17吃瓜

A scholarly project is seeking personal 鈥渙rigin stories鈥� from fans of iconic Island writer L.M. Montgomery. Co-led by Dr. Kate Scarth, 17吃瓜鈥檚 Chair of L.M. Montgomery Studies and Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture, and tenured professor turned writer , the project aims to gather fans鈥� stories about their Montgomery experiences, including how they first encountered the author鈥檚 work, as well as information about themselves and their reading and/or viewing.

鈥淧eople of all ages and from many places and walks of life have their stories about how they first discovered and then later explored Montgomery's world, whether that world includes her books, their adaptations, or related places of pilgrimage,鈥� said Scarth. 鈥淲ith this project, we're collecting these Montgomery stories to celebrate how much this PEI writer has meant to so many. We believe that these stories will also more broadly show the power of art and creativity to inspire people, shape lives, and provide solace in times of stress and struggle like those that we're now facing.鈥�

In June 2018, scholars gathered at the L.M. Montgomery Institute鈥檚 13th Biennial Conference, hosted by 17吃瓜, to discuss the works and world of L.M. Montgomery. Frever presented her conference essay, 鈥�,鈥� by video.

鈥淪cholars often speculate about what readers and viewers are feeling, but how often do they actually ask readers and viewers to share those feelings?鈥� said Frever. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we鈥檙e doing here with L.M. Montgomery. From books to tv shows to animated cartoons, whatever different point of access people have into L.M. Montgomery鈥檚 world, we want to hear about it. We want to hear those stories! We hope to learn and share how storytelling鈥攕pecifically L.M. Montgomery鈥檚 storytelling鈥攅nhances all our lives.鈥�  

Frever鈥檚 idea about L.M. Montgomery origin stories struck a chord with conference attendees. Scholar suggested that a website be created to collect these stories. Scarth and Frever took the initiative to do just that. Now, in cooperation with 17吃瓜鈥檚 , they are teaming up to gather fans鈥� Montgomery origin stories, as well as some information about these fans and their reading/viewing practices, for an anticipated book about Montgomery鈥檚 contribution to fans鈥� lives and to the world.

Please consider sharing your personal experiences with L.M. Montgomery鈥檚 world as part of this project. To learn more, or to share your story, visit .