Robert Cormier's letter to Miss Marilyn Marlow undated
In this letter to his agent, Cormier discusses current and forthcoming projects, particularly surrounding a potential novel on French-Canadians in New England. Cormier shows a remarkable degree of self-awareness in assessing his own writing, including its limitations and his disinterest in autobiographical writing. The short story "The Three Hundred Dollar Loan" referenced in this letter may have become "My Father's Gamble" published in <em>The Sign</em>, in which the protagonist's father takes out a loan for exactly that amount.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/120" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">"My Father's Gamble" The Sign</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/42" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's letter to Miss Marilyn Marlow 29 March 1968</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/41" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's letter to Miss Marilyn Marlow 4 October 1960</a>
JPG, 8.5x11
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
"'Tenderness' and troubled lives" <em>Sentinel & Enterprise</em>
This article presents an edited interview with Cormier after the publication of <em>Tenderness</em>. Cormier expresses doubts about being able to "pull it off" because the protagonist is a "monster." He discusses his character-driven writing process and sheds light on the book's dedication to three Leominster teachers who impacted his early career as a writer.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Jennifer+Fenn">Jennifer Fenn</a>
<em>Sentinel & Enterprise</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
9 March 1997
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, 13.5 x 13
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Newspaper+article">Newspaper article</a>
"Famed Novelist Gives Leominster Leading Role" <em>Telegram & Gazette</em>
This article explores how Cormier's upbringing in the postwar French Hill district of Leominster influenced the setting for many of his novels. "I'm sentimental about French Hill," proclaims Cormier. The article references a free-verse book about his fictional town Monument, called <em>Airplane</em>, published in 1999 under the title <em>Frenchtown Summer.</em>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=George+Snell">George Snell</a>
<em>Telegraph & Gazette</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
1 December 1998
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, 6.5 x 15.75, 6.75 x 12.75
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Newspaper+article">Newspaper article</a>
"Robert Cormier Heroes" Auditorium Guest Control Panel
This is a transcript of an online discussion panel with Cormier facilitated by Barnes and Noble. Although the Q&A focuses on the recently-released <em>Heroes</em>, participants also asked questions about censorship, Cormier's writing practices and experience, and the influence of his French-Canadian background on his work.
barnesandnobles.com
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, 8.5x11
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Transcript+of+online+chat">Transcript of online chat</a>
Julie Hack's letter to Robert Cormier 16 December 1995
This letter from a freshman in an English gifted and talented class asks Cormier a series of 11 rapid-fire questions. The questions range from personal ("what was your childhood like?") to professional ("how do you get your story ideas?").
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Julie+Hack">Julie Hack</a>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
16 December 1995
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/10" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's letter to Julie 2 January 1996</a>
JPG, 8.5x11 lined notebook paper
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
"Readers Responding Creative Writing and YA Literature" <em>English Journal</em>
This article explores ways in which creative writers can craft better, more engaging Young Adult fiction. The author proposes the use of the YA short story collection <em>Sixteen: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults</em>, edited by Donald Gallo, featuring Cormier's "In the Heat", as the ideal teaching tool for YA creative writing, since it presents a broad, high-quality survey of the genre. The author calls Cormier's piece "the most sophisticated of the stories." Nilsen also draws attention to Cormier's use of metaphors for both somber and playful effects.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Alleen+Pace+Nilsen">Alleen Pace Nilsen</a>
<em>English Journal</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
March 1997
Annamary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/149" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">"In the Heat" in Sixteen Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults</a>
JPG, 8.5x11
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Journal+article">Journal article</a>
Robert Cormier's email to Fiona, Gudrun, Lucy, and Paul 4 February 1999
In this response to the interview questions from the "In Brief" team, Cormier discusses his love of words, the politically conservative climate, the horror of the commonplace, and his admiration of other writers, especially Graham Greene. The topics of adolescence, Frenchtown, journalism, and young adult literature also feature prominently.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
4 February 1999
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/98" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's email to Paul Swaddle 12 February 1999</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/97" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paul Swaddle's email to Robert Cormier 11 February 1999</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/95" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paul Swaddle's email to Robert Cormier 3 February 1999</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/39">Robert Cormier's email to Fiona, Gudrun, Lucy, and Paul 3 February 1999</a>
JPG, 8.5x11
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Email">Email</a>
Paul Swaddle's email to Robert Cormier 3 February 1999
This e-mail presents a series of interview questions to Cormier from the Waterstones "In Brief" team out of Newcastle. Questions cover several topics including Cormier's journalism experience, Frenchtown, adolescence, large institutions, controversy, childhood, irony, emotions, and horror.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Paul+Swaddle">Paul Swaddle</a>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
3 February 1999
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/98" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's email to Paul Swaddle 12 February 1999</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/97" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paul Swaddle's email to Robert Cormier 11 February 1999</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/96" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's email to Fiona, Gudrun, Lucy, and Paul 4 February 1999</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/39">Robert Cormier's email to Fiona, Gudrun, Lucy, and Paul 3 February 1999</a>
JPG, 8.5x11
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Email">Email</a>
"An Interview with Robert Cormier" <em>New Hampshire College Journal</em>
In this lengthy interview, Cormier discusses topics ranging from his early school writing, influential teachers, childhood traumas, autobiographical components of his writing, the young adult label, fear of large institutions, censorship, Catholicism, and sequels.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=David+Bradt">David Bradt</a>
<em>New Hampshire College Journal </em>Vol. 16, No. 1
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Spring 1999
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, perfect bound journal, 6x9
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Published+Interview">Published Interview</a>
"Interview Robert Cormier" <em>Ohio Journal of the English Language Arts</em>
In this wide-ranging interview Cormier, later joined by his editor Craig Virden, discusses several topics related to his writing process, from his own writing role models (Ernest Hemingway and Thomas Wolfe) to the particulars of how organizes his work time and revises his drafts. He also devotes some time to his newly-released novel <em>Heroes </em>and the theme of identity that infiltrates his writing. When Craig joins in on the interview, they discuss the author-editor relationship using <em>Tenderness</em> as an example.
<em>Ohio Journal of the English Language Arts</em>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Winter/Spring 1999
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
JPG, 8.5x11
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Published+interview">Published interview</a>
Robert Cormier's letter to Miss Marilyn Marlow 4 October 1960
In this four-page letter (page 2 missing) to agent Marilyn Marlow, Cormier discusses at length his difficulties writing a new novel, as well as publication challenges for his finished novel <em>The Rumple Country</em>. He solicits her advice on a short story "The Three Hundred Loan" and shares an encouraging conversation he had with a Random House salesman who showed interested in Cormier's plots for <em>The Rumple Country</em> and an unnamed novel about seduction. He also inquires upon the potentially improved conditions at Macmillan. He also laments that free-lancing has not offered him more time to write what pleases him.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
4 October 1960
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/138" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's letter to Miss Marilyn Marlow undated</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/120" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">"My Father's Gamble" The Sign</a><br /><a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/42" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Cormier's letter to Miss Marilyn Marlow 29 March 1968</a>
JPG, 8.5x11 onion skin
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Mike Gubbins's letter to Robert Cormier 18 February 1998
In this 2-page letter to Cormier, Mike, a student in Knoxville Tennessee, asks about Cormier's writing process and education, along with specific questions about <em>Heroes</em> and <em>I Am the Cheese</em>. Mike is especially interested in Cormier's inspirations and potential connection between his personal experiences and his writing.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Mike+Gubbins">Mike Gubbins</a>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
18 February 1998
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/12" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span>Robert Cormier's letter to Mike Gubbins 6 March 1999</span></a>
JPG, 8.5x11
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
Robert Cormier's letter to Mike Gubbins 6 March 1999
In this letter to a student, Robert Cormier describes how his own emotions fuel his writing and how he must be emotionally invested in his characters. He also discusses World War II and his fictional town of Monument.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
6 March 1999
AnnaMary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/35" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span>Mike Gubbins's letter to Robert Cormier 18 February 1998</span></a>
JPG, 8.5x11
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Letter">Letter</a>
<em>The Toybreakers</em> outline
This single page, typed, and marked outline of <em>Toybreakers</em> shows Cormier's customary global overview of a work in progress. This artifact shows Part 1, the only section of the book that exists in the archive. Cormier's handwritten notes indicate that the second half of the outline needs to be rewritten. He appears to be questioning the logical progression of Susan and Harriet's motives and actions.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Robert+Cormier">Robert Cormier</a>
Robert E. Cormier Collection at Fitchburg State University's Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library
Annamary L. Consalvo
Katharine Covino
Elise Takehana
<a href="https://robertcormiertwistedintimacy.omeka.net/items/show/9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span>The Toybreakers draft material</span></a>
JPG, letter size
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Typed+outline">Typed outline</a>