Literary Lights From Former Gazette Chiefs

Over the past thirty years, the Gazette has had some wonderful talent come, and go—often moving on to other illustrious accomplishments. Notably, this year, two of our former editors, Merla Zellerbach and Ronald Tierney, released new novels. So, giving a literary twist on “where are they now,” we share some engaging excerpts penned and published by those whose contributions remain near and dear to the Gazette heart.

Merla Zellerbach (NHG editor 1995–2007)

An accomplished author and columnist before and during her time at the Gazette, Merla’s first novel, Love in a Dark House, was published in 1961. It was followed by six more, including the highly acclaimed Rittenhouse Square (a New York Times Recommended Reading List title) and two 2009 titles, Secrets in Time and the forthcoming Mystery of the Mermaid. There were also nonfiction books along the way: The Type 1-Type 2 Allergy Relief Program, with Alan Levin, M.D.; Detox, with Phyllis Saifer, M.D.; and The Allergy Sourcebook, editions in 1999, 1998, and 2000.

Merla draws heavily on personal experience, for nonfiction and fiction both. That experience includes having written a column, “My Fair City,” for the San Francisco Chronicle from 1962 to 1985; having been a regular panelist, with June Lockhart, on ABC-TV’s Oh My Word, from 1965 to 1970; and simultaneously having managed to squeeze in enrichment lectures and writing classes on cruise ships (1975 to 1993), and pen stories and articles for a variety of local and national magazines.

Merla has also been an active philanthropist. In addition to other passionate giving efforts, after leaving her Gazette post two years ago, she found Compassion and Choices of Northern California, the local chapter of a national organization that advocates for better care and expanded choice at the end of life.

Merla is currently at work on her next novel, which will includes mystery and romance, as well as a little intrigue over powerful heirs and missing babies.

  

Mystery of the Mermaid Excerpt

  

The evening dragged painfully for Hallie. Bruce, her blind date, was knowledgeable about Dynasty Bronzes and Schoenberg’s Third String Quartet, as well as who was who in town, how the Old Families made their fortunes, and where they ran, placed or showed in the social rat race.

After one tedious monologue, Hallie couldn’t resist asking, “Bruce, don’t you know anybody who isn’t somebody?”

“Of course! I have to deal with tourists and nobodies all day long in my gallery. But the rest of the time, I’m perfectly happy being a snob. Our years on earth are limited. Why waste them on people who don’t share your tastes and values.”

“What are your values?”

“Intelligence, knowledge, and of course, beauty. You and your stunning mother are prime examples.”

“It’s just a façade. Inside we’re really rotten.”

“Hallie!” exclaimed her mother. “Bruce, I do apologize.”

“No need,” he allowed, with a hint of a smile. “She likes to put herself down, so people don’t feel uncomfortable around her.”

“Thanks, Dr. Freud. Mom, dinner was great, but I’ve an early morning meeting tomorrow, so Bruce and I are going to say goodnight.”

 

Soon they were standing at Hallie’s front door. “The evening was most enjoyable,” he said, reaching for her hand and not getting it. “May I call you next week?”

   “What for?” She was tired of game playing.

   “Because I like you.”

   “Do you like me or my mother’s art collection?”

   “Both. But what I’d really like is a chance to convince you I’m not as stuffy and pompous as you think.”

   “Perhaps not. But I’m a gung-ho liberal feminist who thinks some modern painters who get huge prices for their works are con artists, and you’re a gallery owner who lives off these people, and we really have nothing in common but a healthy respect for Mumsy’s money.”

   “Nothing wrong with that. Will you go to the Ballet with me Saturday night?”

   “No…thanks.”

   “I’ll call you,” he said, fixing her intently. “I don’t discourage easily.”

   As soon as her visitor was safely out of sight, Hallie pushed the heavy door bolt into place. Once inside the fortress, as she called it, ever since her late night lover Michael had insisted on hiring a locksmith, she sighed and began to undress.

   Where, damn it, was that man? Why didn’t he send that poor alcoholic wife to rehab or a sanitarium, as he’d promised so many times? And why wouldn’t he turn on his damn cell phone?

   But Michael not only called, he was there beside her in twenty minutes, the eternal macho with his firm, athletic torso, sexy blue eyes and curly brown hair. Mingled odors of wine and garlic seeped from his warm lips as he pulled her to him.

   “I’ve been thinking about you all night,” he whispered. “Can you tell?”

   “I can tell.”

   There were no more words, no questions, no pretense of caring for anything but immediate gratification. They fell to the nearest couch and sunk hungrily into Suzanne de Wildt’s custom-designed pillows, which had cost Mumsy a bloody fortune.

 

   Mystery of the Mermaid can be ordered from
merlazellerbach.com or at her Books Inc. Laurel Village reading on October 21 at 7 PM.

 

   Ronald Tierney (NHG editor, 1982–1983)

 

   While it was but only a year that Ronald Tierney spent as editor of the Gazette, back in its formative years, that time had a lasting impact on the publication, and Ronald. Back in those days, the Gazette offices were located on a pier in a large, open office. “It was a lively workplace,” Ron recalls with a smile. “I have a lot of fun, fond memories.”

   During his time here, the magazine made some big leaps, upping circulation from 15,000 to 50,000 and transforming its look with a total redesign and imaginative covers created by local artists and designers.

   For Ron, the Gazette introduced him to the wonderful world (so says us!) of publishing and writing, and, more or less, this is where he settled—albeit it’s been a curvy “settling” route.

   In his own words, Ron’s been “a busboy, hod carrier, assembly-line foreman, retail clerk, Army sergeant, actor, house painter, ditch digger, shipping clerk, salesman, advertising copywriter, frame-shop owner, communications director, and bank officer.” He also co-founded the first alternative publication, NUVO Newsweekly, in Indianapolis, Indiana—his home town; it is still publishing today. And, he’s author of eleven books—all of which have been met with abundant critical praise—including a mystery series based in Indy. Death in Pacific Heights is the first of a new series, which is based in San Francisco (the paperback version will be released later this year). The next book in that series, Death in North Beach, will be available in early 2010. Ron lives and works in San Francisco.

  

   Death in Pacific Heights Excerpt

  

   The three cops separated in front of Tosca after another drink. Though it returned later than usual, the fog was heavy. One could still make out the lights of Vesuvio’s and City Lights Bookstore across the street. Even so, a person could vanish in the mist half a block up the street.

   Gratelli walked home, back up Columbus and then right, past the bawdy strip joints on Broadway. The streets were lively. A couple of scantily clad girls stood in front of one club, one smoking a cigarette, while a young man tried to lure pedestrians inside. There was no smoking inside, of course.

   That would be criminal.

The clubs were just one part of North Beach and Gratelli didn’t mind them. His place was up the steep incline that ran alongside Enricos. One of these days he would no longer be able to make the climb home. In the interim, it helped him keep in the shape he was in, such as it was.

  

   Carly put logs in the fireplace and lit them, grabbed a light blanket and climbed into the big, old comfy sofa with her books and laptop. It was a great night to be inside. The weather was part of the summer pattern, which often confused tourists who came to San Francisco in June and July bringing Bermuda shorts and tank tops. One could see them waiting for the cable cars, shivering, and wondering if they were really in California.

   What she learned from the light and harmless gossip in the Chronicle’s society section and in The Nob Hill Gazette, the society newspaper of record, and juicier gossip from the tell-all books was that Pamela Hanover was Walter’s second wife, twenty years younger. His first wife, Katherine, remarried one of Walter’s former business associates, but he got custody of the kids. Carly discovered that of Walter’s two good-looking sons, the older one, Evan, was out and about at all the right clubs and dined at all the right restaurants with beautiful young women who either came from the “right” families or from the acting and modeling scene. Jordan, the younger brother, was involved in the arts and tended to hang out as anonymously as possible with young writers and painters. If there were romances, they were kept quiet.

   Katherine did not like Pamela, blaming her for the break-up of her nearly thirty-year marriage. There was some hesitancy on the part of her peers to invite the two women to the same events, though it was difficult. Katherine came from old money, one of the city’s unofficial first families. And Pamela, while only of a slightly lesser rank, had married into one. Tough times for those holding gala fund-raisers.

   There was little mention of Olivia in any context, perhaps because she was still young. Perhaps there would have been some introduction to the public once she turned eighteen or twenty-one. Perhaps not.

Unlike her siblings her photographs didn’t appear in either the Chronicle or Gazette. But in the photo Pamela had given her of the young woman, Carly thought she saw pain. The eyes expressed something sad. If it wasn’t pain exactly, perhaps it was disillusionment. Whatever it was, the photograph was compelling. There could be no justification for the taking of Olivia’s life.

Learn more about Ronald Tierney at ronaldtierney.com.