Perseid Press recently announced the passing of author, editor, and publisher Janet E. Morris (JEM) in August 2024. A group of us who have known and written for her and published by her, decided to honor her memory and her legacy with this group memorial.
Janet E Morris Memorial Tribute - Black Gate Article (link)
This ad-hoc remembrance has organically turned into a virtual shrine. This post initially has ~17 contributions, but collecting testimonials can be chaotic and more comments may be added. Janet and Chris Morris made a remarkable creative couple, and our deepest condolences extend to Chris.
S.E. Lindberg's Reflections
I will miss JEM’s love for elevating other storytellers’
craft and her uncanny ability to seamlessly blend myth, fantasy, &
history in her writing.
- REVIEWS:
We first met ~2013 as I moderated the Goodread’s Sword & Sorcery Group
and she challenged a statement I made that Lovecraftian-Cosmic-Horror
differed from elements of classical myths. She schooled me, her insights
of ancient myths proved more expansive than my views. I was early into
reviewing, so I read/reviewed (link) her Beyond
Sanctuary book (Sacred Band series) and,
beyond enjoying the story and feeling like I was living within the Baroque
style cover, I was struck by not being able to discern between history,
myth, and fantasy.
- INTERVIEWS:
This prompted me to go beyond reviewing books and start an interview
series on “Art & Beauty in Fantasy Fiction” with Janet
being the first up to bat (link) (I plan to repost that on Black
Gate soon). She pushed people’s expectations of sexuality and
the role of women in fantasy fiction since 1976, and having her
perspective was eye-opening. That interview was Jan 2014, and the decade
since I’ve interviewed 27 others (including Carol Berg, C.S. Friedman,
Darrell Schweitzer, Anna Smith Spark, C. Dean Andersson…). Black
Gate started broadcasting this series ~2018.
- WRITING: As I was beginning to independently publish, she invited me to contribute to Perseid Press, and I’ve been honored to have over seven stories published across the Heroes in Hell and Heroika series (listing on Perseid Press site).
- ROLE
MODEL: as much as I am honored to have known JEM, learned from her and
developed by role in the writing community, my experience is not unique.
Testimonials from dozens of aspiring and veteran authors are being posted.
Her legacy is admirable, and she serves as a beautiful role model.
- A
TOAST: Cheers, dear JEM. Thank you for sharing your passion and igniting
mine. “Life to you and everlasting glory!”
