We’re busy with holiday festivities here, riding herd on four Advent calendars and keeping up with the daily demands of Advent Bowl. Gifts are sent and wrapped as needed. A few special recipes are pending production. Lily and 9 are working on their own projects this week. They wish you happy holidays, whichever and however you celebrate!
For me it’s a time to pause and reflect, not only on the very good year that’s nearly gone but on the end of a life that touched mine immeasurably. This week my friend, critique partner and mentor, Martin McCaw, left this world. I hoped to write something about him this week but my thoughts as of yet refuse to organize themselves. His book The Low Road came out in 2017, at which time he did an interview for this blog. When I re-read the interview today I realized it’s a good idea, as always, to let Martin speak for himself.
My heart is with Libby, his wife of 45 years, and all his family and friends. I hope they will find comfort, and even laughter, in reading his words.
The world has lost one of the great ones. Martin McCaw and his wife Libby became our friends within the first month of our moving to Walla Walla over 20 years ago. We went to their house in Prescott for lunch after my husband, Randy, had preached at their little church there. I cannot even remember how many times we joined them for lunch around that old, round, oak table in their dining room after church. We were so grateful to have found a like minded couple with whom we could share our theology, potitices and our thoughts about certain family members that we loved dearly even though they sometimes drove us crazy! Duing this last 20 plus years, we have stopped by their home, first in Prescott and now in Walla Walla, many, many times…usually without calling, and were always warmly welcomed. We would push aside the many projects that Martin and Libby were working on, pull up a chair and proceed to talk about the condition of the world and all that is in it for the next number of hours.
I’m sure that we will continue to do this and somehow I think that Martin will continue to join us. We love you Martin. You were a special light in our lives and you will be greatly missed. Joyce and Randy Klassen
We are so fortunate to have known him, Joyce! He and Libby are two in a trillion billion.
I am so grateful to your blog site. I don’t always read it as carefully as I should but I do skim read it when I receive it.
I just burst into tears when those words “Remembering Martin McCaw” jumped out at me. I had not heard it yet and I was so devastated! Randy came running to see what was wrong. We cried together and then I called Libby and WE cried together.
Joyce, thank you so much. I am sorry for your loss. Many of us grieve with you.
Susan, I was so sad to read in your blog that Martin has passed. Ages ago I read his story in short story America (the first volume) and wrote him a fan letter and he wrote back ,and after that we had quite a lot of conversation across the sea. I was very honoured when he asked me to write something for the back cover of his book The Low Road and he sent me a copy, signed, which I treasure please give his wife the deepest sympathies from his No 1 South African fan.
Hi Ginny, I remember Martin telling me about you. You and I share the honor of writing blurbs for “The Low Road.” Martin and I were critique partners for over a decade. Though he was nearly 92, that’s no excuse for his dying! I will pass your condolences on to his widow, Libby. She, too, is a friend of mine and one of the kindest people I know. Best wishes in your own writing endeavors!
Thanks Susan… Isn’t it wonderful how things just go around the world. Writers are just connected by a great big friendly web
Yes, it’s quite a community!
Susan, I’m devastated to only now learn that Martin passed last year. As editor of Short Story America I published several of his short stories in our anthology series. Please feel free to touch base any time. My cell is 843-597-3220. I write short and long fiction under my initials as T.D. Johnston, and Martin blurbed my second collection in a manner that made me blush. He even signed my copy of ‘The Low Road’ by saying that my story “Friday Afternoon” was his favorite short story ever, knocking me out of my chair. Great guy. I miss him already, and hate that I didn’t know sooner of his passing.—Tim Johnston
Good to hear from you, Tim, and I am sorry for your loss. Martin was a wonderful person, a friend of mine for many years and a highly valued critique partner. He is greatly missed in our community. So smart, so talented, so incredibly funny! I was stunned when Libby called a day or so after he died to tell me what had happened. He died the day after their 45th anniversary.
My upcoming book will be dedicated to him. It’s the fifth in the series, the first one he never had the chance to read or comment on. I miss his knowledge of craft and challenging questions! Martin was always curious about what autobiographical elements were incorporated in my fiction, the psychologist in him looking to unravel the mystery of what makes each of us who we are. So much curiosity, and so much compassion.
A beautiful tribute to Martin, Joyce. Thank you so much for sharing.
So sorry for your loss of a friend and a mentor. I enjoyed reading the interview. He must have been proud of your successes. My condolences to you and his family.
He was an amazing person, Margo. I think he would have liked you a great deal. I’m still trying to fathom that this has happened. It will definitely be a different world without him.
Kate, what a guy, right? Plz. see private email I sent to you 12/22. Thanks for reading, and lots of love, Sue
Hi Margo, He’s in the acknowledgements of my first 4 “G” series books. I think #5 will be dedicated to him. Martin admitted he didn’t care for fantasy when we became critique partners but I was starting to change his mind by book 4! He enriched me tremendously as a writer, and as a person. Martin frequently submitted satirical Letters to the Editor at the Walla Walla Union Bulletin. He’s a legend in this town and will be missed by many.