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Local artist illustrates part of an anthology

Nationally-known illustrator Joe Servello of Altoona has collaborated with author William Kotzwinkle for “The Case of the Naked Butterfly,” recently published as part of a Sherlock Holmes-themed anthology.

Published by Pegasus Crime, “For the Sake of the Game: Stories Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon” is available for ordering at Barnes & Noble, Altoona. The hardcover book is edited by Laurie A. King and Leslie S. Klinger.

He has previously collaborated with Kotzwinkle on two children’s books: “Troubles in Bugland” and “Double Trouble in Bug Land.” Servello, 86, estimates he’s completed “over 50” book illustration projects.

“The Case of the Naked Butterfly,” recounts the triumph of good vs evil through a comic-strip short story featuring various insects. “He is a very good writer,” Servello said of Kotzwinkle. “Everything is very complete in the story and he does a lot of research on the insects so it includes a lot of true things.”

The editors provided very strict parameters which increased the illustrative challenge.

“I tried (and succeeded) in keeping it to 10 pages,” Servello said. “You have to picture all the words on the page as well as the illustrations and stay within the page limit.”

The characters wear 1890s-period clothing and are inspired by relationship and identities of Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson. A Praying Mantis, named Inspector Mantis, represents Holmes and a cricket called Dr. Hopper portrays Dr. Watson. The evil-doer, Spangleworm, is a worm in all sense of the word.

Servello is proud to be included in the anthology which features stories by well-known suspense authors such as Peter S. Beagle, Rhys Brown, Alan Gordon, Weston Ochse and others.

Servello created the very-detailed ink drawings in about a month, completing a page every three or four days.

Staff writer Patt Keith is at 949-7030.

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