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I'm currently in the middle of rereading every Montgomery-piece I can get my hands on. And I'm equally surprised by the sheer volume of her writing and how impossible it is to get my hands on.

In her lifetime, Montgomery wrote more than 500 short stories. Many have been forgotten, almost all are now out of print and are mainly considered footnotes to her legacy.

But a part of me thinks that's wrong. While arguably not her most impressive work, the short stories are where it all began. Much like her heroine Emily, Montgomery celebrated and triumphed every time a story was accepted by a newspaper or household magazine. It was her first taste of success, her first glimpse of her own name in print. And it enabled her to go on and write about Anne, Emily, Pat and Marigold.

This particular collection is not necessarily awe-inspiring, but it offers a fascinating glimpse into her writing process. With stories dating back as far as 1899 you really get a sense of the young Montgomery's writing.

And there's familiarity too; characters named Emily or Jim, stern aunts, lonesome children and of course, the beautiful Canadian landscape that runs through all of Montgomery's work. The stories are overly sentimental, flawed and predictable, but they're a joy to read all the same. And I cannot wait to dive deeper, to read more and gain a better understanding of the author who created so many of our favourite characters.

Next up: Akin to Anne. I'm just waiting for the mail to arrive ...