Dear Mr. Cervantes,

To say that I am a big fan wouldn't do justice to how I feel about your most famous body of work to date.

The collected adventures of Don Quixote de la Mancha do not make up just my favorite books, but one of my favorite things.  

It is first of all, just an amazing story, and funny as hell.  Every time I read it, I find something new, a weird new way to see it.  I never get tired of it, and have worn out several copies of the book both in English and Spanish.

What's your favorite translation?  Mine is the one by Walter Starkie.  He seems to have got a good feel for the language, and your style, losing very little of your flair, and keeping the fun bits.  I think he's a big fan too.

It can be a bit hard for me to read the original Spanish sometimes, in spite of it being my first language, my Spanish is very colored by growing up Southern California and it is sometimes a very different Spanish than the one you know.  Still, I enjoy your writing style.  It's smooth and exciting.  You've got a great knack with describing battles.  Is this something you picked up from your time in the military?  

I'm surprised to find you spending your golden years here in Southern California, the last I had heard, you were living in Madrid.  I do hope that the climate here agrees with you, and that you enjoy your time in the land I am proud to call home.  It is an honor to have you here.

Thank you for your time,

C.M. Gonzalez