It is with great pleasure that we present “The Selected Letters of Novalyne Price Ellis,” a compelling collection edited by Bobby Derie and specially printed for Howard Days 2024. This limited edition of 200 copies offers an intimate glimpse into the life and thoughts of educator and writer Novalyne Price Ellis, whose legacy is forever intertwined with that of Robert E. Howard, the celebrated creator of Conan the Barbarian.
Best remembered today for her memoir “One Who Walked Alone,” which poignantly chronicles her relationship with Howard, Novalyne’s letters provide a rich, nuanced perspective on their time together. This collection includes not only her correspondences with Howard but also her extensive communications with prominent pulp scholars over the years. Through these letters, readers can explore the depth of her intellect, her enduring passion for literature, and her insightful reflections on a man who has become a legend in the world of fantasy fiction.
The letters between Novalyne and Robert E. Howard, selected with care, reveal the warmth, humor, and complexity of their interactions. From Howard’s poetic musings to their casual exchanges about daily life, these letters are a testament to a unique and significant friendship. Additionally, the inclusion of Novalyne’s correspondences with figures such as L. Sprague de Camp and Glenn Lord further enriches our understanding of her enduring influence and dedication to preserving Howard’s legacy.
Edited and compiled by Bobby Derie, a respected scholar in the field of pulp fiction studies, this collection is not merely an academic exercise but a heartfelt tribute to Novalyne Price Ellis. It reflects her lasting impact on those who have followed in Howard’s literary footsteps and those who seek to keep his memory alive.
As you turn the pages of this meticulously curated volume, we hope you will appreciate the authenticity and emotional depth captured within. These letters are more than historical documents; they are windows into the soul of a woman who walked alongside one of the greatest storytellers of the 20th century. Whether you are a scholar, a fan of Robert E. Howard, or simply someone who appreciates the art of letter writing, “The Selected Letters of Novalyne Price Ellis” promises to be a valuable and cherished addition to your collection.
Contents
- v • Introduction • essay by Bobby Derie
- 1 • Novalyne Price Ellis (1908-1999) • essay by Rusty Burke
- 9 • The Letters of Novalyne Price Ellis
- 9 • To Santa Claus, mid-December 1934
- 10 • To Robert E. Howard, 12 July 1934
- 13 • To L. Sprague de Camp, 20 August 1977
- 21 • To Jonathan Bacon, 29 November 1977
- 23 • To L. Sprague and Catherine de Camp, 8 June 1978
- 26 • To L. Sprague de Camp, 26 July 1978
- 30 • To L. Sprague de Camp, 5 August 1979
- 41 • To Glenn Lord, 31 July 1986
- 42 • To Bill Cavalier, 20 October 1986
- 46 • To Thomas W. Collins, 10 November 1988
- 53 • To Bill Cavalier, 4 April 1990
- 58 • To Rusty Burke, 16 November 1990
- 64 • To Bill Cavalier, 23 April 1991
- 71 • To Fantasia, Fall 1991
- 78 • To The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, LA), 11 April 1992
- 81 • Small World • essay by James Reasoner
- 84 • Her Letters to Robert E. Howard: Novalyne Price
| Publisher : | Robert Derie |
| Year : | June 2024 |
| Format : | Paperback (6 x 9 inches, perfect bound) |
| Pages : | 114 (including front and back covers) |
| Cover : | Bill Cavalier |
| Illustrations : | Photos and scans of newspaper clippings |
Notes
Compiled and edited by Bobby Derie
Limited Edition of 200 copies.
First distributed at Robert E. Howard Days, June 2024.
More by Bobby Derie
| Title | Summary | |
|---|---|---|
 | The Selected Letters of Novalyne Price Ellis Volume II | This collection, compiled and edited by Bobby Derie, presents the surviving correspondence of Novalyne Price Ellis—schoolteacher, writer, and friend of Robert E. Howard. |
 | “… when I last see him” The de Camp Interviews on Robert E. Howard | Bobby Derie’s Howard Days booklet presents selected de Camp interview material on Robert E. Howard from the Harry Ransom Center archives, offering a rare look at the de Camps’ research process and the recollections of people who knew Howard. |
| The Selected Letters of Novalyne Price Ellis | The intimate and insightful correspondences of Novalyne Price Ellis, offering a unique glimpse into her relationship with Robert E. Howard and her interactions with prominent pulp scholars. This collection, edited by Bobby Derie, is a heartfelt tribute that enriches our understanding of these literary figures. |
 | The Robert E. Howard Trivia Book | Bobby Derie’s free book is distributed in Cross Plains on Howard Days 2023. It’s a trivia book with six hundred questions about Robert E. Howard and everything related. You can play it like Trivial Pursuit, assigning a color to each category. Trivia questions are divided into six categories; each set of questions are on the right-hand (odd-numbered) pages and the answers are on the back. Limited to 200 copies. Readers might want to flip through this book for their own enjoyment, but if you want to play a game with friends, try starting at a random page and taking turns asking questions from each category. Each question successfully answered is worth 1 point; the first to 30 points wins. (Why 30? Because Robert E. Howard was only 30 years old when he died.) |
 | Weird Beginnings | Distributed and sold at the Howard Days. Limited to 250 copies. Contains two Howard stories and essays by Patrice Louinet and Bobby Derie. |
 | Cross Plains Pilgrimage | Bobby Derie’s free book Cross Plains Pilgrimage was gifted to modern pilgrims (visitors) in Cross Plains on Howard Days 2022. It contains a sample of Derie’s scholarly work, focusing on E. Hoffman Price’s two visits to Howard. |
 | Index to One Who Walked Alone and Day of the Stranger | Robert Derie has created an index as a complementary work for Novalyne Price’s One Who Walked Alone: Robert E. Howard, The Final Years. |
 | Weird Talers: Essays on Robert E. Howard and Others | Here we find studies of the expansive and at times contentious correspondence of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard; Howard’s association with such colleagues in the pulp world as Clark Ashton Smith, Henry S. Whitehead, and Frank Belknap Long; Howard’s sporadic involvement with such fans as R. H. Barlow, Stuart M. Boland, and Francis T. Laney; a discussion of Howard’s writing for amateur papers; and numerous other topics. |
 | Essays on Robert E. Howard & Others | Special 50 edition copy of Robert Derie’s book, distributed at Howard Days 2018. Here we find studies of the expansive and at times contentious correspondence of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard; Howard’s association with such colleagues in the pulp world as Clark Ashton Smith, Henry S. Whitehead, and Frank Belknap Long; Howard’s sporadic involvement with such fans as R. H. Barlow, Stuart M. Boland, and Francis T. Laney; a discussion of Howard’s writing for amateur papers; and numerous other topics. |
