From the admirably prolific Chris Cole

People often wonder where great authors get their inspiration, especially for truly great works. Well, sometimes inspiration comes from the most unlikely places.

During a brief bought of writer’s block, literary giant John Steinbeck was in correspondence with a lovely Vietnamese woman named Mai. She lived in a village teeming with dozens and dozens of eligible young ladies like herself, but with only one eliigble bachelor in the entire village.

Being the caring soul that he was, John immediatel;y sent a telegram to her asking what he could do to help. She sent the following reply, which immediately nudged the Great Steinbeck out of his literary drought. It simply said:

For: John
Of: Mai

Send men.