And yet, she lives — oh, yes — she lives. With a legacy that will outlast us all, this elder has lit the torch, illuminating the dark inner landscape of our collective fears, desires and of course, hopes.

Samuel R. Delaney, Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due are left, all torch-bearers; all moving us forward.

Now for the future…for the rest of us — Creatives and aspiring creatives.

Steve Jobs once asked ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ I read that some time ago and its haunted me ever since. Because, the Elders are watching us. They held the torches for so long to give us the proverbial ‘well-lighted hallway’, are we running with it?
Will we light the way for others?

So don’t wait. Ever. Don’t worry if the work is perfect. Or if you’ll be ridiculed. Because this Elder’s legacy is a one part of us. And, the flames of the torch are waiting…Don’t let them burn out, stoke them!