From pillar to post, I am driven, it seems

It's been an emotionally draining day, in various different ways. I started the day at the doctor's, where me & Icke Bebe-to-be got clean bills of health, and then went off to run some errands. Just before walking into Bed Bath & Beyond, I checked my handheld, and saw an email from Dave O'Brien, who's been co-writing Anna Grayson and The Order of Merlin with his daughter Katie. Some of you may know that katie was diagnosed with leukemia last year, then went into remission, but the cancer resurfaced at the end of last year, and Dave let us know that she tragically died earlier this month. You can read his post here . I know slytherincess already linked to it, but really, the things that Katie got out of fandom, and writing and the community of friends she found online are so important, and I'm holding tight to the idea - to the fact - that in some way, her dream of being a writer was fulfilled by being a part of this fandom - a part of this community.
So while I'm working on a reply to her father, I get a call, out of the blue, from NPR, who want to talk with me about fanfiction and why it's different from the Wizard People Dear Reader movie and WB's refusal of a license for him to show the film with his narrative track. So I'm supposedly going to be on NPR next week - if I know in advance, when, then I'll post about it.

I know I still owe the ship opinion meme, and I have to finish some stuff that *has* to be done by the end of the week, and get my husband a birthday present, but it'll all have to wait for tomorrow, as tonight, I am off to dinner. And I'll try and get through it all without crying.

(no subject)

It is with great sadness that I share the news about this post from Dave O'Brien, who has been cowriting Anna Grayson & the Order of Merlin with his daughter Katie. He posted the following on FA:

It is with deep regret that I must inform you that my daughter, Katie O'Brien, passed away on March 9th, 2005 at 7am EST at the age of thirteen. Obviously, this is a very difficult time for me, my wife Rita, and our son Christopher. Katie struggled with her Leukemia for five and a half years both in and out of the hospital, and as many of you already know, she had to go back to Johns Hopkins Hospital the first week of January, after it was determined her cancer had fallen out of remission the week after Christmas.

Katie always wanted to be a writer, and she used this forum to fulfill her dreams. For those of you who have been reading her book, Anna Grayson and The Order of Merlin, you should know that your reviews and constant emails and prayers sustained her even during the worst of times. She never wanted to let her readers down, even during those long days and nights in the hospital when there was so much pain. As a father, these are terribly sad days indeed, but as her co-writer, I wanted you to know that Katie did finish her book just six days before she died. I have her final notes in my possession, and I'll be posting her three final chapters in the weeks to come.

Again, I cannot express in words how much this fan fiction site meant to Katie. You truly did fulfill my daughter's dream of being a writer. Thank you all for your on going support and prayers, and your kind reviews over the last two years.

You can read his beautiful eulogy for Katie there, as well. We're talking now about some way for FA to remember Katie and the beauty of her spirit...