In celebrating Samme Gallaher Darnall’s 103th birthday I’d like to note that to date more than 5,000 copies of her first book,"Sisters: Coming of Age and Living Dangerously in the Wild Copper River Valley" have been sold since publication in 2004, and that "Moonlight Madness," which she wrote a few years later, has sold about 1,600 copies.
These are not blockbuster figures, of course, but considering few folks had ever heard of her Copper River country, that the author did not become a professional writer until the age of 92, and that her publisher—Epicenter Press—is a small, regional house based in Alaska, Samme’s continuing popularity is downright impressive.
Yes, she still has dedicated fans. While I was manning a booth at a book sale held annually in Anchorage following Thanksgiving last year, one of them took the time to explain to me what a wonderful read "Sisters" is. Then, just last week, I got a phone call from a new reader who wanted to know more about the author. “What is she really like,” he asked.
I was inclined to answer “feisty” with a mind to all the e-mails I received from Samme over the years on the causes she passionately backed. But instead I told him of her broad view of the world, the sharpness of her focus and the fact that she remained bright and curious, even during our last conversation which was just a month or so before her death.
Not that I didn’t enjoy the “feisty” part, too, and I miss it. I half expect to get another e-mail from her soon telling me to pull up my socks and support another worthy cause. And I remain quite sure that her spirit will be here come spring, en route to the Copper River country she so loved.