Book lovers and dog lovers alike will be drawn to Berkshire author Richard Matturro’s latest novel, Shepherd, the second they spy its stunning cover. Designed by artist Mary Trevor Thomas, it features a portrait of an aging German shepherd with an expression so lovely, haunting, and wise, you can’t help but wonder about the story within.
“Shepherd is the story of Stuart Brown, a middle-aged classics professor from upstate New York,” Matturro writes. “After his wife dies, he takes an early retirement from the university and largely withdraws from life until a funky little coffee shop called The Laurel Tree opens in his rural small town. There he meets a nerdy woman of indeterminate age who arrives by bicycle each day. Most of the clientele dismiss Daphne as simpleminded or quirky but Stuart is intrigued.”
After noting a literary clue hidden in the name of Daphne’s German shepherd, Corin, Stuart becomes suspicious of the enigmatic woman’s true identity. And the more he delves, the more intrigued he becomes. With its small-town cafe setting and eclectic cast of characters, Shepherd invites readers to take a seat at the counter, listen in as bits of each person’s life story gradually emerge, and cheer them on as they shepherd one another through the challenges of everyday life.
Richard Matturro holds a doctorate in English, specializing in Shakespeare and Greek Mythology. A retired Times Union librarian and U/Albany English professor, he frequently teaches classes at the Berkshire area chapter of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) and volunteers as a summer docent at Arrowhead, Herman Melville’s historic homestead in Pittsfield, MA.
Shepherd is Matturro’s seventh published novel. Previous works include three modern-day works set in upstate NY cities (Luna in Albany, Janey in Schenectady, Leslie in Troy) and three novels based on Greek mythology (Troy, Perseus, Medea). But don’t let the ancient subjects scare you away! Matturro has an amazing, truly enviable, ability to bring mythological characters, settings, and adventures to life in a way that makes these page-turning books abundantly relevant and difficult to put down.
When asked about his writing routines, Matturro replies: “If it's a blank page in front of me, I create best in the morning; but I can rewrite anytime, night or day. For me, rewriting is the fun part. But to get to that part you have to write something first that admittedly might be terrible (and probably is), but that's what rewrites are for. To keep your audience, you must make every page interesting. You can't include something just because you like it, especially if the reader may find it boring. If something means that much to you that you absolutely must include it, then you had better write it in such a way that your reader will find it fascinating!”
At heart, Shepherd is a story about grief and the courage it takes to emerge from the darkness of deep loss and forge a new life. Beautifully written with humor and sensitivity, Shepherd is a richly layered, feel-good story that leaves you wishing it didn’t have to end.
