Memories of A.C. Crispin (1950 – 2013)

I was deciding what to write this week’s post about when this passed over my Twitter feed.

A.C. Crispin passed away Friday, September 6, 2013

I had the pleasure of meeting her at DragonCon 2007. Ann was polite and gracious and a little apologetic. As she signed my copy of Star Wars: Tales From Jabba’s Palace, she told me she had a cold and wasn’t shaking hands or giving hugs to keep all her germs to herself. It didn’t do any good. I ended up with a raging case of con crud anyway.

As you’ve guessed from the book I had signed, I read a lot of the tie-in novels for Star Wars. I also read the Star Trek ones. Her novel Star Trek: Sarek is one of my favorites in the Star Trek tie-in books. Not only do we get compelling story about the rift between Spock and Sarek, but a look into Klingon culture from a female and non-warrior point of view.

I adore her short story in Star Wars: Tales from Jabba’s Palace, Skin Deep: The Fat Dancer’s Tale. She took someone with little more screen time than seconds in the background time and gave her a compelling backstory about why she was a dancer in Jabba’s den of thieves. She also gave her a romantic interest, one of the first I had seen for a character who wasn’t skinny and traditionally beautiful, and she physically saves male protagonist as much as he saves her.

I have to admit to my shame I have not read her Starbridge series or Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom. They are on my never ending to-read list.

She was also helped found Writer’s Beware. It is a resource I have not had need to use yet. When I move onto the next step of my writing journey, I will be doing research there. I greatly appreciate her and all the other people involved in putting this information out there.

Thank you and rest in peace Ann Carol Crispin. Your books made my life richer. I will miss you.

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