Jane Odiwe Jane Austen Sequels

The Author of Definitely Not Mr. Darcy, Karen Doornebos, is my lovely guest today and she  raises the Question: Is There An American Equivalent to the English Mr. Darcy?   Comment below and share on Facebook or twitter for a chance to win a signed copy, two teabags, and two coasters that ask the rhetorical question, “Coffee? Tea? Or Mr. Darcy?” Jane, thank you for hosting me here as I celebrate the launch of my debut novel, Definitely Not Mr. Darcy . I’m thrilled to be here, in virtual England with you! Let me introduce myself as an American author that has been, since childhood, enamored of all things English, all the way from Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland to the latest incarnation of Dr. Who (or more accurately Downton Abbey). No surprise then, that I traveled to England to live and work, after graduating in (what else?) English Literature. That was some twenty years ago, yet the obsession (along with many others, I assure you) continues. I’m not a

As the Jane Austen Festival in Bath gets underway, I am delighted to welcome the lovely Laura Boyle who I've known for a number of years. When I heard she had a book out which combines both my love of Jane Austen and food, I had to investigate! The result is a scrumptious book (believe me, I have been tempted to devour the pages) and she very kindly agreed to stop by to tell us all about it. Over to you, Laura! I have a love affair with cookbooks. Books in general, my family would say, but cookbooks in particular. I have cookbooks on my shelves that I’ve never even used, simply because the pictures were gorgeous and the dinners so nicely staged. Any trip to the bookstore will eventually find me with the cookbooks…and often walking out the door with one, convinced that I, too, can cook Cantonese in “only three easy steps” or that my family will love the meals that “whip together in minutes to simmer invitingly for hours” in my crockpot. Naturally, when David Baldock, curator of

I'm delighted to welcome Juliet Archer to the blog today! Juliet is the author of a new book, Persuade Me , which is her second book in the series, Darcy and Friends. I am looking forward very much to reading this book as I so enjoyed her first, The Importance of being Emma. Over to you, Juliet! DARCY & FRIENDS by Juliet Archer I’m thrilled to be doing this guest blog – so thank you, Jane, for inviting me and ‘hi’ to everyone out there! I’m here to celebrate the launch of my new book, Persuade Me , and will be meeting up with Jane later this week to celebrate in person – with wine (I’m so looking forward to that!). First, let’s get one thing straight: I don’t write Regency. Instead, I’m on a mission to modernise all six of Austen’s completed novels. I’m two down – Emma and Persuasion – with four to go, in a series entitled ‘Darcy & Friends’. You see, it is a truth universally acknowledged that Darcy is the best loved of all Austen’s heroes. A series cal

I'm delighted to welcome Sue Wilkes to my blog this morning! Sue has a new book out entitled  The Children History Forgot,  to add to the other wonderful collection of non-fiction history books she has penned. From the publisher, Robert Hale :  Once upon a time, Britain forged a mighty industrial empire - built with the blood, sweat and tears of society's most vulnerable members. Children History Forgot explores young people's working lives during the late Georgian and Victorian eras, when boys and girls created almost every item in our ancestors' homes: bricks, glass, cutlery, candles, lace, cotton and more. All over Britain, from the coal mines of Wales to the flax mills of Ireland, children toiled in factories and workshops, underground and on the land. A chosen few like Samuel Slater began new lives in America but thousands of others have been forgotten by history: killed by unguarded machinery or poisoned by metal or pottery dust. Many were conscript workers:

I think I may have mentioned how proud I am to be a part of this fantastic collection of short stories, but if that wasn't enough, now I am thrilled to tell you about a new website which is up and running to celebrate all things about this new book. Laurel Ann Nattress, the wonderful editor of the book writes about the chance to win a book: Jane Austen Made Me Do It   officially releases on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 – which is over a month away. I hope that you are as anxious to read it as I am to hear your reactions. If you want to be one of the first to peruse the pages of this new anthology, you could be one of the lucky Janeites to own a copy before publication. In celebration of the website’s official reveal, we are offering you the chance to win one of four advance reading copies. Just check out the details to qualify for a chance. Good luck, and thanks for sharing with me in my excitement of the publication of my new book. Do have a look on the website for news ab