With author Brian Vallee, 2005

Writing is a solitary occupation. But, for most of us, the lucky ones, becoming and being a writer is very much about who we meet, who inspires, teaches or mentors us, who cheers us on when we succeed and props us up when we face rejection.

My friend, Brian Vallee, was a successful Canadian writer and one of my earliest mentors. He knew I enjoyed writing and for Christmas, when I was 15, he gave me a boxed collection of Stephen King’s short stories.  Three years ago, we spoke on the phone. I was sitting in the park on a sunny day, feeling discouraged that I hadn’t been writing for a long time, and Brian reassured me, saying “You’re a good writer, Louise. You will always be a writer.” No one knew then that he was ill, not even Brian, and he passed away ten months later.

I may write alone, but I know that I am not alone.

Thank you, Brian.

“In my view, a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep writing anyway.”
― Junot Díaz