Helen Maxine O'Callaghan papers
Maxine O'Callaghan with her dogs, Molly and Mocha. Photo by Tracy Rawls. Photograph was used in the novel "Going to the Dogs."
Collection area: Literature
Collection dates: 1970-2007
This collection has been arranged into three series. Series I includes correspondence, arranged alphabetically by last name or agency, authored by O'Callaghan or received by the author from different agents, fans, etc. A majority of the correspondence relates to the publication of novels.
Series II includes author manuscripts and other writings. Items have been arranged alphabetically by title/project and are in various states of progress. Many of the materials are smaller short stories that were not published, but there are also many published pieces within the collection.
Series III includes professional development papers, including book reviews, seminar materials, conference materials, research files, printed online content, and notes/idea files. Items are arranged by type.
Helen Maxine O'Callaghan was born in Tennessee in 1937 and grew up farming in Missouri. After graduating from high school she moved to Memphis and would later join the Marine Corp Reserves in Miami. By 1972, O'Callaghan was living in Orange County, California. While working as a stay-at-home-mom she began writing by trying her hand at short stories and would later go on to write novels. She's the winner of the Private Eye Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award as well as a Shamus, Anthony, and Bram Stoker Award nominee. She is best known for her "Delilah West" series, which won her the Private Eye Writers of America award.
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