Author A.S. King’s daughter Gracie has tragically passed away — with a fundraiser set up in her honor reaching its goal in just a day.
The writer’s friend E.E. Charlton-Trujillo started the GoFundMe page after revealing how Gracie had died unexpectedly on December 1.
Its goal was to raise $60,000, to help A.S. King and her family pay for “medical bills, funeral services, and other relevant expenses”. But just a day after it was set up, the page had already topped that figure after being flooded with donations from friends and fans.
E.E. Charlton-Trujillo, an award-winning author, filmmaker and novelist, wrote: “It’s with the heaviest heart that I am setting up this GoFundMe on behalf of my friend, children’s lit author A.S. King.
“On Saturday, December 1st, the Kings experienced the unexpected loss of their beautiful daughter Gracie.
“At this time, the family needs the support of their community at large for medical bills, funeral services, and other relevant expenses. All money raised here will go directly to the King family.
“Please share this request widely, and give what you can. On behalf of Amy, Topher and their daughter Livy, thank you for your support and allowing time for the family to privately grieve.”
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No further details were shared about what happened to Gracie, but it’s clear A.S. King’s readers and fellow literary lovers are hurting for the family.
Many took to the GoFundMe page to share their reasons for donating, including describing how Amy’s literature had touched their lives.
“As a mother, as a teacher, as a librarian, as a person, Amy has touched me and made me better,” Michelle Nass wrote. “I’m hoping this small message of love and support finds you and lets you know that we grieve with you as a community in this unimaginable loss. Sending you love, as one of you many students above says, Astrid style.”
A.S. King was called one of the “best Young Adult writers working today” by the New York Times Book Review, writing the popular Still Life With Tornado from 2016, and I Crawl Through It from 2015.
She resides in Pennsylvania and reveals on her website how she spends much of the year speaking at high schools and universities, sharing her love of literature with young readers.