Novalyne Price Ellis (March 9, 1908 – March 30, 1999) was an American schoolteacher and writer who became close friends with and occasionally dated famed

pulp fiction ''Pulp Fiction'' is a 1994 American crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, who conceived it with Roger Avary.See, e.g., King (2002), pp. 185–7; ; Starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhame ...

writer Robert E. Howard.

Biography

Price was for the most part raised on a farm in Brownwood, Texas. With aspirations of becoming a writer, Price became a school teacher to pay for her education at

Daniel Baker College Daniel Baker College was founded April 5, 1889 in Brownwood, Texas, United States. It was named in memory of the Rev. Dr. Daniel Baker, a Presbyterian circuit-riding minister, who helped organize the first presbytery in Texas in 1840 and Austin ...

and later

Louisiana State University Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 nea ...

. Price taught English,

public speaking Public speaking, also called oratory or oration, has traditionally meant the act of speaking face to face to a live audience. Today it includes any form of speaking (formally and informally) to an audience, including pre-recorded speech deliver ...

and history between 1934 and 1936 at Cross Plains High School. Cross Plains was also home to writer Robert E. Howard, to whom Price had been briefly introduced in 1933. Price initially sought out Howard for advice as to how she could get her writing published. Common interests and personal chemistry created a strong bond of friendship between thm. Despite personality differences, misunderstandings, and unsuccessful attempts to bring their relationship beyond casual dating, Price and Howard remained close until Howard's suicide in 1936. After Howard's death, Price shifted her focus away from a writing career and strove to become a teacher, ultimately remaining in that profession until her retirement. On October 2, 1942 Price married John Douglas Robarts. Robarts was a Second Lieutenant serving in the US Army Infantry. They adopted a child, Marvin Douglas. Price and Robarts were divorced in May 1946. While working as a teacher at Daniel Baker College, Price met and, in 1947, married William Ellis. Price and Ellis resided in

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

and had one son, Marvin Douglas Ellis, born in 1949. Price's love of teaching and gift at

speechwriting A speechwriter is a person who is hired to prepare and write speeches that will be delivered by another person. Speechwriters are employed by many senior-level elected officials and executives in the government and private sectors. They can also be ...

was recognized in 1981 with her admittance into the National Forensic Hall of Fame. Her marriage to Ellis lasted forty-seven years, until Ellis' death in 1994. Price continued living alone in

Lafayette Lafayette or La Fayette may refer to: People * Lafayette (name), a list of people with the surname Lafayette or La Fayette or the given name Lafayette * House of La Fayette, a French noble family ** Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757� ...

, Louisiana until her death at age 91 on March 30, 1999.

Legacy

Throughout her life, Price did sell a number of articles and short stories, but it is her 1986 memoir, ''

One Who Walked Alone ''One Who Walked Alone: Robert E. Howard, The Final Years'' is a memoir of Robert E. Howard by Novalyne Price Ellis. Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. published the book in 1986 with an edition of 800 copies. The book was adapted into the film ...

'', about her relationship with Howard for which she is best known. The 1996 movie, ''

The Whole Wide World ''The Whole Wide World'' is a 1996 American independent biographical film produced and directed by Dan Ireland in his directorial debut. It depicts the relationship between pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard (Vincent D'Onofrio) and schoolteach ...

'', starring

Vincent D'Onofrio Vincent Philip D'Onofrio (; born June 30, 1959) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his supporting and leading roles in both film and television. He has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. His roles include Private Leonar ...

and

Renée Zellweger Renée Kathleen Zellweger (; born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. The recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards, she was one of the world's highest-paid ...

is a direct adaptation of ''One Who Walked Alone''.

Works

*''A Handbook for Student Teachers of Speech'' (1957), Lafayette Senior High School, Lafayette, La *'' One Who Walked Alone: Robert E. Howard, The Final Years'' (1986) *''Day of the Stranger: Further Memories of Robert E. Howard'' (1989)

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Novalyne Price Robert E. Howard 1908 births 1999 deaths People from Abilene, Texas Schoolteachers from Texas 20th-century American educators 20th-century American women educators 20th-century American memoirists American women memoirists 20th-century American women writers Daniel Baker College alumni Louisiana State University alumni