“Listening” is the first step to understanding how Okies became this way

Hear

by Sheldon Russell

• • • • •

Dr. Sheldon Russell is the author of thirteen books, including the Hook Runyon Mystery series. He has won two Oklahoma Book Awards for fiction and the Langum Prize for historical fiction. He is prolific and The runaway train was selected by Weekly Publisher Review as one of the best crime novels of 2010. Russell grew up on a cattle ranch in the Gloss Mountains of Oklahoma, where he gained insight into the human capacity for good and evil. His reputation as a storyteller is undeniable, as he writes with humor about life and the hard times he endured while living on the ranch in Waynoka, Oklahoma.

This story is set during the Great Depression. Liam Walker, a talented, ambitious journalist, takes the Federal Writers’ Project job to capture stories of country life in the hot Dust Bowl town for the Library of Congress. Relying on the government check, he hopes that times and jobs will improve. Willie, the hotel receptionist, leads him to interesting people to interview. These are not the people who are successful and famous in the city. Willie has introduced him to people who have spirit, drive, ability and talent, but with untold secrets, unsolved mysteries, passions and hope. Eden Sawyer had some artistic talent, but she lived in poverty and had few opportunities to pursue a career in the field. Other locals ask Liam for interviews because of his character and attitude, as well as his unusual connections to the small college housed in the impressive tower of The Castle on the Hill. Carl Martin, one of the lecturers who still hopes for fame and recognition, gives art lessons to those who love art from afar, because that’s just how life is.

Liam has met the lovely Hattie Cooper, whose father is an entrepreneur and is developing a real estate project. Mr. Cooper is interested in hiring Liam for his company. The job seemed full of possibilities and would give Liam the chance to get closer to Hattie. The stories that flow from Liam’s pen are fascinating and these “losers” of society turn out to be human examples that exceed all expectations. Dr. Dubois, a historian, was on hand to help Liam capture the local flavor and involvement in unusual events at Castle on the Hill College. He worked hard and slipped into a life that defied the belief that a life of poverty was worthless.

The characters that Liam discovers in Atlas, Oklahoma, demonstrate the determination and courage with which they never give up on life. Hard times become the stage for the development of their natural gifts and the fulfillment of hopes and dreams. Read more Hear is the first step in the process of understanding how Okies got to be that way!

Many thanks to Full Circle for sharing these books with FRIDAY Reader.