Farewell to a Favorite Author

I was heartsick to learn of the passing on Saturday of one of my favorite authors.  Janet Chapman wrote humorous, quirky contemporary romances which all took place in her beloved home state of Maine.  Many of her books are on my keeper shelf.
 
Whenever I need a pleasant diversion for an hour or two from life’s stresses, she is one of the authors I read.  Her books often have a mystical or magical element which never overpowers but simply adds to the fun.  What I find especially likeable is that she saw the wonder and magic which is ever-present around us, if we only look for it.  Here is a quote I found on her Facebook page:
 
“The magic is real, people; as real as the sunrise, the ebb and flow of the tides, the haunted call of a loon, that unseen fish tugging on the end of a line, the birth of a baby, the death of a loved one.  The problem, in my opinion, is that these things seem so everyday ordinary that we forgot how extraordinary they are.”   ~Janet Chapman
 
I wish I could have met Janet Chapman in person.  She sounds like a kind, funny, kick-butt and determined woman.  From what I understand, she was still trying to finish her last book even as she battled cancer.  Maybe today would be a good day to pick one of her stories off my shelf and settle in for a satisfying read.  It’s the best way I can think of to honor a prolific and extraordinary author. 
 
Farewell, Janet.  Thanks for the many happy hours.