Category: Uncategorized
-
Pleasure, Pain, and Austen
As I reflect on the tenth anniversary of the opening stanzas of the Bennet Wardrobe Series, I have been considering how the nine volumes reflect much of my philosophy, gleaned from a lifetime of experiences at both ends of life’s emotional spectrum. Pleasure and Pain are essential aspects of life and must be understood in…
-
Cradles and Class: Childcare Roles in Regency England
In the grand households of Regency England, the upbringing of children was not solely a maternal task. Behind every nursery door was a carefully structured hierarchy of female servants dedicated to the care and management of the youngest members of the family. From birth through early education, a child of the gentry or aristocracy might…
-
York Castle’s Role in the Final Chapter of “Lyon in Disguise” from Dragonblade Publishing (Arriving 17 December 2025)
The final chapter of Lyon in Disguise, which releases December 17 and is currently on preorder, is set around the York, England, and specifically York Castle. At the time the story is set, meaning late 1812 and early 1813, York Castle was used as a prison and a place for hanging of criminals. The last…
-
“Bright Ideas in a Bygone Era: Regency Lighting”
Greetings, friends! It is that time of year when the days grow shorter, the nights stretch longer, and we long to decorate every conceivable surface with lights. Because if it’s not dazzling, is it even worth looking at? 🙂 We in the modern age enjoy the magic of illumination with a flick of a switch…
-
New JAFF Covers That Are Like Nothing You’ve Ever Seen Before
ChatGPT and I design some stellar covers that would make Austen herself swoon.
-
Making Modern Classic Characters
Austenesque authors have, in recent years, begun to explore the concept of extracting classic characters from their Regency worlds and inserting them into (usually) modern environments. ’Tis neither my place nor my inclination to assess whether these variations from tradition are appropriate or not. Of course, I sent the Bennet Wardrobe protagonists and antagonists all…
-
Naricissists in Jane Austen’s Novels
Here are some of the narcissists that are in Jane Austen’s novels.
-
We Love Jane Austen
This last weekend was JAFFCON. It is a gathering of writers and readers in our awesome genre who share our love for Jane Austen. This year we were in Las Vegas. And no, we didn’t go there to party in a casino. As a matter of fact, we didn’t go near a casino. It was…
-
Another P&P Play
I apologize for this brief post, but life has turned a bit crazy recently and my blog completely slipped my mind until the alarm went off on my phone shortly after I received a text from my daughter. Since they happened so close together and both had to do with Jane Austen, I figured it…
-
Austen’s 250th Celebration Marked with Energy, Study
Baltimore’s recent annual general meeting (AGM) of the Jane Austen Society of North American (JASNA) celebrated Austen’s 250th birthday coming up December 16. The AGM was full of sound and fury, signifying a great deal. Well, maybe not fury, but energy. Lots of it. And great scholarship. All on the topic of the genius of…