Al Blanchard, RIP

While attending the New England Crime Bake in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, held this past weekend, Al Blanchard died of  a heart attack yesterday. He was the author of several novels, including FATAL DECEPTION and SHATTERED LIVES, both published this year, and served as the president of the MWA’s New England Chapter.

Mike Draper, an unpublished writer who attended the Crime Bake, offers this remembrance:

I met Al for the first time [on November 13] and he struck me as a warm and compassionate man.  He  showed his humor as he introduced other members yesterday morning.  Then today after he spoke he felt ill and asked help to go to his hotel room. When he still felt ill an ambulance was called but Al died on his way to the hospital…they  suspect an embulism.

I hope they celebrate his legacy in years to come  and rename the conference as the Al Blanchard New England Crime Bake.

                  

It only goes to show how precious life is and that we should cherish every moment we have.

                   

No question about that. Condolences to Blanchard’s family and to those who knew him well.