I met Joan at The Writers University back in the early part of the year 2000. She invited me to help with a new digital epress they were opening up. I went on as a reader and over time began to edit. We have worked together at a ePress-Online, which handles mostly Non-Fiction, Mystery, and SciFi genres for over ten years. ePress-Online took a chance on me with my first novel a crime suspense romance, which didn't fall into any of there genre category guidelines, but that's how they are. They tested a new line with my novel but the line didn't work out for them, and I've since pulled that first novel with their blessing to place it where it might do better.
Joan will be greatly missed by many. She was a wonderfully supportive person whose goal in life was to help writers. I wanted to share something special Joan did for several of us just this last Christmas. My Angel is back on display in honor of my very muched loved friend, Joan McNulty-Pulver. I think of her and all she meant each time I look at this sweet angel...
Below I've copied Joan's Obituary. Thank you for stopping by and please do comment if you so feel moved. Joan is very special to many people. She will forever live on in our hearts.
McNULTY-PULVER, Joan 67, of Brandon, passed away March 7, 2011. She is survived by her children, Raymond Vidal, Alicia A. Savoie, Rodney V. McNulty, Marjorie Pulver and Frank Pulver; seven grandchildren; and an extended loving family and friends. Services will be private. Stowers Funeral Home-Brandon.
Published in the St. Petersburg Times on March 9, 2011 Email
Thanks for honoring Joan in this way. I, too, met her through Writer's Village University and went on to work with her at ePress-online. We became fast friends, and started an editing business together. That business grew until Joan's health started to fail and we decided to dissolve.
ReplyDeleteJoan was one of my "friends who live in my computer" as my family would say, but I also had the opportunity to meet with her face-to-face on more than one occasion. We taught a writer's seminar together, and she and her family vacationed near where I lived and came over to the house.
Joan called me at least twice a week. We stayed in touch by email and IM. Her life intertwined with mine on a regular basis and she will be greatly missed.
I have an inspirational fantasy, The Inheritance, coming out this year, and it is due to Joan. She pushed me to submit it! I'll miss her more than I can say.
Thank you so much for dropping by today, Donna. I know how close you and Joan were:) And how much she meant to you.
ReplyDeleteD~
So sorry to hear about Joan. I didn't know her, but I can understand how much you and others feel her loss. Honoring her is such a nice thing to do.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to honour Joan. Although I never met her in person, like you, she took a chance on me with my first novel (in fact, with a trilogy of novels), and gave me the confidence to think I might be good enough to write for a living. Without her support, I wouldn't be where I am today, and I'll always be grateful. I'll miss her warmth, and her humour. RIP Joan.
ReplyDeleteJo Hall
I never met Joan personally. Donna and Joan edited my first book, Return to UKOO. I'm pretty darn lucky to be 76 and just assumed everyone else would have that many years to play around with, especially someone like Joan who helped so many writers. That Donna has lost a close friend like Joan saddens me deeply. But I think Joan well used the years granted her and so: "Well done, Joan! You'll be in good company up there with all the writers famous and not so famous."
ReplyDeleteDon Hurst
Hello, Kaye. Thank you so much for stopping by today and ALWAYS peeking in to see what's happening here. You are a true and supportive follower, friend! I really need to get to all my favorite blogs and show my face or at least comment. That is what it's all about and I am very guilty of letting life slip by without touching base with friends! And you never know when they won't be there anymore!
ReplyDeleteD~
Hello, Jo and Don! so long since we've spoken. Thank you both so much for dropping by! I can't tell you how much this means to me. I miss her so much already.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are both well. Please keep in touch.
D~
Joan was a positive person, and I too value her as a friend who lived on my computer. She was the true bedrock of the publisher, epress, and an ardent supporter of Writers Village University. In fact, it was she who persuaded and worked with me to produce a course for WVU. I shall miss my computer friend.
ReplyDeleteWell this is something that really brings joy to my heart to see how many people that my mom had an affect in thier lives. Over the years my heart opened more and more towards my mom and noe it opens to everyone as I say thank you for honouring my mom.
ReplyDeleteFrank Pulver
Herb!!!!! Thank you for stopping by. I miss you, my friend. Joan was definitely steadfast and earnest. She is the main reason that I have succeeded both as an author and professional editor, which I believe most people know though I tend to keep low-key:) Anyway, I will always give her credit for my very successful career in both sides of the craft.
ReplyDeletePlease do not be a stranger.
D~
Dear Frank, as so many people are confirming, your mom is very special. This is the best way I know to honor all she has done for me alone.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I, like many others, never actually met your mom face to face but as you can see she is very connected to me and has been a strong force in my career. I talked to her on the phone and always had contact via the internet as well through ePress-Online.
I will miss her dearly and hold her in my heart every waking day. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment here. Please don't be a stranger.
D~
Hi Dayana! :)
ReplyDeleteI think we all had the same idea when Joan passed and that was, just release it to the writing world. I had to write about it too on my blog, not just for others to read and see how special she was to me, but I did it as a form of healing, over something to me that felt like a great loss!
I know you all knew her longer than I, but she always made me feel special. So in her passing, I just had to let her know that SHE was special, to not just me, to ALL OF US!!
Heaven is a better place with her in it. May she finally rest in peace.
Joni
Hi, Joni! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. And I agree. I needed this for healing purposes as well to share with all that knew and loved Joan. Please shoot me over your blog addie. I'd love to stop by. I thought I had it here somewhere...
ReplyDeleteAnd yes! Heaven is a better place for having Joan there:)
D~
Hi Dayana,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kindness, sharing your space for us to say goodbye to Joan.
Joan Pulver took me under her wing, so to speak, two years ago, encouraging me to try editing for ePress. I was a reader for two years, but editing?
After I worked with Donna Sundblad on two books, I worked directly with Joan, editing Donna's novel Beyond the Fifth Gate. Joan urged me to become a lead editor, and I edited two novels with a lot of help from my cyber-friends.
After Joan fell ill, I was invited to an editor's meeting. When I came, Margaret offered me the position as fantasy senior editor. All the senior editors talked me into believing I could ever fill the shoes Joan owned and walked in. And I know I can't, but I accepted. So I know how hard it was for Joan to leave us and the work she loved and the people she cared for. I was one of her writing projects, the least deserved, maybe, but IMO the most grateful.
Joan, the best payback I can give you for all your faith and support is to follow your example, share what I learn with some other authors and editors and help them pursue their first love.
Roy
Hello, Roy. I have heard a lot about you. I guess I miss you when you attend the meetings:) Anyway, my start was much the same as yours. I worked with Joan, Nadine, and Herb(both gone From ePress now) but they were awesome teachers. When they accepted a book I'd written, they decided to try opening a Crime/Suspense Romance line. I became the SE of the experimental line, which never really took off, then later moved to SE of Mystery after Herb left us. Anyway, thank you so much for stopping by. I look forward to working with you in the future.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted a chance to remember Joan and share with others who knew her:)
D~
I met Joan at WVU when she invited me to be a part of "Recognitions". Such a great lady. I know she will be missed. She obviously has touched a lot of lives.
ReplyDeletewww.jonismuse.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI've only had three post since my Joan memorial. :)
*healing hugs*
joni
Hello, I'm Amber, I am one of Joans Grandchildren. I can't tell you how touched we've been by the support and kind words we've recieved from so many of you. My grandmother thought so highly of all of you and often talked about you and the stories she was working on regularly as if she'd known all of you forever. You made so many of her days bright and kept her from being bored at home. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHello, Amber. My sympathies and continued prayers are with you and you family at the loss of your very special Grandmother. I think of her every day and cried last night when I received your response to this post. She will forever be in my heart and I am most thankful that I had her in my life even though I never had the opportunity to meet with her face to face. Without your Grandmother, I would not be a professional editor nor a published author.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Dayana~
aka
Shar from ePress:)
A wonderful tribute for a writer and a friend!
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