In 2020, I had the singular pleasure of writing about Bob Keefer, himself a longtime journalist who has become a unique artist, taking black and white photographs and hand painting them, using a technique that was common in the era of black and white photos. Oregon Artswatch published the piece about Bob and they were a joy for a free-lancer to work with.
Western author Louis L’Amour, wrote a really fine book with two children as the protagonists. “Down the Long Hills,” published in 1968, won a Golden Spur award and I don’t know how his publisher marketed this book, but the cover design is more classic western than middle-grade reader. I stumbled on it in the 1980s and it’s one of those classics I like to re-read. I sometimes wonder about these genre labels focused on age, how much they help and how much they hinder those of us looking for the next good read.
Author Helen MacInnes: “Decision at Delphi,” published in 1960. I’m about halfway into this book, and it is very dense with people and plot. It’s also really interesting how she and her contemporary Mary Stewart (“My Brother Michael,” also set in Greece, also published in 1960) were so influenced by World War II. That war is a key backdrop for both of these books. Really enjoying seeing how MacInnes built her very complex story. But Stewart is the more lyrical writer, in my personal estimation. Their books are still in print and also available on Kindle. I have no idea if they knew each other, if they talked about the similarities in these two books.
Susan Palmer's Exquisite Now 