A Wonderful Surprise

I spoke at the Burlington Public Library the evening of October 29, 2019. When I walked into the library, Anne Booker, who'd arranged the event handed me a letter.

"Here," she said. "This arrived addressed to you."

"Wow, I wonder who would go to the trouble to figure out where I would be on my book tour, then write ahead?"

I opened the letter shortly before I began that evening's presentation. The letter was from Vera Hirtz, a 96-year-old Holocaust survivor who'd read one of my op-eds in the LA Times. I was really touched by her thoughtfulness and determination to find out where I'd be, then write ahead. I also appreciated what she said. Read Vera's letter to me by clicking on the image to the right. You may need to right-click, then select 'Open Image in New Tab,' Read my response to Vera, below.

Dear Vera,

Thank you so much for your kind letter, which caught up to me at my presentation last night at the Burlington Public Library.

I so appreciate the thoughtfulness of you writing and suggesting Edwin Black's book IBM and the Holocaust. I do know the book, and actually used it as a primary reference for that part of my book, Think Black, which concerns IBM's horrendous role in the Holocaust. Not long after my book was published, Edwin Black gave me a call and we had a very nice conversation.

Still, I'm so happy that you read my LA Times op-ed and thought enough to figure out where I would be on my book tour, then write ahead. It is people like you, who really make me feel that all the effort that went into writing Think Black was worth it.

I hope you'll have a chance to read Think Black, then write me again and tell me what you think.

I wish you much health and happiness.

Thank you,

Clyde

Clyde W. Ford | Author | Speaker

www.clydeford.com