Letters from Friends and Fans

This is the old outreach coordinator (slightly before your time) of Larkin. I continue to love your writing. I think in some significant way you are giving humanity to all street kids. That is something special, Jeremiah. You know how fucking lonely and harsh it all can be and you speak a powerful truth. Madness, addiction, abandonment, and raw exposure are not minimized in your writing. Just know that you are worthy of the love you receive.

I am now far better off financially and I want to use some of this money for something that means something. I am starting to ramble but just wanted to send this to you. I hope Thistle is fun. I am helping an amazing music prodigy from Arizona, Nick Sterling. You have to hear him live to believe what he can do on guitar and drums. Coolest family too. I give your books as birthday and Christmas presents! Why giving boring stuff? Anyway, sending you my best thoughts. You are more than a survivor, you are a miracle.

Reading your thoughts to the other creators of Harold's End........tears are streaming down my face. I cannot believe how your words have reached my heart and soul. I read earlier about how you wanted your writing to be heard by social workers and counselors who are (I totally agree) clueless about the lives of those in their "caseload".

Throughout my 4 years at LSYC there was this weird tension between how I did outreach and case management. They wanted everyone to come inside and get assigned a case manager, bear your soul for a food voucher. Just like many case managers want to give you a series of labels/pathologies, I think some of those critics and others out there want to compete for who can pull the biggest scab off without earning the right to be that emotionally intimate with you. Terry Owens and very few others have earned that trust to see things laid bare. You have every right to give media types whatever you want to give them. I heard some beautiful things said about you, J.T..

One that stuck with me is that you do nothing half way. It was said that if you love someone, you love them with every fiber of your being. That is so awesome. That pure spirit leaves you wide open on all levels.

Stay close to those who love you, Jeremy. That voice that says, "if they only knew everything about me, they would despise who I am," can really start a downward spiral. You have created more beauty and lifted up so many people. I do not know how to express my gratitude to you. I know if I were close to you I would be protective of you. I liked those thoughts about how you found your protective instinct when it comes to Thor. I guess I will start with getting you some organic dark chocolate. Maybe I can help you raise a big pile of money for Terry and McAuley's. I need to know where to send the chocolate.


From: BillyChainsaw
how the devil's one of my few fave people on the planet doing today? i trust more than awesome : ) i have seen the heart... twice now, and i firmly believe no-one, and i mean no-fuckin-one could have made the film with so much compassion and conviction as asia. it's a remarkable movie and one that really proves her worth as both a director and an actor. i know a few folks disagreed in Cannes, but they're worthless cunts and spineless cretins. how someone could watch it and come away thinking it's some kind of 'woe is me' vanity project is beyond me. like the book, the movie plays out through the child's eyes... that's the point of focus, not sarah. i adored the way in which, no matter how heavy the shit was that went down, asia captured some moments of love between you and sarah. i am soooooo happy the film turned out so great - but hey, the odds were well in its favour considering it's your and asia's offspring : )
asia may be visiting for a few days next week. i hope it happens. it's been nearly three years since we went to see her in paris. what's so wonderfully strange is that i've only met her twice - life is fucking great when such strong, nonjudgmental bonds are made.
love you huge jt
billy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


"I just finished the book(Heart is deceiful above all things). I read it in just one day. I think everybody has to read a book like this, after reading your book people know something more about human beings, I know something more now. I'm so thankful to you, because you share with me things you saw and experiences you lived,and your book gave me the chance to see the world through your eyes.You have shown me another side of life, now my life is different, I'm going to be different because I have another point of view.
"I'm sure Asia has made a great job with the movie, she's the only one Italian talented actress and director,she's so sensitive and smart, she's special! I hope to see the movie as soon as possible, I hope everybody will Know JT in Italy too,and most of all I hope everybody will make a donation to The St.Mary's Medical Center like I'm going to do, I want to give my help to the foundation because this is a way to help a lot of people and for me it means help you too.
"This email is just to tell you 'Thanx to be alive JT.'"


"Hello!! I've just got home from meeting Rufus! (Wainwright, but i'm guessing you'd know that) Isn't he one of the loveliest people ever?? You were so right! I think I frightend him a little though, because I thought he wouldn't be able to hear me (HMV were playing 'Want One' really loudly) and so I lent right over the signing table...but when I mentioned you he seemed to relax. He said 'Ooh I LOVE him!!' asked how you were, what you were doing and said to say hello back."