For most of my life, I have carried a deep and enduring passion for speculative fiction. Like countless devotees of science fiction and fantasy, I have long considered Octavia E. Butler, the iconic Afrofuturist author, one of my greatest heroes.
Butler’s work has been a constant source of inspiration. Her ability to weave together complex characters, societal critique, and imaginative worlds demonstrated that speculative fiction could be both thrilling and profound.
When I sat down to write my own novel, it was Butler’s voice from the page that gave me the courage to trust my own ideas. Reading her left me feeling that my stories had a place, and that feeling made all the difference.
Octavia Butler’s encouragement did not come in the form of a personal note or a conversation. It came through the very existence of her books and the example she set. For me, that has been enough. It is because of her that I found the resolve to write my novel.
