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15 April 2012

A tribute to Sharon Donovan, author and friend

Last week the world and I lost a very special person. It's taken me a few days to post this - partly because it's such a hard thing to write about the loss of a much loved friend, and partly because I can still hardly believe she's no longer here.

Sadly, despite a tremendously brave fight and iron will and determination, our beloved Sharon passed away on Wednesday evening, 11th April.   Many prayers had been said for her recovery, but it seems God in his wisdom decided her poor body had had enough, and Heaven needed a new angel.

I loved Sharon as a sister, even though we had never met in person. We first started corresponding when I dropped her a line after reading an interview about her where she talked about how she had turned to writing when she could no longer write after losing her sight. I was so impressed by her strength and determination in the face of her lifelong fight with diabetes and the fact that losing her sight did not deter her froim sharing her wonderful imagination with the world.  As she said, now she 'painted with words instead of paint.'  Her touching  Inspirational stories for the 'White Rose' line of the Wild Rose Press  were beautifully written and included 'Lasting Rose,' 'The Claddagh Ring'  and 'Touched By An Angel.'

We corresponded regularly, after that first exchange, and one of my dearest possessions is a little gold Claddagh Ring with an emerald
stone, which she sent me. She loved animals and roses (especially yellow roses, and the beautiful deep red Lasting Rose which inspired her Easter story.) She shared my love of horses and used to ride before she lost her sight. She also talked a lot about the little black cat she used to have.  I hope they've now met up over the Rainbow Bridge where I'm sure he waited patiently for his mistress.


I was happy when she asked me to help her illustrate her her delightful, witty blog posts.  Then we got together with Mary Ricksen and started a weekly 'fun' blog 'The Author Roast and Toast,' and were later joined by Patsy Parker. The trio now became a quartet and we had a very special friendship.  We four wacky hostesses had such fun being outrageous and not acting our ages, all with the object of promoting our weekly guest of honour in an offbeat, and hopefully amusing, way.  In case you are wondering, 'The Roast' will go on, for the time being at least.  We have guests scheduled whom we won't let down - Sharon wouldn't have wanted that, she loved the 'Roast' and although it will never be the same without her, she would have wanted it to continue.

When  Sharon produced her wonderful creation, the flirty  devastatingly handsome and charming 'Oliver', who was her butler by day and a private detective by night, I had the task of 'dressing' him for his appearances on her blog, and also for when he 'moonlighted' with us on the Friday 'Roast'. Oliver then starred in his own story 'Charade Of Hearts' which Sharon wrote as part of the  Jewel Of The Night' series, and it won the Predators and Editors Award in January, and although she was in hospital at the time, her sister Mary Beth was able to tell her that her story had won the award and that must have made her so proud and happy.


Among her other published books, was her memoir, 'Echo Of A Raven' written to help other people cope with diabetes and sight impairments and to know what help is available, and also to raise money for child diabetes research, which was something close to her heart, Her thrilling romantic suspense novels includied 'Mask Of The Betrayer' and 'Her Greatest Fan',

I was planning to fly out next month, and visit her with Mary , but it was not to be, although I will still make the trip and Mary and I will meet her sister and family, and see some of the places Sharon loved. My heart is full of tears, but also full of wonderful memories.  Sharon will never be forgotten, and her wit, wisdom and love will live on, forever, in her books. We love you, Sharon.

Obituary
On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, Sharon A. Donovan, 56, of Avalon, beloved daughter of James and Pearl Donovan of Avalon, beloved sister of Thomas (Priscilla) Donovan of Milwaukee, WI, and Mary Beth (Mark) McCauley of Mars; beloved aunt of Kendall and Connor, also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. Sharon was very giving and loving, and a great inspiration to all.

She was an accomplished author and will be dearly missed. Friends received on Sunday from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and 6:00- 8:00 p.m. at the Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 460 Lincoln Avenue, Bellevue. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11:00 a.m. in the Church of the Assumption. Contributions may be made to the Diabetes Research Institute, 200 South Park Road, # 100, Hollywood, FL 33021. http://www.diabetesresearch.org/

If you would like to send flowers or find out more about her services, click here.

Links for Sharon's books can be found on her website: http://www.sharonadonovan.com/
Posted by Hywela Lyn at 9:59 pm
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10 comments:

  1. Mary Ricksen15 April 2012 at 22:45

    Lyn you have said it so well. I find myself even a little jealous of all the people she had that loved her. Crazy huh? But then Sharon had a great capacity for love and had more then enough to share. So I smack myself. And stop that dope on my shoulder from saying she's mine!
    Because she belongs to all the people who love her and will always remember that ready smile, and kind heart.
    She has left a legacy behind her that has inspired so many people, but now she belongs in heaven.
    I'm having a hard time letting go...

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  2. Hywela Lyn15 April 2012 at 22:58

    Thanks Mary my friend - I think one of the wonderful things about Sharon was her ability to make everyone feel special, as if she belonged to them alone. Of course she had many, many friends who loved her, and as you say, she had more than enough love to go round.

    We don't have to let her go. She'll always be with us and the only way we'll lose her is if we stop talking about her and enjoying the words she left us.

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  3. Janice16 April 2012 at 00:02

    When I heard Sharon was in hospital, I thought of her and wished her a speedy recovery.I thought of the fun we had shared on the Roast & Toast and was thankful for her support. I didn't think she wouldn't recover. I'm in tears right now and feeling so sad to hear of her passing. It's just not fair, is it?

    Rest in peace, Sharon. xxx

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  4. Hywela Lyn16 April 2012 at 00:06

    Hello Janice,

    Thanks so much for stopping by - yes, Sharon's passing shocked us all, although she'd suffered a series of serious setbacks over the last couple of months, despite having come through the initial operation in January very well. I'm just glad she was able to know her book had won the P & E award.
    She was so full of vitality, and so brave and determined, as you say it just doesn't seem fair and her loss is so hard to accept.

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  5. katsrus16 April 2012 at 00:17

    I will miss her very much. She really touched my heart. I cannot believe she is gone. I really was glad I found her books and I have so much fun joining in the Author Roast & Toast. Your blog post today has touched my heart too. Gave me tears as I read it.
    Sue B

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  6. Hywela Lyn16 April 2012 at 00:20

    Aw, thanks Sue, we love having you as one of our 'regulars' at the Rost and Sharon would have been very moved by your kind words. She will always live on in her books and the hearts of all those who loved her.

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  7. Lori Quisley Graham16 April 2012 at 01:21

    Sharon was a dear woman and I was blessed to work with. More importantly, she became my friend. In today's world, friends are treasures. Her personality and spirit came through in everything she did and was shared with everyone who ever met her--whether in person or from afar. While the world may be a little dimmer with her gone, heaven is a brighter place and our hearts are a little bigger. Sharon (and her Man Friday, Oliver) will be missed but I wouldn't change a moment of knowing her.

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  8. Rosemary Gemmell16 April 2012 at 08:32

    Lyn - I have tears in my eyes reading that beautiful tribute to your wonderful friend Sharon. She has left such a lovely memory behind, in her stories and those she touched through the Internet.

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  9. Hywela Lyn16 April 2012 at 10:49

    Lori,thank you for your lovely tribute to Sharon I know how much she respected you and your work, and treasured your friendship.

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  10. Hywela Lyn16 April 2012 at 10:53

    Thank you so much Rosemary, Sharon did, indeed, leave lasting memories for everyone who came into contact with her and her personality shines on through her books.

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Lyn

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