Austen Variations - And A Book Giveaway!

Today I'm a guest blogger on Austen Variations, courtesy of Jane Odiwe, whose new book Mr Darcy's Christmas Calendar is out now. Austen Variations, a website for writers and readers, focuses on 'Austen-related fiction, the Regency Period and Romance'. My guest post 'Chit-chat and Quarterly Reviews' looks at reading habits in Jane Austen's day.  There's a competition to win a free copy of my new book A Visitor's Guide To Jane Austen's England, so do take time to leave a comment - it's free to enter!
The lucky winner will be announced on the Austen Variations Facebook page on 15 November.

Illustrations:
Title page of the Lady's Monthly Museum.
Tottenham High Cross in 1805, Gentleman's Magazine April 1820.

Writers’ Blog Tour

I was thrilled to be asked to take part in the Writers’ Blog Tour by my author friend Michelle Higgs – you can visit her blog here.

Michelle also invited Angela Buckley to take part, and you can find out more about Angela at http://victoriansupersleuth.com/.  Michelle was originally invited to join the tour by Gillian Mawson - do check out her work at http://whaleybridgewriter.blogspot.co.uk

As you can see, the idea is that the international community of writers and authors all help each other so that their blogs reach a larger audience!

Now, like previous hosts of the Writers’ Blog Tour, I’m going to answer four questions about my work and writing.  

What am I working on?

I’m currently seeing my forthcoming book A Visitor’s Guide to Jane Austen’s England through the final production process. If all goes well it will be published by Pen and Sword in late October 2014.  In the Visitor’s Guide readers can immerse themselves in the vanished world inhabited by Austen’s contemporaries. It’s an intimate exploration of how the middle and upper classes lived from 1775, the year of Jane Austen’s birth, to her death in 1817. I’ve also started working on a new book, Regency Spies, for Pen & Sword’s History imprint. In Regency Spies, I’ll be revealing the shadowy world of Britain’s spies, rebels and secret societies from the late 1780s until 1820.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

This question is almost impossible to answer when so many great books have already been published by many talented history writers, but I’ll do my best. I’m fascinated by real people’s stories: how our ancestors lived and died. History isn’t just a series of dates, or the names of kings and queens. History was made by ordinary men, women and children: the navvies who built the canals, roads and railways, the labourers who worked in the fields, and the weavers who toiled in their garrets or in the mills. I’m especially interested in the great social divide between rich and poor. 

 Why do I write what I do?

As I said earlier, I love exploring people’s real past lives. I have a real passion for history – whenever I visit a museum or heritage site, I wish I could soak up its history like a sponge. It’s fascinating seeing old factories and buildings, machinery, ‘recreations’ of people’s homes and lifestyles, and the artefacts and tools which people used. I love visiting archives, and reading people’s letters and diaries. There’s always more to learn, and I’m never happier than when I’ve learnt something new, or have uncovered an amazing true story – and can share it with my readers. 

How does my writing process work?

I don’t begin writing until I’ve done lots of reading and research! Then (still reading/researching) I begin building up a mental picture of what I want to say and make some tentative notes on the computer – noting references as I go along. I’m usually working to a tight deadline, so I start roughing out each chapter as early as possible, but each chapter is very much subject to revision. The ‘proper’ writing begins when I have finished the main research in archives and primary sources. But in practice I am still reading while writing because often another author may help shed fresh light on a subject. Each article or book undergoes several rewrites and checks before the final edit, although I don’t think a piece of work is ever truly ‘finished’! This is probably not a very organised way of working, and I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone!

I hope you’ve enjoyed your visit to my blog. Now I’d like to introduce you to two more wonderful writers:

Jane Odiwe

Jane Odiwe is the author of five Austen-inspired novels, Project Darcy, Searching for Captain Wentworth, (White Soup Press) Mr Darcy's Secret, Willoughby's Return, and Lydia Bennet's Story, (Sourcebooks) and the short story, Waiting, commissioned for Jane Austen Made Me Do It, (Random House).

Jane also loves painting scenes from Austen’s world - her illustrations feature in a biographical film for Sony of Jane Austen's life and in the book, Effusions of Fancy.

Website: http://www.austeneffusions.com/

Emma Jolly

Emma Jolly is a writer, genealogist and historian. A regular contributor to family history publications, Emma is the author of four books, My Ancestor was a Woman at War (2014), Tracing Your Ancestors Using the Census (2013), Tracing Your British Indian Ancestors (2012) and Family History for Kids (2007). As a genealogist, she specializes in problem-solving and British India. Having recently completed an MA in Imperialism and Culture, Emma is now focused on women’s history projects.

Website: www.emmajolly.co.uk

Image: Pit brow lasses in Staffordshire.  Reports of the Inspectors of Factories, 31 October 1875.Author's collection.

Austen family portrait discovered?

Can you solve the mystery behind this illustration (left)? There's a possibility it may be a long-lost portrait of the Austen family in the 1780s. You can read the story so far here on Jane Odiwe's blog.  This picture has seemingly disappeared long ago, so if you know of its whereabouts, or have seen it in a sales catalogue, please contact Jane Odiwe via her blog, as she would love to hear from you.
Image supplied courtesy of Jane Odiwe.

Review of Mr Darcy's Secret

Get ready to relive the world of Pride and Prejudice! Jane Odiwe's Mr Darcy's Secret explores life for the newly married Darcy couple. The book begins just after Lizzy's fairytale wedding at Longbourn. But it's not long before our heroine has to cope with the hostility of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and  her friends.  Soon Elizabeth wonders if she knows her husband as well as she thought. Who is the mysterious child allegedly linked with the Darcy family? Is her husband involved? What is the meaning of Caroline Bingley's dark hints? The bride also has her hands full with Georgiana Darcy  - a rash engagement, egged on by her brother Darcy, could wreck Georgiana's happiness forever. Odiwe skilfully and lovingly recreates Austen's characters, and there are some wonderful touches of humour, too. The sizzling plot will keep readers turning the page to find out what happens next.  Will Lizzy and Darcy have a happy ending after all, or will a long-hidden Pemberley scandal wreck their marriage? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Competition for Jane Austen fans!

There's a fun competition to win a copy of Jane Odiwe's wonderful new novel Mr Darcy's Secret here! Jane's novel is a sequel to Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Hurry, because there are less than two weeks left to enter!

A Grand Day Out

I had a smashing day out in Bath on Saturday. First I met up with fellow author Jane Odiwe for lunch, which was lovely, thank you, Jane. Then on to the Guildhall for a fascinating talk by Claire Tomalin on the art of biography, sponsored by Jane Austen's Regency World. Claire gave the audience some intriguing insights into the way she approached writing her biographies of Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy and Charles Dickens. She advised would-be biographers to ‘travel the ground’ where their subjects lived whenever possible. The Guildhall is a beautiful building; the room where we had the talk was decorated in pastel green and gilt, illuminated with huge sparkling chandeliers. After the talk I met up with Tim Bullamore and other luminaries from Jane Austen’s Regency World, and we had a lovely afternoon tea at the Jane Austen Centre. So a big thank you to Tim for inviting me, and for the warm welcome I received. It was wonderful to meet everyone.

Image: The author and Jane Odiwe, author of Willoughby's Return, outside the Guildhall in Bath. © Sue Wilkes.

Bedtime Reading

Last week my bedtime reading was Jane Odiwe's ’s lovely new novel ‘Willoughby’s Return,’ which I can thoroughly recommend if you want to lose yourself in the world of Jane Austen.

This week I’ve been reading the Chevalier de Johnstone's’s ‘Memoir of the ‘45’, so I was very interested to see Neil Oliver’s History of Scotland programme on the Jacobite rebellions last night, especially as we have visited Culloden Moor, Ruthven Barracks and some of the other places mentioned while on holiday. If you read Johnstone’s eyewitness account, it is amazing how many chances Bonnie Prince Charlie threw away, and how close we came to living under the Stuarts today.

It must be really difficult choosing images to illustrate some events, and I nearly laughed out loud at one point. Oliver talked about Queen Anne’s death and showed her gasping out her last breath, and I was somehow irresistibly reminded of Pan’s People’s 0ver-literal interpretation of song lyrics! Not very appropriate for a monarch’s death.

Once again Neil Oliver treated us to sublime Highland scenery, and related the tragedy of the ’15 and ’45 rebellions and their aftermath with gusto. But it was the story of the Act of Union – in which Scotland sold its independence for English gold – which seemed to touch Oliver most deeply.
Image: Memorial at Culloden. © Sue and Nigel Wilkes.

Excessively Diverting Blog Award!

I was absolutely thrilled to discover I've been nominated for an Excessively Diverting Blog Award by fellow author Jane Odiwe in collaboration with Jane Austen Today!
Thank you very much indeed Jane! This award was created by the blogging team of Jane Austen Today to acknowledge superior writing on the Internet and promote Jane Austen’s brilliance. Apparently the aim of the award is to promote writing excellence in the spirit of Jane Austen. Of course the immortal Jane is a tough act to follow; we can only aspire to emulate her irony, humour, wit, and terrifyingly accurate observation of people and manners.
Now I'm going to nominate my favourite seven Austen-related blogs:

Jane Austen Sequels : I know it's cheating to include Jane Odiwe's blog, but her beautiful blog never fails to cheer me up - it's always 'light, bright and sparkling.'

Jane Austen Today : I know - cheating again - but this really is one of the best Austen blogs.

Austenprose: Another classic Austen blog following in Jane's footsteps.

The Duchess of Devonshire's Gossip Guide: This blog offers some real insights into the period and has some beautiful illustrations.

Jane Greensmith's blog: Jane is a big Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell fan and loves to share her opinions and thoughts on these great novelists.

Jane Austen in Vermont: Another smashing Austen blog.

And last, but certainly not least, Austenblog; this is the place to go if you want the latest gossip on the world of Jane Austen.


Congratulations recipients. Please claim your award by copying the HTML code of the Excessively Diverting Blog Award badge, posting it on your blog, listing the name of the person who nominated you, and linking to their blog. Then nominate seven (7) other blogs that you feel meet or exceed the standards set forth. Nominees may place the Excessively Diverting badge in their side bar and enjoy the appreciation of their fellow bloggers for recognition of their talent.

Review of Miss Austen Regrets

Miss Austen Regrets is a welcome addition to the burgeoning Jane Austen film/TV industry. The use of Austen’s letters gave an authentic ring to this biopic. A couple of scenes had me raising an eyebrow. I am doubtful Austen was quite as free and easy in company as Olivia Williams’ portrayal; I was also uncomfortable with the budding ‘affair’ with Charles Haden.
But writer Gwyneth Hughes can be forgiven some deviations from the strict historical record for her portrayal of the power dynamics in the Austen family, especially Jane’s tense relationship with her mother. Greta Scacchi gives us a surprisingly sympathetic portrait of Cassandra, and I was pleased with Adrian Edmondson as Henry.
Olivia Williams plays a fragile Jane with a hint of steel. However, although we know from the letters that Jane enjoyed a drink, was she really the boozy flirt portrayed here?
Imogen Poots gives a convincing portrait of that spoilt little madam, Fanny Austen Knight. Jane loved Fanny; one can only be thankful she never knew about Fanny’s disparaging comments about her Aunt Jane and family in later life.

Cassandra’s ruthless, loving destruction of the most intimate of Jane’s letters means we will never really know the ‘real’ Jane Austen. We’re left to pick over the bones; a forensic recreation of her innermost feelings from the remaining letters, the novels, and anecdotes from friends and relations. This is probably what Jane herself would have wanted.
To sum up, Miss Austen Regrets is beautifully presented and enjoyable to watch. Providing one remembers it's one writer’s personal 'take' on Jane, rather than a documentary, it’s a good introduction to her life for those new to Austen and her work.
I defy any Austen fan not to be moved as Jane faces death, knowing she will never be able to write down all the characters and stories still waiting for her to bring them to life.

A big 'Thank You' to Jane Odiwe for her lovely drawing of Jane Austen. You can also see more of her work at Jane Austen Sequels.