Tag: Maria Grace

Jane In January: Inspiration pt 2

A muse’s favor comes, but at what price? Congratulations to Megan and Linda A, winners of my giveaway. The giveaway is now closed. Part 2 Nearly a month passed with Darcy scarcely leaving his guest chambers at Netherfield. Canvasses, finished, partially finished, and barely started littered every available space. His sketchbook lay open on the …

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Jane in January: Inspiration, pt 1

Inspiration is a peculiar thing. Personally I find it flighty, fleeting, hard to catch, and harder to predict. It would be lovely to say I do this or go here or listen to that for inspiration. That would make my life so much easier. But, alas, my muse who takes the avatar of a humming …

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Happy Birthday to Jane Austen

On this day in 1775 our esteemed authoress was born. What better way to celebrate than to share some of our favorite quotes from her?   In one of Austen’s letters, she wrote: I can just imagine her face, and maybe even the kind of day she was having when she wrote this. These words …

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Advent Day 14~A Chance Meeting finis

As a special treat for Austen Variation readers at Advent, I present the final part of what is now published as “A Most Affectionate Mother.” Part 15 The next morning proved clear and bright and all things such a wonderful morning ought to be. Mary sat beside him on the seat of his modest gig. …

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Advent Day 7-A Chance Meeting pt 14

As a special treat for Austen Variation readers at Advent, I present the penultimate part of what is now published as “A Most Affectionate Mother.” Part 14 Mrs. Johnstone was waiting in the kitchen with a dry, warm blanket and a large cup of hot broth. Mr. Johnstone set her down in front of the …

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A Chance Meeting pt 12, a book release and a giveaway!

I’m about to launch a book–A Most Affectionate Mother–and it’s your fault!  Ths was supposed to be just a little short story for September, just four shots and moving on. But in true “If you give a mouse a cookie” fashion, you gave and author a comment and it was enough to set a whirlwind …

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Educating Mr. Darcy

Diana gave us some lovely insight into girl’s education in Jane Austen’s day, (You can find that post HERE.) So now is a good time to look at how gentlemen of the era were educated. No one really argued for state provided education for middle and upper class children before 1850. (Brown, 2011) So the …

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A Chance Meeting pt 7

Tea with Mrs. Johnstone proves a mite … unusual.  Part 7 The next several days provided conversation, the likes of which she had never had, frankly, never even imagined. While she and Mr. Johnstone disagreed not infrequently, sometimes quite widely, he always listened politely, argued intelligently, and conceded defeat as often as she did. He …

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A Chance Meeting pt 6

“I think your opinion very worthwhile, and to be entirely honest, I am apt to agree both with you and the author of that particular essay.”–Some interesting conversation seems to be on tap today…  Part 6 As usual, Mary rose just after sunrise. The rose colored beams streaming through her window would normally have elicited …

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A Chance Meeting pt 5

What is a dinner party without a little matchmaking on the side? Part 5 “I must say, that is very odd, very odd indeed.” Mama pranced around the parlor in a little circle, wings flapping, feathers fluffing. The sun was beginning its nightly descent, so she cast long shadows across the faded carpet. She was …

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