One of my all-time favorite authors, Madeleine L’Engle, died last night at the age of 88.
A Wrinkle in Time was one of the first science fiction books I ever read…and reread. It was inspirational to me, both as a young reader and as a young writer. The main character, Meg, reminded me a lot of myself as a teenager. She was a good person, a strong person, but unsure of herself.
Madeleine L’Engle is one of the reasons that I began writing science fiction and fantasy stories as a young teen. I didn’t borrow her ideas, I just read her stories and fell in love with the possibilities inherent in other-worldly fiction. I first read her books in sixth grade, the same year I began to fill notebooks with scattered ideas and ramblings.
If I could inspire one person with my writing the way Madeleine L’Engle inspired me, then it will have all been worth it. She will be missed.