dear francesca, i reread witch baby during a sudden, unexpected spate of missing los angeles. you see, in college, i was the latitudinal anti-francesca. i grew up in the bay area and spent 4 fitful years at art school in l.a., longing for northern california. the second i graduated, i fled to austin with my mad scientist lover-man. i thought i would never have to think of l.a. again. but your books made my brain itch. weetzie and witch baby scuttled all over the street i lived on, and looking back, they made me remember all the things i liked -- fairfax avenue, little tokyo, the farmer's market, my goth-bunny friend chelette, and ewa with the slow butterfly-eyed blink... so i want to thank you for helping me remember l.a. and those four years fondly. it is refreshing, not thinking of college as my evil ex. --la la la liza. ps: enclosed is a copy of a painting i made of witch baby. she is my favorite.