Memorial Statement for Dan Wickett
Earlier this week, after a prolonged and brave battle against a heart condition that he had been suffering with for sometime, Dan Wickett lost his fight and went off to be with the angels.
I have been Dan‘s friend and business partner for over twenty years. In 2006 ,we started Dzanc Books together. Dan was a book reviewer and I was a young author and we were crazy enough to think we could bring something to the independent press world. Over the last twenty years, we have built Dzanc into a literary publishing house we can be proud of. More important, though, has been the journey. Dan was a wonderful man. Soft spoken, kind, intelligent, never had a malicious word for anyone. To say he will be missed is an understatement. But we will continue his legacy here at Dzanc. We will be bringing his wonderful Emerging Writers posts into Dzanc and honor his legacy by continuing to do reviews of worthy writers. His loss is deeply felt by everyone here at Dzanc--especially our editor-in-chief, Michelle Dotter, who worked closely with Dan these last ten years and considers him a close mentor and friend.
In an age all too often driven by egos and false ambitions, Dan was a sweet, well-intended, hard-working, loyal man. A great father, a wonderful friend. The angels are lucky to have you, Dan. You will be missed but not forgotten.
Onward my friend.
-Steve Gillis, Dzanc founder