Remembering Marilyn Livingstone
October 11, 2023
We are extremely saddened to report that Marilyn Livingstone, one half of the writing team A.J. Mackenzie alongside her husband Morgen Witzel, has passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
The authors of four historical mystery series, three with Canelo, Marilyn – and A.J. Mackenzie – has been a crucial and much-loved part of Canelo for nearly five years. The Ballad of John MacLea, published in January 2019, was the first A.J. Mackenzie novel published by Canelo, set around the War of 1812 conflict in Canada. Since that time, A.J. Mackenzie’s writing has flourished, particularly in their two series set around the Hundred Years’ War, following King’s Messenger and herald, Simon Merrivale.
Always incredibly gripping, with deeply moving scenes, and amongst the most detailed research in the genre – both Marilyn and Morgen being lifetime medieval historians – working with her was a true delight and a privilege.
Our thoughts are with Morgen – who will continue writing as A.J. Mackenzie with City of Woe, publishing in July 2024 – and the many friends Marilyn had within the writing community. We are very proud to have been Marilyn’s publisher and she will be dearly missed.