Julianne Donaldson's Blog, page 6

Another Winner! Another Giveaway

I am happy to announce the winner of last week's favorite hero contest and giveaway. It's Stephanie, who voted for Peeta. Congratulations, Stephanie! You won an ARC of Edenbrooke and a Pride & Prejudice DVD. Please send me your snail mail address at donaldson(dot)julianne(at)gmail.com.

Now, there is nothing to be sad about if you haven't won yet! We still have five more giveaways!

My favorite review so far said of Edenbrooke: "It was like Downton Abbey, Georgette Heyer, and Jane Austen all had a baby and that baby is a literary gift to the romance world."   (You can read the full review for yourself here.)


So for this week's contest, just tell us if you're a Downton Abbey fan, and who your favorite character is. If you haven't been introduced to Downton Abbey yet, don't worry! You will not be disqualified. But get thee to Netflix! And watch it! Hurry!!!!


The lucky winner will receive some hilarious paper dolls of Downton Abbey which you can cut out and play with, (see the sample below)






as well as an Advanced Reading Copy of Edenbrooke. (You know what that looks like by now, right?)


The contest will be open starting now until next Monday, February 27, at midnight. As always, you will get extra points for telling me you follow my blog (and actually following it) and for sharing the news with your friends on Facebook or Twitter. (You have to tell me you've done this, because I can't track people down. Just mention it in the comment.) And new this week, thanks to Jenny Faires: a fourth point is possible if you ask your local library to order Edenbrooke. 


Isn't this exciting? Now let's talk Downton Abbey! Did you love the Christmas special? Wasn't the last scene beautiful? Does anyone feel sorry for Thomas? 

A Winner! And another Giveaway!

I loved reading all of the fantastic Jane Austen quotes this week! Thank you to everyone who participated in the Austen love-fest here.


Now, before I announce the winner, I will tell you how random and fair this process was. Everyone received one point for commenting, plus an extra point for following this blog and a third point if they posted something about this on Facebook or Twitter. I started at the top, assigned numbers in order, and also counted those who commented on Facebook and Goodreads. I then used the random number generator to generate a random number.


And the random number generator chose as the winner..."Finn and Tracey Family." Congratulations! Please email me your snail mail address at donaldson(dot)julianne(at)gmail.com. Enjoy your copy of Edenbrooke and Becoming Jane!

For the rest of you, this is only WEEK 2! You still have 6 more chances to win!! And just to make you even MORE impatient, I'll tell you a little secret. I'm going to England the week before my book is released. So the final giveaway will be a REAL copy of Edenbrooke (not an ARC) plus a a real, authentic souvenir from England. You'll definitely want to keep coming back.
This week, for the giveaway, all you have to do is name your favorite romantic hero and what book or movie he comes from. If you want to include a picture of him, you can. Let's really enjoy this. Same rules apply: comment here, and get extra points for following and sharing the news. 
To start it off, my favorite hero is my hero Philip, from Edenbrooke, for obvious reasons, which you will understand after you read it. And when I like to imagine him, I imagine Jake Gyllenhaal, again, for obvious reasons. (See picture below.)



Now, share your favorite heroes! And the winner of this week's giveaway will win an Advanced Reading Copy of Edenbrooke




 plus this romantic movie on DVD:



Ready, set, go!

Announcement! And a Giveaway!

Right now you may be thinking to yourself, "Did I read that title right? A giveaway? As in, something free? And wouldn't this be the first giveaway ever of this blog?"
Why, yes. You are absolutely correct. But before I explain the giveaway, I must make an announcement.
Edenbrooke will be released on March 27!
That is exactly 7 weeks from today. And because I feel like a child waiting for Christmas, I thought we could do something fun and special for the next 7 weeks to help us count down.
So, every Tuesday for the next 7 weeks I will be announcing a giveaway. The winner will receive an Advanced Reading Copy of Edenbrooke, signed by little ol' me, along with something else related to England or the Regency period. I have a stack of goodies I've prepared for this very thing.
Are you as excited as I am???? Because I'm squealing inside, I'm so excited.
So...it's a CONTEST, right? Meaning, you get to participate. But the winners will be chosen by a random number generator, so everything will be fair and square. To enter the contest this week, all you have to do is...
Tell us your favorite Jane Austen quote. It can be something she said herself, or a line from one of her books. Write it in the comments section, and then we can all read quotes from our favorite authoress. 
You will earn one point for commenting, and an extra point if you're a follower. (So if you follow this blog, just say so in your comment. If you don't follow yet, click the little follow button. It's that easy.) You'll get a third point if you share a link to this contest on Facebook or Twitter. Tell me about it, so I can give you that extra point, okay?
The contest will be open until Monday, February 13, at midnight. Then next Tuesday I'll announce the winner and next week's giveaway.
The winner of this week's giveaway will receive one Edenbrooke ARC...


AND a copy of the DVD Becoming Jane, with my favorite James McAvoy.


Now...go find your favorite Austen quote! I can't wait to read them!

Historical Tourism

Thanks to the huge popularity of Downton Abbey, tourism in England is up, according to this CNN article. Specifically, tourists are moving away from London and exploring the riches the countryside has to offer. If you've ever been interested in historical tourism, now is the time to try it out for yourself. I have a few of my own suggestions for your next trip.
1. Go Downton Abbey
The house we know of as Downton Abbey is really called Highclere Castle, and it is the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. Besides the filming of the hugely popular show (with over 11 million viewers in the UK and now shown in over 100 countries around world--go Downton Abbey!), they have also opened their grand house to tourists. Evidently, this year the house is booked until the end of the year for tour groups. But individuals can still get tickets, which will be available online starting next month. 
For the big spender who wants to experience a real Downton Abbey day, you can dine with the Earl and Countess, have a private tour of the house and the estate, and enjoy tea with them in the Countess' morning room. This opportunity to rub elbows with aristocracy will only cost you $12,300! I won't be signing up for that one any time soon, but I bet somebody does.

2. Go Jane Austen
For the Jane Austen fan, there's no place like the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, which will be held this year from September 14-22. It begins with a promenade, where hundreds of Janeites from all over the world dress in Regency attire and parade through the cobblestone streets of Bath. During the course of the week one may enjoy small soirees, theatre, concerts, walking tours, food, talks, DANCING, and of course, one may wear Regency attire all week long. 


3. Go Bronte Sisters

Are the Bronte sisters more to your liking? If so, you'll want to head north, to the country around Yorkshire. In Haworth you can visit the parsonage the sisters grew up in, which is now a museum. Then don your good walking shoes and set off through the heather-filled moors. You'll want to stop at North Lees Hall, the private manor that inspired Thornhill in Jane Eyre.



What do you think about historical tourism? Which of these sites would you pick if you could only pick one? 

Fans of Downton Abbey

How many of you are watching Downton Abbey? I somehow missed it when it aired last year, but I found it on Netflix last month, promptly fell in love, and caught up with the first season. I would have caught up much more quickly if I hadn't had to wait for my husband, Fred, who loves it too. (Although not to the same degree that I love it. Still, he loves it with me, and I love that about him.)
Watching Downton Abbey does several things for me. First, it makes me want to grow about five inches taller. It makes me want to wear styles from the early 1900s. And it makes me even more interested in the changes of World War I on English society.
If you are interested in this time period, you should read Eva Ibbotson, in particular her novel A Countess Below Stairs, which is set right after the end of World War I and focuses on the changes to society due to the war.
You should also consider watching "Secrets of the Manor House" this Sunday on PBS. It explores the upstairs and downstairs life of great manor houses in England. I think we romanticize the great manor houses we read about and I for one never think about the poor house maid who gets up before dawn, works 17-hour days, and earns the equivalent of $15 per year. Those were hard-working girls keeping Mr. Darcy's house running smoothly.
And you should definitely watch Downton Abbey. You can catch up on Season 1 and watch Season 2 online here.

If you have been watching Downton Abbey, what do you love about it? Who is your favorite character? Which character do you loathe the most? (O'Brian? Thomas? How do you choose between them?)

An Updated Cover and Some Praise

My cover has a little bit of a new look. The orchard is greener, and the "Proper Romance" seal is at the top with some more color to make it stand out. What do you think?

I also got the go-ahead from my publisher to share some praise for Edenbrooke. These quotes will appear on the back cover of the book.


"A heart-pounding love story. I couldn't stop turning the pages until I finished it. A must-read for all romantics!"
—Mary Mull, wife of New York Times bestselling author Brandon Mull
"Edenbrooke is so much more than a page-turning tale of love and intrigue. It's the kind of book you read time and time again and recommend to everyone."
—Kodi Wright, wife of New York Times bestselling author Jason F. Wright
"Edenbrooke combines charming characters and a lovely setting for a delightful read. It was hard to put down!" 
—Lynette Dashner, wife of New York Times bestselling author James Dashner


Some people have asked why my publisher asked the wives of NYTimes Bestsellers to give quotes--why not authors themselves? Well, this is clearly a book written for women, and the fact is, Shadow Mountain does not have any female bestselling authors on its list. I'm excited that they grouped me with their bestsellers, and I am dreaming big that I will someday make it on that list myself.

In other news, the release date for Edenbrooke has been bumped up from April to the beginning of March. So we're down to about seven weeks until it hits the shelves! I simply can't wait. As we get closer to the release, I'll be announcing stuff like a launch party and book signings and I will also show you the amazing book trailer for it. Should we make a paper chain and count down together? I don't know if I can stand it--I'm just so excited!!

So here's my question for you: what day of the week would be the best evening for a launch party?

England Part 2

My big Christmas present to myself was a ticket to England.

That's right. You heard me. I'm going to England!!

I bought my ticket right before Christmas for a killer deal. It's impossible to find now. But if you're interested, Tuesday is the cheapest day to buy a flight. Anyway, I'm leaving at the end of March and I will be touring the English countryside for a week.

Some of you may be wondering why the end of March. Isn't it rather cold and unpleasant in England in March?

Well, so I've heard. But I am going to do research for my next book, and I do not want the idyllic, Garden of Eden kind of England that I enjoyed on my last tour. My next story will be set in the north, among the peaks and moors. I need windswept landscape, grey skies, and a troubled sea to fit the mood of my story.

I'll be traveling with a good friend of mine. We were college roommates and have stayed close over the years. This is like a dream come true for us to go on an adventure together across the pond. I am hoping she will be willing to drive me around. She is such a good friend, I feel I might get away with asking her for this big favor. I will feed her yummy treats as payment for her services, and I will promise not to scream at oncoming traffic.

The last time I went to England, I was so terrified just getting out of London that I had nightmares about driving every night I was there. If I hadn't had a friend along, I would have never gotten in the car each morning. I would have just camped out at the first hotel I found and tried to find something interesting to walk to. Hopefully I'll be able to take the passenger seat this time. If not, I will brave it out and come home with more harrowing stories to tell.

I have a few ideas of some places I would like to see. Like these:






Who else has been to England? What did you love seeing? Any recommendations??

Book Review: The Winter Sea

I spent the free hours of the holiday season savoring The Winter Sea, by Susanna Kearsley. Here's the back cover blurb:

"History has all but forgotten...In the spring of 1708, an invading Jacobite fleet of French and Scottish soldiers nearly succeeded in landing the exiled James Stewart in Scotland to reclaim his crown. Now, Carrie McClelland hopes to turn that story into her next bestselling novel. Settling herself in the shadow of Slains Castle, she creates a heroine named for one of her own ancestors and starts to write. But when she discovers her novel is more fact than fiction, Carrie wonders if she might be dealing with ancestral memory, making her the only living person who knows the truth--the ultimate betrayal--that happened all those years ago, and that knowledge comes very close to destroying her..."


What I liked: It's very well-written. I felt shivery and wind-blown while reading it, and I have a real ache to see Scotland for myself now. It gives history buffs lots of good stuff to dig into. I didn't know anything about the Jacobite invasion of 1708 before I picked this up. And now I know a lot. The romance is clean but moving. These are no flings you're reading about, but loves of a lifetime. 
What I didn't like: Personally, I both liked and disliked the alternating narratives. The book is set up so that you get a chapter of Carrie the writer and her romance in modern-day Scotland. Then after a chapter or so, you switch to Sophia, the main character she's writing about, in old Scotland, with her own romance. I liked both stories, but I spent most of the book frustrated that I couldn't get more of one--either one. 
Over all, I thought reading The Winter Sea was a great way to spend a wintery day. 

Bring Us Some Figgy Pudding

Did you know that back in the 17th century Christmas puddings were outlawed in England? Evidently the Puritans objected to them, claiming that the dried fruits and spices lent themselves to too much happiness. And, you know, Puritans were the ultimate Happiness Police. No one should be having a good time on their watch.

Despite the law, though, Christmas puddings persisted across the pond. (Gotta love those rebellious English!) Today the most we ever hear of Christmas puddings is in the song "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." My kids were singing the chorus today. "Bring us some figgy pudding, oh bring us some figgy pudding...what is figgy pudding?"

Good question. I looked it up, and discovered it's more like a dense cake with sauce than the type of pudding we generally think of. In other words, you're not going to find it in a box of instant pudding in your local grocery store. But it also reminded me of a Christmas pudding my grandma used to make. She used apples, potatoes, and raisins, and cooked it inside of an old shortening can. I'm sure there were more sophisticated ways to cook it, but she was a farmer's wife and she used what was on hand.

I found a video demonstrating how to make figgy pudding, and I am seriously tempted to try it. It looks like you need to start it at least a day in advance. But if you're interested, check it out! This might be the year of a new Christmas tradition. (By the way, if you're anything like me, you might think, "Wow. They didn't even wipe down the stove before they filmed this video." But I'm trying to get past that and just appreciate the tutorial.)





I hope you have a festive and very merry Christmas! And if you make this figgy pudding, tell me about it!

A Confession

Last week we talked about Mr. Darcy being the Mr. Right of many women's dreams. But here's my confession: I have long loved Mr. Knightley better than Mr. Darcy. I love that he has always been Emma's friend. I love how he makes her better than she would be on her own. When I was single, and either had a bad date or stayed at home with no date, I watched Emma, featuring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam. I loved the clothes, the hair, the sets, the accents, the great acting, the music. It was beautiful and it made me happy.
Now with the new version of Emma with Johnny Lee Miller and Romola Garai, I love Emma even more. 

If you haven't watched this movie, block out four hours of time without any children or men around (but girls are welcome!) and sit back and enjoy. It is one of my top five favorite movies of all time. 
Have you seen this version of Emma yet? Which version do you favor?