If it hadn't been for Paul
Lamarre, I may have never joined the DFW Writers' Workshop. The first time I
visited in 2007, I was nervous. The Workshop seemed so large and everyone
already knew each other. No one spoke to me and I was too shy to initiate a
conversation. I felt ill at ease. Started to leave. Questioned why I'd visited
in the first place.
Then, Paul sat next to me and we
chatted. He wrote science fiction, a genre I also enjoyed. We spoke the same 'language'
even if he was more of a hard SF guy, while I preferred soft SF. Still, I
instantly liked him.
Each week, our friendship grew. When
I finally found the courage to read for the first time, Paul was in the room. No
one told me beforehand that first-time readers received applause. As everyone
clapped, I thought I must be a darned good writer. Then, the applause stopped
and I was shredded during the critique. I doubt I would have ever read again if
Paul hadn't been there to ease the sting.
In time, we began to critique
each others work outside of the Workshop. We texted daily, and celebrated each others successes, including Paul's first short story
sale. More importantly, we kept each other motivated when the rejections came
in faster than the acceptances did.
Paul and I shared a fondness for
SF&F conventions. We always hung out together and made the rounds of the
parties. In 2013, we road tripped to the World Science Fiction Convention
(Worldcon) in San Antonio with our mutual friend, Gabe. By that point, Paul had
endured almost a year of chemotherapy for colon cancer. The trip was a
celebration of his improving health. He was excited to be at Worldcon and to meet
some of his favorite authors such as Kim Stanley Robinson and Ben Bova.
Shortly after we returned, Paul's
doctors advised him that the cancer had spread to his abdomen. Paul continued
to fight with the support of his loving wife, Sheila. It was one of the bravest
battles I've ever seen. His attitude was always pleasant no matter how much
pain he suffered. He joked with hospital staff and thanked them for the care
they gave him. In fact, he was so cordial I would tease him the nurses kept him
in the hospital because he was their favorite patient.
Throughout, Paul never abandoned
his love of writing and was eager to start a Middle Grade novel. He also never
stopped being supportive of other writers. He always asked about their work in
progress whenever they visited him in the hospital.
Paul Lamarre passed away on June
18, 2014. He was a loving husband and the proud father of three wonderful
children, Megan Kathleen, Sarah Elizabeth, and Joshua Paul Lamarre. He served
in the Navy during Operation Desert Storm as a Nuclear Machinist aboard the
nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS MISSISSIPPI. A graduate of Dallas
Baptist University, he worked as a Supply Chain manager for Poly America. He
attended Retta Baptist Church in Burleson, and served a term as Treasurer of
DFWWW.
But most of all, Paul was my
friend. One who I will miss more than any words can ever express.
