Sinbad and Me

by Kin Platt

  Some years later, of course, Callendar “got it.” In a review of my father’s final murder mystery, Murder in Rosslare, he wrote, “Mr. Platt, as in his previous books, is entirely relaxed about what he is doing, and it is nice to read such a competent piece of writing that is not burdened with heavy thinking and equally heavy breathing.” (New York Times Review of Books, Aug. 10, 1986).

  Before I let you go, let me here express my gratitude to my cousin, Cheryl Walshin, my partner in the business of bringing back my father’s books to fans old and new. She’s the one who found Page Publishing, the company that proved itself smart enough to republish Sinbad and Me. And I offer my thanks, too, to Tom DiFrancesco, Page’s V.P. of Literary Development, for all his knowledge and encouragement.

  I had intended to use this space to talk about the challenges of bringing back Sinbad and Me for your enjoyment. The author, the fiction book-publishing arm of Chilton Co., and his editor there, John Marion, even my father’s literary agent: all were dead. Some necessary documentation was lost. It is a long, complicated tale, filled with bizarre plot twists and red herrings, although it does have a happy ending. Perhaps, someday, I’ll write a book about that adventure myself. I think I’ll call it, Sinbad and the Lawyers.

  New York City, August, 2014.

  About the Author

  Kin Platt was born in 1911 in New York City. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a cartoonist. By age 19, he was writing for Fleischer Studios, pioneering animators famed for creating Betty Boop. He also was drawing caricatures of New York’s stage and screen celebrities. Moving to Hollywood, he wrote radio comedy for Jack Benny and Burns & Allen (among others), and worked on theatrical cartoons for Walt Disney. Returning to New York, Kin created Supermouse, the first animal superhero, for Standard Comics, in the 1940s. Later, he wrote for Timely Comics Co., under legendary Stan Lee. In the 1950s, Kin wrote comic books for National (DC) Comics, while he drew and wrote two comic strips for the New York Herald Tribune — “Mr. and Mrs.,” and “The Duke and the Duchess.” Moving back to California, he wrote cartoons for Hanna-Barbera, including Flintstones, Top Cat, Yogi Bear, and The Jetsons. Kin published his first book, The Blue Man, at age 50. Later came Sinbad and Me, which won a Mystery Writers of America “Edgar” award in 1967. The Blue Man introduced Steve Forrester, the young hero whose plucky English Bulldog later joined him in three Sinbad adventures. His son, Christopher, was the inspiration for Steve, and Chris’s Bulldog, Romeo, was the model for Sinbad. Much of Platt’s work, including manuscripts, personal papers, books and memorabilia, is maintained in the Boston University Library, Special Collections. He died in 2003. His family is bringing back his most-loved novels both for old fans and for a new generation of readers.