Following Austen

Publishers Weekly article

A Walk with Jane was featured in an article in Pubishers Weekly's Religion BookLine email newsletter yesterday:

New Spiritual Memoir Follows Favorite Author

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a publisher in possession of a good frontlist must be in want of a book on Jane Austen. 

Or so it would seem this year, when a wave of Austen books and films promises to keep literary fans happy. Alongside book club darlings like Laurie Viera Rigler's Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (Dutton, Aug.) come two 2007 Austen-themed films and, next year, Masterpiece Theater's ambitious plan to air television adaptations of all six Austen novels. Pass the crumpets, please. (...)

Booksigning pics

Booksigning last night was fantastic.  Thanks to all who came out -- what a fabulous little celebration -- and to all who sent good thoughts and prayers my way.  It meant so much to have family and friends there.  We had a standing-room-only crowd, and sold every available copy!

A few of my favorite pics...

 

 

Booksigning tonight - Tysons Corner, VA

Just a reminder that I'll be reading and signing books tonight at the Borders in Tysons Corner, VA at 7:30.  If you're in the DC area, I'd love to see you.  More info here.

How (not) to get a man

Interesting article on dating sent to me by my friend Angie Kiesling.

"This is not a numbers game. It's a soul search."

Great perspective. 

We have a winner!

The Jane Austen Icon contest at Jane Austen Today wrapped up this weekend.  Jane V. won in a tight race with her Two Mr. Darcys.  She'll receive a signed copy of A Walk with Jane Austen.

Lana, whose brother helped her with Jane by candlelight came in a close second.

It was so fun to see all the entries -- many thanks to Ms. Place for running the contest!

Celebration

My dear friends Catherine and Mark got engaged a month ago today.  Whoo-hoo!

All of us who know them wish them joy, and "Wuv... twoo wuv..." which they already have in abundance.

Bigg-Wither

I heard last week from Blair Rogers, a descendant of Harris Bigg-Wither.  (Harris was a close family friend of the Austens.  He proposed one night when Jane and Cassandra were visiting.  She accepted, then apparently stayed up much of the night reconsidering, and withdrew her consent in the morning.)  Blair said...

Personally I'm very pleased that Jane Austen had second thoughts following the proposal in 1802.  If she had gone through with it - I would not be here today.

Harris Bigg-Wither is my 4th Great Grandfather and despite being declined our family hold him with respectful thoughts.

I have to say, although this story fascinates me, I think both Jane and Harris would wonder about it being talked about so many years later. 

Blair runs a web site with family history info at www.bigg-wither.com.

On the West Coast

A flurry of posts today.  Last week my girl Bess had a rough week -- first just not wanting to sleep at night, then sick all night, then spayed.  <sigh.>  She's beginning to wag her tail again.

Laurel sent me this great pic from a Barnes & Noble near Seattle -- fantastic!  A Walk with Jane actually IS on the West Coast!

Also, check out Laurel's lovely new blog, Austenprose, a celebration of Austen's writing.  The word for today is alloy.

Icon contest: vote for your favorites!

Vote for your favorite icon over at Jane Austen Today.  You have until Monday to vote.  It was very difficult to choose finalists!

AustenBlog review

Review at AustenBlog today!

A mix of travelogue, private journal and biography of Jane Austen, A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love & Faith is the record of a single Janeite who travels to England to meander through the countryside in Jane Austen’s footsteps. She’s not looking for love necessarily, but how appropriate would it be if it just so happened to occur while shadowing the important places of the woman who has written the most celebrated love stories of the past 200 years? . . .

Smith deftly mixes biographical information about Austen throughout the book and you do begin to see how her life parallels Austen’s in subtle ways.

Read the whole thing here.