JOYCE LILLIAN LAVENE
May 23, 1954 – October 20, 2015
The cozy mystery world lost a shining star on Tuesday and I lost a dear friend. When I first saw her husband Jim’s Facebook post, I thought it couldn’t be true, then I went into denial and shock. I think I am still in shock.
I never met Joyce face to face. We “met” on Facebook and because of my blog. When I started dong my book tours she was my champion and she and Jim supported me and became my first blog sponsors. They had already authored close to 60 books before 2015 and this year they were releasing a book a month and sometimes two. Joyce and I were almost in daily contact. You see even though we met because of the stories we became close friends. We “talked” about so much more than books. We talked about life in general, our kids and our grandkids. She knew paranormal stories were not my thing but because of her I now read about ghosts, witches, and recently a werewolf. We still disagreed about that whole zombie/undead thing, but if anyone was going to get me to venture there it would have been Joyce. When my son passed away in March I was a mess and she was one of the friends that reached out and gave me a virtual shoulder to cry on. She tried to help me understand that moms could only do so much. She was warm, kind, inspirational, generous and smart. Beautiful inside and out. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was a gifted writer.
Looking back through my emails I found one from October 14 – Lori! What would I do without you?
to which I replied – What would I do without you?
It breaks my heart that I have to find out.
We had a good back and forth on the 15th about tour stuff and she posted on Facebook on the 17th, then her daughter posted she wasn’t feeling well and then Jim’s post on the 20th of her passing left her family, friends and fans devastated.
Again I have seen that tomorrow is never promised so we need live for today and count our blessings.
Joyce and Jim were married for 44 years. She is survived by Jim, her son Christopher, her daughter Jeni, her daughter Emily, and grandchildren Eric, Jason, Anthony, Gabrielle and Katharine, and her brother Michael Koch, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
They wrote bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They traveled to Ren Faires, book signings, conventions and conferences. It seemed like that always off on some fun adventure. Joyce was active on Facebook and Twitter every day. She was loved by her fans and was so accessible.
She was also an award winning photojournalist.
My life was better because of the place she had in it. I will miss her each and every day. I will not say goodbye – I will just say until we meet again.
Until that time she lives on in all her stories. I will be visiting her there soon and often. She has left quite a mark on this earth and brought joy to so many.
Blessed Be My Friend!
Lisa K’s Book Reviews is hosting a Facebook Event today – Remembering Joyce Lavene. Feel free to stop by and share a memory or see what others are sharing.
Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.
Joyce on Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
Sunday Salon will return next week.
So sorry to hear this, Lori. Sounds like you had a wonderful friendship. My thoughts are with her family…and you. May she rest in peace.
What a lovely tribute. So many of us feel the loss.
A few months ago, I started reading books by Joyce and Jim, and I followed her on Facebook. She was always kind and sweet. She will be missed.
I, too, have my set of ‘go-to’ books when I need a pick-me-up. Joyce and Jim’s books (any and/or all) are definitely on that list.
RIP
RIP to a great writer and from what you say an even greater friend 🙁
A lovely tribute, Lori. Beautiful….
A very beautiful and touching tribute, I just knew her from following her on FB and just from her posts she seemed like a funny, warm, genuine person. My prayers are with her family.
Thank you, Lori, for a beautiful tribute. She will be greatly missed.
Wonderful tribute!
What a beautiful tribute. I too look for her everyday. I was deleting old emails yesterday and Joyce popped up many times along with an interview from a couple weeks ago for her to post to our blog. She is missed, yes for her writing but more for the beautiful person she was and the friend she was to all of us.
This news was shocking and sad. My prayers to her family and yours. I can’t imagine such a devastating loss of a child.
Joyce was, indeed, a force of nature, in the truest sense of the word. Her enthusiasm, kindness, generosity and creativity benefitted us all. I hope that many learned from Joyce the capacity to live to the fullest….your tribute is lovely and describes Joyce beautifully.
Thank you….
Lori, when I first got your email I thought you had to be mistaken. I had just chatted on twiiter with Joyce a couple days before. We never met in person but had some conversations in email. I feel we were becoming friends. She always reached out and loved to chat about anything. Not just books. I will miss her. It still stabs at my heart when I think of her. With her and Jim’s two tours coming up, I will smile and send a prayer upwards. I hope she will be watching us:)
A wonderful tribute, Lori.
Very nice post! She will be missed by her family and fans – I was a late fan only having been turned onto her and Jim’s books in the last couple of years. I plan to read some of their earlier works that I missed and to read the last books she wrote before she passed
i kept thinking her passing was a hoax. that somebody hijacked their account. I am so sad at her passing.
A beautiful tribute Lori! You were blessed to have known Joyce so well, and now we have been blessed as well, from your gift of sharing that friendship with us… Prayers and *Hugs* <3
Thank-you for the beautiful post Lori. We are so sorry to hear about Joyce, She will be greatly missed. We wish her family love and light.
Beth and Rob
B.B.Haywood
Thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute Lori.
Beautiful tribute Lori. I still can’t believe she is gone. She is greatly missed.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute!
Lori I agree. When I read that Joyce had passed I couldn’t believe it. It is still hard to believe. It is a beautiful tribute.
Thank you for the amazing tribute to Joyce. I feel that the world has lost a great person and author.
I am also in shock. I have known Jim and Joyce for years and thought so much of both of them. Joyce will be sorely missed. My love to Jim and the rest of the family.