Category: Jennifer Altman

What would Jane Austen say?

Hello, friends! I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe during this difficult time. With everything going on in the world, I felt the need to share something uplifting this month, and when it comes to raising spirits, who better to turn to than the queen of wit and wisdom herself: Jane Austen. 🙂 So, …

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Leap into Love – An Excerpt

Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but here at Austen Variations we are still celebrating this leap year with our monthly theme on all things romance! And what better way to do it than with excerpts highlighting one of our favorite couple’s leap into love! Today I’ll be sharing a passage from my Pride …

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Writing Routines (or How to Pull Yourself Out of a Writing Rut)

Well, it’s that time of year again—new year, new decade, clean slate. And for many people, that means goal-setting and resolutions. If you’re a writer (or if you’ve been thinking about starting a writing project), your goals might be something along the lines of: make more time for writing, finish that manuscript, write every day. …

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12 Days of Christmas, Day 11

Happy eleventh day of Christmas! If we were going by the famous Christmas carol, today’s gift would be eleven pipers piping… however I suspect that nobody has much use for eleven pipers (or even one) these days. 😊 However, in keeping with the auditory spirit, I’m giving away something that I hope will be a …

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Happy Hanukkah!

For those who celebrate, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights is currently under way, running this year from sundown on December 22nd through December 30th. The Hebrew word Hanukkah (or Chanukah) means “dedication,” and the holiday commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt in 164 BCE. Like most holidays, …

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To Conquer Pride One Year Anniversary Celebration!

“It is above eight months. We have not met since the 26th of November, when we were all dancing together at Netherfield.”  – Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 44. Yes, that’s right – it’s November 26th, the anniversary of the Netherfield Ball! However, on a more personal note, I am also celebrating a milestone of my …

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Advice for New Writers

Recently, a friend and I were having a conversation about what it takes to write and publish a novel. After many years of having a story idea floating around in her head, she had decided to give writing a shot, and wanted to know if I had any advice for a first-time author. And while …

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Weather or Not: Weather in Jane Austen’s Novels

There is no question that weather was a significant factor in Regency era life. Snow, heavy rain, and other poor meteorological conditions would have made travel next to impossible and may have led to illness and even death. As such, it is not surprising that Jane Austen often referenced the elements in her novels. While …

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Twenty Things To Know About Jane Austen

  As many of you are probably aware, Austen Variations has been joining The Book Rat for a month-long celebration of all things Austen. As August begins to draw to a close, I thought it might be fun to get to know Jane Austen a little better with some facts about the author’s life. Are …

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On Writing

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about writing and what it means to be a writer. I’m in the process of drafting my second Pride and Prejudice variation, and to be honest, it’s been a challenge. Unlike many authors, I didn’t always want to write. I never dreamed about seeing my name on the New …

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