My Love for Jane Austen

Next year marks an important milestone for us Janeites to celebrate. Sense and Sensibility was the first published novel by our dear Jane Austen in 1811. It will be 200 years from the year that introduce Jane to the world. Since then many of her six novels are re-issued to readers worldwide whether in its original language or translated versions. But it all begins with Sense and Sensibility where we learned of the romance, life and entanglements of two equally different sisters — Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. To rouse all Janeites to celebrate this glorious occasion, Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose is organising The Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Challenge 2011 . For those who have not yet have the pleasure of reading any novels by Jane Austen, this is a golden opportunity for you. Janeites, costume drama enthusiasts or casual admirers can also join in the fun to re-read novels, watch the movies and television adaptations and even read all the sequels, prequels, retellings...

One of my favourite Austenesque blogger, Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose is organising a reading challenge for the whole of next year. She will be reading all of the novels by Austenesque author, Stephanie Barron in the Being a Jane Austen Mystery series. This mystery series combines actual events in Jane's life with historical facts from the Regency period and puts her on sleuthing adventures which only she can solve. The novels in Being a Jane Austen Mystery series consists of: Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor (1996) Jane and the Man of the Cloth (1997) Jane and the Wandering Eye (1998) Jane and the Genius of the Place (1999) Jane and the Stillroom Maid (2000) Jane and the Prisoner of the Wool House (2001) Jane and the Ghosts of Netley (2003) Jane and His Lordship's Legacy (2005) Jane and the Barque of Frailty (2006) Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron (2010) Jane and the Canterbury Tale (2011) Challenge Details and Prizes Time...

Rating:★★★★★/★★★★★ Ever since I found this title in the bookstore, it piqued my interest to read it. I am definitely not disappointed spending my leisure hours after work to indulge in this useful guidebook. In my mind, I was wondering the connection between Jane Austen's novels and dating as her six novels are more than romance but also about society, manners and satire. However when I peruse the contents of the book, I was surprised that Lauren Henderson did an excellent job of grasping the romantic side of the stories. This guidebook begins with a short introduction followed by an explanation of the structure used. I find this beneficial as it defines the overall direction taken. Lauren has drawn a set of ten rules based on Jane Austen's six novels to help female readers maneuver the complicated minefield of finding their Mr. Right. Each rule forms the basis of the chapter and include three stories pertaining to the said rule selected from Jane Austen's oeuvres. At...

The Austenesque scout is delighted to present some wonderful news to her dear readers in time for Christmas. This week, Mary Lydon Simonsen is hosting a giveaway at her blog, Austen Inspired Fan Fiction by Mary Simonsen . Mary wrote a poignant post on Pat Harding, the author of Beloved who passed away last month. The prize on offer is a copy of Beloved given to one lucky commenter. You need to leave a comment stating the name of your favourite Austen sequel(s) or fan-fiction piece from any site together with your email address . This contest is open to international readers and winner's name will be drawn at 12 noon on Thursday, 30 December 2010 . Followers of her blog are given an extra entry but please mention it in your comment. Next, there is a a basket of Austen goodies to be given away at one of my favourite Austenesque blogs, Austenprose . This grand gift basket is donated by Bingley's Teas, Ltd . It is valued at US$75 and filled with a tea box each of Mr. ...

In conjunction with the publication of the new anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It , Ballantine Books, Austenprose and The Republic of Pemberley are pleased to announce an online short story contest.  Enter for a chance to win the Grand Prize: publication of your entry in the anthology – a collection of original short stories inspired by the life and works of popular English novelist Jane Austen (1775-1817). Hosted by the Jane Austen website The Republic of Pemberley , the contest begins on 1 January 2011. Publication of Jane Austen Made Me Do It by Ballantine is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2011. Here are some of the contest highlight : Eligibility: Previously unpublished US residents over the age of 18 Entries must be approximately 5,000 words in length Manuscript submission 1 January-13 February 2011 Voting for the Top Ten finalists 14-28 February 2011 Top Ten finalists announced on 1 March 2011 One Grand Prize winner receives US$500.00 and a contract for publica...

Dearest Jane Austen, My best wishes to you on your birthday. If you're still alive, you would be 235 years old today. Although you're no longer with us anymore, I hope you're up there watching us with a smile on your face and wondering how your oeuvres continue to live on long past your death. Not in your wildest dreams do you imagine that all your novels continue to be a guiding light to us mortals here on earth. I would like to thank you again and again for creating wonderful and enjoyable characters that reflect timeless behaviour and attitudes in people after nearly two centuries have past since your first publication. Words cannot express the joy and gratitude that I feel in my heart everytime I read your novels. I wish I could be like your Elizabeth Bennet with a remarkable wit and humour and find my very own Mr. Darcy as my prince charming or Anne Elliot's quiet resolve to be patient and tolerant and is rewarded in the end with Captain Wentworth, or even Fanny...

The Austenesque scout is happy to bring you good news on three giveaways to her readers. This week, we have author of The Heroine's Bookshelf , Erin M. Blackmore guest blog at Fly High! . Read her posts here because there is giveaway for one reader to win a copy of The Heroine's Bookshelf . Just leave a comment with your email address and you might be the owner of her book. This contest is open to international readers and ends next Wednesday, 22 December 2010 . Vic from Jane Austen Today is giving away a copy of Tasha Alexander's novel, Dangerous to Know . This is the fifth book in the Lady Emily mystery series. For a description of the novel, please read here . To enter for a chance to win this book, leave a comment stating which mystery about Jane Austen's life you'd like to solve . However, this contest is only open to US and Canadian residents . The winner will drawn randomly on 4 January 2011 so make sure you comment before that. Lastly, the ...

Good news, Janeites. On Jane Austen's birthday which is this Thursday, 16 December, Sourcebooks , the leading publisher for Jane Austen para-literature (prequels, sequels, retellings, variations, modern interpretation and the like) is throwing a huge one-day-only birthday book bash by giving away 10 selected e-books from their titles for free . All chosen novels were written by some of the best-selling authors in Jane Austen's fiction. Here is the list of selected free e-books which you can download from their retail partners at their website (Amazon's Kindle , Barnes & Noble's Nook , Google eBookstore , Apple's iBooks , Sony Reader Store ): 1) Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange 2) Eliza's Daughter by Joan Aiken 3) The Darcys & the Bingleys by Marsha Altman 4) Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll 5) Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One by Sharon Lathan 6) What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown 7) The Pem...

There is going to be a great celebration on the Austen blogosphere next Thursday, 16 December 2010 in honour of our beloved authoress, Jane Austen's birthday. As one of English Literature's great author, her 235th birthday (born on 16 December 1775) is a great event that notable Austenesque bloggers and authors would dearly love to participate in order to show their love and pay homage to her. Chief among them, Maria Grazia from Italy, blog mistress of Fly High! and My Jane Austen Book Club is hosting one of these celebrations of Happy Birthday, Jane blog tour event with the participation of fellow Austenesque bloggers. The list are as follows: Adriana Zardini @ Jane Austen Sociedad do Brasil Laurel Ann @ Austenprose - A Jane Austen Blog Vic Sanborn @ Jane Austen World Katherine Cox @ November's Autumn Karen Wasylowski @  Karen Wasylowski's blog Laurie Viera Rigler @ Jane Austen Addict Blog Lynn Shepherd @ Lynn Shepherd's blog Jane Greensmith @ Readi...

The Austenesque scout is happy to bring you exciting news especially for her dear readers about four giveaways which are up for grabs this week. As Christmas is fast approaching, Laura Hile of Crown Hill Writers' Guild is organizing a giveaway of a set of three books in her Mercy's Embrace series . This series is a sequel to Persuasion but told from Elizabeth Elliot's view point and it is about her quest of finding true love. All you have to do to be entered into the drawing to win this lovely set of books is to comment on this post or any of her instalments on Gentle Anne and the Mill short story together with your email address . Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 and Part 5 of her short story are now posted on her blog. Hurry for the deadline is at midnight PT on this Thursday, 9 December 2010 . On a happy note, this contest is open to worldwide readers . Next up, Laurel Ann of Austenprose has interviewed author of The Pink Carnation series, Lauren Will...

The Austenesque book scout has some exciting news to tell her readers about the wonderful new books that will be published by Sourcebooks and other publishers for the upcoming Spring-Summer 2011 season. Some of the new titles are written by established authors from the world of Jane Austen fan-fiction with a few first time writers. The list also include Austen-inspired reference books and four novels from Georgette Heyer's romance in addition to a definitive biography of the Queen of Regency romance that has not yet been published by Sourcebooks. Publishers' description quoted from Sourcebooks trade catalogue for Spring 2011 is included as a teaser on what the book is about. Additional information is taken from Amazon and authors' websites while book covers are from Barnes & Noble and Sourcebooks catalogue. The list is arranged chronologically base on release dates for easier reference. Jane's Fame: How Jane Austen Conquered the World by Claire Harman N...