In Memory of Carol Bly

Last night St. Scholastica College in Duluth MN hosted an event in memory of Carol Bly and in praise of her posthumous novel, Shelter Half. Carol, who died in December of 2007, was a native of Duluth who enjoyed a significant career as a social worker, educator, and extraordinary writer.

The writing of her novel was actively supported by such friends as Jim Perlman, whose Holy Cow! Press published it, and Bill Holm, a well-known Minnesota writer. Both spoke last night, along with other friends and family. Each speaker read a passage from the novel, thrilling the audience with what seems to be a genuinely important piece of literature about morality, caring for others, and life in small-town America. The prose is sharp and vivid, with moments of sly humor that remind one of a certain other Minnesota writer with his own new novel out.

Shelter Half is receiving rave reviews on a national scale this weekend.