Random Encounter

Today I feel like telling a little story about how I met one of my favorite authors.  While working as a library assistant in the ninth grade (sometime back in the 1980’s), the librarian had a cache of “banned books” that had been snatched from students. These books were randomly kept behind the checkout desk in a little nook. Mrs. V, the librarian, knew they were there and she did nothing to get rid of them, figuring those of us who worked in the library would run off with them anyway (I suppose). Back then I was terribly interested in the occult and had read all the meager contents of our school library regarding the subject.  So when I saw the title “Sister Satan” I was immediately enthralled and grabbed the spicy piece of forbidden literature off the “banned” shelf and started reading. This started my love affair with Dana Reed novels. Dana Reed, for those of you who don’t know, is an incredible horror author. Her themes are Satanism, Demons, and the Occult.  Sadly, many of her books are out of print now (but if you love occult horror and you run across them at a used book store – grab one).  I have always loved her books and regularly recommend them to my friends who love horror (she writes thrillers, too). Her books are among the few fiction titles I actually keep on my “Keeper” shelves and I won’t lend them because I’ve learned I never get them back.

Fast forward to 2004. I joined a writer’s e-list ran by a friend of mine and met a woman we’ll call E. We chatted casually back and forth a few times. Then E mentioned something about her book Sister Satan. I was floored. All this time I’d been talking to one of my writing heroes – Dana Reed.  Coincidentally it was E who helped me get my first novel published by a traditional publisher.

E is still a friend of mine (though we don’t talk as much as we should – busy and all) and I will never forget the kindness and inspiration she’s shown me. Nor the fact that she believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.  That’s today’s random encounter. Thanks for reading!  🙂

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