As the snow begins to melt and the days grow warmer (a relief after one of the snowiest winters in history), I’m deep into the drafting of the third novel in my historical series. The process is infinitely enjoyable!

I’ve been planning out this book, conducting research, making lists, and gathering inspirational images for several months now. But the best part is actually beginning the writing process, and immersing myself in the wonderful world of 1915-16, when my novel is set.

And oh, the fun things I’ve done for this one! Requesting imperative research PDFs from libraries. Delving into the newspapers of the place and era. Studying photographs. Paging through catalogs of gorgeous fashions. (Well, virtually paging through them—they’re all online!) 😉

But one of my favorite aspects of research has been watching films set in the 1910s. Obviously, this isn’t *quite* the same as doing the solid research I listed above, but it’s delightful to acquire a visual feel for the era of my novel. Over the past few months, I’ve watched Summer Magic, Pollyanna, The Music Man, On Moonlight Bay, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, The Happiest Millionaire—sweet stories that evoke the vintage simplicity I hope to insert in my books.

What I’ve found is that research is a never-ending process—you’re always discovering something new and fascinating to add another layer of depth or a unique element to your narrative.

Additionally, I’ve started working on a contemporary novel that features the renovation of an abandoned mansion. I love old houses and try to include them in my stories whenever I can. 🙂

I’m also very excited for spring! I cannot wait to start working in my flower garden again. After witnessing the success of my pink tulips last summer, I planted orange tulip bulbs last fall, and I’m eager to see them sprout up!

Recently Read: After Many Years by L.M. Montgomery, More All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor, A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich, The Wishing Well by Mildred A. Wirt

Currently Reading: Love to Everyone by Hilary McKay, Rufus M. by Eleanor Estes

One of the reasons I love classic middle grade/YA (and one of the reasons I write in this genre) is that these books are ideal for summer. I’ve collected a list of books that are particularly suited to summertime; a perfect complement to blooming flowers, breezy days, long walks in the woods, and (perhaps best of all!) ice cream and raspberries. 🙂

Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorenson
This story of a young girl’s year on an awe-inspiring Pennsylvania farm won the Newbery Medal in 1957, and it’s full of rich descriptive language and the beauty of nature—a must-read for anyone who loves maple syrup, meadows full of flowers, and—of course!—miracles.

The Time Garden by Edward Eager
Edward Eager’s magical adventure books are always a delight, and The Time Garden is one of his best. A Revolutionary War-era mansion by the sea, an encounter with the March sisters from Little Women, and a slew of witty mishaps are just a few of the facets of this tall tale.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Often compared to the stories of Enright and Streatfeild, the Penderwick family’s original novel (there are five books in this series) will enchant readers who long for stories reminiscent of old favorites. (Birdsall says that she was inspired by The Secret Garden and E. Nesbit’s The Enchanted Castle when creating Arundel.)

Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright
When two cousins discover a ramshackle resort town while exploring in the woods, they spend the summer learning the secrets of this forgotten place and the eccentric individuals who still live there. The sequel, Return to Gone-Away, is even more delightful, in my opinion!

The Magic Summer by Noel Streatfeild
Mystery and mayhem abound when four siblings from the city are sent to live with their great-aunt in the Irish countryside. (I love the poetry quoted in this book—it’s a fun touch!)

Jill’s Story by Jean Fiedler
This 1965 book is greatly unknown—I had to add it to the Goodreads database myself! But if you can find a copy of Jill’s Story, you’re in for a treat—it chronicles an unforgettable summer at Cape Cod for Jill Robertson, an aspiring young writer.

Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field
A well-spoken and well-traveled doll, Hitty is carved from mountain-ash wood around the 1820s, and her sweet memoir describes the first hundred years of her adventurous existence, from life on a whaling ship to the streets of New York and her first ride in an automobile. (Published in 1929, it was the ninth winner of Newbery Medal!)

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
I’ve reread this book probably every summer since I was ten years old, and it still feels wonderfully fresh. I love the new editions of the Montgomery books from Tundra, illustrated by Elly McKay—so breathtaking!

Carney’s House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace
All of the Betsy-Tacy books are splendid for this season, but I chose Carney’s House Party for this list, because it’s set during the summer of 1911, when Carney Sibley returns home from Vassar to host a house party for her friends in picturesque Deep Valley.