JUNE
the importance of imagination
This June, our reading selection is The Blue Castle, L.M. Montgomery’s novel about Valancy Stirling. For years, Valancy escapes into dreams of her “Blue Castle,” an imagined place of beauty, freedom, romance, and possibility that helps her endure an unhappy life. After receiving a diagnosis that she has only one year left to live, Valancy finally begins living the life she has always imagined.
Her Literary Home: Beatrix Potter Edition with special guests, Susan Branch & Katy Canales
Watch the recording
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In the second installment of our Her Literary Home webinar series, we celebrated Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter. Bestselling author, Susan Branch, and Katy Canales, Property Curator at Hill Top, discuss the role this farmhouse played in Potter’s life, how it inspires readers today, and work and the ongoing efforts to preserve it.
A Conversation with Carolyn Collins, editor of the original Blue Castle manuscript
Monday, June 15th
@ 4:30pm PST/7:30pm EST
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Dive even deeper into the world of The Blue Castle as we welcome Carolyn Collins, a leading L.M. Montgomery scholar and editor of the original Blue Castle manuscript, for a fascinating discussion about the novel and the insights uncovered through her work.
Book Club Discussion: The Blue Castle
Tuesday, June 30th
@ 4:30pm PST/7:30pm EST
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Discuss our June selection, The Blue Castle, amongst kindred spirits at this face-to-face Zoom meeting.
The garden where
Mr. Darcy proposed to Elizabeth
Guests on our recent Literary Gardens Tours made beloved memories spending afternoons wandering through the English countryside, sipping tea, and immersing themselves in places that inspired our favorite writers. One of the highlights was visiting Stourhead, the filming location in which Mr. Darcy initially proposed to Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice (2005). Be whisked away to Stourhead with Hayley’s latest Substack post all about the experience!
Reading Diary
Record your thoughts on our June reading selection inside our printable reading diary.
Giveaway
Our June giveaway prize is a set of personalized literary stationery.
Printable Paper Dolls
Enjoy our printable heroine paper dolls created exclusively for Her Literary Society by artist, Lisa Finch.
JULY
she told her story
In July, we’ll meet women, both fictional and real, who had the courage to tell their stories. Our reading selection is I Capture the Castle, a novel written in diary entries, and special guests include Lady Anne Glenconner, author of Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown.
Journaling prompts will be provided to encourage Society members to tell their own stories.