RIP Keith D.

[Duleigh]

Couldn't stand the man and his prickly attitude but it's sad to see him gone regardless.

RIP.

When I look back on the convos we had in the past, the problem with his prickly attitude was that he was right, and I hated him for that... and respected him at the same time.

It's like school yard kids, you see them fighting in September, and by October they're on the same team playing to win together.

 

[StillStunned]

When I look back on the convos we had in the past, the problem with his prickly attitude was that he was right, and I hated him for that... and respected him at the same time.

Vila: "Don't you get tired of always being right?"
Avon: "No, I get tired of everyone else always being wrong."

- Blake's 7

 

[MillieDynamite]

So sad this has been, and continues to be, a brutal year.

 

[Djmac1031]

I am sorry to hear of his passing.

I didn't know him well, but my condolences to those who did.

 

[RejectReality]

I still think of him as SR as well. Never got used to "Keith". As much as we sparred, I always gave him props for his valuable knowledge in several aspects related to writing, editing, and publishing, as well as his skill as a prolific writer. He could be prickly, but as often as not, that was prompted by someone else getting prickly over his dry delivery. Not a people person, but willing and able to assist whenever anyone posed a query to him.

Losing his font of knowledge is absolutely a loss for the AH, but not a complete one. At least some of it has filtered down and is going to continue to be passed on. Every time someone starts asking about copyright, his legacy will be here setting a lot of misconceptions straight, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

And he's probably going to end up with a legacy of much higher scores than he had while he was active, because people from the forum ( He posted quite a bit in the politics forum. A den of scum and villainy that he was absolutely unafraid of. ) aren't trolling him for pissing them off, allowing the readers he will continue to delight to give his work the kudos it is most certainly due.

 

[SimonDoom]

I still think of him as SR as well. Never got used to "Keith". As much as we sparred, I always gave him props for his valuable knowledge in several aspects related to writing, editing, and publishing,

I credit Keith with familiarizing me with the Chicago Manual of Style, which I have adopted as my chief reference guide for writing style and grammar for my fiction. It's incredibly comprehensive and provides an answer to most grammar and style questions for American fiction authors. I strongly recommend it.

 

[ChloeTzang]

I credit Keith with familiarizing me with the Chicago Manual of Style, which I have adopted as my chief reference guide for writing style and grammar for my fiction. It's incredibly comprehensive and provides an answer to most grammar and style questions for American fiction authors. I strongly recommend it.

LOL. Yeah, you reminded me of that - we must have picked that up from him around the same time, Simon. I remember a few of those posts. He did get me really working on my grammar and syntax, and he pointed me at some really good reference books on writing. I have an entire bookshelf of them as a result of Keith kicking my butt on that one. LOL. Good memories....

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

I credit Keith with familiarizing me with the Chicago Manual of Style, which I have adopted as my chief reference guide for writing style and grammar for my fiction. It's incredibly comprehensive and provides an answer to most grammar and style questions for American fiction authors. I strongly recommend it.

Same

 

[gordo12]

You know, last night, I was having these crazy thoughts about Keith popping up on the board and lecturing us about jumping to conclusions!

 

[yukonnights]

I've been away from Lit for awhile and this is sad news for me. Kieth and I collaborated on a few stories and it was interesting to get to know him "off Lit". In particular his familiarity with the western states was both a surprise and very helpful. As everyone has said, it's a sad day and a big loss of a very skilled writer. Rest In Peace my old friend ~ yukonnights

 

[FifthEstate]

I think for me, that prickly attitude reminded me a lot of both my granddads, so it was kind of familiar and I liked it without taking it too seriously. Underneath that prickly exterior, there was a heart of gold who was willing to dive in and answer questions and give out info regardless of how you interacted with him elsewhere. And yeah, very sad to see him gone. I'll miss him.

I certainly didn’t have near the depth or number of interactions you did, but I felt that too. It’s funny, I think we all have these desires to meet or have met many of the anonymous authors who frequent this forum, but despite the fact I didn’t have a lot in common with him, for whatever reason, KeithD was near the top of my list of those I would like to have met.

 

[Omenainen]

Well, ”keveät mullat” as they say in my country (basically “rest in peace”). It’s good to know for certain so thanks LC for informing us. Keith certainly was a visible participant of this forum.

 

[Wifetheif]

I hope his family finds comfort. I don't post as much to the forums as some of you, but I did cross paths with KeithD a few times. He was a highly opinionated guy, but because I've done some regular, commercial publishing, he could not intimidate me. His posts, even when aggravating, were well worth the read.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Well, this is certainly some unfortunate but not entirely unexpected news. Like many here, I also had more than a few heated exchanges with Pilot, and there were just as many where we were on the same side. I had to tune him and some others out for a while due to the noise detracting from my forum experience. Nonetheless, I always grudgingly respected him, and I am saddened by his passing.

 

[FifthEstate]

My final tribute to KeithD. Today I saddled up next to his sr71plt persona on the most followed list. A very cool honor. RIP KeithD.

 

[vanmyers86]

I'm really sorry to hear the news. I respected his knowledge and skill even when his comments in this forum got too caustic for me. Many of his comments were very helpful when I was starting here in 2018, and I think it says a lot that so many of us regarded him as a mentor regardless of whether we got along with him!

As someone else said, the old guard is indeed dwindling fast. I recently looked around at work and I realized I was now part of the old guard there; I guess it's the natural order of things. I just hope I can help half as many people (in my way, of course) as he did in his.

"Good-night, sweet prince; and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

Just giving this a bump to keep it from falling off the first page of the AH. I think KeithD's memory should last here a little longer.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Me, too.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

He will be missed.

 

[shinybikiniwife]

Several years ago I discovered Keith D's real name mostly because, well, he gave a lot away, and I'm a sneaky bastard.

I didn't put a lot of effort into researching him when the 'hope all is well' thread said he hadn't posted since July as I was caught up in my wife's situation. As the thread popped back up today I looked up the obits in his town and found him.

I don't know if it would be the right thing to do, linking his obit here, but I can tell you there is no doubt in my mind. The name I had, the right age, and the obit lists his service in the government, theatre experience, and publishing/editing company.

He's survived by his wife, son and daughter.

I feel like the harbinger of doom at this point because I also announced TX Rad's passing.

Keith and I had a rocky relationship here, that ranged from downright nasty years ago to more like teasing and ball busting more recently, but beneath it all we respected each other, especially when it came to publishing, he defended me in a thread some months ago in regard to my success in the selling market, and I'd always credited him with his vast library both on and off lit. We both understood the work and tenacity that went into that type of effort over a period of time, and his much longer than mine.

Another of lit's old guard has fallen and although I wouldn't say he and I were friends, its obvious his presence, expertise and to me, his snark will be sorely missed. Its not easy to find good frenemies these days.

RIP SRplt71-as I still see him as-you left one hell of a mark here, and you certainly weren't cheated in the full life you led. Well wishes to his family.

You did the right thing and I appreciated your honesty about your relationship here. We can have differences and respect. I did not know him, but I do appreciate your effort in this thread. This is nice.