Sunday, July 24, 2016

Bill Crider Health Update

Bill Crider is one of the nicest people in the Mystery Community, and by now you may have heard that he has a very aggressive form of carcinoma. I've known him for over 40 years, and he is one of the most supportive and positive people--a great writer, adamant fan, and nice guy. Please send powerful thoughts, prayers, and light to this wonderful man for a positive outcome. Miracles do happen.

Bill posted this on Facebook:  Updated 7/25/16

Dear Facebook friends: I've been reading your many posts of love and support, and I'll admit that sometimes I've had tears in my eyes. I'm out of the hospital now, having been subjected to more tests and humiliations than anyone should have to undergo. My condition has not improved, I'm sorry to say. The VBKs were happy to see me, but they they're happy to see anyone. Turns out they weren't as lucky as we thought, though. I won't be posting anywhere for a while, if ever, but I want you to know how much I appreciate you and your caring for me. I'll be trying to get into M. D. Anderson and hoping for a miracle. Thank you all so much for your continuing to keep me in your minds and hearts. The outlook isn't brilliant for the Mudville Nine. I might not be posting here again, so I want to say now how moved I've been by your comments. You guys are the best. Even if we've never met in person, you are truly my friends. Love to you all.

***
Bill was our guest for a Literary Salon a few weeks ago in Berkeley. It was a wonderful afternoon by a terrific raconteur. He looked great and those who attended were rewarded with a very special afternoon. Award winning Texas author Bill Crider is a prolific writer. He has been an Edgar Award Nominee, a two-time Anthony Award Winner, and a Derringer Award Winner.

Bill Crider has written over 75 novels. He is the author of the Professor Sally Good series, the Carl Burns mysteries, the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series, the Truman Smith PI series, and  three books in the Stone: M.I.A. Hunter series under the pseudonym "Jack Buchanan." He has also written stand-alone mystery and suspense novels, as well as Westerns, Horror, Short Stories, and books for Young Readers.

Bill Crider is a native Texan who’s lived in that state all his life. He’s been reading, writing, and collecting mystery and western fiction for most of that time. He received a PhD from The University of Texas at Austin, where he wrote his dissertation on Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Ross MacDonald. He taught both high school and college before his retirement, and he combined his teaching career with his writing career, publishing more than 75 novels and an equal number of short stories. He’s best known for the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series, which features a sheriff in a small Texas county. Though contemporary in setting, the Sheriff Rhodes books have many of the qualities of the classic western.

Bill Crider is also a fan. He has contributed to fanzines for decades, has been to just about every Bouchercon, publishes a daily Blog about Pop Culture, watches and enjoys noir and Western films, and so much more. He recently took in three rambunctious kittens aka The VBKs (the Very Bad Kittens).

We're pulling for you, Bill!

Bill has a new Dan Rhodes coming out in August: Survivors Will Be Shot Again. Why don't you pre-order now? Suggestion of Dana Cameron, and it's a good one!

22 comments:

Priscilla said...

Love to Bill! Yes, miracles do happen. He is a guy who so deserves one.

David Cranmer said...

Love this man very much. Hate to see him going through this.

Msmstry said...

Oh, how I hope for a miracle here!

--Molly

Prashant C. Trikannad said...

Janet, thank you for the update on dear Bill. He is in my thoughts.

Edith Maxwell said...

Many are pulling for him. I hope he feels the energy and that it helps in whatever way it can.

Anonymous said...

This man has given me manyhappyhours of reading. Wishing you all the best.

Charles Gramlich said...

Brings me a deep well of sadness.

moongazer56 said...

Thank you, Janet, for the update.

Sending more positive thoughts & prayers Bill's way.

Lesa said...

Thanks for the update, Janet. This just breaks my heart. I'm saying prayers. I do believe in the power of prayer and miracles.

Dave Zeltserman said...

What Priscilla said. Bill's one of the nicest people I've met--both in and out of this writing business.

Terry said...

What generous, warm, friendly guy. I'll never forget having a reading in Houston last year, and there was Bill, grinning happily at my surprise. My heart is heavy at this news. I think about him every day.

Robert Lopresti said...

Good thoughts, great, but buy one of his books while you are thinking of him.

Jane R said...

I have spent many hours with Mr Crider and his books. I am so sad to hear of his challenges. As a fellow Texan I hope for that miracle. They can and do happen. Many thanks for the update.

Betty Webb said...

God bless, Bill. You are a light of the world.

Jeff Meyerson said...

We all know life is unfair at times, but after the years Bill suffered with the illness and ultimately death of his beloved with Judy makes this an even heavier blow. I've known Bill for 40 years and consider him a close friend. We just can't afford to lose another one, let alone someone as good as Bill.

Linda Rodriguez said...

Like so many I'm hoping and praying for a miracle. But one suggestion: while you do that, buy some of his books. If he does get his miracle, he'll have bills like you can't imagine. Cancer's damned expensive. So hop on over and purchase as many of his books as you can.

Susan Oleksiw said...

Bill is a generous soul as well as a fabulous story teller. If prayers and good thoughts can do anything, now is the time. He's given so much to us, his readers and fans, and we want to give back now.

Julia Buckley said...

Thank you for this post. Bill, people all over the country are praying for you and finding you constantly in their thoughts.

My sons and I had many discussions about your noble kitten rescue, and just the other day my son asked, "How is Bill Crider doing?" We have all been perusing your long list of published books for something to read.

Your talent, your goodness and your charisma have drawn you close to many people, and they all wish you well. Blessings on you.

Kay Kendall said...

I have never seen a greater outpouring of love for a sick man than I have for wonderful Bill Crider. He deserves all of it. I hope everyone's prayers, good thoughts and vibes help the great healers at MD Anderson Cancer Hospital fix him up. If anyone can, they will.

Amy M. Reade said...

Holding Bill up in prayer. Positive thoughts and good wishes as he continues this journey which is so unfair and so painful. May blessing upon blessing be poured upon him.

kk said...

Thank you for posting this, Janet, and spreading the news even more widely than it is already. The more people who hold Bill Crider in their hearts and in the light, the better. It certainly cannot hurt. We all wish him the best and hope the wonderful medical specialists at Houston's MD Anderson Cancer Center work magic upon him.

George said...

I will always remember Bill Crider's wonderful DAPA-EM zine MACAVITY. Bill's wit and humor showed through in every issue. Aren't you glad we spent some time with Bill Crider at the BOUCHERCON in Toronto in October!