This has been a wonderful, difficult, beautiful book to write. While I was working I had a very strong sense of Woody’s presence. I listened endlessly to his music, read everything I could find written about him and by him, and pored over his photographs.

I was amazed at how brilliant Woody was. He could really turn any experience into a song. I was also shocked at what a difficult person he was to live with. As I got into the last few chapters of the book, I cried every time one of his friends died, and when Woody died, I felt miserable. It took me awhile to realize that he really was dead, and has been for some time, because I spent so much time with him for about two years.

There was also incredible serendipity while I was writing the book. I kept running into people who had known Woody. It even turned out he had played at a house party right next door to where I live!

The latest serendipity is that Lane Smith, who is an incredible illustrator (he did Squids will be Squids, and Math Curse) turns out to be a Woody Guthrie fan, and did the cover of my book as a tribute to Woody. Lane totally could capture in collage art the wonderful, chaotic, creative, wild Woody.