home

Host- Dima

Madeline- Delphine

Co-Host- Matthew

Host- Good Morning America! Today, our guest is an accomplished author, who has won 27 awards! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Ms. Madeleine L'Engle.

((applause))

Host- Hello, how are you doing Ms. L'Engle? May I call you Madeleine?

Madeleine- You may, and I'm doing great. Thanks for asking!

Host- So, can you tell us where were you were born?

Madeleine- I was born in New York City on November 29, 1916.

Host- Oh, a New Yorker. Neat! So what kind of books have you written?

Madeleine- I have written several books, including the //Time// series and the //Austin Family// series. I have also written all kinds of books, from picture books to poetry.

Host- You have a lot of talent, Madeleine! How long did it take for your books to get published?

Madeleine- The first book of the //Time// series, //A Wrinkle in Time//, was rejected 26 times before finally getting published. Can you believe it?

Host- Well, yes I can. Why did you become a writer and who inspired you?​

Madeleine- Mostly reading. When I was supposed to do school work, I would write poetry instead.

Host- I bet your teachers weren't too happy with that! Besides writing, what are some hobbies of yours?

Madeleine- Some hobbies of mine are dancing, music, skating, and art.

Host - That is a good amount of hobbies. Did any of those hobbies inspire you to become a writer?

Madeleine- Not really. Although, maybe some of my art came out on the cover.

Co-Host- That's great Madeleine!

Host-Where did you go to school?

Madeleine- I went to boarding schools. Then, years later after boarding school, I went to Smith College and I gratuated with honors.

Host- You certainly moved around a lot! Where did you live after college?

Madeleine- I lived in New York for a bit, then I moved to Conneticut. I guess I'm not as much of a city girl as I thought.

Co-Host- Did you have any other jobs other than writing?

Madeleine- Yes, I did. I was in theater from 1941- 47. Also, I was a teacher for refugees during WWII. That was a bit scary for me.

Co-Host- I bet it was. But why didn't you major in theater or become a teacher?

Madeleine- Well, I like writing, and I like it better than theater and teaching. Those were just temporary jobs to make money.

Host- Thank you, Madeline. We will be back shortly after these messages.

((Commercial))

Host- Welcome back to Good Morning America! So Madeline tell us about growing up in the early 1900's.

Madeleine- Growing up was kind of hard, my grades weren't as good as the other kids. My father was ill with pneumonia most of my childhood. I loved writing, I did writing and poems rather than school work at my boarding school.

Co-host- Tough life

Host- That's very true, Mr. Fontaine. What was the good part of your life Madeleine.

Madeleine- It would probably have to be when I started to write books and acting in theatre. Oh, and when I married Hugh Franklin.

Co-host- Where did you first meet meet Hugh Franklin?

Madeleine- We met when Hugh was acting in Russian playwright Anton Chekhov's //The Cherry Orchard//. I was an understudy and so.. we were married during the Joyous Season.

Co-Host- Wasn't the Joyous Season a broadway show?

Madeleine- Yes it was. Staring Ethel Barrymore.

Host- Wow. So what was T__he Cherry Orchard__ play about?

Madeleine-The play concerns an aristocratic Russian woman and her family as they return to the family's estate (which includes a large and well-known cherry orchard) just before it is auctioned to pay the mortgage. While presented with options to save the estate, the family essentially does nothing and the play ends with the estate being sold to the son of a former serf, and the family leaving to the sound of the cherry orchard being cut down.

Co-Host- That sounds like a sad play.

Madeleine- Sadly, Hugh died in September 26, 1986.

Host- I am very sorry to hear that.

Co-Host- Did he die of some disease, or did he just pass away?

Madeleine- He died of cancer. [cry]

Co-Host- So sorry.

Host- How are your kids and when were they born?

Madeleine- They are doing good. In 1947 my daughter Josephine was born and, in 1952 my son Bion. Then when Hugh was still alive we moved to Crosswicks and there in 1956 we adopted a little girl named Maria because a close friend of mine died.

Host- That was really nice of you.

Madeleine- Thank you.

Host- I've heard you won the World Fantasy Award in 1997.

Madeleine- Yes, I did and that was a great award.

Co-Host- I am so happy for you Madeleine.

Host- Well, Madeleine, it was great talking to you.

Madeleine- It was great talking to you, too, Mr. Ackerman & Mr. Fontaine

Host- Thank you Madeleine, for being on our show, you have been a great guest.

Madeleine- Thank you. It was great being here.

Host- That's all the time we have today folks. Join us next time on Good Morning America.