KINDLE THE LIGHT OF LIBERTY: A CONVERSATION WITH MIRTA INES TRUPP

 

"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil..."

— Pride and Prejudice

One of the reasons Jane Austen's novels continue to resonate with readers around the world is that they remind us how often first impressions can be misleading. We think we understand a person, only to discover there is far more beneath the surface than we first imagined.

Today, I am delighted to welcome author Mirta Ines Trupp to My Jane Austen Book Club to discuss Kindle the Light of Liberty, a fascinating historical novel set in Revolutionary Philadelphia. While not a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, the novel draws inspiration from Austen's timeless themes of misunderstanding, growth, family, and the challenge of judging character accurately.

At the heart of the story are Rose Wachsman and Nathan Hirsch, members of Philadelphia's Jewish community during the American Revolution. Through their journey, Mirta explores questions of identity, belonging, loyalty and love against the backdrop of a nation struggling to define itself.

In our conversation below, she shares how Jane Austen influenced her writing, why she chose this little-known corner of American history, and what readers might discover when they look beyond first impressions—both in fiction and in history.

Please join me in giving Mirta a warm My Jane Austen Book Club welcome!

Maria Grazia 💕

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: SUSAN MOORE ON THE DARCY LIST, MR DARCY AND THE PROBLEM WITH PERFECT MEN

 

"It is a truth universally acknowledged..." Or is it?

For generations, readers have fallen in love with Fitzwilliam Darcy and measured real-life suitors against Jane Austen's most famous hero. But what happens when the ideal we have cherished since our teenage years begins to collide with reality?

Today, I am delighted to welcome Susan Moore to My Jane Austen Book Club to discuss her new novel, The Darcy List, a witty and thought-provoking contemporary story inspired by a question many Janeites have secretly asked themselves: Did Jane Austen set the bar impossibly high?

At the centre of the novel is Florence Elliot, who at sixteen creates a list of everything the perfect man should be—a "Darcy List" inspired by her favourite literary hero. Years later, life, love, heartbreak, and unexpected opportunities force her to reconsider not only the list itself, but what she truly wants from a partner.

In the interview below, Susan reflects on the enduring appeal of Mr Darcy, the influence Jane Austen continues to have on modern readers, and the difference between loving the idea of someone and learning to embrace someone real.

Please join me in giving Susan a warm My Jane Austen Book Club welcome. 

Maria Grazia 💕

AN UNCANNY ALIGNMENT OF HEARTS: A Q&A WITH NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR JUNE HUR

 

Dear Janeites and book lovers,

sometimes, the universe has a beautiful way of bringing things full circle. If you have followed my online writing journey, you might know that alongside My Jane Austen Book Club (which I have been writing since 2010), I also ran a parallel blog called FLY HIGH! (started in 2009). Way back in March 2010, I featured a young, aspiring writer in a "Blogger Buddies" segment on FLY HIGH!. She used to email me about her passionate dream of one day becoming a published author. That writer was June Hur.

Sixteen years later, June is a New York Times bestselling author, and while I now focus most of my energy right here on My Jane Austen Book Club and our wonderful Facebook community, I still occasionally pop over to FLY HIGH! to share my latest obsessions. If you've read those rare, recent posts, you know that since the pandemic, I have fallen completely in love with Korean literature, K-dramas, and all things Hallyu (the Korean Wave). You can imagine my absolute thrill when the social media algorithms brought June and me back together, revealing that her newest novel, Behind Five Willows, is a romantic homage to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, set right in the heart of the Joseon Dynasty!

Set in 1792 during a strict, real-life historical government book ban, Behind Five Willows follows Shin Haewon (our fierce, Elizabeth Bennet-inspired heroine), a poor second daughter moonlighting as an illegal book transcriber under the pen name "Magpie." Enter Yu Seojun (our brilliant, uptight Mr. Darcy), a wealthy nobleman who secretly rebels against his status by writing forbidden fiction under the name "Black Lotus." Forced together as chaperones for their friends, they clash spectacularly in person, entirely unaware that they are already deeply connected through anonymous, secret letters.

Today, June joins us at My Jane Austen Book Club to chat about yearning, censorship, historical parallels, and what it’s like to bring Darcy and Elizabeth to 18th-century Korea.  

Maria Grazia 💕

AN EVER- FIXED MARK BY ANGELA DENISE, A FRESH TAKE ON LOVE AND DESTINY

 

There is something endlessly fascinating about returning to the world of Pride and Prejudice through new and imaginative variations, and An Ever-Fixèd Mark by Angela Denise offers readers a particularly engaging journey.

AUTHOR GUEST POST: JAYNE BAMBER, THE GUARDIAN GAMBIT

 

Hello, Readers! I am delighted to share my new release, The Guardian Gambit, a mash-up of Pride & Prejudice + Emma that is inspired by The Parent Trap – it’s a wild ride!

The story begins with Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Fairfax discovering they are identical twins when they meet for the first time just before their 21^st birthday. With the encouragement of their intrigue-loving aunt – Mr. Gardiner’s widow, now known as Lady Gresham – the twins exchange places and scheme to reunite their parents, Elizabeth’s “guardian” Mr. Bennet and Jane’s “aunt” Miss Bates.

NEW RELEASE! THE SISTERS HOLIDAY BY JAYNE BAMBER

 

Hello, readers! It’s such a treat to be back at My Jane Austen Book Club  to share my upcoming release, The Sisters’ Holiday, which is coming to Kindle next month!

 

Inspired by the film “The Holiday” this Jane Austen retelling sees the two eldest Bennet Sisters switch places with their cousins, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood after Christmas together at Longbourn. 

OUT TODAY! TO MARK THE OCCASION: BIRTHDAY TALES FOR JANE AUSTEN'S 250TH

Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th with “To Mark the Occasion: Birthday Tales for Jane Austen’s 250th”

This December, literature lovers and Jane Austen fans have a very special reason to celebrate. In honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, a new anthology, To Mark the Occasion: Birthday Tales for Jane Austen’s 250th, brings together ten talented Austenesque authors who reimagine the lives, loves, and festivities of some of Austen’s most beloved characters.

COURTING DISASTER BY DR ZOE MCGEE — WHEN COURTSHIP MEETS CONSENT

 

Every once in a while, a book comes along that makes you look at familiar novels with completely new eyes. Courting Disaster by Dr. Zoë McGee is one of those rare reads.

At first glance, it’s easy to think that conversations about consent and gender power dynamics belong to our modern world—but as McGee reveals, women writers have been exploring these issues for centuries. From Jane Austen and Frances Burney to their now-forgotten contemporaries, McGee traces how the early novel became a space where women could question, resist, and reimagine the rules of society.

GUEST AUTHOR JULIA WINTER – A DELETED SCENE FROM A VERY FINE PLACE, A NEW PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION

Today I’m delighted to welcome back Julia Winter to My Jane Austen Book Club! Julia’s new Pride and Prejudice variation, A Very Fine Place, was published on 17 October 2025 by Glass Hat Press. It’s her third variation, rich with atmosphere, family intrigue, and—of course—the promise of love.

Set partly in 1811 Calcutta and later at Pemberley, Julia’s story brings us a Darcy who must navigate inheritance, resentment, and danger in his own home—while finding unexpected understanding with Elizabeth Bennet.

MURDER, MISCHIEF AND MR. DARCY: JAYNE BAMBER’S CLWYD CASTLE

 

Hello dear readers,

We’re thrilled to welcome back Jayne Bamber to My Jane Austen Book Club! Jayne is well known for her clever and creative Austen-inspired stories, and this autumn she’s bringing us something delightfully different — a whodunnit with a Jane Austen twist!

Just in time for Spooky Season, Jayne introduces her upcoming release, Clwyd Castle, a mystery inspired by the cult classic film Clue. Expect wit, intrigue, and a gathering of familiar Austen faces — including Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Henry Tilney, and even Lady Susan — all drawn into a darkly comic web of secrets and blackmail.

Let’s hear from Jayne herself and enjoy an exclusive excerpt from this thrilling new tale...

IN THE PATH OF JANE AUSTEN: TRAVELS AND TALES

 

 Lory Lilian at My Jane Austen Book Club

Maria Grazia, thanks so much for having me. It is such a great pleasure to be here! While I have visited, read and enjoyed your blog many times over the years, this is my first blogpost and I am thrilled about it.

Story quote from Lory Lilian’s story, The Gallery of Second Chances

A year ago, Elizabeth had left behind Pemberley, Mr Darcy and all her hopes. Now, she was returning with her soul burdened by a gratitude she had no chance of expressing and the sorrow of a lost happiness.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: AN INTERVIEW WITH SHANNON WINSLOW ON CAPTAIN WENTWORTH

Today on My Jane Austen Book Club, I’m delighted to welcome back author Shannon Winslow, a dear friend of our community and well known for her insightful Austen-inspired novels. Her latest release, Captain Wentworth – In His Own Words (out September 18th), invites us to experience Persuasion anew through the eyes of one of Jane Austen’s most beloved heroes. Shannon generously joined me for an interview to talk about her inspiration, her process, and the joys (and challenges!) of giving Captain Wentworth his own voice. I hope you’ll enjoy reading her answers as much as I did! MG

COLOUR, EMOTION AND MR DARCY: INSIDE BARRY S. RICHMAN'S NEWEST PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION

 

 By Maria Grazia, My Jane Austen Book Club

Today on My Jane Austen Book Club, I’m delighted to welcome back Barry S. Richman, author of the beloved Follow the Drum. With his second Pride and Prejudice variation, Color My World, he offers another bold and imaginative reimagining of Austen’s classic. In this new tale, Elizabeth Bennet awakens from a fall with a remarkable ability: she sees people’s emotions as colors—except in one man. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a void. A mystery. And against her better judgment, she’s drawn in. With emotional insight, quiet magic, and a sharper focus on Mr. Bennet, Color My World promises to be a deeply affecting romance.  

THE WORLDS OF JANE AUSTEN: IN CONVERSATION WITH DR HELENA KELLY

 

 

Today, on the very day of its release—25th September 2025—we are delighted to celebrate Dr Helena Kelly’s new book, The Worlds of Jane Austen (Frances Lincoln). Published to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, this fascinating work invites readers to step beyond the familiar image of drawing rooms and tea parties, and instead discover the turbulent world of revolution, war, and social change that shaped Austen’s life and writing.

Helena Kelly, already well known to Austen readers for her groundbreaking Jane Austen, the Secret Radical, brings her characteristic insight and lively style to this beautifully illustrated volume. Drawing on the latest research, she shows us an Austen who is sharper, bolder, and more engaged with the great issues of her time than many have imagined—an author whose voice still resonates powerfully today.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Helena about her new book, Austen’s enduring relevance, and the surprising connections between the novelist’s world and our own.

WITTY, WILD AND WONDERFULLY AUSTEN: A CONVERSATION WITH DEVONEY LOOSER

 

Just when you thought you knew everything about Jane Austen—her novels, her needlework, her famously “quiet” life—along comes a book that turns the tea table upside down. In Wild for Austen, acclaimed scholar (and roller derby alter ego Stone Cold Jane Austen) Devoney Looser invites us to meet a bolder, brasher version of the beloved author—one who was far more entangled with radical politics, wild relatives, and unexpected cultural legacies than many of us ever imagined.

A BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR AGES: THE COMPLETE NOVELS BY JANE AUSTEN BY THE FOLIO SOCIETY

The Complete Novels by Jane Austen, The Folio Society

 A collector’s dream for Austen devotees 

Jane Austen’s novels have enchanted readers for more than two centuries, and in 2025 her 250th anniversary is being marked with something truly extraordinary. The Folio Society has created a six-volume limited edition box set of The Complete Novels—a landmark in bookmaking, with only 750 copies available worldwide.

To celebrate this remarkable release, I had the chance to speak with the creative team behind the edition—James Rose (Head of Editorial), Kate Grimwade (Production Director), illustrator Sarah Young, and box designer Emily Benton. In this special Q&A, they share insights into the artistry, craft, and inspiration that went into bringing Austen’s timeless works to life in such a beautiful form. 

JAYNE BAMBER, THE COUNTESS AND HER SISTER: A NEW PRIDE & PREJUDICE VARIATION

Today on My Jane Austen Book Club, I’m delighted to welcome back Jayne  Bamber to share a playful sneak peek at her latest Pride & Prejudice variation, The Countess and Her Sister. She has given us a list of “Ten Things to Know” about this new release—and trust me, it’s a delightful mix of humor, drama, and romance. After that, you’ll find a special excerpt and the full blurb to tempt you further!

A SUMMER WITH JANE: PAULA BYRNE ON SIX WEEKS BY THE SEA

 

by Maria Grazia, My Jane Austen Book Club

 It is a real pleasure to welcome acclaimed biographer, novelist and Austen scholar Paula Byrne to our blog today. Paula is the author of numerous bestselling works, including Belle: The Slave Daughter and the Lord Chief Justice, The Real Jane Austen, The Genius of Jane Austen, and Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the Secrets of Brideshead, and she is widely respected for the depth, elegance, and originality of her work including biographies, literature, and history.

Her latest novel, Six Weeks by the Sea, offers a compelling blend of historical insight and imaginative storytelling. Set during the summer of 1801, the book follows a young Jane Austen during a six-week holiday in Sidmouth, where she becomes entangled in a quietly dramatic love triangle—with both a dashing Royal Navy captain and a thoughtful, abolitionist lawyer vying for her heart. Drawing on known facts and rich period detail, Paula creates a vivid world of family ties, social pressures, and romantic possibility—all with her signature grace and intelligence.

SET SAIL WITH JANE AUSTEN: AN INTERVIEW WITH NATALIE JENNER

 

We are thrilled to welcome author Natalie Jenner back to My Jane Austen Book Club to discuss her latest novel, Austen at Sea. Known for her captivating historical fiction and her deep love of all things Austen, Natalie Jenner’s new book takes readers on a transatlantic adventure filled with literary intrigue, romance, and the enduring spirit of Jane Austen herself.

In Austen at Sea, readers will follow the Stevenson sisters and the Nelson brothers as they journey to England in 1865, lured by the promise of a rare Austen artifact and the chance to meet her last surviving brother, Sir Francis Austen. Alongside historical figures like Louisa May Alcott, Jenner masterfully weaves a tale of adventure and self-discovery, all under the guiding influence of Austen’s legacy.

SOLVING MYSTERIES WITH JANE AUSTEN: AN INTERVIEW WITH JESSICA BULL

 

Welcome, Jessica Bull, to My Jane Austen Book Club!

It’s always a delight to explore new takes on Jane Austen’s world, and today, we’re thrilled to welcome Jessica Bull, author of the Miss Austen Investigates series. Her latest novel, A Fortune Most Fatal, brings us another delightful mystery featuring none other than Jane Austen herself—this time, unravelling secrets in 1797 Kent. With wit, charm, and an irresistible puzzle at its heart, this book is sure to captivate both Austen fans and mystery lovers alike.

Scroll down and join us as Jessica shares insights into her inspiration, the challenges of blending history with detective fiction, and what’s next for our favourite literary sleuth!