Vince Flynn died on Wednesday, and he is truly going to be missed.
He was the author of several Political Thrillers, including Term Limits, his best-seller that he had self-published prior to Pocket Books picking it up and republishing the hardcover version, catapulting him to fame. Quite a feat in a genre dominated by the likes of Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, and Ken Follett, among others.
He had been battling Stage III prostate cancer for two years, and had determined to fight it until his last breath.
Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Sadly, that last breath came at a time when he was at his peak, both professionally and personally.
On June 19, 2013, at 1:15 am, Vince Flynn died, surrounded by family and friends, after losing his battle with cancer.
Find out what's happening in Ellington-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
He was 47.
I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Flynn at a writers’ workshop a few years ago, and I was impressed with the time he took to critique one of my novels. Just as President George W. Bush had once said to him, regarding the detail of one of his novels, he nudged me and said with a wry smile “You’re a little too accurate here. Expect phone calls in the middle of the night…at the very least.”
Vince Flynn inspired me to self-publish, and gave me the courage to write about things that I had knowledge of. He truly enjoyed spending time with his many fans and other writers, and was always willing to contribute a blurb for any work that he thought had potential.
He was never one of those who allowed his fame to place him above others. He remained open to other writers via e-mails and even the occasional phone call, always willing to offer encouragement and advice, or even just the friendly "Hello.".
Vince Flynn had tremendous respect for veterans, active-duty military, and their families, offering free, signed copies of his books to them on a regular basis. He regularly featured e-mails from fans on his website, and even hosted question and answer sessions.
But more than anything, Vince Flynn was a man that truly believed in America and what it stood for. He was proud to say that he was raising his family to believe in the values of our great nation and the American Way of Life.
I’m going to miss Mr. Flynn, not only for his novels, but for his inspiration and encouragement. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Lysa, and their three children.
Even while writing this, I’ve been trying to figure out how I could acknowledge his inspiration to me personally, so I have made this dedication in my current work in progress:
For Vince. April 6, 1966 – June 19, 2013.
Semper sursum (Always set high goals)
Thank you, Mr. Flynn, for helping me to set my sights high.
