Have you ever had a teacher who made a profound difference in your life? How did they influence and/or inspire you?
My junior English teacher, Mrs. Trestrail, was the daughter of famous science fiction author E.E. (Doc) Smith. Here's what wikipedia says about her on Smith's page:
Verna Jean (later Verna Smith Trestrail), born August 25, 1920 in Michigan, his (Smith's) literary executor until her death in 1994. (Her son Kim Trestrail is now the executor.[13]) Robert A. Heinlein in part dedicated his 1982 novel Friday to Verna.[14]
Mrs. T not only taught Science Fiction short story and British short story classes in addition to English, she also brought in the galley pages for some of Smith's books when a publisher was preparing to reissue them. I'm not sure she ever realized what an effect that small look into the publishing world had on me, an aspiring fiction writer.
