Official Launch of “Pride and Prejudice – Behind the Scenes”

P&P200Junefinal4_resizedIn case you’ve missed all the preliminary chatter, I’ll let you in on the worst-kept secret around. Ta-da! The authors of Austen Variations proudly present a new collaboration titled Pride and Prejudice – Behind the Scenes.

Here’s the official book blurb:

What did Mr. Darcy think when he first saw Elizabeth Bennet? How did Miss Bingley talk her brother out of proposing to Jane Bennet? And how did Lady Catherine de Bourgh find out Mr. Darcy was on the verge of proposing to Elizabeth? Fifteen authors of Austen-inspired fiction answer these questions and more. Here are the scenes Jane Austen never wrote: ones that happened off stage, such as Mr. Collins proposing to Charlotte Lucas, and actual Pride and Prejudice scenes from the point of view of different characters.

PRIDE & PREJUDICE: BEHIND THE SCENES is not a complete novel in and of itself. It is a collection of scenes written independently and designed to complement the original. The reader can start at the beginning or dip into any scene they choose.

 

If you’ve been with us for a while, this concept should sound pretty familiar. You’re probably remembering a similar book called Pride and Prejudice – The Scenes Jane Austen Never Wrote, derived from our popular P&P200 series. It was a huge success and helped us raise over $9000, given as a charitable donation to The Jane Austen House Museum.

If you didn’t get a copy, the bad news is it’s now out of print. Don’t despair, though! P&P – Behind the Scenes is the updated version, including scenes contributed by some of the authors more recently added at Austen Variations. In fact, 50% of the book is brand new material! So even if you already own the old edition, there are tons of fresh, exciting scenes for you too.

Speaking of tonnage, this big boy weighs in at around 700 pages, so it’s a treat that will last a while. Enjoy each complete-in-itself scene one at a time or, if you just can’t stop, binge read your way through it. Better yet, read it side-by-side with Pride and Prejudice, filling in the missing scenes as you go!

To whet your appetite, we have an excerpt debuting concurrently here, at the Book Rat. What was Caroline thinking and plotting in chapter 10 when she noticed Mr. Darcy noticing Elizabeth?

As with the previous incarnation of the book, the authors of Austen Variations are happy to announce that all royalties from Pride and Prejudice – Behind the Scenes will be donated to a Jane Austen charity!

We at Austen Variations are very excited about this new book. Please join us in celebrating. Put it on your wish list. Tell your friends. Give it as a gift, or buy it for yourself! Now available in paperback, Kindle, and Nook. (Other ebook formats may follow.)

So many contributed their talents and time to bring this project to fruition. Susan, Maria, Abigail, and Mary spent countless hours assembling and editing. And a big thanks to Debbie Fortin for her amazing efforts in proofreading this tome!

Are you on board for 700 more pages of Pride and Prejudice?

52 comments

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    • Katherine Schmitt on September 6, 2016 at 12:48 am
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    This sounds both ambitious and worthwhile! I am constantly in awe of the passionate creativity of Austen Variations authors and will look forward to reading this.

    • Betty Campbell Madden on September 6, 2016 at 1:16 am
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    I’ve certainly enjoyed the first edition/volume and look forward to this new one. Winning it would be wonderful.

    Many thanks to all those who wrote for and worked on producing this work.

    • Glynis on September 6, 2016 at 1:20 am
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    I did say at the time that these scenes should be published! I have a copy of The Scenes Jane Austen never wrote but as thus also contains the new ones I will have to get it. Hopefully I will win a copy so thanks for the opportunity.

    • Bonnie Fournie on September 6, 2016 at 1:53 am
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    I would be so excited to win a copy of this book because as it is I think I am going to have to buy at least two as gifts.

    • Florence Solowianiuk on September 6, 2016 at 2:59 am
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    Please enter me in the giveaway. I’ve read “Pride and Prejudice — The Scenes Jane Austen Never Wrote” and enjoyed it immensely. 700 pages of new P+P goodness sounds like a dream come true.

    1. Just to be clear, Florence, it’s half new material and half carried over from Scenes JA Never Wrote.

        • Florence Solowianiuk on September 6, 2016 at 10:45 pm
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        Not a problem. I often reread variations and short stories that I’ve enjoyed in the past. I remember the previous book fondly.

    • Michelle Hall on September 6, 2016 at 4:09 am
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    Yes please. I bought the first book and loved it so looking forward to this one too. Thank you all so much to the JAFF authors for keeping this story alive for people like me!

    • Ann on September 6, 2016 at 5:00 am
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    Really looking forward to seeing and reading a copy of this book. Thank you to you all for all the hard work.
    What fun it all is to read it alongside Pride and Prejudice.

    • Miriam Bresticker on September 6, 2016 at 5:25 am
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    enjoyed the first version, would love to win the new one. Thanks for the opportunity.

    • KateB on September 6, 2016 at 5:47 am
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    I’m so glad to see this giveaway . The old edition had been one of my first JAFF purchases that got me addicted to the genre . I loved the stories there, and discovered my first favorite authors. I would love to read this updated version

    • Kathy Noyes on September 6, 2016 at 5:57 am
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    This is a wonderful opportunity! There are so many exciting and truly inventive Austenites writing out there!

    • Laura H on September 6, 2016 at 6:46 am
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    Congratulation on the new book! I enjoyed reading the excerpt at Book Rat. I would also love to own a copy of this book. Thank you.

    • Nancy Duell on September 6, 2016 at 6:49 am
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    Thank you for offering another giveaway. I love P&P variations. Keep thrm coming.

    • Mari on September 6, 2016 at 7:55 am
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    Oh the s is delightful, I did indeed buy the full version and t and can’t wait to start the second. I was actually hoping there might be a companion book someday, and here it is. It would be great to win a copy, but it I don’t, I will certainly buy it!

  1. Congrats on the new release! I’m looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the giveaway!

    • Eva E on September 6, 2016 at 8:32 am
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    The authors are to be commended once again for contributing to a Jane Austen charity. Kudos to you. I loved the first book and would love to read this new tomb in ebook format! Thank you for the excerpt as Caroline’s machinations are always the best and thank you for the giveaway.

    • Kristine Shore on September 6, 2016 at 8:36 am
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    So excited for the new release!

  2. Congratulations to all involved, and especially to those you had to edit and proof read such a massive volume! Please don’t enter me in any draw as I’ll be buying my own copy in both formats!

    • Theresa M on September 6, 2016 at 8:38 am
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    Thank you for this wonderful website….I do love JAFF and it is always a treat to read what these authors have written.
    I look forward to reading this new effort. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

    • Michele on September 6, 2016 at 8:42 am
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    Glad to see this got an updated version. Thanks for the giveaway.

    • Martha Claycomb on September 6, 2016 at 9:23 am
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    Yay! I never get tired of reading what all of you talented people create!

    • Vesper Meikle on September 6, 2016 at 9:46 am
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    enjoyed reading the first edition, so I will be reading this as well

    • Hollis on September 6, 2016 at 10:25 am
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    I would be very happy to be one of the winners!!!

      • Kathy Noyes on September 7, 2016 at 2:12 pm
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      me too! me too! me too! Thanks for the opportunity

    • Laurie May Aquino on September 6, 2016 at 11:30 am
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    It’s so awesome that you were able to raise money for Jane Austen house. You are all so awesome! 🙂

    • Cindy on September 6, 2016 at 11:59 am
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    Whoo hoo! I will add it to my queue at once!

    • Beth on September 6, 2016 at 12:24 pm
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    This sounds like a great addition to my collection. I am intrigued by the format!

    • Clytie koehler on September 6, 2016 at 12:33 pm
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    What a wonderful project! I hope Behind the Scenes will be available on Kindle so that I can increase the font to a size I can read! Thanks for all of your inspiring work – individually and collectively!

  3. Congratulations!!!! I’m so excited for you all!! This book looks amazing–all 700+ pages of it!! What a treat–or two!! 😀

    Crossing my fingers to get an e-copy…. 😉

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    • Stephanie L on September 6, 2016 at 12:46 pm
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    700 pages. That’s a lot of writing you guys!! That would be an amazing thing to win. Thanks for the opportunity.

    • Lilyane Soltz on September 6, 2016 at 2:23 pm
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    I am absolutely on board. Somehow, I missed the earlier volume and am excited to catch up. This is wonderful – oh yes, please, and thank you so much!!

    • Sophia on September 6, 2016 at 2:38 pm
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    Gosh I am glad I own the old version! I would definitely buy the new one as well to help to donate to Austen charities! What a wonderful if ambitious goal!
    I would love to win this new book filled to the brim with wonderful scenes never written, behind the scenes and all and everything between! Ohhh yes please let me win – and thank you for the opportunity to win this new book!

    • Mary Simonsen on September 6, 2016 at 3:01 pm
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    I’ll second Shannon Winslow’s thank you to Debbie Fortin. This was a Herculean task. Thanks, Debbie.

    1. I can’t take credit for putting that line in, Mary. Someone else, someone in the position to know, added that, which prompted me to now, as I should have before, give special credit to the four of you who assembled and edited the book. Speaking of a Herculean task!

      • Deborah on September 7, 2016 at 6:21 am
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      I enjoyed the stories. It was fun reading the scenes Jane left out. Thanks to the authors for writing such enjoyable scenes. Kudos ladies and gentleman for sharing their talents. Please do not enter me as I have purchased the ebooks already.

    • Carole in Canada on September 6, 2016 at 3:40 pm
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    Congratulations to the wonderful authors and to Debbie! What a treat to have more to enjoy! Thank you for this giveaway!

      • Deborah on September 7, 2016 at 11:53 am
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      Thank you, Carole. I love to read so I enjoyed helping out.

    • Vee on September 6, 2016 at 4:21 pm
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    Congrats on a wonderful concept. I look forward to reading the fab book!

    • Nicole L on September 6, 2016 at 4:51 pm
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    I loved reading the Scenes Jane Austen Never Wrote and eagerly anticipate enjoying all the new scenes in the collection! Thanks for the giveaway and for continuing to bring fresh scenes to us P&P addicts!

    • Anji on September 6, 2016 at 5:56 pm
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    Oh myyy! 700 pages of JAFF goodness? I love the original and have really enjoyed the new scenes as they were posted. I may not have commented but I read them all.

    Congratulations to you all on this new endeavour and I hope you raise oodles for your chosen JA charity. I’ll definitely be buying a copy if I’m not one of the lucky ones.

    • Angela on September 6, 2016 at 9:50 pm
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    I remember anxiously waiting for every new scene of P&P200 to come out and reading it immediately whenever or wherever I was. I am so excited to read this new updated book!

    • Maura on September 7, 2016 at 6:35 am
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    Sounds lovely! I did not read the first version so this will be a 100% treat for me!

    • Pam Hunter on September 7, 2016 at 9:40 am
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    Am I on board for more than 700 pages of P&P? You bet I am! Congrats to all the authors on the new book! I’d love to win a copy!

    • JanisB on September 7, 2016 at 9:59 am
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    I came to JAFF somewhat recently and so never saw the first version (altho’ I’m sure I’ll be looking for it soon!). 700 pages of more of our beloved characters? You betcha! Thank you to all the authors who worked so diligently to make this a reality. I look forward to enjoying the fruits of your labours!

    • Barbara de Vos on September 7, 2016 at 12:50 pm
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    I think Jane Austen would get a chuckle out of this: the ultimate in fan fiction crossing over into legitimate fiction. “Are the shades of Meryton to be thus productive?!”
    Can’t wait to read it, myself, and I’m sure Jane would buy a copy, too. (So would Lady Catherine, though she’d never admit it.)

    • Danielle C on September 7, 2016 at 3:38 pm
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    I just LOVE when you get a great collection of stories from great authors!!!

    • Beatrice on September 8, 2016 at 12:42 am
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    Oh, I LOVED the first one – cannot wait to see this one!

  4. Congratulations to all authors involved. I hope to be one of the winners but good luck, everyone.

    • Lori on September 12, 2016 at 7:23 pm
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    Awesome! Haven’t read the original so I look forward to all of this!

    • Stacy Wilson on September 13, 2016 at 8:01 am
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    I never get tired of reading Pride & Prejudice. I am excited to read the new variation.

  5. 700 pages, only?? 😛 why not a thousand! This is going to be a must!!

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