Monica Fairview's Blog, page 59
October 2, 2022
Dispelling the Gloom, Part I
When I saw this month’s theme—“Which Witch: Magic and Malevolence in Austen”—I was frightened, terribly frightened! While magic and malevolence are perfect concepts for the month of Halloween, I have never once attempted a fantastical Austenesque variation. Many authors—many here at Austen Variations—have written compelling Austenesque fantasies; indeed, they have taken some of the very best elements of P&P (power, attraction, love) and melded them beautifully with the magic of t...
September 29, 2022
Schoolrooms and Nurseries
Shall we walk in Jane Austen’s footsteps across Forbury Gardens, towards the site of the last school she attended, along with her sister?
Paul Sandby’s painting of Reading Abbey Gateway gives us a glimpse of the brick building that housed the Abbey School, a boarding school for young ladies, established around 1755. In Jane Austen’s time it was run by a headmistress known as Madame La Tournelle, a name she might have chosen to impress the parents and raise the prestige of the school. In fac...
September 28, 2022
An Ill-fated Romance and a Forgotten Royal: Princess Charlotte Augusta
As you probably know by now, I love visiting National Trust properties. One of my favorite places to go is Claremont, near Esher. It’s an easy 20 minute drive from where I live, and it’s one of my go-to places when I want to go walking without having to drive too far. The grounds are beautiful and they are pretty much what they would have been like in 1813 when young Princess Charlotte Augusta, apparent heir to the Crown, moved there with her husband Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg.
Princess Char...
September 27, 2022
The Greatest Risk-Chapter 3 (Excerpt 2)
“The Greatest Risk is to show others who we truly are.”
~Cinderella 2015
Happy Fall, dear readers. What a wonderful time of year. The leaves are changing, the weather is beginning to cool and holidays are fast approaching. As we prepare to spend time with those we love, I decided I wanted to share another unedited excerpt from my current Work In Progress, The Greatest Risk.
I often struggle with how to introduce Mr. Wickham into the story. Is he too obvious a cad? Is he too tame? Villains are...
September 21, 2022
The Peculiarity of Mr. Darcy’s Mirror – Release Day Celebration!
It’s release day!! I hope you’re ready for Ellie’s adventure and to read the entirety! You can find the book on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited.
If you haven’t read the preview, click here to read Chapter 1 .
I also have extra content posts at my website: one on inspiration, one on language, and another for artists.
Do you still need more? Well there’s the blurb…
Ellie Gardiner has landed her dream job restoring art at the mysterious estate of Pemberley. Once a majestic home in...
The Peculiarity of Mr. Darcy’s Mirror – Release Day Celebration and Giveaway!!
It’s release day!! I hope you’re ready for Ellie’s adventure and to read the entirety! You can find the book on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.
If you haven’t read the preview posted here, click the chapter to read the preview. Chapter 1 and 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4.
I also have extra content posts at my website: one on inspiration, one on language, and another for artists.
Do you still need more? Well there’s the blurb…
Ellie Gardiner has landed her dream job restoring art at the mysterious esta...
September 20, 2022
The Peculiarity of Mr. Darcy’s Mirror – Chapter 4
Happy Wednesday! Tomorrow is the release of The Peculiarity of Mr. Darcy’s Mirror, and I have started proofing chapters for the audiobook narrated by the wonderful Joanna Lee, which will release probably in November.
In the meantime, you can still preorder your ebook of Mr. Darcy’s Mirror so it’s on your Kindle first thing in the morning. Just click here to order!
If you missed the posts of the first three chapters, click here to read the Chapter 1 and 2! Click here for Chapter 3! I’m having a ...
September 18, 2022
Meet Me in Victoria!
In just a couple of weeks (Sept. 29th), people from far and wide will begin gathering in Victoria, British Columbia, for the 2022 Jane Austen Society of North America Annual General Meeting (JASNA AGM). In other words, it’s a Jane Austen convention!
What could be better? Around 700 fully-vaccinated Austen addicts congregating to learn more about our favorite authoress, her literary works, and Regency culture. We’ll be taking time out of our busy lives to collectively celebrate our common passion...
September 16, 2022
The Greatest Risk-Chapter 3
“I am not at all in a humor for writing; I must write on until I am.”
~Jane Austen
Hello, my dear readers. It sure has been a hot minute since I’ve shown my ‘face’ on this lovely site. Football is going well, so unfortunately both writing and Jane have taken a back seat. However, I’ve stayed up a few late nights to get a chapter or two hashed out here and there.
I hope you enjoy an unedited portion of Chapter 3 from “The Greatest Risk.”
“I cannot thank you enough, Cousin, for your abundance of...
September 13, 2022
The Peculiarity of Mr. Darcy’s Mirror – Chapter 3
Happy Wednesday! We’re one week closer to the release of The Peculiarity of Mr. Darcy’s Mirror, and I have some exciting news (other than the release, that is 
) The wonderful Joanna Lee has agreed to narrate the audiobook, which will release probably in November when you consider turnover time with ACX. I’ll definitely keep you updated.
In the meantime, don’t forget to preorder your ebook of Mr. Darcy’s Mirror! The preorder is live, so just click here to order!
If you missed last week’s pos...
