Author Archives: Dazzling Erin

Artwork of the Day: Only The Bed (Artist Unknown)

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

Artist Unknown

This book was published in 1959.  Don Holliday was a name that was used by several writers who were represented by literary agent Scott Meredith.  Pseudonyms like Don Holliday were used to protect both the reputations of Meredith and the writers who churned out a book-a-month for publishers like Midwood.  Among the writers who were wrote under the name Don Holliday: Hal Dresner, Robert Silverberg, Donald Westlake, and Lawrence Block.  While I was doing some research on Midwood and Don Holliday, I came across a post at Vintage Sleaze Paperbacks that attempted to determine which of the Don Hollidays actually wrote Only The Bed.

The cover artist is unknown.  I like the way that the bars of the resemble the beds of the prison, suggesting that the couple on the cover as prisoners of their own lust.

Artwork of the Day: Wild and Wicked (by David Hatfield)

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

by David Hatfield

Wild and Wicked was first published in 1965, by Midwood Books.  Laura DuChamp was a pen name for Sally Hastings, who wrote several soft-core books for Midwod.  She also wrote under the name March Hastings.  The artist responsible for this cover is unknown.  When I saw it, my first thought was “Church group gone wild.”

8/1/21 UPDATE: David Hatfield has contacted us to let us know that he’s the artist responsible for this wonderful cover.  His signature can be seen on the right side of the cover, next to the shoulder of the boy in the striped shirt.  Thank you, David, for letting us know so that we could properly credit you for this cover!

Artwork of the Day: No Swimming

Posted on by Dazzling Erin

by Erin Nicole

A few years ago, I took this picture on the campus of Richland Community College.  At the time, I liked the contrast between the tranquil campus and the harshness of the sign.  As peaceful as the creek looked and as content as the campus’s ducks may have been, there was also danger.

I took a semester at Richland and I still like to visit the campus with my camera.  As you can see in this picture, there’s a picturesque creek that runs through the campus.  Both students and ducks love the creek.  (The ducks are so popular that Richland even named its mascot the Thunderduck.)  Even those who are no longer or were never students at Richland enjoy going up to the camps and walking along the creek.  It’s impossible to look at the creek without being tempted to jump in and go for a swim.  A few years ago, a man who wasn’t even enrolled at the college gave into the temptation and drowned.  I’ll follow the sign’s advice.

I picked this for today’s artwork of the day because I feel like the first day of a new year is much like that creek.  You want to dive right in but there’s still dangers.  That’s especially true this year.  Are you going to swim or not?