Last month, I left with plans to make an old-fashioned seed cake from the following Margaret Dods recipe: Of course, first I had to go figure out what a hoop is and how to butter it, but that turned out to be quite simply a round cake tin, of which I have plenty of different… more goodness …
Breaking our Characters to Make Them Whole + a Giveaway
As an author, I struggle to be certain that the work rings with a truth, an authenticity, that creates a story which offers readers an engaging experience rooted in a believable reality. Even if that world is entire made of fairy-dust, employs time travel, and sees other fictional characters traversing its pages. Consider that Tolkien… more goodness …
JAFF Reader/Writer Get Together in November!
Have you ever thought it would be great to meet in person all the people you know virtually through JAFF Facebook pages, websites, and other internet sources? I had this thought running through my head for more than a year, and it wouldn’t go away (sort of like a persistent plot bunny). And it turns… more goodness …
Not JAFF, But TWO Regency Releases in October + Excerpts + a Double Giveaway
This calendar year has been a busy one for me, with seven releases. I will be glad for the holidays to have some time to “regroup.” This month, alone, I will releasing two Regency stories. On October 31, THE HEARTLESS EARL arrives. It is a Regency romantic suspense and will be book 1 of a… more goodness …
Princess Caroline, Jane Austen, and “The Regency Valentine.”
In my “Sense and Sensibility” sequel “The Daughters of Delaford,” Marianne and the Colonel’s daughter Allegra, and Elinor and Edward’s daughter Grace, become important players in the historic events surrounding Princess Caroline of Brunswick, Princess of Wales, and estranged wife of the Prince Regent. After George III died in 1820, and the Prince Regent was… more goodness …
Zen Austen
I am writing this oh so last minute. Life has been rather wild lately, for it’s own reasons, but at the heart of the chaos lies my 21 month-old little man. He is so charming, so clever, and so completely distracting. Very little other than motherhood is getting accomplished these days. I struggle to find… more goodness …
‘It was certainly a very remarkable coincidence!’
“It was certainly a very remarkable coincidence!”—Northanger Abbey. Writing from roughly 1795 on, Jane Austen is usually seen as the last major writer of the 18th century. In many novels of that century, plot coincidences were not only accepted, they were expected. It was a big coincidence if there were not major coincidences driving the… more goodness …
Emma and Human Nature
Last month, I chatted about Emma as a “perfect novel” in terms of pacing, structure, point-of-view and character development. I’d love to revisit that again here with a slightly different focus. Human nature. I don’t believe human nature (in aggregate, not our individual stories) doesn’t change over time. It’s this constant, our humanity, that allows… more goodness …
Peak Inside the Typical Regency Era Townhouse
Have you ever wondered about the inside layout of a typical London townhouse? Of course, there were variations in design, size, styling, and decor to these upper-crust neighborhood dwellings. For the wealthy, money was not a huge concern. On the other hand, land was a premium commodity and the narrow, often oddly shaped lots created… more goodness …
Novel VS Novella or Short Story
I am in my sixth year of writing Pride and Prejudice variations, and most of my books would probably be considered novellas or novelettes. However, in doing research for this post, I found that the length required for each of these varies. Especially in the case of what constitutes a novel, the word count is… more goodness …
Announcing the Winner of P. O. Dixon’s “A Second Time Around” Giveaway
Austen Authors is pleased to announce the winner of P. O. Dixon‘s “A Second Time Around” Giveaway. Cis Thurston will receive an eBook copy of Ms. Dixons‘s Expecting His Wife. Congratulations, Cis. Please contact Regina Jeffers, Giveaway Coordinator, at reginalm@rjeffers.com to claim your prize. [According to stated giveaway rules on Austen Authors, all… more goodness …
Could Elizabeth and Col. Fitzwilliam be BFFs?
Col. Fitzwilliam is one of my favourite secondary characters in all of Jane Austen’s novels, and I don’t think I am alone in my interest in the Colonel. I have read many P&P variations in which Col. Fitzwilliam is given great attention. Since Jane Austen does not say much about him, it gives other writers… more goodness …
Why Did We Do That? (Or Evolution of Fashion Part 4)
Last month’s post of the 1820s through the mid-1830s was largely about big sleeves and small waists. But now it’s time for the Victorian era, and that means big skirts and even smaller waists. We ended last month’s post with a dress of Queen Victoria’s, and I’m going to begin this month with another, this… more goodness …
