F.A.Q.

Melanie Asks Melanie

Mel Fishbane asks Melanie J. Fishbane the pressing questions everyone wants to know about writing MAUD, writing life, and all the things in between.

Jump to: Writing Q&A

MAUD-related Q&A:

Mel: Why do you write historical fiction?

Melanie: I have wanted to write historical fiction for young adults and kids ever since I learned it was a thing you could do. It probably started with the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder and gravitated from there. I think that historical fiction provides us with an understanding of our collective history.

Mel: What inspired you to write a novel about the teen life of L.M. Montgomery?

Melanie: I’ve been reading and studying Maud most of my life, so when the opportunity to write a young adult novel based on Maud’s teen years, it was the perfect symmetry of everything I loved. Maud was an ambitious, creative young woman who lived in a small town during a period where women were expected to get married young and have a family. The fact that she was published when she was sixteen and aspired beyond what was expected of her –and the will to follow through with them—made this a universal story. Maud also loved deeply and I wanted to explore her early relationships as well. This part of her life has also rarely been explored, so it felt like I was stepping into new territory, which for me is very exciting.

L.M. Montgomery is a Canadian literary icon who everyone things they know, but she crafted her life story. She was very aware of her image and what she wanted people to see. Yet, there have been letters and other artefacts that have been left behind which can show us another side to her. This story has never been told and it felt important to show a side of Montgomery that many people had not seen. Essentially, the portrait of an artist as a young woman.

Mel: What sort of research did you do for MAUD?

Melanie: I spent many hours at the L.M. Montgomery Collection Archives and Special Collection at the University of Guelph where I read Maud’s journal, perused her photographs and personal library. I also explored their many personal artefacts, including Maud’s mother’s Commonplace Book, and a photocopy of Maud’s copy of Little Women.

I travelled to the places where Maud lived, such as Prince Edward Island, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and the three places she lived in Ontario, Leaskdale, Norval and Toronto.

In Cavendish and Park Corner, PEI, I interviewed Maud’s relatives and explored the sites of the places where she once lived. I also spent time at the L.M. Montgomery Institute where I read the original letters Maud had written to her best friend growing up, Pensie MacNeill.

In Prince Albert, by using old homestead records at the University Archives Special Collection, University of Saskatchewan a colleague and I found the original location of where Maud’s friends, Laura and Will, and lived. We also drove around with a local historian who volunteers with the Prince Albert Historical Society who pointed out the old parts of the town, such as where the high school once stood.

I also used websites with old newspapers, such as Island Newspapers and Peel’s Prairie Provinces

I also read every book I could find on Maud and her times, including the history of PEI, a local history of Prince Albert, and Saskatchewan, as well as a book on Indigenous peoples in Saskatchewan.

I included a selected list of these books and the websites at the back of Maud and on my “Further Resources” section on my website.

Mel: What elements of MAUD are real and was is fiction?

Melanie: I spend a lot of time talking about certain timelines were changed for plot and placing in my “Maud and Her Times” section at the back of the novel. The most important thing to remember is that MAUD is a work of fiction based on real events. I also don’t want to give too much away (“Spoilers!”), so I’ll say that Maud did move around when she was a teenager, including going to live with her father and stepmother for a year in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Maud did want to go to college and was first published as a teenager. But things like, when Maud received her mother’s Commonplace Book is unknown.

Mel: Are all the characters in MAUD based on real people?

Melanie: As I said, this is a work of fiction. While the places and people are inspired by primary and secondary research, it is made up. Three characters, Mary Woodside, Mrs. Elvira Simpson and Mrs. Matilda Clark, are completely made up.

Mel: What happened to MAUD and her friends?

Melanie: You should check the “What Happened to Maud’s Friends” section at the back of MAUD.

Mel: What was the most interesting thing you found out about MAUD while writing the book?

Melanie: Good question! There were so many interesting things it is hard to pick one. But I would say that I began to appreciate how smart Maud was. She understood what she needed to do to achieve her dreams.

Mel: What were some of the things you did while writing MAUD to inspire you?

Melanie: I physically tried to understand Maud, by wearing my hair up in a bun whenever I wrote. I would drink a few teas that reminded me of the Island: tea called “Alpine Punch” from David’s Tea, which reminded me of “The Alpine Path,” one of Maud’s favourite poems; and a Rooibos from the PEI Preserves Company. Sometimes I’d treat myself to shortbread.

I also steeped myself in contemporary Island and 19th century Canadian folk music, as well as some of the hymns Maud would have loved. I read many of Maud’s books over again and took a lot of pictures when I travelled so I could return to them.

My entire office had maps, pictures and timelines to keep me engaged in the novel almost 24-7. I only took everything down when I was in the final stages of the editing process.

Mel: Is there a MAUD playlist and what kind of music is on it?

Melanie: Yes! There is so a MAUD playlist. I always make a playlist when I’m writing.

This one is a mix of Sia (the album “1000 Forms of Fear” was sort of an anthem while I was writing various parts of the novel, particularly during the Prince Albert section), Florence and the Machine, and Of Monsters and Men. But also, Island artists, like Catherine MacLellan and The Meds, and a two-CD set called, “Deep Roots in Red Dirt: A Music Collection,” which features a selection of artists and celebrated the 150the anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference.

I also listened to the Anne & Gilbert: The Musical. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, given my obsession interest in it. Celtic-inspired music, like Connie Dover, and modern retakes on traditional hymnals, like Audrey Assad’s “Lead Kindly Light,” and Indigenous music, like A Tribe Called Red, “Bread & Cheese.”

Mel: What countries is MAUD available in?

Melanie: Right now, in Canada and the United States

Writing Q&A:

Mel: Tell me about your writing process.

Melanie: Everyone has their own process and what I always tell my students is to figure out what works for you and go with that. As well, each project seems to go a bit differently.

Generally, though, I tend to tell my story first by hand. I love pens and notebooks and with MAUD, I used old school pens in a spiral notebook, as well as an old school “Record” book where I composed the first drafts. Then, I type it into Scrivener for the second “first” draft because it allows me to move scenes around. I definitely don’t write in order. Most of the time, what I think is the first scene like chapter 5. Then, when I have much of the first draft written I’ll print it out and go back to the beginning to see where I’ve been and where I’m going. I’ll hand revise and type those things in and keep doing that until I move it to WORD and send it to my first readers who give me their important feedback. I will print up the draft with these comments and revise again. Then I’ll send it my editor for their feedback. Then I type in the revision and repeat.

Mel: What do you do when you have writer’s block?

Melanie: I try to give myself a break and have patience with the process. It might be that I’m tired and need to steep myself in BBC miniseries or Dr. Who. Or just sleep. It might be that I need to take a mental break and go for a walk. Refilling the well is an important part of the creative process.
But if I’m blocked with a story I ask myself why that might be. Sometimes when I’m frustrated or when it feels like I’m blocked it is right before a major breakthrough. The other thing I do is work on another piece of writing.

The best thing to remember is patience with yourself and consider what it is that is blocking you.

Mel: What is your advice for new writers?

Melanie: Write every day.

Read the books that are in a similar category, genre, and note what you like about what the writer is doing and maybe what you have questions about. Be kind to yourself and know that whatever timeline you might give yourself may not quite happen the way you envisioned it to be. Stay as true to your story as you can, honour your process and find your community. But most of all, write.