Summer people have gone. As trees change their colors, the lake is quiet, the last of the apples have fallen, and pine needles coat the ground. Fall’s chill makes me want to bake: Cornish pasties, cinnamon rolls, a bubbling pan of enchiladas.
To help you match books to the season, I’ve compiled a calendar of Emilie Loring books that begin in each month of the year (almost). Her novels often span a few months, so a book whose action begins in September may finish in December, and a summer novel may last until fall.
I don’t think I’d ever looked at the books in quite this way before. I knew some without having to look, and others led me a merry chase, looking for clues. I like the idea of reading by the seasons. Let me know if you try it!
Action Already Underway: September Starts
- Beckoning Trails – early September
- Hilltops Clear – early September
- Beyond the Sound of Guns -mid September
- When Hearts Are Light Again – mid September
- Today Is Yours – mid September
- Gay Courage – September
- It’s a Great World – September
- Rainbow at Dusk – September
Just Beginning: October Starts
- With Banners – early October
- Keepers of the Faith – October
- Swift Water – late October
Coming Soon: November and December
- Love Came Laughing By – early November
- Fair Tomorrow – Thanksgiving
- Across the Years – first week of December
- The Trail of Conflict – December
Set Your Calendars: Spring/Summer
March
- High of Heart – March
- Lighted Windows – “Spring”
- Stars In Your Eyes – Not specified, but flowers are blooming ahead of New England, and Jill is in school.
April
As Long As I Live – early April
May
I Hear Adventure Calling – late May
June
- We Ride the Gale! – early June
- Give Me One Summer – June
- Bright Skies -Not specified but called “continual June.”
- The Solitary Horseman – Peaches are harvested from June to August.
July
- A Certain Crossroad – July
- Where Beauty Dwells – July
Aug
- To Love and to Honor – early August
- Here Comes the Sun – August
- There Is Always Love – August
- Uncharted Seas – August
Happy Reading and Happy Landings!
The Emilie Loring Collection 
Only this year, I’ve began to really try to read seasonally. I’m so happy you made this listing!! I chose With Banners on your recommendation when I asked for books set in October. Thank you so much for your work on this. I don’t have all the Loring books YET. But I’m copying off these lists~
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Talking about a spring book, what is the one where the little girl cuts all the prize tulips to sell at a roadside stand? My mind is drawing a blank.
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That’s AS LONG AS I LIVE, in which Peggy cuts Angus’ prize tulips.
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Maybe I’m confused, but I think Where Beauty Dwells starts in the fall. Opening scene includes putting up leaf signs for the leaf peepers.
Patricia Liddie
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Could you be thinking of For All Your Life? Where Beauty Dwells begins with Mac Cameron hailing a “boy” trout fisherman that turns out to be Di Vernon.
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You’re absolutely right! I’m so sorry! I couldn’t check my books becauose I lost them all, my entire collection, to mold. My husband and I were English teachers, and we lined our house with book shelves, some of which were in the basement where the mold was. Everything had to be destroyed. At any rate, my apologies for my confusion and my thanks for your response, one which was so gracious. Patricia
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Thank you both for bringing up that particular story – it’s been tickling at the back of my mind that it would be fun to read as the leaves here are changing, but I didn’t know which book it was off the top of my head – Great timing!
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Aloha! I’m reading “it’s a great world” right now. What a timely idea! You keep the energy in our reading experiences. I’ve had a rough summer and it’s slowing down a bit. Had a tooth pulled, ouch, and it’s raining today in Oregon so it’s a perfect reading day. The geraniums on my porch are glowing in the weird light we get at this time, so are beckoning me to sit on the porch. As I read, I’ll have to notice what recipes might be mentioned to try for the season s too. I’ve been watching a you tube channel about gardening, LindaVater.com. She recently decided to think of a color for each month. Blue for September and caramel for October. I’ll have to think of a color for Emily for each month too. Maybe sept, Eves dress, “ not quite red, not quite rose”., like my geraniums. October? I’ll have to figure that one out. Enjoy your sunny days of fall, thank you for your continuing inspiration, aloha Pam
Sent from my iPad
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Ooh, I love the color idea! And the recipes!
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Dear Patti,
With the world exploding everywhere and images of War in Israel from the HAMAS Terrorist attacks, I find refuge in your book and the way you classified her books by seasons.
I really appreciate the calmness I feel when I read your book and now I will explore which of her books I have already read from different seasons and try to discover more of them.
The pain I feel for the loss of Doug is difficult to bear so I immerse myself in writing my Remembrances of him for my Christmas letter and Remembrances of my brother, Paul on his 2nd anniversary on Oct 26. I will share those letters with you as I feel you are family to me. I have lost all of my family now.
Love and enjoy the beauty of Fall and talk to you on Wednesday, Nov 1st at our next Defenders meeting at 2;00 PM EST.
Love and hugs,
Raqui
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I’ll be honored to read your remembrance letters, Raqui. I am writing from my mom’s hospital room, surgery scheduled for tomorrow. I once stitched a sampler for my sister that said,”The work of a home is work of the heart.” That continues to be true. Hugs, Raqui.
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Love this. Thank you for sharing.
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i love this!
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Love this post! It is very obvious when some of Emilie’s stories began, particularly the Autumn ones, but others not so much. I always thought “Beckoning Trails” began in early summer, and “Uncharted Seas” was in the spring. Guess I got caught up in the stories and didn’t pay attention. Cornish pasties! One of our favorites and it’s been far too long since I made them. It’s off to the grocery store for me!
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I usually associate Emilie Loring with fall, but her spring gardens also stay with me. I’m still promising myself to do something bigger with her gardens. But first: fall!
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HI Patti! This was fun to read. I had the sense as I was reading that a good many books started in the fall or late summer. Neat of you to catalogue. As you show, none of them started in the winter. The thing about fall starts is it makes me think of the high school (romance) books I read as a teen. They ALWAYS started in the fall with a new school year, the lead character’s expectations for her first year or junior/senior year. (I guess sophomore year suffers middle child syndrome!) Our high school had mostly those written in the 50s and they still culturally fit into my early 1980s life for the most part.
I had thought Solitary Horseman started in about August since Rose just returned from Europe after having completed college. It seemed there were signs of approaching fall as well. The story went to early November, election day. My 2c, for what it’s worth. 🙂
There are some definitely all summer stories as well as you note.
The novels NEVER start in the dead of January. Nothing happens with every one staying in and staying warm, I guess. Not much of a story to start. Winters in the Norhteast can be brutal. Even today, here in the midwest I realize I don’t see my neighbors from ~Jan-Mar much unless there’s an odd warm day or we’re shoveling at the same time.
Happy Landings!
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My internal calendar is always set to the school year with a fall start. New paper, pens, and notebooks are all the new year’s celebration I need. I want to think a little more about Emilie’s Januaries and Februaries. Do they even appear in her books? None come to mind.
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