McMurtry, Larry

A fine group of 3 typescripts, comprising: "The Ten Questions I've Been Asked Most Often Since Becoming a Published Writer," 17 pages on yellow second-sheets, with 70 corrections in ink in McMurtry's hand, 1962 — "The Questions a Writer Gets Asked," 9 pages on yellow second-sheets, with 5 corrections in ink, 1964 — Anything for Billy, the first 37 pages of the novel plus 3 pages of manuscript notes listing character, place names and ideas for the book's title, all on yellow second-sheets, numerous corrections in ink, ca. 1987.   Accompanied by an ALS (n.d.) and a TLS (25 January 1988); condition generally good for all 3 manuscripts. 

Anything for Billy, published in 1988, is McMurtry's novel about Billy the Kid.  The author donated this manuscript to the Texas State Historical Association in Austin for a charity auction.  "The Ten Questions I've Been Asked Most Often Since Becoming a Published Writer" was McMurtry's first public speech, given during National Library Week in Houston, April 1962.  The later 9-page speech is a reworking of parts of the earlier speech.  He discusses the writing and publication of his first novel, Horseman, Pass By, and the movie made from it, Hud.