what do you do with a grouchy poet early in the morning?

Not sure the whole story, but the poet is definitely pissed off this morning.

He was a little down about a call he was expecting Saturday night that never came...

...then he got a call last night that was, in his words to me, "Unwelcome".

People, don't take the fact the door is unlocked to mean he sent you an invitation. It's fine to call him at 1 o'clock in the morning if you are a long lost friend or lover, seeking to reconnect. If you are a current friend in peril and in need of an assist. If you are a current lover seeking some quiet, earnest solace. If you are an editor or publisher, needing to consult on a book or an article by or about the author, by all means.

Not a stranger, looking to play identity games.

He recognizes that by the very nature of his work often strangers read their identities into his pieces, identifying with him or his muses. Don't even bring up the psychosis of the fanbase during the initial "Panther Cycles" era...it was unpleasant in ways I can only imagine and it drove him largely underground and affected his relationships with his friends and family. He's a nice guy who hates being curt or rude or even strict and thus gets abused by people who think they're being clever or funny or sweet. Finally it gets too much and he withdraws.

If you are a publisher from the 425 area code, leave a message, he's not answering calls from there anymore. I'll screen those off his voicemail. He'll relent, eventually. Maybe. But for now...