Friends know that one of my favorite sayings when I am overloaded with work is that “I am juggling chainsaws.” Now I feel that “machetes and lit torches” need to be added to the menu.
I will set aside that I am deep in Act Two of my next #InspiredByAusten book. Act Three is screaming at me, but I am a sequential writer. Need to get Act Two done before I dive into Three. That said (see below) I am going to offer participants a slice of the book on Saturday, November 12.
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The past month has seen me coordinating the Works-In-Progress sessions for the JAFF Writer/Reader Get-together (November 11-13 0n Zoom). Having found a raft of author volunteers ready to share their work with folks who enjoy #Austenesque fiction was not terribly daunting. The genre is full of active writers with exciting and new ideas. I found twenty-four who are ready with new work (I added myself in to give us three sessions of 10/5/10). A lot of busy fun!
The above is one of my favorite images from Pride and Prejudice adaptations
of the last fifty years.
Here is the lineup:
Friday, 11/11 (6P-8P Eastern) Drawing Room Delights
Susan Andrews Camp Jane: Follies of Family
Laura Hile/Benny Fife In Want of a Wife
Stephanie Vale Darcy Family Secrets
Sue Barr Longbourn’s Angels
Melanie Rachel Disguise of Every Sort
Maria Grace /Benny Fife Miss Georgiana and the Dragon
GL Robinson Author A Marriage is Arranged
Gail Hildebrand Black as Hell, Dark as Night
Jennifer Joy Dangerous When Wet
Leigh Dreyer Calm Waters
Saturday 11/12 (3P-4P Eastern) A Walk Up Oakham Mount
MJ Stratton Mr. Wickham Intervenes
Kelly Miller/Cristy Hulsz (SP) Wedding Night in Bristol
Shana Anderson/Leigh Dreyer Admiral Thomas Bennet
Cherith Boardman Mistaken Premise
Don Jacobson The Sailor's Rest
Sunday 11/13 (10A-12N Eastern) Brunch with the Bennets
Elaine Jeremiah Elizabeth Bennet’s Dilemma
Barry Richman Doubt Not, Cousin
Summer Hanford Pride, Prejudice, and Planets
Sarah Courtney Another Day at Rosings
Debbie Kummoung Falling for Elizabeth Darcy
Lori Hetschel Close Quarters
Amanda Kai Not in Want of a Wife
Niki White Head and Heart
Riana Everly Death in Sensible Circumstances
Monica Fairview Best of Intentions
This is a great way for you and your fellow #Austenesque fans to enjoy over two full days of discussion about our genre. There will be panels and games in addition to these dynamic WIPs. Registration cut-off is Thursday, November 10. The cost is nominal—$12.50 US—and covers the expenses involved with setting up Zoom for worldwide coverage. Oh, the sessions will be recorded, but you may only access those if you have registered.
Registration Link
http://jaffwriterreadergettogether.org/registration/
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Now, a shameless plug.
The wonderful site for audiophiles of all things Austenesque, Pride and Prejudice Audiobooks, is running a survey (well, actually three polls because so many have been released in 2022) polling members and visitors about their sense of the top #Austenesque audiobooks released in 2022.
The final volume of the Bennet Wardrobe Series—The Grail: The Saving of Elizabeth Darcy performed by the amazing Amanda Berry—was published mid-year. As the series is sequential, listening to Grail without first engaging the previous seven volumes would be a confusing endeavor. They are available on #Audible.
Thus…I am going to make an offer to everyone who subscribes to Austenesque Thoughts (new or existing) to help you get started…
Comment below or enter a new subscription and I will send you a promo code (US or UK only) for Volume 1—The Keeper: Mary Bennet’s Extraordinary Journey—via email. That is where it gets tricky because the Substack subscription information only features an email address. We will figure it out. Many of you are on my FB friend list and can communicate via IM.
OH: If you already own early volumes of The Bennet Wardrobe and would like any other of the first seven (Henry Fitzwilliam’s War through The Pilgrim), we can work it out. Comment or email me (if you have it). I will get back to you.
There are three surveys on the Pride and Prejudice Audiobooks FB site, so scroll down to vote for your favorites.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/629252478181838
My thanks to all my faithful readers. More to come as we drive to the end of the year.