Author Janet Kaye Fox died 21 October 2009. Born 25 October 1940, in Topeka, Kansas, she was a teacher, writer, poet, and the editor-publisher of Scavenger’s Newsletter for its entire 227-issue run, from 1984 to 2003.
After graduating from Emporia State University in 1965, she taught high school for more than 15 years, and then was an instructor for the Writers Digest School. After retiring from teaching, she worked as a bookkeeper and as a writer. She was also the secretary/treasurer of the new-defunct Small Press Writers and Artists Organization.
Scavenger’s Newsletter was a monthly small-press market listing for the SF, fantasy, horror, and mystery writers and artists.
Fox’s first short story, “Materialist”, appeared in 1970. She continued publishing short fiction and poetry through the 1990s, in a wide variety of small, and not-so-small, press markets. Some of it was collected in A Witch’s Dozen (2003). She also wrote five novels in the Scorpio series as Alex McDonough (she wrote all but the first in the series, which was published by Ace in the early 1990s): Scorpio Rising (1990), Scorpio Descending (1991), Dragon’s Blood (1991), Dragon’s Eye (1992), and Dragon’s Claw (1993).
She is survived by her stepbrother, aunt, several cousins, and, according to The Topeka Capital-Journal, “dedicated friends and caregivers, Sharon Larson and Charles and Deborah Cook.” Memorial contributions can be made to the United Methodist Church or the CAT Association and sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, 107 N 6, Osage City, KS 66523.