Our Writing Judge Went Home!

Posted bySusan K. MarlowPosted inUncategorized

My dear friend, mentor, and one of our writing judges for all of of the many contests I have hosted over the years has moved! She has taken up residence in heaven with Jesus and is no doubt experiencing joy that cannot be expressed. Mrs. M, on the other hand, is very sad. I was just with her for the day during the Labor Day weekend, and Ms. Colleen Reece and I had lunch. She was in good health and high spirits, and even last week (about three days before her passing away), we were emailing each other about the pretty book covers I was creating for her, and earlier, she was busily helping me with ideas for a new Jenny Grant series.

We emailed all the time and even chatted over Gmail chat. I simply do not know what I shall do without her. Her sudden calling home has left a huge hole, since she was my writing teacher nearly 30 years ago, and we’ve been fast friends ever since. I think if she had been ill and in the hospital, and we knew she was getting close to going “home,” it would be different, but honestly, this was so sudden. Although it’s still so fresh that I have not heard all of the details yet, I tend to believe she just went to sleep one night and woke up in heaven. LUCKY DUCK!

She lives alone but has many friends, and they were alerted that something was not right when Colleen did not answer their phone calls or their emails. She knew I would be at my mother’s over the weekend so I did not expect an email from her until . . . today, Monday. *sniff sniff*

Here is a picture of my dear friend and writing judge. For sure, Colleen, I am going to miss you, but I do not begrudge your homecoming. Have fun, and I’ll see you soon!

Miss Colleen Reece, age 88

And here are the three covers I created for her next three Cherished Romances she had planned. They are older books that a new publisher was republishing and giving life to (#1-17 are already on Amazon). She loved these covers so much, and we had a blast creating them. Although now the books will never see daylight, I thought the covers would be fun to show you.

Published by Susan K. Marlow

I'm the author of the Circle C and Goldtown Adventures series. I blog as "Andi Carter," the main character in the Circle C series. She lives on a huge cattle ranch in 1880s California. These are her adventures.

13 thoughts on “Our Writing Judge Went Home!”

  1. Oh my goodness, that’s so so sad. What a beautiful lady… so thankful for all the things she did for this blog! I will be praying for her family and for you, Mrs M, because that must be so hard!!

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  6. I’m so sorry to hear this. I had little interaction with sweet Ms. Reece but she was so thoughtful and encouraging. Praying for peace for you and her family.

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  7. I’m so sorry Mrs. M! I will be praying for you and her family.

    Question: did she write the Juli Scott Super Sleuth books?

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  10. Wow how sad. : (Honestly I don’t believe that Ms. Coleen has gone to heaven. You see, I’m a seventh day adventist and we believe that once people die they go to ”sleep” in the grave and wait until Jesus returns. They know nothing. Because they are dead. And as it says in the bible , once you die over time you return to the dust of the earth. I

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    1. I am aware of 7th day Adventist beliefs, and my Adventist acquaintance was stumped when I quoted Paul’s “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” and I’ll stand on that…. Also Paul’s letter to the Philippians makes it clear that he is torn . . . “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” So, wherever Jesus is right now, that is where Colleen is, and Scripture is clear that Christ ascended into heaven…..

      Even though of course the body returns to the dust. That is Scripture too. And now since I have given a response based on Scripture, this comment thread is closed. 😊

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