Remembering a Friend

I lost a friend this week.  Barbara Fitz Vroman, an author, writing teacher, editor, and much more passed away on Monday, May 7.

I first met Barb in 1966, when she was News Editor at the Waushara Argus, and I was freelancing a weekly column called “Outdoor Notebook.” At the time she was my boss, the one who worked on my mangled attempts at selecting appropriate words and stringing them together in ways that made sense.

I wrote the column for ten years, until I moved on to book writing.  In the meantime Barb wrote award winning novels such as Tomorrow is a River, Sons of Thunder and more.  Along the way she began her own publishing house; Pearl-Win she named it. I was privileged to help her select manuscripts for publication, and have her publish my book Skiing into Wisconsin.

For many years, Barb and I taught writing at The School of Arts in Rhinelander.  She was soon well known for her caring, encouraging approach to teaching, and for her legions of student- followers.  She also began teaching writing workshops at The Clearing in Door County, where she was scheduled to teach this summer.

Shy, quiet and unassuming, Barb was often in the background.  But her writing surely wasn’t, nor was her teaching.  She will be missed, but also long remembered.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Sad though it may be sometimes; it’s important to take some time to remember our friends.

CHECK THIS OUT:  My one day workshop: “Writing From Your Life,” October 13, 8-4. The Clearing, Door County. For more information go to. http://theclearing.org/current/index.shtml

UPCOMING EVENTS:

May 19, 1-4:00 p.m. Old World Wisconsin. Eagle,  Book signing. Garden Wisdom, Barns  of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days.

May 20, 9:15 a.m. Midvale Community Lutheran Church, Madison.  Adult Education Hour.  Garden Wisdom.

May 20, 7:00 p.m. Lebanon Historical Society, Lebanon, WI. Barns of Wisconsin.

May 24-31. Avon, Colorado. Writing and researching.

June 3, 1-3 p.m., Pendarvis, Mineral Point.  Garden Wisdom

June 6, 10:30. College Week, UW-Madison Campus, Ames County Novels

June 13, 6:00p.m.  Wisconsin Public TV Major Donors Meeting, Center For Discovery, UW-Madison Campus.  Farm stories and more.