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« on: October 18, 2023, 01:44:56 AM »
Like everyone else, I was stunned hearing the news about Lara passing. It was definitely unexpected and a gut punch.
Like the others, most of my contact with Lara was at autograph lines at either the festivals, Ed Lambese gatherings or the Hollywood Autograph Show - with one exception.
I organized her Barnes and Noble Wolf Moon Rising book signing here in Orlando in 2013. She even stayed over at my house! She had just come in from 4 days at Dragon Con in Atlanta and was exhausted but you wouldn't know it. Prior to the signing, we went to Wal-Mart to get a new suitcase - hers took a beating from the tour ...lol. The following day our group took her to dinner then to the signing. She read some excerpts, did a Q & A and signed copies along with posing for photos. She seemed genuinely thrilled at the turnout, which besides NYC, was the best on the tour. I was determined Orlando wasn't going to disappoint. The following morning took her to the airport for the next tour stop. There is a pic of our group from the signing in her tour report on her blog.
I certainly hope that Jim Pierson puts together some sort of Memorial combo tribute for everybody we have lost since the last Fest - including John Karlen whose Memorial was scrubbed for covid but also for Mitch Ryan, Chris Pennock and now Lara. They gave a lot for Dark Shadows fandom - it's the right thing to do.