While this is quite late in the scheme of things, I wanted to make a post about the award winning science fiction/steampunk/clockpunk author and all around awesome guy, Jay Lake. I didn't know Jay that well, although Elizabeth and I were on a really fun "What is steampunk, clockpunk, cyberpunk etc" panel with him at Steamcon 2 in Seattle. In that panel, we came up with the quite hilarious "Coffeepunk" genre together. (I have pictures from that panel, but I can't currently find them.) Grrrr
About six months before Thomas Riley and The Maelstrom came out, I sent Jay an email asking if he might give a blurb but due to his health, he said he wouldn't be able to do it. It was the kindest and most thoughtful rejection I ever got. After that, I followed Jay from his blog and Facebook where I learned about his battle with cancer. He spoke frankly about his illness which I found brave and even as horrible as it was that anyone should have to go through what he did, his blog posts to be passionate and unapologetically honest. He gave an ultra detailed account of his experience with cancer, physically, mentally and socially. It's an eye opener for sure.
Sadly, Jay passed away on June 1, 2014 and I write this as a tribute, a thank you and a call for you to celebrate Jay's life and talent. Jay has a ton of good books and stories and I implore you to check his work out, whether it be his books or his blog. Rest in Peace Jay, thank you for sharing your talents with us.
Jay Lake's Website/Blog
Jay Lake Books
