Remembering Jay Lake

[puppetmaker]

The author Jay Lake passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer.

I wouldn’t say that we were close friends more nodding acquaintances with a lot of mutual friends. We had been thrown onto panels at various conventions and if I saw he was on a panel I knew that there would be some interesting discourse and a loud Hawaiian shirt.

I don’t say my usual rest in peace in deference to Jay not believing that there was anything after this life. So out of respect for him, his family, and loved ones I choose to use the language that Jay had asked us to use when talking about his death.

I am hoping that someone wises up and publishes Jay’s web blog about his journey through cancer. He didn’t sugar coat his insights. He talked about the good days and the bad. The hopes and dreams that he might never get to fulfill. His frustration with the health care system and the airline industry at times. He gave good information on how to deal with all the minutia that goes along with getting ready to shuffle off this mortal coil.

He was so much more than his cancer narrative. He was a damn fine author with a number of books to his name. You can find out more about his work here. I liked his work that I read and plan on reading more.

We have lost a man who brought lot to the table. He was always good for a gastronomic adventure and a fun tale. He will be missed.

I am grateful that I got to talk to Jay at SDCC last year.

Comments

[oneminutemonkey.livejournal.com]

I agree that a collection of his cancer-related writings would make one hell of a book. It wouldn't surprise me, given what I've seen of the man, if he didn't make some sort of arrangement for it to happen. Jay was extremely focused on sharing his struggle with the world in the hopes of helping others as well.

And that's the mark of a damned fine man. Instead of retreating inwards, he turned his battle into a very loud, public, defiant message. Fuck cancer. (That should be the title. Seriously.)