Earlier this week, I was thinking of my critique partner–Ken Rahmoeller. Many of you know him as he’s been a member of the IWSG for longer than me. I had the honor of beta-reading his novel and I enjoyed his Hogwarts fan fiction on WattPad, even though it remains unfinished. I even got to read his reader magnet short story.
I hadn’t heard from Ken in a while. It was with terrible sadness that I discovered the reason. He’d opened up in December about his late-stage brain cancer. It’d been a couple months since he’d last posted, but I kept hoping for the best.
Finding that obituary online was a depressing blow.
In the wake of that, I didn’t feel my planned post answering the question of the month was really appropriate. How could I switch to a happy tone of family life, art projects, and writing progress when I found out my friend was dead?
So I’m not going to. I’m skipping the question of the month and reflecting on Ken’s impact on my life and writing.
He was an excellent writer. One of the things I liked best was the voice he infused in his work. He had a couple different styles–one for his fanfic, another for his urban fantasy. Both were engaging and entertaining. I hope his family takes the steps to publish his novel, Accidental Alchemist, because it was well done and creative. I count myself lucky to have been a beta-reader.
He was also a great critique partner. He could spot things I couldn’t, like when I included too much information that wasn’t necessary or when I didn’t include details to make the story understandable. It always makes sense in my head, so his input was invaluable. He was also kind with his honesty. Maybe that came from his tutoring side job and I was another student who didn’t quite get the nuances. Regardless, he was helpful, encouraging, and inspirational.
I’m sad he passed, and my thoughts are with his family. I’ll miss him.
Did you know Ken? Do you have any thoughts to share? Have you ever lost anyone within your writing circle?
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Shock for a stranger too. First thing I read this morning. Finding out that a friend has died hurts. Missing a card from a friend since schooldays, I didn’t check till February – No emails ? Then the reason, that she’d died, suddenly, unexpectedly, far too young, siblings still contacting people. Over, There almost all my life, our families connected since 1938. Irreplaceable.
Reminded me how slowly bad and good news used to travel – like Cassandra Austen not knowing for months that her fiance had died.
The book sounds great, must be published.
I was shocked to hear it, too. Ken was always so encouraging. I remember when he won the IWSG swag contest by outing himself on Facebook that he was a writer.
I didn’t know him as well as you did, but I know I’ll miss him. He was a great person and always made me smile.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I didn’t know him but he sounds like he made a big impact on people. That’s legacy.
I’m sorry for your loss, Loni. He will live on in those wonderful memories you have of him.
I lost someone in my writing circle a number of years ago. Now, when I see things she wrote me, like emails about my work, or I come across some old writing exercises we did, I smile.
Just devastating he’s gone. He was so close to his first published book.
Thanks for sharing about Ken. He lived in Michigan, and I met him at a local SCBWI event in the last few years. I was so sad to hear of his passing.
So sorry, Loni. It hurts to lose a friend. I trust that the kindness and creativity he shared with you will light your way out of the darkness of grief. ~ Cyber hugs to you
I hope the book you beta read for Ken finds a way into the world, Loni. Like you, I will miss Ken’s posts and his wonderful Hogwarts blog site. Very sad, indeed.
I didn’t know him as well as you did, but his posts were always inspiring, funny, or touching in some way and his encouraging comments were meaningful. I will miss his writing voice and I hope his book comes out soon. Praying for his family.
I didn’t know Ken, but I’ve realized recently I’ve come to the age where we start losing people more commonly. Old teachers, old classmates, people my own age. No matter how well we know them, it’s usually shocking, and always sad.
I’m so sorry for you loss.
Your post is a tribute to Ken. It is always sad when a good man passes, even if I didn’t know him well, except as a name on the IWSG list.
I was so sad to hear about Ken. I always enjoyed his blog posts and could relate to a lot of what he wrote about. Hopefully his book will still be published.
It is sad news. And sometimes you need to take a beat and absorb the loss. He was an asset to our community, and he will be missed.
I knew he was ill, and I’d noticed he wasn’t posting as often, but I was shocked to hear he passed. I didn’t realize his illness had progressed that far.
I, too, hope his family will publish his book. From the obit, it sounds like they will. I wish his kids or a ghost writer could finish the series for him. I don’t know how far he got with planning and plotting it.
Chemist Ken was one of my favorite people in the blogosphere. He will be missed.
I knew Ken through IWSG. His blog was one I always enjoyed reading, and I never realized I hadn’t subscribed to it. It would just pop up on my radar every IWSG and I’d click to read. It’s so surreal to me to hear he passed. And it’s not making me any more fond of 2023.
I’m so sorry, Loni. I knew of Ken, but I didn’t know him the way you did. Sounds like he was a wonderful person and critique partner. I hope his family publishes his last work, too!
I’m so sorry, Loni. That must have been incredibly difficult for you, and I wish you could give your friend a last hug, or say goodbye at least. Hopefully his family does publish his story. What a great gift to the world, leaving a part of him in this way.
I had computer problems and couldn’t post or do anything online for a while. I’m nursing my macbook, and was actually feeling blessed to get online today. And then to read your news. I’m very sad. Ken was a wonderful member of our family and so supportive and encouraging. He mentioned he wasn’t feeling well. I just assumed he’d be okay. So sad. I’m sending thoughts of love and sympathy to his family. I will take a few moments throughout the day to think of him and be thankful for his friendship.
It’s a very sad loss. You’ve written a good blog post for him.
J Lenni Dorner (he/him šØš½ or š§š½ they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction &Reference Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge