From Nancy's Notebook
Stories, history, inspiration, and a glimpse into the writing life.
Charles Dickens: wanna meet him?
Learn about Charles Dickens, his literary success and the nineteenth-century world that inspired his stories.
The Mushroom Farm
Read 'The Mushroom Farm,' a short work of fiction by Nancy Thorne, originally published in a literary journal.
A villanelle for poet Leonard Cohen
Read Nancy Thorne's villanelle written for Leonard Cohen and explore the discipline of structured poetry.
Truman Capote Why Do You Haunt Me?
Nancy Thorne reflects on Truman Capote, literary inspiration and the enduring pull of a writer's work.
The Heart of a Book Signing
Explore the personal meaning of a book signing and the connections it creates between writers and readers.
Anne Frank's Diary
Reflect on Anne Frank's diary, the Second World War and the human experience recorded in one of history's most widely read accounts.
Robert Frost and the 19th Century
Explore Robert Frost, his poetry and the literary world that shaped his early years.
Writing a 19th Century Character
Learn about developing a nineteenth-century fictional character through research, history and storytelling.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Learn about poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, her writing and her place in nineteenth-century literary history.
Writing at night
Nancy Thorne reflects on the quiet, creativity and sometimes eerie atmosphere of writing late at night.
When writing means so much
Read Nancy Thorne's reflections on why writing matters and the place storytelling holds in a writer's life.
When your characters come alive
Explore how fictional characters develop personalities and begin to feel real during the creative writing process.
Mary Shelley and Frankenstein
Explore Mary Shelley, Frankenstein and the literary imagination behind one of the best-known Gothic novels.
Reading Edgar Allan Poe in 19th century
Explore Edgar Allan Poe and the popularity of dark literature, mystery and horror in the nineteenth century.
Oscar Wilde - Gay in the 19th century
Read about Oscar Wilde, sexuality and the pressures of being gay in the restrictive society of the nineteenth century.
Writing about time travel
Explore the challenges and possibilities of writing time-travel stories, from historical research to imaginative fiction.
Emily Dickinson, A 19th century introvert
Learn about Emily Dickinson, the nineteenth-century poet known for her distinctive writing and private life.
