Persuasion 200: The Musgroves Talk About the Elliots

The night before Anne’s visit, the Musgroves vent their feelings about the Elliot family. The Pooles, a very good family of old friends, lived two miles from the Great House, and so it was necessary for Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove to pick up Mary in their carriage for the dinner party on the Thursday evening. …

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Persuasion 200: Both Lady Russell and Anne Elliot pause for thought – by Cassandra Grafton

Lady Russell felt this break-up of the family exceedingly. Persuasion, Chapter Five Lady Russell reflects on the Eliots’ departure as Anne takes her leave of the local families Turning away from the window, Lady Russell sighed softly. She had watched Anne walk down the lane from Kellynch Lodge every day since coming to stay with …

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Mrs Darcy’s Diamonds Book Launch! Jane Odiwe

I’m very excited to announce the publication of Mrs Darcy’s Diamonds today, a new novella, part of my new Jane Austen Jewel Box series, which I started here on Austen Variations a while ago. A Jane Austen Jewel Box Novella. Elizabeth is newly married to Fitzwilliam Darcy, the richest man in Derbyshire, owner of a vast estate, …

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Persuasion 200 – Mrs. Clay’s Aspirations for the Future

Sir Walter Elliot, Miss Elliot, and Mrs. Clay have finally arrived in Bath, their new home, and sent the carriage horses back to Kellynch. They have found a lovely home in Camden Place… Mrs. Clay looked around her room in Camden Place with satisfaction. It was lofty and elegantly appointed…far, far more elegantly appointed than …

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Persuasion 200: Sir Walter Departs for Bath

Sir Walter and the ladies depart for Bath while Anne walks up to Kellynch Lodge to stay with Lady Russell. Sir Walter examined the horses he was so soon to give up, with complaisant satisfaction. Their last office would be to draw him, Miss Elliot, and Mrs. Clay, to Bath. “We will make a very good picture,” …

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Persuasion 200 – Anne Supervises Preparing Kellynch to Be Let

There are a thousand things to be done to prepare to leave Kellynch and all of them seem to fall upon Anne. Anne trudged up the steps, a heavy ledger tucked under her arm. Portraits, she was cataloging portraits today. Just one more in an unending stream of tasks Elizabeth saw fit to assign her. …

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Cover Reveal for Mrs Darcy’s Diamonds – Jane Odiwe

  I’m so excited to show you the cover of my new novella, Mrs Darcy’s Diamonds, that I first started on this website as Elizabeth Darcy’s Ring. It’s the first of a series inspired by jewellery – I’ve always really loved all kinds of jewellery from the very first piece I ever remember having as a …

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Outlander, Northanger, and the Eternal Search for the Perfect Hero… by Marilyn Brant

I’ll admit, I can be distracted fairly easily by a handsome face. (Not to mention thighs of steel. Or muscular, manly shoulders. Or hair I’d love to run my fingers through…) Although my husband rolls his eyes when I say this, I call this heightened state of distraction “Writing Inspiration & Research” or, alternately, “The …

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The Cajun Cheesehead Chornicles, by Jack Caldwell

Another preview from THE PLAINS OF CHALMETTE Hello, everyone—Jack Caldwell here. As you may have heard, I have BIG plans for 2015. White Soup Press will release FOUR novels, all in my epic CRESCENT CITY series. CRESCENT CITY is my Austen-inspired take on the history of America’s most unique city, New Orleans, and the people …

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Persuasion 200: “We Cannot Possibly Do Without Mrs. Clay” by Diana Birchall

  “Elizabeth,” said Lady Russell, “I wish to have some talk with you.” There was that in her voice, that informed even Elizabeth, who was by no means perceptive, that the talk would be unpleasant. “Oh!” said she, “surely you mean – I will send Anne. She is only scribbling and turning over some old …

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