I received word this morning that Brian Rhinehardt, one of our authors, passed away last night. The news is unexpected and tragic, and my mind is reeling over the loss of a writer that I was looking forward to publishing and traveling with in the new year.
Brian first queried my company in August 2008 about The Closest Thing To Heaven, the story of Gary Greenard, whose big dreams of life beyond his small town are abruptly ended when he dies in a car accident on his way to work. Here’s the synopsis that caught my attention when it landed in my inbox:
Gary Greenard is a twenty-five year old bachelor who succumbs to a tragic, untimely death while traveling to work in Charlotte, NC. His soul awakens at sea in the Atlantic Ocean and he eventually finds himself ashore on an almost vacant Cape Hatteras Island. He . . . meets up with Myla, the ideal woman he created in his imagination as an adolescent, and they began the love affair that always eluded him in life. Their fairy tale is interrupted when he learns of a third person on the island, and of a choice he must make to stay on the island or leave with Myla to an unknown destination.
Brian’s story was surreal, and one that I believed had the ability to cross over into the mainstream – a very difficult task for writers of color. I signed him this year on gut instinct, my driving force in making a final decision about whether to acquire a manuscript.
This summer, we began work on the revisions to his manuscript, a process that was emotional, creatively draining and exciting. Brian was so eager to publish his work and full of ideas about the concept, that he emailed and texted me often, once provoking me to tell him to “relax and let me do what I do.”
Over the months, we learned each other’s working habits (he once proclaimed that he finally figured me out; I responded, “am I that difficult?”) and made tentative plans about his cover concepts and marketing decisions. More importantly, we worked very hard to get to the heart of Gary’s story and to the story that Brian dreamed of telling.
The first three chapters were very difficult: I wanted Brian to tap into the pure tragedy of someone waking up and not knowing that today would be their last; that it’s utterly unfair for someone to die young and with their life still in front of them. We could not miss the mark on how we opened this story.
We went back to the drawing board on Brian’s story outline, revising the foundation in order to set up the novel in a way that would push his readers through Gary’s uncertainty about his new world, and the meaning of his lost life and unresolved issues. As I read through various drafts of Brian’s work, I knew that we were getting close.
In a matter of months, Brian had made significant inroads on his work, choosing to open his book with Gary’s death, a shocking beginning that starts with the end of life. When I read one of his latest drafts, he made me think of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, and I knew that he was pushing through.
Last month, Brian reached out to me in frustration over the writing process, and my decision to push back his novel to give him a few more months to develop it (from August to October). We discussed his concept of Gary’s life and dreams, the differences between being a writer and an author, what he really wanted his writing legacy to be, and how he was writing his book for his mother.
Brian had a renewed sense of what he wanted to do with his story. He said he’d been holding back on Gary out of fear that if revealed too much of the character, “maybe readers won’t like him enough to care.” I shared my own fears as a writer and new publisher, told him to let it all go, and to make this about Gary and no one else. That people relate to the flawed sense of a person, to how they deal with their issues, to their imperfect lives and how they rebound (or not) from their decisions and life’s challenges.
It was then that we hit what I felt was his breakthrough. Brian sent me an outline that was phenomenal and showed me that he had gotten inside of Gary’s head in a way that could make readers understand his character’s heart.
Brian was on schedule to deliver his revised chapters in January. This month, I touched base with members of my team about his book’s marketing plans, and we were planning to meet with him in Los Angeles in April. I was excited about publishing work and knew that we had an awesome first list on our hands.
When I got the news this morning that Brian had passed away, I felt the way I I did when I first read his work. Brian too was a young man with big dreams and great talent, and he’s been snatched away far too soon. Working with Brian over the past year was a mutually rewarding experience. We both poured in and poured out as we wrote and edited our way to a novel that we both wanted to share with the world.
My prayers go out to his family and friends. Brian, may you rest in peace.
TNH
george grant
/ December 26, 2009Brian “B” was a very close friend of mine more like my lil brother and i know his passion was his writings we had even talking about a possible book involving our colleges days in the life afterwards. His passing has hit me like a ton of bricks. i hope some how his books gets completed so his words can live on.
Carol Hunsucker
/ December 28, 2009Hey Tieffa,
I went to high school with Brian and we’d love to get a copy of the book. We hope you can still publish it. There are many others from school that would like a copy, so PLEASE let us know if it’s published!
Thank you,
Carol Hunsucker
Nikki Rhinehardt-Ford
/ December 29, 2009When Baby Gee was in high school, All he ever did was write. He wrote short stories and poems. After he graducated from UNCC, he told me he wanted tobe a writer and tell the stories that were inside his head. When he felt bad he would often go to the Outer Banks. There he said he could think and his mind was free. When I would ask “Brian I know you didn’t go alone.” He would look at me with that Babyface and simply say, Yea I did. I am so proud of him. In 1999, he wrote his first novel, and send it to different publishing company, but it was turn down. Most folks would had just given up. But not, my brother Brian. He never gave up on his dreams writing his second novel The Closest Thing to Heaven. When he told you he was going to do something he did it. Before he got sick, I begged him to tell me some information on the book. He just said No, you have to wait like everybody else. After my family and I read the synopsis for the story we were all in tears.Yes he was an beautiful person, funny, and very serious indivdual. Not only has his death impact my family, but the community and his friends as well. Because 18 years ago on 12-23-1991 I lost my brother Reggie on the same day, that B Pass.Thank you Mrs Harper and Plenary Publishing for believing in a small town boy, with big city dreams.
Jon Leary
/ January 1, 2010I worked with Brian at his very last job (WellPoint NextRx). Would like to know what happened and are they gonna finish his book?
Jon Leary
/ January 1, 2010Nikki, please call me on my comment (661) 547-4058. Thank you
Lyndon Ramseur
/ January 2, 2010Brian grew up down the road from me,he had a sweet sprit about him,and he will be deeply missed.
Rest in peace Bro.
Lyndon Ramseur
Jon Leary
/ January 9, 2010Nikki, tried to call you. Please call me this weekend, if possible.
Lydia Sampson
/ January 19, 2010Can someone please tell if Brian was sick? He was a good friend and any information received would be helpful.
Thank you
MICHEAL RAMSEUR
/ January 20, 2010MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE RHINEHARDT FAMILY. I’M STILL VERY SHAKEN BY THE LOST OF MY COUSIN AND FRIEND, HE WAS THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT EVERYONE IN THE WORLD SHOULD OF HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET HIM. I HOPE THERE IS A WAY FOR HIS BOOK TO STILL GET PUBLISHED. IF ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HIS BOOK COMES ABOUT I WOULD LOVE TO BE INFORMED BECAUSE I KNOW ALOT OF FRIENDS OF BRIAN’S WOULD JUST LOVE FOR HIS WORDS TO LIVE ON.
THANK YOU.
Tracy Turner
/ June 30, 2010We get so caught up living life that six months roll by and we remember that we’ve not spoken to our friend. That’s what happened in my case. I last spoke with Brian on Thanksgiving 09 when we spoke about the progress with the book and family. I just assumed that he was busy living the dream that’s the reason why I hadn’t heard from him especially during thr Kentucky Derby and the Preakness this past May. I am devistated to learn (as of yesterday) that Brian passed and it was over six months ago. If nothing else as been learned in the wake of this news is that no matter how busy we get always reach out and touch base with the ones we love. We were bestfriends for many years, more like siblings and I am having a difficult time wrapping my head around thhe fact that he is gone. If someone would be kind enough to clue me into the circumstances surrounding Brian’s death i’d greatly appreciate it. God bleee you all!
Gladys Dickson
/ July 27, 2010This message is for Tracy Turner, I was also a good friend of Brians. I met him here in California and we became good friends instantly. I saw Brian a few times while he was hospitialized and I understand the difficulty you are having with his passing. You may contact me via email and I can give you some information surrounding the circumstances of his passing. My email address is msgad@verizon.net
Ron Isaac
/ August 14, 2010On today – which is Brian’s birthday – I was just wondering if there is still work to get his book published?
We talked a number of times about his progress with it and he gave me tidbits of the text…..
I really hope somehow, someway his writing can be put in book form for all of those who loved him can see his passion and his legacy……
Please email me at photoarmy1@yahoo.com if anyone has any information.
Nikki Rhinehardt-Ford
/ October 26, 2010I found myself thinking about Brian(Gee) alot today.I can still see where he was last standing in my livingroom and I putting my arms around him telling him that I didn’t want him to leave. I had been the oldest of the three childrn., but on that day I found myself crying like an baby telling him that I loved him. He told me that he wasn’t leaving but it was time for an new beginning in his life. When he first got to LA, he was driving around getting to know the area. He called to tell me he had got lost put not to worry. I asked him did he know where he was, he hesitant to tell. “COMPTON ” he told me. Then I said Brian you are in Compton driving a red car, with North Carolina tags.” . I told him Find an gas station and get out of Compton Asap. But I could tell he wasn’t worried about it. I was in North Carolina and I couldn’t relax unitl he found the freeway home. After we laughed about that for days.
This horse race season was so hard. He always call me to get my numbers. He had my children hook on betting horses to. Just for play of course. And every hoilday , he would call. Last Halloween we talked for hours. He was exciting about the book with plans of coming home in Jan of 10. I just want everyone to support his book whenever it gets published.
Plenary Review please contact me via email or call me at 704-499-7325 He had so many plans for this book. Please help me see his vision come true. This was an young man who had the passion, drive and dedication to be an award winning African American author.
George Grant
/ December 6, 2010Did i hear that Brians book was getting published and i hope this is true, bc i know how much it meant to him. we have discussed his book several times and i even have a copy maybe the only copy of a previous book he wrote bc he wanted me to proof read it and told me to keep it. we also discussed a book about how he met me and the guys in college and our exploits afterward. this football season has been hard not being able to talk football with him for the 1st time 93. i really miss my brother and i hope his work is published and oh yeah i will be naming my new son after him