We'll Miss You, Anne
I just discovered today, via Rose Fox at Genreville, that Anne McCaffrey died on August 21st. Locus has a short memorium available online, and will be running a full obituary in print in January.
Back probably eight years ago now, I had the opportunity to work with Anne on an essay for Gale's autobio project while I was an in house editor. She is one of those shining memories of an author who was not only an absolute delight to work with, but in all regards a very classy and gracious individual. Even then, she was cutting back on her workload, and cowriting books with her son, because her health was deteriorating. She wrote in her essay (which you can find in Something about the Author volume 152, which was published in 2005, and may be available in print or electronically through your local library), that she had been thrilled to have one of her novels travel to space with NASA astronaut Colonel Pamela Melroy -- a story that I think of every time I encounter one of Anne's novels in the bookstore.
Her autobiography is delightful, and well worth reading, especially as we celebrate her life. I feel lucky to have gotten to work with her, albeit briefly, as my life is greater for her presence in it.
Back probably eight years ago now, I had the opportunity to work with Anne on an essay for Gale's autobio project while I was an in house editor. She is one of those shining memories of an author who was not only an absolute delight to work with, but in all regards a very classy and gracious individual. Even then, she was cutting back on her workload, and cowriting books with her son, because her health was deteriorating. She wrote in her essay (which you can find in Something about the Author volume 152, which was published in 2005, and may be available in print or electronically through your local library), that she had been thrilled to have one of her novels travel to space with NASA astronaut Colonel Pamela Melroy -- a story that I think of every time I encounter one of Anne's novels in the bookstore.
Her autobiography is delightful, and well worth reading, especially as we celebrate her life. I feel lucky to have gotten to work with her, albeit briefly, as my life is greater for her presence in it.