Grateful
Back in 1994, I think it was, and new to the Internet, I joined a Listserv called "Vampyres." I had no clue what I was getting into. One hundred plus messages per day, a conflagration of discussion and debate, original fiction, interactive "virtual parties" or "VP's"...and, oh, yes, meeting folks who I would come to know and love a great deal.
Shortly after joining, it being the Yuletide season, a VP was thrown by one Baron Gideon Redoak, longtime denizen of the Vampyres list. Aka Anne Fraser. At said party, my personal/character became enamoured of one Nicholas Edwards, a character in a cast of dozens created by Anne. He was handsome, a musician and bard, a druid, and a flirt. Pandora came along and changed his life. Again. Thus was inspired a rebirth of creative writing on my part, and a four-year adventure on the part of Pandora and Nicholas. Anne was incredibly generous and gracious in letting me write this character, entwining his eternal life with that of my own. I will always be grateful for her gift, as it not only brought me back to writing after a long absence, it brought me a dear, precious friend who was so creative, funny, caring and intelligent. I will always remember her quick wit --especially her ability with puns. A prolific writer, she has composed countless stories, many in the universe she created long ago, but truly brought to life on the Vampyres list. Her stories are funny, thoughtful, tragic, well-plotted, well-written.
Anne died last night after a lengthy battle with cancer. She didn't want us writing about her illness in our on-line journals, and I respected that. But I wanted to share something of the woman she was and what she meant to me.
My heart is sore, but I am grateful that her close friends were with her, and that her passing was peaceful. Farewell, dear one. Safe and peaceful journey.
Shortly after joining, it being the Yuletide season, a VP was thrown by one Baron Gideon Redoak, longtime denizen of the Vampyres list. Aka Anne Fraser. At said party, my personal/character became enamoured of one Nicholas Edwards, a character in a cast of dozens created by Anne. He was handsome, a musician and bard, a druid, and a flirt. Pandora came along and changed his life. Again. Thus was inspired a rebirth of creative writing on my part, and a four-year adventure on the part of Pandora and Nicholas. Anne was incredibly generous and gracious in letting me write this character, entwining his eternal life with that of my own. I will always be grateful for her gift, as it not only brought me back to writing after a long absence, it brought me a dear, precious friend who was so creative, funny, caring and intelligent. I will always remember her quick wit --especially her ability with puns. A prolific writer, she has composed countless stories, many in the universe she created long ago, but truly brought to life on the Vampyres list. Her stories are funny, thoughtful, tragic, well-plotted, well-written.
Anne died last night after a lengthy battle with cancer. She didn't want us writing about her illness in our on-line journals, and I respected that. But I wanted to share something of the woman she was and what she meant to me.
My heart is sore, but I am grateful that her close friends were with her, and that her passing was peaceful. Farewell, dear one. Safe and peaceful journey.