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| Sandie Bricker |
Our hearts are saddened this weekend. As many of you know,
the writing community lost a beloved friend, editor, and writer Saturday when Sandie Bricker
graduated to heaven.
Sandie was our dear friend here at Seriously Write. She
contributed regularly, on the first Monday of the month, encouraging and
coaching writers. Many of your hostesses here also knew her as a friend. She is
already sorely missed.
I first learned of Sandie when her 2009 book came out with
Summerside Press: Love Finds You in Snowball,
Arkansas. What an enjoyable and humorous story. Soon after I read, we
connected online. Then, I met her in person at an ACFW conference. She was a
delightful friend and most recently, a source of personal inspiration to me.
Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with Sandie’s family
and friends at this time.
Grief is a heavy burden. But it’s made lighter by the love
and support of many friends together. I invite you, our readers and friends, to
share your thoughts and memories here as we celebrate Sandie’s home-going and hold
each other up. Do you have special memories of Sandie you’d like to share?
Please do so below.
Annette, I remember reading Love Finds You In Snowball Arkansas and laughing out loud. It is still my favorite Sandie Bricker novel. The book finaled in the NRCA and I was the coordinator for the Inspirational category that year. I was fortunate to be able to notify Sandie. She was a delight and such fun to talk with. I'm the years since I've read and enjoyed all her books. I'll miss her humor and her writing. I've no doubt she's rejoicing in heaven today.
ReplyDeleteI loved that book too! Like you, I laughed aloud and knew I'd found a new favorite author. Then we met, and I'd found a new friend. Thank you for sharing these thoughts and memories, Terri. Yes! She's rejoicing. No more pain or sorrow. That's hopeful. Hugs, friend.
DeleteWhat a beautiful tribute--thank you for expressing what is in the hearts of so many. Sandie was, and will remain, a beautiful light. Prayers and love to her entire family. My prayer is that, as writers, we will keep that light shining bright. xo <3
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said, Marianne! Thank you for sharing these heartfelt words. Hugs, my friend!
DeleteThis is a lovely tribute. Sandie's light continues to shine through the blessing of your words. What a beautiful friend to all!
ReplyDeleteYes, Mary! I agree--her light is still with us! Hugs, friend.
DeleteSo very sorry to hear of this!
ReplyDeleteRIP Sandie and may God surround all who know, love and mourn her with peace and comfort.
PamT
Thank you, Pam! I'm so grateful for the comfort of friends and the Lord. I'm praying God will minister personally to everyone who is grieving. <3
DeleteSo sorry for our loss. So happy for her that she is with Jesus now. She ran the race so well. Makes this temporary life so real, doesn't it? Hugs and much comfort to all.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karla. Her legacy is one of faithfulness and caring for so many people. Her circle of friends is wide, and over and over I'm hearing people say how she brought light into their lives. Thank you for your kind words.
DeleteThe first time I met Sandie was when I contacted her for a post for Seriously Write. Afterwards, she said she liked our "vibe," and so I sent her to you, Annette.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we kept in touch and found that we had a lot of things in common, mostly health issues. For the past year or so, she encouraged me, made me laugh (several times!) and was a sweet friend. Her last words to me were, "Later, tater," and then, "Bye."
I remember that, Angie. :) So glad she joined us for a while. Wasn't it beautiful how she could meet people where they were and offer encouragement? She was beautiful--inside and out. Hugs, friend. <3
DeleteI never had the pleasure of meeting Sandie, but I loved her posts here on Seriously Write. What a tribute to see on FB and everywhere the impact she had on other people.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Sandy. :) Her legacy lives on. Hugs, friend.
DeleteSandie and I were critique partners. I spoke with her for nearly an hour the night before she went "home."
ReplyDeleteI'm at a loss here. My work is my work... But Sandie put the shine on it. And I did the same for hers. We could anticipate what the other would write or say or do to the point that we often filled in the spaces for each other. "I know you won't mind," we'd say ... and we didn't mind at all!
When Sandie's edits of my work came in, I pretty much just hit "accept all." That's how good she was. That's how good she was at knowing ME.
When Five Brides reached #1 on the CBA historical fiction bestseller list, it was Sandie who called me. Not my agent. Not my editor. Sandie. She was so proud of me ... we both cried like girls.
When she won ACFW Editor of the Year, we cried again. She was so shocked and so happy. Sandie wanted, above all else, to be loved and to be appreciated for her God-given talents, which were so many! She wanted to know that her work made a difference.
(It did, Sandie. It did!)
When I needed to commiserate about the downside of this industry ... Sandie was my shoulder to cry on. And vice versa. Or if we needed to shout Hallelujah! we understood we were not bragging but rejoicing.
I have a Sandie-shaped hole in my heart right now. But having it is better than having never known her. I'll take this hurt over the emptiness.
I'm just not sure what I will do without her. Not that I'll ever be truly without her. Even now I can hear her say, "Make sure all this is in active voice, Eva ..."
LOL.
Thank you for sharing this, Eva. What a beautiful tribute. I love when a fellow writer "gets me" and my voice. Such a special bond. Praying for you. <3
DeleteI met Sandie via e-mail some years ago when we both worked for a national cellular company. I was in a department at the headquarters here in Seattle. She was located in Florida, employed as one of the company's web editors. I was hoping to get into that department here, and we connected through a mutual employee friend.
ReplyDeleteThat started a long-distance friendship where we supported and encouraged each other to leave the corporate world and strike out on our own as freelance editors. She was already a published author - and so talented.
We continued to support each other over the years, and I will miss her ...
I remember sharing in that season, Dawn. And when you and I met her together at that ACFW conference. What a treat! Marian was with her. Such a blessed friendship. Like ours. Hugs, dear friend. <3
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