Jane Odiwe Jane Austen Sequels

Searching For Captain Wentworth Searching for Captain Wentworth Sophie Elliot has always dreamed of finding her very own Captain Wentworth and as if that wasn't enough, she has ambitions to be a published author. At the beginning of the book, we see our heroine is very far from having her dreams realised - she's just had her heart broken and her latest manuscript has been rejected. Feeling very fed up with the world, she takes herself off to Bath, a t the invitation of an aunt,  and finds herself living next door to the house Jane Austen lived in 200 years ago. The house is haunted it seems, and it's not long before strange things start happening - whispering visions of a young girl, and a diary belonging to her ancestor, Sophia, materialise before her eyes. When Sophie finds an ancient Naval Captain's glove dropped by her mysterious neighbour, Josh, she soon finds it has magical properties. She is sent back into the past where she meets Jane Austen and her b...

I've just been to Lyme Regis - the weather was wonderful last week - no stormy seas as in the picture shown. I love this print which shows the old assembly rooms at Lyme Regis . Sadly, they were knocked down some years ago to make way for a car park, but we do have a description of them that was written by Constance Hill in her book, Jane Austen, Her Homes and Her Friends. Her writing inspired my own for a chapter in Searching for Captain Wentworth . My heroine Sophie has travelled back in time to be with her ancestors, the Elliot family who live next door to Jane Austen in Bath. Sophie and her family are in Bath when the unexpected arrival of Jane's brother, Lieutenant Charles Austen, leaves Sophie feeling both excited and nervous. She knows she is falling in love with him and yet knows that it must be a hopeless case ...  I dressed with great care, choosing a fine, Indian muslin, embroidered with flowers and French knots along the hem and down ...

Here are some photos of Bath - I've added a few snippets from Jane Austen's books and letters! Pump Room, Bath She was intreated to give them as much of her time as possible, invited for every day and all day long, or rather claimed as a part of the family; and, in return, she naturally fell into all her wonted ways of attention and assistance, and on Charles's leaving them together, was listening to Mrs. Musgrove's history of Louisa, and to Henrietta's of herself, giving opinions on business, and recommendations to shops; with intervals of every help which Mary required, from altering her ribbon to settling her accounts, from finding her keys, and assorting her trinkets, to trying to convince her that she was not ill-used by anybody; which Mary, well amused as she generally was, in her station at a window overlooking the entrance to the Pump Room, could not but have her moments of imagining. Jane Austen, Persuasion Upstairs at the Roman Baths Kitchen ...

When I'm in Bath I love spotting the locations of my favourite scenes in adaptations like Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Here is a photo of Abbey Green which, as you might expect, is close to Bath Abbey. It's a lovely area with tempting shops and teashops. Abbey Green, Bath This area was used for a pivotal scene in the BBC 1995 adaptation of Persuasion when Anne Elliot learns from Admiral Croft that Frederick Wentworth is no longer interested in Louisa Musgrove. Bijoux Beads, Bath   This is a lovely example of a Regency shop in Bath - it's one of my favourites. They sell beads and accessories to make jewellery, but there are lovely examples to buy if you don't want to make your own. At this time of the year the shop is also full of gifts and decorations for Christmas - it's wonderful to have a browse around! In the 1995 film, this shop was transformed into a print shop. In Georgian times, prints of political cartoons were pasted up in the window...

Ciaran Hinds talking about the making of Persuasion. I could listen to his voice...forever...

The Heron who posed so obligingly! A view of Sydney Place from Sydney Gardens Yesterday I was in Sydney Gardens and thought you might like to see the scenery that I describe in Searching for Captain Wentworth. It's particularly relevant to the chapter that I've posted below. I hope you enjoy both the words and pictures! I was amazed by this heron who stopped by the edge of the canal to pose for me! I often see seagulls but I've never seen a heron here before and he was so tame A Temple in Sydney Gardens, Bath Audio Excerpt of Searching for Captain Wentworth Chapter Three ©Jane Odiwe A Detail from a stone bridge in Sydney Gardens, Bath Autumnal colour in Sydney Gardens, Bath If you've missed Chapter One and Two CLICK HERE