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.
Omigod, how devastating! My sympathies are with you. Hope you all can get back to some semblance of normality soon.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Jeff
Our thoughts and prayers go with you!
ReplyDeleteWow thats horrible, hope everything will be back to normal soon enough.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear this. You just never believe things like this can really happen and then they do. Be safe and well.
ReplyDeleteDear God. I'm so sorry, James. Glad you and the family are safe, though.
ReplyDeleteAs 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.
ReplyDeleteHoly crap, James. I don't know what to say. I can't imagine what you must be feeling.
ReplyDeleteI'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.
ReplyDeleteJames, there just aren't words. I'm so sorry to hear this. Glad your family and dogs are okay.
ReplyDeleteOh my God. My thoughts are with you and your family. Hang in there and I'm glad everyone's okay.
ReplyDeleteJames, 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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 :-).
ReplyDeleteHow did the fire happen?
So sorry, but so glad you and the family are fine. Good luck in bouncing back.
ReplyDeleteI've been through this myself, and as long as you and your family are all okay, the rest can be regained. Take good care.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Matthew Mayo
Man, what a blow. At least everyone got out safely. I'll keep a good thought for you.
ReplyDeleteJames,
ReplyDeleteI 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
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.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Bud Gott
James,
ReplyDeleteFirst 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
I can only echo what everyone else has said. I'm glad you and your family are safe, and you're in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteVery good to hear you and your family are okay. Our thoughts are with you....
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
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!
ReplyDeleteThank 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.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss, James. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
ReplyDeleteSteve
At least all of you are safe. Things can be replaced but never family. My prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteSandra Seamans
I'm sorry to hear about the fire-I can't imagine losing everything.
ReplyDeleteHold tight to each other-I hope things return to normal soon.
Sorry to hear it. Best of luck in rebuilding things.
ReplyDeleteThoughts 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
ReplyDeleteAll good thoughts to you and your family, James.
ReplyDeleteEd Lynskey
There are no words. You and yours are in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteSorry 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.
ReplyDeleteDanny
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.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about this. There are no words for this. All my sympathies.
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ReplyDeleteWe'll be praying for you as you sort through this all. Sorry to hear it.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the fire. Glad you are fine.
ReplyDeleteOur prayers are with you. May the insurance company be honorable.
ReplyDeleteSomething 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.
ReplyDeleteThat's terrible. I can't imagine what you're going through. I wish you the best getting back on your feet. mtm
ReplyDeleteAdd 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.
ReplyDeleteYou 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.
ReplyDelete===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
I'm so sorry. If there's anything specific you need let me know. cgramlic@xula.edu
ReplyDeleteOr (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.
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.
ReplyDeleteRich
James, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Anything I can do,just let me know.
ReplyDeleteJim Griffin
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.
ReplyDeleteJames 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
ReplyDeleteJust heard the awful news, James. My sympathies go out to you. Will keep you all in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you and your family. So sorry to hear about the fire. Please know we'll be keeping you in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteMr. Reasoner,
ReplyDeleteSurely 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
My thoughts and prayers are with your and your and your family.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. Glad to read that you are all ok.
ReplyDeleteIf, any when you get, the time, please check out FronteirTimes as there are many messages there too.
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...
ReplyDeleteOh 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.
Jim,
ReplyDeleteI'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
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.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely have our sympathies and good wishes, James. I am grateful that you and your family are safe!
ReplyDelete-- Rachel Caine
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
ReplyDeleteJames, 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.
ReplyDeleteJames, may God comfort you and your family in these times of disaster. We are praying for you.
ReplyDeleteJames 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
ReplyDeleteCan't imagine how you must be feeling. All your books... You're in our prayers.
James,
ReplyDeleteYour 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
That´s terrible. But glad to hear that your and your wife are safe.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes-
Andy
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.
ReplyDeleteThoughts and prayers, you got 'em. Glad y'all are safe and well...
ReplyDeleteTo 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.
ReplyDeleteJim Griffin
James,
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you.
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.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about the loss. Thanks God you and your beloved are alive.
ReplyDeleteCharles has sent me, and I'm sending some positive thoughts from the other side of the ocean.
Heard about your news on Charles Gramlich's blog.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
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.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Carolyn
James,
ReplyDeleteI just heard about your loss through Charles Gramilch's blog. My thoughts and paryers are with you and your family.
Steve in Bloomington, IL
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.
ReplyDelete