July 31, 2025

HOT AND SPICY ADULT NOVEL BY BLUSHING ANNE AUTHOR LMM BASED ON 1922 SUMMER IN BALA

BALA — Who knew Lucy Maud Montgomery had a spicy side to a couple of her novels.

Her Blue Castle book, based in Bala, had enough blue in it to make even a pretty little, pig-tailed red-head blush.

Certainly it would for Marilla Cuthbert, Anne Shirley’s adoptive mother in LMM’s classic children’s Anne of Green Gables series.

Blue Castle was one of only few adult novels she wrote and the only one written and based outside of Prince Edward Island.

In the summer of 1922 she began writing it while staying at Roselawn Lodge and being inspired by Muskoka’s pleasant summer.

Jack Hutton talks about Lucy Maud Montgomery’s time in Bala in 1922 while showing some of the museum’s vast collection of historiic and commemorative items to visitors last Thursday during an open house. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont

Who knows if it was a hot as 2025, but hot and steamy come to mind when you read about Valancy and the book she finally finished and had published in 1926.

Bala was to LMM what Orillia’s Mariposa was to Stephen Leacock in his Sunshine Sketches of a Small Town.

You won’t find Blue Castle in many libraries.

But in the Bala Museum, where it’s in a home Linda Jackson and Jack Hutton have dedicated to all things Anne and LMM.

It’s also where a “first impression” copy of LMM’s first novel Anne of Green Gables is prominently on display in small glass cabinet in the parlour next to the largest replica of Anne’s fictional home there.

It’s worth $40,000 to Anne collectors now, many who showed up again last week as the museum’s owners hosted a free open house.

**A rare “first impression” copy of Anne of Green Gables is a prized piece of the Bala’s Museum’s collection.**

They also have one of largest complete collections of LMM books outside PEI.

Joining Jack who was playing the original piano of town founder E.B. Sutton that once graced the Swastika Hotel (Bala Bay today) was Don Edwards with his banjo/ukulele. They played a lot of old chestnuts that would have been popular when LMM encamped a few months on the Moon River.

Last year’s Anne look-alike contest winner Jessie Otten was on hand with her dad Vince. They live near Sarnia where, inspired by LMM and Anne she is close to publishing her own first online fantasy novel after partially writing 29 others.

**Jessie Otten, possibly the last Anne look-alike contest winner in 2024, examines some of the Anne dolls for sale.**

Donna Hillyard again played the part of LMM accompanied by husband Dave.

And John McMechan with wife Jane Templeton and John Storey and his wife Mary drove their old roadsters out from Gravenhurst to offer rides around the riverside neighbourhood.

And Glad Bryce, 91, was tending the gift shop between setting seniors swim records as the oldest competitor.

“I do all four strokes.”

Linda — who was giving tours in the kitchen while serving lemonade and handmade chocolate cupcakes — said they’ve given up the Anne contest now as it’s gotten difficult to schedule it in summer when people are away and during Bala’s Cranberry Festival when kids are busy in school.

But it’s still a great step back in time celebrating Bala and the lingering legacy of LMM, Anne Shirley and Green Gables.