Jane in January – A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Inspiration is a funny thing. Authors get inspiration from so many things from the mundane to the exotic. Sometimes it’s a random thought that pops into our heads, sometimes we might base a story on a vacation or a place on somewhere we’ve visited. But once we get that overall inspiration for a story, what about all those tiny little details that go into it—a gown, a beautiful piece of jewelery, a great work of art? Personally, I’m a huge fan of Pinterest!

I didn’t start out a Pinterest fan. In the beginning, everything was in my head but that changed after a while. Now, if I need a gown or a particular coat for our Regency or even modern hero or heroine, I love to look up what I need and see what comes up. For Regency, I can get everything from artwork to Ackermann’s fashion plates. For my latest modern, I’ve really enjoyed all the beach outfits and dresses I’ve found in the plethora of results that come up.

If you’d like to see the inspiration boards I’ve put together, just follow this link – https://pin.it/ettfgxymdjw6pf and enjoy looking at the fun things I’ve pinned. I even have boards for stories I’ve started and haven’t finished yet.

Do you enjoy pinterest? If so, what do you pin?

 

L.L Diamond

L.L. Diamond is more commonly known as Leslie to her friends, Mom to her three kids, and servant to her three cats. A native of Louisiana, she has been a wanderer for the past 20 years, living in Mississippi, California, Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, England, and Missouri before settling in Maryland.
One day, Leslie may decide what she wants to do when she grows up but for now, she enjoys writing the stories that live in her head and coaching age group swimming. She has degrees in biology and studio art, certifications to coach swimming in the United States and Britain, and numerous fitness certifications. Leslie is also a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Her accomplishments include drawing, watercolor, and playing flute and piano, but much like Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennet, she is always in need of practice!

After watching Sense and Sensibility with her mother, Leslie became a fan of Jane Austen, reading her collected works over the next few years. Pride and Prejudice stood out as a favourite and has dominated her writing since finding Jane Austen Fan Fiction.

Aside from mother and writer, Leslie considers herself a perpetual student. She has degrees in biology and studio art, but will devour any subject of interest simply for the knowledge. As an artist, her concentration is in graphic design, but watercolour is her medium of choice with one of her watercolours featured on the cover of her second book, A Matter of Chance. She coaches swimming and holds a variety of fitness certifications. She is also a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Leslie also plays flute and piano, but much like Elizabeth Bennet, she is always in need of practice!

53 comments

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    • Buturot on January 7, 2019 at 12:40 am
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    I have a pinterest account and have just started pinning. My daughter uses it more than I do. And she teaches me how to pin things. I have pinned Austen/ P & P and tried some of their arts/quotes. It is a good resource when you need some ideas inspiration either quotes or decors/arts stuff.

    Thank you Leslie for this chance to win the scarf or your wonderful books.

    1. Sounds like you have some fun pins on your account. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

    • Paulette Lewis on January 7, 2019 at 12:41 am
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    What cute kitty cat socks. Go Darcy.

    1. Aren’t the socks adorable! They came in a two pack. I kept one for me and set the other aside for a giveaway 🙂 Thanks, Paulette!

    • Ruth on January 7, 2019 at 12:43 am
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    I use Pinterest for lots of help with colour and ideas. I love the recipes I find and all the quirky things that show up can inspire me. I get sewing, knitting, art, pictures and inspiration for decor in ten minutes of looking! Wowzers it’s fun… isn’t it?

    1. It can be crazy addictive! I don’t put it on my phone or I’d probably never leave the site! Thanks, Ruth!

    • Aimee Jimenez on January 7, 2019 at 12:47 am
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    I use Pinterest for sooooo many things…..knitting patterns, recipies, writing prompts, and lesson plan ideas! There are a surprising number of really good ideas for K – 2nd grade music lessons, though you do have to double-check their info sometimes!

    1. I believe it! I’ve used it for exercise ideas for my HIIT classes. I sometimes have to go to youtube if it’s something I’ve never done so I can see someone do the exercise. Safety first! I want to know how to do it safely so I can teach it. Thanks, Aimee!

    • Debbie on January 7, 2019 at 3:45 am
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    I like using Pinterest from posting places I have been or want to go, quotes, recipes, P&P and Jane Austen, to libraries, nature, birds and eagles. Thank you for the generous give away, but I already have all your audio books so please do not enter me for them.

    1. I’ve never thought to use Pinterest for traveling. I should know better since I’ve used it for the book I’m finishing up now 🙂 Thanks, Debbie!

    • Lynn Bischoff on January 7, 2019 at 4:31 am
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    I use Pinterest and save quilt designs, knitting patterns, and Jane Austen stuff as well as Christmas crafts. You can spend hours looking at pinterest.

    1. It’s a great place for crafts! If only I had more time! Thanks, Lynn!

    • Glynis on January 7, 2019 at 5:11 am
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    My daughter saved items on Pinterest while planning her wedding and shared them with me as she lives in Australia but wanted me to have some part in her decisions.
    I’m afraid I never got into it myself but I enjoyed looking at yours. There are some stunning dresses, accessories and houses etc!
    I was wondering if you would ever expand and publish your Fifty Shades of Jane series as I absolutely loved reading it when you posted?

    1. Wedding planning is a great idea! I’ve actually written about 10 chapters of the Fifty Shades of Jane but I kind of wrote myself into a hole and got stuck. I don’t plan to abandon it altogether. Hopefully, I’ll figure it out one day! Thanks, Glynis!

    • Eva Edmonds on January 7, 2019 at 8:46 am
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    I do not have a Pinterest page but I have used it to get recipes and I have looked at pages that JAFF authors recommend for Regency viewing. Unwrapping Mr. Darcy is a fabulous book! Thank you for the generous giveaway.

    1. I’m thrilled you enjoyed Unwrapping Mr. Darcy! Whether you have a page to pin your favorites or not, it’s still a great place to get ideas. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

    • Madenna on January 7, 2019 at 9:48 am
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    I haven’t incorporated Pinterest in my everyday day thoughts but have found it to be an amazing tool for research. I have looked up recipes, workouts, Scout crafts, and plenty of other things 🙂

    1. It’s not necessarily my every day. I just enjoy it for writing. I try not to go there every day so I don’t get addicted! LOL! Thanks, Madenna!

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on January 7, 2019 at 10:34 am
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    I love Pinterest and aside from fun Regency finds, I posted pictures for my published books which give the readers great visuals. Loved your Pinterest for Unwrapping. No need to include me in the giveaway. I have your books and I don’t do audible, plus it’s expensive to send prizes to the US from UK. Thanks for your post and Happy New Year to you. Congratulations on your new audible release. Jen Red

    1. I’d love to see your Pinterest boards one day. Thanks, Jen!

    • Lynn char on January 7, 2019 at 10:36 am
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    I have a Pinterest page but never look at it. My daughter thinks I need to use it for recipes though. I’m just afraid I’d find another time suck and have less time for reading!

    1. It can be addictive! That’s why I don’t use it much outside of writing. Thanks, Lynn Char!

    • DarcyBennett on January 7, 2019 at 3:40 pm
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    I enjoy looking at crafts and food on Pinterest. Thanks for sharing the link to your inspiration boards.

    1. My pleasure! Thanks!

    • Shelley Hoisington on January 7, 2019 at 4:07 pm
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    I love your Pinterest page for Unwrapping Mr. Darcy. I love visuals. I look around on Pinterest for recipes and aromatherapy. I could get lost on Pinterest for hours. They have so much information and Pictures for P&P.

    1. They have ideas for everything! It’s a one-stop shop. Thanks, Shelley!

    • Carole in Canada on January 7, 2019 at 4:45 pm
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    Happy New Year! I stayed away for many years from Pinterest, its the only social media site I joined (not on facebook, twitter etc). However, my daughter showed me hers and seeing the historical dresses she had saved, lured me in. I have saved paintings, miniature portraits, jewelry, Whippets (sight hounds in general) Regency fashion and plates, Jane Austen… actually a whole lot of things! I tend to go on when I am too tired to read and know I wont retain what I am reading, but like Lynn Char, I try to stay away or I get sucked down the rabbit hole! I would love to have a signed paperback!! Thank you for a chance at the giveaway!

    1. Your pins sound awesome! It can definitely be a huge time suckage if I let it! Thanks, Carole!

    • Betty Campbell Madden on January 7, 2019 at 4:47 pm
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    Oh, I’d never dare start. I don’t have all the P&P sites as it is.

    1. I know the feeling! Thanks, Betty!

    • Linny B on January 7, 2019 at 11:57 pm
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    Happy New Year!! I love Pinterest mostly for recipes and decorating inspirations.
    Enjoyed your Pinterest for stories. I have your books on Kindle but would love 💕 a signed copy of Unwrapping Mr Darcy.
    Thank you for fun giveaway.

    1. Happy New Year, Linny B! Thanks and good luck on the giveaway!

    • Luisa on January 8, 2019 at 12:51 am
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    I loved reading ‘Unwrapping Mr Darcy’ and those cute socks are just the cat’s meow. Perfect to go along with the story. And for all us cat lovers! Thanks for the giveaway.

    1. I’m chuffed to bits that you loved Unwrapping Mr. Darcy! The socks are great, aren’t they? I loved them when I found them. Thanks, Luisa!

    • Patricia Edmisson on January 8, 2019 at 1:20 am
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    Thus far, I have only used Pinterest to look at story boards made up by authors. I have an account, but I have not created anything of my own.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    1. Enjoying others’ boards is a way to enjoy Pinterest. I know a number of authors use Pinterest for ideas. Thanks, Patricia!

    • J. W. Garrett on January 8, 2019 at 9:26 am
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    What an interesting post. It is amazing how one little thing can trigger a complete story. With just a seed of an idea, blooms forth a delightful story to please the masses. Thanks for sharing your writing process and the generous giveaway. I have enjoyed all the books shown, even though I don’t do audio [too ADHD to concentrate and work at the same time]. Good luck to everyone in the drawing and blessings to you Leslie on new ideas in the New Year.

    1. Happy New Year! Glad you enjoyed the post! Thanks so much!

    • Cindy on January 8, 2019 at 11:46 am
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    I have dozens of boards and hundreds of pins!! I suppose you could say I’m a pinning fan! I love to pin recipes and crafts of all kinds. I pin bullet journal ideas and scrap booking things. Just about anything that catches my fancy.

    1. Sounds like you’re a pro! I’ll probably get there eventually. I’m still resisting the total addiction 😉 Thanks, Cindy!

    • Sarah B on January 8, 2019 at 1:30 pm
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    I use interest sparingly, for recipes or things I want to be able to reference again. I like the idea of it, but can see how it can steal a lot of time, which is probably why I don’t use it a lot right now. Well the fact that I have 4 kids, elementary to toddler age range also plays a part in my time availability. Hopefully one of these days I’ll be able to check out your board.

    1. Oh, it can definitely suck time if you let it. LOL! Children do play a huge part in how much time we have. My youngest is 11, but instead of following him around, I’m chauffeuring them around to activities, volunteering, etc. Thanks, Sarah B!

  22. I love Pinterest, but I’ve had very little time to spend over there lately. I’m going to go follow your boards, though!! 😀

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. I think everyone has been busy during the holidays. I definitely was! Thanks, Susanne!

    • Sarah on January 8, 2019 at 3:36 pm
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    I love Pinterest, but have to ration myself as it can become addictive very quickly. I pin all kinds of thngs. Inspiration for writing or travel, interior decoration, recipes, art and craft …. there are so many ways it can be used 🙂

    1. It can definitely be addictive! I totally understand rationing. I try to use it sparingly as well. Thanks, Sarah!

    • Sheila L. Majczan on January 10, 2019 at 9:47 pm
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    I have a number of Pinterest boards. Besides a Jane Austen one I also have ones for Outlander, Owls, Men who could star as Darcy, Rupert Penry Jones, Poldark, Vampire Diaries, Quotes, Beauty and the Beast, David Gandy, Arrow and The Flash, North and South/Richard Armitage, Harry Potter, Castle (the writer/detective series), The Darcy Monologues and Cancer Traits as per the Zodiac. I haven’t added to them in awhile but have thousands of pins on those boards, i.e., 1653 pins on my Jane Austen Board. I get too many e-mails from that site and tend to ignore it now for the most part as I am too busy in the JAFF world.

    1. I ignore most of the emails from Pinterest, too. I just like the ideas! Sounds like you have some great boards! Thanks, Sheila!

    • Anji on January 11, 2019 at 5:38 pm
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    I do have a Pinterest account, but haven’t used it for a while. I kind of got sucked in and was spending far too much time there; time I’d much rather spend reading Austenesque fiction, to be honest!

    Thanks for the lovely giveaway gifts.

    1. I know what you mean. It’s why I generally don’t use it for anything but writing. I will pin things I like when I’m looking if I find something I love, but I don’t go back and look too often. Thanks, Anji!

    • Simone on January 13, 2019 at 3:53 am
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    Thank you for sharing your creative imagination book on pinterest. I don’t have an account. I need my time to read most of the wonderful JAFF stories you and the other talented writer have brought to paper. I love costumes and gowns of women so I had to look on your board.

    1. The boards on Pinterest remind me of what we called “mood boards” when I was in design school. They’re definitely helpful! Glad you enjoyed them. Thanks, Simone!

  27. I have a Pinterest account but I rarely pin any pictures or images. I admit that the reason I have an account is so that I stop seeing the annoying pop-up message that ask me to create a Pinterest account whenever I browse my favourite page. Anyway thank you for offering some lovely gifts for us to win, Leslie.

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