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Showing posts from January, 2011

Mr. Darcy's Secret - One day to go and a handful of Reviews!

This is such an exciting time for me with the launch of Mr. Darcy's Secret coming up tomorrow! I do hope you will join me in celebration as I will be announcing a competition to win two copies of the book. In the meantime, I have been thrilled to bits with reviews received from the Historical Novel Society, Booklist, Jane Austen Reviews  , Linda Banche and My Book Addiction and More  . Thank you to all those lovely people who took time to read and consider my book. Continuing a novel like Pride and Prejudice is a daring enterprise, and Jane Odiwe comes to it steeped in Austen, in all her renditions; Odiwe’s sentences often glint with reflections of the great Jane, and she has a full command of all the connections of the new Mr. and Mrs. Darcy as they begin married life at Pemberley...all in all an enjoyable read. Historical Novel Society   Odiwe picks things up where Austen left off in Pride and Prejudice, in an impeccably crafted tale of Elizabeth and Darcy after the

Jane Austen, this is not!

I'm trying to keep the gloom of January at bay! For those of you that couldn't watch yesterday, I'm hoping this might work for you instead and that it will make you laugh! Lots of familiar faces - gorgeous Alan Rickman and fabulous Imelda Staunton to name only two of the great cast who performed in this tongue in cheek Regency comedy.

Mr Darcy's First Appearance in Pride and Prejudice

  It's always a great mistake to go onto Youtube because all I want to do is get out my DVD and watch it from start to finish! Here for your pleasure is the original text and the appropriate clip for comparison. Enjoy!  Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to overhear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to join it.    "Come, Darcy," said he, "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance."    "I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with."    

Mr Darcy's Secret on Austen Authors Today!

There's a sneak peek from Mr Darcy's Secret over on Austen Authors  today - I hope you can join me! I'm very excited to think that in less than a month (February 1)  Mr Darcy's Secret  will be out at last! In celebration I include this short extract. Elizabeth Bennet has married her Mr Darcy at last, and they are travelling to Pemberley in Derbyshire. ~  ~  ~ Elizabeth Darcy looked out of the carriage window, her spirits in high flutter as they crossed the ancient stone bridge on the road into Lambton village. Nestled at the foot of a hill, on the western side of the river, a number of stone cottages, a church, and a few handsome buildings formed the landscape. Her eyes were drawn to the rich and romantic scenery of the place, enhanced in beauty by the noble appearance of wood-clad hills, wreathed in mist on this damp, November morning. She could not help but remember her first journey to Lambton, accompanied by her uncle and aunt Gardiner on their northern tour. H

Lake Winandermere in Mr Darcy's Secret

It's just over a fortnight to go before Mr Darcy's Secret launch - I can't quite believe it, but it won't be long before I shall be able to hold my 'new baby'! When I was researching the book and thinking about the plot, I very much wanted to make Lizzy's dream of visiting the Lakes come true and who better to share the experience than with her new husband Mr Darcy. At this time the Cumbrian Lakes were beginning to grow in popularity as a holiday destination. The area became the retreat for painters and poets with Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey living and writing in the area. Wordsworth was inspired to pen his most famous daffodil poem in 1802 when he and his sister Dorothy were wandering along Ullswater. Dorothy wrote in her journal: When we were in the woods beyond Gowbarrow Park, we saw a few daffodils close to the water side. We fancied that the lake had floated the seed ashore and that the little colony had so sprung up. But as we went along there

Happy New Year! Short Story Competition Announced!

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you've all enjoyed a lovely holiday over the festive season!  Thank you to everyone for visiting my site during the last year, and for those who leave their kind comments on the blog, it really gladdens my heart. An especial thank you goes to all those lovely readers who take the time to write to me individually, and to the wonderful blogging community out there who are always so supportive. I'm very excited that the time for publication of Mr Darcy's Secret is getting nearer - just a month away - thank you to everyone who have expressed such interest in my new book. I hope 2011 brings you all health and happiness - I've not started too well myself, I'm battling with flu at the moment, but I had to tell you this exciting news from Laurel Ann at Austenprose . I am thrilled to be a part of her short story anthology, Jane Austen Made Me Do It!  The Jane Austen Made Me Do It Short Story Contest Begins January 1, 2011 In conjunction w