Drum roll, please! I’m thrilled to announce that at long last my new novel, The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen, is finally finished, officially launched out into the world, and immediately available! It’s by far the most complex book I’ve written so far – weaving back and forth in time and between two interconnected stories. It was a rewarding challenge and a true labor of love to bring it to fruition. And now I hope Jane Austen fans will enjoy reading it as much as I delighted in writing it!
If you saw the cover reveal post here at Austen Variations a few weeks ago, you already know my theory is that, inspired by momentous events in her own life, Jane Austen wrote Persuasion to stand forever in public homage to a very private love affair with a certain Captain Devereaux. This book represents the journal she wrote alongside the novel, telling the story behind the story. In bringing it to light, I hope to satisfy the aspiration of every fan (myself included) who has wished Jane Austen might have enjoyed the romance and happy ending she so carefully crafted for all her heroines.
Listen in on Jane’s thoughts (see excerpt here at Austen Variations) as she sits down to begin writing her last, most poignant novel. Meet Captain Devereaux, on whom her hero Captain Wentworth is based. Find out when they fell in love, why they parted, and if they ever are reunited. Learn how the threads of Anne Elliot’s story are inextricably interwoven with the fabric the author’s own life. Where do they run parallel, and where by necessity do they part ways? And, most importantly, is it possible that Jane Austen met with a happier ending than we have been led to believe?
As I was preparing this post, it occurred to me that this book fits our lovely group name (Austen Variations) much more closely than any of my others do. Rather than a sequel, this is a true variation – not of an Austen novel but of Austen’s life. I like this definition too:
Vary – to change within a range of possibilities, or in connection with something else.
In The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen, that’s exactly what I’ve done. I have chosen to subscribe to a different possibility for Jane’s life, and it’s in connection with her writing of the novel Persuasion. I hope you’ll come along to see where that alternate possibility leads. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen is available at online booksellers Amazon (paperback and Kindle) and Barnes and Noble (Nook). Audio will follow soon.
To continue following my virtual book tour, please visit my website/blog for the schedule and links. Thank you all for your interest and support!
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Congratulations on the release of The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen. Persuasion is one of my favourite novels besides P&P and I cannot wait to get my hands on your novel, Shannon. I hope dear Jane gets her HEA because everyone deserves a chance at happiness.
Please enter me for the e-books as I’m international.
Congratulations, Shannon. Champagne and confetti. I have the ebook already on my TBR list and am eagerly anticipating reading it. Persuasion, thanks to you folks here on AV, has become my second favorite novel. The premise of this book is so intriguing that I am all aquiver waiting to find out what happens to Anne. 🙂
Author
I’m delighted to hear we have made a Persuasion convert out of you, Deborah!
Congratulations, Shannon-I’ve bought my copy and am really looking forward to it! Don’t enter me-I’d hate to steal a prize from our wonderful readers-but, I have to say your prizes are amazing!
Author
Thanks so much, Jane! – for your support and generosity to our readers.
Congratulations, Shannon. I am all anticipation! Like many others, Persuasion is my second favourite after P&P, so this story really intrigues me. I’m international, so it’ll have to be the ebook draw for me.
Congrats on the release!! I look forward to reading this one. I’m definitely one of those who wish for our dear Jane to have had her happy ending. I think it’s extra real to us all this week that those that bring us so much happiness don’t always have it themselves. Awesome that you gave her one! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading it!
Author
A good reminder to us, Stephanie – thinking of Robin Williams and the song “The Tears of a Clown.”
Adding my congratulations. I will be ordering this book in paperback as I love the cover but will wait to ….hope to…win a copy. But best of luck with this launch.
As a non-author, I imagine the publishing of each new book to be somewhat like the birth of a child for the author. Congratulations on the happy event!!! I was intrigued with your preview glimpse of the novel and will most definitely be reading it. Jane, herself, is as endearing to us as her heroines, perhaps the most beloved of all. Reading a possibility of her own story is a wonderful treat.
Author
Exactly, Rae! They are like our children. Jane Austen famously called P&P her “darling child.” In fact, I very recently wrote a post about it: http://shannonwinslow.com/2014/07/31/my-own-darling-child/
Congratulations, Shannon! Wishing you every success with the new release!!
Author
Much appreciated, Cassandra!
Very exciting! Can’t wait to read it. It sounds like an interesting take on Jane-fic!
Already ordered your book, I love the style, will look great in my collection, it’s my second loved book by Jane Austen
Again I say, Congratulations to you, Shannon! I would love to have a signed copy of one of your books, and where better than on a book that gives our dear Jane the happy ending she deserves! And I agree, this is a TRUE Austen Variation! I loved reading the excerpt of Jane’s thoughts as she sat down to write the beginning of “Persuasion”!
BTW, are you attending the AGM in Montreal this October? Perhaps I’ll get a chance to meet you there!
Author
Hi, Carol! Thanks for stopping by and for your comments. No, unfortunately I won’t be at the AGM this year. I so enjoyed going to last year’s, but other commitments will not allow me the time away this fall. Since I won’t see you there, I’d be happy to send you signed bookplates to add to any of my paperbacks you own. Just send me an email request.
I am very excited to have the book in hand – I love the cover and the idea of representing the story as her journal. Don’t need to enter me in the contest but I look forward to reading the story!
Congratulations! This really sounds like a
wonderful “variation” and I am anxious to
read it!
Shannon, I love all your other books, and am sure I will love this one!! Congratulations!!
Author
Thanks for your comment and your faithful readership, Cheryl!
Congratulations on the new book. I’m looking forward to reading it. I’m so glad I found this website. It has been feeding my addiction!
Author
I guess that makes us authors all “enablers” or “dealers” or something. Haha! Anyway, Jennifer, I’m glad you found us too. We’ll be happy to keep you supplied with your drug-of-choice: JAFF!
I am so excited about this book, Shannon! As you know, I am a huge fan of stories that offer “variations” on Jane Austen’s life, giving us new information or new ways of looking at our favorite author. Persuasions is tied with P&P as my favorite Austen novel, and I will always have a special place in my heart for Anne and Captain Wentworth. Congratulations on the release of this novel–I can’t wait to see that lovely cover in person–and I look forward to reading it!
Author
Yes, I know you are, Syrie! And I have to laugh a little about how we were tracking together without knowing it – both of us working on improving JA’s love life at the same time in books released within a couple weeks of each other! We are obviously simpatico. 😀
Congratulations on the release of your new book. It is so beautiful. I love Persuasion because of the thoughtful way love is spoken of. Jane had such an amazing insight into how we feel when we love someone. Thank you for the give aways. Love the tote bag with that great cover.
Congratulations and best wishes on the new release!
Persuasion is my second favorite after P&P! Can’t wait to read this. I especially like books with time change factors in them.
Author
Oops! Sorry to tell you, Mary, but there’s no time travel involved, in case that’s what you’re thinking I meant above when I said “back and forth in time”. It’s just that the story doesn’t unfold entirely chronologically like my previous novels.
JA is telling most of this story in retrospect. She’s bouncing back and forth in her mind (and in what she’s writing) between the present (1815, when she began Persuasion) and the past – to her encounters with Cpt. Devereaux. She’s also shifting between telling us about her own real-life romance and the story she’s creating for Anne and Cpt. Wentworth. Made it challenging to keep everything straight in my own mind as well as for the readers!
Thanks. I suspected that, but that is interesting also. Meant to say that I love the cover too. Great color.
I can only echo the many others who’ve commented on the lovely cover and tantalising concept! Please enter me for the ebook please as I’m in the UK, but gutted to miss out on the other lovely prizes! Looking forward to reading the book howsoever it comes my way… 🙂
Congratulations! Looking forward to reading this one. I loved your book “Return to Longbourn” and the HEA you gave Mary!
Congratulations on your new book & all the best with it! This has got to be one of the most gorgeous covers I’ve seen in a long time too, it’s really beautiful. I like the idea of interweaving Austen’s life with the story of Persuasion. It’s my second favourite Austen book but contains my favourite part of her writing, that perfect letter. It pierces my soul too, when I read it! Please could I be included in the international ebook draw?
Author
I’m so happy to hear from so many Persuasion fans, like you, Ceri! It was such a delight to submerse myself in Anne and Cpt. Wentworth’s world for a whole year while I planned and wrote this book, and to find ways of weaving all my favorite passages into the story. And, yes, of course, that includes that wonderful “soul-piercing” letter!
Yes. When I finally read that letter I have to agree with Ceri that it pierces my soul too.
Congratulations! It is funny/odd how I always long for the same ending for the characters in JA’s books but not for her. It is wonderful to not be alone. For you to write this story is a gift and I thank you. My husband was a sea captain for 21 years so I have a special affinity for Capt. Wentworth and cannot wait to read of Jane’s hero. Best of wishes, Shannon.
Author
No wonder then, Joy! You are tailor-made to be a Persuasion fan (and hopefully a fan of this book also), being married to a sailor yourself. That’s so cool!
I am so excited to hear about your new book and can not wait to read it!!
This delightful book would be a treasure to cherish. Congratulations and best wishes.
Would love to win, and congrats to you! I love Jane Austen.
Congratulations. I look forward to enjoying this intriguing book. What a great cover.
Thrilled for you! I love the cover.
Author
Thanks for celebrating with me, Susan. I look forward to when I can celebrate your next launch with you!
What beautiful cover..would pick it up for that reason alone, but Persuasion is one of my favorites and I love the idea of Jane having a love story of her own. Can’t wait to read it.
Congratulations an Thanks for the chance to win..
Congratulations on the book. I love the cover and can’t wait to read it.
I loved your other books, Shannon, and am very excited to read this one. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
Very interesting idea – will have to look into getting this book wen my reading list decreases a bit!
I got your book and cannot put it down!
Yay! That’s great, Patricia. Thanks for letting me know. 😀
Congratulations! After reading the excerpt, I am now anxious to read the book. 🙂
This sounds like a very interesting premise. I’m looking forward to reading this, as I’ve enjoyed your other books.
Author
I trust this one will measure up to the others you’ve enjoyed, or possibly even surpass them! I think each successive book gets better, simply because I’m now a better, more experienced writer than I was when I began. 🙂
Cheers & Congratulations! How exciting this book launch is! I just can’t wait to read “Persuasion of Jane Austen”! The cover art is simply perfect and your concept wildly fascinating! Wishing you much success!!!!
Author
Thanks so much, Lin! I love your enthusiasm and your liberal use of exclamation points!!! (something I’m prone to myself!)
Persuasion is one of my favorite novels, so this variation is very exciting!
Congratulations on the birthing of your new book! The premise is so intriguing and I can’t wait to read it (especially since I just finished rereading Persuasion today for my book club). Best of luck with the virtual book tour and launch of the book!
Author
That’s so great that you just reread Persuasion! It must have brought back again what a wonderful story it is. I hope you (and your book club, maybe?) will get the chance to read TPMJA soon, while it’s fresh in your mind(s)!
I have read both excerpts here and at Austenprose and I love the book already, I must have this in paperback for my Austenesque book shelf, thank you Shannon for this lovely little treasure I cannot wait to read it 🙂
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