Our first contact came almost 20 years ago in 2007 when I wrote to her by email about The Endless Knot, the 10th book in the Joanne Kilbourn series. I was partially prompted to write to her as she introduced Zack Shreve, an accomplished Regina lawyer in a wheelchair, into the series. I wrote:
As a Saskatchewan lawyer in his mid-50’s whose practice includes criminal law I am avowedly prejudiced in favour of a book that features such a lawyer as a primary character.
In her prompt reply she said:
I'm working on the next Joanne Kilbourn novel, and you'll be happy to hear that Zack is still very much a part of the plot and, more significantly, of Joanne's life. For that reason and for many others, I hope that you and I can meet some day to talk about the mystery genre face to face. I should warn you that I'm not knowledgeable.
Our email exchanges continued book after book.
I started writing this blog and this post will be the 34th I have written about Gail and her books.
We did get to meet in Regina and had wonderful visits. As you would expect she was excessively modest in saying she was not knowledgeable about the mystery genre.
Sharon and I went to Gail and Ted’s home for a lively supper of chili and peach cobbler.
She startled us by saying their home had a special feature. There was a Cold War bunker under the backyard. I know of no one else who has a bunker at their home. I noted that she had not made the bunker her writing space.
A lovely touch to the backyard were mirrors along the fence surrounding the yard. Purchased in yard sales the reflections created constantly changing images.
Conversation with Gail and Ted was a joy. Conversing with the pair of English professors was lively and wide ranging.
When I think of Gail I also think of Ted. They were a couple in all the best ways. Their commitment to each other was clear to all who met them. I wish Ted the best as he grieves with his family.
I do not personally know Gail’s family but could follow their lives, especially her grandchildren, through posts on Facebook. Her love and admiration and expectations for them were present throughout her posts.
Gail provided me with my most unique literary experience. Dave Carpenter was looking for a chapter on Saskatchewan crime fiction for Volume 3 of A Literary History of Saskatchewan a decade ago. Gail suggested he contact me and I wrote a chapter called, Saskatchewan Mysteries: A Report from the Field, which was published in Volume 3. I will always appreciate her thinking of me for that opportunity.
Gail’s actual knowledge of the mystery genre was best shown in her book Sleuth - Gail Bowen on Writing Mysteries. In the first part of my review of the book I said:
From knowing Gail, Sleuth reflects her personality. She is a woman of great learning. She has read widely and thought about what she has read. At the same time she is not burdened by her knowledge in Sleuth. She is not pedantic. She dispenses her advice with flair and self-deprecation.
Gail and her sleuth, Joanne, were fiercely progressive in their politics and lives. They spoke eloquently in favour of their ideals and lived out their convictions. I asked her what made Joanne a practical activist. She responded:
Truly, I drew upon my own experience. In my adult life I’ve moved from starry-eyed idealism to a much more pragmatic approach to how we can create a community in which everyone has a chance to create a good life. Like you, I am acutely aware of the fact that I have been blessed, but to paraphrase J.S. Woodsworth, I believe we have to work for a world where these blessings are shared with others.
I have enjoyed every Joanne Kilbourn Shreve book. Few authors have managed in my almost 70 years of reading to hold my interest through a series of over 20 books. Gail is the only author among those few whose quality of books was maintained through every book.
When I get to read Homecoming, the final book in the series, later this year it will be a read of conflicting emotions. I will be sad it is the end of the series and that Gail is gone. I will be happy as the series has been a great reading experience and glad Gail was able to finish the series.
While reading The Solitary Friend last year I learned that it was to be the second last in the series. I decided not to wait until the final book was published this year to write a letter of tribute and reflection to Gail on the series and our friendship. I had no premonition that she would be gone. It just felt right to write to her and I am grateful we had a final exchange. A link to that post is below.
Gail’s reply, graceful and kind, was our final communication:
Dear Bill,
I'm an early riser, and it's now 9:31 for me---very, very much past my best before time, but I did want you to know how much your letter means to me. I'm almost finished with the first draft of Homecoming, which will be the final book in the series. And I do promise a real letter of thanks for generous, thoughtful and forgiving reading of the JKS series very soon.
Thank you for your support and for having a family life that makes me smile every time I think of it. We are blessed, and you and I and those we love all know that.
Till the next time, many, many thanks for everything, and hey the Riders won! Do we believe in miracles? You bet!!!
Affectionately and gratefully,
Gail
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What a lovely tribute, Bill. You are lucky to have had the chance to develop a friendship with Gail and her husband. I'm glad you have those memories. And I always enjoyed the email exchanges and other communication that you shared on your blog. She was a gifted writer whose work added so much to crime fiction in general and Canadian crime fiction in particular. Her loss is a sad blow to all of us.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Margot. Her death is indeed a great loss for Canadian crime fiction and personally. I am glad you enjoyed reading about the exchanges between Gail and myself.
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