Honoring Legendary Writer Elmore Leonard in Birmingham

Literary fans continue to mourn the loss of Elmore Leonard locally and on social media this week. The legendary author of acclaimed novels "Freaky Deaky", "Killshot", "Maximum Bob" and “Get Shorty," died Tuesday in his Bloomfield Village home from complications of a stroke. 

Visitation is from 2 - 8 p.m. today at Lynch & Sons in Clawson, and Funeral services begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Name Church in Birmingham. Visitation starts at 10 a.m.

To honor the writer and frequent library visitor, the staff at the Bloomfield Township Public Library posted a page on the website that includes a video of Leonard's visit in July 2012. He and son-turned author, Peter Leonard, visited together for a special program captured on Bloomfield Community Television. The duo also visited the Baldwin Public Library on the same mini-tour, which can be seen on this Vimeo.com clip.

Fans Lament

The loss was felt by crime novel fans from here to places like Greenwhich, Conn., where scenes of the movie adapted from one of his works, featuring Jennifer Aniston and John Hawkes, were filmed last winter.

"So sad to hear this news- I didn't know he'd been ill. He will be missed," wrote Terry Matlen  on the Birmingham Patch Facebook page.

"Your precise detail was based upon actual study of location, events, and people. You have inspired many writers for generations to come, and have provided current entertainment for us, for which I am truly grateful," wrote ClassAct4 on Birmingham Patch.

Memorials may be made to Maryknoll Sisters, P.O. Box 317, Maryknoll, New York 10545-0317, according to Leonard's obituary.