Death of Sidney Sheldon

"When I was a lttlie kid I loved this fantasy series by Tamora Pierce. Looking back on them as an adult, I was a lttlie shocked to realize that the main character had more than a couple lovers. For some reason, I never really remembered that part. I like lots of young readers simply focus on the parts they relate to.In my freshman year of high school, I had a teacher who thought that kids at any age should be reading all the classics they could, no matter what the subject matter. We read all of Ayn Rand's fiction, Native Sun, Their Eyes Are Watching God, Beloved, The Awakening and a host of other books that seemed a lttlie advanced for 14 year olds. I don't think it hurt anything."

"I'd read and enjoyed many Sidney Sheldon books over the years, he helped me to shape the author that I am myself, I'm quite sure. A person who is not a writer might not understand my feelings when I unexpectedly received an announcement from Mr. Sheldon's publisher that his memoirs were being published, at about the same time my own third book was being released.

Curious as to why I had been notified, I looked and found the contact link for Mr. Sheldon himself through the publisher's website. I wrote to ask why I'd been sent an individual notice about 'The Other Side of Me,' and asked if perhaps Mr. Sheldon knew some of my work and wanted me to know about his memoirs because I had written and just published a book about the life and times of Iowa man Don Tietz, called 'One American Dreamer.'

In return I expected nothing, more than likely; at most a polite response from the company or an auto-responder type of message.

Much to my surprise, I received a personal response from Mr. Sheldon himself! I was amazed! He was brief, but very personable and warm, encouraging. We exchanged only a few emails, but a very important exchange lead to him graciously agreeing to accept an autographed copy of my third book. He wrote me when he received it, and said he would 'put it in the pile to read in the New Year.' That was in late 2005, and I hope Mr. Sheldon found time to read at least a little of my work, and that it gave him some enjoyment, in return for all the wonderful work I've read of his over the years.

I'm blinking back tears again. Being able to speak to one of my personal idols through the wonder of the Internet is no less than a Blessing, and I feel like I've lost an old friend, as I'm sure many others who've read Sidney Sheldon's books and seen his television productions are also experiencing.

Being a poet too, I wrote a poem in tribute to Mr. Sidney Sheldon, a man I've admired for the majority of my life. He had the ability to lift us out of our ordinary lives and make us a part of the scenes he created. Hard to put down any one of his books, and I'm going to re-read all the ones I own in the next few weeks; I have more of his books in my bookshelves than I do of any other author, even more since we began to speak and I got to know and love Sidney Sheldon the person. A man who will live forever through his work.

Here's the poem, and I'll include a link to an illustrated page with the poem at the end, not sure if a link will be accepted here.

Another friend in Heaven
Acquaintance short and sweet
Mister Sidney Sheldon
On the ultimate retreat

I just found out this evening
That Sidney Sheldon died
Now he's been five days in Heaven
And I'm trying not to cry

He was a kindly Gentleman
Through emails sweet and rare
Accepted my own humble work
And seemed to really care

We all have to accept the fact
Our lives come to an end
But it is hard to say goodbye
To an idol become friend

After a long sad while I came
To think a different way
And told my mourning self I've got
Another friend in Heaven today

Another friend in Heaven
Is a good thing, not so bad
Then why is death so hard to take
Why do I feel so sad

© February 3, 2007 Alice C. Bateman

Here's a link to the illustrated page:

view link

Losing a man like Sidney Sheldon is a great loss to all of us, but I believe Mr. Sheldon will find many who will have welcomed him into Heaven. And if I have to wait until Heaven to meet him in person, well that's fine with me, I have many friends there by now.

Love and Blessings to All, and thank you for a space to share these precious memories.

Alice"