My friend Linda Hengerer, co-chairwoman of the the Mystery Writers of America, Florida chapter's always wonderful Sleuthfest conference, told me yesterday morning that television and mystery novel writer Stephen J. Cannell died this past weekend.
As it happened, I had seen him as one of the commentators on a television show just a few days before. As always, he looked full of health and vitality; as always, he was humorous, warm, and engaging. It was a shock to hear that this man, so full of life, had died, and at the relatively young age of only 69.
Cannell created a variety of successful television series including The Rockford Files and Wiseguy, as well as writing both series and stand-alone mystery novels. His prolific and consistent production was especially notable because of his lifelong struggle with dyslexia—a challenge for anyone living in our text-saturated world, but a special struggle for a professional writer.
He was also, clearly, just a nice guy: funny, unpretentious, and generous with his time to writers, writing organizations, and a wide variety of friends and family.
For more information on Cannell, his body of work, and his soon to be published novel, visit his website at cannell.comhttp://www.cannell.com/
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