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I just learned today that Maggie Finson, one of BigCloset's best and most popular authors, passed away November 17, 2020.
She had been ill and I had thought of her frequently of late, but had not checked on her for some months.
She is greatly missed by me and my thoughts go out to her family.
She was a friend as well.
Hugs to all, stay safe, and be well,
Erin
Comments
Maggie was one of the first authors…….
I read on this site, and it was her work that kept me coming back. I will miss her and her wonderful talent, as I am sure will many others.
My thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family.
D. Eden
Dum Vivimus, Vivamus
Maggie let me have Jean play with the Specter
and I believe its one of the best stories I've ever written.
I wish I'd known her better, she will be missed
A great light has gone out
Maggie was a dear friend and I'll always miss the crazy calls we used to share with Bek plotting out Whateley. Since her departure due to toxic people in chat, we'd drifted away and I kept meaning to call and talk with her again. It shows how things should not be put off. Rest in peace, Maggie. I hope to see you again.
I'm out of my mind and into yours!
I will miss her
The world is a little darker today. This is why we need a system where someone else has your information and can give everyone updates on their well-being. Maiden by decree is one of my all time favorite stories.
hugs :)
Michelle SidheElf Amaianna
Maggie was special
Maggie was ispiring, a great author and a good friend that I wish I had been able to spend more time talking with. I kept hoping that she was just on hiatus and that any day now we'd see a new story with her name. It was Maggie's stories that first brought me here to BCTS. Her stories had such a wonderful flow and sucked you into the world and characters. It was also Maggie who inspired me to write and to be the best author that I could be. It was because of her and Enemyoffun that I posted my first story here. Once I did start posting she encouraged me and her encouragement and advice drove me to constantly improve and helped me to grow into the author that I am today. Without Maggie I would have never had the confidence or drive that I have today. My thoughts and condolences to her family.
Maggie, thank you for being the amazing person that you were, there are no words that can convey how much you will be missed here.
*big hugs*
Amethyst
Don't take me too seriously. I'm just kitten around. :3
The magic returns - the betrayal
One of my all time favorite stories is her”The Magic Returns - The Betrayal “. She was a very talented author. Her passing leaves a big hole in the BCTS talent pool and in the hearts of the readers.
You are loved and you are missed.
Maggie
She was a really good writer and I find it sad that in her obituary it said that she even 'managed to write a short story'.
A gross understatement of her writing prowess indeed.
It is so sad that the online environment can get so damn toxic that I sincerely believe that the social aspects of the online environment rarely ever succeeds in its mission anymore as it brings out so many trolls and haters, people whose existence must be pretty worthless for them to find an outlet to vent their toxic venom.
Finally, considering her day job I wonder if Covid played a factor in her death, if so she is among the legions that callous people have dismissed as did not exist.
RIP Maggie.
Maggie, we're smiling
I'm sure that the bit in her obituary about the short story was her message to us, a bit of her sense of humor showing through. Look, we're smiling. Through our tears, but we're smiling.
Thanks, Maggie.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Could you post a link to the
Could you post a link to the obituary, or at least reproduce it here?
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
I'd prefer not
It's not an obit for Maggie but for someone of a different name. It's not hard to find, though, just do an internet search for obituaries of people named Finson in Kansas.
I realize that this is a fine distinction but I feel that this way respects both Maggie and her readers.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Leaving the name out would
Leaving the name out would have been fine.
Thank you for the pointer.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
To me she is always Maggie or Mags.
I'll leave it at that.
Reviewing the obituary, it
Reviewing the obituary, it stated Maggie died "at home". The lethality of SARS-COV2 and its variants is usually such that you die in a hospital. (I won't go into details, that's excessively redundant).
69 isn't a horrible run, especially with a life full enough that it involves great grandchildren. Unfortunately, my wife and I started late enough that if we get them, I'll likely be in my 80's or 90's.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Toxic people
Sadly, toxic people are nothing new. I was once in a Dire Straits live concert (when the internet was practically non-existant) and saw that a few people loudly boohed, probably just because they could. These people don't necessarily do it because they don't like the music, they often do it because it's a "sport" for them. Or because they're jealous and their own life is beyond boring and they dream of their 15 mins. of fame. So they resort to sabotage to make them feel important or whatever. We have a few people here that go to soccer games; not to watch the games, oh no. They go to the games to beat up the fans of the opposing team. So in the end these people join activities not for the activities but for themselves. And the internet is just a new battlefield for them. The same goes for political and religious nutcases. And so they do as much damage as they can. What can we do about them? If their speech breaks human rights then try have them sued by the state. Otherwise blocking their IP address (if possible) is sometimes the only option.
She will live on through her stories
Maggie was one of the finest novelists I ever read. Her pacing, descriptive, dialog, action in every story she wrote was perfect. Her story Morgana, even though not finished, is second to none the best SF story I have ever laid eyes on.
So many have come and gone leaving their own legacy for all to come and know them through their stories they shared with all of us. They transport us away from our own world and invite us into their world they have constructed with words where heroes and heroines overcome evil.
Maggie, you'll forever be royalty in an English Mansion where I fanaticized sitting across the coffee table drinking tea with you.
Barb
Life is too short to take seriously. Don't waste it.
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
Sad to hear
One of my all time favorites. Her passing leaves our little corner of the world darker and a bit more dreary.
Maggie is gone
I never had the opportunity to speak with or even message back and forth with Maggie, but to say that she will be missed by me and many others is an understatement. She is always been one of my favorite authors here at BC, her many stories I've enjoyed thoroughly. From Children of the tainted water, to Heaven and Hell, and many others to numerous to mention have allowed me many hours of pleasure reading. She was a true talent, author and storyteller. I am sorry to just hear that she has passed.
As you look down on this now please know....
Maggie - you will be missed.
Willow
Willow
There are no words for my
There are no words for my sorrow, for my rage, for my emotion. It is beyond the ken of mortals, and I feel like opportunities to speak to someone is now gone. Maggie is one of the reasons I became a Whateley Author. I loved her works, and it was her works which in part brought me the love of my life. All I can say is this thus:
Blessed to the soul who speaks the story and brings joy to those around her. Saga, goddess of mysteries, knowledge, the written word, and poetry, please welcome this sister of ours to the halls of Asgardr. May she drink from the sweetest depths of Mimir and dine with the Lords of the Summerlands. Bless it be and so mote it be.
"I like to be creative in a fight. It gets my juices going."
-Xena Warrior-Princess of Amphibolis
They say...
That someone is never really gone, so long as they are remembered. And in her characters and her stories Maggie will live on forever in our hearts. I look forward to the day where I can have the honor and the privilege to borrow one of her characters, even for a short time, and help her legacy live on.
oh
fuck
Love, Andrea Lena
Quite.
What she said.
Angharad
Agreed
I've no other words.
-- Daphne Xu
Yesterday...
...when I saw this post, I wanted to say something, but I just couldn't. I tried expressing a sense of loss, but I couldn't find the words. I tried to think of something comforting to say, but everything I came up with felt hollow. Everything I came up with just ... I just couldn't think of anything that felt right to say, so I didn't say anything.
Today, some of the numbness seems to have faded. I cried a tiny bit, which seemed to help. It didn't make anything better, but it did help me to think a little clearer. A few people mentioned how the world is a little darker without Maggie, and I can see that.
I think, at least for now, recognizing there's a dark patch, and letting it be like that, without trying to make anything better, is the right thing to do. At least, it feels like the right thing for me to do. But I've also been reading her stories, and letting the light shining from what she created warm my aching heart.
Maybe, when I'm feeling more full of light, I can shine a little brighter. None of us can shine in the exact same way as anyone else. But we can still be there for each other, shining our own lights in our own special ways, and maybe help each other travel along the path before us.
Maggie
Maggie was one of the dearest and closest friends I ever had. She was my mentor. She always knew how to lift me up when I was down and say the right things when they were needed the most. There were a lot of dark places that she helped me climb out of.
We met while I was struggling to find my creative identity. She helped nuture me and overcome my hardships. When you meet someone, there is a moment when you just click. You say to yourself, "Hey this person is special, I hope we can be friends for a long time". That was Maggie. As she helped me grow as a writer, I found her quirky, fun style meshed well with my own. First on The Center then in The Comic Retcon Universe. When I first decided to create a universe of my own, Maggie was the first to volunteer. She being a legendary universe creator herself, she pitched in and helped me keep things together. If it wasn't for her, I'm convinced the DarkRealms would not have been as successful.
We worked together crafting vampires and werebeasts up until she couldn't anymore. She told us she was going to take some time off and never returned. Every so often I kept asking if anyone had heard from her but none of us had. I'm sad that I lost touch in the end. When I heard the news of her passing yesterday, I was crushed. It was as if someone was jumping on my chest. I had to take a step away from things for awhile and deal with the grief.
The world shines a little less now
Goodbye my Mentor, Goodbye my Friend.
Eleven years ago...
Maggie, Nancy Cole and I were all busy writing about stories about strong female characters. For Maggie it was her wonderful Maiden by Decree. Nancy and I had just finished Legend of Alfhildr, following on from The Frozen Balance.
We often chatted and shared ideas when one day, a humorous idea occurred; why don't we write something with all three of our heroines as a bit of a spoof?
Anyway, from that a handful of collaborative short stories were written under the collective title of 'Three girls in a bar...'. They appeared on the site for a short time then vanished. I think that now would be a good time to republish this little bit of fun.
Persephone
Persephone
Non sum qualis eram
I'll admit, I'm not the
I'll admit, I'm not the finest individual out there, but I've never stooped to abusing an author.
It's sad that she disassociated herself so completely from the group, to the point where it's now eight months later, and most of us are just finding out about this.
I've enjoyed all of her works, and greatly missed her contributions to the Whateley universe. Technically, she even promised a short story for me from one conversation, years ago. I never prodded her about it, because it wasn't that important, other than the hope that there'd be just one more story for others to enjoy.
She will continue to be missed, and her works will continue to be enjoyed.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
We are richer for having her
We are richer for having her in our lives, and poorer for having her go.
Stupidity is a capital offense. A summary not indictable.
And so, another one is lost to us.
The loss of one of us, lessens all of us. Today, I am less than I was and every loss lessens me to a final loss, that of myself.
I don't fear the reaper, sometimes I feel as if I might actually welcome him, but then I soldier on, hoping for the best, preparing for the worst, and settling for anything that isn't either of those.
Both Erin and I had talked recently about Maggie and tried to reach her by phone. I guess I know now why there was no answer.
We've lost so many and will lose more, that's the lesson the universe tries to teach us. Nothing and no one lasts forever.
That doesn't make it any easier to deal with another loss...and another...and another, ad nauseum.
With this one, however, we learn yet another lesson. Don't be an asshole!!!! If you have nothing good to say to or about someone, keep your damned mouth shut and don't type anything either! That is the exact reason we learn about Maggie's loss 8 MONTHS LATER!!!
Look, we are all wounded doves, some more than others, but all of us, at one point or another, have been hurt or saddened, or just had a not up to par day. Griping about what someone writes or messaging them hatefully does no one any good. In this case it led to 8 months of worry before finally getting the worst news anyone can ever get.
I'm gonna miss Maggies voice on the phone more than ever. Before there was always the hope that she'd call, or answer my call. That hope is gone and while I feel very sad, I'm also pissed off at those of you who DROVE her away!
I guess the best we can do is remember that words hurt and try to remember that. Can we ALL try to be adults and help others instead of hurting them? Let's try, shall we?
Honor Maggie's loss and life with kindness toward others. We're all in more of less the same boat here so let's try not to rock it so much, okay?
Farewell Maggie Finson. You were a Talent, a good person, and a friend and you will be missed. R.I.P. and Godspeed.
I need to go cry for awhile now.
As a T-woman, I do have a Y chromosome... it's just in cursive, pink script.
Sad news
I'm currently in a re-reading marathon of all her stories.
They are so amazing.
Like so many others
I found Maggie's writing so amazing. Indeed, it brought me to know Maggie and she even agreed to work with me in creating a universe that continued on from her Morgana story and the Cheryii Consortium.
While that got pushed back due to RL constantly throwing up issues, I still have most of our correspondence and notes. I am just sorry that she wouldn't be around to see the story we had been working on up until a couple years ago be finished.
Goodbye Maggie, you were the one who encouraged me to chase my dreams with writing before anyone else did. I will always be grateful for your kindness. You always brought a helping of happiness with your stories.
Samirah M. Johnstone
Maggie
I learned her other name by accident years ago. She could write under that name too. From heaven, to hell, to outer space, past, to the future, in YOUR universe, or her own, she had a way with words that would evoke tears. She wrote TG stories, but the TG was usually just the springboard to get started with and then she would spin the tale. I don't consider any time spent reading anything she wrote, as wasted time or effort. I don't recall ever communicating with her directly, just comments about a story usually. Even at this, the news still hit me like a shot in the solar plexis. She was only a couple of months my elder, but it seems I have known her for about 30 years, and I will miss her every day till I can read another new tale and tell he in person how great it is. Rest well.
I counted Maggie a friend.
I counted Maggie a friend.I hadn't heard from her in quite a long time and I was concerned for her. She helped me so much in my early days of writing, I'll miss her a lot.
Have delightfully devious day,
In the late 90's ...
... Maggie wrote chapter one of a story titled "Mommie II". I liked it and waited for chapter two. When it didn't appear I contacted her and asked that if she wasn't going to finish it, could I. She gave her permission and I wrote two more chapters. This was around 2004 or so. As so often happens RL intervened and I forgot about it. A year or so ago I found it on an old disc and have thought since about finally finishing it. In her memory I WILL do so.
Rest in peace, Maggie.
Jezzi Belle Stewart
BE a lady!
Oh wow!
I'll keep an eye out for that story, Jezzi. I'd love to see what the new chapters are like. :)
Just came upon this.
Sad to see you go and you wrote some truly great stories.
I remember Fey as part of the Whateley Universe as well as the Heaven and Hell Uni, with its own characters. There are many other great characters and stories you crafted. I remember chatting with you and you were very friendly. Another of our firsts has passed, a great author who was able to share their work because of the Internet.
You remind me right now I need to send an another author I care about a care package as I regret not sending one out to you.
Forgot to add.
It was finding out about the Sidhe that actually made me proud of a part of my cultural heritage I always thought was dull and embarrassed by until I found out about what the Fae/Sidhe really were instead of the Disneyization of it. I couldn't relate as much and enjoy those other parts of a piece of my heritage but I could with the Sidhe.
Sad news
She was one of the best authors on this site.
I showed up tonight to post
I showed up tonight to post something, because I kind of miss sharing works with the people here when I saw her name in the In Memorium section. It felt like I had been struck in the chest. Maggie was one of the first Whateley Writers I ever talked to. We talked for years about different stories and hopes and dreams for our writing. We were both chased from Whateley by toxic bastards ruining something wonderful for us. It's hard to love characters and then feel dirty writing them because of what other people have done and said. I've been missing her and have been hoping to reconnect. Guess that's not going to happen.
She helped me to become a better and stronger writer, and for that I will always be grateful. You will be dearly missed Mags.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.