Sachs, Harley L.
January 31, 1931—
Place of Birth: Chicago, IL
Place of Principle Residence: Houghton, MI and Portland, OR
Biography
Harley L. Sachs was born to Miriam and Jack Sachs in Chicago, IL on January 31, 1931. Although he spent his childhood years in Illinois and Indiana, Sachs traveled a considerable amount in his earlier years. Before settling down and raising a family with his wife, Ulla Deborah, Sachs lived in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Scotland. He attended Indiana University from 1953 – 1957 earning his M.A.T. and B.A. respectively, and also Indiana Christian where he received his PhD in 1971. Sachs got his start writing trade magazine articles and has been a freelance writer since the 1950’s. He is currently a freelance author and contributing editor for the Northern Express (weekly newspaper of Traverse City, MI). The majority of Sachs writings are fiction novels, but he has also written numerous essays, articles, and a collection of poetry. Sachs and Ulla have three children: Anna-Lena, Belinda, and Cynthia, and live in Houghton, MI and Portland, OR.
Selected Works:
- Irma Quarterback Reports
- Threads of the Covenant
- Never Trust a Talking Horse
- Scratch Out
Awards:
- 1981 Upper Peninsula of Michigan Writers Association’s Writer of the Year
- 1988 First prize for essay Alzheimers by the H.G. Roberts Foundation
- 1989 Award of excellence for Mouse Traps in the Classroom from Chicago chapter of STC
- 1989 Society for Technical Communication Award for Excellence
- 1990 Ed Powers Humor Award for Getting the Boating Bug from Irma Quarterdeck Reports
- 1990 Ed Powers Humor Award, Upper Peninsula of Michigan Writers
- 1992 UP Writers Association First Prize for essay, Summer’s Last Hurrah
- 1997 Ed Powers Memorial Award for Humor for Ejaculating with Zane Grey
- 1997 Upper Peninsula of Michigan Writers prize for My Brag Book
Critical Response:
Critics and readers alike praise Sachs for his stylistic humor and ability to create fun, entertaining characters in his fiction. Labeled as a “sharp-witted, imaginative crafter of mysteries”, Sachs has been praised for his talent for producing “sizzling” plots full of adventure and humor that instantly pull readers into the story.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work
Throughout his life, Harley L. Sachs has always enjoyed traveling and the variety of going to different places. For the last several years, Sachs and his wife have continued to travel by splitting their year between Portland, Oregon, and Newbury, Michigan—located in the Upper Peninsula. It is in the Upper Peninsula where Sachs feels inspired to write, and dedicates every summer to writing a book.