RIP Joshua Redmyer – A Fine Young Man

Last year, just over a year ago, I had just received my author copies of Finding Jimmy Moran. I had arranged with my dear friend Kyle Dooley, whose named character plays a bartender in the Hell’s Kitchen chapter in the book, to be available at Mike O’Shay’s for a photo shoot.

That photo was used in an advertisement to be posted by Kerry F. Freeman, a wonderful writer – her debut novel, Sedona, is amazing, check it out –

– but her side gig, called Books & Bevies, has helped launch hundreds of writers careers, including my own. Kerry was kind enough to post a B&B advertisement photo for TWA, that included my friend, Mark Lenahan (a/k/a “Lenny” from The Claire Saga) and a bottle of Macallan single malt. I can’t find that photo at this moment, but here’s Lenny being Lenny back east with a magical staff I sent him from NoCo.

That’s the lovely Kerry Freeman below.

Anyway, while Kyle and I were setting up the photo shoot, a young man named Joshua Redmyer came up and introduced himself. He was only about the age of my son, Luke. Josh was a fine young man. Articulate, obviously intelligent, and a nice addition to the energy in the bar. He had a positive energy about him.

He mentioned he had relocated to NoCo from Northern California. I believed he said he did so to be closer to family.

He also mentioned that he thought he would like to be a writer some day. I told him to go for it, that there is no magic to being a writer other than sitting down and writing. I believe I inscribed and gave him the last copy I had with me of FJM, I had to retrieve it from my car. Josh told me he was going to pick up the prior three books, and I gave him my number in case he ever wanted them inscribed. I bought Josh a beer. I snapped the above photo of the two of us and texted it to him.

I snapped a few photos of Josh with Kyle at the bar. I included one of those photos in a blog the next day, along with another shot of Josh and I at the bar. He seemed happy enough. As I said, I could tell Josh was a good kid.

I never saw Josh again. But it’s hit or miss at MOS, and in NoCo in general. People come and go, so I just figured our dining schedules didn’t sync up. Josh was young, and could have headed back to Northern California. But I was happy he managed to enter my orbit on that one particular day, during that one particular happy event.

My books have converted a lot of strangers into instant friends. And that has been my blessing.

This morning I found this yet unposted comment in my comments section in my behind the curtain Master Blog screen. You see, the first time anyone ever attempts to post a comment on the blog, it gets put into a waiting room until I get to see it and approve it. I get a ton of spam from overseas looking to advertise expensive cars in Riyadh or houses of pleasure in the Balkans. For some reason, the Chinese also seem very interested in my blogs. A couple of clicks and they are all relegated to spam.

This morning there was a new batch of potential spam comments. One from overseas telling me I don’t post enough photos.

But one particular hibernating comment immediately stood out from the crowd as the poster’s name on it was “Veronica,” my mother’s and sister’s name.

It was posted as follows:

“I wrote to you last year. Josh Redmyer is my son and I would really appreciate it if you would give me a signed copy of your book. He died last year and I have very little left since his dad got most of it. I want to read it in his honor and yours for touching his life.

To quote what you put in your post..

‘Anyway, Josh is NoCo’s most recent transplant from NoCa. He is now on a mission to read TCT. Thank you Josh for your support, and yes, I will inscribe any and all copies of the books you may collect. You have my number.’

Please inscribe it for me in honor of my son that you felt worthy to post on your sight about.”

This broke me heart. Josh was so young, so nice. And he left a mother who loved him beyond words. No parent should bury a child.

Since Veronica didn’t leave an email address on her post, and I now know she reads my blogs, I would like to respond to her here.

Veronica: I am so very sorry over the loss of your son, Joshua. As I mentioned in that first blog and in this one above, he was a good kid. I was honored to meet him. He is forever now part of The Claire Saga, as anyone who touches my life becomes part of the backstory. I cannot imagine the pain you must be suffering and I know that there is nothing I could possibly say to lessen it by even the slightest degree.

However, if you drop me your contact information, through the contact button on this website, I will send you a set of the four existing books inscribed to you in honor of Joshua.

And it is I who is honored by the idea of you reading my books because of your love for your son, Joshua.

Again, I am so sorry for your loss, Veronica. My heartfelt condolences. Sincerely, Tom McCaffrey

Now, I promised myself when I learned TWA was going to be published that if I ever achieved any form of fame or notoriety as a writer, I would remain who I am, the often silly person who got me here. I’ve always liked people, and every new stranger has the potential to be your next friend. So I remain completely accessible to anyone who wants to stop me anywhere to say hello. I’ve never understood those writers (or actors, etc.) who became so precious about their life and time that they close themselves off from the people who have put them in the limelight. It has been the open and regular contact of people in my life that has given me the material and ability to create stories. Everyone is a character. As Shakespeare said, we are all players on a stage.

Josh Redmyer, rest in peace young man, thank you for playing your brief role in my world, on my stage, as only you could have. You nailed it.

Well, sad or not, I need to get moving here.

I’m going to give my kitties an extra cuddle this morning.

I hope you fine, five readers take a moment to remember all of the people like Josh who circulate through your lives. Try to engage with everyone you can. It costs nothing to be nice. You never know the impact you may have on another person’s life.

And whatever else we do, let us make today a great one.