Doing research for the forthcoming Book Supplement by reading old Patricia Holt reviews in the San Francisco Chronicle archives from the 1990s, and all I have to say is ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ zyzzyva.org/2023/03/13/…

“In her column, she championed local authors, often ignored by East Coast critics and publishers, as well as independent presses and bookstores. Pat was a Joan of Arc of sorts, taking on in print a new website with monopolistic potential—Amazon—and otherwise serving as a pillar of integrity who put readers and authors first […]

Pat was fiercely loyal to her friends and colleagues. When an editorial assistant with AIDS went to London, a trip on his bucket list, and fell seriously ill, Pat flew over to be with him so he wouldn’t die alone. When Alix’s father was dying in New York and she couldn’t afford to see him, she told Alix to use her credit card. But at the airport, Alix called to say the airline wouldn’t accept it from her, so Pat jumped in her car and zoomed to SFO to sign the bill—and Alix got on the plane.” —Zyzyvva