I received the following notice of the demise of Kimberly “Hitch” Hitchens from Judith Bardera, Wrangler-in-Chief at Booknook.biz, a continuing ebook design service founded by Hitch that has literally served a multitude of writers. She was special to all who knew her, but especially to her husband and Booknook staff. Judith remarks that Hitch has left us behind. Well, she was always out ahead of us, and she will always be here for those who hold her dear.
And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so? I did. And what did you want? To call myself beloved, to feel myself beloved on the earth. (Late Fragment by Raymond Carve)
Hitch was many things to many people—typesetter, publishing expert, fierce advocate for authors—but to us, she was a mentor in the true st sense of the word. Her generosity with her knowledge, her time, and her humanity was rare and difficult to match. She guided not just with expertise, but with warmth and grace, and she built up those around her without ever seeking credit for it.
So many of us in this little corner of the publishing world owe her more than we can say. She had that rare gift of making you feel capable and supported, even when the task at hand felt overwhelming. Her sense of humor was dry and quick, her emails often laced with a wry comment that could make a long day suddenly feel lighter. She had no patience for nonsense, and endless patience for people.
She passed away on Saturday, 7 June, after a short and difficult hospitalization. And although she is no longer with us, her voice still echoes through our work, in every deadline we meet, every file we triple-check, every client we reassure. It’s hard to imagine carrying on without her. But that’s what we’re doing—one small step at a time, in a way she would have been proud of. Hitch didn’t believe in grand gestures. She believed in doing the work well, helping others without fanfare, and never letting anyone feel alone in the process.
She leaves behind two very mischievous cats, a husband who adored her, and an entire community quietly shaped by her hand. She is, and will always be, deeply missed.
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