Laurie Viera Rigler's Blog: Jane Austen Addict, page 16

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...

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 ...

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)

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?

It's the season finale of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, and I think you've already guessed what it's about. Watch our time-swapping heroines swoon over the man who launched a thousand sequels--and especially that version of him played by Colin Firth.

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!

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 midnight PST January 6th.

[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
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):

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

Other gifts:

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