This is the time of year that I sadly pay tribute to the writers who left us and also left endearing memories. Lorraine Stephens and Maureen "Sadie" Dell were two very different writers but both were deeply loved by the many people who knew them.
Lorraine was one of the founders of Wings ePress. I've never known anyone who was so deeply devoted to helping struggling writers and giving them a chance in the publishing world. While she wasn't my first publisher, she did publish my first submitted romance novel, A Caribbean Summer. She was also my editor for that book. After I had returned the galley, she e-mailed me with the message that she hoped I had more manuscripts for submission. What a thrill that was! When I sent her my query letter for Amorous Ambush, ending with "May I submit the full manuscript?", she replied one word, "Absolutely!". As with many of the authors at Wings, I shall always be indebted to her.
Maureen "Sadie" Dell was a different kind of writer, an old-fashioned story teller among other things. I met Sadie online in 1999 on the old AOL British message board: Food, Glorious Food! It was in the international section of the message boards. I was planning to go to England that summer to visit my two granddaughters who lived in Cornwall at that time and I wanted to get acquainted with English cuisine. Sadie posted recipes every day and many times had personal stories to go along with them. When AOL began to disband the international boards, I told Sadie about other food message boards, especially Comfort Food. She transferred over and my friends there fell in love with her. When I returned from my England visit, I asked Sadie for her recipe for Cornish pasties, one of my favorites. But over the years she shared many, many recipes from England. She married an American after World War II and lived in Colorado. Her stories of being an English bride living in America were poignant and even hilarious.
Two lovely ladies who made the world a much better place: Lorraine and Sadie.
7 comments:
I'm sorry for your loss. I never knew either lady but your post makes me wish I had met them both.
Thank you, Catherine, for your very kind comments.
I too knew Lorraine and so appreciated her positivity and encouragement! The writing world and the world in general is richer for the time she spent with us.
I did not know the other lady but so wish I did! She sounds just wonderful! Thank you for sharing your memories Pat!
Thanks, Camille! I guess that you and I met Lorraine about the same time and I think she made a big difference in both our lives.
Your tribute to both women was touching, and I'll miss Lorraine, too. I didn't know the other woman, but you've made me wish I did. Lovely blog!
A lovely tribute, Pat.
Happy New Year.
Thank you, Marja and Marilyn! It's such an honor to have known two ladies who did so much for others.
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