Jane Orcutt

Last week I lost a friend--Jane Orcutt. I had been her editor when she started writing with Hidden Heart and Fugitive Heart as her first titles. Then Jane wrote Living Stone, one of the best books I've ever read much less had the opportunity to edit. Jane had soul and she knew how to put that in her books. Several months ago I recieved an email from Jane telling me that she'd been diagnosed with leukemia.

How I prayed for her and her family. But Jane grew weaker. The doctors recommended testing for a bone marrow transplant. One of Jane's sisters qualified for the procedure, if only Jane would get well enough to endure the intense chemotherapy and radiation that precedes it. It looked like things were finally turning for the better when we got word that Jane had died.

Jane founded Chapter A Week, a Yahoo group that offers weekly samplings of new Christian novels, a great place to discover new books. She homeschooled her two sons until they entered high school. She was a dedicated, diligent person. I will miss her voice in this world. She will have one more book published this summer--All the Tea in China. Look for it in June.

Warmly,
Traci DePree