Two Favorite Authors Die

Posted by Jennifer Jensen Sep 27, 2007

Young Adult novelist Madeleine L’Engle died on September 6, 2007. She was one of my favorite YA writers, although I didn’t “discover” her until I was an adult. A Wind in the Door was the first one I read, hooking me immediately and leading me to A Wrinkle in Time, A Ring of Endless Light, and many others. She was 88 years old. I was sorry to hear of her passing, and she will be missed terribly in the children’s book profession. And I am glad to hear that the publishers are re-issuing the five books in the series that began with A Wrinkle in Time.

On the other hand, I knew that fantasy author Robert Jordan was ill, fighting a rare blood disease, but he was still young and had many more books to write. Besides, he had to finish the Wheel of Time series so we wouldn’t be left hanging, not knowing what happens to Rand Al’Thor. So somehow it was still a big shock when I learned that he passed away on September 18, 2007.

I sorrow for him and his family, wishing that he could have beaten the disease, and at the same time I am glad that he was working on the last volume, A Memory of Light, before his death. It is plotted, resolved, and mostly written and on his computer. Jordan’s wife, Harriet, worked alongside him throughout the Wheel of Time series, according to his blog at Dragonmount. She will be sure the story gets through the publication process and out to Jordan’s fans.

So a sad farewell to two beloved authors is in order, as well as a re-reading of A Wrinkle in Time, and anticipation of A Memory of Light.