Patricia Bow, author of sci-fi/fantasy books for young readers, died on Jan. 7 following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 70.

Bow is perhaps best known for her 2004 middle-grade novel, The Bone Flute (Orca Book Publishers), which was nominated for a Silver Birch Award. In recent years, the author, who retired from her position in the communications office of the University of Waterloo in 2011, turned to self-publishing her novels.

Bow is survived by her husband, Eric, her son, author James Bow, her daughter-in-law, author Erin Bow, and two granddaughters. Visitation and a memorial service will take place in Kitchener on Jan. 14.