Coffee with Sia features my little snippet - The Lord of Misrule - all day today and tomorrow!

THIRTY TWO DAYS TO GO!!!!!!!!!
Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

My workspace. I have my Chicago Art Institute posters, my picture from my brother he bought from a garage sale of two little kids (looking like us a million years ago), the painting a friend of mine did of Our lady of Guadalupe, the signed letter from Deb Werksman telling me Sourcebook was publishing Darcy and Fitzwilliam and - my Jane Austen Action Figure!!!!

I have set up three book signings for next year - I can't believe this. On February 19 we'll be at the Savannah book fair signing books with another Austen Author - Regina Jeffers!!!

On April 9 we'll be in Fresno, California signing books at a JASNA convention with the great Kahuna of Austen Authors (one of them at least) Sharon Lathan. Not too shabby!!!

On March 19 I will be on my own signing books at Books-a-Million in Bradenton. At least people will show up for two of these events. I have never even been to a book signing - I have no idea what goes on, what I should write, if I should try to bribe people into buying the books, what???

If no one shows up or they bump into the table without even seeing me I will cry. Or I will punch them out.


here are two new videos. Two of my favorites.

Baby Beyonce




Kiri Te Kanawa

Merry Christmas

I wonder if next year we could start a movement that would change the holiday completely. Instead of the hours spent shopping for gifts, writing cards, baking cookies, use the time to help out at a homeless shelter, or food pantry. And all that money saved - give to the poor, help the elderly. What a better world we would have, such a good lesson for our children. We don't really need the extra scarf, and we can buy our own gadgets. Help someone who is struggling to survive instead. We complain every year about the commercialization of this holy day - well do something about it! Your kids can live without yet another toy. Spend time with them instead.

And you know, another thing, everyone should smile once in a while. And why is everyone so mad at each other, why are we allowing a handful of television and radio people influence our opinions so much? Why are we so cruel to each other, over and over again, when we are all the same. It makes no sense to me. No sense.

The last week of Advent

Let's spend the next week remembering the true reason for the season, the gift that keeps on giving, the Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings...

the baby...the man...our Lord

One week to go!

One week to go until the big day!!!

Christmas Pudding Recipe form Austen Authors!

Dancing of Period Drama

I love the costumes and the dancing of these period dramas. Thank you all for participating in Jane's Birthday Party. Enjoy.

Two of my most favorite actors. I love to watch Oliver Platt! Interviewed for the great movie Frost/Nixon

Happy Birthday, Jane

My dearest Miss Austen,

Felicitations upon the anniversary of your birth, dearest one, and the joy of the day to you. Might one inquire as to your true age, or would such impudence provoke a sound tongue lashing? What's that? Whisper in my ear.

Oh, good heavens, you are quite advanced in years, aren't you? No need for ruffled feathers, it was just a passing comment. However, you may consider being seated for the remainder of these blogs. Oh! I shouldn't bother yourself with that horrid word, dearest. "Blogs" - vapid word that it is I believe that it will, hopefully, pass quickly from use. Pardon me, Jane? Yes that is true, you are quite correct there - in all likelihood another, even more disgusting term will arise in it's place; that's the way of the world in which we now live.

Do stop laughing at me, Jane. I realize you do not actually reside in this world in that sense, in the "above ground" sense, however, as you can see, quite a few of us love to pretend that you do.

And never say that it was I who initiated this birthday blogging business (nefarious words, all of them). No, Jane, I was contacted by a comely woman of the continent, possessing both breeding and character, a Maria Grazia by name, a lady by deportment and an aristocrat, I am certain, by birth. Far be it from me to carry tales. However. This Signora Grazia is providing details regarding your - oh, how shall I say this kindly - advanced years - to everyone, not only to the villages and pleasant towns with which you are familiar; but, she has also taken it upon herself to divulge this natal nonsense to the global community, Jane.

One wonders what grudge she may have against you, but I digress.

My sincerest wish was only to thank you, Jane dear, for your writing, your humor and your very existence. We learned your true nature through your writings; we believe we know you through the characters you created. The bright, witty Lizzy Bennet quick to anger but ready to ask forgiveness. The brave Elinor Dashwood who appeared self sufficient, cold and indifferent to her sister's eyes but who loved deeply in silence. The well meaning but hopelessly self involved Emma Woodhouse. The steadfast Anne Elliott who lost her love through weak submission to her family only to find him again in maturity. Catherine Morland who allows her imagination to run away with her. The unexceptional Fanny Price, timid and shy, who travels her own emotional road to maturity.

And, of course, thank you for the wonderful men, Jane. Ah, the men! They have brought romance to our souls and a smile to our lips. It was through these gentlemen and ladies that we discovered the true you, Jane. They are, each in their own way, like you - gifted and flawed and terribly funny.

Happy Birthday, Jane! Merry Christmas, everyone!

Karen V. Wasylowski

December 16, Jane Austen Birthday Blog Schedule

It wouldn't be fair to neglect someone as important and dear to us as Jane Austen on her birthday. She was born on 16th December 1775, it’ll be 235 years next week . We owe so many immensely pleasant moments to her that we decided she deserved a great B-day celebration. My Jane Austen Book Club and other bloggers and Austen dedicated writers are going to have a blog party in her honour. You are all invited to join us on our “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANE!” event next Thursday December 16th. Who will be there? Where is the party going on?
1. Adriana Zardini at Jane Austen Sociedad do Brasil (http://janeaustenclub.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-birthday-jane-participe-dos.html)
2. Laurel Ann at Austenprose (http://austenprose.com/2010/12/16/happy-birthday-jane-austen-blog-tour-a-celebration-of-her-legacy-her-juvenilia/)
3. Vic Sanborn at Jane Austen World (http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/baby-jane-austens-first-two-yearshappy-235th-birthday-jane/)
4. Katherine Cox at November’s Autumn (http://novembersautumn.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/how-jane-austen-has-enriched-my-life/)
5. Karen Wasylowski at http://www.karenwasylowski.com/ happy-birthday-jane.html
6. Laurie Viera Rigler at Jane Austen Addict Blog (http://blog.janeaustenaddict.com/2010/12/happy-235th-miss-austen-lots-of-giveaways.html)
7. Lynn Shepherd at her blog (http://www.lynn-shepherd.com/blog/happy-birthday-jane-austen/
S at Reading, Writing, Working, Playing ( http://janegs.blogspot.com/2010/12/celebrating-austens-235th-birthday.html)
9. Jane Odiwe at Jane Austen Sequels (http://janeaustensequels.blogspot.com/2010/12/jane-austens-birthday-event.html)
10. Alexa Adams at First Impressions (http://alexaadams.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-birthday-jane-austen.html)
11. Regina Jeffers at her blog (http://reginajeffers.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/happy-birthday-jane-austen-16-december-1775/
ss.com/2010/12/16/i=sat=next-to-jane-austen-at-her-birthday-lunch/)
13. Janet Mullany at Risky Regency (http://riskyregencies.blogspot.com/2010/12/here-was-woman-about-year-1800-writing.html)
14. Maria Grazia at My Jane Austen Book Club (http://thesecretunderstandingofthehearts.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-birthday-jane-blog-tour-and.html)
(http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com/2010/12/happy-birthday-jane-austen.html

butes to Jane Austen on all these blogs on December 16th with the HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANE logo created by Adriana Zardini (JASBRA) just for the occasion. Lovely, isn’t it? Visit all the blogs on December 16th and leave your comments + e-mail address to have lots of chances to win one of the wonderful gifts we are giving away:
Books - 1 signed copy of…

1. Willoughby’s Return by Jane Odiwe
2. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
3. Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
4. Murder at Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd
5. Intimations of Austen by Jane Greensmith
6. Darcy's Passions: Fitzwilliam Darcy's Story by Regina Jeffers
7. First Impressions. A Tale of Less Pride and Prejudice by Alexa Adams
8. Jane and the Damned by Janet Mullany
9. Bespelling Jane Austen by Janet Mullany

Other gifts:
1. Austen bag offered by Karen Wasylowski
2. DVD Pride & Prejudice 2005 offered by Regina Jeffers
3. package of Bingley's Tea. (flavor "Marianne's Wild Abandon" ) offered by Cindy Jones
4. DVD Jane Austen in Manhattan offered by Maria Grazia
5. 3 issues of Jane Austen Regency World offered by Maria Grazia
Giveaways will end on the 23rd . Winners will be announced on My Jane Austen Book Club.

Slovakia's Got Talent

Austen Authors

My next article with Austen Authors will be Tuesday, December 14. It's a trip down memory lane for me, remembering some of my Christmas's when I was little, especially the great food my mom would make. The most memorable toy I had was a doll - a Revelon doll, very popular as I recall at that time. I thought it would be really funny to draw a mustache and glasses on her Christmas night. She was so beautiful too. I used magic marker. Oh well...

Just some pictures I never got to use in the video. I love the one of Lennon and McCartney, and who doesn't love Paul Newman and Robert Redford? And how wonderful would the first Pride and Prejudice movie have been if Olivier was paired with Vivian Leigh instead of the ancient looking Greer Garson?

Jane Austen's Birthday Party

December 15 is Jane's 235th birthday and we are all going to celebrate with a joing Jane Austen love in. She has brought so much joy and laughter into the world that she deserves a bit of a fuss. Hold the day.