Stories from behind the books.
Welcome to The Journal. Here you’ll find the places, history, wildlife, research, and unexpected discoveries that inspire my novels. Some articles explore the real Lake Erie. Others wander into psychology, history, or the creative process. All of them, in one way or another, eventually find their way into a story.
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📖 Behind the Books
The stories, characters, places and creative decisions that shape Marcy’s novels.
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🌊 Lake Erie Life
The landscapes, wildlife, seasons and everyday moments that inspire Erie Bluff and beyond.
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🍁 Small-Town Canada
Festivals, traditions, history and the communities that give Canadian small towns their character.
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🔎 Research & Curiosities
Unexpected rabbit holes, fascinating discoveries, and the real-world psychology, history and science behind the fiction.
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✍️ The Writing Life
Occasional reflections on creativity, publishing, and what it’s really like to build a writing career.
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🔄 Dive into the Latest:
📖 Behind the Books 🔎 Research & Curiosities ✍️ The Writing Life
Frequently Asked Questions (And a Few Unexpected Ones)
Curious about Erie Bluff, my books, or how I became an author? Here are the answers to the questions readers ask most often.
📖 Behind the Books
Why My Characters Keep Journals
Honey’s sketchbook wasn’t supposed to become part of the novel. Then I discovered research showing how writing—and sometimes drawing—can help people process difficult experiences. Looking back, I realized many of my characters have been keeping journals all along.
📖 Behind the Books ✍️ The Writing Life
Questions Readers Ask me About Publishing
Ever wondered what happens after an author types “The End”? This behind-the-scenes guide answers readers’ most common questions about writing, self-publishing, book pricing, reviews, libraries, and what really goes into bringing a novel to life.