From Clyde Edgerton

Max sent me a note after the publication of my first novel (1985) and asked if I'd like to join him for lunch.  He was one of my favorite writers--and had been very influential when years earlier I'd heard him speak in to a group of aspiring writers.  In that session he answered the question, "What's most important in writing stories?"  His answer was something along these lines: "Keep it simple and clear."  I was expecting something far more "sophisticated" and his answer has always stayed with me.  Anyway, we had lunch and he said kind words about my novel and offered technical advice (one on redundancy and one about avoiding parenthesis in fiction).  After that we walked across campus and talked more about writing fiction.  Max went way out of his way to be supportive and kind actions have and will always have a positive effect on my roles as teacher and writer.