by Beloved crime, western, and horror author Tom Piccirilli died July 11, 2015 after a battle with brain cancer. He was an accomplished writer of short stories, poetry, and novels, much beloved by fellow writers and fans alike. He was a multiple Bram Stoker award and International Thriller Writers award winner, and an Edgar award and World Fantasy award nominee.
Tom was known to me only through online interactions on message boards down through the years, but I found him to be approachable, professional, honest, and vastly knowledgeable in all things crime and horror. I still remember the shock and awe I felt when, back in 2000, I ran a horror webzine Savage Night and received a subscription from “PicSelf.” I did not have the pleasure of knowing him personally, but I can say that everything I saw of his online conduct was admirable, especially his kind and encouraging interactions with my wife when she volunteered (and took much abuse from others) for the HWA. Clearly those who did know him count themselves grateful. By all accounts, he was a good man.
As with many writers, those of us who read only the stories know little of what goes on behind the keys — only that which we’re told. I know that he strove to wrote the very best stories he could possibly summon to paper, and that he was a craftsman of the highest order. I am grateful to him for his stories, and offer sincere condolences to those who were closest to him in this life.
We will, of course, publish an official entry for him here at Realms of Night, but in the meantime, more about his work and accomplishments can be found at Locus Online and his official blog The Cold Spot.
