At the risk of you all stopping by my blog and mistaking it for a literary obituary page, I do feel I must post something about the author Mary Stewart who just passed away at the age of 97. For years, I’ve been a big fan of hers, my favourite is by far The Ivy Tree (don’t let the goofy cover fool you). Years and years ago, I wrote to Mrs. Stewart asking her about the film rights – you see, I was studying screenwriting and was hoping I could adapt it on speculation. I even had the perfect cast in mind…Emma Thompson as the heroine, Gwyneth Paltrow as her young cousin. Alas, it was not to be as she referred me to her agent who said there was already interest in the rights (I highly doubt it as the book had been out for thirty years or more!), but I did receive a very nice handwritten letter from Mrs. Stewart. And after that, we corresponded a bit, so I have a few letters in my possession. She was lovely and friendly and if you haven’t read any of her books, I highly recommend them. She’s popularly known for her Merlin trilogy (starting with The Crystal Cave), but she’s thought of more as a romance writer overall…Gothic romances, sometimes with murders and intrigue, sometimes with magic realism, sometimes straight-up.
Rest in Peace, Mary Stewart. Your writing has been enjoyed by millions and inspiring to those of us who write. Thank you!
Subscribe to my blog