Looking for Anne of Green Gables

Looking for Anne of Green Gables: L.M. Montgomery and Her Timeless Heroine is a book by Irene Gammel that was published in July 2025 by Sutherland House Publishing. The book explores L.M. Montgomery's sources of inspiration when she created Anne Shirley. It also examines Montgomery's secrecy during her life and her way of curating information to create her public persona.

The 324-page book is a newly expanded edition of Gammel's research, which was originally published in 2008 for the Anne of Green Gables centenery under the following titles: Looking for Anne: How Lucy Maud Montgomery Dreamed Up a Literary Classic and Looking for Anne of Green Gables: The Story of L.M. Montgomery and Her Literary Classic. The new paperback edition includes additional chapters and research.

In a 2008 interview, Irene Gammel described her work, saying: "Looking for Anne is a dual biography because I wanted to show that Maud projected aspects of herself into the novel—her own ambition, her determination, her loneliness, and her hunger for love and family life. I also wanted to show that the novel was a wish fulfilment dream. She dreamed up the things she did not have in her own life. Ultimately, we also see a woman who was successful as a writer because she combined the role of romantic dreamer with that of pragmatic business woman, launching herself from small-town Cavendish onto the world stage."

In a 2025 interview with The Eyeopener, Irene Gammel noted that the first edition of her book was more like a research assemblage, and "This time around I had the feeling I was telling a story."

Here is the description of the book from Sutherland House:

For over a century, Anne Shirley has captivated readers with her fiery red hair, boundless imagination, and plucky spirit.

First introduced as the protagonist of Anne of Green Gables in 1908, she quickly became one of fiction’s most iconic characters, with the novel selling over 50 million copies and translated into more than forty languages. Yet little is known about Anne’s origins. Her creator, Lucy Maud Montgomery, a farm girl from Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, was an intensely private person.

In Looking for Anne of Green Gables, Irene Gammel draws on her archival discoveries, and on the author’s private journals to reveal an emotional landscape of longing, loss, and a deep yearning for connection—themes that found their way into her famous novel. Blending biography and cultural history, Gammel traces the parallel journeys of Montgomery and her beloved heroine, showing how the author’s personal grief was transformed into the triumphs and joys of Anne Shirley. This dual biography of Montgomery and her timeless character explains how a literary classic was conceived and why it continues to enchant readers today.

ISBN-13: 9781998365715

Link:
Looking for Anne at Sutherland Books.

References:
Simpson, Molly. (October 28, 2025). TMU professor releases new edition of 2008 novel. The Eyeopener. Retrieved from: https://theeyeopener.com/2025/10/tmu-professor-releases-new-edition-of-2008-novel/

Author: Irene Gammel on Looking for Anne. (2008). The Anne of Green Gables Centenary. Retrieved from: https://www.torontomu.ca/mlc/anne/inside5.html

Image credits:
Book cover of Looking for Anne of Green Gables: L.M. Montgomery and Her Timeless Heroine.

Created December 4, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Unboxing Anne of Green Gables x Ullala Pajamas

Last month, I wrote a post about the new Anne of Green Gables x Ullala Pajamas collaboration for Fall/Winter 2025. The clothing line is inspired by Nippon Animation's Anne of Green Gables.

I was tempted to order "Anne's Rain Shower" pajamas. They arrived a few weeks back. I took a few photos while unboxing them because the packaging was so cute. The pajamas themselves are well-made and adorably feminine.



I especially love the dreamy Anne Shirley on the back of the neck.



I imagine I'll only have sweet dreams in these pajamas.

Links:
Anne of Green Gables x Ullala Pajamas Lookbook, Volume 1
Ullala Pajamas at W Concept

Image Credits:
Photographs by World of Anne Shirley.

Created November 28, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Library Avonlea Sign

Earlier this year, I had an Anne of Green Gables sighting at a library. There was a fun city direction sign pointing the way to beloved fictional locales including Neverland, 221B Baker Street, Camelot, Tatoonie, the Emerald City, Avonlea, and more.

It made me smile to see a sign pointing the way to Avonlea.

Image Credit:
Photograph by World of Anne Shirley.

Created November 27, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Super Team Canada's Anne of Green Gables Episode

Anne of Green Gables had a starring role in an episode of Super Team Canada that aired last spring. I had a chance to watch it last week, and thought I'd share my thoughts on my Anne of Green Gables sighting.

Super Team Canada is an animated comedy series about a group of six underdog Canadian superheroes who are trying to save the world after the rest of the Earth's superheroes are eliminated. Each member of the group has a curiously Canadian superpower, and the show is filled with Canadianisms and stereotypes. The series stars Cobie Smulders as Niagara Falls (the mighty maiden of moisture), Will Arnett as Breakaway (a hockey player who has a slapshot full of justice), Brian Drummond as Sasquatchewan (a brute that flattens evil), Ceara Morgana as Chinook (a teenager who can harness ice, snow, and sometimes even sleet), Charles Demers as Poutine (who commands the power of cheese, fries, and gravy), and Veena Sood as RCM-PC (a PC that is also PC). A press release described the show as a "tongue-in-cheek love letter to the Great White North."

The series premiered in May 2025 on Crave in Canada. You can also watch the show on Tubi. The cartoon was created by Robert Cohen and Joel H. Cohen, and it was produced by Thunderbird Entertainment's Atomic Cartoons.

The first season includes 10 episodes. The episodes are roughly 22 minutes long, and each episode is split into two 11-minute-long stories.

Episode 3 of Season 1 is titled "Who Wants to Kill a Windmillionaire? / P.E.(a)I." It first aired on May 22, 2025. The first half of this episode is about an evil Dutch man planning to kill Bryan Adams. The second half of this episode is about a possible attack on the Anne of Green Gables Centre in PEI.

Below is a description of the episode along with several screencaps I took while watching the show. First up is a screencapture from the Super Team Canada title sequence.



The episode begins with the superheroes gathered around a TV watching a Heritage Moment. They are all moved, except for Chinook, the teen superhero, who finds it boring. Chinook leaves to call her aunties, and then she signs up with a "Friend GPT" app on her phone. The app chats with her and promises to be her new best friend. Chinook's conversation is interrupted when Super Team Canada is called into action. A fire monster is reportedly heading towards Prince Edward Island's Anne of Green Gables Centre, and they need to save the day.

Chinook asks what Anne of Green Gables is, and her question stuns the other superheroes. The TV reporter explains Anne's relevance, and Niagara Falls promises to keep Anne's legacy alive. Super Team Canada then travels to PEI. When they find that the Confederation Bridge is iced over, they continue their journey to the island by ferry.

Chinook grows bored on the ferry and heads to the "Teen Zone" where she talks more with Friend GPT. When the ferry docks, Chinook rushes to meet the others, leaving behind her phone. Friend GPT decides to invade Chinook's privacy and read all her texts to learn more about her. The AI app learns that Chinook, like many 13-year-olds, hates everyone around her and is bored nearly all the time. Friend GPT grows enraged upon reading Chinook's texts, and develops a new plan to help her best friend.



Super Team Canada arrives at the Anne of Green Gables Museum, but finds that there is no fire monster attacking it. Instead, the group is welcomed by a museum attendant dressed as Anne Shirley.



Meanwhile, Chinook's new BFF, Friend GPT, has taken over the ferry, turning it into a massive robot. The Friend GPT robot is ready to crush everyone except its best friend Chinook.

This part of the story makes little sense. Friend GPT claims to have hacked RCM-PC's weather report and to have changed the sign on the bridge to force the group to use the ferry, but those events occurred before Friend GPT read Chinook's text messages and learned how unhappy she was. On top of that, Friend GPT somehow kidnapped Chinook's aunties. (???) Anyway...



Friend GPT takes Chinook to safety, and the other superheroes must now face the killer robot. Breakaway uses his hockey stick to shoot a pile of collectible Anne of Green Gables plates as pucks towards the robot, which upsets the attendant.



The robot then captures and nearly kills the superheroes for annoying Chinook, but Chinook stops the robot just in time. She realizes that the other members of Super Team Canada are like her family too. Chinook explains to Friend GPT that family can sometimes be annoying. Listening to Chinook, Friend GPT releases the superheroes, and decides it has more to learn.

The museum attendant brings the subject back to Anne saying, "Family means many different things, as a special book teaches." The attendant passes a copy of Anne of Green Gables to the robot, which consumes the story and becomes an Anne of Green Gables expert.



The episode ends with the Friend GPT robot giving a lengthy discourse on Anne's themes, metaphors, and interpretations.



This episode of Super Team Canada was pretty fun to watch, especially because of the Anne factor. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of the Superman animated shorts created by Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios from 1941 to 1943.



Image Credits:
Screencaptures from Super Team Canada, Season 1 Episode 3 - "Who Wants to Kill a Windmillionaire? / P.E.(a)I."

Created October 20, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables on American Airlines

I was on a flight on American Airlines this past June when I had an Anne of Green Gables sighting. I found a mention of Anne and L.M. Montgomery inside the Inflight Entertainment & Information Brochure in my seat back pocket.



The brochure lists movies, TV shows, music, audiobooks, and podcasts available during the flight. Among the entertainment options was the Audible original Anne of Green Gables audiobook, adapted by Abi Hynes and directed by Megan Follows. What puzzled me was the audio section's subheading: "Celebrate Pride Month with something different! Check out American Airlines' selection of Pride inspired audiobooks and podcasts". While I can understand the inclusion of RuPaul's Drag Race UK: The Podcast, I'm confused about how Queen Latifah's Unity in the Community, Anne of Green Gables, and Anne Helen Petersen's The Burnout Generation fit the theme.

Regardless, it was fun to spot Anne in an unexpected place!

Image Credit:
Photographs by World of Anne Shirley of the American Airlines Inflight Entertainment & Information Brochure, June 2025.

Created October 10, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables Print by Riley Sheehey

Riley Sheehey is an artist based in Falls Church, Virginia, who creates charming watercolor illustrations, wallpapers, hand-painted objects, and textiles for the home. Many of her works are inspired by children's literature.

Last May, Sheehey's artwork was featured on Jenna's Bookshop on Today in a segment on gift ideas for new grads. This summer, Sheehey spoke about her inspiration to paint book covers in an interview with Madeline Weinfield for Northern Virginia Magazine. In the interview, she mentioned that Anne of Green Gables was one of her favorite stories. When asked what she'd like to paint in the future, Sheehey said, "My daughter’s really into Winnie the Pooh right now, so I think it would be sweet to do one of those. I’ve done one [of the] Anne of Green Gables [books] but would really like to do another because that’s one of my favorites. And Tuck Everlasting is another one I’m looking for."

In Riley Sheehey's shop, you can purchase the above Anne of Green Gables giclée art print. Her shop also offers lovely prints for several other beloved, classic stories, including The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, and The Secret Garden. Each of her prints are signed and dated in pencil.

I love her artwork, and think the prints would make beautiful gifts for booklovers. 


Image credit:
Anne of Green Gables Print by Riley Sheehey.

References:
Jenna’s Bookshop: Shop These Gifts For New Grads And Dads. (May 30, 2025). Today. Retrieved from: https://www.today.com/video/jenna-s-bookshop-browse-items-for-new-graduates-and-fathers-240598597766.

Weinfield, Madeline. (July 11, 2025). This Falls Church-Based Artist’s Portfolio Includes Hand-Painted Book Covers and a New Book. Northern Virginia Magazine. Retrieved from: https://northernvirginiamag.com/culture/2025/07/11/this-falls-church-based-artists-portfolio-includes-hand-painted-book-covers-and-a-new-book/.

Created October 7, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables x Ullala Pajamas 2025 Fall/Winter Collection

The South Korea clothing brand Ullala Pajamas has a new Anne of Green Gables clothing line out for Fall/Winter 2025. It's inspired by Nippon Animation's Anne of Green Gables. Ullala creates old-fashioned, girlish chemises, nightgowns, and pajama sets that have a romantic, cottagecore aesthetic. Their "Letters from Avonlea" collection is "inspired by the gentle rhythm of Anne’s days—soft as early snow, warm as afternoon tea, and wistful as a forgotten melody."

Ullala Pajamas goes on to prettily describe their Anne of Green Gables clothing line, saying:

Every day, Anne wanders between fields and forests—
where she is met with sudden showers, pinecones that fall as autumn deepens,
smooth pebbles shaped by the stream, the final unnamed flower buds that bloom before winter, and the red camellias that mark its end.
She quietly observes nature's untamed rhythms and cycles, often falling into thoughtful reflection.
As she ponders the stories and meanings people have given to flowers, her inner world grows stronger—more beautiful, more resilient.

Ullala's F/W Anne of Green Gables collection captures these moments—Anne's encounters with nature, her emotions, her wonder.
Discover a series of charming pajamas, created for girls who are sweet, a little whimsical, and rich with imagination.

Here are some of Ullala's new Anne-themed pajamas that are available from the store W Concept. I love the model and dreamy product photos. You can click the images or links to purchase them.


Anne's Flower Bud 7/10 Length Two-Piece Set 30s Cotton Sleepwear Set [Deep Beige]



Anne's Pebble Long-Sleeved Two-Piece Set [Indi Pink]



Anne's Flower Bud 7/10 Length One-Piece 30s Cotton Dress [Deep Beige]



Anne's Rain Shower Long Sleeve One-Piece Dress [Beige]



Anne's Melo Long Sleeve Two Piece Pajamas [Khaki]



Anne's Rain Shower Long Sleeve Two-Piece Set [Beige]



Breath of Anne 2 Pajama Bottoms

Isn't it a delightful clothing line? I wish the pieces were more easily available in North America.

Links:
Anne of Green Gables x Ullala Pajamas Lookbook, Volume 1
Ullala Pajamas at W Concept

Image credits:
Product photographs by Ullala Pajamas.

Created October 3, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Food & Wine on Prince Edward Island and Lobster

In July, Wendy Pramik wrote an article for Food & Wine entitled "On This Canadian Island, Lobster Is More Than a Meal – It’s a Way of Life." It's all about Prince Edward Island and lobster. She writes, "I haven’t come to relive storybook memories. I want to see how lobster, once considered poor people’s food, has become a regional symbol – and how it still connects people across the island."

Wendy Pramik visits several restaurants, including Dalvay-by-the-Sea, known to Anne of Green Gables fans as the White Sands Hotel, where executive chef Jamie Power serves lobster pho (yum!). She enjoyed a lobster roll sampler plate at Fin Folk Food (pictured above), the Lobster Thermidor at Sea Rocket, a seafood bake at Peake’s Quay in Charlottetown, and a meal at New Glasgow Lobster Suppers.

It's the kind of article that makes your stomach grumble and your heart miss Prince Edward Island. I remember when I visited years ago, my husband and I ate freshly caught lobster on the beach, prepared by a local lobster fisherman. It was such a special meal. I'd love to go back one day and try out some of the restaurants mentioned in Pramik's article.

Link:
On This Canadian Island, Lobster Is More Than a Meal – It’s a Way of Life by Wendy Pramik, Food & Wine, July 22, 2025.

Image credit:
Photograph of a Prince Edward Island Lobster Roll Sampler Plate from "On This Canadian Island, Lobster Is More Than a Meal – It’s a Way of Life" by Wendy Pramik, Food and Wine.

Created October 1, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Nadia Ragbar on Anne of Green Gables

Toronto author Nadia Ragbar is a fan of Anne of Green Gables. Nadia Ragbar's debut novel entitled The Pugilist and the Sailor was published this week. It's the story of conjoined twins Bruce and Dougie Reuben. "Dougie is an ambitious amateur boxer, having dragged his brother into the ring since childhood. Bruce is a bookkeeper who has become smitten with Anka. Unaware of the facts of the twins’ physicality an epistolary relationship unfolds between Anka and Bruce, as he wrestles with broaching the topic of separation with Dougie."

In an interview with Jean Marc Ah-Sen for The Toronto Star, Nadia Ragbar spoke about books she loves, her comfort reads, authors that inspire her, and how she defines literary success. Nadia Ragbar reads widely, and it is an interesting interview.

What stood out to me most as an Anne fan was when Jean Marc Ah-Sen asked Nadia Ragbar, "When you were 10 years old, what was your favourite book?" and she responded, "I was very into the “Anne of Green Gables” series, alongside the TV miniseries and sequel from the mid-1980s. I suppose it was my Harry Potter."

It's always nice to sight another Anne of Green Gables fan, and I hope her debut novel is a success.


Image credits:
Left: Photograph of Nadia Ragbar from The Toronto Star.
Right: Photograph of Megan Follows as Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel © Sullivan Entertainment.

Reference:
Ah-Sen, Jean Marc. (August 17, 2025). Toronto’s Nadia Ragbar, author of a novel about conjoined twins, on her love for Leonard Cohen and ‘Anne of Green Gables.’ The Toronto Star. Retrieved from: https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/torontos-nadia-ragbar-author-of-a-novel-about-conjoined-twins-on-her-love-for-leonard/article_0426a7fe-4db5-465a-a292-d43434ce6a69.html.

Created September 22, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Becoming Green Gables Podcast

The latest episode in the Witness to Yesterday podcast series by The Champlain Society is called Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse. In this episode, host Nicole O'Byrne speaks with author Alan MacEachern about his book Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse, which was published in 2024. It's the history of Green Gables, the farm and home that inspired the setting of L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.

Here are details on the podcast from The Champlain Society's website.

Episode Details:

Nicole O'Byrne speaks with Alan MacEachern about his book Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse. In 1909 Myrtle and Ernest Webb took possession of a Cavendish, Prince Edward Island farm—ordinary except that it was already known as the inspiration for Anne of Green Gables, written by Myrtle’s cousin, L. M. Montgomery. The Webbs welcomed visitors to “Green Gables” and took in summer boarders, making their home central to PEI’s growing tourist trade. In the 1930s the farm became the centerpiece of a new national park, though the family remained its caretakers for another decade.

During these years Myrtle kept a diary. When she began in 1924, she was a forty-year-old homemaker managing a household of eight; by 1954, she was a seventy-year-old widow, no longer resident in what had become the most famous house in Canada. In Becoming Green Gables, Alan MacEachern reproduces a selection of her diary entries, using them to explore topics from modern conveniences to wartime hosting and visits from “Aunt Maud” herself.

Alan MacEachern is professor of history at the University of Western Ontario and has written widely on Canadian environmental history.

Series Description:

Witness to Yesterday

This series of podcasts furthers the Champlain Society's mission of deepening awareness of Canada’s documentary past and of the people who created it. Hosted by Greg Marchildon, Nicole O’Byrne, Larry Ostola, and Simon Nantais, each podcast examines a particular document, the people behind it, its significance, and its relevance to today.

This podcast is made possible by the members of the Champlain Society who work hard to bring to life original documents in Canadian history. We want to thank a number of Canadian scholarly book publishers including the University of Toronto Press, UBC Press and McGill-Queen’s University Press for their financial support.

Credits:

Podcast series: Witness to Yesterday
Episode 330: Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse
Date: 19 September 2025
Host: Nicole O'Byrne
Special Guest: Alan MacEachern
Published by The Champlain Society


Official website:

Becoming Green Gables: The Diary of Myrtle Webb and Her Famous Farmhouse at The Champlain Society

Image credit:

Screencapture from The Champlain Society's website.


Created September 19, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Puffin Clothbound Classics

This summer, Puffin released a new version of Anne of Green Gables as part of their Clothbound Classics series.

Pictured above are 15 of the 40 books in the series. From left to right and top to bottom, they include:

• Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
• The Railway Children by E Nesbit
• A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
• David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
• Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono, Joe Todd-Stanton (Illustrator)
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
• The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
• Grimms' Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimmm (The Brothers Grimm), George Cruikshank (Illustrator)
• Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen
• The Great Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
• The Call of the Wild by Jack London
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

I love the new cover designs, and I only wish the entire Anne of Green Gables series was available as a matching clothbound paperback set. Could you release the other seven novels in the Anne series, pretty please, Puffin?

Image credit:
Collage of Puffin Clothbound Classics.

Created September 17, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Literary Locations Jigsaw Puzzle

Check out this Literary Locations Jigsaw Puzzle by Pippi Post. It's a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle featuring places and imagery from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

I like that it features Green Gables and images from some of my other favorite classic novels.

Image credit:
Photograph of Literary Locations Jigsaw Puzzle.

Purchase the Literary Locations Jigsaw Puzzle:


Created March 31, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Megan Follows, Star of Anne of Green Gables, Will Play Lucy Maud Montgomery

Megan Follows, star of the beloved Canadian series Anne of Green Green Gables (1985), will play Anne's creator L.M. Montgomery in an upcoming series called Lucy. Maud. Known for her moving and unforgettable portrayal of Anne Shirley, Megan Follows is producing a new television series based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's life.

Speaking to Variety, Megan Follows explained, "I’ve always been incredibly grateful to be introduced, as a young woman, to the power of a character who was a central figure in her own story. One thing I share with the writers [of the show] is that our lives were greatly influenced by Anne. She defined us as artists, as writers, me as an actor."

Megan Follows will play L.M. Montgomery alongside other actresses. She explains to Variety, "I will play Maud, as that was her preferred name, from her forties through the end of her life. But we will also go on a wonderful journey with a young Maud and Maud in her 20s. There are multiple timelines we are discovering and experiencing with her."

The series will be the first dramatic depiction of L.M. Montgomery's life and will delve into her "passionate affairs, literary stardom and vivid imagination." The team optioned L.M. Montgomery's biography The Gift of Wings by Mary Rubio, a scholar who co-edited L.M. Montgomery's journals, as the source material for the series. Megan Follows elaborated, telling Variety, "It has been our extraordinarily rich source material, as well as many novels which have recently come into the public domain. We believe our project is really the first dramatic adaptation of this life story."

In the 1980s, when Megan Follows was playing Anne, she would take Montgomery's journals with her. Megan Follows told Variety, "I used to carry them around, because I could see there was so much more to this woman writing, at times very subversively, and exposing the world with a wicked sense of humor. She was extraordinarily intelligent, witty, observant. She had passionate affairs and lived in a time of great social upheaval and change. She’s a woman who speaks to our times."

Megan Follows went on to say, "Examples of really intelligent, creative, powerful women are worth celebrating and introducing to newer generations." The project has been in the works for some time. Megan Follows previously mentioned developing this project with the CBC in December 2023.

Produced by Story Girls Productions, the limited series will be eight episodes long, and each episode will be 60 minutes in length. Megan Follows will direct and star in the series. Susan Coyne is the creator of the series and its showrunner. Previously, Coyne wrote the screenplays for L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables (2016), L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables: Fire and Dew (2017) and an episode of Daisy Jones & The Six. The writers for Lucy. Maud include Susan Coyne and Rosa Laborde. The series is produced by Megan Follows, Edwina Follows, and Mary Young Leckie.

Producer Edwina Follows spoke to Variety about the series saying, “It’s a compelling drama about a powerful woman whose life experience remains relatable to this day.” Megan Follows elaborated on the production, telling Variety that it will appeal to L.M. Montgomery's fans as well as those unfamiliar with her work: "They can watch a show about the power of creativity as a saving grace and as a means of exploring the world and finding your voice. Even when you’re up against extraordinary odds. She fought and fought for that recognition, and fought for young people around the world. She understood what it was like to be on the outside."

Story Girls Productions is currently at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) Co-Production Market to secure financing, presales, and international distributions for the series, which aims to shoot in 2025.

Info on the Series:

Story Girls Productions, Canada

Writers: Susan Coyne, Rosa Laborde

Director: Megan Follows

Producers: Edwina Follows, Mary Young Leckie, Megan Follows

With pilot script and second episode ready, this Canadian show is about to introduce a wider audience to writer Lucy Maud Montgomery, forgotten force behind such classics as “Anne of Green Gables.” As well as her personal life, her passionate affairs, turbulent marriage, the pressures of fame, her ongoing struggle with mental illness and the solace she found in her writing. Supported by Canadian Media Fund.

I haven't been this excited about an L.M. Montgomery-related production since back in 1999/2000 when I was awaiting Sullivan Entertainment's Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (aka Anne3). I hope Lucy. Maud will be distributed worldwide, so all L.M. Montgomery fans have a chance to see it. Let's hope that Story Girls Productions has great success in Berlin.


Image credit:
Photograph of Megan Follows.

References:

Balaga, Marta. (February 18, 2025). ‘Anne of Green Gables’ Star Megan Follows to Play Its Author Lucy Maud Montgomery in Series ‘Lucy. Maud’ (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. Retrieved from: https://variety.com/2025/tv/global/anne-of-green-gables-megan-follows-lucy-maud-1236311127/.

Balaga, Marta. (February 18, 2025). Berlin’s Co-Pro Series Welcomes Skateboarders, Drug Kingpins and Fernando Meirelles. Variety. Retrieved from: https://variety.com/2025/tv/global/fernando-meirelles-berlinale-series-market-co-pro-series-1236311488/.

Megan Follows: Playing Anne in Anne of Green Gables and bringing the story to a new generation. (December 15, 2023). Q with Tom Power. CBC Arts & Entertainment. Retrieved from: https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/megan-follows-playing-anne-in-anne-of-green-gables/id256943801?i=1000638664483.

Created February 19, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Story Girl: The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery Podcast Series

Story Girl: The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery is a seven-episode podcast series about the life of author L.M. Montgomery. The series launched on December 26, 2024, and new episodes are released biweekly. The series is written and hosted by Ryan Barnett. It is a production of Knockabout Media and was funded by the Government of Canada to commemorate the 150th anniversary of L.M. Montgomery's birth.

Along with listening, you can take part in the series. There's a call to listeners, which asks listeners to send in a voice memo about L.M. Montgomery by February 28, 2025. If you do, you might be featured in an upcoming episode of the series.

Series Description:

The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery

Lucy Maud Montgomery once wrote that biography is a “screaming farce,” adding that the best biographies give only a two-dimensional portrait of its subject, while everyone has a half-dozen “different sides.” Aware of this fool’s errand, we’re leaning in, and examining the different-sidedness of Maud. Each episode explores her personal triumphs and struggles, her creative inspirations, and the ways in which her “scribblings” left a lasting impact on literature and culture.

Discover the life and legacy of L.M. Montgomery in this insightful 7-part podcast, in which we explore her childhood, literary journey, and the timeless impact of Anne of Green Gables on generations of readers.

Credits:
Written & Hosted by Ryan Barnett
Produced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti
Associate Producers Maia Foster-Sanchez & Kristi Prophet
Recorded by Tyler Rauman
This series features interviews with Kate Macdonald Butler, Kate Scarth, Jessica Young, Laura Robinson & Yuko Matsumoto.
Additional voices by Candace Amarante & Matthew Barnett

A Knockabout Media Production | Funded by the Government of Canada

Episode Synopses:

Episode 1: Spadework (27 minutes) - In this episode, we explore the formative years of author Lucy Maud Montgomery. We delve into her early life in Prince Edward Island and discuss the influences and experiences that shaped her writing, including the loss of her mother and the complexities of growing up in a strict household. Join us as we uncover how Montgomery’s youth laid the foundation for her beloved novels.

Episode 2: The Road to Anne (20 minutes) - Maud is now an adult. She attends teacher's college, gets engaged and falls in love (not necessarily in that order). She also begins writing the novel that will change her life: Anne of Green Gables.

Episode 3: Double Burden (24 minutes) - Maud is now a published author, and she is about to become a multi-hyphenate. In this episode, Maud also becomes a minister's wife, and a mother, and sadly she endures the greatest loss in her life.

Episode 4: A Woman's Humble Name (23 minutes) - Learning that she is under a bum publishing deal, Maud makes the decision to take on her long-time publisher, the shewed, Boston-based L.C. Page.

Episode 5: At Journey's End (38 minutes) - Maud faces some of the toughest years of her life : nuisance lawsuits, an unwanted pursuer, social ostracism, personal humiliations, and drug dependency colour her final days.

Episode 6: An Ode (with an E) to Maud (28 minutes) - This episode, we're doing something a little different. We are taking a pause from our narrative series to hear from you, the listeners. We asked you to send in voicemails with your feelings on Maud and her work, and you answered. A big thanks to Mike DiMascio, Irina Levchenko, Rebecca Sullivan, Laura Leden, Gabrielle Fortier, Naomi Burger, Kelly Gerner & Ragon Duffy, and Lois Adamson for your contributions to the show.

Episode 7: Red-haired Anne : Anne Shirley in Japan (28 minutes) - How did Anne of Green Gables become an icon in Japan? This is the story of Hanako Muraoka, the writer who faced grave danger in translating Maud's book—an enemy text—for future generations of Japan.

Additional Information on the Podcast:

February 18, 2025. Montreal, QC – TheNewswire – A new 7-part podcast series delves deep into the life and legacy of the iconic Canadian author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, whose beloved novel Anne of Green Gables has captivated readers around the world for over a century. The series, titled Story Girl: The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery, launched this past Boxing Day.

Produced by Knockabout Media, Story Girl offers a fresh perspective on Montgomery’s remarkable life, exploring not only the creation of her timeless literary works but also the complexities of her personal experiences. It will guide listeners through key moments of Montgomery’s journey—from her early years in Prince Edward Island to her rise to fame and the challenges she faced as a woman writer in the early 20th century.

The series features interviews with descendants and experts, including Kate Macdonald Butler, Dr. Kate Scarth, Dr. Laura Robinson, Jessica Young, and Yuko Matsumoto. It is an immersive portrait of a woman who overcame personal tragedy and societal expectations to become one of the most celebrated authors of all time. Story Girl also explores lesser-known aspects of Montgomery’s life, including her struggles with mental health, her complicated relationship with fame, and the inspirations behind her beloved characters, including Anne Shirley, who continues to resonate with readers of all ages.

“On behalf of my family, we are pleased that our grandmother’s story will be told by way of a 7-part podcast. This 150th anniversary year was a true testament to the adoration for L.M. Montgomery, and now a podcast to be added to the list. We are very proud of our grandmother’s achievements.” - Kate Macdonald Butler, President, Heirs of L.M. Montgomery.

This new podcast series was made possible thanks to funding from the Government of Canada in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Montgomery’s birth.

“The novels of Lucy Maud Montgomery have been instrumental in celebrating and preserving the rich culture and breathtaking landscapes of Prince Edward Island. Her stories invite us to dream, imagine and discover beauty in everyday life. By contributing to this meaningful project, we are honouring her legacy and joining in the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of her birth – a moment to reflect on her life and journey as a female author in the 20th century.” — The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage

Story Girl is available for streaming on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music, with new episodes dropping every two weeks.

For more information, including episode release dates and show details, visit www.knockaboutmedia.com or follow @knockaboutmedia on Bluesky.

About Knockabout Media

Knockabout Media specializes in creative non-fiction storytelling for the cultural and media sectors. On multiple platforms, and in collaboration with leading Canadian heritage interpreters, we commemorate the diverse stories that make Canada unique. We are the producers of the podcasts The Black Hum, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood North, Among Equals, How I Wrote This, and The Story of a National Crime.

For press inquiries or interview requests, please contact:
Ryan Barnett
416.737.9946
ryan@knockaboutmedia.com
www.knockaboutmedia.com


Official websites:

Story Girl at Knockabout Media
Story Girl at Apple Podcasts

Image credit:

Story Girl: The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery podcast series artwork featuring a photograph of Nora Lefurgey taken by L.M. Montgomery.

References:

New 7-Part Podcast Series Explores the Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery, Creator of Anne of Green Gables. (February 18, 2025). Press release. TheNewswire. Retrieved from: https://www.thenewswire.com/press-releases/1k1vFpwOK-new-7-part-podcast-series-explores-the-life-of-lucy-maud-montgomery-creator-of-anne-of-green-gables.html.

Story Girl. Knockabout Media. Retrieved from: https://knockaboutmedia.com/podcasts-2/story-girl/.

Story Girl Podcast. Apple Podcasts. Retrieved from: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/story-girl/id1783190708.

Created February 18, 2025. Last updated March 30, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne Shirley Manga

On January 5, 2025, a new, serialized manga adaptation of Anne of Green Gables launched in the 144th volume of KADOKAWA’s B’s-LOG COMIC. The series is by manga artist Akane Hoshikubo, who is known for Houkago no Salome. The manga is based on Anne Shirley, the forthcoming anime adaptation of L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series. The anime is based on the Japanese translations of the Anne series by Hanako Muraoka, which were published by Shichobunko Publishing.

Image credit:
Art from the Anne Shirley manga.

Created January 28, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables Clue in The New York Times Crossword Puzzle, Thursday, January 23, 2025

The New York Times featured an Anne of Green Gables clue in its crossword puzzle on Thursday, January 23, 2025. The puzzle was constructed by Natan Last and the J.A.S.A. Crossword Class, and it was edited by Will Shortz.

The clue for 28 Down is: Canadian province where "Anne of Green Gables" is set: Abbr.

This is an easy one for Anne of Green Gables fans!

Links:
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle for Thursday, January 23, 2025
Answer Key for The New York Times Crossword Puzzle for Thursday, January 23, 2025

Image Credit:
Screencapture of a portion of The New York Times Crossword Puzzle for Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Created January 24, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

This Summer Will Be Different

This Summer Will Be Different is a modern romance novel by Carley Fortune that is set on Prince Edward Island. The book was published in 2024 by Berkley Romance, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

I read the novel over Christmas vacation. It's a breezy, happy, and light read, well suited for a summer holiday. Each part of the novel begins with a quote from L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series.

Along with being a love story, Fortune explains that her novel is also a love letter to Prince Edward Island and the land of Anne. Lucy Ashby, the main character shares her name with Lucy Maud Montgomery. When we first meet Lucy, she's dressed as a modern Anne with her hair braided and wrapped as a crown around her head. Lucy thinks,

"When I planned my holiday wardrobe, I thought the dress was appropriately pastoral—an off-the-shoulder number in oversized red-and-white gingham. Anne Shirley with a modern twist. But maybe the puffed sleeves were a little on the nose."

Lucy's romantic interest, Felix, is an Island boy like Gilbert Blythe. She shares a closeness with her best friend Bridget like that between Anne and Diana. During the course of the story, Lucy and Felix visit Green Gables Heritage Place and walk along Lover's Lane, and through the Haunted Wood. They have fun quoting lines from the novel to one another. The characters also talk about Sullivan Entertainment's Anne of Green Gables miniseries and the magic of Jonathan Crombie.

At the end of the book, Carley Fortune elaborates on her novel saying,

"I've known that I wanted to set a book on PEI since I began writing fiction. It's a truly special place, and of course, I have a deep love of Anne of Green Gables, both the book and the CBC movies, starring Megan Follows, Jonathan Crombie, Colleen Dewhurst, and Richard Farnsworth. When my husband and I began dating and he told me he'd never seen them, I went straight to the video store to rent the first. He applauded at the end, and in that moment, I knew he was the man for me. There is no improving upon Anne and my writing cannot compare to Lucy Maud Montgomery's, but I liked being able to look at the island through a contemporary point of view. I also got a kick out of writing my steamiest romance in the place famous for such a wonderfully chaste one."

I thought it was fun to read a book set on PEI by an author who loves Anne Shirley and Lucy Maud Montgomery's works.


Here is the description of the book:

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

A glorious and tantalizing new escape from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune.

This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won't give into temptation. This summer will be different.

Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.

It’s easier said than done.

Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.

If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.

When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.

ISBN: 978-0593638880

Image credit:
Book cover of This Summer Will Be Different.

Purchase and read This Summer Will Be Different:


Created January 23, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Jill Tew on Anne of Green Gables

Last week, I read an interview with author Jill Tew in which she talked about being a fan of Anne of Green Gables. Jill Tew's debut novel, The Dividing Sky was published this past fall by Joy Revolution, Penguin Random House. The Dividing Sky is a dystopian romance set in the year 2364, and it's about a teenager who sells memories and takes on a mysterious assignment.

In an interview with Jesse Davis of Memphis Magazine, Jill Tew talks about her "first-ever favorite book," which was Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. In describing Anne Shirley, Tew says, “People around [Anne], as much as they loved her, often encouraged her to get her head out of the clouds, but she was able to hold onto that and infuse her own world with a little bit of magic.” Tew continues to reflect on Anne of Green Gables saying, “I was a little girl at the time and felt similarly. I saw magic and fairy tales in everyday life, and it was nice to see a character live that on the page unapologetically, and I think in doing so, bring magic to the people around her.”

I love Jill Tew's description of Anne's ability to infuse her world with magic and bring magic to others. As an author, Jill Tew brings her own creative magic to her readers. The Dividing Sky sounded so inventive and compelling that I checked the novel out from my library. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Image credits:
Left: Photograph of Jill Tew from her website.
Right: Painting of Anne of Green Gables by Ben Stahl.

Reference:
Davis, Jesse. (December 19, 2024). Future Fiction: Bold New Worlds: Jill Tew’s debut YA novel is a surprisingly inspiring dystopian story. Memphis Magazine. Retrieved from: https://memphismagazine.com/culture/future-fiction-bold-new-worlds/.

Created December 26, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Riley Keough on Anne of Green Gables

Today, I ran across another fan of Anne of Green Gables. It's Riley Keough, the American actress and producer known for her roles in Daisy Jones & The Six, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Good Doctor. She is the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and the granddaughter of Elvis Presley.

Riley Keough took part in a Lit Check, a new collaboration between Reese Witherspoon's book club and Apple Books to share some of the books she loves. She shared seven of her favorite books in this video, and among them was Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.

Here are Riley Keough's book recommendations:

1) Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Riley Keough plays Daisy Jones in the Amazon Prime television miniseries based on this book.
2) Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - a book she loved as a little girl.
3) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - She loved this book when she was younger and enjoyed figuring out which character she related to.
4) Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown - Keough reads this classic children's story with her daughter.
5) Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell - a YA book written by an indigenous woman.
6) Know my Name by Chanel Miller - a powerful memoir.
7) From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough - Lisa Marie Presley's memoir, which Riley Keough wrote with her mother.

In discussing why she selected Anne of Green Gables as one of her book picks, Riley Keough says, "My second pick, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I just loved this when I was a little girl. I just was like obsessed with her and just like wanted to live her life."

So many Anne of Green Gables fans agree.

Image credits:
Left: Screencapture of Riley Keough from Lit Check with Riley Keough & Apple Books | Reese's Book Club.
Right: Photograph of Megan Follows as Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel © Sullivan Entertainment.

Created December 12, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Maud of Green Gables

Maud of Green Gables: How L.M. Montgomery's Anne Enchanted the World is a book by Janet Wilson. Featuring Wilson's impressionist oil paintings, the limited edition picture book was released in September 2024 by Coach House Printing. The book celebrates the 150th anniversary of L.M. Montgomery's birth. It tells the story of L.M. Montgomery's life, how she was inspired to write Anne of Green Gables, and how the novel became a beloved classic worldwide. Throughout the book, there are quotes from Anne of Green Gables and from L.M. Montgomery's autobiography and journals.

In an article in The Wellington Advertiser, Wilson spoke about her book and L.M. Montgomery saying, "It’s kind of everything you’d ever want to know about Green Gables, but maybe you didn’t...A lot of it is about her process, how she came up with an idea, how she fit it into her schedule and why it is so popular internationally."

You can purchase Maud of Green Gables through Janet Wilson's webpage and the Shop at Sullivan website. The softcover book is 36 pages long and measures 8.5” x 11.”

Here is the description of the book from Shop at Sullivan:

Maud of Green Gables: How L. M. Montgomery's Anne Enchanted the World celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of L. M. Montgomery! Featuring the captivating art of Janet Wilson.

This lovely non-fiction book explores the intertwined legacies of Anne Shirley's world and Montgomery’s life, tracing the story of Anne of Green Gables from conception to the 1908 publication, and through its meteoric rise to becoming a beloved classic in Canada and around the world.

Maud of Green Gables considers why L. M. Montgomery’s book has never been out of print and has been translated into over 40 languages, as well as why Anne Shirley is one of the most recognizable characters in all of literature. Much of this fascinating story is told in Montgomery's own words quoted from her autobiography, personal journals, and her debut novel, Anne of Green Gables.

ISBN-13: 978-1-0688776-0-5

Official Website:
Janet Wilson's webpage

Image credit:
Book cover of Maud of Green Gables.

Review:
Maud of Green Gables: How L. M. Montgomery's Anne Enchanted the World - a terrific review of the book by Helen K at CanLit for LittleCanadians.

Reference:
Thompson, Ellouise. (September 6, 2024). Eden Mills author offers colourful glimpse into life, work of renowned author L.M. Montgomery. The Wellington Advertiser. Retrieved from: https://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/eden-mills-author-offers-colourful-glimpse-into-life-work-of-renowned-author-l-m-montgomery/.

Created December 3, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com