20 FEB. 2021
Cher Janet,

Saw that our interview posted on the Women Writers, Women’s Books site. And while I stand by every word that I said, people are likely to get the wrong idea about me. Yes, I recounted many things about my life in your novel, THE JUICE. But people who have yet to read the book may wonder why, on God’s green earth, would someone in a powerful executive position decide to take part in a risky experiment—a scientific trial that endangered her own health?

Yes, it might seem very advantageous to see visions of the children I might conceive with potential partners—perfect strangers that I might fall in love with, if we actually came to know each other. But the potential for mental and physical instabilities? People must think I’m a fool!

Now I admit I tried to steer the conversation away from talking much about that imaginary child with the astonished eyes that so captivated my attention when she appeared in my office, again and again. It’s humiliating for me to look back upon how obsessive I became about finding the man who was triggering the holographic visions of her—the man that I had every reason to believe would become an incredibly exciting lover, if we actually met and took the time to know each other.

But I was a bit ticked when I read how I came off in that piece. If you ever, ever intend to write about me in the future, I really think we need to clear the air about this.

Regards,

Petra

PETRA CARDINALE
PRESIDENT & CEO
NUHOPE – THE WORLD’S LARGEST MEDIA CONGLOMERATE
CC: THOMAS KRANE, ESQ., WILKENSON HEDGES LLP

 

21 FEB., 2021
Good Golly, Pet!

I really think you’re over-reacting to how that interview came off. And cc’ing your lawyer was really uncalled for.

You and I both know that experiment is a very touchy subject for you. And I have no desire to piss you off. So let me offer you a little olive branch.

How about I explain to folks reading my blog that there were overwhelming circumstances that came into play. People who have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, or watched movies like CHILDREN OF MEN, can probably imagine a future time when it would become extremely difficult to find sperm that could be used to conceive completely healthy children.

And, of course, on top of that situation, there was a virus on the loose, infecting healthy little squigglies in the sperm banks that people like you relied upon. I don’t need to get into the fact that you were in your mid-40s, so you had a biological clock ticking away.

You’ll come off as a heroine, of sorts, for risking your own physical and mental health in order to help the world find a new solution—a computer chip inserted in your arm that analyzed data hovering around all the people that were in your immediate vicinity. I’d explain that it not only was able to pull up medical records, and locate men with healthy sperm, but it also could find out all sorts of other things about them. So it helped you to also identify men that you might fall in love with! I know a bunch of women who’d give their eye teeth for something like that.

If this doesn’t appeal, I’m open to other suggestions. I’m happy to send over a bottle of that scotch you favor, if it helps any.

Je t’embrace,

Janet

 

21 FEB. 2021
Darling,

Run with it. And to be perfectly honest, I don’t care if people know how old I was at the time. The whole concept of being ashamed of one’s age is really so early 21st century. Although you might find a picture to run with the post that gives people an idea of what I look like.

And by the way, a case of scotch would be a nicer peace pipe. I’m calling off my legal dog.

Love,

Petra

LISTEN TO THE “IMAGINARY CHILDREN” SHORT STORY, ON THE ASIMOV’S MAGAZINE PODCAST, WHICH FEATURES JANET NARRATING PART OF PETRA’S STORY.
READ JANET’S INTERVIEW WITH PETRA ON THE WOMEN WRITERS, WOMEN’S BOOKS SITE.
February 23, 2021