Author Event: Virginia Kantra

Join Page 158 Books as welcome author Virginia Kantra to celebrate her novel, Anne of a Different Island.

A woman learns to be the heroine of her own life in this heartfelt novel inspired by Anne of Green Gables by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.

She believed life could follow a plotline—until the story she was living unraveled.

Anne Gallagher has always lived by the book. Anne of Green Gables, that is. Growing up on Mackinac Island, she saw herself as her namesake: the same impulsive charm, the same wild imagination, even the same red hair (dyed, but still). She followed in Anne Shirley’s fictional footsteps, chasing dreams of teaching and writing, and falling for her very own storybook hero.

But when a string of real-life plot twists—a failing romance, a fight with the administration, and the sudden death of her beloved father—pulls her back to the island she once couldn’t wait to leave, Anne is forced to face a truth no story ever prepared her for. Sometimes, life doesn’t follow a script.

Back in the house she grew up in, Anne must confront her past and the people she left behind, including Joe Miller, the boy who once called her “The Pest.” It’s time to figure out what she wants and rewrite her story to create her own happy ending. Not the book version. The real one.

"Virginia Kantra’s masterful reenvisioning of beloved novels from our youth will have readers cheering. Fresh, delightful, and funny, the perfect, contemporary homage to Anne of Green Gables."—Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of Look on the Bright Side

“Full of wisdom, love and longing, Anne of a Different Island is the perfect tonic (or cordial!) for readers seeking romance and hope, and a wonderful homage to the spirit of Anne Shirley herself.”—Natalie Jenner, USA Today bestselling author of Austen at Sea

New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra is a big believer in the power of stories—the ones we grow up with and the ones we tell ourselves. She has written over thirty novels about strong women, messy families, and the journey to find yourself. Her books have received numerous awards as well as starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist and praise in People and USA Today.

A long-time Raleigh resident, Virginia is married to her college sweetheart, who keeps her supplied with coffee, cocktails, and ideas.

Her favorite thing to make for dinner? Reservations.