The Regency era (1811–1820) is often celebrated for its glittering assemblies, sharp wit, and romance—at least in fiction. In reality, beneath the polished manners and candlelit ballrooms, there existed a far more dangerous truth for those whose affections strayed from the heterosexual norm. Homosexuality, particularly between men, was not simply frowned upon; it was illegal,…
The Regency era (1811–1820) is often celebrated for its glittering assemblies, sharp wit, and romance—at least in fiction. In reality, beneath the polished manners and candlelit ballrooms, there existed a far more dangerous truth for those whose affections strayed from the heterosexual norm. Homosexuality, particularly between men, was not simply frowned upon; it was illegal,…
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When I first decided to do a post on Chatsworth, the home of the Dukes of Devonshire, I didn’t realize that Wikipedia had a very large amount of information concerning the ducal home. As you can see by the picture for this post, Chatsworth and the land surrounding that has belonged for 477 years to…
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A snow and sleet storm, coupled with Arctic temperatures, left me a prisoner in my own apartment. After a week of riotous living, I began to write again. It’s going well.
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It is interesting to see how we look at animals today and what the animals were used for 200 years ago. Animals which we think of as pets today were bred for specific reasons, for specific jobs. Cats were domesticated far longer than many other animals. There is documentation of African wild cat remains being…
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Hi friends in Austen-land!!!! Have had to learn – at my age! Am over sixty – a brand-new cello concerto written by a London composer, so I’m behind with everything. Luckily for me, Regina’s on the ball!!!! First, a brilliant offer: https://booksweeps.com/giveaway/historical-fiction-book-giveaway-sweepstakes/ Second, another brilliant offer, organised by our own Amanda Kai: https://authoramandakai.wixsite.com/home/post/ilovejaff2026 Third, check out my latest…
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For fans of historical romance like the Bridgerton novels to lovers of alternative point-of-view books like E. L. James’ Grey and Stephenie Meyers’s Midnight Sun, Darcy’s Passions invites readers into the heart and mind of Fitzwilliam Darcy, revealing the hidden thoughts and intense emotions that fueled his riveting courtship of Elizabeth Bennet. While the Bennet sisters are discussing the next ball to…
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It’s a bit early for Valentine’s Day, but I thought I would share the February scene from my 12 Months of Darcy collection. This grew out of my wondering how suspicious Wickham was about Darcy’s intentions towards Elizabeth. Enjoy! FEBRUARY “Look!” cried Lydia from the drawing room window. Kitty joined her and bounced on her…
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Last time, I spoke of two books that give me joy in the New Year. Read about the first, Sarah Emsley’s The Austens, here. The second, by Rebecca Romney, is Jane Austen’s Bookshelf. Both works are part of the onslaught of at least twenty-five major Austen-related productions for the year 2025, the 250th anniversary of…
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As January 2026 comes to a close, I thought I’d take a moment to share a brief look back at my 2025 accomplishments. My YouTube content creator journey continued to take center stage throughout the year. While 2024 saw a plethora of full-length audiobook productions, both professionally narrated and author read, 2025 required an added…
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Back in 2012, I was part of a project where a group of authors revisited Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and retold scenes from the points of view of the other characters. This excerpt revisits the later part of Austen’s classic. This is after the second proposal. This excerpt comes from chapter 17 of my first Austen-inspired novel, Darcy’s…
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She is an established literary figure in English literature. Austen’s skillful use of mixing together the narrator’s telling the story with a character’s thoughts and emotions and dialogue was just catching on in the late 1700s and early 1800s, but it is a mainstay in modern fiction. She created literary realism.
People speak of the greatness of Shakespeare, but falter when asked to read or explain his works. Not so, with Jane Austen. Because her works have been so easily consumed for more than 200 years, some forget how groundbreaking the six novels of the daughter of a simple rector in rural Hampshire, England, can be. We on this blog have not forgotten.
