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Post by Dabeagle on Sept 2, 2015 12:53:11 GMT -5
I don't want to use cliches like 'heavy heart' or profess to an inability to find the words. For all that, my heart is broken. Since last November Ryan and I had spoken almost nightly - bouncing ideas for stories, reading each others work, criticizing and trying to get better. Between us we'd managed to expand Sanitaria Springs, a place we'd both have liked to live, into far more than I'd ever hoped.
We argued, frequently, over characters and story direction. Through that discussion we felt we told better stories. Many people may not understand my sorrow - Ryan and I never met in person, never spoke on the phone. He was deep in the closet, desperate to change but unable to do so. He spoke of his family, and I felt like I knew some of them through his stories.
So, today, I found out I lost a friend. I got a message from him on Sunday, very early after I'd gone to bed, stating he was very sick. I'd sent messages, hoping he was better, but I wasn't too concerned - after all, we get sick sometimes, don't we? Piecing together what I knew of him, I discovered today his passing on the 31st.
He was so sad. He had a lot of hopes and he had plans - his photography business was set to open later this year. Just like that, it's gone. He's gone. Goodbye, Ryan Bartlett, my friend.
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Post by Steve T. on Sept 2, 2015 13:00:49 GMT -5
I am so sorry to hear this news. It must be devastating to lose a friend like him, even though you've never met in person.
I just hope he knows how much he touched people through his stories. He will be missed greatly.
Peace, Ryan.
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Post by Lugnutz on Sept 2, 2015 14:03:13 GMT -5
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Post by Israfil on Sept 2, 2015 17:55:07 GMT -5
I didn't know him at all, but yet I feel like I did know something of him through his stories, as happens with a good writer when you read enough of their work. I'm sad for his passing, but also that I never got a chance to know him either.
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Post by PaulR5 on Sept 3, 2015 1:38:12 GMT -5
I really enjoyed Ryan's writing, and was surprised when he IMed me twice recently on Facebook, on August 24 and August 26. He even told me some of the beginning plot for MSI II. The second time, we IMed for nearly an hour. He was fascinating to IM with. A sense of humor that wouldn't quit!
I haven't yet read the other posts regarding Ryan on the Forums here, but will do that in a minute. I will greatly miss Ryan and his writing and his humor.
Paul
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Post by baddius on Dec 15, 2015 7:17:11 GMT -5
I shouldn't be doing this. I never "knew" Ryan Bartlett. I never knew anything personal about him or really corresponded with him other than to tell him how much I enjoyed his stories.
That being said, I will miss him and I feel a loss at his passing, which I only just discovered. I had written him several times asking where he was, but it never crossed my mind that anything horrible could have happened. I just assumed he was busy or mad at me. I was floored when I found out, yesterday, of his passing. He was a great author and, I assume, a great person. I don't think I am deserving to say anything more, having just been an obsessed reader of his work.
Deepest Regards,
Baddius, Ryan's In-My-Mind #1 Fan.
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Post by Dabeagle on Dec 15, 2015 8:25:41 GMT -5
I shouldn't be doing this. I never "knew" Ryan Bartlett. I never knew anything personal about him or really corresponded with him other than to tell him how much I enjoyed his stories.
That being said, I will miss him and I feel a loss at his passing, which I only just discovered. I had written him several times asking where he was, but it never crossed my mind that anything horrible could have happened. I just assumed he was busy or mad at me. I was floored when I found out, yesterday, of his passing. He was a great author and, I assume, a great person. I don't think I am deserving to say anything more, having just been an obsessed reader of his work.
Deepest Regards,
Baddius, Ryan's In-My-Mind #1 Fan.
It's a fault of our on line relationships that we don't know what happened when folks suddenly stop communicating. As writers, we look forward so much to the thoughts and discussion of our work - don't think that because you never met or exchanged recipes with him that it meant any less. We often discussed the reader response - enjoying dropping red-herrings, discussing what readers were thinking - like who Philip would en up with or Asher, after the events of A Funny Thing or simply the speculation on Boomer's given name. I'm sure he'd have appreciated a number on fan - as long as it wasn't like, you know, 'Misery'. |
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