Last we left them, our Cuthberts were grappling with a Green Gables in trouble--up to the hilt in debt and Matthew too sick to work. Gilbert went off to sea, but not before a tender goodbye from Anne. Jerry, the Cuthbert's French farm boy, was beaten in an alley in Charlottetown by a couple of … [Read more...]
Premise Crush: 11 Fall Books that Hooked Me at Hello
Ahh, there's nothing like a tantalizing book premise, is there? I spent four years after college as a "marketing writer" at a publishing house, where I learned to write "blurbs"--you know, the enticing stuff on the back of the book. Ever since, I've been a fan of good hooks, those premises that … [Read more...]
12 Lyrical, Literary Baby/Pet Names for a Girl
Is your bookshelf an untapped gold mine of fabulous baby or pet names? Yes, yes, it is, dear reader! Because I haven't written about baby names in awhile (not since I went all regal and picked a bunch of my favorites inspired by "The Crown"), I thought it was high time to delve into the brightest … [Read more...]
5 Anne of Green Gables-Inspired Ways to Make Your Writing Snap, Crackle and Pop
Oh, Anne! 109 years after Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novel was published, Anne Shirley--orphan, castaway, joyful heart--continues to invigorate and inspire us. One way the novel continues to inspire me is the luscious, exuberant way in which it was written by L.M.M., or “Maud” as she was called. Her … [Read more...]
Comparing Three Anne of Green Gables: Who Played Matthew Best?
I think I may love Matthew best of all. I mean, it's nearly a four-way tie between Anne, Gilbert, Marilla and Matthew, with Anne having an edge because she's my tribal chief and all, but... Upon further soul searching, I think Matthew Cuthbert, literary potato farmer, may beat his ginger girl … [Read more...]