Kristine R. asked Jeff Hobbs:

I'm in 8th grade and am currently enrolled in Wight Foundation, a boarding school prep program in Newark. We have read "Best Intentions: The Education and Killing of Edmund Perry", which is about a boy similar to Peace. Was there any inspiration, such as Perry, to write this book? If so, can you explain how Peace and Perry are similar people; if not, can you please share your motivation in writing this story?

Jeff Hobbs Hi Kristine -- I am SO sorry for the long delay in responding -- I'm just kind of a moron with computers and websites and didn't see the question until now. But I thank you for reading and reaching out -- it means a lot to a lot of people. I have read Best Intentions and many dozens of nonfiction book that pertained in different ways to the work I was doing. I did this broadly to better understand nonfiction writing in general and the way different authors treated their subjects, and also just to better my understanding of the world. Best Intentions I found very powerful. I'm not sure how similar Rob was to Mr. Perry as an individual, but they both surely faced similar transitions into affluent, rarefied environments. That book was written more as a journalistic endeavor, a piece of reportage, a very good piece at that. I originally, maybe 6 months after Rob's death -- and 6 months of his closest friends sharing stories with each other -- thought I'd write a short piece for the Yale Alumni Magazine or something, just compiling these stories and speaking to his life rather than his death. It was intended to be a eulogy of sorts. Obviously, that eulogy got a bit out of hand, but I think that initial intention remained throughout -- simply to make something that people could hold in their hand and remember the man he was, the good and the bad and the funny, tender, confounding. Thanks again, and wishing you peace on your journey. Sincerely, Jeff

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