Quill & Quire Editor Dies at 40

It is with great sadness that I have to report that the editor of the Quill & Quire, Derek Weiler, passed away over the weekend at the young age of 40. For those who don’t know the Quill & Quire it is a monthly Canadian trade publication for ourbook industry, essentially the Canadian equivalent to Publisher’s Weekly.

To me, however, it is much more than a magazine. It is a symbol of literature and our culture. Quill & Quire has also been very supportive to books in the science fiction and fantasy genres, often allowing book reviews and announcements for writers that may not have had a wide range of publicity coverage in the past or otherwise.

So when news came about this from the Toronto Star, I was a little more than reasonably upset. I actually had the good fortune of meeting Derek last year when he came to speak with us at one of our book and magazine publication classes when I was attending Centennial College last year.

Weiler joined the staff of the Quill & Quire in 1999 as a writer and was promoted to editor five years later. According to the Toronto Star article, Weiler had been in ill-health for the past several months due to a long-term heart condition and died suddenly in his home on April 12^th in Toronto. The publishing community mourns as one of its most influential spokespersons on behalf of Canadian literature is laid to rest. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Weiler family and friends. He leaves his wife, Sari Morrison, his parents, Gerald and Marie Weiler, and a sister Marcy Hespeler.

To read the obituary in the Toronto Star click here.

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