I cannot be sadder to learn that Vince Flynn recently passed away from complications due to prostate cancer.  Vince was 47, handsome, vigorous, imaginative, generous, worldly, a first class patriot, and a true friend.  As a young man he aspired to become a Marine Corps fighter pilot until he was disqualified by old sports injuries--a loss as great to Vince as it was to the Marines as he in every way personified the motto of a few good men.  He then tried his hand at business before he got the odd itch to write.  His first book was rejected by more publishers than you could count so with classic Irish stubbornness he self-published and marketed the books out of the trunk of his car.  Perhaps this explains all the help he persistently offered aspiring new writers seeking advice and blurbs for their books.  He quickly rose to the top of best selling writers by becoming a strong conservative voice and a compelling storyteller.  He created the perfect hero for the times and dove into the most nettlesome issues in the War on Terror.

A few years ago Vince contacted me about writing a new series together. Being a huge fan of his books, and knowing his reputation, naturally I said yes.  I cannot begin to describe what a joy it was to work with Vince. You would expect that two strong-willed writers trying to hammer out a single book would be a head-butting bargain, if not a replay of the War of Roses.  It was anything but.  You learn a lot about a man when your write a book together and Vince was all that I described in my opening thoughts, but also immensely creative and instantly decisive.  The deal was that we would use my name on the cover, but his picture on the jacket copy--a win-win for me.  Unfortunately we learned at the start of the process that Vince had cancer.  At times it was very painful and discomforting yet he fought through it like the champion he was.  He never complained.  He never gave up.  He remained hopeful and full of staunch Catholic faith right to the end.  Unfortunately that end has come all too soon.

I was privileged to call Vince a good friend and will always be happy that I got the chance to know him. My thoughts are with the Lysa and their three children whom he loved so much.  His fans are deprived of his wisdom and great stories, his friends of his enchanting company, but his family are deprived of so much more.