Ironton Celebrates a Century of Edward Gorey

Some recent comments (Jan. 15, 2025) about noted author and illustrator Edward Gorey from the Ironton (Ohio) Tribune:

Happy "Figure in the Shadows" Day

Actually, it's Groundhog Day here in the United States. February 2 is the only day of the year when "figure in the shadows" refers to a rodent named Phil. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, then spring will come early; if it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will persist for six more weeks. I wonder if there were groundhogs on the Weatherend estate.

Happy Birthday, John Bellairs

The calendar rolls around again as we celebrate the 87th birthday of John Bellairs.

The Figure in the Shadows: 1975-2025

2025 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Dial publishing John Bellairs's The Figure in the Shadows, the second book in the long-running Lewis Barnavelt series.