88 Comments

My first thought after reading this was “discovering shalom auslander might be the best thing that’s happened to me this year.” As if I’d “discovered” you! I’m a newb.

Expand full comment

Amen to this.

Expand full comment

What a lovely thank you note! My debut memoir is out this July and I’m on the pole big time, but I feel better knowing we’re on it together. Sorry if that conjures a problematic image.

Expand full comment

Thank you for writing such amazing stuff, Shalom. For my part, I’m so grateful for Substack because, were it not for this platform, I wouldn’t have discovered you.

Your book Hope: A Tragedy is sitting on my nightstand beckoning, and I can’t wait to delve in. Thank you for writing such amazing, funny, and more often than not relatable words.

Yours, Andrei, a fellow writer.

Expand full comment

Don’t wait! It’s superb.

Expand full comment

I just finished it. You were right, it was superb! Thanks for the nudge.

Expand full comment

I’m so glad!

Expand full comment

Hey. If you’re happy with this, think how much happier you’d be if you raised your price.

Expand full comment

No don’t i am a broke musician and a hopeless poet and i cant even resolve to street begging since my sax was stolen. So pretty please with cherries don’t raise the fucking prices(unless you are being facetious, in which case I promise i’m laughing on the inside

Expand full comment

Oh, God. Now, I can't unsee your Sisyphean image of pushing the bike up to the highway ramp with the help of a person in four-inch heels. So, does this mean all these pitches I'm sending out to be a guest on someone's weird podcast and the instagram lives I'm doing will never end? Move over. I'm curling up in the fetal position with you. You're welcome!

Expand full comment

I didn't want to read this today.

But I had to.

Because whoredom sells.

Apparently.

Jesus.

Thanks.

Expand full comment

I think you’ll need to find the prostitute and give her a copy of your book when it’s out ….

Expand full comment
author

If I must, I must...

Expand full comment

Hurry up and finish that novel! I'll tuck a five into your G-string.

Expand full comment

I can proudly say I was 1 of those 400,000 (and apologize I didn’t count for 600,000 more!) the show was great. I am glad to see you on Substack. You’ve officially earned another reader. Looking forward to more work by you.

Expand full comment

I'm 67 so I've been whoring for a long time!

Expand full comment

I identify thoroughly with this column. The difference between us is that I wrote the novels and have ignored the social media that would sell them. I'm just too lazy to self-promote, but I'm retired so there's that. I don't write finished pieces any longer, just stuff on Facebook.

Good luck with the novel! I'll buy it, so you can honestly promise a publisher that there's a market for it.

Expand full comment

This is the best Thank You note I ever received, and your mother didn't even make you write it!

Expand full comment

Thank you too for being YOU, funny - desperate - smart - sincere, and for reaching out to others

Often I think of you, when I wish I could lie down in a fœtal position or have a damn good absurd laugh, and I don’t feel alone anymore.

8 billions human beings and counting, and how often we feel lonely and surrounded by danger.

Like you in that city suburb. Find a helping hand and a bit of companionship in a dark night is the best isn’t it?

Expand full comment
author

That about sums it up, Sybille, yes.

Expand full comment

I’m watching Happy-Ish again. Loved it first time around and still do. Thanks for your work.

Expand full comment

Where did you find it?

Expand full comment

It’s on Hulu.

Expand full comment

Going to go to my son’s and have him bring it up (we’re dinosaurs and don’t have Hulu)

Thank you David

Expand full comment

I suppose we’re all required to sell ourselves to some degree, regardless of our role - the world’s oldest profession is ubiquitous.

Expand full comment
founding

I worked In a market in Chelsea - ‘68 or ‘69. When were you there? Well. No matter. Really. Glad you’re enjoying the freedom of being your own pimp at least! <g>

Expand full comment
author

This was mid-90's. But, uh - "worked" how?

Expand full comment
founding

Grocery store. I was 16/17.

Expand full comment