Forum / Walter Bjorkman

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    Bill Yarrow
    Oct 08, 09:44pm

    Helen Vitoria posted this in Facebook an hour ago.

    "Rest in peace, Walter Bjorkman.
    Poet, designer, writer, musician, editor, artist, friend, he who was freakishly good at math. You will always be loved, missed and remembered."

    Many of us knew Walter's work and kindness on Fictionaut. A good soul and a talented man is gone. I'll miss him.

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    James Claffey
    Oct 08, 11:41pm

    Terribly sad news. A decent, kind man and a fine writer.

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    Rachna K.
    Oct 09, 12:54am

    Sorry to hear. Rest in peace Walter Bjorkman.

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    James Lloyd Davis
    Oct 09, 01:27am

    Walter was indeed a very kind man. The earth is diminished in his absence.

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    Amanda Harris
    Oct 09, 03:52am

    Sorry to hear. He was a fine writer.

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    Gary Hardaway
    Oct 09, 12:36pm

    Impermanence cuts us all.

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    Robert Vaughan
    Oct 09, 03:05pm

    Walter was such a sweet, soft spoken man. A wonderful writer, editor and friend. So sad to hear this news. Sail on, fine person.

  • Samuel Derrick Rosen
    Oct 09, 07:52pm

    Link to his posts?

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    Mathew Paust
    Oct 09, 08:46pm

    http://fictionaut.com/users/walter-bjorkman

  • Samuel Derrick Rosen
    Oct 09, 09:26pm

    Thanks Mathew. This stands out to me:

    The Tuner

    wound brass unraveled with age
    fingers strummed
    in quiet unison

    neck curve stroked with calloused thumb
    pine, maple, cherry
    yielding wood song

    chords, harmonic whispers
    green departure hymns
    left at the player's door

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    Mathew Paust
    Oct 10, 07:33pm

    Could almost be an epitaph.

  • Samuel Derrick Rosen
    Oct 10, 08:44pm

    That's why it stood out to me.

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    Sam Rasnake
    Oct 11, 02:47am

    Walter was a strong writer, editor, and reader. Huge help to others. A gift to all he encountered.

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    Michelle Elvy
    Oct 12, 06:36pm

    Walter was all energy -- creative and wild in idea and temperament. One of a kind. He was a force of nature in the 52|250 project and the pages were bold and beautiful thanks to his design ideas. He was the mad voice in VOICES, too, a brief adventure in which characters real and imagined had their say.

    And, before any of that, he was my first Fictionaut friend.

    If you are interested in meeting some of his characters, check out his book Elsie's World. It's good. It's Walter.

    http://www.amazon.com/Elsies-World-Walter-Bjorkman/dp/1456571427

    Here are some other things by WB:
    https://52250flash.wordpress.com/category/walter-bjorkman/

    And this -- one of the many collaborations that got us giggling.

    http://fictionaut.com/stories/michelle-elvy/the-fuddy-duddy-writer-reflects-on-her-fans

    RIP, my friend.

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    Sam Rasnake
    Oct 12, 11:51pm

    Thanks for these links, Michelle.

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    Darryl Price
    Oct 13, 02:47pm

    I knew Walt in the literary world for many years. My heart is broken with this news. Good man. His voice was always a voice I trusted. A sweet, genuine person who helped many over and over with his generous spirit. He will be missed and always remembered. Thanks, Walt.

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    Marcus Speh
    Oct 17, 08:54am

    Deeply saddening. A few years back, Walter who was an amazing photographer, too, contributed one of his poetic images to go with a story of mine ("Winter"):

    http://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ldgbj0hXdG1qfvbxto1_500.jpg

    Go gentle into that good night, Walter.

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    Susan Gibb
    Oct 22, 12:05am

    How nice; in a world of writers, though we praise his words and his literary abilities, that above all, we remember Walt most as this above all: a good man. Yes, he certainly was.

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    Sara Fitzpatrick Comito
    Oct 22, 02:08am

    What Gary said about impermanence. I guess I always thought he'd be there. He formed part of the world, and now that world is much changed. And all I had was his poetry, some kind online banter and an even kinder rejection note. Oh, and the stories of his true kindnesses.

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    Ann Bogle
    Oct 25, 03:22pm

    I shared Rebecca Venn's portrait of Walter on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annbogle

    I felt so sad the days that he died on that day.

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    Nicolette Wong
    Oct 26, 08:51pm

    Walter was very fond of that poem -- "The Tuner".

    I miss him everyday!

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    Michelle Elvy
    Oct 27, 09:18am

    What will happen to Walter's blog? I hope it stays up forever...

    https://wbjorkman.wordpress.com/

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    James Lloyd Davis
    Oct 27, 10:37pm

    Me too.

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    Ann Bogle
    Nov 01, 02:42am

    Here's a more accurate link to Rebecca Venn's portrait of Walter Bjorkman that I shared on Fb on October 8:

    https://www.facebook.com/annbogle/posts/10153369261929635?pnref=story

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