We all feel the sting of the critic. Some, will pursue drastic means to avoid it. Around that time, I started reading your novels, which had me realize there was such a way of living, and it felt like I had discovered an aim in life. I'm a poor child like you. I wanted to meet you. On New Year's Day three years ago, I was glad to see you for the first time in a very long time. Seeing your freewheeling way of getting drunk made me...