Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Disaster

This will probably be the last post on this blog for a while. Our house and studio burned down yesterday, everything is lost except our dogs and the clothes on our backs, but Livia and the girls and I all okay. I'm writing this on the local library's computer. Books, pulps, comics, all my work, gone. This is totally overwhelming.

But we will come back, better than ever. Sure would appreciate some thoughts and prayers along the way, though.

Thank you all.

71 comments:

J. Kingston Pierce said...

Omigod, how devastating! My sympathies are with you. Hope you all can get back to some semblance of normality soon.

Cheers,
Jeff

Randy Johnson said...

Our thoughts and prayers go with you!

Anonymous said...

Wow thats horrible, hope everything will be back to normal soon enough.

pattinase (abbott) said...

I am so sorry to hear this. You just never believe things like this can really happen and then they do. Be safe and well.

JD Rhoades said...

Dear God. I'm so sorry, James. Glad you and the family are safe, though.

Anonymous said...

As horrible as the loss of personal items might be, I'm glad to hear that you, your wife, and your dogs are all okay. I hope you can put your lives back together quickly.

mybillcrider said...

Holy crap, James. I don't know what to say. I can't imagine what you must be feeling.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry. As a collector of old books and a person who works from his home, I think I can understand how devastating this must be. Thank God you and your family are safe at least. My thoughts will be with you.

Sandra Ruttan said...

James, there just aren't words. I'm so sorry to hear this. Glad your family and dogs are okay.

Mark Terry said...

Oh my God. My thoughts are with you and your family. Hang in there and I'm glad everyone's okay.

Patrick Shawn Bagley said...

James, I can't imagine what you're going through, but I'm glad to hear you and your family got out safely. Best wishes in getting a new place or rebuilding.

Lee Goldberg said...

I can't imagine what you are going through...but I am relieved that you and your family came through unhurt. But knowing you, not even your house burning down will delay your next book :-).

How did the fire happen?

Keith Raffel said...

So sorry, but so glad you and the family are fine. Good luck in bouncing back.

Anonymous said...

I've been through this myself, and as long as you and your family are all okay, the rest can be regained. Take good care.

All the best,
Matthew Mayo

Mark Justice said...

Man, what a blow. At least everyone got out safely. I'll keep a good thought for you.

Anonymous said...

James,

I am so sorry to hear about this. I'm literally stunned! Please give me a call, 817-581-6524. Anything Kelly and I can do, anything we have is at you and your family's disposal.

Mike Davis

Buddy Gott said...

I'm very sorry to hear about this. I'm very glad though to hear that you and your family were unharmed. That's the most important thing of all.

All the best,

Bud Gott

Mystery Dawg said...

James,
First We are glad to hear that you and your family are safe. I can't begin to imagine your thoughts at the moment. Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
Aldo

Vince said...

I can only echo what everyone else has said. I'm glad you and your family are safe, and you're in my thoughts.

John McFetridge said...

Very good to hear you and your family are okay. Our thoughts are with you....

Anonymous said...

The worst nightmare of every writer and collector. The only good part is that no life has been lost -- though that depends on how widely you define life.

I hope your friends there will be able to rally round and help you eventually put the best part of it together again -- e.g. duplicate copies of all your own published work, if not the rare pulps.

Anonymous said...

I just heard about this and my god, this is terrible. I hope you and your family have found a safe place to recover and process this while you get your life back together!

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness you all got out, and I hope you can get things sorted out as much as they possibly can be as quickly as possible...and back to a new normal. Sorry.

Steve Brewer said...

So sorry for your loss, James. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

Steve

Anonymous said...

At least all of you are safe. Things can be replaced but never family. My prayers are with you.

Sandra Seamans

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear about the fire-I can't imagine losing everything.

Hold tight to each other-I hope things return to normal soon.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear it. Best of luck in rebuilding things.

Anonymous said...

Thoughts and prayers, James, you bet. When I heard the news, all I could think was oh my, as the breath went out of me. I'm sure glad to know that you and Livia are OK. Most of the rest is replaceable -- not all, I know -- but you and she most definitely are not. --Steve

Anonymous said...

All good thoughts to you and your family, James.

Ed Lynskey

Craig Zablo said...

There are no words. You and yours are in our thoughts and prayers.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about your loss. I actually thought about you yesterday when I heard about the fire in Azle. Glad to hear everyone is OK.

Danny

Rusty said...

Oh my lord. That's awful -- words are totally inadequate. Thank goodness you all got out physically unharmed. All our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear about this. There are no words for this. All my sympathies.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Benjie said...

We'll be praying for you as you sort through this all. Sorry to hear it.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about the fire. Glad you are fine.

Anonymous said...

Our prayers are with you. May the insurance company be honorable.

Anonymous said...

Something like this must be hard to assimilate. At least you have each other, as well as the support and prayers of your many, many friends and fans.

Anonymous said...

That's terrible. I can't imagine what you're going through. I wish you the best getting back on your feet. mtm

Cap'n Bob said...

Add my voice to the chorus of the stunned and shocked. When you're ready to rebuild, let us know where you'll be. Anything you need in the interim is yours if I can provide it.

Peter Rozovsky said...

You have them. I'm not sure my tastes are as pulpy as yours, but I'd love to send along some books to help you start building your collection back up once you get settled again.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

Charles Gramlich said...

I'm so sorry. If there's anything specific you need let me know. cgramlic@xula.edu

Or (504) 259-1147

I'm wishing you the best. I'm so glad everyone is physically safe. I'll be saying some prayers for sure.

Rich said...

My best thoughts are with you, James. Please keep us posted on what you are hoping to replace first---I'm sure I speak for many in that we'd like to help wherever we may.

Rich

Anonymous said...

James, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Anything I can do,just let me know.

Jim Griffin

Unknown said...

I can only echo earlier posts: thank God you guys are safe. But what a huge blow. My family's thoughts and prayers are with you.

Anonymous said...

James and Livia, Thoughts and prayers with you and family. Please let us know what's happening, what we can do to help. All best and love, Greg

Ed Hulse said...

Just heard the awful news, James. My sympathies go out to you. Will keep you all in my prayers.

JT Ellison said...

Blessings to you and your family. So sorry to hear about the fire. Please know we'll be keeping you in our prayers.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Reasoner,

Surely you must feel a lifetime has vaporized in smoke.

Hugg your family and make new memories.

We here shall send our energy that the road may be an easy one.

Chuck Emerson
Houston

Feisty Crone said...

My thoughts and prayers are with your and your and your family.

Anonymous said...

My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. Glad to read that you are all ok.

If, any when you get, the time, please check out FronteirTimes as there are many messages there too.

Juri said...

Anything, just anything I can do from this remote corner of the world, just name it. I'll send you my two or three pulps. And of course the translation of your story that just came out...

Oh my god, I turned white when I read your post. The best thing is you got out okay. I don't pray, but now I should start.

Anonymous said...

Jim,

I'm so relieved you are okay at least. But what a loss. Memorabilia and book collections lie close to the heart. When you are resettled, I would like to send you my collection of notable westerns, to help you start over. It's not large, but it would be a start. It belongs on your shelves.

Richard Wheeler

Sarah Weinman said...

Echoing the crowd, I am glad you and Livia and your family are safe, though I can't even imagine what kind of incalculable loss this is.

Anonymous said...

You definitely have our sympathies and good wishes, James. I am grateful that you and your family are safe!

-- Rachel Caine

Anonymous said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Duane Spurlock said...

James, so sorry to hear about this. It's a blessing no one was physically hurt, but I know the emotional shock and pain are considerable. Hang in there. My prayers are with you and your family.

Randall Scott said...

James, may God comfort you and your family in these times of disaster. We are praying for you.

TCU Press said...

James and family, please let us know if we can do anything for you. Sheets, towels, clothing, dog food? Anything. Just call TCU Press: 817.257.5074/817.257.7822

Can't imagine how you must be feeling. All your books... You're in our prayers.

judyalter said...

James,

Your buddies of Noah's Ride are devastated for you. Let us know what tangible things we can do. You and Livia and the girls are in our thoughts and prayers.

Judy

AndyDecker said...

That´s terrible. But glad to hear that your and your wife are safe.

Best wishes-
Andy

Lee Goldberg said...

If there is anything the IAMTW can do...like help raise some money for you or to send books to help re-build your book collection...please let us know. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

Steve Malley said...

Thoughts and prayers, you got 'em. Glad y'all are safe and well...

Anonymous said...

To answer those who asked, it was a wind-whipped brush fire. The Fire Department told James apparently the high winds blew together some high-tension power lines, which arced and sent sparks into the tinder-dry grass in the field below. Unfortunately, the wind blew the fire right at the Reasoner's home. James was the only one there at the time, and he had to literally grab the pets and run for their lives. Couldn't even get to his truck.

Jim Griffin

Michael Bracken said...

James,

My thoughts are with you.

Graeme Flanagan said...

I was very, very sorry to hear about the fire. Great news that you and the family are OK though. When you get re-established I'd be delighted to send you some Marshall Grover paperbacks for your library. Jill sends her best wishes. We both fondly remember your wonderful hospitality when we visited Texas in 1995.

SzélsőFa said...

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss. Thanks God you and your beloved are alive.
Charles has sent me, and I'm sending some positive thoughts from the other side of the ocean.

Miladysa said...

Heard about your news on Charles Gramlich's blog.

Just wanted you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Anonymous said...

James, I was so saddened to hear of this tragedy. Please know that you and your family are in the thoughts of everyone here at Berkley Publishing. Let me know anything I can possibly do for you.

All the best,
Carolyn

steve on the slow train said...

James,

I just heard about your loss through Charles Gramilch's blog. My thoughts and paryers are with you and your family.

Steve in Bloomington, IL

Carl V. Anderson said...

Oh my...I don't know what to say except to be saddened beyond measure. I cannot even begin to fathom how shocking and horrifying something like this must be. I am so thankful that you are all safe, there is certainly no dismissing that miracle, and at the same time it is still devastating to lose the sum total of possessions that one has amassed over the years. Our things are a part of who we are and to have that lost through any kind of disaster has to be hard to get over. You and your family are certainly in my thoughts and prayers. I am so very sorry.