Barbara J. Olexer

A Father-Daughter Comedy Duo

Father to the Man is a true tragicomedy. Keith Kovacek is a big frog in a small pond, together with his identical twin, Kurt. The boys and their bosom buddy have a hilarious running feud with a cop that amuses them much more than it does the Law. The twins get into a fight with some movie types over a calliope, of all things. This is basically a coming-of-age story and after Kurt is killed in an accident, Keith has to grow up for both of them. He becomes a single father whose adorable little daughter brings him joy and laughter. Lindsey is a handful and she knows exactly how to manage her daddy. His maturity gets side-tracked but when Lindsey is an adolescent, Keith is forced to grow up along with her. This story is sad and funny and sweet and thoroughly enjoyable. Set in beautiful Ashland, Oregon – the cover is worth the price of the book. Reviewed by Ruby Doyle.… (mer)

Murder by Accident is the second book in the series about a young teacher in an Oregon logging camp in the 1950s. This go-round Marge O’Connor has decided to buy a horse to ride in her spare time. An old man on a ranch near Bend has just the mount for her but while she’s there making the deal, he is murdered. It’s none of her business and she tries to keep her nose of out it but someone follows her home and throws a Molotov cocktail at her. That’s just too much and she enlists her rodeo rider cousin’s help in figuring out who wants to murder her and who killed the old rancher. It’s a great story with a surprise ending. Olexer does a good job of capturing the flavor of the fifties. The large print makes it easy to read, too. Reviewed by Ruby Doyle… (mer)

Grandma Takes a Ride on a Flexible Flyer

Remember Flexible Flyer sleds? When I was a kid (a long, long time ago), they gave us hours and hours of delight every winter. Here’s a story, Death Takes a Flyer, in which one is used to transport a murdered grandmother. Marge O’Connor is a very young school teacher in a remote logging camp in the Blue Mts. of Oregon. In a creepy middle of the night scene, she discovers the body on the sled. Then two of her pupils find another body and it begins to look as if no one is safe in the little community. Trapped by a snowstorm that cuts them off from outside aid, Marge and her neighbors set about finding the villain. The book is set in the fifties and Olexer is adept at reproducing the dialog and ambiance of the time. Get cozy in front of the fireplace and enjoy a nostalgic look back (over your shoulder). Reviewed by Ruby Doyle… (mer)

“At Home and Abroad: Prize-winning Stories” edited by Barbara J. Olexer. This anthology of stories is entertaining and instructive. Most are from writers in the U.S. but some are from other countries: India, New Zealand, Canada, and others. The book is the culmination of a contest (that has since been discontinued, much to my disappointment). There are essays, memoirs, and short stories of all kinds,

Some of the pieces are hilarious: “Every Man Wants a Yellow Dump Truck;” some are sad: “Ghosts of Cienfuegos;” and some are pure fantasy: “Forever Twelve.” But they all have one thing in common – they are good. The authors are from many different places and many different walks of life but they all turn out interesting and entertaining stories. There are more than three hundred pages of great reading between these covers.… (mer)