Wednesday, September 21, 2022
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Yvonne and I met in the fall of 1998. I was looking for a publisher to publish my children's book, The Adventures of Lyle and Lilybit. Yvonne worked in a small office, the size of a closet. I came to find out later that the publishing company that Yvonne worked for as their editor was actually renting a designated closet space in a commercial building in Uptown Saint John. The landlord thought it was a good idea to help a start up publishing company. The name was DreamCatcher Publishing.
This is how our friendship grew. We loved books, people, ideas and most of all had a deep faith in God. Yvonne invited me to her Bible Study group once a week she hosted at the Admiral Beattie. Our friendship grew. Not so long after in the year of 2004 an opportunity came for me to join the publishing company as the marketing director. The publishing company re-positioned its brand to become the first Atlantic Canadian e Book Publishing company in Atlantic Canada. It would not of been possible unless Yvonne believed in the vision, vetted the authors and edited the books. It was Yvonne who kept us on schedule, kept the authors in check to meet the deadlines and approved all the books before they were sent to the printers.
Out of the 65 eBooks published and hard copy books we published only one book was returned for reprint and that was the printers fault not ours. Not one author found a mistake, a mishap in the manuscript after being published or anything incorrect because of Yvonne's precision of care and leadership as an editor. I use to say to the authors, nothing will happen if you don't listen to Yvonne and do what she says. Period! At one time Yvonne was managing almost 60 authors and keeping it all together. It was amazing feat of emotional navigation.
In addition each week Yvonne would edit my partner Herb's articles before they were sent to the Telegraph Journal for publishing. To a man who failed english in high school and receive from Yvonne each week less and less red marks on the page not only increased Herb's confidence in what he said but the column, The Silent Majority became the number one read column in the entire newspaper according to Ron Barry, the former editor of the Telegraph.
Our friendship grew through thick and thin. We stayed friends and our love for life our faith towards each other, our connections to family and friends were our glue to existing on this earth knowing this life is temporary and a dream. The real world is eternity. We didn't need to talk everyday, we just knew we were there for each other and touched base as often as possible as life moved on.
During Yvonne's treatment Yvonne mentioned often how special she was treated by Fay from Senior Watch. I think if things worked out differently there was a book in the works. Fay touched Yvonne enough to spur on thoughts of a book and that is something! Yvonne loved how the ideas flowed into her pen and on to the page. In the end I could see her earthly flow was slipping away.
When Yvonne became sick and started treatment we had long talks at the hospital reminising about our lives and had great laughs together of some of the crazy things that happened in publishing and some of the memorable moments we shared together. After our laughs Yvonne often said don't worry Kim I have had a great run its OK, after all I am 96. Sometimes I had to stop and think about that because Yvonne was so sharp, witty, and funny to me it didn't seem possible.
Yvonne you did have a great run. My memory of you will be timeless. Each day because of you I will say "Nothing real can be threatened, nothing unreal exists, so lies the peace of God. You are in peace my beloved friend. To use the words of Queen Elizabeth "We will meet again." Love Kim and Herb
