Syrie James adored Jane Austen’s novels in college, but it was the movies that began her real love affair with Jane. After a long and successful career as a Hollywood screenwriter, Syrie saw the A&E series Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth and the film Sense and Sensibility starring Emma Thompson, and she felt transported. She wanted to go back in time and live in a Jane Austen movie!

One night, while watching Shakespeare in Love, Syrie thought: what about a love story for Jane Austen? What inspired Jane to write all those wonderful, romantic novels? In reading Austen’s preserved correspondence, Syrie noticed a two-year gap, and wondered: what if Jane had a life-changing love affair during those missing years that she and her sister Cassandra conspired to keep secret? Thus began a research project that was years in the making, inspired a trip to England to visit all the Austen sites, and resulted in her novel The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen—which sold at auction in a bidding war between three major publishing houses and became a bestseller.

The biggest compliments Syrie receives are when readers tell her they forget it’s a novel—that they actually believe they are reading Jane Austen’s own words. That book launched a fulfilling new career as an author of both historical and contemporary fiction—books that (as Syrie says) are not always about Austen, but are always influenced in some way by the genius of Austen!

Syrie is an active life member of the WGA and the Jane Austen Society of North America. To date, Syrie’s books have been translated into eighteen foreign languages. When she’s not reading, researching, writing, or updating her website, Syrie’s preferred activity is to spend time with her husband Bill and their two sons and their wives, who live about a stone’s throw away from them in Los Angeles.

Visit Syrie on her website Syrie James and on her BLOG. You can also find her on Facebook and on Twitter @SyrieJames

Syrie’s Novels ~

The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen

Samantha McDonough cannot believe her eyes–or her luck. Tucked in an uncut page of a two-hundred-year-old poetry book is a letter that she believes was written by Jane Austen, mentioning with regret a manuscript that “went missing at Greenbriar in Devonshire.”  Could there really be an undiscovered Jane Austen novel waiting to be found? Could anyone resist the temptation to go looking for it?

Making her way to the beautiful, centuries-old Greenbriar estate, Samantha finds it no easy task to sell its owner, the handsome yet uncompromising Anthony Whitaker, on her wild idea of searching for a lost Austen work—until she mentions its possible multi-million dollar value. After discovering the unattributed manuscript, Samantha and Anthony are immediately absorbed in the story of Rebecca Stanhope, daughter of a small-town rector, who is about to encounter some bittersweet truths about life and love. As they continue to read the newly discovered tale from the past, a new one unfolds in the present– a story that just might change both of their lives forever.

“A novel within a novel honoring what we love most about Austen: her engaging stories, her rapier wit, and her swoon worthy romance. Pitch perfect, brilliantly crafted. 5 out of 5 Regency stars!” —Austenprose

 ”A literary feast for Anglophiles…[with] an Austen-worthy ending.”—Publishers Weekly

“This richly imagined Jane Austen ‘road novel’ is such a page turner… A standout addition to the crowded archive of Austen homages.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Syrie James has surpassed herself… it’ll be one of your favourite reads in 2013!” —My Jane Austen Book Club

“A book-within-a-book that is delightful and captivating from the very first page… I had to remind myself that it wasn’t really Austen.”  —Diary of an Eccentric

“This is a novel that deserves a standing ovation, and if Jane Austen were still with us – she would be the first one to applaud!” —The Write Companion 

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane’s life—finally, the truth may have been found. . . .

What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen’s memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That’s the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen’s life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart.

Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last.

Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen’s own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author’s romantic tales. It’s a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen—and to anyone who loves a great story.

“A thoughtful, immensely touching romance…well-researched, well-written, and beautifully plotted.” —Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine

“A love affair equal to anything Jane Austen wrote.” —News Review

“Austen and Mr. Ashford seem a perfect match in matters of head and heart.”—Publisher’s Weekly

“Through humor, Jane comes alive… the reader blindly pulls for the heroine and her dreams of love.” —The Los Angeles Times

“Deserves front-runner status in the field of Austen fan-fiction and film.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Tantalizing, tender, and true to the Austen mythos, James’s book is highly recommended.” — Library Journal, starred review

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte

“I have written about the joys of love. I have, in my secret heart, long dreamt of an intimate connection with a man; every Jane, I believe, deserves her Rochester.”

Though poor, plain, and unconnected, Charlotte Bronte possesses a deeply passionate side which she reveals only in her writings—creating Jane Eyre and other novels that stand among literature’s most beloved works. Living a secluded life in the wilds of Yorkshire with her sisters Emily and Anne, their drug-addicted brother, and an eccentric father who is going blind, Charlotte Bronte dreams of a real love story as fiery as the ones she creates.

But it is in the pages of her diary where Charlotte exposes her deepest feelings and desires—and the truth about her life, its triumphs and shattering disappointments, her family, the inspiration behind her work, her scandalous secret passion for the man she can never have . . . and her intense, dramatic relationship with the man she comes to love, the enigmatic Arthur Bell Nicholls.

“Who is this man who has dared to ask for my hand? Why is my father so dead set against him? Why are half the residents of Haworth determined to lynch him—or shoot him?”

From Syrie James, the acclaimed, bestselling author of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, comes a powerfully compelling, intensely researched literary feat that blends historical fact and fiction to explore the passionate heart and unquiet soul of Charlotte Bronte. It is Charlotte’s story, just as she might have written it herself.

Selected by the Women’s National Book Association as a Great Group Read of 2009

WINNER of the 2011 Audie Award for Romance

“For fans of biographical tales and romance, Syrie’s story of Charlotte offers it all: longing and yearning, struggle and success, the searing pain of immeasurable loss, and the happiness of a love that came unbidden and unsought. I did not want this story to end.” —Jane Austen’s World

“James takes the biography of Brontë and sketches it into a work of art.” —Sacramento Book Review

“I was charmed. So masterfully written I had to remind myself that it is just the fruit of Syrie James’s genius.” —Austenprose.com

“An enchanting love story! 5 out of 5 stars.” —Austenesque Reviews

“Readers will be glued to its pages from start to finish.” —Bronte Blog

Songbird

When Southern California radio deejay Desiree Germain hosts a contest on the air, she is immediately taken by the smooth, deeply masculine voice of caller number twelve, Kyle Harrison. Later that afternoon, the man behind the voice walks into her studio, and Desiree is instantly smitten.

Kyle Harrison is not only devastatingly handsome, he is a brilliant, extremely wealthy entrepreneur from Seattle who is used to getting what he wants. Desiree can’t help her attraction to Kyle—and if the intense way he looks at her and keeps delaying his flight back to Seattle is any indication, it seems her feelings are more than reciprocated.

They embark on a thrilling, passionate love affair that plays havoc with the life Desiree has struggled so hard to carefully control. It might take a Maserati, dozens of red roses, and a lot of airplane tickets, but Kyle is determined to sweep Desiree off her feet and claim her as his own—forever. Can Kyle convince Desiree to risk her heart and her career for love?

Sexy, witty, tender, and deeply poignant, Songbird is a page-turning tale that will ignite your senses and bring a smile to your heart.

“Provocative, sultry romance! Songbird hits all the right notes with this lyrical, poignant love story. Syrie James’s realistic characterization of two strong personalities kept me turning pages well into the wee hours of the morning.” -Christina Boyd, Austenprose

“I can always rely on Syrie James’ works to be a breath of fresh air. The writing itself is an excellent piece of art… I flew through Songbird! It was amazing on all sorts of levels.Truly a great read!”  -The Paige Turner

Propositions

When freelance advertising artist Kelli Ann Harrison agrees to oversee the final phase of construction on her brother’s glamorous Lake Tahoe house, she intends to make a holiday out of it: lend her brother a helping hand and at the same time enjoy the area’s winter sports.

An unexpected encounter at a holiday mixer, however, leads to a job offer that throws Kelli’s plans into disarray. Grant Pembroke, founder of Pembroke Advertising, is in town to bid for the lucrative Cassera’s Casino account. Impressed by Kelli’s artistic vision, Grant makes her a proposition that’s too exciting to refuse: team up with him to forge an ad campaign for the bid.

Kelli is determined to keep things professional, but that won’t be easy, considering the high-voltage charge that sizzles between them from the start. With his creative ingenuity and broad-shouldered, dark-haired good looks, Grant makes it very difficult for Kelli to concentrate on her work—especially when it becomes clear that his feelings for her go far beyond the workplace.

They make a wonderful team. But Grant is as headstrong as he is talented, and at times the two of them clash. Can business and pleasure mix? If Kelli and Grant play their cards right, can a whirlwind love affair last forever?

“I loved, loved, loved this perfectly crafted, lush love story… This poignant, steamy romance will have you believing there can be love at first sight. 5 stars!” -Christina Boyd, Austenprose

 ”A spooky yet thoroughly romantic love story.” —Chicago Tribune 

“A rich revisiting of the Dracula Story.” —Publisher’s Weekly 

“With its poetic, 19th-century prose style, this tale about a fierce, forbidden romance will appeal to even the most jaded romance fan.” —Library Journal 

” 5 stars. What magnificent writing! A poignant, passionate, and powerful novel you should not miss!” —Austenesque Reviews 

Nocturne

When Nicole Whitcomb’s car runs off a Colorado mountain road during a blinding snowstorm, she is saved from death by a handsome, fascinating, and enigmatic stranger. Snowbound with him for days in his beautiful home high in the Rockies, she finds herself powerfully attracted to him. But there are things about him that mystify her, filling her with apprehension.

Who is Michael Tyler? Why does he live alone in such a secluded spot and guard his private life so carefully? What secret–or secrets–is he hiding?

Nicole has secrets of her own and a past she is running from–but Michael understands her better than anyone she has ever known. Soon, she is falling as deeply in love with him as he is with her–a profoundly meaningful experience that is destined to change their lives forever.

As the sexual tension between them builds, however, the clues mount up. When Nicole learns her host’s terrifying secret, there is nowhere for her to run but into the blizzard raging outside, and Michael may be the only one who can save her life.

“Lyrical, lush, and intensely romantic, this infinitely touching, bittersweet story will weave its way into readers’ hearts, with its complex characters and compelling emotions sure to linger long after the last page has been turned.”—Library Journal

“An exquisite feast of passion, turmoil, adventure, and intrigue. 5 stars!” A FAVORITE NOVEL OF 2011  —Austenesque Reviews

“A once-in-a-lifetime kind of love… Each incredible revelation kept me turning pages long into the night.”—A Simple Love of Reading

“The kind of book that makes you want to turn off the phone and the television so you can do nothing but read.” —Barnes and Noble Romantic Read of the Week

“An emotionally heartfelt love story with an unexpected ending that will bring tears to your eyes. Be sure to get this one today!” —Romance Reviews Today

Forbidden

SHE SHOULD NOT EXIST. HE SHOULD NOT LOVE HER.

Claire Brennan has spent her entire life wondering who her father is, and why her paranoid, “hippie” mom insists on moving every year or two. Who—or what—are they running from? Desperate to stay put at the high school she loves, Claire hides the fact that she’s started getting psychic visions that seem to predict the future, and warn Claire that her own life is in danger. Alec MacKenzie is a handsome, angelic watcher with incredible powers, who chose Emerson Academy as the ideal hiding place where he could just be normal for once. He hadn’t planned on falling deeply in love with Claire, whose secret heritage makes their relationship— and her very existence — forbidden. When the reason behind Claire’s unusual powers is revealed and the threat to her life becomes clear, how much will they risk to stay together? How far will Alec go to protect her?

“A spectacular new Young Adult writing team!…Full of intrigue, romance and humor…[and] very much about trust, discovery, and love…This may be written for Young Adults, however, might I also suggest, for the young at heart?” —Austenprose

“A YA novel that hits all the right notes… the plot and storyline are great, and the characters strong… If you enjoy angels, ‘forbidden’ romance and dashing heroes, then this should be added to your TBR.” —USA TODAY

“Enthralling! Hands down the most fascinating book I have read in quite a while. Simply magic!” —Luxury Reading

“A must read. My top 24 of all time favorite books.” —Jean Book Nerd

“I didn’t want this book to end… Suspenseful, surprising and a fantastic read… I recommend it for everyone. 5/5.” —The Sagacity Quest