Shannon Winslow claims she was minding her own business – raising two sons and pursuing a very sensible career – when an ordinary trip to Costco about fifteen years ago changed her life. That was the day a copy of the ’95 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice fairly leapt off the shelf and into her oversized shopping cart. After watching the mini-series, Shannon was hopelessly hooked on the story, Colin Firth’s Darcy, and all things Jane Austen. One may guess what followed – compulsive reading, late-night trips to the library and video store, secret rendezvous with Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightley. Finally, only one thing remained. Her dedication (or obsession, as it could more rightly be described) ultimately inspired her to begin writing her own stories a la Austen. Here's what Shannon says about her unique approach to writing JAFF: "Since I’m just sappy enough to believe there’s only one true story for the characters I’ve grown to love (and Jane Austen wrote it), I amuse myself with adding onto rather than varying from canon - expanding on what Jane Austen gave us and filling in the blanks in the record with prequel, sequel, and supplemental views. What was Mr. Darcy doing all the time he’s absent from the page? What happened to Colonel Brandon in India? And how did our favorite couples fare after the wedding? Inquiring minds want to know, and I’m happy to deliver the answers!"

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Author's posts

We’re Having a Heat Wave

We’re smack in the middle of summer now, and many of us are feeling the heat! But what did Jane Austen have to say about hot summer weather? Along with our other ongoing features, we’ll be sprinkling in a few posts on that topic this month.   When I searched my mind for hot weather …

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June Weddings – Trivia and a P&P Tale

Our Austen Variations theme for June is weddings! Since I’ve been having so much fun posting “Tuesday Trivia” on our Facebook page lately, I thought I’d kick the month off with some Regency-era English wedding trivia followed by a short P&P wedding scene.  Did you know that… Until the late 1880’s, weddings by law had to …

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May Flowers: When a Rose is More Than Just a Rose

We have a new month and a new theme here at Austen Variations! You’ve heard that April showers bring May flowers. I’m counting on it. We’ve certainly paid our dues here in Seattle with our wettest October through April on record. Now we deserve flowers in equally generous proportions. With that hope in mind, here’s …

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April Showers – A Dash in the Rain (from Return to Longbourn)

The “April Showers” theme immediately brought certain images to my mind – two in particular: the scene in the rain at the end of “Wives and Daughters” and one that I wrote myself in “Return to Longbourn.” In both cases, the romantic overtones and the sense of as-yet-unfulfilled longing seem to be heightened by the …

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Double Book Launch!

My big double launch day is finally here! And I do mean FINALLY. One of these two books has been waiting a very long time for publication. It really started about eight years ago. I’d had about the best fun of my life writing my first two JAFF novels, and now I was diligently pursuing their …

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Double-the-Fun Cover Reveal

What could be more fun and exciting to book lovers (and authors) than a brand new cover revealed? Two brand new covers revealed, of course! That’s what I have for you today: the full covers of the two new books I’m releasing together at the end of the month. Yippee! Leap of Faith and Leap …

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January Scavenger Hunt #1 – Quotable Words

As you know, here at Austen Variations we’re doing a month-long scavenger hunt. Today, I’m kicking off the theme with a fun little game. Below are nine Jane Austen quotes, each with one underlined word for you to unscramble. Make a note of those nine words, put them in your pocket, and then hop on …

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Preview of Coming Attractions: “Leap of Hope”

Christmas and New Years are coming fast, so I want to begin by wishing you all wonderful celebrations with your friends and families, enjoying whatever holiday traditions are meaningful to you. After some of the same, I intend to get right back to work toward launching not one but two new novels at once in …

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Changing House

We’re thinking of Netherfield in November, and today I have for you a “missing scene” derived from the last chapter of Pride and Prejudice.  In that epilogue-style chapter (which was my guide and jumping-off point when I wrote The Darcys of Pemberley), Jane Austen tells us quite a bit about what lies ahead for the …

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How to Tour Bath in 90 Minutes or Less

This month’s theme is Jane Austen locations, particularly Bath, which immediately brought this story to mind. My husband works for Boeing and he occasionally travels with his job, jetting off to exotic vacation destinations like Glasgow Montana, Roswell New Mexico, and Fairbanks Alaska in the dead of winter. Needless to say, I’ve never felt the desire …

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