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JUDY REEVES's avatar

Thank you for sharing this, Laura. I didn't know Susan, but I see all these tributes to her, and now yours and those whose words you have included. I'm sorry I didn't have the pleasure to meet her and learn from her. And yes! your book. April 1: A reason to celebrate.

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Laura Stanfill's avatar

I feel sure she would have liked knowing so many of us were writing our stories of her, even though it's deeply unfair she's not here to tell more of her own.

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Amy Wang's avatar

Thank you for telling us more about Susan. I cannot remember if she and I ever crossed paths in person, but I admired her work. Hot Season was a helluva novel; Dispatches From Anarres one of those “damn, wish I’d thought of that” strokes of genius, and brilliantly executed to boot. Of course I went to the DFA panel at the next Portland Book Festival and of course it was delightful. My condolences to all who loved her.

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A Adams's avatar

Sending my condolences to you and those in the literary community who knew her. I did not but appreciate her work and had heard positive things about her as a writing coach.

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Laura Stanfill's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing this. I love that her good reputation exists and can continue to exist, even as we mourn the lack of new editorial insights from her.

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Vanessa Nix Anthony's avatar

Such a loss to our grand little writing community. She was such an encourager and supporter of those dreams of the written word. She will be missed greatly.💙

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Laura Stanfill's avatar

So true, Vanessa. Thank you for sharing. I know a lot of people felt supported and seen by her.

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Leigh Anne Kranz's avatar

Lovely tribute Laura. I remember meeting her at the City of Weird reading at the UFW Hall in NE PDX. As we walked to our cars after, she called out, “Keep writing, Leigh Anne.” I have lived on that encouragement since. I felt she was a masterful teacher and attended as many of her zoom classes as possible—the last was only two weeks before she passed and she seemed like her vibrant self. I miss her presence deeply and will always be grateful to her for her kind, simple words to keep going. What a loss. HUG

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Laura Stanfill's avatar

I love this so much, Leigh Anne--Susan calling out, telling you to keep writing, and you're reminiscing about her classes. Vibrant. Absolutely.

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Ari Honarvar's avatar

So sorry Susan is gone. She was such a bright presence and her work lives on ❤️❤️❤️

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Laura Stanfill's avatar

Thank you, for being there again and again, when grief touches me. I appreciate you, Ari.

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Carmel Breathnach's avatar

Beautiful, Laura.

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Laura Stanfill's avatar

Thank you, Carmel. Hard thing, to lose a community member. She meant so much to so many.

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Camille's avatar

Thank you, Laura. We can all hope to die with our reputation in tact as dear Susan did as she shocked us one and all. She once took time from her busy schedule to do me a favor.Thank you, Susan. You are missed.

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John Barrios's avatar

I didn’t realize she passed way. Such a creative force. Thank you for this write up.

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Laura Stanfill's avatar

She wrote openly about her health challenges in recent months, but it was still such a shock to many of us. Great language; she was a creative force.

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