I haven't been on FriendFeed for a while and logged on last night expecting links to Maxine Clarke's latest reviews and her insightful comments on other posts. Instead, I was stunned to learn that she has passed away. Like most of us in the crime fiction blogging community, I never met Maxine in person but I consider her as much a friend and colleague as if we had been neighbors.
I first encountered Maxine through her blog, Petrona, in early 2008. It didn't take me any time to recognize that this was a blogger I could learn from. I owe much to Maxine: she commented on my blog posts; she encouraged me when I decided to get more serious about reviewing crime fiction; she invited me to the friendfeed Crime and Mystery Fiction Room; she added my blogs to friendfeed. But, above all, she was a friend to book bloggers and readers.
She demonstrated that the amateur book reviewer can make a significant contribution to the book world. I know that she helped me to expand my interests in crime fiction and my library is larger because of her.
She is missed.
Here are some of the tributes to Maxine from other bloggers.
My Friend Maxine at Eurocrime
Memories of Maxine at The Rap Sheet
In Memoriam — Maxine Clark at Confessions of a Mystery Novelist
Vale Petrtona at Reactions to Reading
Maxine at Do You Write Under Your Own Name
Tribute to Maxine Clarke / Petrona at Mrs. Peabody Investigates
Petrona is Gone at Mysteries and More From Saskatchewan
Maxine Clarke at Aly Monroe
In Memoriam, Maxine Clarke at Material Witness
Maxine Clarke (Petrona) at The Games Afoot
and there are many more
