I wonder whatever happened to...?

There are lots of people who get lost in a lifetime. Friends with whom you lose contact, classmates that graduate & are never heard from again, family members that stop staying in touch. There are many more celebrities or known-only-indirectly people that prompt that musing query, "I wonder where [so-&-so] went!"

For me, today I was wondering about Mishell Baker, author of the Arcadia Project trilogy, which follows the career of Millie Roper, a former Hollywood director who survived a suicide attempt & is trying to get on with life. I really enjoyed this series for its compassionate portrayal of several characters with serious mental health disorders. Additionally, it's a really imaginative urban fantasy setting with a nifty take on fae.

This morning I finished listening to the audiobook version of the last book in the trilogy (Imposter Syndrome) & that question bubbled up: "I wonder what Mishell Baker is up to - has she written anything new?" A quick Google search &....

...she hasn't. Last fall she was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic appendiceal cancer. She's undergone surgery & several rounds of chemo & is doing well, for certain understandings of "well". She's keeping a blog following her cancer journey - & it is AMAZINGLY uplifting to read. Mishell has made a deep commitment to being happy & contributing to the good of the world for as long as she is able - which may be 2 years, possibly 10 years. I have a ton of respect for this decision.

So Mishell has gone down a dark & unexpected road, but she's doing so with hope & joy to light the way. I think Millie Roper would be proud of her.