FAREWELL TO RETIRED DAMES
Debbie Fritter (Dame Emerald) Diana Kirk (Dame Pearl) Jaye Roycraft (Dame Ruby) Julie Skerven (Dame Peridot)
Connie Severson (who wrote as C.J. Winters) passed over on January 3, 2009 following a short and mercifully short struggle with metastatic cancer and attendant strokes. The members of Jewels of the Quill were stunned and saddened to hear the tragic news about our beloved Dame Tanzanite. She was a vital and cherished member of our group and an author with profound and eternal talent that will never be forgotten by her readers.
Connie's contributions to Jewels of the Quill anthologies included The Tanzanite Curse, available in Tales from the Treasure Trove, Volume III, which won the 2008 EPPIE Award and was also nominated for the RT Book Reviews' Reviewer's Choice Awards. The Tanzanite Return, the sequel to The Tanzanite Curse, is also available now in Tales from the Treasure Trove, Volume IV, which received a 5-angel review from Fallen Angel Reviews, and 4 1/2 hearts and Night Owl Romance's Reviewer Top Pick award. Connie contributed White Elephants to the first Jewels of the Quill Halloween anthology, Shadows in the Heart, an EPPIE Award 2008 finalist as well as a 2007 Dream Realm Award finalist. Connie's light mystery novella, Princess and the Tanzanite Necklace was released September 2009 in Tales from the Treasure Trove, Volume V. She was also contracted to contribute the sequel to White Elephants, titled The Horse in the Kitchen, in the group's second Halloween anthology, Halloween Treasures (coming September 2010).
She will be missed terribly by each of us.
Margaret L. Carter (Dame Onyx)
Christine DeSmet (Dame Moonstone)
Liz Hunter (Dame Garnet)
Dee Lloyd (Dame Aquamarine)
Carrie S. Masek (Dame Topaz)
Nancy Pirri (Dame Sapphire)
Barbara Raffin (Dame Jade)
Jane Toombs (Dame Turquoise)
Janet Lane Walters (Dame Amber)
Karen Wiesner (Dame Amethyst)
Karen Woods (Dame Coral)
Jewels of the Quill has made a donation to the American Cancer Society in her name.
This candle burns in loving memory of C.J. Winters.
Jewels of the Quill bids a fond farewell to our Dame Obsidian. We wish you success in all of your endeavors!
Michele writes: "Jewels of the Quill are terrific writers and classy dames. My time as Dame Obsidian totally rocked (get it...rocked?). I feel very fortunate to have been a member of this group. Karen Wiesner does the work of a dozen people and her commitment and effort on behalf of JOTQ is awe-inspiring. I wish every Jewel love and laughter. Thanks for a wonderful year!"
Jewels of the Quill bids a fond farewell to our Dame Opal. We wish you success in all of your endeavors!
Alice writes: "I very much enjoyed my association with Jewels of the Quill members. The friendships are much prized. Since my income didn't justify the expense, circumstances dictated that I no longer belong to the group. I will miss the camaraderie and the knowledgeable information often received. May you all have much success."
Sherry Derr-Wille
Jewels of the Quill bids a fond farewell to our Dame Diamond. We wish you success in all of your endeavors!
Sherry writes: "In every relationship there is a time to say hello and a time to say good-bye. I have found that my career is taking me in several new and exciting directions. In order to do justice to both the group and myself, I have made the decision to leave the Jewels of the Quill. Although I will no longer be featured, I will be accessible to my friends and fans. I have enjoyed being part of the Jewels of the Quill and wish everyone the best. Please keep up with what is happening in my career at my website, or contact me at derr-wille@excite.com. I always look forward to hearing from old friends."
Debbie Fritter Jewels of the Quill bids a fond farewell to our Dame Emerald. We wish you success in all of your endeavors!
Debbie writes: "It is with sadness that, due to the demands of my writing career, I must depart Jewels of the Quill. This is not good-bye to JOTQ fans or from the other Jewels, it is simply a farewell until we meet again in another place and another time. Please stop by and visit me at my website from time to time. I'd love to hear from you."
Diana Kirk Jewels of the Quill bids a fond farewell to our Dame Pearl. We wish you success in all of your endeavors!
Diana writes: "It is with great sorrow that I am leaving this wonderful group of ladies at the end of June. I've had some health issues this past year and in order to keep my strength up, I'm limiting what I can do. So, for all my readers and Jewels of the Quill, it has been an honor sharing these web pages with you and I especially thank Karen Wiesner who has been my pillar and rock this past year. I thank you, Karen, for all you've done for me and your understanding with my health issues. Hugs and love to all, Diana."
Jaye Roycraft Jewels of the Quill bids a fond farewell to our Dame Ruby. We wish you success in all of your endeavors!
Jaye writes: "It has been an honor and a pleasure to be a Jewel, and I have enjoyed the fellowship of the many signings, shows and conventions I've attended as Dame Ruby. Unfortunately, my writing is moving away from romance, so I must seek out new avenues of promotion. I will always treasure this time in my career, and I know that many of the friendships forged here will remain. A big thanks, too, to my fans for their support. Please know there are more books on the horizon, and I can always be reached through my website."
Julie Skerven
Jewels of the Quill bids a fond farewell to our Dame Peridot. We wish you success in all of your endeavors!
Julie writes: "It is with regret and fond remembrance that I leave the Jewels. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time as Dame Peridot and treasure the friendships I've made here, but it's time for me to move on. Even though I'm leaving the group, I'll still be there for my fans. They can always reach me at my website. I wish all the Jewels the best, and now it's time for me to say goodbye."
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