I loved her voice and asked to represent her work.
We tied the knot.
We worked on her novels, five or six of them over the next ten years or so.
None of them sold.
I looked back at them this weekend, and honestly I still love those books.
When she decided to write romance rather than crime, I knew we needed to call in
the K-team.
I called my friend Holly Root who has a deceptively sweet face,
and a killer sales record.
"Hey Christmas is coming early this year!" I chirped.
Holly took one look at the book that would become Reckless in Texas
and agreed.
Nothing to be done but let the author know.
Here's the post about how that happened.
I was heartbroken to send her off to her next step, but it was all worth while when Kari
got published.
First one, then deals for multiple books.
Rita nomination.
Bestseller lists.
It was fabulous to see Kari's dreams come true.
Dear Readers, this is not going to end well.
My heart is full of sadness. Kari passed away on Friday, August 14.
She battled ovarian cancer with a ferocity that kept her with us for years longer
than it might have.
There are books in the world because she battled so hard.
I will miss her forever.
There will be some kind of memorial for Kari. I don't know what form it will take but I will keep you posted as I know more.
And since we all need to laugh through tears, let's all remember her most popular blog post about sheep.
And the rather mortifying effect it had on me the next Sunday.
54 comments:
OMG :O When I was writing a story and wondering if it should take place in WY or MT, I took a chance and emailed Kari. And she responded with good advice. I am so sorry to read this sad news.
On another social media page, we have a writers page of people that live on this page. I heard of Kari's passing there. I ordered Restless in Texas for my wife and I to read. Not my genre', but good writing is good writing.
I thought of the Kari Lynne Dell flash fiction contest yesterday, and even remembered one of the prompts.
codswallop... it's about how I'm feeling right now.
Awww no!! :(
Not only was Kari a friend to the Shark, but she was a friend to the blog. I'm sure there are many successful published writers who lurk here, but Kari was one of very few who often chipped in her 2 cents, and we were all grateful she did.
A loss to us all.
Like French Sojourn I too learned of Kari's passing on another writer's page this weekend. I bow to her spirit, tenacity and talent. Gone far too soon.
Sad news indeed. I know she was long a favorite of yours and many on here. Condolences to her family.
I'm not sure that I know her but nevertheless I am sorry to hear this news.
So sorry to hear of this. And so grateful for her work, her story...and yes, the sheep. All good thoughts to you and her loved ones.
My sincere condolences, Janet. I thought of you immediately when I read of Kari's death, knowing from this blog you had a long and joyous friendship/agent-author relationship. I always enjoyed reading her western perspective on life.
So sorry, Janet. What a loss. I read through the stories, yours and hers, about sheep. Now I have that voice in my head. I think it's from a cartoon. "Sheep, you durn fool, sheep."
This makes me sad.
RIP Kari and my condolences to her family.
I'm very sorry for your loss, Janet. My condolences go out to her family and friends.
Sincere condolences, Janet. Kari's death is such a huge loss.
Oh, Janet, I'm so very sorry. My prayers to you and to her loved ones as well.
Janet, I know your heart is heavy. I am so sorry for your loss. She seemed like an amazing woman. I read her sheep story (poor dumb sheep), and then I linked through to her Facebook page where she wrote a post of her own. I won't link it, but anyone who wants to take a moment to get to know her can link from her blog.
Prayers.
I am so sorry to hear this news. My condolences to you and all her loved ones.
Oh, man. This is not what I expected when I saw Kari's name at the top of the post. I'm so sorry, Janet. My heart goes out to her family, friends, and fans.
Comforting thoughts, hearts, hugs and love to you, Janet. Here's to a brighter tomorrow.
A beautiful, moving tribute. I did not know Kari, though something tells me she'd deem what you've just written to be the perfect way to honor her life and memory.
Sorry for your loss, Janet.
Godspeed, Kari Dell.
So, so sorry for this loss . . .
This is such sad news. What a woman we have lost.
I am so very sorry to hear it. I have read every book she published and just last month was checking the library for more. It was obvious in her books that she had a huge heart as well as a deft way with a pen. Oh, oh.
May her memory be eternal.
(((Hugs to you, JR)))
somewhere that cowgirl is happily riding, roping, and meeting up with good friends, two legged and four xoxo
I was shocked and saddened to read about Kari's death yesterday. I loved reading her posts and tweets. She will be sorely missed by many.
Hugs, Janet. Ovarian cancer is cruel disease, for it takes people in their full flower. I’m sad that Kari’s legacy will be fewer books than it might have been, and very touched that it is more books than it might have been.
Love that one of your posts about her writing was titled Fabulosity. Your tribute is so lovely. Wish you hadn’t had to write it. Hugs again.
She seemed like such an incredible woman. Even if I hadn't read her comments, etc. previously, that one picture of her is pretty stellar.
I was so sorry to read of her passing. I read her final post on her author page, and I wept. Kari and I have been friends on Twitter, from the time she was Janet's client. She had an amazing outlook on life, and that sheep blog post is etched in my memory.
I'm so sorry for your lost, Janet. (((hugs)))
Such sad news. She must have dealt with it privately, which, from what little I know, seems very much like her.
I remember the Kari Lynn Dell flash fiction contest like it just happened, but I'm sure it's been a couple years. Oh, codswollop. She will be missed greatly, I'm sure.
Words fail me, so please accept my condolences.
There are numerous versions of this quote attributed to numerous people. I keep this one on my desk:
"Dying is easy. Living, that's the trick."
Oh, how Kari lived.
Janet, I'm so sorry to hear this. It was obvious, through your posts over the years, how much you admired her. My heart goes out to you and to all those who knew and loved Kari.
What a terrific writer and a terrible loss. I'm grateful for the body of work Kari Lynn Dell leaves behind, tenacity matched only by her talent. May her memory be a blessing and a frequent occasion for inappropriate laughter.
Thank you for reposting Kari Lynn's sheep blog post, Janet. I feel like a genius for keeping my rejected twin lamb Bucky alive for a year when I was seven, until he went off to live on a proper farm (or so they told me). The best thing about Bucky was his ability to knock my toddler sister on to her well-padded keister. She found it hilarious, usually.
Toasting Kari Lynn and the blessed stupidity of sheep with my morning mocha.
Kari's goodbye Facebook post is as crisply-written, astute, and funny as everything else she wrote. She described our Janet as having "the perfect mixture of unmatched integrity and brutal honesty", which about sums it up. I'm glad I got to know Kari's writing through you, Janet. That recommendation has been a gift to me. I've leaned on her books when I desperately needed to be transported elsewhere. What a fabulous writer. What a gift to us all.
Melanie, you said it well. The world is a better place because Kari was in it.
I am both sad and shocked. I only knew her on Twitter (we joked a bit, usually about horses), and read her blog all the time, but I'm feeling a definite blank space in life today.
I am heartbroken. I didn't know Kari well, but we were Facebook friends. I remember reading the sheep story, and laughing a lot (but also learning a lot--I didn't know sheep did that kind of thing!). Condolences to Janet and all who loved and were touched by Kari.
Very sad to hear this. I will always remember Kari Lynn through Janet's gushing commentaries about her lovely writing.
Grieving with you all today. May Kari's vibrance & her myriad gorgeous words keep breathing life into the world for generations to come.
I read Kari's goodbye post on Facebook this morning. It was so moving and I thought of you Janet. Sorry for the loss of your friend.
I’m so sorry for your loss Janet. I know you’ve often spoken of KLD fondly here and I imagine this hits hard. There are no words.
Kari was the best. I introduced her to some friends of mine and Kari sent her an entire gift basket of her books.
Kari's legacy to all of us is to DO THE THING.
She fought cancer for 6 years. Not just with doctors and medicine, but by living an enormous happy life.
There are no guarantees. DO THE THING. And if you are ever hesitant or afraid, remember a cowgirl, roaring across the dirt roads of Big Sky country in a cherry red Challenger. Yes, an SUV would have been safer and more sensible, but it doesn't matter. Kari Lynn Dell went for it. #dothething
I got the news when it happened and cried all day. Then I thought, maybe it's wrong. I hope it is. Then the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo posted the announcement the next day and I cried again all day.
I'm going to make it, I told myself. Then I got the email from Kari yesterday as I am on her mailing list and cried again. Now I'm crying again. I don't think I am going to make it. This is just so hard.
And if this gnat flies in my face again I am getting the damned shotgun out and shooting it. I'll worry about the wall later.
Today on her facebook page, they posted the farewell that was in the letter to fans.
I was rooming with Kari at the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer's Conference when she and Janet discussed her book might work better as a romance. It was a mystery at the time. We met Janet for breakfast. I was going to excuse myself, but they told me to stay. Janet, was as always completely honest in her evaluation. It was a bit of both and Kari needed to decide whether she wanted to write mystery or romance. It wasn't a mean evaluation, it was an honest one. Kari was riding two horses and while that works well in Roman riding, it's hard to do with genres like mystery and romance.
Kari blanched. She had a tough decision.
I went back to the room to talk to her to talk to her and take my bath. My mother had called before I left and put me late, so I left the water in the tub. I'd just run some more water later and heat it up. Kari slipped back in the room for something and saw the water and let it out.
We were doing the no maid service thing to be eco friendly.
"Huh, all my water leaked out."
"Oh, I let it out. I thought you were like Logan (her son) and forgot to let it out."
We mourned the wasted clean water. Then discussed what she was going to do while more water ran.
Kari was also the runner for the gourmet cupcakes that year. Dear Lord, did she stock us up on cupcakes. They were huge so we cut them in fourths and put them out on plates in the lobby and offered them to anyone who passed by. Gourmet cupcakes are awesome bait for great conversations with authors, agents, editors, and hotel people who were very understanding as we were feeding them also. I'm sure not all hotels are as understanding.
A group of us from the Litforum and sundry others had taken up the donation for the cupcake bait and we sent Kari out scouting as she had the car. She was a pretty good cupcake hunter.
I was supposed to interview her for a podcast this year, but she got busy calving and then with the book and I got busy with some other things. A lesson never to put things off.
There will never be another woman like her. I cannot believe she is gone. My heart is broken. She is one of the very few people I trust to read westerns by because she gets it right.
"Help us, Lord, to live our lives in such a manner that when we make that last inevitable ride to the country up there, where the grass grows lush, green and stirrup high, and the water runs cool, clear and deep, that you, as our last Judge, will tell us that our entry fees are paid."
From the Cowboy's Prayer by Clem McSpadden.
I'm sure her entry fees are paid in full. Fair winds, my friend.
My condolences, Janet.
So sorry to hear this. I didn’t know Kari except through this community, but her posts were always a delight. Heartfelt condolences to each of you who knew and loved her.
Janet, I am so sorry to hear this news. It is sad when the world loses a talented writer/artist. It is tragic to lose a dear friend. That many, if not all of us, have experienced this before, doesn't lessen your pain of this loss. The grief and pain of losing a kindred spirit is an almost unbearable weight.
Your loss makes me feel all my losses as if they just happened again.
I am so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences.
I'm so sorry for your loss, Janet - and for everyone else who knew her. After reading her final post, I'm especially sorry that I did not. But what a legacy she left.
I have two friends battling ovarian cancer right now (both also talented artists and horsewomen)and one who is, thankfully, a survivor, so that part hits close to home.
Janet and Julie (and any others who knew Kari), I'm so terribly sorry for your loss. I wish I could give you a hug.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I love Kari Dell Lynn’s books and am sad there won’t be any more new ones with her wonderful voice.
I heard this awful news last night and cried off and on for hours. Even though I expected to find this post here today, reading these words is no less painful. Thank you, Janet, for writing it and for sharing Kari's work with us over the years, and again today. Sheep, man.
Kari had such a wonderful way of being plainspoken about the harsh realities of ranching, of Montana, of life, while also insisting we see the beauty and humour of it all. She was such a bright light and I admired her greatly.
Julie, thank for you sharing memories of Kari. I know it's painful, but it helps. I've missed your voice over here and this was a gift.
This loss is going to sit with me for a while.
So sorry to hear of Kari's passing.
Cancer sucks. So sorry for your loss, and that of Kari’s family.
Oh Janet, and Julie, it's hard to type through the blurry eyes. I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for the stories you've shared about this inspirational writer and friend. (hugs)
I heard about this through a friend on FB. Kari was a terrific writer. To everyone who knew her (in RL or otherwise), I'm sorry to hear of her passing. What a profound loss. I had hoped to meet her someday.
I scrolled through to find this b/c I knew there would be wonderful comments by all, and of course, Julie Weathers never fails to step up to the plate with such a personal touch.
I didn't know why KLD passed, and now I do. I second what Brenda said, cancer does indeed suck.
The fact that we all remember Kari Lynn Dell as we do, from that first post about the sheep - good grief, those sheep - to what Janet said about her, to the FF contest held in her honor, her leaving simply blows a hole straight through the writing community at large.
I have to believe the picture below is one she took. And the long lonesome highway that looks like it's leading to the heavens is one I'm sure she traveled. God speed.
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