Amy Krouse Rosenthal, the Chicago-area author who wrote the viral heartfelt essay "You May Want to Marry My Husband," succumbed to cancer Monday.
Rosenthal’s literary agent and friend Amy Rennert reported her death to the press, according to People. Rosenthal, who wrote more than 30 children’s books along with a memoir, “Textbook,” had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015.
“Everything Amy did was life and love affirming,” Rennert said, People reported. “She was such a bright light with a great sense of wonder.”
The 51-year-old writer was married to husband Jason Rosenthal for 26 years and had three adult children: Justin, Miles, and Paris.
On March 3, The New York Times “Modern Love” column published an essay by Rosenthal that set up a dating profile for her husband. The essay went viral and became one of the most read columns in the history of the paper.
“The most genuine ... gift I can hope for is that the right person reads this, finds Jason, and another love story begins,” she wrote.
Besides publishing books, Rosenthal also made short films, YouTube videos, and gave TED talks. In 2008, she made a YouTube video called “17 Things I Made,” then invited fans to come to Chicago’s Millenium Park to make an 18th thing. Hundreds showed up to take on the challenge.
“Invariably, I will have to move on before I have had enough,” she wrote in her memoir. “My first word was ‘more.’ It may very well be my last.”
Twitter heaped praise on the prolific writer and artist who inspired many.
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