The Death of an Author

The writing community changed today for all time when we learned of the untimely  death of Barbara Gode Wiles.  Barbara was a lifelong writer of horror, scifi and non-fiction.  Horror being her favorite but it seemed that non-fiction was truly her genre.

Her published pieces included stories of her daughter, Emily, and her struggle with Cystic Fibrosis; the trials and tribulations of a young person living with the knowledge that their death is more imminent than most their age.  It’s as if they are standing on train tracks and they can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it turns out not to be hope, but an unstoppable train.

Her other favorite non-fiction subject was her husband, Alan.  Being diagnosed with Parkinsons’ Disease at 49 and Dementia at 52, his fight to die with dignity unrealized. Barbara now works with a group trying to get a “Death with Dignity” law passed in her home state.

Her years of writing were a favorite pastime when she was at home with her dogs, her gardens and her quilting projects which she worked on every summer.  In the fall, she would donate them to charity. The fall before her death she donated 17 handmade quilts to the various Children’s Hospitals in her home state.

Barbara started writing at a young age enjoying the novelty of reading her stories to her friends and getting their feedback. She would rewrite until it seemed just perfect to her and then print and staple the finished pages.  Her library consisted of 2 completed novellas, 3 unfinished novellas, an unpublished autobiography, 34 poems and 72 short stories. One of her stories about Alan’s descent into the darkness of dementia was published in Reader ’s Digest as part of their “Life Stories” book and was also recorded as an audio book purchasable from Amazon.

Her unpublished stories will remain part of her legacy along with her completed works. Her death has sparked interest in people wanting to reread her stories or be introduced to them for the first time.   They would, hopefully, become fans and continue reading, whether it be Barb’s stories or some other author. Perhaps, she would inspire young people to begin writing. 

No matter what, her life changed the world of literature and which direction other authors might take. Young people beginning to read would enjoy her teenage horror hoping for more, but knowing that her death would lead them down an unfinished path. No more to be written. Her pen silenced.

Farewell, Barb, and God speed.