Today is Release Day. I usually enter this fog-like state, part terror and part squeeing joy, as my books hit the shelves. At this point, the books are out of my hands. I can only hope booksellers will stock them, people will buy them and readers will like them. But today’s release is different because my editor and long-time writing champion, Kate Duffy, passed away over the weekend. That loss colors everything.
Gruff, determined, funny, dynamic, supportive, direct, smart, devoted and savvy – all of those words describe Kate. She was this huge steamrolling force. A publishing icon who touched so many and launched the careers of hundreds, probably thousands. She loved romance novels and respected authors. She understood the creative side of writing enough to say, “I don’t know how you do what you do” but never lost sight of the fact publishing is a business. She got angry when authors missed deadlines and had little tolerance for whining, but if she enjoyed your writing she poured all her energy into making you shine.
Kate was my editor, the first person in publishing to love my work. She believed in me when I had ceased thinking I had any writing talent. She gave me two precious gifts: hope and a chance. There is no way to repay someone for those. A simple thank you is insufficient. Words can’t capture the gratitude just as a blog post can’t adequately pay tribute to her now.
I do have memories, some I can share and many more I can’t, but all give insight into the type of person she was:
…I remember the first time she read one of my manuscripts. I was unpublished and had finaled in the Brava Novella Contest. Kate called me and said: “I’m going to be your editor one day…but not today.” Then she told me what I was doing wrong and how I needed to fix it so she could buy from me.
…I remember the excitement in her voice when she called with my first offer. Most of The Call is a blur, but that much stuck with me.
…I remember how she called me three times on the day she read the book that would become YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY to tell me how much she loved it. She said calling once was not enough to express her happiness.
…I remember how she agreed to read an early draft of RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW when I said something was wrong but I was too sick to figure out what it was. She took a look and said: “The dialog is so good that I can almost overlook the lack of plot. Almost. Add in some of that and you’re good.” After I fixed the book, she declared it “perfect” and told me take a week off and then get working on my next single title.
…I remember how she read the original draft of the book that would become HOT AS HELL and called to say: “I have one problem: the heroine. I hate everything about her. I don’t even think I like her name.” When I pointed out that the heroine appears on almost every page, Kate said: “Yeah, that’s a problem but it’s your problem. And I need the rewrite in three weeks.” A year later I reminded her of this story and she said, “no wonder people think I’m a bitch, but I was right about that heroine.”
…I remember her calling last year and saying she wanted me to write a single title for a secondary character she loved from YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY and a Christmas novella based on another secondary character. When I pointed out that readers might be sick of my Hawaii-based stories, she said: “Then they’re idiots!”
…I remember how she made me promise that we would always have dinner together at the RWA National Conference so she could steal a few moments without people pitching to her or authors asking about their publishing schedules. I vowed to keep that promise of a non-business dinner to the end, never knowing the end would come so fast.
…I remember how hot she got when reviewers said negative things about books by her authors. She went into full Mother Hen mode and then let the nasty language fly.
…I remember her laugh and how great it felt to share a story with her.
…I remember the first time I met her, the last time we talked, and every dinner and phone call in between.
Kate wasn’t perfect and didn’t pretend to be. We argued and laughed, disagreed and gossiped. She was a mentor, my boss and a friend. The dragging sadness I feel right now will eventually lessen, leaving behind a mix of admiration, joy and appreciation. But today as the books she requested officially release – HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO and the novella in KISSING SANTA CLAUS – it all feels more bitter than sweet.
Be at peace, Kate.
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