Flicking Silver Fins
Dear Ones,
Madeleine and Hugh’s wedding anniversary is January 26, and I thought it would be a meaningful occasion to write something.
A long marriage is never smooth. Madeleine and Hugh’s was no exception. In The Irrational Season, she talks about it:
I love this quotation, and turn to it often, because it has resonance beyond what happens in a marriage. This flashing fish of hope flicking its silver fins until a state of love returns feel like what happens over and over and over again in many different contexts. It’s what Meg learns in A Wrinkle in Time — that she has the strength and gifts needed to resist IT and the shadow — that love will return.
I talked about this quotation in a video I made for Diana Butler Bass’s substack The Cottage for her Advent series in December 2024. In the video, I take you into the attic bedroom at Crosswicks; Meg Murry’s bedroom — at least that’s what we’ve always imagined it to be — complete with a patchwork quilt made by J. A. Neilsen and an ancient Louise the Larger. It’s a small, special glimpse into the origins of one of her most beloved books, and I hope it helps you feel closer to the story.
May you sense the silver fins more frequently, and for longer. Remember that they are coming! Keep reading, lots of interesting things follow regarding the musical adaptation and new books!
Blessings,
Charlotte
Photo by Don Hicks.
Charlotte Jones Voiklis is Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter and executor of her estate. She is the co-author with Jennifer Adams of A Book, Too, Can Be a Star (October 2022), a picture book biography illustrated by Adelina Lirius; and, with her sister, Léna Roy, of Becoming Madeleine (2018), a biography for middle grade readers. Charlotte is producing the musical adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time, premiering at Arena Stage Summer 2025.
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Charlotte Jones Voiklis is Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter and executor of her estate. She is a lead producer of the musical adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. She is also the co-author with Jennifer Adams of A Book, Too, Can Be a Star (October 2022), a picture book biography illustrated by Adelina Lirius; and, with her sister, Léna Roy, of Becoming Madeleine (2018), a biography for middle grade readers.
She wrote the afterword to the 50th Anniversary edition of A Wrinkle in Time, and the introduction to The Moment of Tenderness (2020), a collection of short stories. Charlotte has also written and spoken extensively about her grandmother’s work to a variety of audiences.
With a PhD in Comparative Literature, Charlotte’s professional experience spans teaching, fundraising, communications, and grant making. She has also volunteered as a mediator in the New York City court system, and coached police officers on mediation skills. Charlotte lives in New York and Connecticut with her husband and has two grown children.