'Short'--Behind the Scene of a first literary work

“Most inviting–so well done graphically. The book is artistic and intimate in its design.”

-Louise Sturgess, Director, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation

• Uniquely woven together with scholarly source material, “interviews of aging bohemians,” mental institution documents, reproduced graphics from 1920s reviews and hand-scrawled letters, and a beautiful color-plate middle gallery of Esther’s paintings

• A creatively-layered design of a life, and life-affirming tale of a woman who lived poor but died saying hers was the most wonderful possible life– prompting all to better understand their own passions and self-direction

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“This Fantastic Struggle: The Life & Art of Esther Phillips” was my first book, published in 2002 after 11 years of independent research and writing, tracking down Esther’s story in Pittsburgh, New York City and Wingdale (outside Poughkeepsie), New York. During years of making a modest but gratifying living by creatively teaching, counseling at a psychosocial rehab center and living the punk rock life by night by attending and playing in Pgh clubs, its incarnation started (as everything) with a fascination that grew to self-committed goal.

Started long hand (the complete manuscript, actually) at my attic desk by day before off to other work at night—variously fundraising for World Wildlife Fund & Planned Parenthood, or regional symphony rehearsals—it was put to computer 2nd draft. An Apple IIe computer that is, if I remember it correctly. A hand-me-down from my ‘baby brother’ studying and working at Stanford at the time.

Finally upon publication, I’ll always remember the underground art-meets literary world Pittsburgh party, band and all, attended by family and friends at a gallery close to my heart.

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