Millea Kenin, where did you go?

March 30, 2007 in Fellow Writers | 3 comments

Dear Millea,

This is a letter I should have written years ago, but alas, it would have already been too late.

I have you to thank for the novel I have published. It was you, back in the days of Owlflight Magazine, who sent that initial story back to me and said, “Jerry, this really should be a novel!”

You were the only editor in my fledgling days who I would simply write letters to, not even to send a story. You always wrote back. You were always so nice. I have always remembered you fondly.

I turned that story into a novel and it did sell, and was published, but you never got to see it. I lost touch with you long ago. Then today I decide I really have to thank you for this. So I went to that global extension of the human mind, Google, and looked you up.

Too late. Way too late. You passed away over ten years ago.

My heart sank. Suddenly, too late, I wanted to know more about you, and so I Googled for more. All I found was page after page of nothing. Your name is everywhere on lists, publication credits, and the mention of an obituary in Locust. I saw that you have a daughter in New York, and that she graduated and is married.

But the one bio page I found for you is blank.

That is not acceptable.

There is a void in the group mind that must be filled. We know you were an editor, an author, and a poet. We have lists of your works. But that’s not enough.

Here, right now, with this missive, I want to release into the group mind that you were also a wonderful person. Kind, artistic, caring, and nurturing … even to a strange kid who kept sending you crappy stories.

Ironic. Now that I know that you’re gone, I miss you. Because it’s too late to thank you.

Please someone out there fill in that blank biography page.

Please.

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  1. trnunes on April 26, 2007 at 9:55 am

    I wish you the best of luck in this laudible task, and also extend my sincerest sympathies.

  2. Rohana Elias-Reyes on August 10, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    Hey there,

    Millea was my mom. What sort of bio would you like to see up there? Nice to read your words about her. She was passionate about writing and a smart and generous person. Glad you made connection.

  3. Jerry on August 11, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    Hi!

    Thank you for contacting me. It was quite a surprise and also a genuine pleasure.

    What sort of bio to honor your mother? Something that captures who she was, something that gives examples of her, where she came from and what she accomplished. Who she influenced.

    It’s funny, because I never actually met her, but I have such fond memories of the letters she wrote — sadly, none of which I still have. She was always encouraging me. I was this geeky 17 year old kid wanting to be a “real” writer, and she did what she could to help.

    One memory in particular I thought I’d share — in each manuscript I’d send, of course I’d include a self-addressed stamped envelope for her reply, and on one of these I drew a cartoon dialog balloon next to whichever US President was on the stamp, so that the President was saying, “Reject!”

    Indeed, your mom did end up rejecting the story, but on the envelope she drew another dialog balloon below mine, so the President also said, “But do keep trying!”

    Jerry