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Showing posts from May, 2011

Celebrating 200 years of Sense and Sensibility: Jane Odiwe

Here are some pictures from my lovely weekend with P and P Tours . The sun shone, and the views were stunning! Everyone had a wonderful time - there's nothing nicer than spending time with like-minded people! I did a reading from Willoughby's Return, and I bet you can't guess what film we watched on television. I slept like a dream - I like to think it was all the exercise I did, though I think the odd gin and tonic or glass of wine may have helped. There are wildflowers everywhere - if you want to be Marianne for a day, this is the place to do it! A side view of the house. Here am I standing in the doorway of the house - notice the columns are not there-they were added for the film, as were shutters on the windows to give Georgian proportions. In the room where Emma Thompson does her sewing and bemoans the price of beef! Mrs. Dashwood sat here! A view over the estuary. Waiting for Willoughby to sweep me over the threshold!

Sense and Sensibility - P&P Tours

This weekend I'm off on a special trip with  P and P Tours  to South Devon to celebrate 200 years of Sense and Sensibility. I'm looking forward very much to meeting everyone and to staying in Barton Cottage! I'll tell you all about it next week!

Mr. Darcy's Secret: Caroline Bingley in love!

When writing Mr. Darcy's Secret, I had a lot of fun with the character of Caroline Bingley. I wondered how she might change if she really fell head over heels for someone, and whether her personality might also be temporarily affected! I decided she might fancy herself capable of all sorts of things if she were to be influenced by cupid's arrows, and when she becomes part of a new painting and poetry circle led by the enigmatic artist and writer, Lord Henry Dalton, Caroline finds she is willing to embrace a whole new world! I decided to have her completely smitten with all things literary and artistic, and far from snubbing the countryside as she has done formerly, she finds a new passion for wild and romantic landscapes, and a desire to experience a simpler, rustic way of living. The Darcys are staying in the Lake District when Caroline and her sister Louisa are bent on following Lord Dalton along with Lady Catherine de Burgh, and a host of others to sample the delights of poe

Friendship Book of James Stanier Clarke to be sold!

The Friendship Book/Album of James Stanier Clarke containing, amongst many other items, a watercolour portrait believed to be a very rare depiction of Jane Austen, will be offered for sale at Christies, London, on Wednesday 8th June 2011! I've always thought this a fascinating story, and I must admit the painting fits in with my idea of how Jane Austen looked. You can read all about the book's incredible history by   clicking here .

Winner of Easter Giveaway Copy of Willoughby's Return

Thank you to everyone who joined in and left such lovely comments on my blog. My husband drew the name out of the hat today, and the winner of the signed copy of Willoughby's Return is:                                               Mer                                       Congratulations! Can you please send me details of your name and address and I'll post your prize. Here's a little extract from the book: Colonel Brandon looked surreptitiously at his wife over the breakfast table. Three years on from the day they had wed had hardly changed his feelings toward her, although as he sat in secret contemplation on the matter, he swiftly acknowledged his regard for Marianne was altered in every way completely. His love for her was deeper and more passionately felt than it ever had been, he decided, and his covert glances at her over the coffee pot confirmed this in his look of sheer admiration. He watched her as she buttered a slice of toast and stirred her choc