John Fergus Ryan congratulates Cormac McCarthy on receiving the Guggenheim Fellowship. Ryan also introduces himself as a fellow fiction writer and Guggenheim applicant. He expresses the wish to meet McCarthy.

John Fergus Ryan admits to writing a controversial piece for the Penthouse and acknowledges the work of Cormac McCarthy. The authors agree to remain friends as long as they do not read each other’s work. Ryan converses about his novel, The Redneck Bride, and playwriting career. He asks Cormac McCarthy about Louisville and jokes about snakes and the people that worship them.

Ryan addresses both Cormac and Anne McCarthy in his letter about his short story publications and reflects on the good times spent in the McCarthy’s company on their trip to Knoxville. John Fergus Ryan also hopes that McCarthy’s work goes well and recommends movies to see.

John Fergus Ryan talks of his failure in selling his books. He also discusses his finished novel, The Redneck Bride, and the movie adaptation of McCarthy’s screenplay, The Gardener’s Son. Ryan had recalled his disappointment at not receiving the Guggenheim Fellowship again, however, tells a funny story of the one who did receive it, Robert Meazey.

John Fergus Ryan chats about how his career is in a standstill, his visit to El Paso and the author John Rechy, and of their mutual friend John Sheddan.

John Fergus Ryan converses about gearing up for the Guggenheim Fellowship again and asking for Cormac McCarthy to be his reference. He also talks about being sick.

John Fergus Ryan responds to Cormac McCarthy’s August/September 1978 letter of inquiry on his health and his Guggenheim reference.

Response to Cormac McCarthy’s letter written in August/September of 1978 about the Guggenheim reference.

John Fergus Ryan discusses a newspaper clipping and visiting Cormac McCarthy.

Response to the March/April letter of 1979 about the disappointment in not achieving the Guggenheim Fellowship.

Response to the October 1979 letter about a William Faulkner piece and Simon and Schuster publication trouble.

John Fergus Ryan talks about the story Kentucky Ham and the publishers Andrews and McMeel that Ryan wished to publish his novel with.

John Fergus Ryan converses about his trip to Florida with his wife Carla. He also talks about McCarthy and Ryan’s mutual friend John Sheddan.

Response to the February 1980 letter about Ryan’s trip to Florida and the authors he met there.

John Fergus Ryan remarks upon their mutual friend John Sheddan. Ryan also remarks upon the physical health and running success of his wife Carla. He asks McCarthy whether he watched the movie Wise Blood or has listened to the opera TOSCA.

John Fergus Ryan asks the location of John Sheddan. Ryan also despairs about his inability to play the opera TOSCA on his tape player. He then discusses his possible showcase of his plays at the Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, TN and updates McCarthy on his wife Carla’s birthday plans.

John Fergus Ryan exclaims his joy of selling his novel The Redneck Bride under the small publisher, August House.

John Fergus Ryan congratulates Cormac McCarthy on achieving the MacArthur Grant.

John Fergus Ryan mentions their mutual friend John Sheddan and his wife Carla’s attempt to make coffee. He also discusses the progress on his writing career.

John Fergus Ryan comments on his story that was rejected by Esquire magazine. He also comments on Carla and his trip to Nashville, TN.