Picture a swashbuckling storyteller who reimagined The Three Musketeers with a fierce, chronically ill heroine—meet Lillie Lainoff! This American author, competitive fencer, and disability rights activist has carved a unique path in young adult fiction. Her debut novel, One for All, blends heart-pounding adventure with authentic representation, earning accolades and capturing hearts worldwide.
Lainoff’s journey is as inspiring as her stories. With a background in English from Yale University and a passion for fencing, she’s not just writing tales—she’s living them. Let’s dive into the world of Lillie Lainoff, where swords, sisterhood, and self-love reign supreme.
The Making of Lillie Lainoff
Born with a storyteller’s spark, Lillie Lainoff penned her first short story in kindergarten—a two-sentence tale about a girl and her pet goldfish. Growing up, she faced the challenges of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a chronic illness that causes dizziness and fatigue. Yet, Lainoff found strength in fencing, becoming a varsity athlete at Yale and one of the first physically disabled fencers to qualify for an NCAA Championship in 2017. Her time at Yale, where she earned a BA in English with a creative writing focus, honed her craft and fueled her advocacy for disability representation in literature.
Lainoff’s writing career took flight with her commitment to authentic storytelling. After graduating, she pursued an MA in Creative Writing Prose Fiction at the University of East Anglia, balancing her studies with coaching fencing and founding Disabled Kidlit Writers, a Facebook group supporting disabled authors. Her early works, including essays for The Washington Post, showcased her activist voice, setting the stage for her literary breakthrough.
Lillie Lainoff’s Unforgettable Stories
Lainoff’s debut novel, One for All (2022), is a gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers set in 1650s France. The story follows Tania de Batz, a fencer with POTS, who joins a secret academy training women as Musketeers. With sharp prose and thrilling swordplay, Lainoff weaves a tale of sisterhood, self-acceptance, and uncovering secrets tied to Tania’s father’s murder. Critics, including NPR and Booklist, hailed it as a “Best Book of 2022,” praising its authentic disability representation and vibrant characters.
Beyond One for All, Lainoff has contributed to the YA horror anthology These Bodies Ain’t Broken (Page Street, Fall 2025), featuring a short story that continues her focus on disabled protagonists. Her speculative fiction novel, The Keeping House, though unpublished, explores grief and survival in a world persecuting the disabled, showcasing her versatility across genres. Lainoff’s style—precise, empowering, and emotionally resonant—draws from her fencing background and personal experiences, creating stories that feel both historical and urgently modern.
Her non-fiction, published in outlets like The LA Review and Today’s Parent, tackles disability representation in media, while her poetry adds a lyrical touch to her portfolio. Whether crafting duels or dialogues, Lainoff’s work champions marginalized voices, particularly disabled teen girls, offering them heroes who reflect their strength and struggles.
Why Lillie Lainoff Matters
Lillie Lainoff’s impact on young adult fiction lies in her fearless authenticity. As one of the first authors to center a POTS protagonist in a major published novel, she’s reshaping how disability is portrayed in historical fiction. Her activism, through Disabled Kidlit Writers and public essays, amplifies disabled voices, challenging stereotypes and inspiring a new generation of writers and readers. Lainoff’s stories remind us that strength isn’t just physical—it’s in the courage to exist unapologetically.
Her influence extends to the fencing community, where she coaches and inspires athletes to push past limitations. By blending her athletic and literary passions, Lainoff proves that stories can be as powerful as a well-aimed lunge, leaving a legacy of empowerment and inclusion.
- Birthplace: United States
- Key Work: One for All (2022)
- Awards: 2019 LA Review Literary Award for Short Fiction, NPR Best Book of 2022
- Fun Fact: Lainoff is a competitive fencer and figure skating enthusiast!
Snag One for All and dive into Lillie Lainoff’s thrilling world of swordplay and sisterhood—you won’t want to put it down!