 | 5 Oct 09 |
It’s been almost one year (short by just ONE day) since I posted my first blog here on MSW. Where has the year gone? An ENTIRE year?
Despite my shock at the passing of time, it certainly feels like October today. It’s fifty degrees outside right now, which is pretty darn cold for Southern California. If I weren’t contaminated by the conference bug I picked up at Lora Leigh’s RAW last week, I’d welcome the change in temperature. As it is, though, being chilly while sick is no fun.
Looking back on the past year, I have to say that things haven’t turned out at all the way I anticipated. What I thought would come to fruition by this time, hasn’t. And things I NEVER thought would happen in a million years, did. I’m not lamenting the way everything turned out or even that I couldn’t have predicted any of it. A lot of it was fabulous, and I love being surprised by the twists and turns that life takes. Unpredictability keeps me on my toes and keeps things interesting. Which is the fodder for fiction, of course.
However, the passing of Kate Duffy has been a huge blow. She was very dear to me. In addition to buying twelve books from me in three years (to the very day), she held my hand through the trials and tribulations I experienced through multiple agents and editors. She was a tireless champion for my work and a wonderful mentor. She taught me so much about writing and the publishing industry. She was blunt and truthful to a fault, which I adored. She was rare in her ability and willingness to nurture authors. No matter what premise I came up with, she’d let me run with it. “You lead,” she’d say, “I’ll follow.” She never hesitated to make an author feel special and valued. Whenever the negotiations for new contracts was finished, she’d call me and say, “Thank you for allowing Kensington to publish your wonderful books. It’s an honor.”
It was an honor to write for her. I feel so blessed to have had the chance to do so for as long as I did. I became a better writer because I strove to earn the esteem she had for me. Through her, I learned how wonderful the author/editor relationship can be. I hope one day soon I’ll be able to think of her without crying, as I’m doing now.
Sylvia Day, Kate Duffy, Jill Shalvis
To celebrate my one year anniversary here at MSW, I’m giving away my entire Brava backlist (the books I wrote for Kate) to one commenter. Thanks for chatting with me over the last year!
© 2009, Sylvia Day. All rights reserved.
Sylvia Day is the national bestselling, award-winning author of seventeen novels. A wife and mother of two, she is a former Russian linguist for the U.S. Army Military Intelligence. In addition to her novels, she's written numerous novellas and short stories for both print and electronic-original release. Sylvia's work has been called an "exhilarating adventure" by Publishers Weekly and "wickedly entertaining" by Booklist. Her stories have been translated into Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, German, Czech, Italian, and Thai. She's been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, the EPPIE award, the National Readers' Choice Award, and multiple finalist nominations for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award of Excellence.
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First, I had very limited interactions with Kate, yet I mourn her passing. I can only imagine the sadness and grief of someone who knew her well. You were blessed to have had her as your mentor.
You say it’s been a year already; I say, has it only been a year? It seems I’ve been your posts a lot longer.
by Terry Odell October 5th, 2009 at 3:53 amJust saw this at Smart Bitches:
by Terry Odell October 5th, 2009 at 3:59 amI’m very happy to read this! Thank you for posting it.
by S. J. Day October 5th, 2009 at 5:40 pmI am new to the world of blogging and responding. I just recently found your site and check it daily. Having not known Kate Duffy I can only image your loss. I know when we lose someone in our lives, it takes a small part from us and impacts our lives in a different direction from then on, be it small or massive. I would guess to say that your loss will one day appear in your books as a tribute to a wonderful lady that touched your life (and a fitting tribute that would be). On another note, congratulations on your one year anniversary. Time does have a way of speeding by us even though there our days we think will never end.
by Pamela October 5th, 2009 at 5:38 amWe go through life touching other people, sometimes intentionally, but most often serendipitously. I don’t actually “know” any of you, although I’ve read some of your work, and I never knew of Kate Duffy until she was gone, but I certainly wish I’d had the honor of meeting such a wonderful person.
Sylvia, you must be devastated at her loss.
by Karen in Ohio October 5th, 2009 at 6:06 amI am. I loved her dearly.
by S. J. Day October 5th, 2009 at 5:40 pmI was never lucky enough to meet Kate, only talked with her over blogs. I’m so sorry for everyone’s loss. From all I’ve read she was one amazing lady.
I only found this blog a few months ago, but love coming by each day.
by Liza October 5th, 2009 at 6:20 amKate Duffy sounds like a great editor and mentor. She’s missed by everyone I know who worked with her.
Congrats on your MSW anniversary!
by Edie October 5th, 2009 at 6:29 amHi Sylvia
by RKCharron October 5th, 2009 at 6:34 amThank you for this personal post.
I hope you get well soon, and that you rest & recuperate.
Congratulations on your 1 Year Blog Anniversary!
Love & Best Wishes to you & yours,
RKCharron
xoxo
I finally found Eve of Chaos (sorry, at the library) … loving it.
I do hope that this past year has brought you to a place where you can look back and say “oh, yeah, THAT was what the universe had in mind….good to know.” Things can get so crazy, it can be hard to keep your feet while you’re going with the flow. And it seems like everyone who knew her had a reason to be rocked by Kate’s passing–I never had the chance to meet her, but she seems to have had a real impact on everyone she met, and don’t we all wish we could live up to that kind of billing? I’m sure she’s looking in from the other side with a wistful smile of pleasure at having lived her life wide, with some sorrow of her own at the people she left behind. I’m sure you had a big impact on her, as well.
As seems appropriate on an anniversary of any kind…may the next year bring you only good news to share!
by Lorena October 5th, 2009 at 7:03 amHi Lorena,
I don’t mind at all that you picked up EVE OF CHAOS in the library! I love libraries.
And I’m in total agreement with the “everything happens for a reason.” It just takes hindsight to see it.
by S. J. Day October 5th, 2009 at 5:38 pmI am so sorry for all who knew Kate Duffy. It sounds like she was a wonderful person who I missed the opportunity of knowing. Her passing seems to be quite a blow to the authors I know and love.
Congratulations on your anniversary. It’s a pleasure to have you here.
by Erika October 5th, 2009 at 7:40 amCongratulations on your MSW anniversary. My condolences on the death of your friend. What a bittersweet time for you.
by GSM October 5th, 2009 at 7:44 amWhat a lovely tribute! Get well soon, darlin’!
by Debra Webb October 5th, 2009 at 7:44 amKate Duffy was a larger-than-life character in the romance world; it will definitely not be the same without her.
Very sweet tribute to give away your Brava backlist, Sylvia! What a nice idea.
by Louisa Edwards October 5th, 2009 at 9:01 amI wasn’t lucky enough to have met Kate either, but I’ve heard so much about her that I know she will be missed.
Your post was lovely. As an aspring author, I’m sad to know I’ll never get the chance to be rejected (or accepted) by Kate.
by Sabrina October 5th, 2009 at 9:12 amHappy Anniversary To You On A Great Year….
.
by Raquel October 5th, 2009 at 9:24 amI never had the pleasure of meeting Kate, but heard her speak a number of times on panels. What a loss to the romance industry. So sad.
by Maureen McGowan October 5th, 2009 at 9:24 amSorry for all’s lost with the passing of Kate. It’s never easy losing someone dear to you.. just remember, though she may not be there physically, in spirit she’s hovering close!
by Raonaid Luckwell October 5th, 2009 at 9:36 amWow, if it’s been a year for you, then it’s been a year for me. Is that possible? I would have said six months, max. Wow.
Beautiful tribute to Kate, Syl. Our industry is so much richer because she was in it. Don’t cry. She wouldn’t want you to. She’d want you to write like the wind, to lead…so she could follow you.
xoxo
by Roxanne St. Claire October 5th, 2009 at 9:40 amCongrats on a year at MSW blogging. I’m sorry you lost a dear friend. From the sound of it everyone loved her.
by Brandy W October 5th, 2009 at 9:47 amCongrats on your first anniversary!
by Barbara October 5th, 2009 at 9:52 amGood morning, I hope that you feel much better soon. Try a hot toddy: pour a tsp of honey, a tsp of lemon, and a shot of whiskey into a coffee cup of boiling hot water. Let cool until safe to drink. Then, drink and dash off to sleep.
When you lose anyone, it hurts. My heart goes out to you.
by Gina Gallo October 5th, 2009 at 9:56 amHappy blogoversary Sylvia, even if it is a bittersweet one. Congrats on all you have accomplished and also on appreciating when life took a different turn, as it inevitably does.
I never had the opportunity to meet Kate Duffy, but she sounds like an absolutely wonderful person, by all accounts. And not only has she made the lives of so many authors richer, but also of so many readers, who are blessed to be able to enjoy your work!
I’m sorry for your loss, and hope we can all pay it forward a little for the up-and-coming folks in our worlds.
~bella
by Bella October 5th, 2009 at 9:57 amGreat tribute for Kate Duffy. I hope she has mentor many editors in addition to her authors. It would be great if there were more nice people out there in the world.
by Chris Roberts October 5th, 2009 at 10:03 amWonderful tribute to Kate Duffy. She sounds like she was a great person.
by CrystalGB October 5th, 2009 at 11:01 amCongrats on your one year anniversary.
I am saddened by the grief I see everyone feeling for Kate and by the fact I never had the priviledge to meet such a wonderful woman that so many cared for.
by Jill James October 5th, 2009 at 11:53 amCongrats on your 1 yr anniversary!! It seems like you all have to remember all the good times you had with Kate Duffy.
by QLady48 October 5th, 2009 at 12:08 pmyour post made me think of this song.
By the Bryds’, Turn Turn Turn
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven
A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
by Karin Tabke October 5th, 2009 at 12:15 pmA time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time of peace, I swear it’s not too late!
Actually, the lyrics are from Ecclesiastes and first set to music by Pete Seeger, but the Byrds’ version is the most memorable one. (OK, I’m old and remember justifying listening to that song by telling my parents that they shouldn’t dis the music we were listening to back then). Good song, good message either way.
Crawling back under my rock now.
by Terry Odell October 5th, 2009 at 1:19 pmI’m loving these bits and pieces about Kate Duffy that are being shared. I hardly knew of her existence, but I’m sure she had a mighty impact on what I read. Her loss will be felt by us all (and has been, just through all these wonderful memories). And what better tribute, than giving away ‘her’ books!
Do get well soon, S.J., and congrats on your blogoversary.
by ms bookjunkie October 5th, 2009 at 12:32 pmHappy Blog Anniversary, Sylvia!
My condolences to Kate Duffy’s family and all the authors she mentored. I’ve read about her passing on various author sites and blogs – I wish I had the opportunity to thank her for all the wonderful books I have read because of her mentoring skills.
by Mary October 5th, 2009 at 2:52 pmI hope someone will compile a list of “Kate Duffy-isms”. Those of us who never met her could learn from them!
Wow…a year? I tumbled across MSW not long after the site opened. Getting to know each of you, to visit with you as I start my day (or end it if I’m snowed under), has been a real highlight! Here’s to another year! CHEERS, Sylv!
by Silver James October 5th, 2009 at 3:29 pmWow, happy anniversary. I’ve seen quite a bit around the web in tribute to Kate Duffy. That goes to show she must have been an exceptional lady and will be missed by many, many people. My condolences on the loss of such a wonderful woman and editor.
by Barbara Elness October 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pmVery sweet and poignant blog for Kate Duffy, she’s reading from up above and would be proud of everything you’ve accomplished. I feel lucky that I was able to meet her and talk to her, because she was truly knowledgeable and she loved books and writers, evident in everything she said and did. An amazing woman.
by Allison Brennan October 5th, 2009 at 5:09 pmShe loved your books, Allison. I remember how excited she was when I introduced you to her in the bar in Dallas.
by S. J. Day October 5th, 2009 at 5:43 pmWonderful tribute, Sylvia. I’d met Kate a number of times but was never fortunate enough to work with her. She will be missed in the romance industry.
by Liz Kreger October 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pmFrom everything people have written about Ms. Duffy, she seemed to be an amazing woman and tireless champion of the romance genre. I can only imagine how deeply her loss will be felt by those who knew her best. Good journey Kate.
by catie james October 6th, 2009 at 2:38 amWhat a great tribute and lovely post, Sylvia. Kate Duffy has definitely had a positive impact on many people, especially because of the authors she encouraged.
Happy Anniversary!
by Karin October 6th, 2009 at 4:14 pmSyl, I’m sorry for your loss. I can only imagine how hard it was for you and remember you mentioning Kate during RAW. I’m glad you were able to learn so much from Kate as I’ve heard wonderful stories about her and how much she’s done for the romance industry.
Happy one year Anniversary on MSW
by Ali October 8th, 2009 at 1:04 pmI’ve loved all your Sylvia Day books and now am hooked on your SJ Day books…and am on the edge of my seat waiting for new releases! You’re a terrific writer—don’t stop!
by pc October 18th, 2009 at 8:34 am[...] One Year and Counting [...]
by Off The Cuff | Murder She Writes October 19th, 2009 at 2:09 am