Eleanor Marie Ingram (1886–1921) was an American novelist and short-story writer active during the early twentieth century. Born in New York, she established a successful literary career by publishing widely in popular fiction magazines of her era. Her writing captured the contemporary imagination of the public, blending fast-paced narratives with modern themes of technology, romance, and adventure that appealed to a broad readership.
During her lifetime, Ingram was particularly celebrated for her "automobile stories," a popular subgenre of fiction that reflected the rising cultural fascination with motorcars and speed. Among her notable novels in this vein were The Flying Mercury, Stanton Wins, and From the Car Behind. These stories combined romance, mystery, and the high-stakes excitement of early automotive racing, establishing her as a prominent voice in early twentieth-century popular literature.
Beyond her automotive fiction, Ingram is best remembered today for her final novel, The Thing From the Lake. Published posthumously after her untimely death in 1921, the book marked a significant departure from her earlier action-romance stories. It is widely recognized by modern literary scholars and readers as an early and influential entry in the genre of eldritch and supernatural horror, showcasing her versatility and securing her legacy in speculative fiction.
