Wednesday, March 2, 2011

IN LOVING MEMORY

“Wednesday morning at 7:00, with a view of snow flakes falling into the garden, and soft piano music playing, I bid farewell to my love. My best friend.” ~Neil Wolfson (Husband of Lisa Kay Wolfson aka LK Madigan)
It has been a week since the world lost a beloved wife, mother, and YA author, LK Madigan. My heart ached when I heard the news of her death. I didn’t know her personally, but hearing that the world lost another talented writer really hit home.

I first discovered LK when researching agents to query. While choosing which agent to query from the Andrea Brown Agency, I saw that Jennifer Laughran had a client who was about to release The Mermaid’s Mirror. I smiled, and felt an invisible and immediate connection to LK. Maybe it was a kindred mermaid souls thing, or maybe it was just how sweet and genuine LK seemed on her website and blog, but I was an instant fan.

Another kindred mermaid soul and beautiful writer, Tricia O’Brien, first told me about LK’s gut-wrenching diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. My heart hurt for her back then, and I cried when Tricia said she had passed away. Life is so unfair sometimes.

As a writer, I can’t help but think how many stories she will never be able to share with the world because her time ended too soon. Then I read this on her website, and tears rolled down my cheeks all over again:

“FLASH BURNOUT was published in October 2009. My second young adult novel, a fantasy titled THE MERMAID’S MIRROR, just came out this fall. I hope to write and publish many more books in the future … I have more story ideas than time to write them all."
Not enough time indeed. It’s so tragically unfair.

So many lives are lost much too soon because of many types of cancer. I pray--as do many--that one day a cure for this devastating disease will be discovered.

In the meantime, don’t take life for granted.

Tell the people you love how much they mean to you, because you don’t know how much time you have left with them. And follow your dreams diligently, because you don’t know how much time you have left to make them come true.

Here’s to LK: to her talent, her beauty, her bravery, her successes, and her loved ones. May she be blissfully exploring a place so beautiful that no writer could ever adequately describe it with mortal words.

~In Loving Memory~

You can read Neil’s recent message to readers of LK’s blog here:

You can read how brave and strong LK (Lisa) was in this post:


23 comments:

  1. What a beautiful, beautiful post, Karen. It's always sad to hear someone young, talented, inspiring, has left this lifetime, but their ripples wash over us. Thanks, to you and LK, for reminding me to live for, and celebrate, today.

    Much love,
    Nicole

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  2. I didn't know her but this makes me so sad. I'm sorry. :-(
    Thank you for the reminder this morning.

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  3. This was wonderful Karen, absolutely beautiful. What an awesome reminder and how fantastic that she fought for as long as she did. A beautiful person will definitely to be missed.

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  4. I did not know her, but from all the love and sadness I have seen following the loss, she must have been a beautiful soul. You've done her a lovely honor here I think Karen, but I'm still so sorry for all who have endured the loss.

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  5. What a lovely tribute Karen. The loss of artists in our midst always saddens me. - G

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  6. I hate to hear of talented people dying too young. Worse still when children are left behind. That just hurts.

    An eloquent tribute, good lady. Thank you.

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  7. The writing community lost a wonderful writer and person. I look forward to reading her novels! My thoughts and prayers are with her family.

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  8. Beautifully said, Karen. We can't change the unfairness, but we can strive to make every day meaningful. You do a good job of that here.

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  9. This is a gorgeous post, Karen. It's heart-breaking that Lisa's time was so short -- and it reminds all of us to treasure the time we have.

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  10. Such a wonderful and beautiful tribute, Karen. Well said. :-)

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  11. Awe...wow. This was a beautiful tribute! Got teary eyed when I read that quote...so sad.

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  12. Life is soul- and gut-wrenching, especially when it comes to cancer. It is a cursed thing.

    Your post is, I'm sure, among the many tributes to her. Thanks for this.

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  13. I heard this too and it was saddened. This is such a wonderful tribute and thank you for the links.

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  14. I read about it too and it was so sad. I lost a good friend to cancer in college and I always think of her when someone too young dies.

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  15. So sad, but what a loving tribute. I think one reason we all write is to share our words with others and maybe touch a few lives along the way. I believe she succeeded in doing that and you are proof of that.

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  16. This is beautiful. A good friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, but she was lucky enough to have caught it early and survived it all. I can't imagine what LK's family is going through right now.

    On a completely different note, you've got a blog award waiting for you here:
    http://tabithaolson.blogspot.com/2011/03/one-lovely-blog-award.html

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  17. Dear Karen,
    thank you so very much for your kind words. I am constantly amazed at how many lives Lisa touched with her words, kindness, and enthusiasm.
    Sincerely,
    Neil Wolfson

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  18. You just never know how much time you have in this life eh? Have to make the best of it--every moment.

    On a more positive note, I'm ALSO sending an award your way. I LOVE your artwork up there. http://crystalcollier.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-awards.html

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  19. This is beautiful. Just today, I received both of LK's books. This is very appropriate.

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  20. A tender tribute. So many talented and well-loved people leave our circles every day due to cancer. No one is untouched. Thank you.

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