Interview Series: Author, Kat Richardson

Interview with author Kat Richardson

On August 18, 2010 Bitten by Books, a paranormal fiction website, hosted an event with author Kat Richardson. Fictionista Workshop, in its efforts to provide insight into the lives of published authors, participated in the event. Karla, a Fictionista Workshop volunteer, submitted several questions to the author.

You were a writer and an editor in the computer industry. How do writing and editing in that field differ from writing fiction?
Fiction writing is very different from technical non-fiction. With the exception of basic rules of English, they have very little in common except the research.

Have you ever worked as an editor for another fiction writer? If so, how did you find this experience?
I’ve never edited fiction. I’ve reviewed a manuscript for another writer, but only as an adviser, not as an editor.

How do you think the Internet era has changed the world of writing and publishing? Does it benefit writers, publishers, both, or none?
I’m not sure what the final shakeout will be about the Internet. It’s been a boon in research and connecting writers to readers, but the digital book issues are still tricky and up in the air.

Do your characters wander from the paths you’ve chosen for them in your outline? How do you first envision your characters?
My characters don’t wander. I’m God. They do as I tell them. Usually. Mostly.

Labyrinth is the fifth book in the series. Do you eat and breathe Harper, or do you have more projects on the side? If so, how do you manage that?
I have other projects, but most of them are on hold pending contracts. I’d love to work with some other stories, but there’s only so much time in a day and I have to do what’s paying the bills at the moment. Also, I kind of like these characters, so I don’t mind.

What is your concept of plagiarism? Do you think the Internet enables it or stops it (what with the creation of detection software), and in which ways? Have you been a victim of plagiarism?
Plagiarism… it’s well-defined in law and I’m generally good with the interpretation that the courts use, but the issue with the Internet is not so much plagiarism as copyright license and how to make sure original creators get paid. Not sure how to do that, but I’m not the only person with that problem.

Which movie, do you think, is better than its book and why?
Fight Club is definitely better than it’s book. Even Chuck says so.

Thank you Kat, and thank you Bitten by Books.

Kat Richardson is a national best-selling paranormal author. Her novel, Labyrinth, was released this month (August, 2010) and is the fifth book in the Greywalker series. To learn more about her, please visit her website http://katrichardson.com/.

Karla is originally from Mexico City and currently resides in Monterrey, Mexico. She recently graduated from Law School, but her current activities focus on reading, writing, traveling and volunteering with Fictionista Workshop. To read her derivative fiction please click here. To follow her twitter feed, please click here.

Twitter Tuesday: 08.17.10

On August 17, 2010 we tweeted: Readers, have you ever read or seen yourself as a character in a book or story? What story/book–which character? #twittertuesday

Here were your responses:

@SassyKathy: @fictionistawksp I’m not sure if I’ve actually seen myself as a character, but I’ve sure related to a few of the situations they’ve been in.

@bookjunkie1975: @fictionistawksp When I was a little girl I always saw myself as Jo March in Little Women.

@roglows: ANGELA CHASE!! #mscl RT @fictionistawksp: Readers: have you ever read or seen yourself as a character in a book or story? #twittertuesday

@javamomma0921: @fictionistawksp: Romona Quimby as a child. And then as an adult, Adelia, from Mistress of the Art of Death. #twittertuesday

@junkgypsyblog: @fictionistawksp Yep. Astrid from White Oleander. I could relate at the time, being a lost young girl…not anymore though! ha!

@jenndema: @fictionistawksp The first time I read it when I was a young girl….Jo from Little Women #twittertuesday

@MsTallulahBelle: @fictionistawksp Dream (Morpheus) from Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman

@babetteab: @fictionistawksp No, but I’ve been jealous of them. I wanted to own the Black Stallion, marry Mr. Darcy & travel the world in 80 days w/ Fogg

@maganbagan: @fictionistawksp When I was little I used to want to be Tinkerbell from Peter Pan, but then Ponyboy from The Outsiders came along.

Here were the responses on Facebook:

Monica Eva Fashfellow VanBeekum Besides my wip? LOL Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter.

Karla D. Gonzalez Lutteroth I’ve seen myself as Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye. Not in the way of trying to preserve third parties’ childhood, but in a way that I don’t want to grow up myself.

Click here to follow Fictionista Workshop on Twitter

Fiction Friday: 08.13.10

Every Friday we ask our followers what they are reading, then we post the answers the following week with links to the work whether it is original fiction or fan fiction. If you didn’t have a chance to participate, please leave a comment below with what you are reading and if you are enjoying it so far.

On August 13, 2010 we tweeted: Happy #fictionfriday! Today we would like to know, what is your favorite “go to” novel–the book you read over & over? Why?

Here were the responses:

@the_author_: @fictionistawksp Mine is The Raw Shark Texts because it’s such a twisty, mend-bending, beautiful and weird story. #fictionfriday

@roglows: easy reading: Shiver, Twilight, judy blume’s Summer Sisters RT @fictionistawksp: #fictionfriday! favorite “go to” novel

@jools_dk: @fictionistawksp Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables and everything Richelle Mead writes

@Connie_79: @fictionistawksp One by Richard Bach, its 1 of the 1st books my dad gave and Eclipse RT @fictionistawksp: #fictionfriday! favorite “go 2″ novel

@wordninja_ali: @fictionistawksp Pride and Prejudice (never gets old) and King’s Dark Tower series (genius on an epic scale)

@xHammondGirlx: @fictionistawksp The “Alpha & Omega” series and “Mercy Thompson” series, both by Patricia Briggs.

@mycrookedsmile: @fictionistawksp My most re-read books are from my childhood: Harriet the Spy, Wrinkle in Time, & Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler

@crimsonrambler: @fictionistawksp My favorite “go to” novel is probably any book in the Ivy League Novel series by @dpeterfreund. Or Pride and Prejudice or Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

@belli486: @fictionistawksp My most re-read books include The Count of Monte Cristo (<3 A. Dumas), Cold Mountain, and anything by Toni Morrison.

@aylah50: @fictionistawksp The Distance from the Heart of Things by Ashley Warlick because of the amazing imagery #fictionfriday

@lobsters4ever1: @fictionistawksp Besides Harry Potter or Twilight, another fave Tuesdays with Morrie. Short, quick read that makes me laugh and cry every time.

@AdeleVarens: @fictionistawksp Jane Eyre (hence my pen name), Kindred by Octavia Butler, any Harry Potter, Eclipse, Pride and Prejudice

@Duskwatcher: @fictionistawksp Kindred by Octavia Butler, that’s a great book you         don’t see often on everyone’s must read list

@bookjunkie1975: @fictionistawksp Persuasion and any of my Elizabeth Peters books and when I’m sick I like my Trixie Belden for the nostalgia factor.

@arfalcon: @fictionistawksp It’s not fiction, but Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther, and for awhile Twilight

@jenndema: @fictionistawksp The Stand by Stephen King and Gone With the Wind. They’re both long & have richly drawn characters and settings.

@LoreliD: @fictionistawksp The Good Earth, Vanity Fair, The Color Purple, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Anything Austen. :)

@Day_Zeee: @fictionistawksp The Coldest Winter ever by Sista Soulja. Its the 1st/only book me & all my girlfriends read as a group and loved!

@reneechantelle: @fictionistawksp personally in high school I read all of the Clan of the Cave Bear books by Jean M Auel

@RDL85: @fictionistawksp A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice. Because I always catch something new that changes my view of the novel.

@StarlightS_: @fictionistawksp I love the Harry Potter books. Specially Goblet of Fire, I’ve read it 8 times. #fictionfriday

and here were the responses on Facebook:

Tami Winbush I live Stephen King’s The Stand. It has everything you could need/want in a book. Romance/envy/spooky characters/and so much more.

Jill Greene1984 by George Orwell. It never fails to make me shiver.

Elena Berrino Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens. It makes me laugh evey single time, and yet the end of it never fails to make me think.

Tiffany Madison All Quiet on the Western Front and Stephen King’s The Stand.

Click here to follow Fictionista Workshop on twitter

Interview Series: Author, R.G. Alexander

Interview with author R.G. Alexander

Recently Bitten by Books, a paranormal fiction website, hosted an event with author R.G. Alexander. Fictionista Workshop, in its efforts to provide insight into the lives of published authors, participated in the event. Karla, a Fictionista Workshop volunteer, submitted several questions to the author.

Do any family members read your novels? If so, what do they think about the erotic aspect? How do you cope with that?
My husband reads everything I write. He is so supportive-and he loves the world building-but I think he likes the dirty too. I know at first it was hard for everyone but my sister and husband. They were both tickled pink that the “innocent Pollyanna blusher” had become a smut writer. Its always the quiet ones.

Everyone is proud I am doing what I love, so I can deal with occasional requests to write something normal people can read and the questions about where on earth I get my ideas.

How did you research about New Orleans for Possess Me?
Family from Louisiana, books, Google, and my own memories. Staring at pictures of the buildings actually inspired me a lot.

What is it about the paranormal that first caught your eye?
In paranormal, anything is possible. Anything. How amazing is that? And I’ve said this before, the character’s growth, hero and heroine’s, is even more intense when thrown like Alice down the rabbit hole. The ground shifts beneath their feet, all their armor and defenses are torn away. All that’s left is how they react, how they pull themselves up or crumble, how they love themselves and someone else in an unimaginable situation. That’s good stuff.

Do you think Twitter has brought you more readers? Why do you find this tool so useful?
I am still learning twitter. I’m a tweensy bit of a tweeter. Facebook is easier to catch up with, but I’m still giving it a go.

What do you think about technology and writing? Do you think that technology has helped writers “get out there” (online writers’ groups, blogs, fanfiction communities, etc.) more so than when there wasn’t any Internet? Do you think the Internet has helped people find their profession or skills as writers?
YES. 100% Not just opportunities for authors like me-but in communication with readers. Hearing from people who liked my books or want a sequel-that is the highlight of my day. Being able to connect like that is priceless.

What are your thoughts on online writing workshops? Have you participated in one? If not, do you submit your work to workshops in general?
Online workshops are fantastic. I have participated in a few. I am a moderator at Romance Divas, and they have some wonderful workshops. I wish I could do more but I always seem to be racing a deadline lately. I think I need to invest in post it notes and get more organization in my life.

What are your thoughts on bound books? Is the Internet era finishing them off?
I hope not. I love ebooks and I think they are here to stay, but there is something so comforting about holding a book in your hands. I hope they’re never finished off.

If you could take one book with you (not the ones you’ve written) to a deserted island, which one would it be and why?
Impossible. I would cheat and take a Kindle with a library full of books inside.

Thank you R.G. Alexander, and thank you Bitten by Books.

R.G. Alexander has authored fourteen novels. She writes erotic romance in the paranormal, fantasy and contemporary genres. To learn more about her, please visit her website www.rgalexander.com.

Karla is originally from Mexico City and currently resides in Monterrey, Mexico. She recently graduated from Law School, but her current activities focus on reading, writing, traveling and volunteering with Fictionista Workshop. To read her derivative fiction please click here. To follow her twitter feed, please click here.

Interview Series: Author, Marcia Colette

Interview with author Marcia Colette.

Recently Bitten by Books, a paranormal fiction website, hosted an event with author Marcia Colette. Fictionista Workshop, in its efforts to provide insight into the lives of published authors, participated in the event. Karla, a Fictionista Workshop volunteer, submitted several questions to the author.

What is it about urban fantasy and the paranormal that calls you to write about those genres?
I love the unknown. Ever since my mother had taken me to see my first horror movie, I’ve been captivated by the stuff that goes bump in the night. Not to mention, it’s as escapist as I can get these days.

Not only English majors would like to become writers. You are an example of this, as we know you have a degree in biomedical engineering. Has this degree influenced your predilection of topics on your writing? If so, how? If not, what was the factor that pushed you to become a writer in the middle of all these biology and chemistry lectures?
Yes. One of the first things I do whenever I write, the biology comes into play. I love figuring out the genetics and how things are going to work. The science behind them, basically. This is why I come up with the characters long before I do the story.

At what time of the day do you feel most comfortable writing? How do you manage it with all your other activities and with being a mom?
Ugh. Okay. The best time, as I’ve recently discovered, for me to write is on my lunch break. I give myself thirty minutes to do as much as I can. At the end of the day, I beat rush hour getting home to be with my little one. She’s my focus for the rest of the night until she goes to sleep. That’s when I get my other half hour in because I’m usually pooped by then. So, I commit and hour a day to writing and lately, it’s been working like a charm. I think I can write an average of five pages a day now.

Of all the novels that you’ve written, which one do you feel most proud of and why? How do you feel when or if you hear a negative review about that novel?
STRIPPED is my pride and joy because it’s the continuation of my first, Half Breed. I fell in love with Half Breed. Absolutely adored it. I wanted to know how Matt and Alexa meet and I had promised myself I’d sit down and write their story some day. As for the part about negative reviews, I treat it like getting a rejection. Everyone gets them, even NY Times Bestsellers. So, I’ve learned not to sweat it. After all, not everyone is going to like what I like and I know how picky I am about my UF, too.

What are your thoughts on e-books? Do you feel they have the same exposure as bound books?

I love ebooks. Whenever there is an author I don’t know anything about and I want to try something of theirs, I’m not paying a small ransom for it. So, if I find it in ebook where it’s cheaper, then it’s a good bet that I’ll try it. If I like it, then I’ll get the print book. I don’t think ebooks get the same exposure and it’s sad. With the way technology is going, the digital age is like this ever-changing tidal wave that you’ll either have to ride or get swallowed up by it. Me? I prefer to ride it.

Do you work on your novels in a writing workshop? If not, do you work alone? And why do you work that way?
I work alone…for now. I’ll be trying out a beta reader for my paranormal YA. I had a crit group once, but life got in the way and we ended up disbanding. That was pre-baby era. Now that I have a little one, trying to write, let alone crit someone elses work, is nearly impossible. A beta reader works much better for me.

Which books do you currently have on your bedside table?
At home, I can’t recall. On vacation, I brought The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay and Shadowblade by Seressia Glass, and Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead. Oh, and there’s a book that I’m reading for the day job that has to do with how clinical trials are run, but I can’t recall the name of it.

Do you believe in writer’s block? If so, what is your favorite cure for it? If not, what do you think about that concept?
Yes. Wholeheartedly. Whenever I get writer’s block, I move on to a different manuscript until something loosens it. That’s what I had to do for STRIPPED 2. Now, I’m back on track!

Thank you Marcia, and thank you Bitten by Books.

Marcia Colette is a paranormal author of four novels. She also has a bachelors degree in biomedical engineering and a masters degree in information technology. To learn more about Marcia, please visit her website www.marciacolette.com.

Karla is originally from Mexico City and currently resides in Monterrey, Mexico. She recently graduated from Law School, but her current activities focus on reading, writing, traveling and volunteering with Fictionista Workshop. To read her derivative fiction please click here. To follow her twitter feed, please click here.

Twitter Tuesday: 08.10.10

On August 10, 2010 we tweeted: Authors, do you have any habits you practice while writing to keep you focused, help your creativity, etc.? #twittertuesday

Here were your responses:

@LauraKreitzer: @fictionistawksp I drink an unnatural amount of Red Bull. #ImprovesWritingSkillz
@LauraKreitzer: @fictionistawksp I have a muse I keep in my closet. Sometimes she tries to run free, but I always find her again & lock her back up.

@Edwina_Cullen: @fictionistawksp Yes. @Cocacola needs to set up a new factory right next to my home! :D

@CathrynLouis: @fictionistawksp go with what I’m in the mood 4 writing - blog, #wip, backstory… Not very efficient, but I rarely get blocked.

@AuthoressKimani: @fictionistawksp I have to clean something before I write so that my mind can be clear and focused #twittertuesday

@xHammondGirlx: @fictionistawksp If I’m on twitter, then all hope is lost when it comes to my writing. I really enjoy writing w/ others in a group chat. ;)

@StarlightS_: @fictionistawksp none. When I write I feel as if I am on trance or possessed, that’s why I don’t write always. I just wait for those moments

@jenndema: @fictionistawksp I only write new material when I’m feeling inspired. I don’t try to force it. When not inspired, I’ll edit old work or beta

@maganbagan: @fictionistawksp I read through my outlines a few times before getting started. Sometimes I talk myself through the scene I’m working on.

@EnigmaLynne: @fictionistawksp Depending on what I am writing, I listen to music in the background…it interacts so well with creating mood and thought

@m244robp: @fictionistawksp #twittertuesday Sit at my computer with my headphones playing my Quiet Instrumentals on Pandora or my ITunes.

@JulesJustWrite: @fictionistawksp music, music, music!

@mellieforyellie: @fictionistawksp I tend to usually have a friend online on Skype to help critique me, help me know what mood I’m making, etc.

@VivFicWriter: @fictionistawksp A long walk somewhere quiet…and private, so that I don’t look like a nut-job when I start talking to myself.

@sleepyval: @fictionistawksp I snort my ADD meds

@javamomma0921: @fictionistawksp I like it to be quiet and I enjoy writing with friends, in a WC type format. Deadlines help too! ;)

@nicnicd: @fictionistawksp Playlists & an outline for chapter pasted into the doc. And no twitter!

@babetteab: @fictionistawksp Lock up the children! LOL! Actually, make sure they’re busy & remove all distractions.

@mkelly317: @fictionistawksp I daydream some, then I write some. Repeat.

@ejsantry: @fictionistawksp Brainstorming with willing or not so willing listeners.

@bookjunkie1975: @fictionistawksp I work plots out when I’m cleaning. It keeps me entertained. lol

@EnigmaLynne: @fictionistawksp - I prefer to be alone with my music. No distractions. I also write nagging parts first and work around them.

@jessypt: @fictionistawksp I walk and type out my story on my bb while listening to music.

Here is the conversation that happened on Facebook:

  • Lily Kleiman Yeah, just keep writing and forget about the outside world.
  • Tiffany Madison Yes. I must completely disconnect. Computer off, lights off, silence. Then a whole new world opens, which might also mean I’m crazy.
  • Lily Kleiman I’ve often found there’s a fine line between being an author of fiction and schizophrenia. I hear voices in my head and they tell me to do things…
  • Karla D. Gonzalez Lutteroth I feel like I am in trance, so I need to wait until I am possessed so I can write good stuff. That’s crazier than you guys.
  • Tiffany Madison And then you write them down and make stories.
  • Lily Kleiman Ooh, that’s totally what it’s like! Trance, excellent word :)
  • Karla D. Gonzalez Lutteroth But you guys know what I mean. I hate it when I force it.
  • Lily Kleiman Totally. Inspiration has to come naturally or not at all. If I were writing non-fiction I could probably force it, but not fiction. That just happens when it happens. And when it does… I write like a madwoman :D
  • Karla D. Gonzalez Lutteroth Me too! trance=writing like a madwoman.
  • Charles Blackstone Writing usually helps keep me focused on writing.

Click here to follow Fictionista Workshop on twitter

Courting Tomorrow’s Classics

Welcome to the New Classics!

“A classic is classic not because it conforms to certain structural rules, or fits certain definitions (of which its author had quite probably never heard). It is classic because of a certain eternal and irrepressible freshness.” –Edith Wharton

When “the classics” are mentioned, it’s often assumed that the speaker means those books sitting on your dusty shelf never having been read, but still put on display because those are the books you ought to be familiar with—and no, reading the Sparknotes summaries doesn’t count.

But how does a classic become classic? Who decides what books transcend time to remain relevant to a modern audience? Is a classic a very popular book, a very well-written book, or both? After all, every classic was simply a new, unknown book at one point.

With Fictionista Workshop’s New Classics series, post-modern novels will be explored and reviewed in-depth, making the argument that a book on the shelf of new releases could one day be found on a list of classic literature for its themes, quality, unique perspective, or more.

What are we reviewing?

Every month, our book reviewers will either be assigned or select a new classic book to review, and will aim to shed light on the work, discussing the book’s strengths and weaknesses, why or why not they enjoyed it, and how it may still be relevant in the future and worthy of being considered a new classic. Our volunteers will submit their objective and honest reviews to Fictionista Workshop to share with the entire community.

Interested in reviewing?

If you would like to share your love of literature or discover the new classics, sign up today to court the classics and enjoy post-modern Western literature with us! If there’s a new classic you want to see reviewed, email us at fictionistawksp@gmail.com.


The New Classics: The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones Review

Review by Shantelle

For years I had been meaning to read Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, and for years a friend of mine had been raving about how amazing it was and how I absolutely had to read it. I would keep saying, “Yeah, I’m getting to it!” and would then forget all about it until she mentioned it again.

When the film came out in late 2009, I was adamant that I wasn’t going to see it until I had read the book.  The film had been out for a few weeks, and still I had not even looked for a copy of the novel, let alone got my hands on one, so the same friend who had been raving endlessly about it decided to intervene and buy me my own personal copy for my birthday in January. I’m now kicking myself for not having read it sooner–it was so amazing that I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it.

The Lovely Bones is unlike any other story I have ever read. I’m not just saying that to try and convince you to read it, either. It truly is a remarkable piece of literature that is a heck of a lot more interesting to read than some of the novels that I was tortured with in high school English class. If this had been on my set reading list, I would have found writing essays far more enjoyable, I think.

The story is seen through the eyes of Susie Salmon, who, murdered at fourteen, tells the reader the story of her murder and the events that follow from inside her personal heaven. This is one of the interesting aspects of the story–Susie’s location. She describes with great detail her surroundings–her version of heaven–and the people whose heavens cross at points with hers. As the narrator of the story, Susie gives the reader an insight into a type of afterlife that some may not have thought of before, especially with her ability to see everything happening to the people she knows back down on Earth.

What intrigues me the most about this story is the way it’s told–it’s not your typical murder mystery where the whole story is focused on finding out who the murderer is and how it came about. In The Lovely Bones you find all that out in the first chapter. You start off knowing the who, what, when, where, and how of the story, and discover the why throughout the remainder. The suspense the reader feels while reading the story is all to do with what happens to the murderer following the crime, and what the victim’s family is going through in the aftermath, as well as what happens to the victim in the afterlife.

Although the story is told in first person from Susie’s point of view, the characterization is not just limited to her. Through Susie’s narration, Alice Sebold has created some extremely strong characters in the Salmon family, Susie’s friends, and in Mr. Harvey. One of the ways she does this is through flashbacks and memories, which is very effective in not only building the characters, but also unraveling the whys in the tale.

Many events happen in the story, some of which lead you to believe you know how it’s going to end.  Trust me; you don’t (unless someone’s already spoiled it for you). When I first finished the novel, I thought I was missing part of the story. I couldn’t believe it had ended how it did. My initial thoughts were, “Oh, my gosh! No! That can’t be it!” Actually, that’s not quite what I thought, but if I told you what really went through my mind after finishing the story, I would give away the ending. And I don’t wish to do that on the odd chance that some of you reading this may not have read the book or seen the film yet.

In all honesty though, once I had got over the initial shock and disappointment of how it ended, I actually really appreciated it. Alice Sebold has left us with an open-ended tale of sadness, heartbreak, the importance of family, and adventures in heaven to ponder, allowing us to create our own ending in our minds. It may not have been the outcome I was hoping for, but it sure did leave me thinking! And that’s what a good book should do; it should leave your mind reeling with questions and thoughts about different aspects of the story.

The Lovely Bones is a novel that I think everyone should read at least once in their life, and although it’s a modern piece of literature, I truly do believe it deserves its place in the list of classics. Alice Sebold has written a moving and emotion-filled masterpiece that will forever hold a place on my bookshelf. Never again will I put off reading a novel that someone so mercilessly praises.

Alice Sebold is an American author who has written three books. She won the Bram Stoker Award for First Novel in 2002 and the American Booksellers Association Awarded her Book of the Year for Adult Fiction in 2003.

Shantelle is an Australian Childcare Assistant who feels most at home under the bright lights of the theatrical stage. Although performing is her first love and passion, writing and reading come a close second. She is currently taking her time writing her first novel and volunteers with Fictionista Workshop in her (not-so) spare time. She also maintains a personal writing blog, click here to view.

Interested in reviewing?

If you would like to share your love of literature or discover the new classics, sign up today to court the classics and enjoy post-modern Western literature with us! If there’s a new classic you want to see reviewed, email us at fictionistawksp@gmail.com.

Courting the Classics: Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables Review

Review by Dawn

“But if you call me Anne, please call me Anne with an ‘e.’”

Anne of Green GablesAnne of Green Gables by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery is one of the foremost timeless, and ageless, classics of twentieth century literature, spanning effortlessly across decades and various age groups. While not her only work of fiction, this first installment of what would become known as the “Anne series” was undoubtedly her most notable.

What began as a serial for a Sunday school paper, quickly became one of the most-beloved children stories, and spurred an entire series, numerous side stories, as well as several movies, television series, and theater productions. The depth of this world that the author developed inside the fictional, small town of Avonlea, within her birthplace of Prince Edward Island, and the community within it, is so lush and rich, it is not long at all before you are transported into this world.

Based in the latter half of the 19th century, it chronicles the first five years of life in Avonlea for a young orphan named Anne Shirley. Eleven years old when the story opens, it is difficult to dislike this awkward and outspoken girl, who immediately endears to the heart. With her red hair and temper to match, which readers learn are the bane of her existence, as well as her talkative nature and an imagination that has consistently gotten her into a world of trouble, she has never truly fit in anywhere from the time she was three months old when both her parents suddenly died of typhoid fever.

Having read this novel for the first time as an adult, married with a child of my own, I was not expecting it to have the effect it did. To be able to relate to a young orphan of eleven at the age of twenty seemed unfathomable to me. However, from the very first page, I was drawn into this story, even without the immediate introduction of Anne herself.

The strongest point within the novel is not simply the story of this young girl, but the characters within it. There are few novels that can sustain such a menagerie of strong “secondary” characters, without leaving the reader feeling overwhelmed with detail. While each one of the characters in the novel is vitally important and left a remarkable and unique mark on the story, the relationships they share with this girl are still individual and believable.

Beginning with Rachel Lynde, the meddling neighbor of Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, the anticipated arrival of Anne is set up incredibly well. We see just how much of an impact this child will have on this small, quiet town as the woman observes the odd behavior of the shy, reclusive bachelor. She says:

“‘I’ll just step over to Green Gables after tea and find out from Marilla where he’s gone and why,’” the worthy woman finally concluded. “‘He doesn’t generally go to town this time of year and he never visits; if he’d run out of turnip seed he wouldn’t dress up and take the buggy to go for more; he wasn’t driving fast enough to be going for a doctor. Yet something must have happened since last night to start him off. I’m clean puzzled, that’s what, and I won’t know a minute’s peace of mind or conscience until I know what has taken Matthew Cuthbert out of Avonlea today.’”

Matthew Cuthbert, expecting to arrive at Bright River to retrieve a young orphan boy to help on the farm, is surprised to only find the skinny, freckled redhead there waiting for him. Yet the bond that immediately grows between the two of them on the drive back to Green Gables undeniably sets the course for the remainder of the story. Her constant chatter is, for once, a relief to someone and he even admits to enjoying it, as well as being amused by her imaginative labels on seemingly ordinary things, such as “White Way of Delight” for The Avenue and “Lake of Shining Waters” for Barry’s Pond.

Marilla Cuthbert, on the other hand, becomes just as much of a key character as Anne herself, yet her stern, hardened exterior causes the attachment to the girl herself to be far more gradual. Upon learning of the mistake made, her initial reaction is shock at the dramatic, talkative nature of the girl, and she intends to send her back. However, she quickly learns that once Anne Shirley touches your life, you are irrevocably changed.

Much the same can be said of her “bosom friend,” Diana Barry. Anne encourages Diana’s world of imagination, which beforehand had been frowned upon by her mother, and the friendship formed between them is extraordinarily palpable. Then of course, Gilbert Blythe, with whom she forms a complex relationship. From the moment he calls her “carrots,” unaware of her intense dislike for her red hair, and she in turn smashes her slate over his head, a rivalry is sparked between them, one that brings out the best—and worst—in each other.

Last but not least is Anne herself, who in many respects is an exemplary demonstration of how courage and perseverance can guide you toward any path you choose, and also to never judge a book by its cover. Throughout her life she was labeled by society; despite her high intelligence, her outspoken nature and the fact that she was an orphan child never allowed her the opportunity to thrive. This one character evokes a myriad of emotions from the reader from the moment she steps into the lives of the Cuthberts. You join in her exhilaration and excitement, experience her “depths of despair,” laugh at her antics, and cry at her heartbreaks.

Each time I’ve read this wonderful book, I’ve found myself turning the pages as eagerly as the first time I read it; I’m always anxious to see what Anne Shirley would get herself into—and subsequently out of—next. Containing one of the most relatable leading characters ever written, this incredible novel has survived the generations with Anne’s beautiful combination of strength, determination, and insecurities with which readers of any age can correlate. Whether you’re a young child coming to age along with her, or an adult reading through and remembering when, this is a story that can easily be enjoyed time and time again for many years to come.

lm_montgomeryMark Twain once said Montgomery’s Anne was “the dearest and most moving and delightful child since the immortal Alice.”

Lucy Maud Montgomery published Anne of Green Gables in 1908. The popularity of her book led to eight sequels, a movie adaptation, several miniseries, the television series Road to Avonlea and most recently an animated series.

Montgomery was the first female in Canada to be named a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in England and was invested in the Order of the British Empire in 1935.

Dawn is the author of 13 online stories. Originally from Western Massachusetts, she now resides in Arizona with her son. She enjoys writing, reading and playing video games.

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Interview Series: a Snapshot with Author Helen Scott Taylor

Snapshot Author Interview: Helen Scott Taylor

Many of our writers are just getting started, so what would be your advice to them in regards to planning and creating an outline?

I’m not a good person to ask about outlines as I never use them. I don’t plot in advance, I get to know my characters well then I just follow them as they live their story. Most of the time I don’t know what’s going to happen in the story until it happens. This process makes writing a synopsis before finishing the first draft almost impossible.

How important to you is your work with your editor and why?

Having an editor who “gets” my work is vital. The editor I’ve worked with so far has been easy to work with as we think in the same way so I haven’t had to make many revisions or changes.

A common struggle for many writers seems to be motivation. How do you motivate yourself to keep going? Is it ever tempting to throw in the towel?

I have never been tempted to throw in the towel. Adversity makes me more determined to succeed. I think persistence is crucial to success.

Your work is incredibly rich and detailed, so what do you do in terms of research?

For research, I read up about myths and folklaw in my chosen mythology, in this case Celtic, and use that as a starting point for my fantasy world. I also do some research on setting. I visited Ireland while writing The Magic Knot, and I visited Scotland this summer in preparation for writing The Ruby Kiss. Most of the detail springs from my imagination, though.

So many writers emphasize the need to practice their craft daily, while others encourage breaks and time to unwind. What are your writing habits like?

I write new words every day while I’m getting a first draft down. I have a target of 12K a week. My first draft is rough, so I then need a few months to revise and knock it into shape, then the story goes to my critique partners for comments before a final polish. I recommend good critique partners.

Thank you so much, Helen!

Helen Scott Taylor is the author of two paranormal-romance novels. To learn more about her, please visit www.HelenScottTaylor.com

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