Lilacs are one of my favorite flowers and I grew up in the Sierra Nevada mountains where they were almost wild, growing on hillsides and in every yard but living in Southern California precludes my growing any. There are hybrids for this climate but they are not the same. Some day I will live somewhere I can once again have lilacs growing in my yard. In the meantime this beautiful picture will have to do. What is your favorite flower?

Speaking of favorites, Pride and Prejudice is a favorite book for many people, a group in which I proudly stand. There have been many prequels and sequels by many different authors as Jane wrote none of her own. At Austen Authors website the talented conclave wrote a novel last year (to be published by White Soup), called P&P 200 it was imagined sequences that did not appear in Austen’s original. As an example, all Jane wrote about the wedding was that Mrs. Bennet was happy for all her maternal feelings on the day she got rid of her two most deserving daughters, Jane and Elizabeth. In P&P 200 the scenes leading up to the wedding day and the day itself are imagined by different contributors of the website; buying of the wedding clothes, planning of the honeymoon, etc.

Spurred on by the success of P&P 200, this year the members decided on a ‘what-if’ scenario for a new novel ~ The Bennet Brother. This project imagines how the story might have played out had the five Bennet sisters had an older brother, Edward. As of Wednesday, May 22 there will be 15 chapters completed with another every Wednesday through August. This time, however, we are not simply writing our own variations but asking the readers to direct the way the story progresses, hence the title P&P Readers Choice. Each week the readers choose one of three possibilities that will drive the story forward.

Last week was my first effort, after Chapter 13 saw Lady Catherine committing despicable acts that could easily have impacted the both the Bennet and Darcy families, the readers decided that Darcy and Elizabeth should talk. The possibility existed that they would become engaged but if you’d like to find out please read my chapter. If you’d like to read everything up to date click on the P&P Readers Choice logo. This week we have something special along with the next chapter from Maria Grace, we have a special poll for the readers to decide which lovely lady in the story (there have been several) will ultimately win Edward Bennet’s heart.

So stop by Austen Authors and catch up on the story, cast your vote and return each week for the latest and see where the imaginative authors of Austenesque fiction take this tale of love, romance and intrigue.

Follow Edward Bennet on Twitter @EdwBennet

The audio book of Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is awaiting final approval at ACX so it can be sent into the world. For more info check out my post, Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen ~ The Audio Book.

I have approved the final recording for the audio book of Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen by Kendra Hoffman and couldn’t be happier. Hoping for availability at Audible.com, Amazon.com and iTunes early to mid-June. Here is a small sample

In the meantime the trade paperback is selling at a 10% discount at Amazon and the Kindle edition at Amazon is $2.99. It’s getting very nice reviews, for example Joceline Bury of Jane Austen’s Regency World said:

Time-travel romance has become a popular and successful sub-genre of historical romantic fiction, giving writers every opportunity to place their characters in situations that test their affections not only across barriers of class and education, but also across centuries. O’Rourke handles the ensuing conflicts with humour and sensitivity.

Her portrayal of the young stableboy transported from 19^th century Chawton to a 21^st century stud farm is delightfully handled – as is the relationship between Fitz and Jane herself.

She creates a world that defies cynicism and demands suspension of disbelief – even in this age of doubt and hyper-realism. Sheer escapism at its best.

Clever, charming and affectionate – is the real Mr. Darcy unmasked?

Amy wrote on Amazon: 5 Stars!

Sally Smith O’Rourke once again charms us back in time to the world of Jane Austen in her sequel to The Man Who Loved Jane Austen. Sally’s gift for beautiful details and descriptions makes the reader feel as though they have stepped through time and are observers of the story as it unfolds. Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is a delightful read and is not to be missed. Read it with joy and expectation!

and

Meg Massey at Luxury Reading said:

In Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen, author Sally Smith O’Rourke creates a compelling story that investigates what and who might have inspired Jane Austen. While the story line is certainly far-fetched, it is a truly unique idea, one that captivated this reader until the very last page. O’Rourke creates an Austen to whom we can really relate; one of humility, charm and inspiring talent. And one can see why Fitz Darcy so inspired Miss Austen to create a hero that would romance women in every generation since the novel’s creation. If you enjoy Austen-esque fiction, you are sure to love this unique, romantic novel.

GERI HAS WON MY GIVEAWAY OF

A 2013 AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL

Colette Saucier’s All My Tomorrows

All My Tomorrows is losing the ratings war.

For headwriter Alice McGillicutty, the past year has had enough drama. Her mother     passed away, her last relationship ended in disaster, and now poor ratings are catapulting her long-running soap opera toward cancellation. For comfort and creative inspiration, she begins reading The Edge of Darkness, an old melodramatic paperback she found among her mother’s belongings.

When scandal rips Hollywood bad boy Peter Walsingham off the tabloids and into her studio, Alice doubts the small screen is big enough for his ego – or his entourage. In their battle of pride and prejudice, will Peter’s vanity and arrogance compel Alice to write him out of her script, or can she find a role for him in All My Tomorrows?

“5 out of 5 stars

It’s truly a lot of fun and I highly recommend it.”

Colette Saucier has been writing poems, short stories, and novellas since grade school and experienced early success in having several of her poems published in her junior high school newspaper. Her interest in literature led her to marry her college English professor, but eventually a love of history encouraged her to trade up to a British historian. Technical writing has dominated Colette’s career for the past twenty years; but finding little room for creativity in that genre, she spent fifteen months traveling to Britain and researching Regency England, as well as vampire lore and literature, to complete her first full-length novel Pulse and Prejudice. She lives in South Louisiana with her historian husband and their two dogs.

LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN eCOPY OF

ALL MY TOMORROWS

Many of you may already know Jane Odiwe but for those of you who don’t I’d like to introduce you to her. Jane is a teacher, wife, mother, artist and author; a renaissance woman of the first order (I’ll bet she even plays a musical instrument). Those of us who just make it through our day jobs and then write the occasional book stand in awe (or shall I say sit in awe, at least I do).

Married to her college sweetheart (who will remain nameless; so proud of her accomplishments, he prefers that the light shine only on her) Jane and her hubby have three children (almost grown) and two cats, dividing their time between homes in London and Bath (England).

When I asked Jane what medium she used she said, “watercolours, pencils, pastels and oils depending on the piece I’m working on. I tend to use watercolour for the Jane Austen inspired paintings because it fits in well with the period”. Aren’t they lovely. As I said, a true renaissance woman.

Persuasion

Jane Austen

Lizzy and Darcy

Jane’s husband, a graphic artist (they met in art school) created the cover of Jane’s latest release, Searching for Captain Wentworth, based on the Rice portrait, purported to be of Jane Austen at thirteen. Click here for more information on the Rice portrait.  He also created the Austen Authors ad on the back cover of the March/April issue of Jane Austen’s Regency World magazine.

Visit Jane at her website – Austen Effusions – at her blog Jane Austen Sequels and on Facebook and Twitter @JaneOdiwe

Some of you may be aware that my late husband, Michael, and I collaborated on The Man Who Loved Jane Austen. It was a very personal project that he called the ultimate valentine because it came out of our love for each other.

We decided to bind the finished product and give it as gifts to friends and family. Originally we did a dozen copies that were hand bound with green ribbon in three volumes as Austen’s books were printed. When people started asking for additional copies we had them professionally printed and bound rather than trying to keep up with the demand with handmade editions.

It was fun that everyone seemed to enjoy the book, but the fun didn’t last long. I lost Michael suddenly on November 14, 2001; my world crashed. Everything went on the shelf, even my life.

A few months after the funeral, a close friend (the best man at our wedding) called and told me that I needed to get out so he was taking me to the screening of a movie. He was right of course, it would have been very easy for me to become a hermit. As a member of BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) he had passes to an, as yet, unreleased British film. I grudgingly agreed to go and just as I was leaving he called again and asked that I bring a copy of the book. “Why?” I asked (he had gotten one of the original hand bound editions). “I want to give it to someone.” I picked up a copy and left.

The screening was at one of the film and television studios in Hollywood. As it was only a short time after 9/11 the security was extreme. There were check points to get on to the parking lot, the walk through gate, the building entrance and the theatre itself. Very time consuming.

When we reached the stairs leading to the theatre it was clear the theatre was not yet open as a crowd was gathering in the hall. Apparently the film had arrived without numbers differentiating the reels so the projectionist had no idea in which order they were to run. Until it was cleared up they wouldn’t let anyone in the theatre (never was really sure why, overly secure I guess). A tall, handsome young man politely made his way through the crowd and straightened it all out and we were finally allowed to enter the screening room.

While Roger made his rounds to visit with friends I sat down and waited, still finding it difficult to mingle with people; particularly strangers. After a while he came over, handed me the book and looked up the aisle, “Go give it to him.” I looked over my shoulder, six feet away was the star of the movie we were there to see. The tall young man who had fixed the film roll problem. I looked back at Roger quizzically. “You dedicated the book to him, give it to him.” “Seriously?” I asked. He pulled me to my feet, “Yes.”

We had dedicated the book to him. To him, Jennifer Ehle and Jane Austen. I took a deep breath and looked back at Roger; he nodded his head and sat down. Slowly I made my way up the steps and stood next to him as he finished a conversation with someone else. He turned to me and smiled, “Hello.” I didn’t reciprocate the greeting, I just said, “I have something for you.”

His lovely smile turned to trepidation and I realized that he was afraid I was a stalker. I assured him I wasn’t, told him about the book and showed him the dedication. The smile returned and he thanked me as the house lights dimmed and we returned to our seats.

After a much anticipated Question and Answer session with the film’s director, producer and cast, Roger and I headed to the exit. As we neared the door the young man stopped me. He thanked me again, saying he was exceedingly touched and had never been given a nicer compliment. He bent down and kissed my cheek and then was pulled away by another fan.

In the tram that took us to the car a woman’s voice asked, “You’re the one who gave Colin the book aren’t you?” I turned around, the question had been asked by Minnie Driver who was sitting next to Saffron Burrows. I only had time to respond in the affirmative when we arrived at the car.

It was an amazing evening but I didn’t really appreciate and enjoy it as much as I might have. The wound incurred by the loss of Mike was still raw and I was very much in a daze most of the time. Still the gracious young man left an indelible impression and what else can you say when you’ve been kissed by Colin Firth?

When Tim Bullamore, the publisher of Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine requested an HD image of the cover of Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen, he said that Joc Bury had given the book a lovely review and they wanted a good quality image to go with it. I was expecting and would have been more than happy with a nice little blurb. Imagine my surprise and pleasure that it went beyond lovely, at least to me, I think it’s a wonderful review. Share in my delight!

In Sally Smith O’Rourke’s follow-up to The Man Who Loved Jane Austen, the time traveling Fitz Darcy meets a modern woman who succeeds in replacing Jane in his affections. Or does she?

Moving back and forth between early 19^th century Hampshire and 21^st century Virginia, by way of New York City, this offbeat love story is immediately engaging.

The contemporary heroine, New York artist Eliza Knight, is delighted when she picks up a pretty little antique mirrored vanity in a salesroom – and more than intrigued when she makes a mystifying discovery. Tucked between the mirror and its backing are a pair of letters that appear to have been written by Jane Austen, along with a business card that leads Eliza to Fitzwilliam Darcy, a southern gentleman, racehorse breeder and, impossible though it seems, the inspiration for Jane Austen’s ultimate romantic hero.

As romance develops between Eliza and Fitz, a literary mystery unfolds and a heinous literary crime is foiled – all building to a splendidly satisfying conclusion.

Time-travel romance has become a popular and successful sub-genre of historical romantic fiction, giving writers every opportunity to place their characters in situations that test their affections not only across barriers of class and education, but also across centuries. O’Rourke handles the ensuing conflicts with humour and sensitivity.

Her portrayal of the young stableboy transported from 19^th century Chawton to a 21^st century stud farm is delightfully handled – as is the relationship between Fitz and Jane herself.

She creates a world that defies cynicism and demands suspension of disbelief – even in this age of doubt and hyper-realism. Sheer escapism at its best.

Clever, charming and affectionate – is the real Mr. Darcy unmasked?

Another great review appeared in the on-line magazine InD’tale read it here.

See what other people are saying, too. People like Ann Channon, house manager at Jane Austen’s House Museum (where the book is on sale); Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric blog and contributor to Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine; Erin Murdock of InD’tale Magazine; Naida, the Bookworm and Amie McCracken

A few weeks ago (January 27 to be precise) a friend sent me a link to an article her husband was sure I would find interesting.

Janeites: The curious American cult of Jane Austen

A bit of trivia ~ I here apologize to the memory of literary scholar George Saintsbury who coined the term Janeite in an introduction to the 1894 publication of Pride and Prejudice. I thank the Jane Austen Fans of Ireland for setting me straight as I had credited Rudyard Kipling.

The article was trying to posit an explanation of why Americans like to dress in Regency era clothing, have tea parties and balls and devour sequels not written by Jane Austen.

Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose suggested to the author of the article that the elegance of the time is a part of the draw as is looking to the motherland, siting the intense interest in Downton Abbey as an example. Further explaining that Jane wrote only six books and it simply wasn’t enough, people don’t want to give up the characters.

But the overriding conclusion of the article seemed to be that the romance of the stories is what draws people to them even though we know that romance was not Austen’s intent. In fact, Jane created what we see as romance now; successful men who love strong, independent women. She was way ahead of her time. And while I agree with most of the assessment I think the article missed the most important thing that draws people to her and has for two hundred years. At least it is what drew me to her and is the reason my mother gave me Pride and Prejudice when I was fifteen which was my introduction to Jane.

In an era when novels were dark and foreboding she wrote bright, lively tales that often included scandal but scandals that were always resolved without death or destruction. Even Maria Bertram Rushworth in Mansfield Park, who is not allowed the society of her family, is still taken care of in comfort along with her Aunt Norris. As Austen says in reference to this ‘punishment’, “the penalty is less equal than could be wished.

In spite of all the discussions of love and romance, of continuing stories, of wanting to connect with the era and the author via parties and books, I believe Austen’s true appeal comes not from the stories themselves or even the wonderful characters but from her overriding faith in all that is good in humanity.

A strange confluence of small things contributed to this conclusion for me and it is only my opinion as I dare not speak for others. I was watching the Screen Actors Guild awards and something struck me. A large number of commercials for television shows caught my attention. Many, most I’ll say, were for shows I will never watch.

For example: The History Channel has programs entitled Ice Road Truckers; Swamp People and Shark Wranglers; where is the history in that?

Bravo, originally was dedicated to independent films of quality and the performing arts like a live performance of Romeo and Juliet, it now airs Shahs of Sunset and the multiple ‘Real Housewives’ shows.

TLC – The Learning Channel was an information based channel that covered many different subjects including but not limited to medicine, home improvement, cooking, nature and science. Now in the forefront of their programing is ‘Here comes Honey Boo Boo’ and ‘Gypsy Sisters’. What precisely are we learning from those?

Then there is A & E – The Arts and Entertainment Channel that gave us Horatio Hornblower and the 1995 Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice. Now it airs shows like Duck Dynasty, Shipping Wars and American Hoggers. I see very little entertainment in this type of programing and no art of any kind. Then there are television shows and movies filled with crime, murder and mayhem and shows about fashion, style and living that are mean-spirited and insulting.

All of this supposed entertainment seems to cater to the basest human instincts and emotions in our society. Coupled with the greed of the corporate world as well as the rudeness and lack of manners in the general public, I find that “the more I see of the world the more I am dissatisfied with it.”

Jane Austen had an incredibly strong faith in God and people. In my mind it is not the stories, which were very much ahead of their time, or her wonderful characters that are her genius, but the spirit she infused in all her works: that is her true genius.

While she did make what we would like to believe was everyday life quite pleasant, Jane’s world could be and often was not just unpleasant but dismal. England was at war virtually her entire life; still she opted to portray the good in the world. In Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth tells Darcy to “think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure”. Her books show that this was her own philosophy and not just Elizabeth’s. She even chose to see pleasure not just in the past but in the present, her present. While her brothers were risking their lives aboard war ships, more than one sister-in-law died in child birth and a favorite cousin and sister-in-law was stricken with breast cancer Jane was writing stories to uplift the spirit.

So I have a ‘tea party’ any time someone comes to my house (I always offer tea and baked goods: seldom are they turned down) and whether you pour boiling water over a tea bag in a mug or steep leaves in a pot and serve it in china cups, the tea ‘ceremony’ is civility itself. Sitting with friends enjoying a cup of tea gives me pleasure.

When I wrote Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen I tried to capture the spirit I feel in Jane’s words in the character I wrote and whether I accomplished that is not for me to say but it is her spirit that infuses my life. I wear Regency style dresses because I like them (I’ve been wearing empire waist dresses, which were very popular at the time, since 1967 when I made my first). I carry a fan in the summer and wear a cloak in the winter. I prefer to live a civil and graceful life.  If that makes me a member of the cult of Jane Austen then so be it. People have called me an anachronism but I suppose all of this simply makes me a Janeite. What makes you a Janeite?

It was Darcy who made her realize that a man could love a woman who was strong and independent, someone intelligent with thoughts and ideas that went beyond clothes and balls.  In fact, it had given her the confidence to make Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice a bit more individualistic and insightful than she had originally been, even if some of her insights turned out to be incorrect.  She was still lively and playful, though, and Elizabeth’s Mr. Darcy was desirous of just such a woman: someone who read extensively to improve her mind.

(from Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen, page 50)

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is the sequel to The Man Who Loved Jane Austen, in which Sally Smith O’Rourke imagines that Mr. Darcy of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was inspired by a real person.  This book picks up right where the first left off, with New York artist Eliza Knight and Virginia horse breeder Fitz Darcy falling in love and wondering how to navigate their feelings when they’ve never been in a real relationship before.  Fitz is sure of his feelings about Eliza, but Eliza can’t help but feel threatened by his obsession with long dead British author Jane Austen.

For it was Jane Austen who brought them together, through old letters that Eliza found in an antique vanity table that sent her on a trip to Pemberley Farms and into Fitz’s arms.  Eliza can’t help but believe his bizarre story behind the letter written by Jane and addressed to him.  When the pair rush off to England to take care of a situation with the potential to change the course of history, they realize they could lose one another before their relationship even has a chance to blossom.

O’Rourke weaves in the story of Jane Austen, who by 1813 had published two novels, Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, and just finished a third, Mansfield Park.  Jane remembers the brief moments she spent with her Mr. Darcy three years before, cherishing the memories of a man who treated her as an equal and made her feel beautiful.  At 37, Jane feels as young as ever, but she inwardly questions social rules that govern what colors an unmarried woman of a certain age should wear and how they should style their hair.  Uncertain whether she’ll ever see Mr. Darcy again, Jane sends a package to him through her brother’s stable boy, hoping he’ll somehow receive it and remember her.

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen can be read as a standalone novel, as O’Rourke works in a brief summary of the previous book in the prologue, but I highly recommend you read The Man Who Loved Jane Austen first to fully appreciate Eliza and Fitz’s story.  I really enjoyed the first book, but I liked this one even more, as O’Rourke focuses less on the old letters and more on developing her characters.  I really felt like I got to know Eliza and Fitz, their fears and hesitations, the qualities that make them click as a couple, and even their insecurities, played out through their arguments.  I especially loved how O’Rourke moved the narrative between the past and the present, and she wrote the scenes involving Jane Austen with much tenderness for a woman who had a good heart, a playful spirit, and no idea how brilliant she truly was.  Although she admits in the foreword that she took some liberties with the historical facts of Austen’s life, her portrayal of Jane was very respectful.

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is a sweet love story about new beginnings, magical adventures, and cherishing the moments, however brief they might be, you’ve had with the people who’ve changed your life.  It’s about not losing who you are amidst societal constraints and believing that happily ever after is possible, if you’re willing to take a chance.  I finished this book with tears in my eyes for a woman whose stories and characters have meant so much to me and who died too young.  Like O’Rourke, I’d like to imagine that Austen experienced the kind of love she wrote about.  This is the perfect book for people who’d like to believe the same.

It is 2013, 200 years of Pride and Prejudice.

My personal tribute to Jane Austen and her classic novel is

YOURS AFFECTIONATELY, JANE AUSTEN

Please watch my new book trailers and tell me what you think.

Christmas At Sea Pines Cottage

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen and

 The Man Who Loved Jane Austen

The Maidenstone Lighthouse