L.M. Montgomery's beloved Anne Shirley said, "&ldquo;I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I've never been able to believe it. I don't believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br /><br />Though her words initially induce a chuckle,&nbsp;she&nbsp;invites us to dig deeper into the power of language. &nbsp;Essentially, Anne passionately argues that words <em>mean</em> something. &nbsp;Their specificity is exactly what encourages us forward, huddled over our work, seeking to capture the very things that defy explanation. &nbsp;<br /><br />I studied music in college, and this idea of the intention and attention to precision in communicating our ideas is one the resonates deeply&nbsp;in me. &nbsp;The alteration of one single note, like a surprise Picardy third resolving a mournful tune, can wholly change the experience of the listener. &nbsp;Each and every note is carefully chosen, loyally evoking a world all its own. &nbsp;<br /><br />Both in music and in writing, that is what I seek. &nbsp;Precision. &nbsp;Creativity. &nbsp;Surprise. &nbsp;Etymology is a keen interest of mine, and I relish delving into the evolution of words and their intrinsic connection to culture, history, sociology, and a changing world. &nbsp;I thrive in the search for the perfect words so that they become an almost-living thing, welcoming the reader to a new perspective, an alternate reality or, perhaps, a truer one.<span id="quote_book_link_8127"></span>