All of us at Harlequin Heartwarming were deeply saddened when we heard that our dear Aimée recently passed away. We've gathered here today to share memories of our beloved friend and to celebrate the amazing, genuine person that she was. Please join us in remembering...
Remembering Aimée Thurlo
I wish I’d known
Aimée better and longer. I’m fortunate she had a story she wanted to write that
didn’t fit her long-time Intrigue series and because of Heartwarming, our paths
crossed. What struck me most about Aimée is her passion, her enthusiasm. As
now-retired Executive Editor Marsha Zinberg, who contracted her December
Homespun Christmas, remembers: “She was so excited about her Heartwarming
book…the subject matter and content, and was thrilled to have found a niche
that seemed to so suit the ‘clean’ style she wanted to write in.”
Aimée’s passing took
all of us by sad surprise, following her very short battle with cancer.
According to her husband and writing partner, David, on Facebook, she was
diagnosed Valentine’s Day after suffering from back pain and died Feb. 28. I
can’t imagine what David is going through right now. It’s been very clear to
anyone who knows them, or even knows of them, that they are devoted to each
other. Their partnership, in love and career, has been remarkable.
Harlequin Intrigue
Senior Editor Denise Zaza wrote on the Heartwarming Community boards a little
about Aimée: that she was born in Havana, Cuba, and lived with David in
Corrales, New Mexico, in a rural neighborhood filled with horses, alpacas,
camels and other assorted livestock. And that David’s Navajo background
inspired many of the Aimée Thurlo stories for Harlequin Intrigue.
Publisher’s Weekly
wrote that Aimée was the author of more than 70 novels—romance, mystery and
suspense—which is an enormous accomplishment. She has received a Career
Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews, a New Mexico Book Award in contemporary
fiction and a Willa Cather Award in the same category. Aimée Thurlo's last book
for Harlequin will be published in late 2014, an Intrigue, Eagle’s Last Stand.
We are sad to lose
Aimée—she will be greatly missed. David, you have our deepest condolences.
-Victoria Curran
Aimée was the kind of person who greeted strangers
as if you'd quickly become one of her best friends. It probably explains why she had so many, many friends.
-Melinda Curtis
Aimée jumped into the midst of the Heartwarming
bloggers and immediately created an "I'm here and we're all friends"
atmosphere. What a gift. She was an awesome writer and a real go-to
person. The posts she wrote about she
and David's romance show what love is—no wonder she wrote about it too. Happiness and contentment oozed off the
pages.
-Pamela Tracy
I love the photo of Aimée and David because you
can see the love that binds them beyond the time this earthly world gives us. I
love that she fought so hard to be well and so enjoyed her working life with
David and the dog that shared her office. I am very sad, but she seemed to so
enjoy what she had that it's hard to feel badly. A life well lived and truly
enjoyed must make God really happy.
-Muriel Jensen
Anyone who
picked up an Aimée Thurlo book knew instantly she was a born storyteller. Her
voice and spirit came alive on the page as if she were standing in front of
you. We've lost a beautiful author, but more importantly we've all lost a
tremendous person. Her work will live on for those who were able to escape in
the stories and characters she created with her beloved David. You will be
missed, Aimée. Thank you for sharing your gift with the world.
-Anna J. Stewart
I had read Aimée and David’s Intrigues but had
never met them until they came on the Heartwarming Blog. Their stories were
always interesting and moving, and I learned why through their blogs. I loved
hearing Aimée talk about her love for their dogs and all animals. Her Christmas
snowman sans snow made us laugh. All of her deep feelings for home, community
and David were reflected in her blogs. And when I read Homespun Christmas I
felt it showed a slice of her own life. It’s a story that will stand the test
of time. And that’s nice.
-Roz Denny Fox
Aimée was a kind-hearted person and talented
author. Her personal love story was an inspiration and my thoughts and prayers
go out to her family and friends.
-Amy Vastine
Aimée was a terrific person who was a great
cheerleader for our Heartwarming line. She was generous in spirit when it came
to sharing all sorts of ideas about promotion, always willing to promote her
"Heartwarming sisters."
She was a lovely role model for love in real life,
too—her romance with her husband David was an inspiration to me. I will miss
her cheerful, generous spirit, and my prayers are with her family, who feel her
loss all the more keenly.
-Cynthia Reese
Aimée was one of the warmest, most generous
writers I have ever had the pleasure to meet. When she found out I was
publishing my first romance novel, she sent me frequent emails to check in on
me and offer me encouragement and much needed advice. It impressed me to no end
that this highly successful, busy author would take time from her day to help
someone like me. It shows just how kind and classy Aimée was. I looked at her
as a role model (still do) of the kind of successful author I want to be
someday- someone who will never be too important or too caught up in her own
career to forget to help others. There will never be another person like her.
-Karen Rock
Aimée was a wonderful person and her relationship
with David was a true inspiration. I've enjoyed seeing the pictures posted to
Facebook in her memory this week. She will be missed.
-Jen Snow
Aimée's posts were fun and informative, always
filled with joy. She will be missed.
-Tara Randel
I never met Aimée face to face, but I got to know
her through her emails and her blog posts. She was funny and kind and very
supportive for all of us in the Heartwarming sisterhood. Her love story with
David deserves a book of its own. You will be missed, Aimée!
-Syndi Powell
I'm feeling so heartbroken over Aimée's passing, and for David for losing his soul
mate. Aimée's posts about the two of them left no doubt that that's what they
were to one another. Just from getting to know her online, I knew she was an
amazing, kind person. She gave me great advice and she had a way of making me
feel good about myself. I know I’m not the only person she made feel that way.
She had a gift for reaching out and giving, both to people and animals. I so
wanted to meet her in person and know her better. I could tell that she was the
kind of person I would have cherished as a best friend. I'll never forget her
kindness and advice. There are no words for how sorry I am for her loss.
-Rula Sinara
David Thurlo wrote a touching post announcing Aimée's passing, reassuring all who knew and loved her that she spent her final days where she truly wanted to be...at home, in peace, where he stayed by her side. Please take a moment to read his post at their website www.aimeeanddavidthurlo.com. Also, her obituary can be read HERE. Please take a moment to read it too, as she led a truly amazing and inspiring life.
Everyone who knew Aimée knew how much she loved animals and cared for their well being. She was avid supporter of the Humane Society and it is asked that any tributes please be made to Roswell
Humane Society: http://www.roswellhumane.org/ or to the Humane Society as a
whole: https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1505&1505.donation=form1&s_src=web_topnav_memory
Aimée, our dear Heartwarming sister, we love and miss you to no end. Rest in peace.
I had not read the obituary. Thank you so muh for posting it here. Aimee was an amazing lady. We were blessed by knowing her.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute to a beautiful woman:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful woman! She will be missed by many.
ReplyDeleteAimée was a talented writer and a joy to work with. Her enthusiasm about writing for Heartwarming was truly uplifting, and I'll really miss talking to her about her new story ideas.
ReplyDeleteI’m so grateful I had the chance to work with Aimée and David, and I’m glad we’re all sharing our memories of Aimée.
Reading all these touching comments about Aimee, it's clear that my life would have been better had I known her. She sounds like a big-hearted, delightful lady, a talented writer, and a treasured friend to those who were fortunate enough to know her.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm adding prayers for comfort to the many others offered for her family and dear friends. What a blessing to them -- and readers everywhere -- that she leaves a legacy rich in the written word.
It's so touching to read all these lovely tributes to Aimee. I had never met her face to face, but she was just so lovely online and through all of our communications, I can't imagine she'd be any different in person.
ReplyDeleteSending lots of prayers to Davids and all those who miss her.
What a wonderful tribute. My sympathy to David.
ReplyDelete