In Memoriam: Robert J. Emery

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Indies United has lost one of our own. Author, filmmaker, storyteller, and friend Robert J. Emery has passed away.

Bob was with us almost from the beginning, one of those rare souls whose presence becomes part of the foundation. He brought with him not only his books, but a lifetime of creative achievement: writer, producer, director, and author, known also by his pen name R.J. Eastwood. He was a member of the Directors Guild of America, The Authors Guild, and the Alliance of Independent Authors, and he carried that same spirit of professionalism and generosity into every interaction with us.

What I will remember most is not just the breadth of his career, but the warmth behind it. Bob believed deeply in the power of story, in its ability to connect us, challenge us, and outlast us. His work reflected that belief, and so did the way he encouraged other writers. His website invites fellow authors to reach out so they might “share experiences and ideas,” and that was truly who he was: someone who lifted others as he created.

Today, we mourn the loss of a colleague and a friend.

But we also celebrate the life he lived, a life filled with imagination, craft, and a fierce dedication to storytelling.

Our thoughts are with his family. We hold them close in our hearts during this difficult time.

Bob’s page on our website will be memorialized in the coming days, and his work will remain with us, a testament to a life spent creating, exploring, and inspiring.

May his stories continue to find new readers, and may his memory be a blessing.