Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
One of the many great things about Lindor Reynolds was that she never missed deadline.
It didn't matter if she was dealing with breaking news or an unexpected curveball on a column already in progress. Like clockwork, her copy would come in as promised, on point and with nary a dangling participle or comma out of place.
So there is some irony in the fact our efforts to release an ebook of Lindor's columns in time for Christmas missed our initial deadline.
My apologies, Lindor.
However, I hope the extra effort we put into getting the first ebook the Free Press has published in our 143-year history will make it up to her.
Some background:
In the wake of Lindor losing the battle with the monsters that were her brain cancer, our newsroom was overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy for our longtime friend and colleague.
Amid the countless messages of sympathy sparked by the silencing of her voice on Oct. 17, 2014, were suggestions from a number of readers we do something to showcase the body of work that made Lindor an award-winning writer and, in the words of Maclean's magazine, a Winnipeg institution.
We took those suggestions to heart and embarked on a project to build a collection that would celebrate the best of Lindor.
Alas, that was easier said than done, as we were faced with having to make impossible choices among the more than 1,700 columns and articles she wrote over her 20-year career.
But with the help of senior editors and Lindor's husband, Neil, we came up with 50 that best captured who Lindor was as a journalist.
There are columns that will make you laugh and cry at the same time. There are articles that will leave you shaking with anger at the injustices and wrongs in our world. And there are pieces that will make you smile as you reflect on the wit and the wisdom that was Lindor.
The ebook starts with her debut column for us in 1993 and ends with the last one she summoned up the strength to write in the palliative ward of Riverview Health Centre, only weeks before she died. In between are pages beautifully illustrated with her words and the photographs we pray will do justice to all that Lindor contributed during her time with us.
And speaking of all that Lindor contributed to our community, this ebook echoes that commitment as all the proceeds will be donated through our Miracle on Mountain charity to the Christmas Cheer Board, an organization that meant so much to her.
The ebook is now available for only $5 and can be easily downloaded to your desktop or tablet from our bookstore. Special thanks to Friesens Corp. of Altona for donating their services to format the ebook in a way that makes for a great digital reading experience.
Lindor being Lindor, I half expect her to tease me for missing the deadline for the Christmas rush and then somehow finding a way to release the ebook in time for Groundhog Day.
At any rate, I know she's smiling. I hope you will too when you read this ebook, remember Lindor and realize you are supporting the Christmas Cheer Board.
Paul Samyn is the Free Press editor
On Twitter: @paulsamyn
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 31, 2015 A2