1. Marissa won our Austen in August giveaway. Congratulations, Marissa!!
2. janeaustenaddict.com will soon be moving to a new home on the interwebs. We'll have a new blog, but this one will still be available as an easily accessible archive.
3.
So nothing's really changed.
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It's that time of year again: Austen in August! Giveaways, chats, best-of lists, read-alongs, movie-viewing parties, and more! It's like a two-week slumber party where it's all-Austen-all-the-time, and you don't even have to leave your computer.
Want to join the fun? Head on over to The Book Rat to see the official invitation. You can sign up now if you want to contribute a guest post, giveaway, or other fun stuff. Or you can just visit The Book Rat from August 18-31 for daily Austen activities and freebies. I'll be posting and giving away books, along with lots of other Austen lovers.
See you at Austen in August!
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Aside from their lovely post about this site and my Austen Addict books, The Daily Basics is "a lifestyle directory," a fabulous place to spend some quality time. Lots of tips and recommendations on books,
food, fashion, home, travel, good works, you name it, The Daily Basics has it all!
Make haste to
!
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Musings of a Book Lover posted their Top Ten Books For Those Who Love Jane Austen. And Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict is on the list! Check it out for ten great book recommendations and more in the comments!
It's a list for people who have stuff like this:
And don't forget to enter my giveaway of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict. Plus The Journeys of John and Julia by Aurelia. Enter on The Bookworm blog.
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Read my guest post on The Bookworm and enter for a chance to win three novels:
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by me,
and The Journeys of John and Julia: Genesis (book one of a series) by Aurelia
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THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED, BUT THESE HIGHLY IMAGINATIVE ENTRIES ARE WELL WORTH READING! ENJOY, AND THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED HERE, ON FACEBOOK, AND ON TWITTER!
It’s that time of year again, the Holiday Readathon hosted by Whorublog, from Dec. 7-9th and featuring lots of cool prizes!
WHAT IF…
…you could be Lizzie Bennet’s BFF? Explore the spring flowers of Avonlea with Anne Shirley? Or invite Jo March and her family to Christmas dinner?
But that would mean that your favorite characters are real. (And who said they aren’t? You did read the Velveteen Rabbit, didn’t you?)
Imagine how cool it would be to merge your world with theirs and have some serious friend time together…
So, tell me:
Which of your favorite characters would you love to have as a friend, and how would you spend your time together?
Answer in the form of a comment below, or on Twitter or Facebook, for a chance to win!
THE PRIZE PACK:
Two winners will receive this prize pack: a signed two-book set of my Austen Addict novels, CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, PLUS a signed copy of JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT, which includes my short story INTOLERABLE STUPIDITY, in which fictional characters are not only real, they will see you in court! :)
OFFICIAL DATES ARE DEC. 7-9, BUT FEEL FREE TO ENTER EARLY.
Open to US, Canada, and UK. Ends Sunday, Dec. 9 at midnight PST.
FOR MORE CHANCES TO WIN :
Tweet this post @austen_addict.
Share this post on Facebook and let me know.
Reblog this post.
AND DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR THE HOLIDAY READATHON FOR A CHANCE AT MORE PRIZES:
EVERYONE
who signs up for the Holiday Readathon on Mr.
Linky at Whorublog, no matter how much or how little they read, will be automatically entered to choose
two signed books from BOOKS OF WONDER or a $40 gift certificate from THE BOOK
DEPOSITORY, if out of the US.
Twitter Party!!!
#Readathon. Sunday night, Dec. 9th, from 9-10 PM EST.
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via janeaustenaddict.tumblr.com
Check out my new Tumblr. It's another fun place to visit, and the perfect place to showcase pix like this one.
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2 winners will receive signed copies of both Austen Addict books, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addictopen to US/CAN/UK Ends September 5thFill out the Rafflecopter to enter!Make sure to leave your answers to Laurie's quiz in the comments (or whether you answered mostly A/B)
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The Book Rat is hosting a read-along of my favorite Austen novel, PERSUASION, as part of its Austen in August extravaganza. Sign up and join the fun! Viewing parties, discussions, guest posts, and giveaways abound at Austen in August!
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"The love for Jane Austen related entertainment may not always appear to be in vogue but as they say,it never dies,it only multiples. To that end,let us look at a few of the latest displays of Austenmania that possess a decidedly modern twist..."
via livingreadgirl.blogspot.com
The whole post is a must-read if you'd like to sample the latest treats in the Janeiverse, including The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, The Jane Austen Academy, The Jane Austen Guide to Life, the LOL Jane Austen is My Homegirl Rap, and a fab shout-out for our very own Sex and the Austen Girl.
Definitely satisfied this Austen addict. Thanks, Living Read Girl!!!
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"The world of Regency romantic historical fiction has undergone quite a change in the last few years. While the traditional regency, which I consider that I write, continues to occupy (mainly in e-book form) a corner of the market, the large, sexy, duke-ridden romances have taken over the print market."--Lesley-Anne McCloud
via lesleyannemcleod.blogspot.com
Click the link above to read the whole post in The Regency World of Author Lesley-Anne McCloud, including a shout-out for CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT (thank you, Lesley-Anne!), and an intriguing list of reading recommendations.
By they way, Lesley-Anne's site is a great place to find a pictorial overview of the Regency world. There's even a Regency Colouring Book. And here's a fun excerpt from Lesley-Anne's newest novel.
[The Assembly Rooms in Bath, taken in 2002 (not 1802; I wish!)]
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It's always exciting to see one of my novels on a best-of list at this time of year. This year, CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT appears on Amused by Book's Favorite Books of 2011 list.
I love the scope and diversity of this list, which includes JANE EYRE and BOSSYPANTS. Who wouldn't want to be in the company of Charlotte Brontë AND Tina Fey?
(Can you just picture the cocktail party conversation?)
Thank you, Amused by Books.
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Make haste to the nearest bookstore and pick up your copy of JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT, a collection of never-before-published short stories inspired by Jane Austen and written by:
Lauren Willig • Adriana Trigiani • Jo Beverley • Alexandra Potter • Laurie Viera Rigler • Frank Delaney & Diane Meier • Syrie James • Stephanie Barron • Amanda Grange • Pamela Aidan • Elizabeth Aston • Carrie Bebris • Diana Birchall • Monica Fairview • Janet Mullany • Jane Odiwe • Beth Pattillo • Myretta Robens • Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway • Maya Slater • Margaret C. Sullivan • and Brenna Aubrey, the winner of a story contest hosted by the Republic of Pemberley.
JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT is edited by Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose, one of the finest sites in the Janeiverse.
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Take the quiz and see which of the heroines of these Austen-inspired novels is most like you:
It's all fun and games over at Austenesque Reviews!
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Do you turn to a favorite novel for escape? Check out my guest post on Fiction Therapy at the Chick Lit Central blog, and enter the giveaway:
Two lucky winners will each receive a personally inscribed copy of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.
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As anyone who reads the fabulous Austenprose already knows, the cover of the upcoming anthology, JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT, is official. And gorgeous.
What a privilege to be in the company of all these wonderful authors. I am very grateful to Austenprose's Laurel Ann Nattress, editor of JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT, for inviting me to contribute. And most of all, I cannot wait to read all of these stories!
JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT will be available at your favorite bookstore on October 11, 2011 (Ballantine) and may be pre-ordered now from many online booksellers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
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Margaret C. Sullivan, the brilliant editor of the excellent Austenblog, has also written a must-read book called THE JANE AUSTEN HANDBOOK, which launches in the UK on March 8. Make haste to your nearest bookshop!
"A guide to life skills in Regency England for young ladies," THE JANE AUSTEN HANDBOOK is not only full of indispensible knowledge for those of us who wish we were a single lady in possession of a time machine, it is also vastly entertaining. In fact, even if the rest of the book weren't as fabulous as it is, there is a laugh-out-loud bit about Regency undergarments (or lack thereof) which is alone worth the price of the book.
Check out this lively interview with Margaret on Jane Austen Today, in which she talks about the story behind the book, her love for all things Austen, and her special devotion to Henry Tilney.
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Find out at forromancereaders.com.
Leave a comment at forromancereaders.com for a chance to win copies of CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT (just published in the UK!), courtesy of the good people at Bloomsbury.
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October 2011 will be the bicentenary of the publication of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, and My Jane Austen Book Club is hosting a blog tour to celebrate.
Each month a different author will post on My Jane Austen Book Club about Sense and Sensibility. Along with the post there will be a monthly giveaway: your comment on the blog will give you the chance to win a book or DVD.
Here's the schedule:
1. January: Jennifer Becton Marriage and money in Sense and Sensibility
2. February: Alexa Adams Sense and Sensibility on screen
3. March: C. Allyn Pierson Inheritance laws and their consequences in Sense & Sensibility
4. April: Beth Pattillo Lost in Sense and Sensibility
5. May: Jane Odiwe Willoughby: a rogue on trial
6. June Deb of Jane Austen in Vermont
Secrets in Sense and Sensibility
7. July: Laurie Viera Rigler Interview with Lucy Steele
8. August: Regina Jeffers Settling for the Compromise Marriage
9. September: Lynn Shepherd
The origins of S&S: Richardson, Jane Austen, Elinore & Marianne
10. October: Meredith @Austenesque Reviews
Sense and Sensibility fanfiction
11. November: Vic @Jane Austen's World
Minor characters in Sense and Sensibility
12. December: Laurel Ann @Austenprose
Marianne Dashwood: A passion for dead Leaves and other Sensibilities
JANUARY GIVEAWAY:
If you comment on Jennifer Becton's upcoming post at My Jane Austen Book Club, you'll be entered in the giveaway of The Three Weissmans of Westport by Cathleen Shine. This novel, published by Picador, is a new modern re-telling of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.
Many thanks to Maria Grazia of My Jane Austen Book Club for hosting this blog tour. See you all at Barton Cottage!
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Welcome to the Jane Austen Birthday Blog Tour, hosted by Maria Grazia of My Jane Austen Book Club and Fly High.
Today is Jane Austen's 235th birthday, and each of the bloggers listed at the end of this post, including myself, are posting tributes and challenges and offering lots of fabulous prizes.
Leaving a comment here = one chance to win. The more blogs on the tour you comment on (see list below), the more chances you have to win.
My part in the Jane Austen Birthday Blog Tour begins today, 12/16, and ends Wednesday 12/22 at the stroke of midnight, PST. Other bloggers on the list may end a bit earlier or later. All bloggers will submit the names they draw to our host, who will draw the winners from those names on 12/23.
To enter my giveaway, please leave a comment below. And if you're inspired to do so, feel free to include your birthday wishes to Jane Austen .
Here are mine:
Dear Miss Austen,
On this occasion of your 235th birthday, I would like to thank you for all the wisdom, laughter, and insight that your stories provide. Your words have been a constant guide and an abiding inspiration in my life.
I wish that you could know how many millions of people you have made happy with your stories. I wish that you could see the films that have been adapted from your books. I wish that you could read all those sequels, continuations, and inspired-bys. And I wish I could buy you a birthday drink* (or seven) to help you over the shock!
*By the way, did you know that there's a drink named after you? They say it can be quite a restorative.
With gratitude I remain your humble servant,
Laurie Viera Rigler
LIST OF BLOGGERS PARTICIPATING IN THE AUSTEN BIRTHDAY BLOG TOUR:
Adriana Zardini at Jane Austen Sociedad do Brasil
Laurel Ann at Austenprose (who created the Austentini recipe)
Vic Sanborn at Jane Austen's World
Katherine Cox at November’s Autumn
Karen Wasylowski at her personal blog
Laurie Viera Rigler (that's me) at Jane Austen Addict Blog
Lynn Shepherd at her blog
Jane Greensmith at Reading, Writing, Working, Playing
Jane Odiwe at Jane Austen Sequels
Alexa Adams at First Impressions
Regina Jeffers at her blog
Cindy Jones at First Draft
Janet Mullany at Risky Regencies
Meredith at Austenesque Reviews
and our host, Maria Grazia, at My Jane Austen Book Club
PRIZES:
Books – (signed copies):
Other gifts:
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Jane Austen turns 235 on December 16, and we at Austen Addict Central will be joining the Austen Birthday Blog Tour, hosted by Maria Grazia of My Jane Austen Book Club and Fly High. There will be tributes and lots of fabulous prizes.
The Austen Birthday Blog Tour begins 12/16 and ends 12/22. Winners will be announced on 12/23. Comment at each of the following blogs starting 12/16 for multiple chances to enter!
Adriana Zardini at Jane Austen Sociedad do Brasil (who created this graphic)
Laurel Ann at Austenprose
Vic Sanborn at Jane Austen's World
Katherine Cox at November’s Autumn
Karen Wasylowski at her personal blog
Laurie Viera Rigler (that's me) at Jane Austen Addict Blog
Lynn Shepherd at her blog
Jane Greensmith at Reading, Writing, Working, Playing
Jane Odiwe at Jane Austen Sequels
Alexa Adams at First Impressions
Regina Jeffers at her blog
Cindy Jones at First Draft
Janet Mullany at Risky Regencies
Meredith at Austenesque Reviews
and our host, Maria Grazia, at My Jane Austen Book Club
PRIZES:
Books – (signed copies):
Other gifts:
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Imagine you come from 1813 England, where a carriage going 10 miles per hour is a fast mode of travel (remember John Thorpe bragging in NORTHANGER ABBEY?). And then you land in 21st-century L.A., where half your life is lived in a speeding car. When you're not stuck in rush-hour gridlock, that is.
Watch our time-swapping heroines Courtney and Jane, the one from today's world and the other from Jane Austen's England, talk about the pros and cons of cars and carriages and the wonders of life in the fast lane--no matter what century you're in. TO ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY, Watch "Transportation," Episode 22 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL , the Babelgum original comedy web series, and let us know what you think by leaving a comment here on the blog.
wo lucky winners will win signed copies of the novels that inspired the Babelgum original comedy web series SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL: RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT & CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. ENTER BY MIDNIGHT THIS SUNDAY PST.
Is your other car a BMW, or a barouche? Is it cheaper, relatively speaking, to own a car today than it was to own a carriage in Jane Austen's day? (Sure, gas is expensive, but what about having to have a stable, feed for the horse, and a servant to care for it--remember Elinor's words to Marianne when Willoughby wanted to give her a horse in SENSE AND SENSIBILITY?)
Or just tell us what you like about the episode! FOR MORE CHANCES TO WIN, SEE BELOW.
DO ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FOR MULTIPLE CHANCES TO WIN:
1. COMMENT on Episode 22, "Transportation," here on the blog.
2. BLOG about this giveaway with a link to http://janeaustenaddict.com. Send us the link to your post: [email protected].
3. TWEET about the giveaway @TheAustenGirl or @austen_addict with a link to http://janeaustenaddict.com.
4. FACEBOOK POST the giveaway & link to http://janeaustenaddict.com. Send us the link to your post: [email protected].
CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS, Carl and Susan!
[Sex and the Austen Girl stars Arabella Field as Courtney and Fay Masterson as Jane. For more about Sex and the Austen Girl, and to catch up on all the episodes you missed, visit the Sex and the Austen Girl showpage at Babelgum.]
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What to do when the urge arrives to go to the bathroom during Regency times? Our time-swapping heroines, Jane and Courtney, debate the pros and cons of modern plumbing in Episode 21 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL , the Babelgum original comedy web series.
To enter this week's giveaway, watch "Chamberpot vs. Toilet," and leave a comment here on the blog. wo lucky winners will win signed copies of the novels that inspired the Babelgum original comedy web series SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL: RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT & CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.
ENTER BY MIDNIGHT THIS SATURDAY PST. For more chances to win, see below.
DO ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FOR MULTIPLE CHANCES TO WIN:
1. COMMENT on Episode 21, "Chamberpot vs. Toilet," here on the blog.
2. BLOG about this giveaway with a link to http://janeaustenaddict.com. Send us the link to your post: [email protected].
3. TWEET about the giveaway @TheAustenGirl or @austen_addict with a link to http://janeaustenaddict.com.
4. FACEBOOK POST the giveaway & link to http://janeaustenaddict.com. Send us the link to your post: [email protected].
CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS!
[Sex and the Austen Girl stars Arabella Field as Courtney and Fay Masterson as Jane. For more about Sex and the Austen Girl, and to catch up on all the episodes you missed, visit the Sex and the Austen Girl showpage at Babelgum.]
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Watch Episode 10 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL. Only on Babelgum.
And read about it on the Babelgum Blog.
Episode 10, "Tell-Tale Signs," premiered Monday July 19 and stays on the SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL showpage. Where you can catch up on any other episodes you missed.
SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL is inspired by the novels RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.
[Arabella Field (L) is Courtney, and Fay Masterson (R) is Jane.]
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Watch Courtney and Jane, time-swapping heroines of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, figure it all out in Episode 9, "Is He For Real?"
And read all about it on the Babelgum Blog.
"Is He For Real?" premiered Monday, July 12 and stays on the SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL showpage. Where you can catch up on any other episodes you missed.
SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL is inspired by the novels RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.
[On the set of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, from left to right: Director Thomas Rigler, Director of Photography Roman Jakobi, Gaffer Ken Wales, Arabella Field as Courtney, and Fay Masterson as Jane.]
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Check out Part 2 of my interview at the lovely Maria Grazia's blog, My Jane Austen Book Club, in which I talk about--you guessed it--Jane Austen, SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, and the Austen Addict novels.
Speaking of which, enter a comment with your email address at My Jane Austen Book Club, and you will have a chance to win either a signed copy of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, or a signed copy of CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.
Enjoy, and good luck!
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Check out Part I of my interview and a big giveaway on the lovely Maria Grazia's My Jane Austen Book Club blog.
And don't forget to leave a comment there so that you have a chance to win a signed copy of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT or CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT!
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To wait or not to wait. To pursue or not to pursue. Those are the questions our time-swapping heroines explore in this week's episode of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, "Lady in Waiting."
Watch
this week's episode now.
Read this week's guest post on the Babelgum blog.
Discuss.
And let us know what YOU think.
[Could the answers be found on the props table at the SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL set??]
[SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL is the new comedy web series inspired by the novels RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, in which two young women, one from Regency England and the other from 21st-century Los Angeles, swap bodies, time periods, and lives. In SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL the two ladies come together to debate the pros and cons of life and love and being a woman in today's world versus Jane Austen's time.]
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Yes, we at Austen Addict Central have a vested interest.
Because we're bursting with pride that both this blog and one of our books RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, have been nominated. Click on the badge below to go to the polls!
And don't forget to check out our web series, SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIR!
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Please check out Fiction to Film's interview with me, where I answer reader questions and provide advice for authors seeking a publisher, discuss my love of Jane Austen, the idea of bringing my Austen Addict novels to the screen, and much more.
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Many delightful surprises on the very first day of 2010:
Two of my favorite book bloggers included RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT in their best-of lists for 2009.
Historical-Fiction.com named RUDE AWAKENINGS "MOST ENTERTAINING" of 2009:
AND Peeking Between the Pages included it in its 10 Favorite Books of the year.
Apart from that, there were giant bulldogs, fairies on horseback, origami creatures, and all manner of wondrous beings roaming the streets of my town. In others words, the Rose Parade! Well worth dragging myself out of bed at the crack of dawn to see.
May the new year bring you much happiness, health, prosperity, and MAGIC!
Laurie
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Check out my guest post on the pros and cons of courtship today vs. courtship in Jane Austen's world. It's a question I pondered constantly while writing my latest novel, RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.
The post is on Stephanie's Written Word as part of her Everything Austen Challenge.
Oh yeah, and there's a BIG giveaway: Dutton is providing three copies of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, and I'm providing three copies of CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.
So head on over to Stephanie's Written Word and enter!
[Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam in EMMA.]
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The giveaway madness continues! Check out my Q&A on Living Read Girl, and enter to win a copy of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT or CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.
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Please check out my guest post on Peeking Between the Pages, where I discuss some of the most common myths about writers and writing.
And there is yet another chance to win a copy of my new novel, RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, plus a copy of my first novel, CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. Enter to win at Peeking Between the Pages!
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Come read my Q&A on Jane Austen Today and enter to win a copy of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict!
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The list of giveaways is growing. I've already posted about a number of giveaways in June, most of which are still taking entries.
Now there are even more chances to win a copy of my new book, RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, at these fine blogs:
DATES ARE WHEN ENTRIES BEGIN. PLEASE CHECK EACH BLOG FOR ENTRY DEADLINES AND RULES:
Jane Austen Today (began June 25)
Historical Fiction (began June 25, with Q&A)
Brant Flakes*(begins June 29 with Q&A)
Austenblog (begins late June or early July; check Austenblog for details.)
Jane Austen Today (begins July 15, with Q&A)
Peeking Between the Pages (begins July 16, with guest post)
Living Read Girl (begins July 20, with Q&A)
And coming up in early August (exact date TBD; check the Austen Addict homepage for further details):
Stephanie's Written Word (guest post)
Stephanie is hosting the Everything Austen Challenge, which runs from July 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010. The challenge
is to read, listen to, and/or watch six Jane Austen-related things.
Check out Stephanie's Written Word
for a list of suggestions. The challenge kicks off on July 1 with a
review of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. Stephanie's got lots of giveaways
scheduled, so keep checking back.
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What does that mean, you might ask?
BrantFlakes is the blog of author Marilyn Brant, whose upcoming Austen-inspired book, ACCORDING TO JANE: A NOVEL ABOUT PRIDE, PREJUDICE, & THE PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT GUY, comes out October 2009. ACCORDING TO JANE is already a winner—it won the 2007 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award for Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements.
So what is AustenFest?
AustenFest is a series of Q&A's and giveaways of Austen-inspired books and more on Marilyn's blog.
Here is the AustenFest lineup:
6/22/09: Syrie James, author of THE LOST MEMOIRS OF JANE AUSTEN, which was nominated for a 2008 Regency World Award for Best New Fiction; and her new novel, THE SECRET DIARIES OF CHARLOTTE BRONTE.
6/24/09: Kim Wilson, author of TEA WITH JANE AUSTEN and IN THE GARDEN WITH JANE AUSTEN, which is nominated for a 2009 Regency World Award for Best New Nonfiction.
6/26/09: Abigail Reynolds, author of THE PEMBERLEY VARIATIONS series of novels.
6/29/09: Laurie Viera Rigler (that's me), author of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, which comes out June 25; and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, which is nominated for a 2009 Regency World Award http://www.janeausten.co.uk/awardsurvey.ihtml for Best New Fiction.
Although Marilyn Brant won't be doing a Q&A herself, she just received the ARCs of ACCORDING TO JANE and will be giving away at least one of them.
Each of these authors is giving away at least one book, so be sure to go to AustenFest to enter!
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To celebrate the release of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT on June 25, there are lots of book giveaways coming up:
June 21: Lipstick Chronicles
June 25 (approx.): Austenblog
June 25: Historical Fiction
June 29: AustenFest, hosted by Brant Flakes*
But wait, there's more!
Check back here on the Austen Addict Blog and on the Austen Addict homepage for more RUDE AWAKENINGS giveaways in July and August.
*Brant Flakes is hosting a series of giveaways and Q&As called AustenFest. Check out AustenFest starting June 22 to win books by Syrie James, Kim Wilson, Abigail Reynolds, Marilyn Brant, and me.
More details about AustenFest in my next post...
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Ever thought about chatting with an author at your next book group meeting via Skype? That's what the reading group of JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America), Southern Arizona Region, did with me last Sunday, complete with webcam.
I've done a lot of conference calls with book groups. Very simple. All the group needs is a speakerphone. But this time the group called me with a laptop. Or more precisely, their laptop called my laptop. And because each of our laptops had cameras clipped on or built in, we were able to chat face to face. Oh how I love modern technology.
For me, the Skype call with JASNA's Southern Arizona book group was a peak book club experience. There was a level of connection and immediacy in our face-to-face conversation that one can't possibly match on a speakerphone. Phone calls are fabulous, if that's all there is available. But if I can see who I'm talking to, and they can see me, the connection is that much more focused and intimate. It's the next best thing to being physically present in the room.
For anyone who isn't familiar with Skype, it's a free program you can download. Super easy to use. The Skype website also sells clip-on cameras and headsets.
Book Club Girl, one of my favorite blogs, has a great piece about Skype author call-ins for book clubs. Book Club Girl gives her perspective, and so does author Ami McKay. They love the idea as much as I do.
There is another thing to consider when using Skype, at least for this author; to wit: trading my pajamas or yoga clothes (my favorite writing attire) for grown-up girl clothes. And powdering my nose. Oh, yeah. And unpacking that stack of office supplies piled up behind me. One never knows what might show on camera.
It's well worth the effort, in my opinion. So next time you're thinking of inviting an author to your next book club meeting, ask if you can do it via Skype.
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Another giveaway: Send an email to Austenblog (see rules here) by noon on December 21 to be eligible for a random drawing. The winner will received an inscribed copy of CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.
Even if you don't win the book, you'll be happy you stopped by Austenblog, It's the perfect respite from holiday madness and one of my favorite spots in the Janeiverse.
Happy Holidays, and good luck!
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Check out my guest post at Book Club Girl, which is one of my absolute favorite blogs. I talk about giving books for the holidays and, in particular, giving a book by Jane Austen.
If you post a comment at Book Club Girl by Thursday, December 18, you'll be eligible to enter a drawing for one of two signed copies of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, which I'm giving away in honor of the holiday season and Jane Austen's birthday (that's today, December 16th).
Happy Holidays, and happy birthday, Jane Austen!
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I've done a Q&A on a cool literary blog called Scobberblotch, which is the blog of Karen Harrington, author of the fascinating novel Janeology (nothing to do with Jane Austen).
Check out my Q&A for insights on writing, Austen, and Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict. Please post a comment on Scobberlotch if you'd like to be entered in the drawing for a signed copy of Confessions.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
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Naida of The Bookworm, an excellent book blog I recently discovered, interviewed me for her blog and is giving away two personally inscribed copies of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.
Click here to read the Q&A and enter the giveaway.
Winners will be announced Monday, September 15 by The Bookworm.
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There's a fun giveaway going on at She Is Too Fond Of Books. To take your chance at winning one of two signed copies of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, here's what you need to do:
Click on this link to the post at She Is Too Fond of Books and enter, as a comment, what you would find most appealing and what you would find most challenging about living in Jane Austen's world.
Even if you don't win, it's a fascinating thing to contemplate what it
would be like to ride in a barouche, dance at a ball, spend all day
reading and taking turns in the shrubbery instead of answering
emails...oh yeah, what would it be like to give up email, and movies,
and my cellphone, and mascara, and...
Enter by midnight on Friday, September 5, 2008. Good luck!
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My live chat with Vic of Jane Austen Today will begin tonight at 7 p.m. Pacific time and 10 p.m. EST.
Please join us for a fun discussion and a chance to win a book!
Here are the instructions Vic gave me for participating in the chat:
Please click on this link:
You will see a page that looks like this:
Enter your name. For example, you will see Vic's name listed as Vic, Ms. Place. You do not need to enter your profile.
Then click on Chat!
You will see this screen (and hear a knocking sound):
The arrow points to a window/address bar. This is where you will type your questions or chat with the others in the chatroom. Click on enter to submit your discussion. You will see the dialogue in the large blank field on top of the address bar. You will see the names of the chatters on the top right, however, you will not see your name. This is normal.
We are looking forward to meeting you and talking with you in the chat! If you live in other parts of the world or country, please check this time zone clock for conversions.
Email Vic at janeaustensworld at gmail dot com if you encounter difficulties.
Sincerely, Vic (Ms. Place)
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Julie of Booking Mama, an excellent blog whose tagline is "Sharing ideas on books and book clubs (and occasionally other things)," interviewed me for her blog. Here is the post, which you can also read on her blog. Do visit Booking Mama if you're searching for something fabulous to read on your own or with your book group.
Booking Mama: I am absolutely thrilled that Laurie Viera Rigler, author of CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, agreed to answer a few of my questions. I read her book back in June when I was fortunate enough to participate in Book Club Girl's BlogTalk Radio Show; and I really enjoyed both the book as well as the discussion with Ms. Viera Rigler (you can read my review here.) I highly recommend CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, and I hope this interview will give you some insight into the book and entice you to read it!
Booking Mama: I love the concept for CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT – it’s such a unique idea to combine time travel with a historical fiction-type book. How did the idea for this novel come to you?
Laurie Viera Rigler: Hi, Julie, and thanks for asking me about CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. The idea didn't come about deliberately; I wasn't trying to think of an idea for an Austen-inspired novel or an idea for any novel. I was just standing in my kitchen one day and saw, in my mind's eye, this twenty-first-century Austen devotee, Courtney Stone, waking up in that four-poster bed in 1813 England in someone else's body.
Booking Mama: To write a historical fiction book like this, you must have done a ton of research to make it “feel” authentic. What types of research did you conduct, and how much time did you spend doing the research for CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT?
Laurie Viera Rigler: I spent six years writing the book and did research throughout that entire period. I read many books and periodicals about the period, traveled to England, and made use of excellent Internet resources such as Google Books and the Jane Austen Society of North America's website, http://jasna.org. I also conducted some experiential research (not time-traveling, unfortunately) by taking English country dance lessons and going to a few balls, including one I attended with my husband in which I discovered that English country dance is indeed a very sexy thing to do with the handsomest man that ever was seen.
Booking Mama: Jane Austen is huge right now with so many books and movies out there! Why do you think she is so popular today, almost 200 years since she wrote her novels?
Laurie Viera Rigler: What makes Jane Austen timeless is her keen observation of human nature, and human nature has not changed at all in the past 200 years. That is why we can read about Elizabeth and Darcy and see ourselves in a heroine who thinks she knows everything about another person and realizes she's been blinded by the same pride and prejudice she ascribed to him. That is why we can see ourselves in Anne Eliot of Persuasion and relate to someone who has been misguided and unappreciated, and who finally gets a second chance to make things right. The other novels have equally resonant universal themes. Plus there is the pure delight of reading a well-constructed, funny, and touching story with a satisfying conclusion and so many layers of mastery that it can be read again and again with increasing pleasure.
The movies attempt to capture that mastery, and some succeed better than others. Emma Thompson wrote the best Austen screenplay, in my opinion, because she truly captured some of that Austen wit and genius. In any case, the movies are almost always fun escapist entertainments, providing a doorway to another time and place, an accessible and low-risk form of time travel. And they are an excellent way to introduce potential readers to Austen's novels.
Booking Mama: I found the ending to be very interesting, and I like how you left the ending open for different interpretations by your readers. As the author of the story, do you have a definite theory on the ending or does your opinion change?
Laurie Viera Rigler: What an intriguing question! The ending has a very specific meaning for me. However, once I started hearing various interpretations of the ending from my readers, I decided not to interfere with the individual reader's interpretation by imposing my own. Generally, the interpretations fall into two main categories, but to say any more might spoil it for those who have not yet read the book. I will only say that the ending is a truly happy one, and that my protagonist gets exactly what she wants.
Booking Mama: Your second novel is kind of being described as a sequel to CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT since it will have some of the characters who were in the first book– this time Jane finds herself in the body and life of a 21st-century woman. Did you always know that you wanted to write this book when you began CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, or did you decide to tell this story after the success of your first book?
Laurie Viera Rigler: The sequel to CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT is more like a parallel story/sequel in that it follows the adventures of Jane Mansfield (the nineteenth-century character from CONFESSIONS, not the twentieth-century screen goddess) who has woken up in Courtney Stone's twenty-first-century life (and body). So basically, while Courtney is taking over Jane's life in the first book, Jane is taking over Courtney's life in the second book.
The idea for the second book came up while I was writing CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. I did consider including Jane's twenty-first-century story in the first book; however, it just didn't feel right. Her journey is a very different journey, and it just didn't fit inside the first book. So I decided it would be my second novel, and I decided this way before I had a publisher.
Booking Mama: As I read this book, I could totally picture it as a movie. Is there any chance that CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT will appear on the big screen? Are there any specific actors/actresses you see in the roles?
Laurie Viera Rigler: I too would love to see CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT as a movie, and the rights are available if some clever producer would like to make me an offer I can't refuse. There are so many wonderful actors and actresses I admire that I couldn't possibly limit my fantasy choices. But I've certainly enjoyed reading and participating in the forum thread on my website that's devoted to casting the movie.
Booking Mama: I have to admit that I am not a huge “Jane Austen Addict;” but after reading your novel, I have to say that I want to re-visit some of her books. That has to make you pretty happy if you’re having that effect on your readers. Besides creating some new Austen fans, what else would you like for your readers to learn from or take away from this book?
Laurie Viera Rigler: I can't tell you how happy that makes me, Julie. It was my intention to write this book so that it would be completely accessible to those who had never read Austen or who had read a little Austen. And then there are all sorts of allusions to the novels that Austen addicts like myself would enjoy as well. It is tremendously gratifying to me that someone who reads my book would then become interested in revisiting Austen or reading her for the first time, which I have heard as well.
What I'd like
readers to take away from this book, aside from the pleasure of a fun
read, is a desire to explore some of the central questions that
Courtney faces. One of those questions is: What makes up my identity?
Am I who I am because of what I remember, or because of what people
remember about me? Am I whoever people think I am, or am I someone else
entirely? And what would I be willing to give up to live in a different
time, and what would I gain?
Booking Mama: What is the best
thing about being a writer? What is the strangest thing that’s happened
to you since your novel was published?
Laurie Viera Rigler:
The best thing about being a writer is being able to immerse myself in
the world of my protagonists. It is a privilege and an adventure to see
a whole new world through their eyes. I may not, in "reality," have
time-traveled to Jane Austen's world and switched identities with a
Regency gentlewoman, but thanks to Courtney I feel like I've shared her
experiences.
The strangest thing that's
happened to me since my novel was published was seeing my book in an
airport bookstore, because back when I was fantasizing about being
published I was traveling with my husband, and in an airport bookstore
I said, wouldn't it be fantastic one day to see my book here?
Booking Mama: Besides Jane Austen (of course), who are some of your favorite authors and what are some of your favorite books?
Laurie Viera Rigler: I adore Zadie Smith. On Beauty is one of my favorite books and very much reminds me of Austen, even though it is an homage to E.M. Forster's Howard's End. I also love Nick Hornby, who also reminds me of Austen (About a Boy, High Fidelity, Long Way Down, How to Be Good). And I love Ian McEwan (Atonement, On Chesil Beach), Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (Vine of Desire, Sister of My Heart), Jhumpa Lahiri (The Namesake), and so many other authors. I'm an avid reader. A few novels I've recently read and loved: Keeping the House by Ellen Baker, Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily, Angelica by Arthur Phillips, The Jewel Trader of Pegu by Jeffrey Hantover. I could go on and on but will restrain myself!
Thanks again for asking me about CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. It's been a lot of fun talking to you, Julie, and I hope to do it again soon!
Booking Mama: A huge thanks goes out to Ms. Viera Rigler for this interview. If you would like to learn more about CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, you can visit the book's website. I have had almost as much fun playing around on this website as I did reading the book! The site is very interesting (as well as entertaining) and has tons of information for the "Jane Austen Addict" in all of us.
There is also another great opportunity to "talk" with Ms. Viera Rigler on August 12th. She will be joining Jane Austen Today for a live chat, and you can ask her some of your questions about the book. Click here for more details about how to participate - you could even win a copy of the book.
Not only has Ms. Viera Rigler been extremely gracious in answering all of my questions, but she has also offered to give away two
signed copies of CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT! If you are
interested in winning a copy of this book, please leave a comment with
the name of your favorite Jane Austen book (or movie). Don't forget to
leave an e-mail address so I have a way to contact you. If you'd like
to double your chances to win, blog about the contest (and the
interview) with a link to this post. You have until August 8th to
enter. This contest is open to citizens of the United States and Canada
only.
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Vic and Laurel Ann of Jane Austen Today, two of my favorite bloggers, have asked me to participate in a live chat on August 12th. We'll be talking about my novel, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, and this is your chance to ask me questions about the book, the great author who inspired it, about writing and publishing, and about the sequel. Please join me!
How to participate:
Just before the scheduled chat, which is on Tuesday, August 12, from 10 PM - 12 AM EST,
and 7 - 9 PM Pacific time, go to Jane Austen Today, where you will see the link to the chat room. Simply click on the link and join in our chat.
And maybe even win a book:
You could win one of five autographed copies of the new paperback edition of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict.
There are two ways to enter this giveaway:
1. Post a question for me at Jane Austen Today. If
you have questions about the book and its inspiration, the research, writing techniques, or the publishing process, please post your question as a comment on Jane Austen Today's post about this upcoming chat.
On August 12th, Jane Austen Today will draw the winning name. In the meantime, I will do my best to answer your questions.
2. Be the first in the chatroom or the last to leave. The first two people to sign into the chatroom and begin talking will win books. So will the last two people in the chatroom.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 12, 10 PM - 12 AM EST, and 7 - 9 PM Pacific time.
I'll be looking forward to chatting with you!
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Jane Austen didn't write much about cats. In fact, the only reference I can find in her major works is a single line in Sense and Sensibility, in which Mrs. Jennings complains to Colonel Brandon about losing Elinor and Marianne as guests:
"Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall do without the Miss Dashwoods;"… Lord! we shall sit and gape at one another as dull as two cats." [Vol. III, Chapter III (39)]
I don't think my lively little feline, Phoebe Georgiana (after Georgiana Darcy of Pride and Prejudice) would approve of being characterized as dull. But then again, this did come from Mrs. Jennings, who clearly did not have the good fortune to cohabitate with a kitty.
For life with a cat is anything but dull. Phoebe is always surprising me by taking up new pursuits. For example, just the other day she embarked on her summer reading program, which commenced with her cracking my book.
Which she then devoured in a single sitting.
To top it off, Phoebe was chosen today by one of my favorite publishing industry blogs, GalleyCat, for the Galleycat Summer Cat competition. Please click here to vote for Phoebe before 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) Monday morning.
And If you'd like to read the Galleycat piece about Phoebe, click here.
If you'd like to see more photos of Phoebe, click here.
Phoebe and I thank you for your vote!
And many thanks to Deborah Zeitman, fine writer and Phoebe's personal wildlife photographer, for snapping these pictures.
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For those of you whose browsers don't show the Blog Talk Radio widget from my last post, here is the link to the show.
Potential spoiler alert: For those of you who haven't read the book, I start talking about the ending around halfway through.
Thanks again to Book Club Girl and everyone who called in and listened!
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