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My husband and I looked down at our sad miniature rose. "I don't think it's going to make it," Peter said. When Peter gave me the little rose bush, it boasted a wealth of tiny red blossoms. Now, we knew the rose was in trouble. The plant struggled to thrive on the shaded deck of our Berkeley apartment. In an attempt to find more sun, we moved the plant container several times, Nothing helped and it was discouraging to see more leaves dropping off every day. Just when the rose looked its worst, Peter and I had the opportunity to move to a cottage in Modesto—the first home of our own. Of course, we kept to the motto, "No living thing left behind." Our small band of travelers included Babbitt, my miniature white rabbit with delicate gray ears and paws, a playful yellow parakeet, an imperious blue parakeet, and the rose. At our new home, we planted the rose in a place with abundant sunshine, although every sign pointed to the possibility we were too late. To our delight, the floundering rose took hold. The miniature plant gained momentum each year. Finally, it grew so big it was as tall and lush as the regular roses we'd also planted in our yard. The blossoms rejected the idea of being miniature. In the summer, they showed up in great swirls of crimson petals. The leaves—green and healthy—stayed put. We called it the "Hope Rose," and it encouraged us during those inevitable times when things were difficult. A Wondrous Old Rose Garden I've been thinking of the Hope Rose as I've become immersed in a lovely place of old roses. They grew on the cosmopolitan Wooded Island, a part of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. In the book I'm closing in on finishing, Mystery Fair, the Wooded Island is the center of secrets at the Chicago World's Fair. Christie and Melina must investigate a dangerous mystery— what happened to Melina's vanished father? In Norman Bolotin and Christine Laing's excellent book, I learned that more than 27 million visitors arrived at the Chicago World's Fair between May and October 1893. There were 214 fanciful buildings to explore on 633 acres. The noise, hurry, and overwhelming choices of things to see left guests longing for a break. The Wooded Island was designed as a much-needed retreat, despite the danger and mystery going on there in my book. The Island provided a green haven with its peaceful winding paths, many kinds of sheltering trees, and a delightful bouquet of living flowers. The Island grounds spanned sixteen charming acres, with ten acres planted in flowers. Weary fairgoers, after crossing a graceful bridge spanning a lagoon, first noticed the scent of thousands of roses wafting their way. Countries from all over the world had sent their best roses to Chicago. As visitors strolled along the rose garden paths, all the different varieties must have dazzled them in every way. Rose Garden Discoveries But which rose varieties dazzled them? I thought it might be easy to find the names of the rose varieties in the garden. I was wrong. I enjoy going down the rabbit (or should I say, Babbitt) trails of history, but none of them led me to any of the lovely old rose names. Then, tucked away in a 1894 Report issued by the state of New York, I found a listing of some of the roses on display on the fairgrounds. Here I found the beautiful names of vintage roses—Perle des Jardins, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Comtesse de Labarthe, Etoile de Lyon, and the rose named for lighthouse heroine Grace Darling. Some of these were certainly a part of the Wooded Island rose garden, but the report did not indicate which ones. More: Grace Darling: Meet a Young Lighthouse Heroine I'm still on the trail of roses specifically found in the Wooded Island's rose garden, and I hope to update this post with their discovery. In a Garden Roses engage every sense—the smooth velvet of the rose petals, the different shapes and colors of each blossom, and over all, the lovely scent of romantic roses from ancient varieties. When guests finally emerged from the Wooded Island's rose garden, I wonder if they sat down on one of the rustic benches to let it all sink in before heading out to view the next exhibit. It must have been a magical place. I like to think my Hope Rose would have fit right in with all the beautiful, world-traveling roses on display in the island garden. And I hope, in between solving a dangerous mystery, my characters, Christie and Melina, might take a break themselves in the wondrous old rose garden. More: A Place for Stories Discover a wonderful Children's Library at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair here > Join the adventure as Melina and Christie solve dangerous island secrets. Book Two in Linda's Islands of Mystery Trilogy was named a finalist in the 2023 Cascade Writing Contest. See more about Linda's books here >

Is it because I grew up in the desert? My imagination has always harbored a fascination for islands and lighthouses. I think whatever is far away from our everyday world acquires a certain mystique. And in my desert world, when temperatures soared into the 90s or even reached the100s in September, I loved escaping to stories with sea-swept islands and lighthouses. One of my favorites is Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery. Is Captain Jim's Lighthouse Real? When I read Anne's House of Dreams once again, I wondered, Is Captain Jim's lighthouse based on a real place on Prince Edward Island? I discovered the surprising answer and wrote about what I found out here > After delving into this island world, I wanted to do a follow-up blog featuring Prince Edward Island lighthouses in all their striking beauty and variety. Did You Know?: On Prince Edward Island, there are 61 lighthouses and range light buildings on the island's scalloped coastline. Here is a harvest of enchanting PEI lighthouses (as many as I could fit) to celebrate the beginning of autumn with you: September is the month when Anne Shirley Blythe leaves her childhood home at Green Gables to find her "house of dreams" at Four Winds Harbor: Why is there an "old" Cape Tryon and a "new" Cape Tryon Lighthouse? What is their connection to L. M. Montgomery? Discover their story here > Click below to see my video version of the "Lighthouses of Prince Edward Island," with added quotes and more of these beautiful lighthouses: Happy first day of autumn to you on September 23, 2023! #Lighthouses #LMMontgomery #AutumnInspirations NEXT: Discover L.M. Montgomery's Lighthouse of Dreams here: Although I grew up where temperatures rise to 110 degrees or more, I now live in the Pacific Northwest, It's at least 30 degrees cooler in the summer and lighthouses are, delightfully, close by. My first book, Mystery Shores, takes place on a secretive lighthouse island. The mystery unfolds along the Washington Coast in 1893.

How do memories transform creativity and imagination? For artist and poet Kate Greenaway, childhood memories created a swirl of color, shapes, scents, and textures. As if she’d seen them only an hour before, the color of a flower or the shape of a bonnet stayed sharp in her mind years later.. She turned the colors and shapes into her unique vision of art—a place where apple trees bloom and invite us to step inside a world where it is forever spring. Critics—including well-intentioned friends—offered all kinds of advice. They urged her to become more conventional, change the expressions of the people in her drawings, or even erase the shadows under their shoes (Spielmann and Layard). At times, Kate struggled to grow in confidence and make up her own mind about what to keep and what to change. How did her childhood memories act as navigational stars to help Kate stay true to her own creativity and style? First Star—From Sepia to Color When I recently picked up a biography of Kate and read about her childhood, I thought about my surprise when I first saw the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. Before Dorothy Gale opens the door of the ruined farmhouse, we see her awash in sepia tones. Like many others as a child, I gasped when Dorothy and Toto discover a new land of startling color: yellow (of course!), blue, orange, and the vivid green of giant leaves. In a sepia city covered with coal smoke and the noise of vendors, Kate Greenaway was born on March 17, 1846 at 1 Cavendish Street, Hoxton (now part of the London Borough of Hackney). However, like Dorothy Gale, it was Kate's visits to the color-drenched world of the English countryside that opened the door to her imagination. The scent of cottage flowers and new-mown hay first shared their magic with Kate at the impressionable age of about two. While visiting relatives in the village of Rolleston, Nottinghamshire, her mother became seriously ill. Kate was sent to live with the nearby Chappell family on a small cottage farm (Spielmann and Layard). A sister of the farmer’s wife also lived with the Chappell family, and one of Kate’s earliest memories is of Ann carrying her on one arm. With casual competence, Ann also carried a basket of bread, homemade butter, and a can of steaming tea for the haymakers. Kate never forgot the “beauty of the afternoon, the look of the sun, the smell of the tea, the perfume of the hay, and the great feeling of Happiness—the joy and the love of it—from her royal perch on Ann’s strong arm” (Spielmann and Layard). And there were flowers everywhere. The hedgerows and fields showcased the enormous blue crane’s-bill, purple vetch, and willow-herb. Sunday walks with Ann gave her the “enchanted vista” of paths alive with pimpernels, pansies, blue and white veronica, tiny purple geraniums, and great crimson poppies. On the banks of a little river, she found forget-me-nots and apple tree branches dipping down toward the water (Spielmann and Layard). In Kate’s art, there are many intricate flowers and trees, captured in her imagination from the storybook world that opened its pages for her at Rolleston. Tip From Kate's First Star: To keep your creative works fresh and unique, draw on your memories of the scents, sights, and color palettes of your childhood home, or your vacations to the mountains, deserts, or the sea. Second Star: Designing a World of Wonder I’ve been a fan of Kate Greenaway’s art since my own childhood, but I recently discovered a fun surprise. Before starting work on a new illustration, she designed and sewed the costumes worn by the girls in her drawings. With living models, she could see the way the dress draped and moved. Childhood memories again played an important role in Kate’s art. Her father was a well-known draughtsman and wood-engraver. His work was published in the Illustrated London News and Punch. But when a time-consuming engagement to illustrate an expensive book collapsed, the family fell on hard times. Kate’s mother used her skills as a seamstress to open a shop, initially offering lace, children’s dresses, and fancy goods. The young Kate reveled in the ribbons, lace, patterns, and textures of the cloth. Her experiences at her mother’s shop, combined with the old-fashioned dresses and hats worn by the residents of Rolleston, inspired the fashions that became Kate’s signature style. Tip From Kate's Second Star: Take what you've learned from what seems to be a setback. Use skills from the work you did during those times to bring new creative projects to life. Third Star: Her Own Book After formally studying art from the age of twelve, Kate went on to take classes at the Slade School. Throughout her studies, Kate intensified her commitment to her work and style. She experimented with technique and increased her knowledge of color harmony. In those early days, Kate exhibited her own art, illustrated the works of others, and designed greeting cards, sometimes unsigned. Although her income began to grow, Kate was not well-known. Her biographer explains that “she was the hidden mainspring of a clock with the maker’s name upon the dial.” (Spielmann & Layard). Everything changed when a noted printer, Edmund Evans, took a chance on both her art and poetry in a volume titled Under the Window. Kate had a book of her own now, but would it sell? Evans recalled, “I was fascinated with the originality of the drawings and the ideas of the verse…I printed the first edition of 20,000 copies, and was ridiculed by the publishers for risking such a large edition of a six-shilling book” (Spielmann and Layard). The first edition in 1879 was an instant best-seller. Evans kept reprinting until about 100,000 copies were circulated at the time, including French and German editions (Spielmann and Layard). Kate’s name became a household word after the publication of Under the Window. Her clothing and bonnet designs were so famous, parents began dressing their children in Kate’s “art.” Her extraordinary popularity led to the craze known as the “Greenaway Vogue.” Tips From Kate's Third Star: Never be afraid to experiment and grow. Listen to others, evaluate what they say, but stay true to the creative style that comes from your experiences and from your heart. An Art Palace & the 1893 World's Fair The Greenaway Vogue was still in full swing at the time of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair (also known as the World’s Columbian Exposition). I’ve been spending a lot of time (in my imagination) at the Fair while I write my second mystery set at the Fair. In my book, Kate’s Under the Window comes to life in the mysterious Willowgold Cottage. It has been a delight to learn more about Kate Greenaway and her art as I dive into historical research. Kate’s work was well-represented at the 1893 World’s Fair. This intriguing event covered 600 acres of spectacular architecture, the latest inventions, extraordinary historical artifacts, art treasures, and libraries stacked with beloved books. At the Palace of Fine Arts, fairgoers found displays of Kate Greenaway’s art, including the Title Page to Marigold Garden, “The Mulberry Bush.” “Girl Drawing a Chaise,” “Little Girls,” and “Little Phyllis” (Spielmann and Layard) In the Woman’s Building library, visitors tilted their heads to look above the glass-fronted bookcases. On high walls, they’d see illustrations by Kate Greenaway among the portraits and artwork of prominent women displayed there (Wadsworth and Wiegand). People from all over the world came to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, and many saw Kate Greenaway’s signature style among the treasures. A Lasting Star: The Kate Greenaway Medal Toward the end of her life, Kate began writing down the childhood memories which remained so vivid in her mind. I like to imagine the book with her evocative drawings of childhood, paired with her engaging writing style. Sadly, she did not live to finish the project. Kate died of breast cancer on November 6, 1901 at the age of fifty-five. Kate’s legacy lives on in the delight readers feel as they view her illustrations in timeless books, almanacs, bookplates, and old-fashioned greeting cards. Her artwork is honored each year when the Kate Greenaway Medal is given for outstanding illustrations published in a book for children. Perhaps as a testament to Kate’s unique vision and style, no book illustrations were deemed “suitable” the first year after the announcement of the medal. The first book to win is Tim All Alone by Edward Ardizzone for 1956. In an 1897 letter to her friend, John Ruskin, Kate recalled, “My bedroom window used to look out over red roofs and chimney-pots, and I made [imaginary] steps up to a lovely garden up there with…brilliant flowers so near to the sky." It was a place she captured in this poem from Under the Window: "Somewhere Town" "Which is the way to Somewhere Town? Oh, up in the morning early; Over the tiles and the chimney-pots, That is the way, quite clearly. And, which is the door to Somewhere Town? Oh, up in the morning early; The round red sun is the door to go through, That is the way, quite clearly." Kate Greenaway found the door to go through, drawing on innovation, hard work, and memories to stay true to her own imagination. Her life can act as a lodestar now for us as we develop our own unique style and move ahead to Somewhere Town. #Artists #BooksandReading #ChicagoWorldsFair1893 #Creativity References: Carpenter, Humphrey, and Mari Prichard. 1999. The Oxford Companion To Children's Literature. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Elliott, Maud Howe. 1893. Art And Handicraft In The Woman's Building Of The World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago. Greenaway, Kate. 1878. Under The Window. London, New York: G. Routledge & Sons. "Kate Greenaway (1846-1901)". 2021. Victorianweb.org. http://www.victorianweb.org/art/illustration/greenaway/. Spielmann, M. H, and George Somes Layard. 1905. Kate Greenaway. London: A. and C. Black. Taylor, Ina, and Kate Greenaway. 1991. The Art Of Kate Greenaway. Gretna, La.: Pelican Pub. Co. Wadsworth, Sarah, and Wayne A Wiegand. 2012. Right Here I See My Own Books. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press.

What I'll Never Know Have you ever browsed in a used bookstore and wondered about an inscription? I still remember one I found inside a picture book based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. When I took the slender volume down from the shelf and opened the cover, I discovered this inscription: "To Beth on Christmas Day. Love, Mom and Daddy. December 1953." Does Beth still remember that Christmas day? Did she grow up to have a career, children, a happy life? I'll never know who she was or any of the events in her life after that Christmas day. What I Do Know I do know what happened to the owners of the books in my picture below. These vintage books belonged to my grandmother, my great-aunt, my mother and my father. The stories were shelved in a bookcase that seemed magical to me as a child. I grew up in a home built in 1920 with sliding pocket doors to the living room, beautiful glass door knobs, old-fashioned keys, and the bookcase built by my grandfather. As my "Meet Linda" page describes, the glass doors creaked when I opened them, and always afterward, I associate that sound with new story adventures. How can you encourage wonderful story memories for your family? Here are some ideas: 1. Reading Aloud My Dad's Gift to His Family I can still hear my dad's voice reading to us from these books. After a long day of work, Dad still read to the whole family in the evening. I especially remember Dad reading Ralph Moody's books set in the American West. Today, I found something I'd missed before—a note in my mother's handwriting tucked within the pages of a Ralph Moody book. She'd kept track of the stories he'd read to us from the series. 2. Giving the Gift of a Story Return to Oz Beth received an Oz book in 1953. On another Christmas day long ago, my father and his younger sister, Grace, opened a present and discovered Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. Dad kept the book through the years before passing it along to me late in his life. I like to think of my father attaching the Santa decoration (below, lower left corner) to his new book as a child. 3. Start Passing Down a Heritage of Family Books Books are memorable both for their content and their connections. Here are three more ways to pass down a heritage of books: Take your children on story adventures by visiting bookstores together, Build a special bookcase together as a place for their treasures and discoveries, Give well-chosen books on all special occasions and always write an inscription! On my bookshelf, I see a rich heritage. It's the gift families and individuals can give to a child—the love of reading. #BooksandReading #LibraryShelfies How did my family pass along a love of reading? Here are the books they shared and the inscriptions inside (from left to right in the picture): 1. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Inscription: To Marjorie, Christmas 1933 from Dad and Mama. There's a surprise inside this book. I had no idea movie tie-ins were done in the faraway past too. The cover has an illustration of Mary Pickford as Rebecca. Inside, there are pictures from her 1917 silent movie. The book was handed down to my mother and now to me. 2. Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster. To Blanche, 1918. 3. Five Little Peppers Midway by Margaret Sidney. To Marjorie from Aunt May and Aunt Laura. 4. Judith of the Plains by Marie Manning. 5. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado by John C. Van Dyke. July 1921 6. On Autumn Trails by Emma-Lindsay Squire. To Marjorie—a gift from Mama and Dad on our vacation trip Aug. 22, 1932. 7. Geraldine's Birthday Surprise by Alice Hale Burnett. To Marjorie from Aunt May Christmas 1928. Originally owned by my great-aunt May, I enjoyed seeing that this beautiful book was published in 1893. My first book, Mystery Shores, is set on a lighthouse island in the summer of 1893. Perhaps this edition of Five Little Peppers Midway was part of the traveling lighthouse library that made its way to Mystery Shores Island in my story. Mystery Fair, the sequel to Mystery Shores, is set at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It will be available for pre-order soon.

It starts with a low rumble. As the noise grows louder, I shade my eyes with a cupped hand and look up at the blue sky. Overhead, the roar approaches and its source comes into view—half plane and half boat. Since I grew up in the California desert, floatplanes still surprise me. These amphibious planes often fly to the San Juan Islands near my home in the Pacific Northwest. And whenever I see floatplanes, I think of a storied name in lighthouse history: Captain William Wincapaw. A pioneering and accomplished pilot, he flew many types of aircraft, but when he settled into an amphibious plane, he felt the most "at home." [1]. Across the country from my San Juan Islands, Capt. Wincapaw flew among the the islands of Penobscot Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Maine. There, as part of his pilot duties, he conveyed ill or injured island residents to places where they could get help. Using his pilot skills and experience in difficult circumstances, he was credited with saving many lives [2]. One December night, however, Capt. Wincapaw desperately needed help to save his own life. In a blinding December 1929 snowstorm, Capt. Wincapaw flew on through the night and tried to find his way to shelter. His destination of Rockland, Maine seemed like a lost dream as he peered through the falling whiteness. He had quite a bit of experience flying in harsh weather, but this time he was unsure and disoriented in the swirling whiteness. Then, a flash of light came. He recognized the beacon of Dice Head Light, found his bearings, and made his way to safety [3]. In gratitude, Capt. Wincapaw took to the skies again a few days later. He dropped a Christmas package to the lighthouse keeper and the rest of the hardworking family at Dice Head. As he headed back home, he realized other lighthouse families, who did so much for others, might also find encouragement from Christmas gifts dropped from the sky. Those early packages contained newspapers, magazines, candy, coffee, and other items highly prized by lighthouse families. In this way, Capt. Wincapaw began the tradition of the Flying Santa, eventually expanding to many other lighthouses, particularly along the New England coast. His son, Bill, Jr. and the festively-named Edward Rowe Snow continued the tradition. Mr. Snow, a noted New England historian and author, became the "Flying Santa" for nearly 50 years [4]. Lighthouse children eagerly listened for the roar of the plane’s engines every December. Along with the gifts, the Flying Santa volunteers brought hope and a great deal of fun to lighthouse families. In an isolated world, especially during the harsh winters, they knew they were not forgotten. Lighthouse expert Elinor DeWire writes that Capt. Wincapaw thought "all lighthouse families ought to be remembered during the holidays for their benevolent services, especially at Christmas when the symbolism of light to guide the way was foremost in everyone's heart" [5]. Volunteers begin early every year to gear up for the Christmas flights. Now using helicopters, the dedicated Flying Santa delivers Christmas cheer and packages to show appreciation to the men, women, and families of the Coast Guard. In the generous spirit of the season, Capt. Wincapaw's original mission of gratitude to those who watch over our coastal waters continues. #Lighthouses #Christmas To find out more, attend the 2022 Third Annual Virtual Gala about all things Flying Santa! Hosted by the United States Lighthouse Society. For more videos and podcasts, make sure to subscribe to the Lighthouse Society's Youtube channel here. References: 1. Tague, Brian. The Origins and History of the Flying Santa. Friends of the Flying Santa website. [Accessed 11 December 2020]. 2. Ibid. 3. DeWire, Elinor. Guardians Of The Lights. Pineapple Press, 2007. 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid My book, Mystery Shores, is set on a lighthouse island filled with wild beauty and hidden danger. Since Mystery Shores takes place in 1893, there was, unfortunately, no Flying Santa. Yet, even when facing a dangerous mystery, Christie and Melina follow the lighthouse tradition of risking their lives to help keep mariners safe.

The Possibilities of a Handwritten Name Sunlight streamed into the children's room as the librarian handed my older sister her first library card. Patrice checked out a pile of colorful books using her own name. It was exciting and important. I had to experience that for myself! Seeing the yearning in my eyes, I still remember the librarian explaining in words to this effect: "You'll have to wait until you can write your name. That's how we decide when you can have your own library card." I was probably a couple of years away from learning to write, yet I wanted my own library card above all things. That week, my father printed out the letters of my name for me. I practiced for hours until I could master the yellow pencil and all the movements needed to write my name. The marks must have been all over the place (I remember they took up an entire page), yet the children's librarian bestowed upon me that little card. The card opened the door for me to become the temporary guardian of a whole possibility of stories, gathered in my name. And after the books were returned each time, the stories stayed with me. The Possibilities of Writing There's power and a world of possibilities in writing a name. Seeing long-ago authors' own handwriting in manuscripts makes them come alive in my mind. Is the handwriting more slanted or heavier in places? Was the author feeling angry, inspired, or worried as she wrote? Like the determination represented in each letter of my earliest handwriting, I find a sense of immediacy and a realization of an author's personality in seeing her handwritten name and the words of her story. An Extraordinary Place to Visit It must have been fascinating for visitors at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair to see a wealth of manuscripts and signed copies of famous books. All across the immense Fair of 633 acres, there were books. They don't get the attention as other wonders do at the 1893 Fair—among them the marvel conceived by a young engineer named George Washington Gale Ferris Jr—but there were many book treasures for those inclined to seek them out. In the Woman's Building, designed by 21-year-old architect Sophia Hayden, a visitor first encountered two extraordinary murals high up on the walls. One was by Mary Cassatt (the disappearance of her mural became a baffling art mystery. See the story in my blog here.) After viewing the murals, the visitor might gather her skirts and climb upstairs to see another extraordinary sight: the library. In Right Here I See My Own Books, the authors reveal, “...[it was] a unique collection of printed materials written, illustrated, edited, or translated by women from all over the world. Never before had such a collection been assembled.” [1] By the end of the Fair in October of 1893, there were over 8,000 volumes in the library designed by the well-known interior decorator and textile artist Candace Wheeler [2]. How did they make their way to this great library? The managers of the Woman’s Building, headed by Bertha Honoré Palmer, sent letters across the United States, and to France, Spain, Great Britain, Japan, Peru, China, Greece and many more. Their goal was to form a collection of books by women of “every race and country…from the earliest times to the present day.” [3] The collection fell short of that almost impossible plan, but the library became an impressive tribute to women's literary work. Rare and Priceless Manuscripts Included in those 8,000 volumes were precious manuscripts sent from England. I discovered a hint that there might have been a handwritten manuscript of Jane Eyre in the library. I wanted to confirm the story, and I discovered two clues. I found the first in Maud Howe Elliott's book written at the time of the Fair "…among others we may see the handwriting of "Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot and Charlotte Brontë." [4]. I spotted the second clue in World’s Fair authors Norman Bolotin and Christine Laing's book. In researching my own mystery story set at the Fair, I often rely on their expertise to settle difficult questions shrouded in the past. They confirmed the library contained “a rare manuscript of Jane Eyre." [5] What must it have been like to view Jane Eyre written in Charlotte Brontë's handwriting? Examing her letters in the illustration above, I imagine a writer in a hurry, facing sorrows and challenges. As a book and history nerd, I’d love to climb into a time machine and walk into the library in the Woman's Building. There, I'd see a spectacular and never-repeated collection of books, including pages written by a strong and determined author “in her own hand.” #Authors #BooksandReading #ChicagoWorldsFair1893 #Libraries Is your favorite classic book included in that long-ago library? You can see a list of all the books here > At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, Melina searches for the truth about her vanished father. Linda Borromeo's book, Mystery Fair, was named a finalist in the Cascade Writing Contest. Learn more about Mystery Fair here > What can the height of a table tell you? Visit an intriguing children's library at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair here > References for "In Her Own Hand": [1] Wadsworth, Sarah, and Wayne A. Wiegand. Right Here I See My Own Books: the Woman's Building Library at the World's Columbian Exposition. University of Massachusetts Press, 2012. [2] Ibid. [3] Letter from Bertha Honoré Palmer to Mrs. Humphrey Ward, March 19, 1892. Quoted in Wadsworth. [4] Elliott, Maud Howe. Art and Handicraft in the Woman’s Building of the World’s Columbian Exhibition, Chicago, 1893. Paris, Goupil & Co, 1893. ‌[5] Bolotin, Norman, and Christine Laing. The World’s Columbian Exposition : The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. Urbana, University Of Illinois Press, 2002.

When L. M. Montgomery published Anne's House of Dreams in 1917, she was far from home. She lived 1,675 km from Prince Edward Island. In 1911, she'd moved to Leaskdale, Ontario where her husband had accepted a position as a Presbyterian minister. But her heart returned to Prince Edward Island in her writing. Anne's House of Dreams is infused with the author's love for the small island where she was born on November 30, 1874. A place of winding red roads and a wealth of lighthouses, Prince Edward Island is described so lyrically in Montgomery's writing that I feel her deep connection and love of place along with her. When she wrote this entry in her journal on June 1, 1909, she had no way of knowing she'd leave her home and Prince Edward Island within two years: "The good hour came as I was walking home alone. Before me arched the afterlife of a glorious sea-sunset. The tall slender firs along the moist red road came out against it in a grace and beauty that made me ache for joy,.. It is at such moments that I realize how deeply rooted and strong is my love for this old place...a love of instinct and passion, blent with every fibre of my soul. It is terrible to love things—and people—as I do!" — The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery, Vol. 1 Away from the Island, and going through the devastating war years, she was now far from that "good hour" when she'd walked home on an early summer evening. It was in her imagination that she returned to the sea as she penned a bittersweet story of hope and loss. In a previous blog, I mentioned that I think Anne's House of Dreams is one of Montgomery's most deeply felt books. Reading the story again now is even more poignant. I realize the author was looking back at a time and place that was no longer there when she looked out the window in the morning. When she went back to the Island in her imagination, she made the lighthouse, Four Winds, a place of dreams too. When reading the book, I wondered: "Did L.M. Montgomery base the Four Winds light on a real lighthouse on Prince Edward Island?" Part of the answer came when I walked home from work one summer day—in a very different world than Prince Edward Island. I stepped inside a Berkeley, California used bookstore (not a rare thing to happen!). There, I found the first volume of L. M. Montgomery's journals and quickly snapped it up. Opening the cover, I saw that it was originally purchased at the Anne of Green Gables Museum on Prince Edward Island, making it an even more special "find." Through the years, I've enjoyed browsing among the journal entries here and there. However, when I read the passage dated June 3, 1909, I had no idea until now that it was a clue about the Four Winds Lighthouse in Anne's House of Dreams. "Away to the westward six or seven miles the view was bounded by New London Point, a long, sharp tongue of land running far out to sea. In my childhood I never wearied of speculating what was on the other side of that point—a very realm of enchantment surely, I thought. Even when I gradually grew into the understanding that beyond it was merely another reach of shore like our own it still held a mystery and fascination for me. I longed to stand out on the remote, lonely, purple point, beyond which was the land of lost sunsets. I have seen few more beautiful sights than a sea-sunset off that point. Of late years a new charm has been added to it—a revolving light, which as seen from here, flashes on the point in the dusk of summer nights like a beacon 'O'er the foam Of perilous seas in fairyland forlorn.'" The second clue comes from Anne's House of Dreams itself. Lighthousefriends.com writes "The following description of the setting of the lighthouse, given in Chapter 9 of the book, leaves little doubt that it was based on Cape Tryon Lighthouse." “The Four Winds light was built on a spur of red sandstone cliff jutting out into the Gulf.” — L.M. Montgomery Anne's House of Dreams Although the Four Winds Lighthouse is very much its own self in the story, L. M. Montgomery based Four Winds on the location of this very real lighthouse: Lighthousefriends.com cites an article by Carolyn Strom Collins titled "A Visit to 'Four Winds Lighthouse'" (The Shining Scroll, December 2010). I haven't seen the article yet, but I'll be looking for a copy soon. Update — I came across the acticle, and it is filled with a wealth of L.M. Montgomery and lighthouse lore. You can find Carolyn Strom Collins's complete article here → The model for the Four Winds Lighthouse has been purchased by a private party and moved from its original location. The lighthouse is now used as a residence in Park Corner, PEI. In the 1960s, a new Cape Tryon Lighthouse was built, This is the one visitors see while walking along the coast in a "good hour" of their own: Montgomery did return to Prince Edward Island on visits, but never lived there again. A year after Anne's House of Dreams was published, she came back to PEI to nurse victims of the Spanish Influenza pandemic at Park Corner in 1918. I like to think all the lighthouses on Prince Edward Island were especially bright on the evening when she returned, just as the lighthouse in Anne's House of Dreams represents all the good things associated with beacons and the light that guides wanderers home. If you'd like to leave a comment, please click here. I'll share your comment on this blog with your first name or username. I'll look forward to hearing from you. #Authors #BooksandReading #Islands #Lighthouses #LMMontgomery Comment: "Your blog is a joy to read. It showed the happiness and sadness of a life lived. Looking at the beautiful pictures caught my eye. The writing touched my heart. Well done! " From SoaringEagle "Thank you, SoaringEagle. Since I'm reading Anne's House of Dreams right now, it deepened my appreciation to know more about what was going on in L.M.M.'s life. I empathize with the way she found solace in the natural beauty around her. I appreciate your comment." Reply from Linda Although I grew up in a desert-like place (it can be 110 degrees in the summer!), I've always had a fascination for lighthouses around the world. My book, Mystery Shores, is set on a lighthouse island along the Washington Coast in 1893. I now live in the Pacific Northwest where temperatures are 30 degrees cooler and lighthouses are close by.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. — Cicero Lush gardens and books are delights that never grow old. The Roman statesman and philosopher, Cicero, lived between 106 and 43 BC. Yet, his quote is just as fresh and appropriate on the first day of spring in 2023. When walking into a spring garden full of bold red tulips and enchanting yellow daffodils, bringing a carefully selected book to read is a must. As the days grow longer, imagine reading in one of these five lovely gardens from beloved stories: 5. Hester Gray's Garden There is something poignant about four girls, full of life and dreams for the future, coming upon an abandoned garden once loved by another young girl who is now long gone: "...hemmed in by beeches and firs but open to the south was a little corner and in it a garden...or what had once been a garden... "There were traces of old paths still and a double line of rosebushes through the middle; but all the rest of the space was a sheet of yellow and white narcissi, in their airiest, most lavish wind-swept bloom above the lush green grass." Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery 4. Elizabeth Bennet's Rambles When I think of Pride and Prejudice, I first see the parlors and assembly rooms where subtle dances of conversation take place. A second look makes me realize how many important scenes occur along cultivated pathways, gardens, and woods. Elizabeth Bennet especially enjoys her rambles when she can get away from the strict rules of society. Elizabeth receives two unwelcome marriage proposals indoors, but it is a proposal on a walk outdoors that changes her life. In this passage, Elizabeth first sees the grounds of Pemberley and begins to see Mr. Darcy in a new light: "Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste." Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 3. Lord Emsworth's Garden at Blandings Castle Lord Emsworth, the beleaguered Earl of Blandings, just wants to potter in his garden and give unwanted advice to his head gardener. Everyone conspires against him, especially that most efficient of all spectacled secretaries, Baxter. Instead of enjoying a day among his flowers, Lord Emsworth is neatly bundled off on a train to London. Here is what Lord Emsworth is missing in an early novel (one of my favorites) from the Blandings series by P. G. Wodehouse: "...the immediate neighborhood of the castle was ablaze with roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride, Canterbury bells, and a multitude of other choice blooms..." Leave it to Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith also contains one of the funniest scenes ever to grace an English novel, all involving raining flower pots. 2. The Vice-Regent of the Sun G.K. Chesterton wrote one of the most striking passages about flowers in his essay, ironically named The Glory of Grey. We'll look ahead to a late summer garden for this quote about sunflowers: "Against a dark sky all flowers look like fireworks. There is something strange about them, at once vivid and secret, like flowers traced in fire in the phantasmal garden of a witch. A bright blue sky is necessarily the high light of the picture; and its brightness kills all the bright blue flowers. But on a grey day the larkspur looks like fallen heaven; the red daisies are really the red lost eyes of day; and the sunflower is the vice-regent of the sun." 1. The Secret Garden The world is a closed-in place for lonely orphan Mary Lennox. When she arrives at Misselthwaite Manor, nothing seems to change at first. She is still unhappy and out-of-sorts with everyone around her. Gradually she discovers the power of love, life, and healing, centered around a secret garden: "And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles." The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett May you find bright words and flowers within a book and a spring garden. #BooksandReading #Gardens #NatureInspiration Writers often look for inspiration in their gardens. Take an armchair vacation to the homes of five famous authors: A Sense of Place and the Imagination Linda Borromeo is the author of Mystery Shores, a novel for ages 10 and up (and everyone who loves historical mysteries). Set along the misty Pacific Northwest coast, the story is filled with animals, birds, a rare type of flower, a lighthouse, and secrets that young sleuths Christie and Melina must solve.

For those who love reading, the busy December holidays can be a challenge. However, book lovers always find a few minutes to open the pages of an old friend or discover a new favorite. Short stories. A classic novella. Charming letters from Father Christmas. Here are six favorites (plus one) with shorter passages to dip into throughout the beautiful December rush: A Merry Christmas and Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott Book Description: Like her character Jo in Little Women, Louisa May Alcott wrote short stories to send off to magazines, eagerly watching the mail for an acceptance letter and a check. In Louisa's case, she wrote for her own satisfaction and especially to help her family make ends meet. Her Christmas-themed stories are now collected in this attractive book. We also get to enjoy the iconic Christmas scene from Little Women all over again. What Makes This Book Special: In an era when the messages in children's books were often heavy-handed, Louisa May Alcott made her characters less perfect and more vivid and lovable. They often have a breezy and ironic sense of humor that keeps the stories from being overly sweet. These stories overflow with the spirit of the season and an old-fashioned charm. Anne of Green Gables Christmas Treasury by Carolyn Strum Collins and Christina Wyss Eriksson Book Description: A perfect companion book for any Anne of Green Gables fan! I'm not a "crafty" person (my creations never turn out remotely like the ones pictured in handicraft books). I still love looking through the illustrations in this book. The drawings, quotes from the "Anne" books, and interesting lore about a Victorian Christmas give a wonderful "feel" to this Treasury. Hand-made decorations to trim a Christmas tree—Anne-style—are especially fun (even if, like me, you just soak up the nostalgic ambiance of the book). What Makes This Book Special: My husband, an expert chef, created an "Anne" Christmas dinner for me using these recipes: Island Mashed Potatoes, Anne's Glazed Carrots and Four Winds Roast Goose (turkey for us). I always remember that kindredly Christmas dinner when I open this Treasury every year. A Green Gables Christmas quote: Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien Book Description: John Francis Reuel Tolkien was three years old when he received an exciting letter addressed to him. The stamp had an interesting, quite icy look to it. The postmark must have riveted his attention when his mother read it to him. It said simply, "North Pole." It was the first letter in a long tradition at the Tolkien household (from 1920-1943). John, and later his brothers and sister, received an annual letter from Father Christmas and his associate, the North Polar Bear (who gave his outlook on things, too, in thick red handwriting as he tried to write with his paw). If the handwriting and drawing style began to look suspiciously like their father's, I'm sure John, Michael, Christopher and Priscilla enjoyed the letters all the more in later years. What Makes This Book Special: Where do I start? Letters from Father Christmas was a wonderful discovery for me this Christmas season. The letters and illustrations are filled with humor and charm. I found myself laughing out loud (I especially enjoyed the exasperated but affectionate banter between Father Christmas and the North Polar Bear). Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterworks, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, will also enjoy seeing the author at his most relaxed and playful. I was surprised to see a few correlations between some characters in the Letters and his famous books. While reading through the letters, it's poignant to catch a glimpse of the love J.R.R. Tolkien had for his family and to imagine the children's delight when they discovered each new letter Father Christmas wrote for them. The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin Story Description: Classic children's book fans will recognize Kate Douglas Wiggin as the author of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Sixteen years before her best-known work, this lovely story was written in 1887, featuring a little girl born on Christmas day. The carols being sung that morning seem to echo in her heart throughout the year, even when she falls seriously ill. Resolved to reach out to others, she puts together a surprising plan. What Makes This Book Special: I had never heard of this book until a good friend recommended it as her favorite Christmas story. The pages were few, but the heart message is large. It is sad, tender, and humorous by turns. By the last page of the book, it will leave the reader with a quietly warm and bittersweet feeling. A Little More About the Author: Kate Douglas Wiggin's pen spoke of the magic and adventures of childhood, but she didn't stop there. She established the first free kindergarten in San Francisco, and spent her life as a tireless advocate of children's rights, welfare, and education. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens The Story Behind the Story: When a wealthy friend asked Charles Dickens to inspect a school for poor children prior to making a donation there, he readily agreed. Because of his own poverty as a child, Dickens was troubled about the plight of those trapped in the life he remembered. His rage built the more he saw of the "Ragged School," as it was called. At first, he wanted to write a fact-based pamphlet to let people know about the harsh conditions. He realized, though, that change usually comes by touching the emotions. Later that year, under financial pressure, Charles Dickens penned A Christmas Carol, taking only six weeks to finish his story of loss, brokenness, and redemption. He wrote it "at a white heat." He often "wept and laughed and wept again," walking fifteen or twenty miles on many nights as he thought out the story. A Christmas Carol was released just a week before Christmas and became an instant sensation and bestseller. What Makes This Story Special: Charles Dickens had a genius for creating characters (and their names!). Ebenezer Scrooge is among his most memorable. In countless stage plays and film adaptations, this story comes alive and touches the heart, just as Dickens hoped it would when he wrote his timeless words in 1843. Advent in Narnia: Reflections for the Season by Heidi Haverkamp Book Description: At the beginning of December, I always need to decide which Christmas book I'll choose to spend time with each morning. This is the one I selected for again for 2023. Advent in Narnia is a collection of readings about the Christmassy aspects of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The book is arranged with one reading for every day in December leading up to the 25th. What Makes This Book Special: With interesting insights about the C.S. Lewis classic, it's wonderful to spend time in a new way with the story. As Ms. Haverkamp writes, "...by placing Christianity in another world, [Lewis] makes it unfamiliar again." Her book is a thought-provoking way to learn what Christmas is all about "whether we aren't sure Christianity can mean anything to us or whether it means everything." The First Christmas and the Meaning of the Day Merry Christmas! May you have a wonderful day filled with the joys of the season, wonderful books, and happiness throughout the New Year. #BooksandReading #Christmas My book, Mystery Shores, is set on a lighthouse island along the beautiful Pacific Northwest coast. I'm currently writing the sequel, Mystery Fair. I hope to someday write a Christmas novella set at Mystery Shores Island. Lighthouses, snow, and mystery seem like a good combination for busy December reading too.

Autumn on Prince Edward Island My husband and I started out married life in an apartment near the University of California, Berkeley. When I began working in the library there, I would just happen to walk along Telegraph Avenue on my way home. Lining that street is a bibliophile's dream: a different bookstore with practically every step. I wandered into one of the bookshops and discovered a volume called the The Anne of Green Gables Treasury of Days, edited by Carolyn Strom Collins and Christina Wyss Eriksson. When I opened it, I knew the book would accompany me home. Inside I found 365 quotes from Anne's author, L. M. Montgomery—one for each day, according to the season: "The year is a book, isn't it, Marilla? Spring's pages are written in Mayflowers and violets, summer's in roses, autumn's in red maple leaves, and winter in holly and evergreens." In honor of the coming of autumn, here is another L. M. Montgomery quote to usher in the season of crimson falling leaves, brisk walks and evenings curled up with an Anne book: It was a September evening and all the gaps and clearings in the woods were brimmed up with ruby sunset light. Here and there the lane was splashed with it, but for the most part it was already quite shadowy beneath the maples, and the spaces under the firs were filled with a clear violet dusk like airy wine. Sunset on Prince Edward Island #BooksandReading #Islands #LMMontgomery #NatureInspiration More to Explore Four Ways Anne of Green Gables Can Help You Achieve Your Dreams: The fifth time the rejected manuscript of Anne of Green Gables returned to L. M. Montgomery, the author put it away in an old hatbox. To find out how L.M. Montgomery overcame discouragement to give her story one more chance, see my post here> I first read the Anne books in my 20s. I went on to read just about everything L. M. Montgomery ever wrote (I'm still working on the short stories). The mystery series I'm writing also takes place on Islands: Mystery Shores, a tale of secrets along the Pacific Northwest coast is available to read now.

My husband and I can never resist a sign that says “library book sale.” On an autumn afternoon filled with brilliant colors and summer-like temperatures, we followed the beckoning sign and wondered what books we might find this time. Once we arrived, Peter and I walked into a small library in Burlington, Washington. The building is graced with high ceilings and sunlight streaming in through large windows. We had a good feeling as we headed to the book sale area. After the volunteers greeted us, we began browsing the books spread out on the tables. I had a list in my head of authors I would like to find. I quickly scanned the first table—nothing there of interest. I moved on to the second table, and the list was forgotten. Among the hardback fiction books with glossy covers, I found volumes with vintage bindings and old-fashioned lettering. My husband was looking at some books nearby, and I called him over to see. We were amazed at what was available. Here on the table were books from an era of sewn bindings and covers with gold-leaf titles. As I picked up book after book, handling them gently, I found copyright dates of 1866-1914. Who had bought them when they were new and how had they wound up at this sale in a different century? The prices were very reasonable, and as I carefully gathered an armful of books to purchase, I planned to find out more about their histories when we went home. Here is what I discovered: A Dickens of a Prize: The oldest book I purchased is Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens. The edition was published in 1866 by Chapman & Hall. The charming address is given on the green cover: 193 Piccadilly, London. The book I bought is not valuable in terms of money, since it is a lone volume II (and is not in good condition). But it was fascinating to examine the book. Although the binding has come loose, it shows the old thread and the meticulous way the pages were sewn together. I found a name written on the flyleaf. Not Dickens, but the handwritten name of a long-ago purchaser, William Daniel, and the date, 1868. Perhaps he bought it at a used book stall in London on an autumn day? Somehow the volume found its way from England to a small town in Washington over a century and a half later. Will the Real Winston Churchill Please Stand Up? An old game show on television featured two impostors sitting in a row with the “real” person. A dramatic story was told at the beginning of the program. The celebrity panel then asked questions to try to determine who was the actual person in the story and who was faking their answers. At the end, the host asked dramatically, “Will the real [name of person] please stand up?” The contestants bobbed up and down, pretending to rise, until the real one finally stood tall. I thought of that show when I spotted a book by Winston Churchill on the table. There was only one problem: I had never heard of this book, Richard Carvel. The book's theme didn't seem quite right to be written by the future Prime Minister of England, and yet, who else would be called Winston Churchill? Looking up Richard Carvel later, I found out there were two men named Winston Churchill, and both of them were "real." The other Winston Churchill was an American novelist. To my surprise, I also found he was much more famous in the early days than the British statesman. The future "Lion of Britain" was the one to use an additional name to differentiate himself from the more well-known American. Even when the British Churchill won the Nobel Prize in Literature, he continued to use Winston Spencer Churchill or Winston S. Churchill for his “writing” name, as he had promised years earlier. Young Winston Churchill of England sent a humorous letter to Winston Churchill of America. He even mentions Richard Carvel! You can see his letter at The National Churchill Museum online here. The American author replied in an equally witty way: Mr. Winston Churchill appreciates the courtesy of Mr. Winston Churchill in adopting the name of ‘Winston Spencer Churchill’ in his books, articles, etc. Mr. Winston Churchill makes haste to add that, had he possessed any other names, he would certainly have adopted one of them. The One that Got Away Since I especially enjoy classic children’s books, I loved seeing the beautiful cover of this old-timer, Randy’s Summer by Amy Brooks. The author wrote a series of girls’ books in the early 1900s. Although the cover was lovely, I put it down because the pages inside were crumbling. After moving on, I thought better of my decision and went back. It was gone. Someone else had picked it up before I could get there. I spotted the book in the pile a woman carried as she browsed along the table. I had that feeling of regret. Yet, the "usurper" looked like someone who would enjoy and cherish the book, I reassured myself. I took another glance at the title, wanting to research the book later. I found that Randy’s Summer is available on Kindle for free. At the library book sale, I’d held a book from the early 1900s in my hands. Now I’m holding the same words displayed in a digital e-reader. We certainly live in interesting times for reading. Crossing the Bar I did hold onto a slim green volume of poetry published in 1914. It is part of the Riverside Literature Series and has a stamp showing that it was the property of Lakewood Public Schools. The title is Tennyson’s Enoch Arden and Other Poems. I bought the book because it is in excellent condition (the schoolchildren treated it well), and also in honor of L. M. Montgomery. She often quoted Tennyson in her "Anne" series, but I didn't know then the special connection I would find in the book I brought home. I think one of the most moving scenes in L.M. Montgomery’s writing begins in Chapter 35 of Anne’s House of Dreams. She is talking with Captain Jim, a elderly lighthouse keeper and a great friend: Captain Jim: "I heard you reading a piece of poetry one day last winter—one of Tennyson's pieces. I'd sorter like to hear it again, if you could recite it for me." Softly and clearly, while the seawind blew in on them, Anne repeated the beautiful lines of Tennyson's wonderful swan song—"Crossing the Bar." The old captain kept time gently with his sinewy hand. "Yes, yes, Mistress Blythe," he said, when she had finished, "that's it, that's it. He wasn't a sailor, you tell me--I dunno how he could have put an old sailor's feelings into words like that, if he wasn't one. He didn't want any `sadness o' farewells' and neither do I, Mistress Blythe—for all will be well with me and mine beyant the bar." On the very last page of my 1914 volume of poetry, I found Crossing the Bar. It was worth spending an hour indoors on a gorgeous autumn day to explore these wonderful books from the past. Activity Idea: Go to a used book sale with your family or friends. Everyone can look for the oldest book they can find. Together, research and discover the history of the authors and stories. Take turns gently examining the oldest book your group has found. Find the surprising ways the volume is put together compared to newer books. Is Captain Jim's Lighthouse Real? Discover L.M. Montgomery's Lighthouse of Dreams here → When a Picture Is Worth a Thousand (or More) Words: A Book Inscription Adventure → #Authors #BooksandReading #Libraries Linda Borromeo's book, Mystery Shores, takes place along the Washington coast in 1893. On a lighthouse island, Christie and Melina must find answers to a dangerous mystery. Perhaps the girls found a copy Dickens's Barnaby Rudge in the traveling lighthouse library. It would be a good story to curl up with in the library tower of the keepers quarters on an autumn day.

"Still round the corner there may wait, A new road or a secret gate." —J. R. R. Tolkien Question: What do these baby raccoons have in common with author J. R. R. Tolkien? Answer: Curiosity. And, for Tolkien, that curiosity sometimes led to disappointment...at first. Along the way, though, unexpected new roads and secret gates gave Tolkien his own fascinating path to travel. The following is my tribute to J. R. R. Tolkien as we celebrate Hobbit Day during the month of September. The American Tolkien Society mentions that Tolkien translated the date of birth for Hobbit Bilbo Baggins as September 22nd by our calendar. This high-spirited and cheerful celebration included games and feasts. I think the raccoon family in my video would have have loved attending the birthday bash. "Do You Hear That?" On a sunny afternoon, I saw three baby raccoons playing in a small meadow below my deck. I quickly grabbed my video camera. I'd been timing my writing session as I worked outdoors. All of a sudden, the timer went off... Their mom wasn't too impressed, but the raccoon kits were fascinated, trying to figure out that beep-beep-beeping noise. I love how the first raccoon keeps pushing her sibling with her paw: "Do you hear that? What is it?" In what was called the Aesop's Fable Intelligence Test, raccoons gave the researchers a surprise. When presented with a problem, raccoons showed how they could come up with their own solutions in highly individual ways. In fact, researchers back in the early 1900s eyed raccoons as ideal, intelligent subjects for behavioral lab experiments. The raccoons scoffed at that idea. Researchers, in their gray laboratories and white coats, soon gave up on using raccoons extensively. They were just too smart and strong-willed, escaping from their cages and turning the experiments upside-down with their own solutions. Way to go, raccoons! Raccoons proved how highly innovative they are, with memories that can hold the solutions they've devised for years. So, these beautifully wild baby raccoons in my video are exploring the world and figuring things out for themselves (and look pretty adorable while they're doing it). Curiosity, Tolkien and New Paths Shortly after I made the video, I picked up a new (to me) book called Tolkien: How an Obscure Oxford Professor Wrote The Hobbit..." by Devin Brown. The book explores the way Tolkien approached his life and writing with curiosity that would make a raccoon proud. He forged his own path. As a young person in his teens, with a brilliant mind, it was obvious that university should be in Tolkien’s future. The devastating loss of his mother made him an orphan at age twelve. For his future, he had little hope of attending university unless he won a good scholarship. As the time approached, those around him advised that he should keep walking the main road—a well-defined study regimen to earn the scholarship. Instead, his curiosity took him down side roads to learn about the things that fascinated him. In his book, Devin Brown writes: “…time that should have been devoted to studying for the exam was often spent studying something else—including a great deal of time on languages such as Old English, Finnish, and Gothic that he would not be tested over.” [pg. 29] Lost and Found Tolkien wound up losing the scholarship—his scores were too low. His curiosity simply had distracted him from the exam subjects. He did receive “a lesser award” which helped him to attend Exeter College, one of the colleges of Oxford University. It was at Oxford that he'd later become a professor of Anglo-Saxon languages. Yet, the byroads he traveled, sometimes when he "should" have been doing something else, helped him write his masterpieces. His love of languages and the sheer joy of words and their nuances infused his books with deep meaning, poetry, and adventure. His books, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings often appear on the greatest book lists of the Twentieth Century (Brown, Prologue, VI-VII). In fact, after a poll of over 25,000 people conducted by Waterstones, the number one Book of the Century was named: The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien had lost a scholarship but gained a world beyond the “secret gate”—a new place of stories—containing the spirit of the languages he loved, and studied with curiosity, on his own initiative. Another man who took his own creative paths (and appreciated animals as story-tellers), said this: We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious…and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. —Walt Disney Thinking about this, I know I have gone off on some lovely byroads as I write my books. It seems, at the time, that I'm not staying "on point" in my research. But when curiosity leads me to learn about something new, I sometimes find that it fits right into the mystery I'm writing. I'll think of Tolkien and curiosity now when that happens! Here's to finding those "unexpected gates" on the lovely byroads of curiosity. #Authors #BooksandReading #NatureInspiration