Life comes at you fast.
It must have been 25 years ago that I'd heard of Eric Flint. I got him confused with Kenneth Flint, who's Riders of the Sidhe I read as a kid.
Of his works, the two series I was/am most familiar with were the Ring of Fire series, and of couse the Belisarius series. The later because of Baen Books and David Drake.
I'm working on a pure gaming blog for my world and creations inspired largely by the works or Eric Flint and David Drake. It was just this morning, in a burst of creativity that the world got its name "Davric" taken from their first names. I was hoping to have more content on the blog before I wrote to both men to thank them for its inspiration. Not to ask them to read it, I don't feel pretentious enough to ask professional authors to read my scribblings. Just to say, "You inspired this. Thank you." Today was the day I started. The day I moved from notes in a facebook group to actually organizing the thoughts and dreams.
Now I will never get to send him that e-mail.
The world is wonderful. I've corresponded with various authors over the years, and a few actors as well. I'm sure their replies are minor to them, but that they took the time to reply means a lot to this old hermit.
So rest in peace, Mr. Flint. Your work inspired me, and I am sure countless others. The world is lessened by your passing.