Author Archives: Lizzie Ross

About Lizzie Ross

in no particular order: author, teacher, cyclist, world traveler, single parent. oh, and i read. a lot.

#WitchWeek2020 Day 2: A Gothic Reading of The Betrothed

Posted on November 1, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Today’s guest blogger, e-Tinkerbell, lives in Italy, so it’s no surprise that she brings this classic Italian novel from the 19th century to our attention. e-Tinkerbell is a high school English teacher who loves literature, history… and shoes. She blogs … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic, Gothic, Romance, Witch Week | Tagged | 9 Comments

#WitchWeek2020 Day 1: Gothick Dreams

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Happy Halloween to all! My first guest blogger is my co-host, Chris, who blogs as Calmgrove on WordPress, where for eight years he’s been exploring the world of ideas through books by way of reviews and discussions. Today Chris has taken … Continue reading →

Posted in Castles and towers, Gothic, Mystery, Witch Week | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

#WitchWeek2020: Master Post

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Diana Wynne Jones’ Witch Week (1983) is a fantasy set between Halloween and November 5th — Bonfire Night — marking the day in 1604 when Guy Fawkes was caught preparing to blow up Parliament. Six years ago, Lory of Emerald City Book Review used this … Continue reading →

Posted in Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, Mystery, Witch Week | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Countdown to Witch Week 2020: One week to go

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Actual Halloween may be cancelled this year, but you can celebrate it virtually with us, during Witch Week! Don’t miss out on the fun: Apply your Gothic makeup, put on your best costumes, and settle down for a close reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Gothic, Witch Week | 4 Comments

Stress Reading

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

This month, as three crucial dates slouch nearer (31 October, 01 November, 03 November¹), my reading has been all about trying to keep calm. True, only one of these dates will have world-wide significance, its consequences possibly repeating and repeating … Continue reading →

Posted in Am reading, Classic | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cooking up some scary fun

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

There’s still time to prep for Witch Week 2020. If you haven’t yet read Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book, find a copy and get started. You have two weeks starting … now! For the second musical inspiration, here’s one from … Continue reading →

Posted in Gothic, Witch Week | Leave a comment

Are you ready for Witch Week 2020?

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Leaves are turning, winds from the north are cooling down the nights, pumpkins and apples are making appearances at local farm stands.* Which can mean only one thing: WITCH WEEK 2020 approaches! Anyone still unsure what that is can check … Continue reading →

Posted in Witch Week | 4 Comments

Witch Week 2020

Posted on September 5, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Not long now! Witch Week, the annual celebration of fantasy fiction, begins in under 2 months. Lory @ EmeraldCityBookReview created it to honor Diana Wynne Jones, author of the Dalemark and Chrestomanci series, along with dozens of other fantasy novels and short … Continue reading →

Posted in Fantasy, Gothic, Witch Week | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Hashtag Jane Austen

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Twitter has misinformed me. There I was, getting all excited about #AustenInAugust, and it turns out not to be a thing. It was a thing in 2019, but apparently not this year.* Do I care? Not a fig, for that tiny … Continue reading →

Posted in Fan fiction | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Getting over the Don’t-Wants

Posted on July 5, 2020 by Lizzie Ross

Maybe you’ve never heard the term, but you know the feeling: Low energy, little interest in doing anything that isn’t absolutely essential (cleaning, eating, sleeping), general listlessness. But stop right there — I don’t deserve anyone’s sympathy. I know I … Continue reading →

Posted in Am reading, Am writing, Gothic, Witch Week | Tagged , , | 4 Comments