Today is August 21. It is the birthday of Miriam Allen de Ford (1888-1975), Anthony Boucher (1911-1968), Lucius Shephard (1943-2014), Ron Walotsky (1943-2002), and Warren Norwood (1945-2005). Here’s a quick look at each of them. I’ll save Walotsky for last and post some samples of his art work.

Miriam Allen de Ford never, as far as I know, wrote any novels. She was a prolific short story writer from the forties until her death in the seventies. A number of her stories have been anthologized over the years.

Three English and one French collection of her stories have been published. Sadly, no large definitive collection of her work is available. What I’ve read by her, which was a long time ago, I enjoyed.

Anthonly Boucher wrote no science fiction novels, although he did write a number of mystery novels, including one based on science fiction fandom, Rocket to the Morgue. NESFA published an omnibus of his short sciencee fiction and fantasy, The Compleat Boucher: The Complete Short Science Fiction and Fantasy of Anthony Boucher.

Boucher was cofounder and editor of F&SF. He also helped found the Mystery Wrtiers of America, wrote mystery radio plays, and reviewed mysteries for major newspapers. The World Mystery Convention, Couchercon, is named in his honor.

Lucius Shephard was  a prolific short story writer from the eighties until his death. He wrote some novels. Much of his early work dealt with a future war in Central America that bore a resemblance to the Viet Nam War.

Warren Norwood wrote mostly novels. I’ve not read any of them yet, although I do have some. He was on the vadulty at Weatherford College in Weatherford, which isn’t far from where I live. I did meet him once, but it wasn’t at a science fiction conventioin. It was at an acoustic music festival back in the nineties. Norwood was a very accomplished dulcimeer player.

Ron Walotsky was an artist. Here are a few of his covers.