This came as a deep, and most unwelcome, shock to me early this morning...
To be frank, when some famous (or even not famous) author or director, or historical figure passes - I've just not really cared.
This one however, moved me to tears and I feel a deep loss from it.
I, like many here, grew up with the Redwall books and characters. I watched, and proudly own the DVDs of, the cartoon series. I own, almost, all the books. (Own all the main ones.. don't have all the little offshoots like the yummy sounding cook book)
I remember spending restless days in my jr high, and even high school, history classes jotting out the little poems and songs from the books, or sneaking a novel in to read a few chapters during a video lecture in college.
The world he built, and the characters that filled it, also filled my heart and still do to this day. Some inspired, others comforted, some I identified with, and others were just so amusing I couldn't help but smile even on my worst of days.
Having quite literally grown up with these books, I feel as though I've lost family member even though I've never had the chance to meet the author in person.
I really can't say enough in this entry, so I will wrap it up now with a personal note to the man who went on ahead of us.

To me sir, you said it best in one of your earlier Redwall books. True, the line had no tie to you, but it's one that has always stayed with me and for you I will always carry it.
"I Am That Is". You sir, truly were. You sir... truly are.