Release of Short-Story Collection by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Today, I am releasing a collection of previously published short stories, Darcy and Elizabeth at Pemberley. Lost in Love, Behind Pemberley Walls, and Answered Prayers were sold on Kindle as individual short stories, The Marriage of Antony Fitzwilliam and The Pemberley Ball were published on various blogs. I thought it would be more convenient for …

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An Eventful Morning

So – Frenemies is this month’s theme. Let’s have some more fun with it. In the WIP I’m working on at the moment, I’m gearing towards a different kind of frenemy situation that Elizabeth is not going to find in the least amusing. But that’s still on the drawing board, so I’ve written a vignette …

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Throw Back Thursday

  A new feature at Austen Variations is our Throwback Thursday, which began a few weeks ago. As I thought about which of my older books to write about for my first Throwback Thursday, I had considered my first book, “Assumed Engagement,” which I actually wrote in 2001, but since I wrote a little about …

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The Darcys and Lord Byron in Venice Part 9, Diana Birchall

It was a refreshment, after the last troubled weeks, for Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to sit in the garden of the Palazzo Mocenigo and peacefully enjoy noticing the signs of an early spring.  The ornamental garden, with its statues and flower beds, stretched from the back of the palace to the Grand Canal, where a …

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Deplorable Date Part 2

Here is Chapter 3 from my new book, Frosted Window Panes. To read Chapters 1 and 2, click here. That post will also give a little more information about how this book came to be. Chapter 3 When they returned to the table and sat down, Jane turned to Charles. “Elizabeth said she would be …

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Release Day “Inspiration” and another Deplorable Date

I am delighted to announce, Inspiration is now available at all major booksellers! This is another book I didn’t intend to write, but you guys inspired me to see it past the short story stage through to a full novella! To thank you guys for your support I’ve got another part posted below, and a …

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Deplorable Dates – Whatever possessed him?

I love this month’s theme! I think it’s a great way to celebrate an author whose best-loved novel hinges on a deplorable first date. Would Elizabeth have been quite so up in arms against Mr Darcy if he hadn’t insulted her on day one?   I’m probably biased here, but I can’t help thinking that …

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Throwback Thursday with Diana Birchall

This is a true timeslip tale, because I am going to take you back to the days before terms such as Jane Austen Fan Fiction, Jane Austen sequels, the Austenesque, and Austen Variations were known – because they did not yet exist. It is almost as much of a time and mind stretch as remembering …

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Deplorable Date Part 1

A few years ago, I posted 2 chapters I had written for our Deplorable Dates theme. Last year I decided to write and publish the book based on those chapters and the ending, which I had written and also posted. Those 2 chapters turned into 3 chapters. I have updated this post to reflect Chapters …

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The Cajun Cheesehead Critic gives P&P 2005 a second chance

Second Impressions and 2005’s Pride & Prejudice, by Jack Caldwell Greetings, everyone. Jack Caldwell here. Back in 2005—a year that will live in infamy (Hurricane Katrina, anyone?)—I took my wife to a screening of Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice (also known as P&P‘05 and P&P3). My reaction to the film? Let’s just say my first …

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