New Book and Cover Reveal by Mary Simonsen

Some of you may not know that in addition to writing Jane Austen re-imaginings, I also write the Patrick Shea mystery series. For about two years, I have been going back and forth between the two genres, but with my latest novel, I decided to combine the two! Here’s the blurb from the back jacket: …

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Jane Austen’s Jewel Box – Elizabeth Darcy’s Ring – Part Seven – Jane Odiwe

Here is Part Seven of Elizabeth Darcy’ s Ring in my Jane Austen’s Jewel Box collection. If you’d like to catch up on parts one to six, they are posted in Writer’s Workshop! I’ve been really thrilled by the response from everyone – thank you so much for all your input, it’s been so helpful. …

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Mr. Darcy’s Pledge: Cover Reveal

The day is fast approaching for the official launch of Mr. Darcy’s Pledge and I thought I would share the cover with you. It was designed by the enormously talented JD Smith. I think it creates a certain atmosphere though I can’t put my finger on quite what it is. Can you think of a good …

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Lizzy Bennet’s Diary: Chapter One – by Cassandra Grafton

Today, I begin posting a 10-chapter story here on Austen Variations titled Lizzy Bennet’s Diary (that’s not the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, of course). This was originally written way back in 2006 – my first ever attempt at writing with a Regency ‘voice’ – and the title came from Bridget Jones’ Diary which, as you may know, is a …

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Persuasion 200: Capt. Wentworth Visits with his Brother at Monkford by Mary Simonsen

It is the summer of 1806. Frederick Wentworth, who has yet to meet Anne Elliot, is visiting with his brother Edward, a curate in Somerset, while waiting for a ship to command. “Frederick found a home for half a year at Monkford.” – Persuasion “You are restless, Frederick,” Edward Wentworth said to his brother, and the …

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Persuasion 200: William Elliot meets his cousin Elizabeth

William Walter Elliot esq. is the heir presumptive of Sir Walter Elliot’s baronetcy and of Sir Walter’s property, Kellynch Hall, as Sir Walter has only daughters. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, has, since her girlhood, considered William to be the most suitable possible husband for her—he is of the proper rank and will be a baronet, …

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Jane Austen’s Jewel Box – Elizabeth Darcy’s Ring – Part Six – Jane Odiwe

Thank you, dear readers, for your invaluable feedback last week – I hope you enjoy this episode and I welcome your ideas and opinions! If you’d like to catch up on previous parts, they can be found in Writer’s Workshop. Mrs Darcy’s happiness was to be short-lived. After dinner the ladies withdrew to one of …

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Persuasion 200: Beginning with an Ending

I adore Persuasion and have had my head firmly residing in that world for the past year, thanks to my current work-in-progress. So I’m delighted to be kicking off this Persuasion 200 Project with the initial installment of several planned prequel posts. These will be based on events referred to in the book but which actually take …

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Persuasion 200 – Cast of Characters

Persuasion is Jane Austen’s last completed novel. Austen died in Winchester on July 18, 1817 at the age of 41. After Austen’s death, in December 1817, Cassandra and Henry Austen arranged with John Murray, Jane’s editor, for the publication of Persuasion and Northanger Abbey in a single volume. Henry Austen contributed a Biographical Note that, for the first time, identified …

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Persuasion 200 Coming April 17th!

Finally, after what seems like months and months of talking about it and planning, there’s less than a week until Persuasion 200 begins! What’s Persuasion 200? During this, the 200th year after the events in Austen’s book Persuasion, we’re retelling it by creating the scenes she left out of the original. This is similar to the P&P200 Project …

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