Hello everyone, I remember when my daughter was making her way through primary and secondary school, each month we would get an email that listed all the events, holidays, and groups being celebrated. Inevitably, there would be many. June is one of those months, and in this post and another in about ten days, I …
Any Excuse Will Do – or, Procrastination
Come to think of it, Procrastination is not a bad title for a pseudo Jane Austen novel, is it? Starting a fashion for one word titles with her own Persuasion, Jane Austen also wrote to her niece Anna, approving of the one-word title of her work in progress, Enthusiasm. She wrote, “Enthusiasm is such an …
God Save the King!
Happy post-Jubilee, readers! I hope you were able to experience the pageantry in one form or another this past weekend. Whether it was watching clips on the news, or as our own Joana Starnes, camping out to see the Windsors parade by, this American hopes all your royal dreams came true! With the onset of …
New Story!
I have a new book coming out! Say hello to The Peculiar Talent of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. In this story, Elizabeth is a little bit… special. You’ll see why. Here is the prologue and first chapter. I hope you enjoy it! Look for the pre-order next week! Prologue September 1798 Longbourn, Hertfordshire …
Cover Reveal for “Colonel Brandon in His Own Words”!
Next to the actual book debut, I think the cover reveal is the most exciting! I’m very involved in the design of my book covers, so for me, it’s another enjoyable aspect of the creative process. Even though this is my 12th book, it never gets old. Anyway, I hope you like what we came …
Throwback Excerpt: It’s Always Been You
Happy Monday! Today, I’m revisiting a favorite borne out of a dreary English winter believe it or not. I hope you’ll join me in digging our toes into the sand and relishing the warm sea breeze. Chapter 1 When I first laid eyes on the expanse of pristine white beach, I slid off my …
Any Excuse for a Pressie!
Any excuse will do, right? So I think I’ll blame Mr Darcy’s shirt 😛 Mihaela and I came across it last Sunday at Jane Austen’s House, and at first I was quite blasé, thinking it was just another copy. But no, this time it was the real deal. A very thoughtful gentleman offered to take …
The Perils of Writing Historical Fiction
The Perils of Writing Historical Fiction, by Jack Caldwell Greetings, everyone. Jack Caldwell here. As you all know, I’m the token guy around here that writes Jane Austen-flavored historical novels. That doesn’t mean that my wonderful cohorts at Austen Variations don’t write historical fiction. They do. But we usually come to it from different directions. …
The Greatest Risk-A Work in Progress
Years ago, while wandering through Google Maps searching for a particular spot in Canterbury, I came across an old abandoned abbey close to the cathedral. Scrolling through some pictures, there was a small alcove with a little ledge. I stared at the picture for only a moment when an image of Elizabeth Bennet sitting there …
Rational Creatures Excerpt and Giveaway
“But I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days.” ~Jane Austen’s Persuasion How marvelous would it be to traipse through a world with all our favorite …
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