One day we’ll all be gone, but our writing will still stand tall!
When I was in high school, many eons ago, I took French. I took it for a long time. Amazingly enough, my French did not improve. And let’s just say it wasn’t my teacher’s fault.
But I do remember discussing French authors there one day. My teacher explained that, in French, writers are always referred to in the present (not past) tense—even if they died a long time ago. When we students asked why this was the case, the teacher replied: “Because “’literature lives forever.’”
How awesome is that? No need to seek out Lestat de Lioncourt or Louis de Pointe du Lac for immortality. I’m going to live forever. 
And you know what’s funny? I don’t think you have to be an incredibly rich or famous writer to be immortal in someone eyes. I certainly didn’t go into this field for the money. I don’t plan on being the next [insert name of successful writer here]. But to live in someone’s heart forever, as so many favorite authors have lived in mine? That would be fantastic. Who knows if it’ll ever happen? But it’s certainly a goal worth striving for.
And I wish I could remember that teacher’s name, because she was truly wonderful. Sadly, it has gone the way of most of my high school French.
What authors will live in your heart forever? When did they first take up residence there? RSVP (which stand for “Répondez, s’il vous plait”) in the comments.
Hey, what do you know? Some of that old French really did stick! 
(Top image by Ella Mullins)