I'd had an idea for a fake history book, where one astronaut was accidently picked for astronaut training in the second selection for the scientist-astronauts, and he was personally responsible for every goofup in the program (after the Apollo 1 fire, of course as that'd just be morbid). But mulling it over, it dawned on me that it might not be well received by those thinking it was disrespectful. So, I posed this question on the Collect Space forum: http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/004646.html
Someone e-mailed me Al Bean's (Apollo 12) address, saying he was better than many of the moonwalkers at giving opinions on some things and had a great sense of humor. So, I wrote him with a few paragraphs on what I had in mind. I also sent some scans of some of my artwork, just for the heck of it, as he's an accomplished artist and I thought he might like to see some of my own aviation-related work. I expected I'd get a short e-mail, at best. Getting a call from him, well, that came as quite the shock.
It was a short but amazing call. he liked the logo design I used on the letterhead: http://www.freewebs.com/willysmb44/Patch1.jpg as well as the drawings I sent, the MIG 29 one especially: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/ ... IGscan.jpg He also said that he didn't see any problem with my book concept at all, didn't consider it disrespectful and thought it'd actually make for a fine movie or TV project. I told him I doubted I'd be that ambitious with it but would keep that in the back of my mind.
I really don't impress easily, but I wasn't expecting this call and was blown away by it. He asked me how old I was, citing that he was in his 80s and that whatever ideas I have now, to run with them and not just sit on them because you start forgottening details on stuff when you get older. He said his own artwork was now getting tough to recall details on the Moon walks, much more so than when he started painting space scenes.
Anyway, that was the most amazing call I think I've ever gotten...