His Last Book

     Willard Espy (1910-1999) began his writing career as a serious poet, became best known for his light verse, and wrote his final tribute to his beloved Oysterville in poetic form.  Skulduggery on Shoalwater Bay (Whispered Up from the Graves of the Pioneers) was published in 1998.  It is a small book of 64 poems – some long, most short – and is reminiscent of Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology.
     The book, wonderfully illustrated by Nancy Lloyd, was printed by Mark Nero of Cranberry Press in the days that they were located in Ocean Park.  It was a limited edition and has long been unavailable (we thought “out of print”) so we were delighted when Mark contacted us several weeks ago concerning a few dozen remaining copies in his New Mexico storeroom where the Press is now located.
     It turned out to be 100 copies, new and in ‘mint condition.’ They are now in our Oysterville storeroom anxiously awaiting buyers.  We are selling them at their original retail price of $14.95, although we see that new copies are being offered on Amazon for as much as $68.00.
     Willard would have been highly amused at that.  I remember when Sandpiper Books in Long Beach was selling signed copies of his book Oysterville, Roads to Grandpa’s Village (then still in print and very available) for $10.00 over the regular price.
     “Imagine that!” laughed Willard.  “My signature is worth ten dollars!”
     In fact we all laughed and commented that he could have made a fortune by just charging the many folks who stopped by his cottage, books in hand, asking for his signature.  He always complied and, if it was the cocktail hour, invited them in for a drink.  Willard was definitely one of those people who never met a stranger.
     Meanwhile, in the synchronistic way of the world, Sandy Nielson is developing and directing a short play (with music, but not strictly a musical) based on Skulduggery.  The first read-through by the actors was yesterday afternoon.  Sandy is planning two performances only, afternoon and evening, on November 19^th.  Mark your calendars!