Thursday 28 July 2016

IMPERTINENT STRANGERS, A PRIDE & PREJUDICE STORY BY P.O. DIXON - EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY

From the Author


I am happy for the chance to visit My Jane Austen Book Club once again to share an excerpt from my newest release, Impertinent Strangers. It’s always a great pleasure to be here. Thank you so much, Maria Grazia!



The Book



Impertinent Strangers: A Pride and Prejudice Story



An impertinent stranger is thrown into Fitzwilliam Darcy's path and, even though he declares her tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him, it is all he can do not to think of her. Upon first making Mr. Darcy's acquaintance, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is quite fascinated with him. Then she discovers that the gentleman is haughty and above his company, and she wants nothing to do with him. Still, the prospect of spending time in each other's company is beyond their power to resist. Will Darcy and Elizabeth stop denying the truth to themselves and find in the other what's been missing in their lives?

Read an Excerpt (Reprinted with Author’s Permission. All Rights Reserved)





The first day passed much the same as the second day of her arrival. On the third day, the Collinses received a much-anticipated invitation to dine at Rosings. Taking advantage of the pleasant weather, they walked the half mile or so across the park in companionable silence. That was until the manor house appeared on the horizon, at which point her party members’ enthusiasm was scarcely contained.

Tuesday 26 July 2016

KATHERINE BOLGER HYDE DRINKS TEA WITH MISS AUSTEN - AUTHOR GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY


Recently I was honored with a visit from the shade of Miss Jane Austen, whose work I have shamelessly used to inform my upcoming contemporary traditional mystery, Arsenic with Austen. Here is a partial transcript of our conversation (which I recorded on my computer, to her great astonishment and delight).

Mrs. Hyde: My dear Miss Austen, I cannot express how honored I am that you have chosen to grace us with your presence.

Miss Austen: My dear Mrs. Hyde, I assure you the pleasure is all mine.

Mrs. H: So kind of you to say so. I must confess, I was a trifle concerned lest you be offended by the way I have used your work in my humble little novel.

Miss A: I assure you, madam, I have rarely found myself in such company as I encountered among your characters.

Mrs. H (blushing): I must apologize, Miss Austen, for placing you amongst such low villains as some of my characters turned out to be. But as I’m sure you understand, contemporary American society does not enjoy the distinctions so carefully preserved in the England of your day. Those of more refined sensibilities must perforce mingle daily with all manner of louts, boors, and cads.

Miss A (bowing): Indeed, I do understand. I have watched the developments of the last one and half centuries with great concern. As society devolves to the lowest common denominator, it is gratifying and comforting to observe that my humble novels are still read by those who are nostalgic for a more gracious era.

Mrs. H: My dear Miss Austen, you give yourself too little credit. Your “humble novels,” as you call them, have reached a level of popularity you could scarcely have conceived of in your lifetime. They have not only been read widely but have been made into numerous films, and have provided the basis for a vast and growing multitude of works of fiction based on your characters, your own life, and your time period in general.

Sunday 10 July 2016

SPOTLIGHT ON ... CHAOS COMES TO LONGBOURN, A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION BY VICTORIA KINCAID + GIVEAWAY


While attempting to suppress his own desire to dance with Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy flees the Netherfield ballroom only to stumble upon a half-dressed Lydia Bennet in the library.  After being discovered with her in a compromising position, Darcy is forced to make her an offer of marriage.
Fearing the Bennets will attempt a similar “trick” with their brother, Mr. Bingley’s sisters convince him to leave Hertfordshire without any intention of returning.  After Elizabeth refuses Mr. Collins, a heartbroken Jane Bennet accepts his proposal.
Having resolved to propose to Jane, Bingley returns to Longbourn; but when he learns of her betrothal, he makes an offer to Elizabeth instead.  She accepts, with the hope that Jane will change her mind if Bingley remains at Netherfield. 
Meanwhile, Sir William Lucas is aware that Wickham had actually compromised Lydia in the Netherfield library and blackmails him into proposing to Charlotte Lucas, who is in danger of becoming an old maid. 
Hertfordshire has become a tangled web of misbegotten betrothals.
Although Darcy yearns for Elizabeth, he feels honor bound by his promise.  Elizabeth is also developing feelings for the master of Pemberley, but he has never seemed so far out of her reach.  How can Darcy and Elizabeth unravel this tangle and reach their happily ever after? 

Read an excerpt

Darcy tripped spectacularly, falling full length on top of the half-dressed girl.
The girl squealed.  “Ow!  You oaf!  Get off!  Move your hands!”  Darcy hastened to comply, quickly removing his hands from anything that might resemble a female body part.  “Get your hands off me!” the girl shrieked completely unnecessarily.
Darcy scrambled backward, attempting to find purchase and regain his feet.
Then he froze at the most horrible sound in the world: the opening of the library door.  A female form entered the library from the hallway, silhouetted by candlelight from behind.  “Lydia?” a voice called.  Darcy had no trouble identifying its owner.  Of all the women at the ball, it had to be Elizabeth Bennet.
“Here, Lizzy!” the half-dressed girl called to her sister. 
Oh, no, no, no!  Why did she say anything at all?  Why could they not pretend the library was uninhabited?

Wednesday 6 July 2016

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY - JANE AUSTEN SPEAKS BY MARIA EMILIA DE MEDEIROS

Thank you so much for welcoming me to My Jane Austen Book Club today, Maria Grazia, and for kicking off the blog tour!  I am honored and delighted to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about what inspired my recently published book, Jane Austen Speaks: About Life, the Modern World, & Heavenly Pursuits. 

My name is Maria-Emilia de Medeiros, and I began my lifelong love for Jane Austen when I was twelve years old.  An entire new world opened up before me when first I laid eyes upon the first pages of Emma.  In the many years since that day, I have eagerly learned everything I could about Miss Austen and her world.  Lately, I have been inspired to write about it. 

How many times have you ever heard a Jane Austen fan wonder aloud, “What would Jane Austen think about this?”  Perhaps you have had such thoughts yourself.  This book was born out of my own frequent musings about what the illustrious English novelist, born in the late eighteenth century into a proper Anglican clergyman’s family, would think about all manner of phenomena in the modern day world.  If someone could “channel” Jane Austen’s spirit, what would she think?  What would she notice?  Most importantly, what would she have to say about it?  Would Miss Austen approve of internet dating, for example?  (Perhaps she would…for Mr. Collins!)

Saturday 2 July 2016

THE DEAR JANE PROJECT: BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER ONE STORY AT THE TIME



My name is Gabrielle, and I am entering my third year of university. I am studying Honors English Literature and Psychology. I have always been passionate about stories. I always try to look for the next best book that I can devour. One of my favourite authors is Jane Austen. Her works stuck with me for years, and have even influenced my choices of study. Her characters were like good friends, and she was someone that meant so much to me even though I never met her. There are so many things I can say about Austen and so many reasons why I love her works, and his inspired me to start a project that will, hopefully, reach many more Janeites. My project is called The Dear Jane Project, and I am very excited to share it with you.

My friends have heard me countless times recite how Jane Austen has affected my life. I love sharing my thoughts and feelings with those around me. I wished I could share my stories with other people who were affected by Austen the same way that I had. That is why I created this project. It is a collaborative blog in which people can send a text they write describing the ways Jane Austen have affected them on a personal level. When submissions are send to the email, I will upload them to the website for everyone to read. I only put the person’s initials and the country they are living in so that we may see and meet different Austen enthusiasts from around the world.


The email to submit a post is dearjaneproject@gmail.com


I hope to bring this project to many people around the world as a platform for sharing the devotion and love we feel towards one of English language’s most beloved authors.


Thank you for reading my post, and I hope to read your stories soon! 

Gabrielle


Gabrielle Lesage is an Honours English Literature and Psychology student at Bishop’s University. She has been passionate about Jane Austen since high school. She will be writing her honours thesis on Austen in the upcoming school year. She loves reading, writing, and getting to know people’s stories.