Jane Odiwe Jane Austen Sequels

Here's an extract from Willoughby's Return. Marianne Dashwood, now Mrs. Brandon, is giving a ball at Delaford Park in the hope of finding a suitable beau for her sister Margaret. Colonel Brandon's sister Lady Lawrence and her husband Sir Edgar Lawrence have recently returned from France. Marianne thinks that their son, Colonel William Brandon's nephew, Henry Lawrence, seems likely to make a good suitor for Margaret. However, in a strange twist of fate Mr. Willoughby who has returned to the neighbourhood also appears to be on friendly terms with this nephew, and before long Marianne is drawn into circumstances she can do nothing about.  Marianne and Elinor On the following Tuesday afternoon, Elinor and Marianne were sitting in the latter’s favourite room at Delaford, a small parlour with windows that looked toward the orchard and the mellow brick garden walls that enclosed it. The apple trees, heavy with fruit, gleamed crimson in the October sunshine, and ...

Here in England, we are enjoying (I'm not sure that is quite the word I want) a spell of miserable weather, grey skies, and rainy days. It's actually feeling rather cold today, and so for no other reason other than trying to bring a little cheer on a gloomy day, I thought I'd post an extract from Mr. Darcy's Secret, which I hope you'll enjoy! Here is chapter one of my latest published novel. I'm also offering a copy of Mr. Darcy's Secret - all you have to do is either leave a comment below, or send one to me here   telling me what you'd like to read about next in an Austen-inspired novel! I'll put the names in a hat and the winner's name will be drawn next Monday, 25th July, 2011. With little exception, the anticipation of a long-awaited and desirous event will always give as much if not more pleasure than the diversion itself. Moreover, it is a certain truth that however gratifying such an occasion may prove to be, it will not necessarily ...

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...

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition to win a signed copy of Mr. Darcy's Secret . The winner is:                                                                           EmileeHope Congratulations Emilee - could you please contact me with your address details and I'll put your copy in the post. Thank you to Laura Hartness for a lovely review over at Calico Critic Blogspot . I am enormously grateful to everyone who has taken the time to read and review my book; it really means so much to me. Don't forget to tune into the Austen Twitter Project tomorrow  Last week's chapters are posted up for our delight along with the next twist in the plot. If you've ever been tempted to try your hand at writing a novel inspired by Jane, now is your chance. Come and join in, it's a lot of f...

Happy Valentine's Day! Over at Austen Authors  we've been celebrating the whole weekend with lots of fun stuff - on Saturday I compiled excerpts from everyone's books - lovely romantic passages, of course - do have a look.  I am thrilled to bits with this review from Suite 101  I don't think if I'd written it myself I could have done it better-thank you so much, Jessica Hastings! I've been over at Love, Romance, Passion talking about writing styles. Here's the interview I had with Keira. And here's a guest blog from Read All Over Reviews  - suitably romantic for today! Thank you, Teresa, for inviting me to your blog to talk about my book,  Mr. Darcy’s Secret , and as we are so close to Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be lovely to tell you about how some of my research was connected with the sending of flowers and love letters. In Georgian times it was customary to send love letters and tokens, cards cut and pricked with a design to look lik...

I've some new updates on my website Austen Effusions  about my new book, Mr. Darcy's Secret, including an extract.   The painting featured I did a while ago of Elizabeth and Jane Bennet. I often wonder how closely the relationship that these two heroines share is mirrored in Jane Austen's own life with her sister Cassandra. In Mr. Darcy's Secret, the sisters are together again. Though they are not yet living within an easy distance of one another, we know that Jane Austen said that after twelve months Bingley and Jane settled in the next county. Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelvemonth. So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to   his   easy temper, or   her   affectionate heart. The darling wish of his sisters was then gratified: he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to Derbyshire; and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, were within thirty mile...