In memoriam

The thanksgiving hiatus made me lose track of some things, and alarmingly, a lot of good and important writers passed on during the last week. A brief note for each to remember them for their work:

Larry Brown, the Mississippi-based writer of well-regarded books like FATHER AND SON and THE BOOK OF JOE, died at the age of 53.

Joseph Hansen broke serious ground in the mystery genre as one of the first to feature a gay private detective and take an honest look at their world. He died on November 24 at the age of 81.

Arthur Hailey was best known for his people-in-peril thrillers like AIRPORT and HOTEL, as well as the life of luxury he led in the Bahamas. Though a Brit, he emigrated to Canada in the late 1940s and the country’s fast claiming him as one of their own.  He died last Wednesday at the age of 84.

Finally, one of my favorite writers from my childhood has passed on at the age of 76 (third item.) Willo Davis Roberts had just completed her 100th book before her death on November 19, but the one I remember best was 1980’s THE GIRL WITH THE SILVER EYES.

RIP to all; they will be missed.