in showbiz ther= CERTAINLY isn't enough money in

publishing. And part of our discussio=s have always been about my becoming "gainfully employed" not co=tinuing down this dead-end path of freelancing. I know what that leads to.=You're always running to catch up. The appeal of this phantom opp=rtunity was that I could be creative and use my resources (my perspective,=my instincts, my eye, my taste and my intelligence) to make beautiful, sma=t, non-rarified books that appealed to a broad, young book-buying audience=within a full-time position.

I have publishing houses asking me to write nove=s, and while I've been shirking a response, I know that is what=l really should be doing. I'm just beating around the bush trying to b= an editor at Phaidon, when someone should be MY editor.

I understand you connected Leon and me, hoping for some=hing beautifully synergistic and I believe that Leon wants in some ways to=help me, but I don't believe there is a position, and no, apart from b=ing totally and utterly qualified, I have not demonstrated that I am PASSI=NATE about doing the job, because, entre nous, I may not be. I'm passi=nate about working and the dream position at Phaidon would marry a =ot of things I'm interested in and am good at, but it's not my lif= work. My life will be determined by what I write, good or bad, and I have=to get into the mud to find out. But in the meantime, I want to maximize t=e time I do have to do what I can before I knuckle down. Which I do, se=iously.

I looked at the writing program for fall at the New Sch=ol and it's FANTASTIC. I've picked out a selection of 4 classes, a=l of which take place at night and some of which are online. It's a pe=fect syllabus with great professors and it starts at the end of August. It=would be an ideal way to kickstart my novel. Now or never, to paraphrase S=neca. What do you think?

JJ

did you enclose the classes or =are you referring only to the concept . ?

These ar= the 5 classes I would take starting August 26. I may wind up only choosin= 4, but I really want to be fully immersed.

looks great. we need to speak, I am ha=py to pay for your school . as some of these classes are daytime, an= the last hs no time . Im not sure of your pla=s.re work. I have tried to understand , i am respectfu= of your charitable work, . I think if i were in your place i might hav= brought back a souvevir or some sign of a modicum of apprecation for havi=g an apt in ny . and the assistance from me that you have received, =AO I know you are smart. if this is all about money, lets h=ve the discussion. It might be awkward for you , i will wait to h=ve it on your time,

you tell me you want to be productive , independent and free.