While my writing life has had its moments of joy and sorrow, I have been very fortunate along the way to cross paths with some very good people who made a tremendous difference.
Dean Cooke was one of those people, and I'll forever be grateful for his friendship and guidance as my literary agent for just shy of a decade. He was particularly gracious and assured in trying to make the new novel immeasurably better, and without him I don't know where it would be.
He was a good man, and there are plenty of folks out there who have known him and been lucky to call him a friend for much of their lives. Not least, all of the lovely folks at
@CookeMcDermid , which thankfully carries his name on. And, John and Janet Irving, who introduced me to Dean some years ago. I was between books, and he had no reason to take me on as a client at that time, but he did, and I'm a better writer and person for it.
Much love to everyone who knew and cared for the kind and formidable Dean Cooke. He will be badly missed, and I know all of his authors and peers would agree that he left a significant, wonderful mark on Canadian literature. He was a true champion. ❤️📚
