Louisa May Alcott is My Passion
Begun in 2010, this blog offers analysis and reflection by Susan Bailey on the life, works and legacy of Louisa May Alcott and her family. Susan is an active member and supporter of the Louisa May Alcott Society, the Fruitlands Museum and Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House.
I pondered that question during the two years spent writing my book, River of Grace. Because Louisa was an important part of this book, I had to figure out first, why I was obsessed with her, and second, how she has acted as my grief counselor, and as a result, guiding me back into my …
Continue reading "Why are you obsessed with Louisa? Why am I?"
Yesterday's session for the 2015 Summer Conversational Series featured these three distinguished presenters: Cathlin Davis, PhD Dr. Davis spoke at length on "The Healing Power of Nature: Friendly Sunshine and Fresh Air," drawing upon her extensive knowledge of Louisa's canon. There is probably no one more knowledgeable about Louisa's writing than Dr. Davis who has …
Continue reading "Summer Conversational Series for Tuesday, July 14"
Summertime and Louisa May Alcott--the two go hand-in-hand for me. Life slows down, opening up space for much-needed reading. And the annual Summer Conversational Series begins next month at Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House (click here for details and to register). What better way to kick of a Louisa May Alcott summer than to participate …
I am pleased to announce that my very first book, River of Grace: Creative Passages Through Difficult Times will be released this Fall, published by Ave Maria Press! You can pre-order it now on Amazon.com. A memoir with life application River of Grace is a faith-based memoir (written from my Roman Catholic tradition) with life …
Continue reading "Announcing my first book, “River of Grace,” to be published this Fall!"
I came across two fascinating blog posts today that shed a new light on cherished Alcott/Concord lore. Thoreau and rocks First of all, the Thoreau Society is running an interview with author Robert M. Thorson where he reveals something entire new about Thoreau.. It was discovered during his research for his book, Walden’s Shore: Henry David …
Continue reading "Wayside, and Thoreau, as you’ve never seen them before; and some news"
As you may know, I have been researching and writing a book about Elizabeth Alcott. I wanted to share with you some wonderful technology tricks that make researching and writing a book a lot easier for me. And it actually is pretty affordable! Check it out ...
Over the past few weeks I wrote the longest piece I have ever written, over 6000 words. Life has been far too busy for my taste lately so I could only work on it in bits and pieces. I have my hour carved out first thing in the morning for writing, beginning with the first …
Several of you who follow this blog are writers. I could really use your advice here! Thanks.
I have two all-consuming passions right now and I’m trying to figure out what to do with them. It involves the writing of two books.
Since April I have been immersed in research for a book I want to write about Elizabeth Alcott, the one sister of that illustrious family who has never truly been fleshed out. I just spent one of the most meaningful summers in years, head buried in old books, Alcott letters and journals from the Houghton Library at Harvard, and biographies of the family. I’ve spent countless hours in
the car during my long commute to work talking out my theories, struggling to assemble the puzzle and having no luck. Then one day, a line for a preface to the book came into my head out of nowhere and I scribbled the beginnings of the…
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For the first time in my life, I have to courage to dream and dream big. My passion for Louisa May Alcott fuels it. And it’s led me on a thrill ride adventure that gets better every day.
Note: This is a post I wrote nearly a year ago, right after I started this blog. It talks about dreams, and I am happy to report that some of them are already coming true. It is especially sweet for me to read this and know I have been moving forward, confident of what I feel called to do. It took me over fifty years to become confident enough to take a chance and dream, and then work to make the dream come true.
I hope this post inspires you to chase after your dreams too.
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Recently I rediscovered early Barbra Streisand and her classic live album, “A Happening in Central Park.” As when I was a child, this performance…
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Work is progressing, albeit slowly, on my book project. I am enjoying all aspects of the process from the thinking and planning while I drive (I’m one of those crazies that talks to myself all the time), to the research, to the paragraphs percolating in my head, to the final writing. I’m falling more in …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 