Laurie Viera Rigler's Blog: Jane Austen Addict, page 13

Booklicious: Jaw-Dropping Book-Inspired Cakes

via www.bookliciousblog.com

I just found my new favorite dessert! Thanks to Shelf Awareness for the link.

living read girl: Some merry modern romps with Jane Austen

"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!!!

 

Lesley-Anne McLeod: The Ever-Expanding Regency

"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!)]

The Writing Life: favorite bits of encouragement

Lately I've been looking through some of my posts tagged "Writing Life," and found a few favorites. Welcome reminders as I write my next two novels.

What You Don't Know Can Help You

A Real Writer Writes Every Day, and Other Myths

I Quit! 

May these pieces help support you on your own writing journey!

Elizabeth Kantor: How Jane Austen Can Save Your Love Life

It takes me about three minutes of cocktail party chat to sell The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After as the perfect graduation present to any father of a young woman in her teens or early twenties. Why? Well, they're men, and they love their daughters. They know male psychology from the inside, and they're terrified that the young women they care about -- educated and polished, extraordinarily competent in so many ways -- will lose in the battle of the sexes. Not in education, or sports, or the world of work, but in the bedroom.

via www.huffingtonpost.ca

Good to see this in a prominent place. Echoes much of what I've been thinking for a long time about the relationship wisdom of Austen's novels. And gave me new things to think about:

For example, I would not have thought it an advantage that the large parties and lack of one-on-one contact of Austen's day was an advantage in getting to know a man. But Kantor brings up a very valid point: "Keep enough distance so you can see the guy in perspective...without getting so close that they became prematurely "attached."

My interpretation? Instead of falling into bed on the first or the fifth date, you get to see him in action at a large, public event, such as a picnic (Mr. Knightley at the Box Hill fiasco), or a dance (Mr. Knightley gallantly asking Harriet to dance), or at a party (Willoughby acting as if he hardly knows you and paying his attention to another woman).

Anyhow, THE JANE AUSTEN GUIDE TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER sounds great, and I'm happy that someone wrote it!

The Edible Pride and Prejudice?

The author of THE PRIDE AND PREJUDICE MOVIE COOKBOOK sent me a copy, and though I haven't tried any of the recipes yet, it looks like so much fun that I just had to share.

 

Playfully riffing off text from the novel and scenes from the movie versions of Austen's most beloved novel --and adding teensy dashes of culinary history just for fun--author Anne Derry has concocted a host of P&P-inspired recipes that evoke the Regency but are nevertheless fashioned for a 21st-century palate.

Just to give you a taste:

There's The White Menu (in honor of the white soup need for the Netherfield ball).

There's an entire series of recipes with the key ingredient being Guinness stout, inspired by the banter between Lizzy and Darcy on whether poetry is indeed the food of love and Lizzie's declaring that it is only so if the love is "fine, stout, [and] healthy."

There's even a zombie cocktail. And of course as Charlotte was wanted about the mince pies, there's a recipe for that as well.

Bon appetit, and please don't invite Mr. Collins to dinner. You may just get stuck sitting next to him. 

 

Have you seen the Lizzie Bennet Diaries?

Talk about making the classics accessible. I defy anyone who has ever resisted Jane Austen to not want to crack open Pride and Prejudice after watching this.

Totally cute. Looking forward to episode 2!

Downton Arby's: Once is not enough.

From the producers of Sonic and Sensibility and Pizza and Prejudice comes the LOL parody of the latest period drama addiction sweeping the nation. If you haven't seen it, you're in for a treat. If you have, it gets even better with age. Unleash the dastardly drive-through duo! And break out the horsey sauce!

 

20 unexpected books for your reading group | The Book Case

Reading for your book club and socializing with your group members is a lot of fun, but sometimes it can be tricky to find a book that no one has read yet and everyone will enjoy. Maybe you've already read The Help, The Lovely Bones, Water for Elephants, Cutting for Stone, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society . . . and you're looking for books that go beyond the obvious picks (as much as we love those tried-and-true book club favorites).

via www.bookpage.com

Very proud to see one of my novels on a list with books by Haruki Murakami (reading his 1Q84 and completely entranced), Jonathan Tropper (loved his HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER), and many other excellent storytellers. I have just increased my to-be-read list considerably, thanks to Book Page.

Girl Power in Publishing

Love Jennifer Weiner. Love The Guardian. Here's an excellent piece she wrote on the need for a New Girls' Network in the book world.

As Jane Austen might have said in MANSFIELD PARK,

Thanks to Amy R. Bromberg for the link.