Rick Hautala

Rick Hautala, primarily known as a horror writer, died of a heart attack earlier today. He was 64.

I never met Rick in person, but we've known each other online since the days of the GEnie network. Thanks to Facebook, we had been in contact again, exchanging letters about writing and the writing life. He recently sold an sf novel, Star Road, about which he was excited and which seems to have been meant as the beginning of a new series. He asked for a cover blurb, and I was delighted to provide one.

I just assumed we'd meet in person some day at a convention.