A joyful believer in possibilities, American writer Madeleine L'Engle Camp (1918–2007) was born in New York City and illuminated the world with her imaginative science fiction and fantasy novels for young readers.

“I wrote my first story when I was five, and I have been writing since,” she once beamed, embracing a lifelong love of storytelling.

More than 20 publishers rejected her groundbreaking novel A Wrinkle in Time (1962)—but L’Engle never gave up. Fueled by faith and creativity, she persevered. The beloved story of three children who journey through space to rescue their scientist father was finally published and went on to win the 1963 Newbery Medal.

“Oh, there are a lot of Megs running around the country,” L'Engle said of her famous lead character. “And there are a lot of nonconformists around, sort of coming out from under the covers.” Her characters gave young readers permission to be bold, to be different, and to shine.

Through her bold imagination, L’Engle created characters who were extraordinary in nontraditional, often unrecognizable ways. Her novels radiated the quiet power of goodness and the transforming grace of love.

“Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it,” she once said—a gentle reminder to begin, to trust, and to do your heart’s work with faith. Her luminous words continue to uplift generations to grow, to dream, and to believe in life’s infinite possibilities.

“In our dreams we are able to fly... and that is a remembering of how we were meant to be,” she reflected—offering a timeless invitation to return to wonder.

More L'Engle Quotations