Four days ago I was on the InterCityExpress (ICE) train racing across the German countryside. It was green outside and, thinking back (as I stare at the snow from the window of my Toronto-bound train), it’s surreal that it even happened.

This trip to Toronto is a short one. The Just One More Book!! children’s book podcast has been invited to cover the launch of Before Green Gables — the prequel of the Canadian literary classic Anne of Green Gables — alongside media organizations such as the CBC, Global News, Southam News, etc… It’s a major event that coincides with the one hundredth anniversary of the first book in the Anne Shirley series penned by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This newest book was written by Canadian author Budge Wilson with much care to ensure consistency with the events of the original books and, more importantly, the character of Anne herself. The list of acknowledgments is long and notes the contributions of Anne Shirley experts and the endorsement of Ms. Montgomery’s heirs.

My day is packed with interviews, a press reception and the launch event itself before I set myself up in my hotel room to produce the podcast. If all goes well it will be published by our usual 1:00am and I’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep.