Dear Vonda,
I dreamed last night that you and I were attempting to do a dance called "The Monkey" and laughing a lot. I don't know if that could have been a dim recollection of something that really happened back in the '70s (those crazy days) -- or even if there really was a dance called "the Monkey" outside of my dream-world -- anyway, sending fond thoughts to you consciously and from my unconscious mind as well. I was pleased to hear you are still getting some work done on your book! xxxx

Len and I were so sad to hear of your illness, Vonda. Both of us are thinking about you.

I wish you peace, Vonda. Thank you for telling the tales that matter. (And for your eternal patience with those of us at Book View who don't speak HTML. ;) )

Congratulations on finishing Curve of the World, Vonda. Wish I could visit on more than a website. Pax, -g

Dear Vonda,

Thank you for the difference you have made in so many people's lives, with your writing, your hard work, your stubborn insistence on justice. Whenever I think about researching too deeply into historical fiction, I remind myself that I don't have to create worlds that are hard on any gender, race, or age of sentients. Because we have SF--we don't have to rebuild a past no sane woman would want to live in. Book View Cafe was a lifesaver for me, as was your booting my ebooks out into the world. I will always be grateful.

I'm still 86,000 words into my crazed contemporary fantasy novel, and I won't burden you with the partial. But I did want to make sure you have no problem with the preface in the front of the book. I'd like to put this--

McIntyre’s First Law:
Under the right circumstances, anything I tell you could be wrong.
—Vonda N. McIntyre

Kimbriel’s Corollary to McIntyre’s First Law:
I’m a storyteller. Sometimes I tell you the wrong thing on purpose.
—Kat Kimbriel

If you'd rather I don't, let one of the Seattle faithful who are gatekeeping for you know and pass it on.

I'm sorry my medical Life, Interrupted meant I never made it to Seattle to see the parts of it you love. I think of you often, and will miss you more than you know. May every day be worthwhile.

My coral says Hi, Mom. <3

Sending love. See you at the next campfire.

I was so sad to hear of your illness. You've been so kind and open with me in the few encounters we've had, online and in person. You've been one of my most-admired writers ever since I read _Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand_ in Analog in 1973.

I wish you all good things that are your own will.

Dear Vonda, we are sooooo sorry that we've let time pass without staying in better contact! We wish you had put all your good writing advice into a book. Lately I've been reading how-to books about writing, and none of them make as much sense as you did at various conventions we shared. We fondly remember a little convention where you sparked a dull program with a writing game that generated a lot of fun and interest in the attendees. We still have the macramae'd (is that a word?) bottle you made. Hugs, John & Bjo

Dear Vonda,

I wish I could send you all of my positive energy and thoughts and make you well. I first discovered you through your novel Dreamsnake, and I don't believe I will ever be able to fully articulate how much that book impacted me as a young woman living in a very rural area. Your stories shaped a lot of the views I currently hold. You and your stories will forever be a positive influence in my life.

I wish you peace of heart and gentle sleep.

T

Dear Vonda, George and I are both thinking of you and so is Joseph Elder, the former editor who published your first novel, The Exile Waiting, at Fawcett Gold Medal and also your groundbreaking anthology Aurora: Beyond Equality. Joe was my agent until the early 1990s, after which he left publishing, gave up his NYC apartment, and moved to Warwick, New York. We lost track of Joe after that but happily, a few months ago, I tracked him down online and found out he had moved to Binghamton, New York at about the time George and I had moved to Albany and our good friend Jack Dann moved to Australia. Joe is retired, doing well, and spent the past 20 years as a social worker working for a nonprofit in Binghamton, so we are back in touch. Joe sends you good thoughts and wishes you peace.

Peace and grace, Vonda. You've made my life better and I've always had in mind what a difference you made to me, early, when I'm in a position to respond to another writer myself. Also, Vonda's Law has been my number one writing law for years now, and I suspect always will be! May you have a sweet transition time.