Dear Friends, Family, Fellow Authors, and Cherished Readers,
I write to you today with joyous news.
A while back, I was asked to contribute to my mentor’s latest literary endeavour. I wrote what became the afterword for the book I Know a Guy: A Glimpse at the Writings of ROBERT HOFFMAN. In this collection of his lesser-known works, Hoffman expresses an incredible vulnerability and demonstrates his sensitivity to language, his innovative use of metaphor, and the intimate and eminently relatable tone that permeates his writing.
Robert Hoffman has been a mentor and friend of mine for many years, now. I owe him a great debt of gratitude. He helped me hone my craft and learn to edit my work. He guided me towards looking at poetry and literature through a more critical lens, and gave me a broader view of the English language and its literature. I was a young, passionate poet with a dream and a keyboard, and Robert recognized something in me worth cultivating. I am now an award-winning poet who has been published in five countries across four continents. I’ve had dozens of poems published, several articles and pieces of creative non-fiction, and a short story. I’ve been interviewed by literary magazines and journals and am an emerging voice on the world literary stage. These accomplishments all trace their roots back to the seed of belief and belonging and community that Robert planted and fostered in me.
I am extraordinarily proud to have played a role in this project and to have written for this book, and further, I am proud of Robert for releasing more of his work for the world to enjoy.
I would also like to express my gratitude to Eliana Drew, and – of course – to Robert Hoffman himself. I humbly thank you both for your faith in me.
May inspiration find you in unexpected places,
Caitlin Cacciatore
