Welcome
Hi.
This is Anita Thompson writing to you from Owl Farm. It’s April 23rd, 2006. Outside, it’s 58 degrees and it’s been storming all afternoon. Inside, it has been a bit stormy but in a more productive sort of way. You’ll be happy to know that I’m wrapping up the second edition of the Woody Creeker. It’s great. We have a fantastic Ralph Steadman painting on the cover and loads of Woody Creek articles on the inside, including an interview with Ed Bradley. I also included an informative and dangerous piece by Hunter that he wrote one night after dinner in 2002 about Speedism, titled “Rules for Driving Fast.”
I’m a week behind on the magazine, and almost a month behind on the launch of this blog. Please accept my apologies for the delay!
But you will be happy to know that I have good news to report re: the projects designed to make more of Hunter’s life and work available to you. Today, I’ll just give you an overview of the sort of thing I’ll be posting in this blog.
I will be posting on a regular basis. It will be for those of you who know Hunter’s work inside and out and have been tracking his every move, including the progress of his career and legacy before and after his death. But I’ll also be writing for those of you who only have a vague notion of Hunter S. Thompson, and want to know more. I’m still learning more about him every day.
It is important for you to feel you have a connection to Owl Farm and I will keep you updated on projects that the rest of the Gonzo Family and I are working on, or even thinking about for that matter. I may even ask you for help at times. One rule at Owl Farm is that we all pitch in around here. So, while you’re logged on to OwlFarmblog.com, consider yourself sitting here in the kitchen with me, as I take us through its history and help it along in it’s future. It’s up to us.
Its been an emotional weekend because tomorrow is Hunter and my wedding anniversary, although I am much stronger this year than I was last year, since Hunter is not here on this day, I decided to focus on those who love him, such as you.
In addition to wrapping up the Woody Creeker, I’ve been watching some of the home videos I started filming here and on our travels since 2000, when I moved in to Owl Farm. I’ve been going through these films and selecting the ones that I think Hunter would like me to share in the future. Some parts will be released in a couple documentary films coming out about Hunter in the next year or so. One is by Starz! directed by Tom Thurman, which should be out in November. The other is being done by Alex Gibney, who is best known for his movie about Enron, “The Smartest Guys in the Room.” Although they are both in the works, from what I’ve seen so far, you will love them! Wayne Ewing has released “When I Die: The Making of the Gonzo Memorial.”
Ralph Steadman has just finished his book about their historic friendship. I can’t wait to tell you more about Ralph and how great he has been, and what he has done for me and the Gonzo Family since Hunter died.
I’ll be in New York the first week of May to do some more interviews for one of the books I’m writing. The first one is an extended essay on the life of Gonzo Journalism. It will be a small book for Fulcrum Press to come out in the fall. I am learning a lot already and can’t wait to share it with you.
While in New York, I’ll be staying with Stacey and Terry McDonell of Sports Illustrated who will be giving me some insight. I’ll also be checking in with Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone and I’ll give you the progress report on how his book edited by Corey Seymour is going. I want to thank Corey for suggesting that I do this blog in the first place!
There are others, such as the Sheriff’s book about Hunter, Warren Hinckle’s book, Hunter’s son Juan and his possible book, and there is a photo book in the works too. I’ll give you the inside scoop.
I will keep you updated on the anatomy of the Wisdom Book (the quotes and aphorisms from Hunter’s writing and my own notebooks that I consider wisdom.) For example, I just sent off part of the manuscript to one of Hunter’s editors, Shelby Sadler, who is editing Polo is my Life. She has also graciously offered to proofread these blog postings!
Doug Brinkley is Hunter’s literary executor and biographer. I will let you know what his progress is on the third Letters book, the status of the archive, and other official works that Doug is in charge of. I’ll be in New Orleans with Doug at the end of the week and maybe check in with you while I’m there. I believe that Hunter in many ways inspired Doug’s newest book called The Great Deluge, which exposes the horrors political and natural of Hurricane Katrina, will be released May 8th.
George Tobia of Boston is the trustee, among other things mostly in charge of “the deals.” He is the man, for example, who put together the Rum Diary movie deal with Johnny Depp and Josh Hartnett. Not only was George Hunter’s business lawyer, he was also Hunter’s late night Jack’s Joke Shop rep. More on that later.
Hal Haddon of Denver is the third trustee. He is what I call the magic counselor. He doesn’t appear very often, but when he does, we all listen. He also has a long history keeping Hunter safe from crooked cops in the courts. Remember the famous Sex and Drugs and Guns case in 1991? It was Hal who proved Hunter’s innocence, despite the odds and therefore kept Hunter out of prison. And now, he keeps us safe from the many vultures that try to descend on the Hunter Thompson Estate. And there are vultures! Don’t worry, I will let you know who some of the villains are.
But, it won’t be hard to keep it positive. For example, there is a lot going on this summer at Owl Farm itself. At the beginning of June, I will have the entire NORML (National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws) legal conference here for an afternoon as a form of gratitude for these lawyers being on the front lines of the criminal justice system which Hunter understood so well. I’ll also let you know when the first seminars will be held, whether the first ones will be political seminars, writing seminars, maybe even shooting seminars. I’ll be posting as often as possible. Yes, you’ll hear about the progress of Lisl Auman, and the Hunter S. Thompson Foundation, as it develops.
The point of all this is to let you know that Owl Farm is alive with Hunter’s spirit and will stay that way. There would be no Owl Farm if it weren’t for you, Hunter’s readers.
Lots of love to you,
Anita Thompson
Owl Farm
April 23rd, 2006
