Karen Doornebos
Getting the dirt on Jane Austen – Archeologists excavate her childhood home
Okay, many of us dig Mr. Darcy. We have our reasons and are willing to defend those reasons in a duel, if need be. Others may take up the sword for the swoonable Henry Tilney (that includes me). For the rest, Captain Wentworth floats their boat, or, some prefer much older heroes like Mr. Knightley.
One thing we can agree on: we’re all Jane Austen fans, am I right?
And now her childhood digs–her home at Steventon–have been dug up. Will we finally get the dirt on Jane Austen? Is there any to be had?!
Talk about shards of evidence: there hasn’t been much in the news about the archeological excavation in Hampshire, save for a recent article in Jane Austen’s Regency World Magazine, a mention in a BBC online newsfeed, and a few other–pieces–here and there.
I’m paraphrasing the BBC news article when I say that “volunteers” excavated the field in Steventon where the rectory house once stood.
As soon as I read that, I thought: volunteers?! Who among us would’ve loved to have been a volunteer on that project? Or do I just speak for myself? As a second-grader, I wrote an entire report on how I wanted to become an archeologist, and that remained the case until about a year later, when after the Brownie camp out in the rain and mud, I became a Girl Scout drop-out. Once I made the connection that archeologists camped frequently, I gave up on my archeologist dream, too. Continue reading
Karen Doornebos
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Crafting a Novel: What Jane Austen Knew But I Have to Remind Myself of–Often
How many of you are out there writing your own novels?
I know from interacting with many of you here on Austen Authors and on my Facebook and Twitter pages that you’re a talented bunch, and if you’re not writing fiction yourselves, you review fiction on your own blogs or Amazon and Goodreads. Some of you are visual artists and potters, while others knit and crochet.
How amazing is it that Jane Austen wrote seven novels with quill and ink all before she turned forty-one? Pretty flippin’ amazing, considering she had no training, no online novel-writing bootcamp classes, no MFA programs, and none of the how-to books that clutter my bookshelves.
In fact, I just bought uber literary agent Donald Maass’ Writing 21st Century Fiction, and I haven’t read that much of it yet, but so far he advises to dig deep and write from your own personal pain. I think Austen would agree when he says: “Your deepest hurts are a wellspring of passion.”
I can’t help but think that Austen had to have been somewhat mortified by her own family over the years (think Bennets) and no doubt Persuasion sprung from a deep desire to have a second chance at lost love herself–possibly with Tom Lefroy.
I’m not as smart as Austen, and now that I’m in the thick of revising and editing my second novel, I like to remind myself of things that she knew by instinct. I take absolutely no credit for any of the writing tips below. I’ve gleaned them from many sources over the years and I share them at the end of the post. Continue reading
Karen Doornebos
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Something’s in the heir
So, we’re all aware of the parallels between Downton Abbey and Jane Austen’s novels, right?
Family home: in peril. That subject rocks the very foundation of Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility and Persuasion. Sisters, and no brothers to become the heir apparent. An air of familiarity? A domineering Dowager Countess. Unsuitable suitors.
No surprise, then, that Austen lovers are watching Downton, even though it’s not set in the Regency. Personally, I enjoy picking up on the subtle and not-so-subtle nods to Austen that are intentional from the well-educated screenwriter Julian Fellowes. But even more than that, I have to admit I’m more than a little dazzled with Fellowes’ screenwriting even if the content does at times seem…familiar. But then again, maybe that adds to the show’s universal appeal? Continue reading
Karen Doornebos
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A Mr. Darcy Night Before Christmas
Apologies to both Jane Austen & Clement C. Moore
Apologies as well to those with delicate sensibilities–please do not read if you’d rather not be, *ahem* exposed to a rated “R” (and not for “Regency”) version of The Night Before Christmas.
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Mr. Darcy’s house (you know the one)
Two creatures were stirring, Mr. Darcy and his spouse (that would be me, I’m not a common trollop.)
My stockings were flung by the chimney without a care,
Everything that could possibly be, was entirely bare.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds (in the west wing)
Quite possibly because I had given them a dram of negus, aka Regency kids’ meds.
So I got out my kerchief and I donned Mr. D’s cap
And I asked him very coyly if he’d like me to dance in his lap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
But nothing could make me spring from that bed to see what was the matter! Continue reading
Karen Doornebos
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Is there anything sexier than Mr. Darcy reading a book?
Many thanks to Jane Austen’s Regency World magazine, where this essay first appeared in January. Please check out the magazine’s website and consider subscribing!
Not to make all of you out there in cyber world swoon, but I’m in Brooklyn at the moment at the Jane Austen Society of North America’s Annual General Meeting, so my responses will not be as timely as usual. I’m excited to meet Diana Birchall for the first time, but will be missing the usual Austen Author crowd that gathers at the AGMs.
Without further ado…back to Mr. Darcy…
Let’s face it. If you met Mr Darcy in real life, you wouldn’t go out with him after the disastrous first date. That’s assuming he condescended enough to actually ask you out, and that you, against your better judgment, said yes. Continue reading
Karen Doornebos
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How do you get your digital Austen fix?
Well, the local outdoor pool is officially closed now and my habit of jogging in the swim lanes (sounds crazy, but try it, it’s addictive, especially in the sunshine) must be shelved until Memorial Day 2013. Before I consider switching up my regimen to hot yoga (yoga in 110 degree heat, anyone?) or piloxing (pilates + boxing), I think I can get my endorphins pumping just by surfing the net and searching for all things Darcy and Austen.
I’m doing a little more of this lately due to the fact that on September 29th I’ll be giving a talk to the JASNA Greater Chicago Region entitled Jane Austen: Multimedia Maven? If you’re in town, I’d love to see you there! Either way, I’d like to ask you how you get your digital Austen fix…
Ready for a laugh? This clip is one of my favorite Austen fixes, a mash-up of Ashes to Ashes and Pride and Prejudice with an actor that really gets (and I mean gets) Gene Hunt. Even if you’ve never heard of Ashes to Ashes, you’ll love this spoof: Continue reading
Karen Doornebos
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Mr. Darcy Does Not Approve (& an unrelated giveaway for your perseverance at the end)
Yes, he does frown upon you and your silly summer diversions. He does not approve of your pool-hopping, beach-floating, outdoor concert-going, movie-watching, bike-riding, picnic-eating, boating, iTunes-listening, firework-seeing shenanigans.
At least, he doesn’t approve of mine. I have this image printed out and hanging above my writing desk, because Mr. Darcy is as wonderful a taskmaster–ahem, I mean muse–as he is main character and hero. (Really, though, I love this meme from the Jane Austen Centre of Bath’s facebook page, don’t you?)
Talk about motivation. If only Mr. Darcy were my personal trainer. *Sigh* But I digress…
Might he approve, though, of an Austen-inspired author taking not a vacation, nor even a holiday, but work-related research trip to England? Said author would need to, of course, sample the local bitters and cheese as well as partake in all things Austen. Certainly, other Austen Authors before her have done the same and gotten away with it?
In my next few posts I will talk about my excursions to Bath, London and Chawton…starting with Bath. Continue reading
Karen Doornebos
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Put a Ring on it, Mr. Tom Lefroy
Sold! For 152,450 GBP, $236,557
Okay, so the big news is that Jane Austen’s ring sold for more than seven times the estimated price at Sotheby’s in Dublin yesterday. It was reported that “competition was fierce among the eight bidders vying” for it. (According to msn news.)
Go, Jane Austen! Once again, the author, who’s been dead for almost 200 years rocked our modern world–with a pretty cool rock. The ring evidently went to… wait for it… “an anonymous collector.” Well, if we knew who the collector was we’d be knocking on their door, now wouldn’t we? Still, inquiring minds want to know who scored the ring! Do any of you out there know anything? Fill us in!
As you all know from reading our very own Diana Birchell’s fabulous post about the ring here, the ring is not only a gorgeous natural turquoise, but like so many aspects of Austen’s life, the details are sketchy. In truth, there are no details. She owned the ring. It was passed down through the generations. End of story.
Or is it? Continue reading
Karen Doornebos
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How to Unleash Your Inner Austen Bad Girl
Villainess.
Is it just me or does the word “villainess” just sound better, more intriguing, and more seductive than “heroine”?
Who would you really want to be for a day:
Would you rather be Fanny Price?
Or Caroline Bingley?
Okay, maybe you wouldn’t want to be a bad girl for an entire day, but perhaps, an evening (or, better yet, a night)?! And exactly how does a good girl channel a bad one? How could, for example, our very own Jane Austen even conceive of Caroline Bingley, Lucy Steele, Mary Crawford, Isabella Thorpe and the long, long list of baddies in her finished and unfinished novels?
I’ll tell you how. Austen had (a bit) of bad girl in her to pull from. (Those of you who have read Austen’s letters know what I’m talking about.) In truth, don’t we all have, from time to time, a villainess stomping about within us? Or once again am I speaking for myself here? Continue reading
Karen Doornebos
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Something Serious From Karen? Yes. A Memorial Day Tribute & A Book Review of “Wooing Mr. Wickham”
I know. Nobody expects anything serious from me, do they? Yes, I can be serious. Just ask my kids! They know better than to mess with me!
Seriously though… it’s Memorial Day here in the states. This means bbqs, trips to the beaches and pools and officially being able to wear white skirts and pants, but all of us have a veteran (or several) in our thoughts today. Some are out on active duty right now, others have served in the past, some are living, some are gone.
Today I’ll be thinking of my dad, who had an even better sense of humor than I (is it possible? ha ha). He passed away three years ago right after Memorial Day weekend, which was appropriate as he served in the Korean War. He served as a typist! And that, in itself, was something he and my entire family laughed about. He was a damn fast typist, though, that was for sure. Hats off to my dad, who became an artist after serving in Korea. I miss him, and so many things about him, but mostly I miss his sense of humor. Hats off to all the veterans who served, even if they (just) sat in an office and typed.
My dad before he went off to Korea. Handsome, wasn't he?!
Karen Doornebos
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