Autograph letter signed : [Hollins College, Roanoke, Virginia], to Miss Gately, 1968 Sept. 13.

Relating to her what he knows about a book project to be published by Doubleday and to be called "Growing up in America" which was proposed by a "Nameless Professor" in a letter to colleges and universities offering writing courses, to "consist of 'autobiographical', pardon the expression, pieces written by students from across the Land;" explaining that two students of his, Jerry Brown, a graduate student at Hollins, and Marina Lettig, a student of his at the Utah Writers Conference that summer, had submitted essays for the book; offering eight humorous possibilities as to why it may not have been printed; asking her not to mention it to Sam [Vaughan] again and he will see if he can solve the mystery; suggesting plot possibilities for a book titled "Throwing up in America;" asking her to pass along this "trade secret" to Sam, "Perry Knowlton writes me that ' Chinese food is good for contemplation.' which is worth knowing. If you have to indulge in contemplation, if you just have to contemplate and can't help yourself, do it right."