Yesterday I learned that someone had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which is what killed my friend (and probably yours) LK Madigan (AKA Lisa Wolfson) in February 2011. (Aside - if you ever have pain in your back or abdomen and unexplained weight loss, BUG the doctors until you get an answer).
It got me thinking about Lisa.
She was a very good friend to other writers. I dedicated The Night She Disappeared to Lisa.
Josh Berk dedicated Guy Langman, Crime Scene Procrastinator to her. (That's Night and Guy Langman pictured above.)
Stephanie Lawton dedicated Want to Lisa, as you can read about on Novel Novice.
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Blog: So many books, so little time (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Blog: So many books, so little time (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Lisa (LK Madigan, author of Flash Burnout and The Mermaid's Mirror
) may be gone from my life, but not from my heart. After I lamented at her memorial service that I had not kept that many of her emails, her husband slipped me some she had kept from early in 2006, when we were just getting to know each other. At that time she hadn’t been published and didn’t even have an agent.
She wrote:
I would have to be presumptuous enough to class myself as a ‘good writer,’ when I have no verifiable evidence to that effect. But what the hell!! I’ll go ahead and own it. I FEEL like a good writer. But then I worry that maybe I’m like this character in a Wilkie Collins novel (“Hide and Seek”) who devoted his hole lift and soul to ART ... studying it, suffering for it, painting like mad. The problem was - he just wasn’t very good. ...
Despite THINKING I’m a good writer ... maybe I’m deluded too...
Here’s my short answer: no, I don’t think good writing can be taught. I hate to get all New Age-y on you, because I am so NOT ... but real writers are born with ink in their veins. They wake up every day anticipating when they can sit down and read, read, read, as if books are food. Words are so important to writers that they THINK about words all the time, the way some people think about sex. They cringe when people use the wrong words. They also fantasize about their next date with The Muse ... mentally calculating hours and minutes when there will be time to spill their thoughts out on the page. AND they also don’t just wait for a convenient time for the Muse to strike ... they grabe and snatch and demand time to write, like greedy toddlers.
People can be taught to write in a clear, journalistic fashion, I believe. But the kind of writing that pours out like music - that can’t be taught.
Thus endeth today’s pomposity. We now return you to your regularly scheduled conversation.
I told Lisa that a lot of times writing for me is work, and that I don’t always long for it. But that I always enjoy having written.
I would love to be able to talk about books and writing with her again.
Blog: So many books, so little time (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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In a few hours I'll be going to hear local author Suzanne Young read from A Need So Beautiful at Powells in Cedar Hills. I kept having this nagging feeling, and I finally identified it. It was that I should be coordinating with Lisa Wolfson (LK Madigan) about who would drive, because we would be going together.
I know Lisa will be there in spirit, but I so wish she could also be there in reality.
Blog: So many books, so little time (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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When I saw this story about mermaids in USA Today, it made me think of LK Madigan's The Mermaid's Mirror.
Blog: readergirlz (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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The YA world's heart is breaking this week as we learned of the loss of Lisa Madigan, Morris Award-winning author of FLASH BURNOUT and THE MERMAID'S MIRROR. She touched so many lives through her kindness, bravery, and truthful words.
I didn't know her well, but my one meeting with her will always be significant to me. We were both at ALA this last summer and met through our mutual friends (Lisa is on the far left).
Then we went out to lunch with a group, and somehow Lisa and I ended up connecting - not on a superficial level, but on a heart level. Even in a moment, I could tell that's the kind of person Lisa was. We talked about loss and writing and the things that matter. She told me about her early battle with cancer, and her beautiful husband and son. I told her the story behind Tell Me a Secret. We both cried a little.
I won't ever forget that.
Lisa, we miss you. Add a Comment
Thank you everyone for your wonderfully warm condolences and for posting your memories of LK Madigan. It has been really amazing to see how much she touched so many people - a fact that I knew intellectually, but didn't really process until I was able to see the flood of posts from all corners of the writing and reading world.
Lots of folks have asked how they may help Lisa's family.
A trust fund has been established to benefit Lisa's son; donations may be sent to the Nathan Wolfson Trust, c/o Becker Capital Management, 1211 SW Fifth Ave., Suite 2185, Portland, OR 97204.
Her husband Neil posted this info on her blog; I know that any donations would be extremely appreciated.
Blog: So many books, so little time (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I don't know if it's torturing myself or not to listen to her so familiar voice. And eerie, too. When she said at Wordstock that she had many more books she wanted to write, she had been having occasional abdominal pain, but had been told it wasn't cancer. And what she said at the beginning of the Morris Award video is almost crazy to hear now.
I miss her so much.
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I know everyone has been aching to do something in memory of Lisa. Here's how you can help. Her son Nate was the most important person in the world to her. Now you can help him by donating to a college fund:
Checks can be made payable to the Nathan Wolfson Trust.
They can be mailed to:
Becker Capital Management, Inc.
Attn: Sharon Gueck/John Becker
1211 SW Fifth Ave, Suite 2185
Portland, OR 97204
Donors will be sent acknowledgement letters.
Please repost, Tweet, etc. widely.
Blog: Faeriality (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I do have Bookanista post I will do later today.
Blog: Laura's Review Bookshelf (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Lisa (LK) Madigan passed away today and I can't even put into words how upsetting this is. She was around my age and a brilliant author. Her Flash Burnout, her debut won the William C. Morris Award in 2010. We found out about after ALA MW in Boston.
I'm heartbroken to report that my beloved friend and client Lisa (LK Madigan) passed away this morning.
Lisa was not only a dear friend but a truly remarkable writer. I had the great privilege to help bring two of Lisa's books into the world, and I hope that through those stories, many many more readers will have a chance to be touched by Lisa's brilliance, humor, heart and generosity of spirit in the years to come.
I know that many of you knew Lisa, at least online or through her books, and had her in your thoughts during her illness. She cared deeply about her readers and her community of writers, and I feel certain that your support and good wishes meant, and continue to mean, a great deal to her and to her family. And to me, as well.
Plans for a memorial will happen in the coming days and weeks. Meanwhile, I think that Lisa would encourage you all to give great big hugs to your friends and family, and follow your dreams, as she did.
Thank you all so much, and please take care of yourselves.
Love,
Jennifer
For more about LK Madigan, please visit her blog. For the adorable story of her first book deal, go here. For the possibly even more adorable story of her long-awaited Mermaid Book, go here. For the entries where she memorably channeled Tim Gunn, go here. For an interview where she dishes about the Morris Award and more, go here.
To buy FLASH BURNOUT or MERMAID'S MIRROR, follow the links or visit your local independent bookstore.
My dear friend and client LK Madigan has some hard news to share on her blog.
I've had several emails from friends and fans asking what they can do for Lisa. Well, right now you can send her love and prayers and healing thoughts. I don't think that she's up for getting emails, but I know she's reading the comments of her blog.
And if you're of a mind to, you can buy her books FLASH BURNOUT and MERMAID'S MIRROR, or check them out from the library, and read them, enjoy them, and share them with a friend, and smile, and think about what a great writer and wonderful person Lisa is.
Then hug your friends and family.
Then if you're a writer, get to work. You don't have enough time to waste any of it!
Blog: readergirlz (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Blog: Biblio File (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Flash Burnout L. K. Madigan
Blake often feels torn between Shannon, his perfect girlfriend, and his best friend Marissa. Things get more complicated when Blake takes a picture of a meth addict passed out in an alley way for photography class. A meth addict that just happens to be Marissa's missing mother. Blake tries to support Marissa as she finds her mom and tries to (once again) get her cleaned up, but balancing Marissa's needs with Shannon's wants is more than Blake can handle.
For about the first 100 pages, Blake's voice really annoyed me. I felt like he should be narrating something that was much more laugh-out-loud funny than the story he is narrating. It's not that there's a voice shift after 100 pages, that's just when I got used to it so it stopped bugging me.
I really liked Blake's family. I liked the dark humor of how his dad's job as a medical examiner encroaches on their home life. I liked how Blake's parents and brother were in the picture and very supportive. Even Blake's brother, whom he doesn't always get along with, was there when push came to shove, which was nice to see.
But seriously, OMG, Shannon's mom was such a @#$$%&!@$%^&! I can understand how Blake was probably a rather annoying boyfriend from a parental perspective, but woah, way to actively sabotage everything. Blake really didn't need her help in messing things up. But because of how evil her mom was, I wasn't nearly as sympathetic to Shannon as I should have been. I also think Shannon got the short stick in the Blake-Shannon-Marissa triangle, because Shannon didn't have any real drama in her life and Blake was spending all of his time with Marissa, so Shannon was just kinda there, but wasn't really given a chance in the story for the reader to connect with her. Poor Shannon.
Book Provided by... my local library
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Blog: A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. 2009. Reviewed from ARC borrowed from a friend. Morris Award finalist.
The Plot: Blake, 15, has a GF (girlfriend), Shannon; and a girl who is a friend, Marissa. It seems possible to have two women in his life, despite the jokes his brother makes, until he discovers a secret about Marissa that he promises not to tell anyone.
The Good: A perfect romance, written from a teenage boy's point of view. Blake really likes Shannon, even eventually saying the "l" word. He's trying to figure out how to be a good boyfriend, what to say, what not to say, to ignore the "advice" of his brother and friends that say, don't be so into her, ignore her sometimes.
Blake also really likes Marissa, but just as friend. And that's true; it's Shannon he is in love with, it's Shannon he cannot get enough with, loves her shoulders, the feel of her skin, the way she smiles just for him. Marissa is his buddy in photography class, a friend. Want to know the difference between feeling friendship for a person and something more? It's in the details of Blake's interactions with and thoughts about both Shannon and Marissa.
This is NOT one of those stories where the best-friend-who-is-a-girl becomes something more, or the girlfriend turns out to be a shallow undeserving bitca. It's about three nice, likable, teenagers: Blake, a photographer who is always cracking jokes; Shannon, who plays soccer and plays the piano and is strong and sort of confident but also not quite sure how to handle her first real relationship; Marissa, a photographer, living with her grandmother and haunted by her past.
Blake gets involved with Marissa's heartache inadvertently. He takes a photo of a homeless woman who turns out to be Marissa's meth addicted mother. Her mother, Anne, isn't evil or bad; she is an addict whose addiction and sadness overwhelms her and her family. If someone is drowning, when do you try to save them? When do you concentrate on saving yourself?
Blake promises not to tell anyone about Marissa's family, and this secret becomes a problem with Shannon. He cannot share with Shannon why he is there for Marissa, spending time with Marissa.
Flash Burnout manages to be both hilarious and touching, as Blake figures out his relationships with others and also how his actions have consequences.
Blake's parents are terrific; his mother is a hospital chaplain, his father a medical examiner. They are supportive but not pushovers. In addition to interesting career choices, both jobs add to the plot line. When Blake goes looking for Marissa's mother, his mother turns out to know about the homeless in town and where they may be because of her job. Likewise, his father's job also factors into the search for the missing woman.
I'm adding this to my favorite books read in 2009; and it's easy to see why this made the Morris Award shortlist. Yes, of course it's because of the plot, and the deft handling of serious issues and everyday issues, and supporting characters who are well rounded; but it's also (in my opinion, I have no con
Blog: A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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The William C. Morris YA Debut Award "honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature." The Morris Award Committee announces the shortlist in December; which means we know the five finalists, so have plenty of time to read them all prior to the announcement of the winner on January 18 at the Youth Media Awards press conference.
This is the second year for the Morris Award; last year's winner was A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce.
From the Morris Award webpage: "This supernatural novel retells the story of Rumpelstiltskin, setting it at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution and centering it around the life of Charlotte Miller. When the bank wants to repossess her mortgaged mill, Charlotte strikes a bargain with the mysterious Jack Spinner, (a creature who knows the art of turning straw into gold), but then discovers she must free her loved ones from a generations-old curse.
At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, Charlotte Miller strikes a bargain with the malevolent Jack Spinner, who can transform straw into gold, to save her family’s mill. With masterly writing and vivid characterization and setting, Bunce weaves a powerfully seductive tale of triumph over evil.
“Bunce has crafted a story that superbly embodies the criteria for this award. Her work is compelling and has broad teen appeal,” said Chair Bonnie Kunzel. “Thoughtful reflection and spirited discussion characterized this outstanding committee’s work as its members selected a shortlist that honors the influence of William C. Morris on the field of young adult publishing.”"
The five finalists for the Morris Award are:
Ash by Malinda Lo.
From my review:
"This retelling unfolds slowly, deliciously. It's an internal story; a story about Ash grieving the loss of her parents, shutting down from it, and eventually choosing life and love. This is a tale about recovering from grief and unbearable loss. . . . Take note, librarians and teachers looking for a great book with both literary merit and one that encourages deep discussion; you'll want this one."
Blog: Kate's Book Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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This post is part of a year-long series of blog interviews I'll be hosting with my fellow 2009 Debut Authors, called "How They Got Here."
It should be an especially helpful series for teens who write, teachers, and anyone who wants to write for kids. 2009 debut authors will be dropping by to talk about how their writing in school shaped the authors they are today, what teachers can do to make a difference, how they revise, and how they found their agents and editors. (You'll even be able to read some successful query letters!) If you know a teacher or two who might be interested, please share the link!
Today...L.K. Madigan, author of FLASH BURNOUT!
When I attended ALA this summer, there were a few advance reader copies I was so, so hoping to find, and FLASH BURNOUT was at the top of that list. L.K. Madigan and I share an agent, and I'd already heard great things about her book. It lived up to all the talk and more.
I was smitten with the main character's voice just a few pages into this debut YA novel. It's really, really funny at the same time it tackles some tough issues about family, teen romance, drug addiction, and friendship.
The book begins with a photography assignment for fifteen-year-old Blake, just experiencing his first real romance. When Blake inadvertently snaps a picture of his friend Marissa's mother, he launches her into a journey for which she desperately needs some support. That journey causes Blake to question what he thought he knew about love and friendship and takes readers on a wild ride of their own.
The voice in this book is really remarkable, and Madigan's rich characters with their hysterical dialogue reminded me of John Green at times. FLASH BURNOUT is a fantastic, fantastic debut - one that I highly recommend for high school and maybe some older middle school kids, too.
Congratulations, Lisa - and welcome! Tell us about the first thing you ever wrote that made you think maybe you were a writer.
I’ve been writing since I was a child, so in some ways, I never really questioned my fate. The first “novel” I ever wrote was an 80-page book about mermaids, complete with crayoned illustrations.
What books did you love when you were a kid?
The first book I can remember adoring as an independent reader was NO FLYING IN THE HOUSE, by Betty Brock. Then of course I loved HARRIET THE SPY, and A WRINKLE IN TIME. As I got older, I devoured teen problem novels. Now that I think about it, today’s “edgy” YA novels are no more shocking than some of the books I read back then.
Is there a particular teacher or librarian who was a mentor for you in your reading and writing life?
Wow … all of them! Every teacher who wrote compliments on my papers, or read my work aloud in class, or handed me an award for a winning story … all of them encouraged me and built up my confidence.
I remember a particular summer program at the Montavilla Library in Portland, for kids interested in writing … at the end of the program, all of our stories were typed up (on a typewriter!) and bound with plastic binding and cardboard covers. That was very, very impressive to me. Who knows? The idea may have been planted right then that I could write REAL BOOKS.
Do you have a favorite strategy for revision?
I don’t, actually. It’s more a matter of eliminating distractions and inserting my head firmly into the story.
What’s your best advice for young writers?
It takes a long time to find your voice. When you first start writing, you may mimic the writing style of authors you admire … at some point, your own unique way of telling a story will emerge.
What’s special about your debut novel?
It’s a contemporary realistic novel with a teen boy narrator bobbing in a sea of paranormal romances about vampires/werewolves/faeries and the girls who love them.
And as soon as I can stop laughing, I'll ask you about the process. What were the best and worst parts of writing FLASH BURNOUT?
The best part was how FUN it was to write.
The worst part was researching the effects of methamphetamine use … not just the physical damage to users, but devastation to the user’s families, especially children.
Any more books planned?
Remember that mermaid story I mentioned? My next book is a young adult novel about a surfer girl and a mermaid. It will be published in 2010.
Yay! Thanks for joining us, Lisa!
Read more about L.K. Madigan at her website. You can pick up your copy of FLASH BURNOUT at your local independent bookseller, order it through one of my favorite indies, Flying Pig Bookstore (they ship!), or find an indie near you by checking out IndieBound!
This is beautiful, Shelli. She was a well-loved woman, and I know she appreciates your tribute.
What a touching tribute, Shelli. I teared up last night reading Lisa Schroeder's beautiful post. All her family and dear friends are in my thoughts and prayers.
This is such sad news. My heart goes out to her family and friends.
That was a lovely tribute, Shelli. What a beautiful picture of a beautiful woman. It seems that smile captures the breadth of her life. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones.
ive never read her books, though i definitely will soon. either way she was an amaaazing author and a wonderful, wonderful person.
lovely tribute, shelly. :) i think thats part of the reason why i love the blogging community so much--that we're all so supportive of each other even in times of tragedy. may LK always fly high<3
What a precious post, Shelli. I didn't know Lisa, but her death obviously left a gaping hole in our blog world.
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Ohhh, such a sad loss. Your post in her honor is beautiful.
Such sad news. You put it so well how to remember her.
Lovely. I didn't know Lisa, but I've read about her a few times today - she will be dearly missed. My thoughts go out to her family and her friends. I'm sure she is flying high.
I love that picture, Shelli. Besides Lisa's happy face, I especially love how Kim is all about the food, as is usual for her. haha
Thanks for sharing it. We had so much fun at that conference, didn't we?
xoxo
What beautiful wishes. Fly High gives such a more glorious vision than Rest In Peace.
I didn't know LK either, but am sad for her family. What a hard loss. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Very heart-felt tribute, Shelli. I wonder if LSOS will have any of her books for sale at SpringMingle?