The Correspondent: The Story Behind the Unexpected Bestseller Everyone Is Reading

Have you read The Correspondent? Everybody's talking about this book. >> The Correspondent was one of my favorite. books last year. >> My goodness, [music] I love this book. I. love Cibil and so profoundly good. This. book pulled itself to the top of the. bestsellers list through word of mouth. That does not happen. This is your first. published novel, but it's the eighth one. you've written, and you wrote this book. inside a closet [music]. thinking nobody would ever read it. How. did you handle each rejection?

>> Oh gosh. At some point, do you think, well, maybe I'm just not good. >> I don't think I ever thought that. Most. people have [music] said to me, "This. book made me cry." And it felt so good. >> Hi there, and welcome to the Oprah. podcast. I'm so glad to be here with. you. When you love books as much as I. do, you get recommendations, lots of. recommendations. And there's one book in. particular people uh kept asking me. about. Have you read The Correspondent?

You got to read The Correspondent. You're gonna love The Correspondent. I. had no choice but to read The. Correspondent. And let me tell you, I'm. so glad I did because the book tells the. life story of Cy Van Antworp, uh, retired lawyer in her 70s like I am. living in Maryland. Readers get to know. Syibil and all her wonderful complexity. and tangle past solely through letters. and emails that she writes and receives. Cybil writes to family, to friends, to.

complete strangers. She even writes to. famous authors who are really famous. authors, even her own neighbors. Each. note revealing a different strand of the. fabric of her life. It's what the. literary world calls an episttolary. novel composed of letters. And I must. say, other than the color purple, which. was Celely's letters to God, I'm not. usually drawn to the episttolary forum, but this this book, the correspondent.

felt different. It felt bigger than one. woman's letterw writing. And it is. obviously bigger because just through. word of mouth, this book has put itself. on the New York Times bestseller list. That is the goal for every author. And. it's my pleasure to welcome you here. >> Thank you. It's my pleasure. Profound. book that everybody's talking about this. book. >> Thank you. Thank you. It is my um. pleasure and honor to be here to talk to. you about it. I'm so excited that you. read it and that you liked it.

>> Of course, I had to read it cuz. everybody was saying read it. Writer. Virginia Evans had tried for years. before finally getting her first book. published, The Correspondent. When it. was released in April 2025, it sold less. than 8,000 copies. Then something. remarkable happened. The thousands of. people who read it fell in love with it. Then they started recommending [music]. it to other people and soon word about. spread like wildfire. The correspondent. has now sold well over 2 [music] billion.

copies. A story about a woman in her 70s. who in today's digital world still. writes handwritten letters became an. unexpected number [music] one New York. Times bestseller. Welcome Virginia Evans. to my front porch. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Could you feel or sense what was. happening in the zeitgeist that one. person was telling another person was. cuz this book sort of pulled itself to. the top of the bestsellers list through. word of mouth. That does not happen. That's what everybody keeps telling me.

I do think I started to understand that. that's what was happening, but I didn't. um I'm not sure when that was. I'm not. sure how that happened. I I think you're. right. It's just one person said to two. other people to read it and those two. people told two more people and. >> before you know it and it was this. story. >> And so before we get into this. absolutely, you know, captivating, compelling book, let's talk about you. This is your first published novel. >> That's right. >> Okay. But it's the eighth one you've.

written. [clears throat]. Tell us about your 20-y year journey to. become an overnight success. [laughter]. >> Yeah, I know. It is funny. People said, "You just came out of nowhere." Sort of. thing. Nope. >> I wasn't nowhere. I've been writing for. 20 years. >> For a long time. Yes. I I started. writing my first novel when I was 19. I. was living in Italy in Sienna and I. wrote I started writing a novel there. And then I wrote novels kind of, you. know, finish one. It takes a few years. And for the first few years, I don't.

think I knew what you do. I didn't come. from a family of authors. years. I. didn't know any authors and so I would. finish book. >> Had you taken a writing class? >> No. I mean, I took some writing classes. in undergrad, but I wasn't I I didn't. know what you do at the end. You know, you sort of have this book and I. thought, "Okay, well, we'll do it. again." So, I was writing these books. and then I started to teach myself. I I. bought a writer's almanac, you know, there was that big book. >> It was like the phone book. And um and I.

read about writing a query letter. And. so then I tried writing a query letter. and it wasn't very good. and I didn't. get any interest from agents. But then I. think the next book I had a better query. letter and I, you know, I kind of kept. going and by the sixth book I did get an. agent and that I thought that was sort. of the end. I sort of thought, okay, now. I'll be. >> agent and now I'm going to. >> now this will actually happen. We worked. together for a year and then it didn't. work out and we parted ways. That was.

extremely. um crushing to have that happen. I was a. mother by then and I thought that was. it. I thought that's what you did. >> How did you handle each rejection? >> Oh gosh. Um, you know, it's interesting. I don't think I ever felt offended or um. indignant. You know, I don't think I. thought, well, how dare you? I just. thought, okay, I have to do better. I. have to do a better I have to do a. better job. This isn't enough. This.

doesn't cut it. And that um was a. motivator. I mean it is a good question. to ask because all those years were it's. it was very demoralizing. I mean it was. extremely demoralizing and I hit. >> I know I mean if I got turned down by. one but this is why I never really. became a full uh working actress. >> because um I remember going to a speech. coach once and I said I wanted to be an. actress. This is when I was in news in. Baltimore and she said my dear you don't. want to be an actress. you want to be a.

star because if you wanted to be an. actress, you would be waiting tables. right now in New York, but you don't. want to give up your job in the news to. do that. And I was like, "No, you're. right. I don't want to do that." And I. said, "I'm not going to be able to. handle the rejection." You know, I have. one of my girls from my school in South. Africa. >> who's a who's an actress now and is is. it's constant. >> It is. It It is. It's something I don't. I don't know. You just have to sort of. take it. You have to just keep taking. it. I mean hundred thousands of re I.

don't know how many times I was. rejected. I've queried every agent in. New York City. Um it was it was. agonizing. I mean it was it was. agonizing. And. >> so it at some point do you think well. maybe I'm just not good? >> I don't think I ever thought that. >> Okay. At some point do you think well. maybe I'm not good enough? >> Yes. >> At some point do you think well maybe. this is never going to happen? >> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. >> This is never going to happen. >> This is never going to happen. And I. ended up kind of thinking I would like. to teach um I wanted to teach p in.

prisons. I wanted to teach writing in. prisons. And so I thought I should go. get a master's degree. That's what I. should do. This was after the sixth. book. And so. >> the sixth book that's been rejected. >> Yes. >> Okay. [laughter]. >> Yep. And so then we moved to Ireland, my. husband and my two children and I moved. to Dublin and I went to Trinity College. for my masters and I wrote my seventh. novel. >> as my coursework there. I studied with. Claire Keegan. I studied with Claire. Yes. >> Yes. I mean it was wonderful. And that.

book, the book I wrote as my coursework. there with that I got another agent and. we thought this will she she said this. book will sell. This is a great book. It. didn't sell. We had it out. >> where all those books are now in your. closet somewhere. >> Oh, they're on Well, I've lost two hard. drives. I never backed anything up. So, I have one copy of every book. [laughter]. >> Oh my goodness. >> Which is on a shelf in my house, you. know. But now are is your agent because.

you have an agent obviously and your. agent is like let's bring those books. out. >> Yeah, there's a we have a conversation. about that pretty regularly. But so I. that book the seventh book was out for. sale. It wasn't selling and then I wrote. the correspondent. >> Wow. >> And that was the. >> And you wrote this correspondent book. inside a closet I understand during the. pandemic thinking nobody would ever read. it. So, you had reached the point, Virginia, where you're like what Tony. Morrison was at one point where she felt. like, I'm going to write the book for.

myself. >> Maybe a few friends will read it, but. I'm going to write because I now feel. the need to write. I have to write. Is. that where you were? >> Oh, yeah. That's exactly I'm glad to. hear that. That's exactly where I was. And I didn't think I wasn't going to. show this book to anyone. I wasn't going. to show it to my agent. She knew I was. working on something, but I told her, I'm cleansing my palette and then I'll. write something else for you to sell. And this was what I was working on and. and she kind of kept saying, you know,

show it to me. Show it to me. And I. said, no, no, no. And she said, show it. to me. And finally, I did. And she said, we can sell this book. And I still. didn't think it would sell. >> Okay. So, because if I were you, I. wouldn't think it would sell either, >> having been turned down so many times. And so, I understand you have a How old. are your children. >> now? They're 10 and 12. >> Okay. So all these years you've had a. writing schedule even with children. where you write from 5:00 a.m. to 7 a.m. >> Yes, that's correct. Yes. >> And so for writing the correspondent.

>> during the pandemic, >> you have like a little space that you've. carved out in the closet. >> Yes. [laughter]. We were living in this um small rental. and it was this sort of like '9s concept. open built, you know, no doors, everything's it's one room, the kitchen. is the living room is the study, which. is sweet, I guess. in concept, but it's. not great for working. And so there was. this it was this small space, but the. bathroom was the size of a ballroom. I. mean, I can't explain it. It was. humongous. And so off the bathroom was.

this tiny closet. And I was I was um. just fed up. And so I when my husband. was in work one day, I went and I took. out all of his clothes and I shoved my. small writing desk into into the closet. and I sent him a photo and I said, "This. is what I did today." and he said, "Where are my clothes?" I said, "They're. in my they're in May's room, our. daughter." [laughter]. >> Yeah. >> So, that is I wrote and during COVID and. um writing [clears throat] this book, it. went really well. It felt good. I felt.

good writing it. I wanted to get up. I. wanted to get to the desk. I wanted to. write the story. So, I think I was. setting my alarm for 4:30 and kind of. really in the seat by 5. And. >> And how did Syibble come to you? You. said that she came to you fully formed. >> Yes. Yes, she did. I I wanted to write a. book in letters and that was kind of the. starting point. I wanted to play with. that, you know, the idea of. >> that way of telling a story. And um. >> why? >> Well, I had read 84 Chairing Crossroad. Okay. >> I had reread recently The Color Purple.

>> and I was just I just enjoy that format. I I enjoy the frequent page breaks. I. just I like that. I just liked the way. it felt. But with 84 Charon Cross Road, it felt like a small story and I really. wanted to tell a bigger story. And so I. thought, I wonder how big of a story you. can tell in letters. I wonder how far. that can go. And so the next step was. who who would it be? Whose story would. it be? And then Cibil sort of came to me.

and she was herself. I knew her voice. I. knew her. just her nature. Had you known her from. did she represent a composite of other. people or how how did she come fully. formed? >> She there there are traces of people I. have known in her. There's a strong. there's a strong through line of my. mother-in-law who has a very similar way. of communicating. >> Um and I've just been surrounded by very. interesting wise women and I I think.

they're kind of all in cyble. But when I. >> But she's not modeled after anybody in. particular in your family. >> Well, no, not anybody in particular. I. had met a woman. Um, we were trying to. buy this woman's house and I wrote her a. letter. This woman a letter. The house. was not for sale. I wanted to buy the. house. I And so I wrote to the owner of. this house. Would you consider selling. it? And she said yes. >> And so we went to her house to kind of. walk through it. and she opened the door.

and she was this very put together sort. of small older woman and she took us. through her house and she was sort of. visually who I saw as I was writing the. story. >> but I don't know her very well she. wasn't Syibble wasn't modeled after her. but that was. >> Did she sell you the house? >> She doesn't. >> She didn't. [laughter] Okay. >> It would be a better story if she had so. describe Syibil for us. I would say. Syibble is. a woman afflicted with long grief and. disappointment.

and she is trying to be okay. and she's smart and she is direct. >> Yeah. >> And she. um she hirs but she says she's sorry and. she sees everybody as equal I think. Would you say? I mean, so how long did. it take you to write it? >> I think I wrote it in less than a year. >> Wow. And do you think she was always. somehow living inside you waiting to be.

birthed this way? >> That's a great question. Yeah, there's. something about her and the story, the. whole story of the correspondent which. really is a culmination of so many. things in my life. The story feels. really personal to me, you know. not. experiences I've necessarily had, but. experiences I've been close to or things. I've heard or even if the life. experiences aren't the same, that the. feelings are feelings I can relate to of.

grief and disappointment and fear and. frustration and loss and um looking back. and kind of rethinking what would I what. do I wish I would have done or what do I. wish I would have said? >> Um and so there is something about her. that yeah It evokes probably something. very deep in me. >> I think her essence is distilled for us. in one of my favorite passages from the. book where she says, "Imagine all that. you've said to another. All the. commentary you've exchanged with.

friends, over drinks, over the phone. with colleagues and distant relatives, all the prattles sent quickly, mindlessly over email messages, typed. into your cellular phone. And really, the sum of this interpersonal. communication is the substance of your. life. relationships being as we know by. now in our old ages the meat of our. lives but all of that is gone vanished. and one day Mr. Watts, you yourself will. be gone. And then she says, imagine the. letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are.

like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. or a better metaphor if dated, the links. of a long chain. And even if those links. are never put back together, which they. will certainly never be, even if they. remain for the rest of time, dispersed. across the earth like the fragile blown. seeds of a dying dandelion. I'm going. right, right, civil. Isn't there. something wonderful in that? To think. that a story of one's life is preserved. in some way that this very letter may.

one day mean something even if it's a. very small thing to someone. >> Yeah, you were writing that day. [laughter]. >> Yeah, >> that was a good writing day. >> I thought about that passage a lot. because what remains of your life really. after you're gone? What does letter. writing allows us to say. >> that conversation often does not? >> There's something about to me when I sit. down to write a letter and I'm I'm a.

letter writer that it's a thought. >> you would have to be to write this book. >> Well, it's a thoughtfulness. It's a it's. a thought of um you know I want to say. something to you but I want to say it in. a way that will sink in and and be. permanent because when you. >> will be remembered. >> Yes. Yes. And when you receive a letter. first of all the experience of of. receiving a letter that is written to. you know going to the mailbox and. opening a mailbox and seeing bills.

primarily and circulars and then a. letter. I just don't think there's. anything like that left in the world. I. don't think there's anything that is. this same feeling that that is. It feels. like being loved. It feels like being. remembered and then it's permanent. It's. it's an artifact. >> Yes. >> And I love that. And I think for me, >> have you kept letters over the years? >> Yes, I have. And I have, you know, I. just have some amazing letters. I have. letters framed in my house. It's an.

artifact and it's a piece of someone. It's like you received a piece of the. interior of someone and you get to keep. it. I just think there's nothing like. that. >> Yeah. I I I mean I have boxes and boxes. of letters from wonderful wonderful, you. know, people over the years. And even. just a a thank you letter well written I. will keep. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Me too. [music]. >> Everything I do begins with intention.

You become exactly what you believe is. possible. [music]. >> Especially the Oprah podcast. You're. doing good. A. >> I believe when people share their. personal journeys with authenticity. >> Never thought of it like that. >> I love that you've never thought of it. that way before. >> And with intention, something beautiful. happens. We [music] recognize pieces of. our own lives in theirs. We realize. >> that actually helps, right? [music]. >> We are not alone. Life is a journey and how we navigate it.

matters. That's [music] why I am so. excited to welcome our friends at Geico. as the official insurance partner for. the Oprah podcast. For 90 years, Geico has been there for. the highs and the lows with people. [music] through life's exciting moments. and supporting them when the road takes. an unexpected turn. Geico's protection. has given customers the peace of mind to. keep moving forward. And that [music]. support matters at every point along the. way. A first car, a [music] new home, a.

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we keep driving forward. And that, dear. listener, is everything. We have some of our readers who are. excited to talk to you. We found Tyler. on Tik Tok. Here's what he had to say. about the correspondent. >> Syibble is lovely. I loved Syibble. From. every letter that I read from the. beginning of the book to the end of the. book, I was just falling in love with.

Syibil more and more. And she is this. 70-year-old woman who is sassy, who is. complex, who is intricate, who is. brilliant, who is deeply, deeply flawed. She is so strong willed. She is so. dynamic. She is so interesting. She is. so smart that she doesn't let people. walk all over her. She doesn't let. certain things play out how many other. people would allow them to play out. She. is she's going to speak her mind and. she's going to get her points across. My. goodness, I love this book. I love. Cyibil and so profoundly good.

>> And Tyler joins us from his bookstore, A. Great Notion in Auburn, Massachusetts. Hey, Tyler. Uh you say this is not the. type of book you would normally pick up. How so? >> No. Uh well, first of all want to thank. you for having me on. Um and so no, I. don't normally gravitate to episttolary. novels. uh similar to what you said. earlier because I feel like. >> that format can be so so limiting in. terms of you know the depth of character. and what we're able to feel for the. character and how well we're able to. empathize with the character and things. of that nature and so I found that this.

shook what my belief was right off the. bat right the first few pages I was. already invested and I just loved Cibil. um I found her so easy to empathize with. and I loved um you know everything that. she revealed about herself and so not. only the letters that she wrote But the. letters that she received in turn uh. kind of gave us that indirect. characterization. So not just like. here's Cibil displaying all of her. thoughts, but what other people thought. about her and kind of getting some of. that anecdotal evidence as well through. other people. Um so the fact that you.

were able to get that much from Syibble. is I think just a master stroke of of. writing on your part, Miss Evans. So. brava there. >> Thank you. Uh that kind of connects into. my question where um all of these these. cast of characters that exist around. Cibil. Um were they conceived by you for. a specific purpose uh in order to help. us to learn something else about Cibil? Uh because obviously as the the novel. progresses we see how vulnerable she. allows herself to become. And I think.

that's super powerful. >> I love how smart readers are. I just. love how smart readers are. [laughter]. Um yes. I mean, you nailed it. That's. and that was the sort of the dance and. the exercise of figuring out how to tell. a dynamic story of a whole life because. it sort of felt like, well, I can show, you know, she only writes to her best. friend Rosalie. We can only see this. this one way kind of this one line of.

her life, right? >> And the things Rosalie knows and can. speak to. It's almost like I don't think. anyone can see themselves fully. I don't. think it I don't think you can sort of. understand every it you need people. around you to hold up a mirror and to. understand yourself and to have. relationships. It's relationships that's. sort of what make us human. And so as I. was writing the book, it was that it was. sort of, okay, you know, now I want to. be able to show I want to have part of.

the story of her life be her childhood. How can I bring her childhood into this? She's in her 70s. She's not just talking. about being a child. And so then it was. this idea of okay, she has a. relationship with this boy Harry Landy. Yeah. And Harry who loves her and he. doesn't realize it yet, but he does love. her. And he sort of says, um, >> what were you like as a child? And then. she can sort of say, well, I was sort of. this way and I was sort of this way.

>> Oh, that's by design. >> Yes. That that was all part of. >> design. and you know that um bringing in. the man that she worked with was a way. to talk about her career. >> When did you know this or did this come. to you as you were figuring it out? >> I think it sort of came to me as I was. going. I mean I wrote it linearly. So I. would sort of write a letter and have. the response and then I would think you. know what's next what needs to be built. onto this and and we need to understand.

this. How how h who could who could show. this? who could be the mirror for that? And then at some point I had to stop, you know, I had to say, "That's enough. >> That's enough. There's enough people in. this story.". >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Tyler, thank you. So, how did you come. to read the book? You were saying this. isn't normally the the episttolary uh. format is not something you're normally. drawn to. So, why were you drawn to it? Were people telling you about it? >> Yeah. So, it was uh kind of the talk of. the town, so to speak, as far as like. people coming to the bookstore and.

talking about it. I mean, that's the. best part of owning a bookstore is. people just talk about books all the. time. Um, and so, yeah, and another. piece was that, you know, I'm a. 36-year-old uh, white Latino man and. here's a 70-year-old woman who, you. know, we we shouldn't have much much in. common. We shouldn't, you know, >> that connection there. But there was. And I think that kind of relatability um. and that universality of of who Cibil. was uh and how she is and kind of her a. lot of people said she was encouraable.

or unlikable or whatever and I I. disagree. I thought she was just she is. who she is and she has such a complex. history um and she's so intelligent that. you know she kind of looks at people. sometimes with the inane things that. they do and she's bothered by it and I'm. like I can empathize with that. That's. how I feel about people sometimes. Um, and so this, you know, this kind of. kermogenly woman, I felt myself relating. to it. >> That's the beauty of books. >> That's the beauty of books. And I'll. also say, you know, the what makes her. so uh I I think um.

important in in in the story is that. when you're in your 70s, let me just. tell you as as a 36 year old man, when. you're in your 70s, you know what you. know. [laughter]. >> You know what you know. Period. Full. stop. Okay. >> All right. Thank you, Tyler. >> Thanks, Tyler. >> So much. I appreciate your time. >> Thank you so much. Our next reader, Paulie, also owns a bookstore, Buckton. Books in Charleston, South Carolina. Paulie, tell us how you came to know.

Virginia. >> Hi, Virginia. Hi, Oprah. [laughter]. >> Hi. >> It's so wonderful to be with you. I'm um. a little overwhelmed. Uh, we had the. luck of having Virginia join us here at. Buckston Books in Charleston and we were. so lucky because Virginia came here to. the bookstore and we gathered about 25. people and um it was early on and all of. the book sellers loved the. correspondent. I loved it and the 25. people in the room loved it. >> Well, and Polly, half the people at the.

Buckston Books event were my family. [laughter]. >> Like my dad. And isn't that lovely? I mean, just to. be play a small role in this book. getting out there. We always say books. connect us and I just believe it's true. >> Did you have a question? Did you have a. question or a thought? >> Well, I did because um when I was. reading this, I was um I actually have. written only one letter to a celebrity. in my life. One. And I didn't mail it. Um spoiler alert, but it was to Oprah.

It was to you. So, the fact that I'm. talking to you about about this full. circle, I was it was in the 90s and I. was in a young mother in my 20s. So, three decades ago, I wrote you this. letter just in tears. It was um I. remember sitting at the desk pouring out. this letter of gratitude for you, but I. never mailed the letter. So, my question. is, Virginia and Oprah, do we write. letters? Do we do we need to expect a.

response? And. >> second part of the question is do we. misunderstand maybe a lack of response. or a lack of action on another person's. part. >> to be to be to be rejection. >> Yeah. Well, you know what? I'm glad you. didn't say I wrote you a letter and I. never heard from you [laughter] because. the truth of the matter is I thought. that's what you were going to say and I. wrote you a letter and I never heard. anything Oprah [laughter] and I but and. you know at the time we were just. talking about this the other day my team. and I in the 90s we still it was before.

cell phones or anything we had 10 people. doing nothing but opening mail and we. actually got a lot of our show ideas. from the letters that came through the. mail but I got about 10 to 17,000. sometimes it was a big show 20,000. letters a week. So there's no way I. would have been able to answer you. And. actually in the beginning I had the. woman who actually became my producer. and started this idea of the book club.

because Alice McGee and I were sharing. books in our office together. Alice is. the one who gave me the idea for. starting the book club. But before Alice. was a producer, Alice I hired as an. intern to answer my mail and I was. paying her a dollar a letter. And then I. got to have so many letters [laughter]. and I said, "Alice, I can no longer pay. you a dollar a letter to answer the cuz. SHE WAS LIKE, WHOA, WE got so much. mail." So Alice Alice ended up be.

becoming a producer, but it was Alice. who suggested that we we start this. whole book club. So, I'm I I would not. have been I'm sure I would not have. answered the letter if it came in the. stack of 10,000 a week. >> Well, and that's a different scale than. what I'm dealing with, but I receive. hundreds of letters a week and I just. hired someone to help me because I can't. >> Are you paying a dollar a letter? >> Don't I wish you wouldn't have said. that. I hope she can [laughter] hear. this. No, I'm not. But I do think um you. know, Paulie, not sending the letter to.

Oprah, you still did what you needed to. do. you said what you needed to say. >> which was say what you needed to say and. I think there's something I know it's. funny like when you said that and Oprah. you asked her what were you wanting to. say I know exactly what you were wanting. to say you know I can sort of feel that. feeling and anytime I read a wonderful. book I write a letter to the author. because something is welling up inside. of me and I have to tell them. >> yes. >> do you know what you've done do you. understand how you've changed me or how.

you've. >> um opened a book club that's We used to. do we would just Alice and I would look. in the back of the book. This is when. people had phone books. And we would get. the the number the name and the number. and the city that they lived in and you. could call the author and you just want. to say to the author, "Oh my god, your. book has elevated me so has opened me so. and tell me how this happened." That's. how it all started. >> Yes. >> And I will share with you this Polly. I. wrote the only fan letter I've ever. written was to Kevin Cosner after saying. Dances with Wolves and never heard from.

him. But it didn't matter because I was. so. moved by that movie and his ability to. stick with it for 10 years and be the. producer and director and all of that. So I don't think it matters. I think I. think what if the person responds what I. think matters is that you actually felt. in your heart to put it in words in such. a way that it could be not only. articulated but felt by the other. person. That's what I think. >> I think that's exactly right. And I. always think I've written so many.

letters that I didn't get a response to. You know, I can so many letters and I. don't regret. It's not that that's a. loss. It sort of feels like a message. you're chucking in a bottle out to sea. And it's this feeling of I did my part. I wrote my heart out. And if it never. reaches. >> the next person, I still came I came to. the table. I went the distance that I. could go to say. >> something beautiful or something, you. know, and I think even if you didn't.

mail it, you wrote it down and that. >> I mean somehow it sort it probably did. water your heart from far away. I mean I. think that. >> absolutely. >> I think that's enough just to write it. >> That's enough. >> Polly, thank you so much. >> Thanks for thanks for all the things. happening down there at Buckton Books in. Charleston. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Bye Paulie. >> Thank you. all that you. >> you know there's a quiet loneliness that. I think that pulses beneath the pages of. this book it's nothing super dramatic. but it's just always feels like it's.

there with Cibil where did that. understanding of everyday. >> loneliness come from for you. >> I would say I mean is that a quality. that's part of the shared human. experience you know no matter what our. lives look like I think there are so. many ways that all humans can identify. with one another. And to me, that's one. of those things at different times or, you know, in different eras, that's. going to be part of the story of your.

story. I think even if you're surrounded. by people or. >> even if you have no reason on on paper. to be lonely but. >> you know I think being a writer you sort. of walk through the world with. >> one eye in the moment being present. having the conversation experiencing the. place whatever but sort of the other eye. is taking notes you know and putting it. into this big. >> vat for lack of a better idea that's. kind of how I think of it inside.

yourself it's tucking away comments. people make or um you know things you. observe in people and. >> I have known so many wonderful women. aging and there's something that can. happen I've seen in women in their 70s. and 80s where life becomes quieter and. lonely and I've seen that with women. that I love women in my family you know. just because of the course of life there. are areas of life that feel full and.

busy and, you know, full of people and. commitments and whatever it is. But I. just think I've observed it. I've felt. it. And that was the story. I knew that. was kind of the story I wanted to tell. I knew, >> you know, when Syibble came to me, I. sort of knew that was her qu this. quality, this big quality in her life, which was. >> I I mean, I I don't think I've. articulated it as quiet loneliness, but. I think that's precisely what it is. >> Yes, that's what I felt. And I wanted.

the journey of the book to be an opening. or a sav on that or something that was. speaking into that. >> And you're writing in many different. voices, the the the the syible and uh. the Syrian immigrant, the teenage boy, even the famous authors. Which character. holds the most of you in them? >> I suppose it must be Cybil. >> Must be Syibble. Um because that's who. we know the most. That's who we get to.

know the most. She and I certainly share. the same exact reading taste. [laughter]. >> Um. >> did you really read Covenant of Water? >> I did. >> Yes. >> Yes. I love that book. >> I love that book. And there are these. little Easter eggs in the book. >> Cibil writes to her friend and says, "What are you reading now?" I'm reading. Covenant of Water. Yes. >> Covenant of Water. And there's these. little moments in the book where books. she's rereading for the third time. Those are books that I reread, you know, over and over. Did you ever get a letter. from Joan Ddian? >> I never did. I never wrote to Joan. Diddian. Never wrote to Joan Diddian.

>> That was that was interesting. I I have. h I have had a writing relationship with. other people. But when I was writing. this book, I thought. >> Sibil would have made herself Joan's. friend. >> She would have just wrestled her way in. letter after letter, comment after. comment on on all of Joan's essays and. all these things. And eventually she. would have worn her down and they would. have been [laughter] friends. And I. think that I just It just made sense to. me and um and I you know it was a little. bit mad to take on the voice of Jan. You.

did. >> We did. >> All right, we have let's take one last. Zoom call. Kate is a fitness instructor. from Chicago who says she's read 50. books. How do you read 50 books? You. read 50 books last year. Welcome Kate. >> Hi Kate. >> Hi. Hi Oprah. Hi Virginia. I cannot. believe those words just came out of my. mouth. What a privilege it is to be. here. A huge part of my training. methodology is recovery. Go to bed, get.

in bed, unplug. And so in order to do. that, what better way to read? Virginia, the correspondent was one of my favorite. books last year. And I was recommended. to it by a friend and word of mouth, but. I had a question for you. It's been said. that authors write about what they know. or what they're afraid of. My question. is, how did that manifest in your. process writing the correspondent and. how Cibil came to fruition? H I'm.

telling you readers are the smart. They. are so smart. They're so smart. Yes. Yes. >> I think you're smarter than I am. I um. after the correspondent was published, I. heard an interview. I think it was an. old interview that Zadeie Smith had. given and she said that in her. interview. She said, "You either can. write out of what you know or you can. write out of what you fear." And what I. remember her saying is, "Because both of. those things, what you know and what you. fear, are equally vivid to you." And I. had never thought about that, had never.

given it one minute of thought. And the. second she said it, I thought, "My two. biggest fears are losing one of my. children and going blind." And it was so. shockingly obvious to me to hear that. And I thought, "Oh, I guess I wrote. exactly what I fear." And so yes, I mean. yes, the answer is that is exactly what. I was writing. And. >> wow, >> you know, I think um that experience of. writing. So my son, my son was eight.

when I was writing the correspondent and. Syibble, you know this from early in the. book, but Cibil has lost a child and he. was eight when he died. And so I. remember getting into the, you know, the. nuts and bolts of her story and kind of. the timeline and I thought, I'm gonna. have to make her son have died at 8. because I won't be able to un I won't be. able to imagine it unless it's me. thinking about my Jack. That's how I'll. imagine it. >> And so it was really tough to write. that. And I I heard um Maggie O.

Farerrell said when she was writing. Hamnut, she just put off writing the. scene of the death of of the child. because she just thought, I can't I. can't go in that room. I can't go in. that room. And that was how I felt. writing this story. And you don't ever. have to zoom in on that moment. I think. the story brings you to that moment kind. of one step at a time. There is a moment. at the end when you get a clearer. picture of what happened um with with. how he passed away. But it was it was. writing out of what I fear. And so um I.

was just really moved when I heard. Zadeie Smith say that and I thought I. think that's exactly true. >> Well, that's a question I would not have. come up with myself. That is a great. question. >> A great question. I agree. Thank you so. much for including me. >> Thank you so much. And you keep reading. 50 books. [laughter]. >> That's amazing. >> Oh my you you're you're you're beating. my record. That's a lot of books. >> Yeah, it's way more than me, too. >> That's a book a week. [laughter] That's. a book a week, >> including The Covenant of Water, which I. also loved.

>> That's a book. I Wow. Okay. Okay. Amazing. >> My hats off to you. Impress. Impressed. Me, >> too. >> So, this is what civil rights to our. high school student on page 123. I. believe one ought to be precious with. communication. Remember, words, especially those written, are immortal. [laughter]. >> Look out. >> Look out. In a world of instant messages. and, you know, disappearing texts and. all of that going on, what do you think. we lose? Um, when we stop writing things.

>> that were meant to last, >> it worries me. I do feel a sense of um. sadness or grief or something when I. think about, you know, I was raised in a moment when. we were still writing letters and when I. was, you know, that was I was writing. papers, you know, my school papers by. hand. Yes. >> And I think my family got a computer. maybe when I was in high school or. college. And when I think about if. people stopped writing letters because.

it's not necessary. It's not necessary. to. >> right. >> communicate that way. I feel a sense of. loss. And I feel it's almost like the. written word, physically written word. and handwriting and a pen and the the. tactile thing, you know, for so like all. of human history, that's part of the. story. And then I think, you know, it's. not that we're we don't keep a record. with technology and computers and stuff, but it's not the same. >> Not the same. >> It's not the same.

>> And as you were just saying to to Polly, you received hundreds of letters a week. now. Has the response from readers. revealed anything to you about the book. that you didn't fully, >> you know, come to realize when you were. writing it? What What has this response. done? Well, first it's just shocking. I I just. think every time I, you know, see this. pile of mail, I think, are people still. reading this book? I just can't believe. these are. >> It's number one.

>> But, you know, it's interesting. I think. I'm telling you, every time I read a. letter from someone, >> I learned something about the book that. I didn't know. >> You know, just every person's response. and what it evokes for people. And you. know, most people have said to me, "This. book made me cry and it felt so good.". And I think, isn't that so fascinating. that that's the way the book makes you. feel? >> This is a book that you weren't even.

going to publish. You were just going to. have this just for yourself. >> I was not going to let anyone see it. >> Yeah. Yeah. If you could leave our. listeners with one invitation, one. gentle nudge um inspired by this book, what would that be? >> If you feel at the end of the book a. nudge to make a connection with someone, that you need to repair a connection, you need to say something to someone.

that needs to be said in love, in asking. for forgiveness. I just think that what. the book nudges is. fix it. Like go go go towards someone. If you feel pulled towards someone but. afraid or um not sure how not sure how. to come draw near to someone that you. have known or loved. I just think if you. feel the nudge, if you feel like h I. want to reach out. I want to. >> I want to call, I want to show up. I. want to write a letter.

>> If you're going to write a letter to. someone, >> just do it. Just do it. Let's do it. >> Okay. So, I hear now there is a deluxe. edition. The the correspondent deluxe. edition is out now. They redid the cover. and added a little more color. >> It's so nice. It's so lovely. I love it. >> Yes. And why did you do a deluxe. edition? Not only do you have a. bestseller, now you did a deluxe edition. of the bestseller. >> You know, nobody asked me. I'll tell you. that. [laughter] But I'm thrilled. It's. so pretty. Um I think it's pretty much. the same except then they sort of.

invited me to add something. So, there's. a letter from me to the reader that I. got to speak in my own voice, you know, from my own um from my own heart. >> of what you wanted to say to the reader. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, I hope Virginia's book inspires. you to reach out, write a letter to. somebody in your own life. Thank you, Virginia Evans. And. >> thank you. >> Thank you to Tyler and Polly and Kate. for zooming in with us today. Until next. time, The Correspondent. >> That was delightful. >> Oh, you're so lovely. If you haven't yet read the. correspondent and you love the written.

word as much as I do, you should treat. yourself to a copy of the deluxe edition. or better yet buy it for somebody you. love. [music] The QR code to purchase is. right there on your screen. Only takes a. few seconds to scan the QR code, buy. your own copy. Our listeners tell us. [music] that the podcast is resonating. with you and is serving as a bright spot. in your day. That means a lot to me. So, here's the [music] thing. I would really. appreciate it if you like and subscribe. to the Oprah podcast on YouTube or.

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