For Robin

This morning I received word that Robin Hathaway had died. It was not unexpected; still it was a jolt to those of us who knew her.
I went to my first writers’ conference in the mid 1990s. I knew one published writer and one illustrator. Like many writers I am pretty shy. I made a bunch of resolutions before I went and kept them pretty well. I would seek out and talk to the writers who caught my ear during sessions. Robin was one of those authors.
When I got home I joined Sisters in Crime and was delighted to find out that Robin was in my Chapter.
I read and loved her books, went to every appearance that was near enough for me to get to, and hung on her every word. She was endlessly generous, friendly and helpful to a beginning writer and I imagine I was not the only one.
She is already missed, and not just by me.