My heart is full of tears as I write these words to honor Ruth Mullen, one of the outstanding editors who worked on my memoir, Undertow. Ruth died on Tuesday in a tragic bus accident near her home in Brooklyn, NY. She was 68 years old. She was especially dear to me because of her extraordinary copyediting and line editing work on my book.
Working with Ruth
As was each editor who helped me, Ruth was dedicated to that story and we spent many hours on the phone in 2016 making sure every little bit of it was in the right place before I published the book. I can still hear her voice in my head asking me to double-check a fact or whether I really needed that extra word or two in a sentence. I think she’d practically memorized The Chicago Manual of Style and thank goodness she had because she made my manuscript, and the manuscripts of many other writers during her career, comply with its standards. That makes them top-notch. I’m grateful beyond words for how her expertise made that book shine. And she definitely made me a better writer.
That was five years ago. Two months ago, she told me she’d love to work on my next book, too.
Ruth and Alice, editors and friends
I know that Ruth’s best friend is Alice Peck, the editor for Undertow, who guided its final structure after an initial evaluation by editor, Mary Ann de Stefano, here in Orlando.
Alice and I are now working on my next book, and yesterday she was the one with the awful task of telling me this terrible news about Ruth. These two women, although I’ve not met them in person, are two of the dearest in my life.
Of course, we are all in shock over losing Ruth, who loved books and supported those of us who write them. After Undertow was published, she did me a special favor by getting Undertow included on Book Riot’s list of top one hundred books about cults here.
As we mourn Ruth, my husband, Hoyt, and I send our love to her family and friends and all the authors and book professionals who collaborated with her over the years, especially Alice, as well as Duane Stapp, my books’ designer and Alice’s husband.
I’ll do my best to honor my editors by continuing to write as well as I can.
My next book is now dedicated to Ruth Mullen.
You can read a news report about what happened here.
Thanks for reading.
Your writer on the wing,
Charlene
Kathleen Brandt
What a tragic and terrible loss. I feel for her friends, of which you, Charlene, obviously were one. And of course her family. I’m sure she will be greatly missed.
Charlene L. Edge
Thank you, Kathleen. She is missed deeply.
Mary Trudell
I am so sorry to hear that you have lost someone so “close” to you, Charlene!
Ruth’s legacy certainly lives on in your awesome first book.
Charlene L. Edge
Thank you, Mary. Indeed, Ruth is there among Undertow’s words.
Robyn
A lovely tribute, Charlene.
Charlene Edge
Thank you for reading, Robyn!