Jane Austen Addict Blog

Holiday Readathon Double Giveaway

We all like to escape into a good novel and enter the lives of our favorite characters, especially during the holiday season.

But did you ever wonder what your favorite characters read when they feel like entering another world? (There are no limits of time period.)

For example, in Book One of THE JOURNEYS OF JOHN AND JULIA, a brilliant new fantasy series by debut novelist Aurelia, one of the characters curls up with my novel RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.

From this comes my 2011 Holiday Readathon challenge:

Choose a character from one of your favorite books, and ask yourself which novel he or she would turn to for the perfect getaway read. (Remember: Time period is no limit--let your imagination go wild.)

Post your answer to enter my Holiday Readathon Giveaway.

Two lucky winners will each win two novels: THE JOURNEYS OF JOHN AND JULIA IN CHAPTER ONE: GENESIS by Aurelia, and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT by me.

THE JOURNEYS OF JOHN AND JULIA IN CHAPTER ONE: GENESIS is sure to become one of your absolute favorite novels. It is is a must-read, whether or not you win this giveaway. 

About THE JOURNEYS OF JOHN AND JULIA IN CHAPTER ONE: GENESIS

Secretly guided by a magical collective of superbeings called The Twenty-Two, a pair of teens crack open the door to another reality—and unwittingly awaken the sleeping beast of their nemesis-to-be, the beyond evil Niem Vidalgo Oten.

“Cool new series…Anyone who is a fan of 'Heroes' will definitely enjoy Genesis.”—Tim Kring, creator of the NBC TV series "Heroes"

TO ENTER, YOU CAN:

Post your answer here in the form of a comment.

Post your answer on my Facebook page.

Post your answer on my Twitter feed with the hashtag #Readathon.

Post all three, and you'll have three chances to win THE JOURNEYS OF JOHN AND JULIA IN CHAPTER ONE: GENESIS and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.

This giveaway is open to the US, UK, and Europe. Ends Sunday, Dec. 4 at midnight PST.

Good luck, happy holidays, and don't forget to sign up for the Holiday Readathon at WhoRuBlog, aka Holiday Readathon Central!

 

What's scarier than dissing a dead author?

Last year, in the pre-Halloween season, Oxford professor Kathryn Sutherland (see NPR interview) claimed that Jane Austen's manuscripts were heavily edited for punctuation (egads, an altered semicolon!). Here's a piece in The Guardian about Sutherland's findings.

What's most interesting about this tempest in a teapot is that if one reads the two pieces linked above, plus this one in Language Log, Sutherland never once implies that heavy editing of punctuation  detracts one iota from Austen's genius. Quite the contrary, in fact. She calls Austen "modern," "experimental," and says that her use of dashes for emphasis, for example, is not to be seen anywhere in literature until Virginia Woolf. This is praise, folks, not censure.

But analysts of all kinds pounced on these findings, concluding that Austen must not have been the brilliant stylist we know and love after all. Sounds like just one more attempt to assert that an unmarried clergyman's daughter who didn't mix in literary circles couldn't possibly write those novels on her own.

NPR wrote a solid analysis of the furor.

And now, just in time for the ghosts of authors past to rise again, comes ANONYMOUS, a movie all about how poor, low-born William Shakespeare couldn't possibly have written all those high falutin' plays. It had to be—wait for it—a British peer.

In this week's New Yorker, David Denby aptly called this theory the "dreariest of snobberies."

So what's scarier than trying to diss a dead author? The fact that such attempts keep rising up no matter how many times we think we've vanquished them. Sort of like the villains in the umpteenth installments of Saw, Scream, or Halloween.

Out Today: JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT

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.

Women: Only in the Movies

Mindly Kaling of The New Yorker wrote this hilarious piece on women who exist only in romantic comedies, and I just had to share. Enjoy!

Yahtzee: The Movie?? (you'll have to read the article...)

Men of the Stacks: A library lover's pinup calendar - latimes.com

Carolyn Kellogg of Jacket Copy has given me yet another reason to love libraries.

Jane Austen Made Me Do It, Excerpt

 

A sneak preview of this exciting collection of short stories inspired by Austen, including a bit of my story, Intolerable Stupidity, in which Mr. Darcy sues people like me and my fellow anthology authors!

JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT (Ballantine) is coming to a bookstore near you on October 11.

The Journeys of John and Julia

There is a new book just out that is so brilliant I have to share it with everyone.

From my Goodreads shelf:

The Journeys of John and Julia in Chapter One: Genesis by Aurelia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Get ready for the adventure of your life. This masterful debut novel will have you turning pages long into the night and contemplating them well after the story ends. Or shall I say begins? For "The Journeys of John and Julia: Genesis" is but the first installment of what promises to be a brilliant series. The author weaves a shimmering tapestry with words, populates it with unforgettable characters, and ushers us into a world that is by turns magical, frightening, and ultimately empowering."

And if you're a Heroes fan like I am, this blurb from Heroes creator Tim Kring will really send you over the edge:

“Imagine a life off the grid and all the comforts it offers to a teenager. When John and Julia, the 13-year-old heroes in this cool new series find themselves without signal in ‘backwards’ Cedarwood Ridge, it becomes apparent that they need all their energy to battle unspeakable evil forces while receiving superhero-training by a collective of magical beings. All totally useful stuff, since their and our entire future may be at stake. Anyone who is a fan of ‘Heroes’ will definitely enjoy Genesis.”

By the way, what I didn't mention in my own review is that the characters in The Journeys of John and Julia also have really good taste. In fact, one of the characters is curled up with Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict. And you know what? Jane from Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict stayed up all night with The Journeys of John and Julia. And so did Wes. It's a perfect book for a young lady from 1813. And a guy from 2011. And kids and teens like Wes's teenage niece Emma, who's been telling all her friends to read it.

As Jane Austen put it in Northanger Abbey:

Alas! if the heroine of one novel be not patronized by the heroine of another, from whom can she expect protection and regard?

JAMMDI-licious News

The official online home of JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT, the new Ballantine anthology of Austen-inspired fiction, is live at janeaustenmademedoit.com.

JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT is a collection of stories by 24 authors and is edited by Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose.

 
Some details from the publisher:

In Lauren Willig’s “A Night at Northanger,” a young woman who doesn’t believe in ghosts meets a familiar specter at the infamous abbey; Jane Odiwe’s “Waiting” captures the exquisite uncertainty of Persuasion’s Wentworth and Anne as they await her family’s approval of their betrothal; Adriana Trigiani’s “Love and Best Wishes, Aunt Jane” imagines a modern-day Austen giving her niece advice upon her engagement; in Diana Birchall’s “Jane Austen’s Cat,” our beloved Jane tells her nieces “cat tales” based on her novels; Laurie Viera Rigler’s “Intolerable Stupidity” finds Mr. Darcy bringing charges against all the writers of Pride and Prejudice sequels, spin-offs, and retellings; in Janet Mullany’s “Jane Austen, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” a teacher at an all-girls school invokes the Beatles to help her students understand Sense and Sensibility; in Jo Beverley’s “Jane and the Mistletoe Kiss,” a widow doesn’t believe she’ll have a second chance at love . . . until a Miss Austen suggests otherwise; and one story from a debut voice, the yet-to-be-revealed winner of the Jane Austen Made Me Do It Short Story Contest.

Which Austenesque Heroine Are You?

Take the quiz and see which of the heroines of these Austen-inspired novels is most like you:

• According to Jane
• Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict
• Definitely Not Mr Darcy
• My Jane Austen Summer
• Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

It's all fun and games over at Austenesque Reviews!

 

Fiction Therapy...and a giveaway

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.

2 Austen Addict books + Pride and Prejudice = 1 ebook bundle

THE COMPLETE JANE AUSTEN ADDICT ebook bundle is now in Kindle in the UK, thanks to the fabulous Bloomsbury.

THE COMPLETE JANE AUSTEN ADDICT Includes CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT,RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. And at a really good price. How cool is that?

Bridget Jones's Diary: A Classic Homage to Austen

Check out my guest post on chicklitclub.com, where I explore the comic parallels between Helen Fielding's BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY and Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. And Fielding's amusing deviations therefrom.

(In which we go from this:
  to this:

Except that in the book it was a diamond-patterned jumper and bumblebee socks.)

Read the entire post here.

Book Group + Skype + Author = Good Company

"My idea of good company, Mr. Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation…"—Anne Eliot, in Jane Austen's PERSUASION

Last week I had the great pleasure of connecting with a group of clever, well-informed people in Delhi, India. A book group. Via Skype video call.

This was the most geographically distant (8,000 miles from my home) and diverse book group I've chatted with so far. Members hailed from Denmark, Scotland, The Netherlands, England, Sweden, New Zealand, Dominican Republic, and the USA. A twelve-and-a-half-hour time difference meant that while these lovely ladies were raising their wineglasses, I was saying "cheers" with my cappuccino.

What was most inspiring about this group is that the members are a beautiful example of how a love of reading can bring people together, no matter where they are coming from, geographically or otherwise.

 

[From left, Ada from Domican Republic, Sarda from New Zealand, Pia from Sweden, Tessa from London, Dieuwke from The Netherlands, Mette from Denmark, and Hazel from Scotland. Linda from New York is missing from the photo but present in spirit. Not present in the photo but giving expert technical assistance were Shona (Scottish) and Pat (South African), Hazel's daughter and husband.]

The group was delightful, and our discussions fascinating. As this was a group of expats living in Delhi, they could all relate on a very personal level to the fish-out-of-water theme of my time-travel/body-switching/Austen-inspired novels.

Thanks, ladies, for inviting me into your living room!

Have you invited an author to your book group? I'd love to hear about your experiences.

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict in the UK AND Italy.

Today the post brought a lovely surprise: my author copies of the new Italian edition of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, a/k/a IN VIAGGIO CON JANE AUSTEN, published by Sperling & Kupfer.

Check out the fun cover. Bellissima!

Meanwhile, RUDE AWAKENINGS has also recently debuted in the UK, thanks to the fabulous Bloomsbury. Love the drawing of Jane in full Regency get-up in the middle of Hollywood.

Jane certainly knows how to travel. In more ways than one...

Ciaio, and have a lovely weekend!

   

 

Confessing my Austen Addiction at Sierra Madre Public Library, May 21

Please join me on May 21 at 2 PM at the Sierra Madre Public Library for a fun-filled afternoon. I'll be talking about Austen's timeless appeal and the genesis of my two Austen-inspired novels. Which could be considered semi-autobiographical, if they did not involve time travel and body-switching.

Hope to see you there! That's 2 PM, May 21. In whichever century you like.

Sierra Madre Public Library, 440 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA

626.355.7186

 


 

 

Jane Austen Made Me Do It

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. 

Happy Fiftieth Issue, Jane Austen's Regency World!

The magazine I most look forward to finding in my mailbox is Jane Austen's Regency World, and this time it's a very special issue.

Not only is it the magazine's fiftieth issue, but there is also a wonderful piece about Sandy Lerner, patroness of Chawton House and founder of The Centre for the the Study of Early English Women's Writing. And lots more that Austenblog details here.

But that's not all I found exciting about this issue: There's a review of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, which debuted in the UK on Feb. 7. AND there's a quiz with a chance to win a copy of RUDE AWAKENINGS on the inside back cover.

Don't have a subscription yet? What are you waiting for?

 

The Jane Austen Handbook launches in the UK

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.

 

Take the I Hate Valentine's Day poll

Sorry, but this is truly my least favorite holiday. I loved it when I was a kid and it was all about giving everyone in my classroom one of those sweet paper valentines that came in boxes of 30 or so, with a special one for the teacher. And Conversation Hearts candies.

But when I reached dating age, it was all about whether I had a boyfriend or not. And later, whether I had a husband or not. And what he did to mark the occasion. And whether it was good enough. And what I was supposed to do. And somehow a holiday that was supposed to be all about love became all about pressure and vanity and feeling bad about myself. Yuck.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a romantic, through and through. I just think that celebrating love should be something I do every day, and not something I have to prove--or have it be proved to me.

So where does Jane Austen come in? She is the perfect remedy for your Valentine's Day blues. Read one of her novels and celebrate love. When you're finished, you will close the book and feel good about yourself. And you will believe that if it's not there for you now, it will be. Very soon.

Here's a little treat from PERSUASION, my favorite Austen novel (and then do take the WHY I HATE VALENTINE'S DAY POLL below, just for fun):

You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it... Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you.

What do you hate most about Valentine's Day?

It's a holiday designed to make single people feel bad about themselves.Even if I'm in a relationship, I worry about not getting what I want.I feel pressured to mark the occasion but don't know what my partner wants.If I am too extravagant, my boyfriend/girlfriend may get the wrong message.If I'm too low-key, my boyfriend/girlfriend may get the wrong message.I eat way too much chocolate and spend the next day feeling guilty.

pollcode.com free polls

And the Top Ten Signs of Jane Austen Addiction are...

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.

 

Today, February 7th, is publication day in the UK of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. Woohoo!

Don't miss out on entering the JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT short story contest: http://www.pemberley.com//JAMMDI/JAMMDI.html

Enter till Feb. 13! And then buy yourself a box of chocolates to celebrate your accomplishment.

Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Blog Tour

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!

Just in time for the holidays: The Darcy Episode (+ a giveaway)

It's the season finale of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL! Watch our time-swapping heroines swoon over the man who launched a thousand sequels--and especially that version of him played by Colin Firth.

Comment on what you love about Darcy--on or off-screen-- to enter a giveaway of signed copies of CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.  Giveaway ends Thursday, January 6th, at midnight PST .

Has there ever been a greater specimen of the male sex than that ultimate romantic hero, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE? And is there anything more satisfying than watching "the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world" humbled by the realization that it takes a lot more than a big bank balance to win the girl?

Yes indeed, there is a Santa Claus. And he's brought us Mr. Darcy. So what if you think Darcy's a fictional character? That's your problem!

[SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL is inspired by the novels CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and stars Arabella Field and Fay Masterson. Catch up on all the episodes you missed.]

Interview + Giveaway on Pride & Prejudice (2005) Blog

Part 1 of a two-part interview has been posted. Comment on the post at the Pride and Prejudice (2005) Blog to enter the giveaway of signed copies of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.

Enjoy a chance to voice your thoughts about your favorite Jane Austen-inspired movies. And good luck!

Here's one of my favorites:

[Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Gemma Jones in "Sense and Sensibility," directed by Ang Lee and adapted by Thompson]

via prideandprejudice05.blogspot.com

Happy 235th, Miss Austen (+ lots of giveaways)

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):

1. WILLOUGHBY'S RETURN by Jane Odiwe
2.  CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT by Laurie Viera Rigler
3. RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT by Laurie Viera Rigler
4. MURDER AT MANSFIELD PARK by Lynn Shepherd
5. INTIMATIONS OF AUSTEN by Jane Greensmith
6. DARCY'S PASSIONS: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE RETOLD THROUGH HIS EYES by Regina Jeffers
7. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: A TALE OF LESS PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Alexa Adams
8. JANE AND THE DAMNED by Janet Mullany
9. BESPELLING JANE AUSTEN by Janet Mullany

Other gifts:

1. Austen bag offered by Karen Wasylowski
2. DVD of Pride & Prejudice 2005 offered by Regina Jeffers
3. One package of Bingley’s Tea.  (flavor  ”Marianne’s Wild Abandon” ) offered by Cindy Jones
4. DVD of Jane Austen in Manhattan offered by Maria Grazia
5. Three issues of Jane Austen Regency World offered by Maria Grazia

 

Exciting news for Austen-inspired storytellers everywhere!

Here's your chance to be published in the upcoming anthology entitled JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT, which will be published in Fall 2011 by Ballantine books and edited by Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose.

All you have to do is write a story inspired by the life or works of Jane Austen, and enter a short story contest. The winner will be published in JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT.

Read this post on Austenprose for details on how to enter.

Coming up 12/16: The Austen Birthday Blog Tour

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):

1. WILLOUGHBY'S RETURN by Jane Odiwe
2. CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT by Laurie Viera Rigler
3. RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT by Laurie Viera Rigler
4. MURDER AT MANSFIELD PARK by Lynn Shepherd
5. INTIMATIONS OF AUSTEN by Jane Greensmith
6. DARCY'S PASSIONS: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE RETOLD THROUGH HIS EYES by Regina Jeffers
7. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: A TALE OF LESS PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Alexa Adams
8. JANE AND THE DAMNED by Janet Mullany
9. BESPELLING JANE AUSTEN by Janet Mullany

Other gifts:

1. Austen bag offered by Karen Wasylowski
2. DVD of Pride & Prejudice 2005 offered by Regina Jeffers
3. One package of Bingley’s Tea.  (flavor  ”Marianne’s Wild Abandon” ) offered by Cindy Jones
4. DVD of Jane Austen in Manhattan offered by Maria Grazia
5. Three issues of Jane Austen Regency World offered by Maria Grazia

 

Austen's Timeless and Ageless Appeal

Today's Wall Street Journal has a fun piece on the ever-expanding Janeiverse on the web and on Austen's growing appeal with the young.

Makes sense, don't you think? After all, Austen wrote what could arguably be called the first classic YA coming-of-age novel, NORTHANGER ABBEY. The oldest heroine of Austen's six major works was 27-28 (Anne Elliot of PERUSASION), and the youngest was 17-18 (Catherine Morland of NORTHANGER ABBEY).

The latest Austen adaptations--both of which this blogger loved--clearly targeted a young demographic.[Romola Garai, L, as Emma Woodhouse; Felicity Jones, R, as Catherine Morland]

I'm just happy that a 27-year-old is no longer considered past her sell-by date, and a 17-year-old is usually more concerned with starting her freshman year of college than starting a family.

And on that note, I shall close with one of my favorite episodes of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, which focuses on this very topic:

[SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, babelgum.com/sexandtheaustengirl, is inspired by the novels "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" and "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" and stars Arabella Field and Fay Masterson.]

Join the Holiday #Readathon & Enter the Giveaways, Too!

Shop till you drop? How about you read till you need...to read some more! Really, is there anything better to take the edge off all that holiday stress than a good book?

WhoRuBlog is hosting a fabulous Holiday #Readathon, Dec. 2-5, and the Jane Austen Addict Blog is joining the fun. My mini-challenge for the Holiday #Readathon is:

Name your favorite holiday comfort read and tell us why it works for you. Enter your answer as a comment here on the blog OR as a tweet @austen_addict. Winner of this draw will receive personally inscribed copies of both CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT. ENTER BY MIDNIGHT PST DEC. 5.

Go to WhoRuBlog and check out its beautiful mini-challenge that is truly in the spirit of holiday giving. See the wonderful list of bloggers who are holding their own mini-challenges, including lots more giveaways. And there's a Twitter party, too, on December 5th. Why not sign up for them all!

 
                         (Ah, the comfort of a book...)

 

Episode 22 Worldwide Giveaway! or "My other car is a barouche"

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: giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

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: giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

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.]

Chamberpot vs. Toilet (& a giveaway)

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: giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

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: giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

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.]

Regency Sports Talk (and a new giveaway)

Yet another reason to wish we lived in Jane Austen's time is that there was no Monday Night Football. No ESPN. No sports talk.

Oh really? Watch Courtney and Jane, time-swapping heroines of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, discover whether men in neckcloths and knee breeches are just as obsessed with sports as men who spend every Saturday in that ancient college football jersey you'd love to throw out.

Watch "Regency Sports Talk," Episode 20 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL , and let us know what you think. AND ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY BY MIDNIGHT SATURDAY PST (JUST AS WE ENTER HALLOWEEN).

Two 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.

Watch Episode 20, "Regency Sports Talk," and enter our giveaway!

DO ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FOR MULTIPLE CHANCES TO WIN:

1. COMMENT on Episode 20, "Regency Sports Talk," here on the blog.

2. BLOG about this giveaway with a link to http://janeaustenaddict.com. Send us the link to your post: giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

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: giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

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.]

Clothes Make the Man (and give you a chance to win books!)

Do you ever wish the men in our twenty-first-century world dressed like Mr. Darcy instead of "like farmers and workmen," as Jane, one of our time-swapping heroines of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, would put it?

Watch "Clothes Make the Man," Episode 19 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL , and let us know what you think. And enter our giveaway by midnight Saturday, October 23, PST!

Two 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.

Watch Episode 19, "Clothes Make the Man," and enter the giveaway!

DO ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FOR MULTIPLE CHANCES TO WIN:

1. COMMENT on Episode 19, "Clothes Make the Man," here on the blog.

2. BLOG about this giveaway with a link to http://janeaustenaddict.com. Send the link to your post to giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

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 the link to your post to giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

This week's giveaway ends Saturday October 23 at midnight PST . Good luck!

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

     
[Sex and the Austen Girl stars Arabella Field as Courtney (left) and Fay Masterson as Jane (right). 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.]

 

Sex and the Austen Girl Episode 18 "The Art of Flattery" AND Another Giveaway!

Episode 18 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL has posted today, and we're having another giveaway!

Two lucky winners will win signed copies of both RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT & CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.

Watch Episode 18, "The Art of Flattery," and enter the giveaway!

DO ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FOR MULTIPLE CHANCES TO WIN:

1. COMMENT on Episode 18, "The Art of Flattery," here on the blog. Do women today still make flattery a tactic in the game of love? Or did that go out of style with bonnets and horse-drawn carriages?

2. BLOG about this giveaway with a link to http://janeaustenaddict.com. Send the link to your post to giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

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 the link to your post to giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

This week's giveaway ends midnight PST October 16. Good luck!

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

     
[Sex and the Austen Girl stars Arabella Field as Courtney (left) and Fay Masterson as Jane (right). 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.]

 

OMG...iveaway! Win signed copies of the Austen Addict books

Episode 17 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL has just posted today, and we're giving away signed copies of both RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT & CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT to two lucky winners.

Watch Episode 17, "A Matter of Chance," to see Courtney and Jane make sense of divorce, Regency style.

And to enter the giveaway, DO ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING FOR MULTIPLE CHANCES TO WIN:

1. COMMENT on Episode 17, "A Matter of Chance," here on the blog.

2. BLOG about this giveaway & link to http://janeaustenaddict.com. Send the link to your post to giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

3. TWEET about the giveaway @TheAustenGirl or @austen_addict & link to http://janeaustenaddict.com.

4. FACEBOOK POST the giveaway & link to http://janeaustenaddict.com. Send the link to your post to giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

This week's giveaway ends midnight PST October 9. Good luck!

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS LOIS & ANA IRIS!

     
[Sex and the Austen Girl stars Arabella Field as Courtney (left) and Fay Masterson as Jane (right). 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.]

 

"Snip, Snip": Enter the SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL Episode 16 Giveaway

The Episode 16 giveaway has begun, and it's easier than ever to enter.

Here's what you do for a chance to win signed copies of the novels that inspired the series, RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.

Each of the following equals one chance to win):

1. Watch Episode 16 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, "Snip, Snip," (below) and post a comment here on the blog. In two minutes you'll see two women from two different centuries tackling the issue of extreme makeovers.

 

AND/OR

2. Blog about our giveaway with a link to http://janeaustenaddict.com AND send us the link to your post to giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com with "Episode 16 Giveaway" in the subject line

AND/OR

3. Tweet about our giveaway @TheAustenGirl with a link to http://janeaustenaddict.com

AND/OR

4. Post on Facebook about our giveaway with a link to http://janeaustenaddict.com AND send us the link to your post to giveaways@janeaustenaddict.com.

Have fun, good luck, and catch up on all the episodes you missed at the SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL showpage!

[On the set of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, starring Fay Masterson as Jane (L) and Arabella Field as Courtney (R)]

Enter the Episode 15 Giveaway!

Episode 15 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, "A Good Wedding," is up. Click here to watch the episode and enter this week's giveaway. And let us know what your idea of a good wedding is!

Two winners will each win a signed copy of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.

TO ENTER: Follow the instructions posted each week on the Jane Austen Addict homepage. It's easy to enter. Have fun, and good luck!

 

 SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, the Babelgum original comedy web series inspired by RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, stars Arabella Field (L) as Courtney and Fay Masterson (R) as Jane. Visit the SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL showpage to watch all the episodes you missed!

 PLEASE DO NOT POST THE ANSWER TO THE EP.15 TRIVIA QUESTION ON THIS BLOG. THANKS!

Enter the Episode 14 Giveaway!

SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL is back from hiatus, and giveaway madness has begun!

Enter the first of our series of weekly giveaways to celebrate the second half of Season One of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, the Babelgum original comedy web series inspired by RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.

Each week till the end of Season One, two winners will each win a signed copy of RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.

TO ENTER: follow the instructions posted each week on the Jane Austen Addict homepage. Have fun, and good luck!

[Arabella Field (L) as Courtney and Fay Masterson (R) as Jane]

Dressed in White

SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, the comedy web series inspired by CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, is back on Babelgum.com!

Episode 13, "Dressed in White," is all about why Jane is wearing that white gown and what is means to her to wear white as opposed to what it means to Courtney. And how emotionally charged that white, fairy-princess dress can be. Especially if the fairy tale doesn't have a happy ending.

An interesting note on the difference between a wedding dress of Austen's day and a wedding dress of our day: We think of wedding dresses as white, but in Regency England, white was a common color for young women to wear on many occasions.

We also think of a wedding dress as a one-day-only-never-to-be-worn again garment. In Austen's time, a woman would just wear her wedding gown (which could be any color) again and again, like any other dress for special occasions. She'd change it up a bit when she got bored with the trimming or something got frayed. Or maybe she'd eventually cut it up and make a little girl's dress from it for her daughter. I do appreciate the difference between that custom and the ways of our disposable society. Besides, it might be interesting if white became more of a popular evening color than just for brides and debutantes. 

Watch Episode 13 and let us know what you think!

SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL stars Arabella Field (R) as Courtney Stone and Fay Masterson (L) as Jane Mansfield.  
 

By a Reader: An Austen Addict Collage

A very sweet surprise in my inbox: In addition to a lovely email from a 16-year-old reader named Tara, she made this Polyvore collage inspired by CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.

I could definitely see curling up in that robe and reading NORTHANGER ABBEY (gotta get ready for the JASNA AGM coming up end of October. Or watching CLUELESS. Again.

Thank you, Tara!

Love, Money, & Pemberley (Ep.12 of SEX & THE AUSTEN GIRL)

Don't miss this week's episode which is OUR LAST EPISODE TILL SEPTEMBER 5, when we will return with a special MR. DARCY episode. Everyone wants to marry for love, but shouldn't we consider money as well? Where does romance end and practicality begin? And should they be mutually exclusive? Courtney and Jane, our time-swapping heroines of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, explore an issue that has not changed all that much since Jane Austen's time. Watch Episode 12, "Love, Money, & Pemberley." Only on Babelgum. And read all about it on the Babelgum blog. Episode 12, "Love, Money, & Pemberley," premiered Monday, August 2, 2010 on Babelgum. And stays on the SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL showpage. Where you can catch up on any other episodes you missed. See you September 5! Till then, we'll be dreaming of Pemberley...   [Pemberley. Now that's something Jane (Fay Masterson, L) and Courtney (Arabella Field, R) can agree on.]
SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL is inspired by the novels RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.

"The 200-Year-Old Virgin" (Ep. 11 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL)

Imagine the shock you'd feel if you were a sheltered lady from 1813 England who woke up one morning in twenty-first-century Los Angeles. In another woman's body. A woman named Courtney Stone. Who is, like you, unmarried. But who is not, like you, a virgin.

Watch Jane Mansfield, that nineteenth-century lady, and Courtney Stone, the twenty-first-century woman who has taken over Jane's life, discuss things a lady should never talk about.

Watch "The 200-Year-Old Virgin," Episode 11 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL.

And read about it on the Babelgum Blog.

"The 200-Year-Old Virgin," premiered Monday, July 26 on Babelgum and stays on the site. 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.

[Poor Jane (Fay Masterson) is having a hard time wrapping her head around twenty-first-century dating and mating rituals]

Tell-Tale Signs (Episode 10 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL)

Ever wonder how you could have missed the signs (let's face it; the billboards) that screamed "He's just not that into you"?

In this week's episode of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, our time-swapping heroines Courtney and Jane discuss the tell-tale signs of a lack of male interest, both in Regency England and in twenty-first-century Los Angeles.

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.]

It's stuff like this that reminds me why I write.

A friend explained double happiness to me recently. It's when we are so happy that we bring that happiness to someone else. And then I came across this little gem the other day.

To know that one's work has brought happiness to another is the greatest gift of all.

Is He For Real? (Episode 9 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL)

Wouldn't it be great if there were a foolproof decoder of male behavior, a dog-meter, if you will, that tells us if he's for real? Or, as Jane Mansfield, one of the heroines of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL would put it, is there anything that indicates his intentions are honorable?

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.]

Interview Part 2 + ANOTHER Giveaway!

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!

Regency Dream Date: Episode 8 of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL

Watch & read about Episode 8 on the Babelgum blog. And tell us what your dream date is, Regency or otherwise.

[Arabella Field as Courtney Stone in SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, the comedy web series inspired by the novels RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT and CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT.]

Interview + Giveaway of Confessions AND Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

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!

  

How many dates before you sleep with someone?

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.]