A Hero is Hard to Find
In memory of Perry Moore, frequent guest of the show Randy Ham shares his thoughts on the author/producer’s passing:
I can’t lay claim to being Perry Moore’s friend. I didn’t know his favorite color, what his favorite film was, or what kind of music he liked. Even so, he touched my life and the lives of those around me in a positive way.
I read ‘Hero’ while I was a buyer for a book chain. As soon as I finished it, I sent a message through Perry’s site telling him how much I enjoyed the book, and how I wished that I had had a book like that growing up. Perry responded with a very kind and appreciative email. After that, we would exchange the odd, infrequent emails, usually about ‘Hero.’ He was trying to get it sold as a tv series, and always seem to be frustrated by the results. Knowing Stan Lee was on board, I just felt that this series would happen, sooner or later. I was also excited that Perry had mentioned in many interviews that Thom Creed’s story was not done.
A couple of years went by, and I met a young man who was very hesitant about coming out. I passed along his story to Perry and asked Perry if he would autograph a copy of the book for this young man. Perry agreed, and that set in motion more and more emails, culminating with an interview posted on my website and featured on the Comic Book Queers podcast. What I remember most was Perry’s generosity, kindness, and infectious enthusiasm for ‘Hero’ and all of the lives it touched. He was always moved by the stories of LGBT teens and our straight allies, who discovered the book, and through the book, got the courage to come out, and combat homophobia.
I gave my young friend a copy of ‘Hero’ and he has turned out to be an exceptional person, so comfortable with himself and proud of who he is. I think Perry had a little to do with that.
We lost Perry yesterday (02/17/2011), and my world has been turned upside down. I don’t know how to mourn for someone I knew purely in a cyber-context. I don’t know where the feelings of sadness for the author stop and the sadness for the man start. I do know that my heart goes out to his family, his partner Hunter Hill, his fans, and for the people who will never know him in any way. I mourn for Thom Creed, that his story will remain unfinished.
I celebrate the fact that he was in my life, if only briefly, and wirelessly. He brought a lot of joy to me, and helped me help someone in need. I hope that the Perry people remember, and the fact that he will live on in the pages of ‘Hero’ and in the land of Narnia.
Thank you Perry…
