User:H.M. Talbot/Myra Brooks Welch

Myra Brooks Welch Myra Brooks Welch (1877-1959) was a poet and the author of the poem "The Touch of the Master's Hand." The poem was published anonymously on February 26, 1921 in The Gospel Messenger (a periodic publication of Brethren Press). This is I have pieced together from a number of sites, most of which include the story of Welch's later life, when she continued writing despite suffering extreme arthritis. Wheelchair-bound, Welch is said to have typed her poetry one letter at a time, using an upside-down pencil in each hand to depress the keys of her typewriter. Having lost the use of her legs and the dexterity of her fingers, Welch was forced to give up her life-long love for playing the organ. She instead became a poet, and was called "the poet with the singing soul."

"The Touch of the Master's Hand" is available as a book published by Stellar Books (2007). The book includes illustrations by Greg Newbold. Older publications include "The Touch of the Master's Hand: With Ninety Other Poems" (1942); "The Touch of the Master's Hand: and Ninety-three Other Poems" (1957); and "The Touch of the Master's Hand: With One Hundred Other Poems" (1946). These books are out of print, but are sold by Amazon.com resellers.

Brethren publishing prints one book on the poet "The Story Behind The Touch of the Master's Hand: the Life of Myra Brooks Welch" by Wendy McFadden (with photos by Phil Grout). The cover accreditation reads: "Story by Wendy McFadden." In a newspaper or magazine article, the "story by" accreditation isn't uncommon as a way of phrasing a byline. On a book cover, however, it suggests more fiction than historically accurate biography. Since I can find NOTHING else on Welch's life--nothing that's cited, anyway--I suppose I will have to buy the book to finish this wikipedia article.

Can anyone help?