Sad news to report from the L.Á. literary community. It was announced yesterday that L.Á. lost a stanch supporter of literature and L.Á. writers, Chevalier’s Books manager Elizabeth Clare Newstat. She has passed away.

Poet and author of The Yellow House, Chiwan Choi posed his respects on Facebook saying, “absolutely devastated…Liz…made [Chevalier’s] my favorite bookstore in L.A. She used to check in on me every so often, encourage me, cheer me on…I don’t even know what to say. Damn it.”

Chevalier’s posted their own condolence to Facebook yesterday. “It’s with a stone in our heart and a lump in our throat…” Liz will be missed.