More than you ever wanted to hear from Bestselling Author Jenny Crusie.
Aug302009
Terrible news today: We’ve lost Talpanna. AgTigress has written to tell me that she’s gone after a very bad three months in hospital. Argh won’t be the same without her, but wherever she is now, there is intelligence, and insight, and laughter. We’ll miss you so much, Tal.
Jennifer Crusie is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of twenty-one novels, one book of literary criticism, miscellaneous articles, essays, novellas, and short stories, and the editor of three essay anthologies. She lives on the Ohio River where she often stares at the ceiling and counts her blessings.
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36 Comments to 'Talpanna'
On August 30, 2009 at 12:25 pm hollygee said...
No words. Thank you for passing the news on.
On August 30, 2009 at 12:49 pm Diane (TT) said...
I’m so sad to hear that! It will be much harder to take over the world without the mole warriors, and Tal will be much missed.
On August 30, 2009 at 12:51 pm BCB said...
Oh, Ms. J — I know you always saw that “l” in her name as an “i” and it makes me smile just a bit through the tears that you still do. Talpianna was the name she gave herself, after the family Talpidae, which includes moles, of whom she was the supreme ruler in our long ago plans to TOTW. [And yes, that piece of information is by way of tribute, not rebuke.]
Tal never failed to catch (and laugh at) my double entendre nor missed a chance to chide me for missteps in spelling, claiming she held me to a higher standard. I always held her in the highest regard and affection. I will miss her vigorous intellect and sharp lively sense of humour. Such sad news.
Hugs and love to you, Tigress. I know you’ve lost a dear friend.
On September 6, 2009 at 11:52 am Laura Striplin aka shavedwolvy said...
Where I see a place to write something about Tal, I will. Many of us received our critter identities because of her. I will always remember her threats to chase me with a pair of scissors for that shaving she was always wanting to give me. I use the name “shavedwolvy” in emails, chats, Facebook and other places because of her. It just stuck. Although, I had never met her in person, I chatted on the phone and online and sometimes it is those people that make a stronger impact n your life than some of those that you see every day. I will miss the Crazy Lady. Big Kiss to her :*(
On August 30, 2009 at 12:59 pm Merry the CB said...
Thanks for passing this on. She will be missed.
On August 30, 2009 at 1:11 pm robena grant said...
I remember Tal’s humor from the days of the “Book Tour from Hell” and TOTW. She really had a way with words. So sorry to hear of her passing, AgTigress, and thanks for letting us know, Jenny.
On August 30, 2009 at 1:17 pm Diane (TT) said...
Yes, I forgot to say, Tigress, that I’m very sorry for your loss, closer than that for many of us. Between the two of you, our erudition index rose far beyond what it might otherwise have been.
A sad loss to our community.
On August 30, 2009 at 2:17 pm Sheryl said...
This is why the Cherries and CBs are an essential component in my life. The community is real. And mourning the loss of a very dear friend. Tal and Tigress, together helped keep the bar high for the rest of us. My most sincere condolences to Tigress, along with gratitude for passing along the sad news. TOTW will be so much more difficult without her – and a lot less fun.
On August 30, 2009 at 2:32 pm McB said...
Very sad news. Meeting Tal’s clever wordplay and sharp wit back in the basement days is a bright memory I cherish. She was a delight on many author blogs and clearly enjoyed words and language. I think she did invent the verification game. I know she showed us all up when we affectionately riffed the Don’t Look Down characters. I’ll never hear the words character arc again without thinking of her.
On August 30, 2009 at 2:59 pm Louis said...
Tigress…
(((HUGS))))
She will be missed.
On August 30, 2009 at 3:03 pm Nanaimo Gran said...
I was so sorry to read about Talpanna, she taught us to pay attention and not be slipshod about what we “said”. She will always be remembered by me for that very aggravating game of verification . Tigress my sympathy to you and all her other real [non virtual] friends, who will also miss her
On August 30, 2009 at 3:04 pm Penny said...
Such sad news, Tigress. I have missed both you and Tal from our early days as CherryBombs. Talpianna had such a great wit. I looked to her for all her explanations of things profound.
On August 30, 2009 at 4:16 pm Slave Driver said...
That’s very sad. I had such fun pilaging with her. I believe she was at the front of the mob, leading the rabble of villagers when we rioted over a picture of the red thing (PORT). She is fondly remembered, and will be sorely missed.
On August 30, 2009 at 5:07 pm wendy said...
So sorry AgTigress, and had actually wondered why I hadn’t seen her around the traps.
On August 30, 2009 at 5:20 pm AgTigress said...
Thank you, Jenny, for posting the sad news, and thank you, all of you, for your condolences and your memories.
Talpianna, mole lady, in ‘real life’ (whatever that may be), Anne Braude, had become a very close friend of mine over the last 9 years or so, even though she and I lived a long way from each other (Phoenix, AZ and London, England). She was an extraordinary person, whose superior intellect, playful wit and vivid imagination were always held back by her poor physical and emotional health. I met her in 2003, and was hoping to visit her again some time, but I ‘spoke’ to her most days on IM for years. Because we were around the same age, we had many things in common in spite of our different tastes and cultural backgrounds: on the old Elizabeth Lowell board, where Tal’s presence was very prominent, she often used to refer to me as the Ancient Briton and herself as the Early American.
She derived enormous enjoyment from online communities such as Jenny’s and those of other authors whose books she admired. Although she came over as confident, even school-marmish, she was actually very insecure and modest. She would have been both amazed and touched to know how many people mourn her passing.
On August 30, 2009 at 6:03 pm Lou said...
Tigress – my sincere condolences on the loss of your dear friend.
I always enjoyed Tal’s wit and insight. When she mentioned Berkeley (CA) in one of her comments, I emailed her (I was born and raised in Berkeley). It turns out that she lived there for – I believe she said – 6 years, in the International House on campus. I drove by that house almost every day as that was the way out of Berkeley to go see my horse. We could have met, but unfortunately were “ships in the night”.
May she rest in peace. . .
On August 30, 2009 at 7:16 pm gin said...
I’m so sorry.
On August 30, 2009 at 7:58 pm Kyrathered said...
She will be missed. Wish I had better words to express it. :0(
On August 30, 2009 at 8:30 pm Ellie said...
Very sorry to hear that. Deepest condolences, Tigress.
On August 30, 2009 at 9:04 pm Bob said...
Very sad to hear this earlier today.
On August 31, 2009 at 12:02 am inkgrrl said...
Deepest condolences, and thank you Jenny for passing along the news.
On August 31, 2009 at 7:47 am me said...
I’m so sorry. She will be missed.
On August 31, 2009 at 7:52 am Micki said...
I’m so sorry to hear this.
On August 31, 2009 at 9:00 am Beki said...
She’s leaving an unfillable hole; I’m sorry for her passing.
On August 31, 2009 at 9:26 am Chelle said...
She’ll be missed. We had a great time on the boards.
Very sad news AgTigress, thanks for passing it on.
On August 31, 2009 at 12:56 pm naked under my clothes said...
Her personality came shimmering through her words, and we will miss her.
And BTW, let no one doubt the power of the virtual community. Sure, it’s fun–but it can also be a tether to sanity, a path to a tribe. For all of us.
On August 31, 2009 at 1:35 pm Sure thing said...
My condolences to all.
I first “met” Talpianna on the Elizabeth Lowell boards where her humour and intellect made her someone to measure myself against – in the nicest way possible, she cast a long shadow and I am grateful for the chance to have known her.
On August 31, 2009 at 1:49 pm cc said...
Thank you for passing on this news- the world in general, and the online literary in particular, will be much less interesting without her.
On August 31, 2009 at 3:12 pm MJ said...
I enjoyed Talpianna’s wit on He Wrote She Wrote and was delighted when I stumbled across her name on other boards. Just think what rabble she’s rousing now on the UNIVERSAL Wide Web.
On September 2, 2009 at 2:07 pm McB said...
I rather like the idea that wherever she is, Tal is encouraging a higher standard and doing so with warmth and humor.
On August 31, 2009 at 10:37 pm Mary Stella said...
So sad. My condolences.
On September 1, 2009 at 12:34 am Jill said...
AgTigress I am so sorry for the loss of your good friend. And sorry that the Cherry Community (in whatever manifestation you choose) has lost a loyal friend and fan.
On September 1, 2009 at 10:25 pm orangehands said...
I was so sorry to hear this. She made me smarter. She also threatened me in several creative ways, which I miss even more.
Huge ((HUGS)) for those who knew her and those that never got the chance
On September 2, 2009 at 1:11 pm glee said...
I echo the condolences and the sadness. We will miss her postings. Hugs.
/glee
On September 2, 2009 at 4:11 pm Egads said...
I remember Talpianna from here and from Evil Editor’s blog. I’m so sorry to hear that she was ill and has passed away. I will miss her postings. My condolences to her friends.
On September 8, 2009 at 11:21 pm Sheri said...
Oh–I am so sorry to hear of Tal’s passing. I always enjoyed her posts and I will miss her… The Cherries and CB’s have lost a true friend. Peace and love to all who loved her best….
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