In Memory ...
4RV Publishing has worked with some wonderful people over the years. As with all families, we have lost a few along the way. We pay tribute to the following:
Kirk Bjornsgaard
April 29, 1951 - April 29, 2009 Kirk Bjornsgaard's experience as an acquisition editor for the University of Oklahoma Press and Penn Well Publishing Company gave him insight into the need for well-written submissions.
Kirk has co-written books and contributed chapters to anthologies. His experience also includes stints in public relations/media relations/ marketing, writing for an advertising agency, working as a newspaper and radio reporter, and freelancing as a magazine writer. Kirk Bjornsgaard's novel, Confessions of a Former Rock Queen, is not only well-written but is interesting. It was to be the first of a trilogy, but his death left only the first novel for us to read as his legacy. The novel was released the last of March 2009, a few weeks before the author's death. Kirk got to hold his novel in his hands and signed a number of copies, autographing the 50 copies he determined to finish on Monday before he passed away Wednesday morning. It won the Oklahoma Book Award in Fiction in 2010, nearly a year after his death. His widow and daughter accepted the award in his stead. Copies of the novel will be available on his author promo page as long as his heirs leave the contract with 4RV. The world lost a good man, and a good author when we lost Kirk Bjornsgaard. |
Kipp Davis
Warren "Kipp" Harrison Davis, Jr. July 26, 1951 - March 12, 2011 Kipp Davis was an avid painter and photographer in both his work and personal life. He painted portraits of his children, grandchildren, and various scenes that adorn the walls of his and his family and friends’ homes. His art and photography have been published in various books and national magazines – both inside and on their covers. He played baseball and softball as a boy, and was a compassionate children’s baseball coach as a father. Kipp illustrated Josie Adam's book Girls Love Softball, which is no longer on the 4RV schedule. Josie is his widow. Janet K. Brown Janet K. Brown July 18, 1942 – July 24, 2018 Janet K. Brown lived in Wichita Falls, Texas with her husband, Charles. She began writing while her three daughters were young but did not study the craft or submit her work until she retired in October, 2005. Writing became a second career. Her first contracted novel was an inspirational young adult, Victoria and the Ghost. 4RV Publishing released it in 2012. Janet wrote several inspirational romances and women’s fiction, but this was her first young adult. She studied her three grandchildren for help with teen expressions and actions. She and her husband loved to travel with their RV, visit with family, and work in their church. Janet had almost finished the editing process for a second book before her illness. 4RV plans on completing the work and releasing the novel. Harry E. Gillelland, Jr. Harry E. Gilleland, Jr. October 30, 1944 - June 21, 2019 Harry E. Gilleland, Jr. was an award-winning poet and author who lived with his wife Linda in Shreveport, Louisiana. At age 68, Harry happily retired from his career as a Professor of Microbiology to become a full-time writer. He also became a major part of a new traditional publishing company, 4RV Publishing. For nearly ten years, Harry was the editor-in-chief. Harry authored two novels during his time with 4RV, Aldric & Anneliese and A Wandering Warrior. Harry will be greatly missed. |
Deborah B. Cavitt
Dec 24, 1951 - August 05, 2021 Wife, Mother, Teacher, Librarian and Author Born in Enid, OK, December 24, 1951 to Wilfred Miles and Opal Marie Bates. She grew up as an Airforce kid but loved reading and writing. She was a big fan of Emily Dickinson. In 1971, she met Alan Bruce Cavitt. They were married June 4, 1972 in Terre Haute, Indiana. In 1986, she received her Masters of Library Science degree. She became a teacher and librarian. She always wanted to be a writer, but life got in the way. After retiring from being a school librarian after 31 years with Duncanville Independent School District, she was able to focus on writing. She has published two children’s picture books. She is published in Barbour's Heavenly Humor for the Teacher's Soul and God Hearts Me. She has been a member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) for 20 plus years. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Diana Anderson. She is survived by her husband, sons Jeffrey Alan (wife Sharon) Cavitt, of Wylie, TX. and Jonathan Miles Cavitt, of Hollywood, CA. She has two grandsons, Ty Jacob and Cole Logan Cavitt. Brother Wilfred Miles ‘Fred’ Bates II (wife Renea), nephew Thomas and niece Heather Bates, and a niece, Tiffany Marie Hayes of Abilene, TX.
Internment will be in the Odd Fellows section of Grove Hill Cemetery, Dallas, TX. |