Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Bon Appetit! I agree. She was the Julia Child of romance.

What a beautiful tribute. You and all of her friends and family have my condolences. It is such a loss. She was well loved and respected.

Oh, Sarah…perfect. Thank you for this.

What a wonderful tribute. Condolences to her family and friends.

Amen.

I’d seen and talked to Kate throughout my years at RWA (even pitched to her), although I’m sure she had no clue who I was. I remember her most at the Smart Bitches get together in SF.  She sat in the corner “holding court”, as usual. :-)

She was definitely a woman who held a presence where ever she was.  She will be missed.

What a wonderful post.  She was romance and I am still very much in shock.  I honestly didn’t think she wouldn’t make it.  It never really entered my mind.

Thank you for sharing.

Aww, you just made me cry.  Kate will be sorely missed.

What a lovely, and totally fitting remembrance.

Fuckin’ A. She was a giant, and no one will ever completely fill her shoes.

Sarah. Beautiful. Thanks.

I loved Kate. Her sense of humor—hysterical remarks delivered with a dead-pan expression—always made me laugh.

I was on a “Books at Sea” Cruise with a group of writers. Kate brought her mother.  Heather Graham hosted a private Karaoke party on the ship.  I told her I wanted to sing and she said, “Fine, but I don’t want anyone to just sing—you have to have an act.”

When I told her I didn’t really have an act, Heather told me no problem, she’d get me one.

She corralled Kate (who she always called “Doo-FAY”) and browbeat her into being my “back up dancer.”

Kate put on her signature stone face and did Pips-style dance moves while I tried to sing Orange Colored Sky without laughing at her antics.

It was being video taped—I wonder if Heather has a copy. 

Kate’s loss is a seismic event in the Romance community.

Though I’ve heard her name banty around romance land for years, I’ve never had the joy and honor of meeting Kate in person. It saddens me that now I never will. A lovely tribute Sarah. Thanks.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to have drinks with Kate during RT Pittsburgh. A more honest, hilarious, straight-shooting, acerbically wise champion of the Romance genre, you could not hope to find.

She will be missed.

Sarah,

I was just thinking about the particular ‘dinner party’ pictured here. (big lump in throat) Just one of the many fantastic moments I shared with Kate. She was a unique and generous soul and I will miss her greatly. Thank you for sharing such a lovely tribute.

~Beth

A wonderful tribute, thank you for sharing this with us. *hugs*

This was lovely.

Sarah, thanks - lovely tribute to a marvelous editor and friend. God, we’re gonna miss her.

I don’t write romance, but you still made me said I will never meet Kate Duffy.

I’m so sorry to hear this news. We’ll miss Kate. I didn’t get to meet her, but she sounds like a wonderful person.

Lovely, simply lovely.

Kate will be missed.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Kate personally, though I’ve heard her speak and know some of her authors.  She seemed to be a truly wonderful person and I’m sorry I’ll never have the chance to meet her now.  This is a beautiful tribute!

Beautifully stated, Sarah. I can’t imagine the romance community without Kate Duffy in it. I’m so saddened by her passing.

Beautifully said. What a great loss for the industry and for her family and friends.

What a great tribute!  I only had the pleasure of speaking with her once, but it was a telephon call I’ll never forget. She made me feel so special about my writing, and I’m saddened by her loss. I was looking forward forward to working with her in the future. The publishing industry has truly lost a gem.

Thank you for sharing that, Sarah. It was touching & beautiful. I regret that I never had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Duffy.

Beautiful tribute, Sarah, though I’m incredibly sad to learn the news is true.  It seems like it was just yesterday I emailed her my condolences for her uncle, Peter Boyle.  She thanked me and was incredibly nice.  What a loss to the romance industry. :-(

Oh, very well done, Sarah. Very well done, indeed.

My first meet with Kate was during one of her Query Letter workshops at National where she read queries out loud and let you know her immediate thoughts. (You learn REAL quick to get a thick skin in this business when Kate read your queries out loud.) I had the (un)fortunate luck to follow a query that had had a cheating husband as the hero. Not Kate’s cup of tea AT ALL. “The hero is a jerk,” was her comment. So, enter my querly letter. She got two lines into mine, did The Kate (look) at me and said, “He’s not married is he?” Luckily (well, for me, notsomuch for my hero and his late wife) the hero was a widower. That, Kate could deal with. But I was forever the Writer with The Not Married Hero to her.

She told you like it was because she knew how it was. An icon in the business and she will be missed.

Oh, Sarah, you really got me with that tribute to her.  Thank you for writing that.  I have been a recipient of “The Kate” look many times, once when I was moderating a panel and she didn’t like the question.  Withering, indeed.  Followed by brilliant insight and a great joke.  You really captured a woman who will be missed by so many.

I remember wandering into the Kensington cocktail party at RWA Nationals in San Francisco.  The room was tiny, crowded, loud.  Everyone seemed to know each other.  Except me.  I stood in the doorway, blinking, reticent, wondering if I should just go sit in the lobby.  Then Kate saw me, saw my name tag, and swooped forward.  She ushered me into the party and said to her fellow editors, “This is the one I’ve been telling you about.  Her book as a golem in it.  It gives me goosebumps.”  She showed us her arm so we could see said goosebumps.

The next day, she took me to lunch.  I told her I saw her on a panel at the RWA Nationals in Reno and knew immediately I wanted to work with her because she was so goddamn cool.  She accepted this as her due.  That night I saw her again at the Smart Bitches cocktail party.  Angela James and I started riffing on Jesus Porn.  Kate was gleefully convinced we would be struck by lightning.

Kate took a chance on me and my writing when other editors were afraid.  She gave me a chance to seize my lifelong dream.  I have a candle lit for her today, but every day I write is illuminated by her spirit.

A wonderful tribute to Kate, Sarah. All of us who had the opportunity, fun and sheer honor of working with her will surely appreciate it.

I am so sad today. I agree with what Toni said, the loss of Kate Duffy is “a seismic event in the Romance community.”
RIP Kate

This is so beautiful and touching, Sarah. Thank you for sharing such lovely memories of Kate. I’m sorry that you lost a mentor and friend. My sympathies are with everyone who was lucky to have known Kate Duffy. She will be greatly missed.

Kate was my editor. I believe I was her first young adult author, and she took a big chance signing me (an unknown author) on for three books. We went through the process of a launching a YA series together, and I learned a lot from her.

I have to say, I never thought she wouldn’t beat this. It didn’t even cross my mind. So I’m more stunned now than anything. I can’t believe she’s gone.

-Diana

Beautiful tribute, Sarah.  I’ve been crying off and on all morning since hearing the news.  Thought I had it under control and then I came here and saw the picture.  That was such a typical Kate gathering.  Beth and I had just had lunch with her earlier that day and a tour of Kensington.  Beth and I were just about to get in a cab to return to the NINC Conference.  Kate asked what we were doing for dinner and we answered that we were just going to hang out at the hotel.  “No you aren’t,” she decided in her crisp, Kate style.  “You’re coming to dinner with me and my friends.  I’ll just change the reservation.”  What a fun time we had!

Thank you for putting up the picture.

Kate was a legend.

Having never had the good fortune to meet Kate Duffy, I now know what I have missed.  Your words bring her to life.  Good journey, Kate Duffy and I am sorry I never had the opportunity to bask in your light.

Sarah, thank you for your touching tribute of Kate Duffy. I had only met her twice in my career and had hoped one day to have her as my editor.  She was so in tune, in touch and just plain amazing.  She will be sorely missed.

What a lovely tribute to an amazing woman.  I didn’t know her very well—just enough to say hi when our paths would cross at conferences. But I knew her reputation and the high esteem in which she was held by those lucky enough to work with her or call her friend.

A true loss to the romance industry.

How sad to lose and iconic talent like Kate Duffy. Wonderful tribute Sarah.

Kate was the first editor I ever spoke to. She spent an hour on the phone explaining to me what the issues were that she saw in my book. She was spot on, though I couldn’t see it at the time. The fact that I’d just gotten off the phone with a real life editor was motivation enough for me to keep going. Kate touched my life as a writer in a way that can only be described as incredible. She did not buy my book but she still took the time to tell me how to make it stronger. Because of that, I am still writing.
I am, as many of us are, deeply saddened by her loss. She was a tremendous influence in so many ways.
Thank you for this touching tribute.

Kate Duffy was the most intimidating editor I ever met—and the most encouraging. She’s a legend whose legacy will live forever. She will be sorely missed.

Kate was a tough old broad in a tough business. Her honesty and integrity will be missed.

A lovely tribute Sarah.

Monica Spence
President
Long Island Romance Writers
lirw.org

A beautiful tribute to an incredible lady.  Thank you, Sarah. I’ve had a lump in my throat since the moment I heard about Kate’s passing.  The first conference workshop I ever attended (years ago) was Kate’s.  I never missed anytime she spoke at any conference since.  Condolences to all her family and friends.  She’s touched more lives than she will ever know.

I never had the chance to work with her—don’t think I even got a rejection from her—but her name was one I picked up from my first RWA conference. Over the years, I’d sit in on her workshops and, oh yeah, I learned a lot.  Thank you, Kate.

And thank you, Sarah, for a wonderful tribute.

Hugs to her family.  She will be missed by many.

After meeting Kate at tons of conferences (and sharing some mutual friends and a mutual love/lust for Gerard Butler!) and years of wanting to work with Kate, I finally got the chance last year when she called me with an offer to write a trilogy for her and Brava. With just one comment, she gave me incredible insight into the dynamics of my characters and their conflict and it helped me write the story.

I am stunned and saddened by the news and teary over the tribute to her here. I kept nodding and saying, ‘yep, that’s Kate’....

Terri B

I had no idea until I read your post! I’m glad I got the news from you—someone who knew her and obviously cared.

Ash

What a lovely tribute.

That was a wonderful tribute.  Thank you!

My condolences in the loss of your friend and colleague. But how wonderful to be remembered for one’s strength, intelligence, and kindness. She clearly left large ripples on the pond.

Beautifully put Sarah.

The last time I had the pleasure of seeing her was last February. Where during lunch we had the best time trying to out talk each other (I lost to her of course) while my editor, agent and daughter sat in almost stunned silence. I have the best picture of all of us from end that day. I will treasure it always.

Kate was often right. It was really annoying sometimes. And if we disagreed, which we did a lot, I’d often get The Look, which I nicknamed The Kate. Many people are familiar with this look. The chin goes down. One eyebrow may go up. And clear as air, you get the message that she thinks you are out of your mind. The word “withering” comes to mind. I was the recipient of The Kate many a time. Sometimes I totally deserved it.

This made me simultaneously laugh, snort, and cry at the same time because it was so utterly, unbelievably true and I could just see it.

I am going to miss her so terribly.  She was my very first pitch, the first
publishing professional I ever met, and even though I never formally
worked with her, she was my first mentor in many ways. I learned a
tremendous amount about how to be a professional in this industry and
how to consider the balance of power between editors and authors. I
also respected the hell out of her because even if she was flat wrong,
she was always honest and that’s such a rare commodity in this industry.  She also wasn’t afraid, as the quote above so aptly illustrates, to tell you when you were flat wrong yourself.

She was an original.  Thank God.

I too met Kate at a conference, where she was on a panel for GH winners and gave us hard, sound, but still encouraging advice. I knew her best through those who spoke of her fondly or with awe, or sometimes with exasperation. I hoped one day to work with her, but to have met her was its own reward. Thanks for such a lovely tribute.

Great post. I never met Kate properly, only in passing at RT, but you didn’t have to know her to be aware of the huge influence she had in the romance community and her enthusiasm for the genre.
We won’t see her like again, as someone said once. The romance world is a bit greyer now she’s gone.

Amen, Sarah.  Kate was an amazing woman and editor… it was an absolute privilege to work with her, and I’ll be forever grateful to her for buying my first book, and for having her in my life.

It’s a sad day for romance fiction.

Last lunched with Kate about a year ago.  My mom was in town and Kate called me, insisting that Mom and I come into the city so she could take us out to lunch at a swanky restaurant.  I said that I couldn’t let her buy our lunch, that we should go dutch. 
Kate’s response.  “Of course, you can.  Walter will pay.”
Me.  “But, Kate, I’m not even your author!”
A reluctant pause.  A Sigh of disgust.  And, though we were on the phone, a pointed delivery of The Kate, I’m sure.  “Oh, fine then.  I guess your editor can come too.”

Wow. That’s one of the most beautiful tributes I’ve ever read.

Thanks so much, Sarah, for that. I’m smiling with a lump in my throat. Kate was the first editor to buy me in romance. And yes, she was tough (there were some very tough moments) but always honest, smart, and deeply committed.

I’m still finding this hard to believe. What a loss. What a shame.

I also met Kate Duffy at a query letter workshop at Nationals when I was pre-published. Her tough love and her insight were both razor sharp, and I remember being immensely impressed and not a little terrified of her. However, when I managed to get my courage up enough to talk with her after the workshop, she was nothing but encouraging and let me know if I sent her something, she’d be happy to read it even if it wasn’t finished yet—so I’d know if it was worth my time and hers. I remember thinking, “Wow. Just, wow.”

I felt the seismic shock when I got up this morning and read she was gone. I can’t imagine how those of you who knew her well must be feeling now.

TJB

Kate was the first ‘New York’ editor I ever pitched to. She didn’t buy my book, but she took the time to tell me what was wrong with it. And, of course, she was right. I wanted to work with her so badly and am deeply saddened that our industry has lost such an icon.

Amen.

Thanks for sharing your memories of her…well done.

Damn, been working all day so only got the news about Kate. I’m so very sad to hear this—last spring when she went missing it sounded like it was short-term and now I’m REALLY kicking myself I never dropped her that ‘get’well’ card I’d meant to, dammit.

Kate was one of the first industry professionals with which I had contact—at a VRW meeting in the dead of winter with crap weather. She came despite the forecast and fear of being stuck in Richmond, she was honest and candid and funny and put everyone at ease. And she cackled at the title of my first novel (Sleeping with Ward Cleaver).
She had a good heart and will be so missed.

I’m heartbroken at the lose of Kate.  She’s been my editor for my whole career.  She bought my first book and was still working me, 13 books later.  I feel like I’ve lost a friend, a mentor and my biggest champion.

I wish her family and friends my sincerest condolences.  The romance industry has lost a legend and the world has lost one hell of a smart, sassy, wonderful woman.

See, I needed her even to edit my comment.  :(

I cannot begin to convey how mind-altering the Brava line was for me when it first launched.  The sub genre of erotic romance as we know it today owes Kate Duffy a huge debt of gratitude.  Says me.

Thank you for writing one of the best tributes to Kate Duffy I’ve read. I met Kate on many many occasions. She scared the shit of out me…and I would have given my eye teeth to be one of her authors. She KNEW what worked and what didn’t.

She is a true loss to the romance community.

“The Kate” look nailed it.  A loving, well - done tribute.  Kate will be missed.

I met Kate Duffy for the first time at a Long Island RWA lunch. I pitched my book to her and when she asked for the partial, I almost passed out. She didn’t buy the book but I was struck by how nice she was to all the writers at the lunch, taking the time to hear our pitches.

Thanks Sarah for giving me a glimpse of the woman and legend I never had the opportunity to meet.  I’m truly saddened over her passing and envy all those who knew her for even half a minute.

Sarah, this is such an awesome tribute to Kate.  I know you’ll miss her.  Just know that all you learned from your time together is still inside you to draw from for years to come.

The Julia Child of romance is the perfect description for Kate Duffy. I didn’t know her, but I definitely knew of her (how could anyone in this business not?), and am saddened by her death.

Wonderful tribute to Kate. She was a force and a doll all in one.  Kate was also a pioneer in so many aspects of publishing.  She will be truly missed.

I met Kate four years ago when I pitched my first WIP. She wasn’t intimidating at all and tried to help me relax. Later she gave the best advice I’ve ever received from an editor: “Stay in the present. No matter what you write, stay in the present.”  She had a wonderful sense of humor. Thank you Sarah, for this tribute to a lovely lady and an unforgettable editor.

What a lovely tribute, Sarah.  I never had the pleasure of meeting Kate, but I know what a huge impact she had on the romance community.  She will most definitely be missed.

Goodness, what sad news. I got my first ever rejection from Kate, and as far as rejections go, it was an awesome one since she took the time to tell me what the problems were.

Condolences to her family, friends and authors. Such sad, sad news.

I always wanted Kate as an agent for many reasons, but the primary one was because I knew I’d never have to utter the words, “When you said such-and-such, what did you really mean?”

Heaven is a little brighter for our loss.

I met Kate only a couple of times, but I doubt that I will soon forget her. She was kind and welcoming to me as a beginning editor who was still finding his way in romance. She bought me endless Pimms cups, we laughed about the great and crazy romance business, and she doled out great advice every time I watched her speak. I’m just stunned I won’t get to see her again.

I’m not functioning so well today because I already can’t imagine this writing world without her in it with me ...

Kate discovered many wonderful authors—thank you Kate and may you rest in peace.

My heart goes out to her family at this time.

Sarah -

What a lovely tribute to Kate.  So well said.  I was fortunate to hear her speak several times (beginning with my first RWA), and was fortunate to get to know her a bit when she attended the Washington Romance Writers Retreat several times.  Yes, she was certaily an icon - I thing “the Julia Child of the romance industry” as a brilliant way to describe her.  I also think she was a mensch.  Yes, today is Yom Kippur.  We say prayers for the dear departed.  I think Kate Duffy fits very well into that category.  May her memory be blessed and be a blessing.  And my condolences to her family and friends/.

Binnie Syril Braunstein

Kate was Silhouette Romance’s Editor in Chief when I sold my first two books back in ‘79.

After that, I loved to tease her that it was her fault I was in this crazy business. She said I belonged here.

Kate was an icon and will be sorely missed.

Linda

Thank you for the lovely tribute. 

I had the privilege to interact with Kate often in the 2.5 years I’ve been at Writers House.  She always had something snarky and hilarious to say when she’d call.  Last September, she took me to lunch, but before that, she gave me a tour of Kensington Publishing.  She made it a point to introduce me to everyone that was around, from Walter Zacharius himself on down.  She gave me a rundown of how things worked over there.  It was a wonderful and educational experience.  When she learned that not only had I never seen the BBC Production North & South (Richard Armitage-yum!), but had never even heard of it,  she loaned me the DVD—on pain of death if anything were to happen to it.  :)

When I returned to work after my grandmother’s death this past April, she kindly expressed her condolences—something I will never forget.

Kate, I’m sorry I won’t hear your voice again on the phone, asking to talk to “Herself.”  I’m sorry you were so ill for so long, and I’m sorry for the loss all of us who love romance will now feel.

I hope that wherever you are now, there’s a never-ending supply of fantastic, steamy romances, and a couple of hunky guys to turn the pages for you as you read them. 

Zichron ha’bracha—May your memory be for a blessing.

There are rejections ... and then there’s the Kate Duffy rejection. I had wanted to sell to her so badly. It wasn’t to be. But the personal note she wrote to me was so inspiring and meant the world to an unpublished author. This was a wonderful tribute. The romance community has lost one of the truly wonderful ones.

It’s nice to see everyone’s story about meeting Kate, etc. She wouldn’t want everyone feeling bad.  She would give us “The Kate” face for sure.

The first time I met her was in New Orleans at Heather Graham’s conference. She was the first editor I’d ever met. The first editor to send me a rejection, and the first editor to encourage me to keep on writing.  She will be missed.

Sending prayers to her family, friends, authors, and co-workers.

Dawn Chartier

What a perfect tribute to a wonderful woman.  Kate Duffy was my very first pitch at my first conference in 2002.  I was a babbling idiot, yet she managed to put me at ease.

I didn’t know her well, but she nevertheless always had a smile and a “hi” in passing when I saw her at other conferences.  She’s going to be sorely missed.

Thanks for that tribute, Sarah. Kate was my first editor. She bought my first book for the Zebra Regency line and helped put me on this wonderful publishing road. I will always be grateful to her for that—like many other writers, I have no doubt!

Years ago, I met Kate Duffy at a conference and she was just so inspiring and compassionate. What a lovely tribute! Thank you for sharing this.

I never submitted to her but I am so very glad I had a chance to meet her at a couple of the Washington Romance Writers retreats in Harpers Ferry.

She was funny, smart and very encouraging to all of us wanna be published.

Damn, I’ll miss her.

Kelly S. Bishop

Though our paths never crossed, her reputation was legendary and I can’t imagine a romance writer not knowing who she was. Your very heartfelt tribute makes me feel like I knew her a little bit, and I cried through most of it.

She will be so very missed.

She was wonderful, and my condolences to her family, friends, and the romance publishing industry. I have seen her speak at RWA a few times (usually a highlight of my RWA Conference experience:), and even had a chance to chat with her one-on-one at the RWA in Atlanta a few years back, and as a fledging writer, she was so generous, and funny. Truly, she will be missed.

In about 1991, Kate launched Kismet, an all-mail category publishing house. A lot of authors sold to her, including me, and I met her at the next RWA conference. Kismet took us, all of us, to a restaurant, bought us dinner, gave us gifts, and most important, Kate gave a speech about how important their authors were to them. It was not the usual publishing fare, and it was my first glimpse of how generous and nurturing she could be. Kate was the rare combination of visionary with an eye for talent with bulldog determination to get things done and a legendary way of expressing herself. As she once said to me, “I love you as much as I love my matched luggage.” I love you, too, Kate. God speed.

A lovely tribute for an incredible woman. Like Jill, I’m too sad to say anything coherent.  Maybe tomorrow…

Kate was determined in her generosity, and generous in her determination.

Truer words were never spoken.

Thank you, Sarah.

Sarah,

What a lovely tribute to a truly wonderful person.  Well done.

Great tribute blog!  Kate Duffy was a class act who helped transform the romance industry.  She will be missed.

I met Kate Duffy when we were both commuting to New York on the train. For just over a year we laughed and became good friends all the way to NYC and back. Though we saw very little of each other after I gave up the commute and she moved to NYC, we stayed in touch from time to time. I considered her to be one of the brightest, kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Not to mention her wonderful, dry sense of humor! The world is definitely a darker place without her. She will be missed by many, many people.

I was told this story about Kate Duffy at RWA a couple of years ago-it’s my favorite. Apparently some poor author was pitching to her and was so terrified that she burst into tears. Kate’s response was “I’ll give you $50 if you’ll stop crying.”
Having met her at a couple of Kensington do’s, that sounded quite probable :)

The last time I saw her was at RWA 08 at the literacy signing where she had ‘borrowed’ a member of the hotel staff to lug a box of bottled water around behind her. She plonked a water bottle on my table and said “This is from your grateful publisher’ and that was it LOL

thanks for a great tribute :)

You inspired me to compile my own memories of Kate. She changed my life when she bought my book. I owe her a lot. http://www.dianarodriguezwallach.com/blog/blog.html

How perfectly stated.  That was our Kate—the Julia Child of romance. 

As I tweeted earlier today, I’ve had one true personal friend I’ve trusted absolutely with all my secrets over my 26 years in publishing.  And that friend was Kate.  I even, a few years ago, talked her into letting her mother, Alice—and anyone who ever met Alice could see where Kate got her snap—“adopt” me.  Kate agreed, as long as she could be the favorite child.  No way was I going to argue those terms. 

She was my North Star and I’m feeling hugely rudderless today.

What a treasure to have called her friend. I first encountered Kate Duffy in the blogsphere of Squawk Radio where she came out of lurkdom to chat a bit. I still have that piece. What insight into an industry that was so new to me.

I later took a workshop with her about writoing strong heroines. It cemented for me the notion that I was on the right track with my writoing. I am ever grateful for that.

You’re right, once again Sarah, she was the Julia Child of Romance. May the angels rise up to greet her.

I did not know Kate Duffy, but knew of her. I had heard from many people what a good editor she was. 
I’d like to convey my condolences to her friends and family.
                          Sincerely,
                            Annabelle Ambrosio

Amen, Sarah.