Sunday, July 28, 2013

Leighton




We at Murder is Everywhere are leaving the stage dark today in honor of the memory of our dear colleague, mentor and friend Leighton Gage who passed away yesterday. This is the announcement of his passing by his daughter, Melina Gage Ratcliffe:
"My mother, my sisters and I are devastated to announce the passing of our father, Leighton Gage. Thank you friends and family for all the love and support. 
A message from Eide Gage:
'My Dearest Friends,
The light of my life was extinguished last night.
Leight passed to eternity peacefully in his sleep.
Should we cry because he died or smile because he lived?'"

Sunday...From all of us at Murder Is Everywhere...

18 comments:

  1. I only knew Leighton from his writing, and still this hurts. Stella extingui, we will miss you.

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  2. I don't even know what to say. Leighton appeared twice at Velma Teague, and insisted he wanted to appear there because he loved my blog. He and Eide were such a wonderful couple. The last time I saw him, he was buying her chocolate covered strawberries. Her comment was so beautiful. I'm so, so sorry.

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  3. My condolences to the family for this sad news. Leighton sent me three of his books for review, whch I enjoyed very much, and wrote me very charming notes. He seemed like a very gentle person and I will miss his presence on facebook as well as his storytelling.

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  4. I will miss him, but I am happy he is alive in the real life

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  5. For alas too short a period - about six months - Leighton was my mentor when I, as a Flemish writer, reached out with my literary work abroad. He was always there with advice and guidance. I loved his crime novels and, as they are translated into Dutch, recommended them in the Belgian press. Leighton lives on in his work and in our memory.

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  6. What a heartbreaker -- a wonderful man, a good friend, a tremendous talent. He'll be mourned all over the world.

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  7. Tears for all of you, his family, and us his readers.

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  8. So so sad at this loss. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Leighton has been absolutely wonderful since he came to my website and introduced himself and his works to me. I've loved every single book of his, and he will be sorely missed by his fans and his friends. My most deeply felt condolences to his family! RIP, Leighton!

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  9. Such terrible news. Leighton was concerned with social justice, generous with his time and knowledge, and funny, too. We'll miss him. My condolences to his loved ones.

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  10. I'm sorry to hear this sad news. I knew Leighton only through email, but we traded stories about our experiences in East Germany, and he was always generous with writing advice.

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  11. I never got to meet Leighton in person but from his emails and blog posts he was very caring and had a wonderful heart. I will miss Leighton very much. Condolences to his family.

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  12. What sad news about such a talented writer and kind person. This is such a loss to his family, friends and the crime fiction world.

    I remember writing to him and his thoughtful replies about his books, which led me to start reading them.

    Leighton's sense of social justice were imbued not only in his series, but right here on this blog.

    I thank him for the education I received about Brazilian art, architecture, history, politics, literature and much more -- and for his beautiful photographs of landscapes and seashore.

    He shall be missed.

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  13. He bequeathed "the smell of the steam and stench of the Amazon" to literature. The Blood of the Wicked will not be forgotten. R.I.P. Leighton.

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  14. My condolences to the family. His writing was always inspiring and teaching for me. I can't imagine how hard this is for his loved ones. He will be missed sincerely.

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  15. My sincere condolences to Leighton's family. He will be sorely missed.

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  16. I met Leighton years ago at Main St. Books in St. Charles. He was so genuine, and such a gentleman, that I named a character after him--Leighton Haversham, the famous author in my Kiki Lowenstein novels. We are all a little poorer today with Leighton's passing.

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  17. I knew very little about him. I bought one of his books simply because it was published by SoHo Crime and the Brazilian setting sounded intriguing. As soon as I read the first Silva novel, I went and ordered everything else that was available. I don't think you can pay a higher tribute to a writer than that. Just last week I read Every Bitter Thing and enjoyed every page. I will have to ration the remaining books. They will be very precious now, knowing that there are no more to come.

    My sympathies to his family.

    Declan, Dublin, Ireland

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  18. I'm so very sorry. My deepest sympathy to his family.

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