February 1, 2011

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 is the day I have waited for for sixteen months. We were in the Georgia mountains and had been searching for a cafe or library that we could get internet connection at, there was none at the ramshackle cabin we were renting. We finally found the Aviator Cafe of all places, smack in the middle of little Blairsville so I sat down and Dick went to get our coffee.

When I opened the e-mails I was confused. Deb Werksman from Soucebooks had e-mailed the a few days before and said they would publish Darcy and Fiztwilliam but it took a while for the message to sink in - and then I began to bounce up and down. She said her list was all locked in for 2010 so the first available was Spring 2011. I had no idea how very long sixteen months can be.

I am first and foremost an idiot. I go overboard with everything, this book being a perfect example. I am hyperventilating and sick to my stomach with worry. The other people at Austen Authors have a lot of books they've published, and to tell you the truth, I don't think I've read any of them. I am all obsessed with mine and mine alone. Well, tomorrow will tell. We'll get up early - thats about noon for the rest of the world - and drive to the Books-a-million in town and see if it's anywhere in the building tomorrow.

I'm supposed to be starting a blog tour today with a post on Laura's Reviews but so far nothing is posted. Great start to my illustrious career. Wish me luck please. Tomorrow is another day.

North and South

Well I don't know how long I just spent watching the entire English version of North and South. I had never heard of it before all these Austen websites, had never heard of Richard Armitage before either but I think he is as popular as Colin Firth or Matthew Macfadyen with the Austen ladies.

I am so ignorant that I expected a remake of the American North and South of seven hundred years ago staring Patrick Swayze with a bad southern accent. I dreaded watching this English version expecting even worse southern accents. I thought it was about the Civil War. Well, it wasn't.

It was very, very good but so depressing. My goodness the cotton floating everywhere and the little children scraping the floors of the factory. But the most important thing was to see Richard Armitage. After watching the entire fifteen final episodes of the Vicar of Dibley just to see her marry him it was good to see what everyone is swooning over. By the way, Keeley Hawes was in Vicar of Dibley as his sister. I hardly recognized her she looked so different. She was gorgeous, but weren't we all a few years back.

Anyway, back to Richard. He's very appealing, very masculine and has a very magnetic presence. He doesn't drive me wild though, but attraction is a very strange thing. No two people seem to see the same thing when they look at someone. All that said, I think he'd make a great Mr. Rochester. I was disappointed that he and -I already forgot the poor girls - name did not get together sooner than the last two minutes of the whole stupid series. But it was good, really good. Glad I saw it.

Adult truths

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when yourealize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'mpretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you howthe person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment atwork when you know that you just aren't going to do anythingproductive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? Idon't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asksme if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report thatI swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know notto answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday orSaturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you justnod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word theysaid?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teamup to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong,brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never getdirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times andstill not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating theircar keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tailon the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snoozebutton from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, firsttime, every time.

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

Teachers + Any Human Heart + Colin

TEACHERS...

I have long admired teachers. My brother is one, my sister-in-law also. If they hadn't loved those children they would have quit and gone into a sensible career decades ago. Just consider...

"After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:
'Let me see if I've got this right.
'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.
'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.
'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.
'You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.
'You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.
'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.


'You want me to do all this and then you tell me .... I CAN'T PRAY!"

When I was in grammar school, high school and even college we had Benedictine sisters teaching us and never appreciated them. They did all that and for no pay. Of course they could pray, which is probably why they survived - and us too.

I got a great review from Laugh, Love, Write, a neat site. I forgot if I posted this already - welcome to Florida. I'll put it here again for my pal Brenda:

www.laughlovewrite.org/?p=831

COLIN...

Now for my buddy Lucy:

Richard Armitage

I know there are quite a few who love this man. Richard Armitage plays the man who marries the Vicar of Dibley in the last episode. I watch this series whenever I can but had never seen this far into the series. I wonder how long it was on? Dawn French looks younger here compared to her on Lark Rise to Candleford. I was just about to crawl to bed when I spotted that someone posted this on FB so i started to watch. An hour and a half later I had to turn it off.




This is very long - several videos but it is very adorable, Richard Armitage is so sweet, nothing like MI5. I can see what all the fuss is about now. She is wonderful singing "it should have been me."

One of my favorite TV series was Absolutely Fabulous with Pats and Eddie and the bitch daughter.

I had watched the old North and South with Patrick Swayze and it was all right, nothing special I thought. Now I will have to watch the Armitage North and South. I like him better without the MI5 persona.

Book Signings Coming UP

I wonder if I was too eager to sign up for these books signings. We are going to Savannah for our very first book signing. My sister in all but fact, Fay I shall not reveal her name again, is flying in for the Friday night Barnes and Nobel. There will be media there I am certain and the lines will be out the door - for Regina Jeffers. Now I look on the net for book signings and find out they don't do much for sales, but they do get your name out there I suppose.

I was told I should buy bookmarks or business cards so I ordered cards over the internet and they were pathetic - little things that were illegible. Besides, why do I need those? I only have one little book out there, I don't have a dozen more on my website to sell so why direct people there. Maybe I should use the money for the cards and the bookmarks for newspaper ads. USA Today or something. Give me ideas people, we are in this together. Help, I am an accountant. I am out of my depth here.

I received ten free copies of the book and my brother wants one. I'll give him a good deal of course...

Downton Abbey was a bit disappointing last night I thought. It did nothing to move the story along. Bates and Anna are still gaping at each other, Matthew and Mary can't seem to get it together and the chauffeur was pressing his nose against the window gazing at the youngest - what's her name, Sybil? We want more action. My Deepok Shamoods or whatever his name was. I love this show.

Here is my fate...

I look a little like him too.

Downton Abbey - Episode Three

Well, we are all waiting for this evening and Downton Abbey. Even the Bears/Packer game pales in comparison. As I mentioned before I have a friend who set up Dan Stevens facebook page and contacts him frequently. He seems a very nice guy and very funny. Taking all this hooply in stride. He has gorgeous eyes too so that's a plus for him. Tonight we see how much more awkward Bates and the maid can get with each other, hopefully another man won't die inconveniently in Mary's bed (I think that's her name) and Hugh Bonneville will get more screen time. I am so old that Hugh Bonneville is cuter to me than Dan Stevens. Life is unfair and then you go on. With a cane.

For Pat...




Incredibly, this video has gotten over one million hits, most of them from Lucy I am certain. I must give her this once again because of all her kind words about Darcy and Fitzwilliam...



And this is just for me. The most beautiful man in the movies or on television (and my favorite Darcy)...

Blog DJ

I love Youtube as you can tell, every day it's been fun to find videos for people to watch - if anyone has a request let me know. Think of me as your blog DJ. I am tired tonight so I'm not in the chat rooms or anything. The days are down to ten until the publication of the book, Darcy and Fitzwilliam, although a few have gotten their copies early.

On the plus side my publicist sent me questions for an interview on Jane Austen World. When I told Beth at Sourcebooks how doomed I feel about this book she told me to relax, everything will be fine. She said the lady at Jane Austen World had called her to do the interview with me, had read the book and LOVED IT, as Beth put it, so I'm hopeful. My oldest friend Fay Goldblatt in Chicago called me laughing her head off over one of the scenes today. Last night she called me crying over one of the scenes. Doesn't get better than that.

Here is a video strictly for my buddy Lucy. A glass of wine, and good review, and thou...

It's such a personal thing, writing. You can present whatever face to the world that you want but your writing opens your heart to people. Lucy and Jennifer, you are my new BFF and I'll remember your kind and beautiful words forever. Best of all you both got the reference at the end with "Meticulous and Libidinous". When Sourcebooks changed the name of the book to "A tale of a gentleman and an officer" from "A tale of an officer and a tale of a gentleman" I had to reword that last sentence and I wondered if people would connect the dots. They did and they did it because they are smart and beautiful. Thanks you guys, now let's party.

BIG & RICH SAVE A HORSE (RIDE A COWBOY) @ Yahoo! Video

Live Chat for Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Theater is doing a live chat with Dan Stevens on Monday, January 24. Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/index.html if you want a reminder. I have enjoyed the second episode much more than the first, probably because I am becoming more familiar with the characters. My favorites are the new valet with the limp, I already forgot his name. He's Laura's 'Par' from Lark Rise to Candleford and I love that series too. Does anyone know how many episodes are in this first series?

The actor playing the new chauffeur in DA was in Rome - had a major part as Augustus' right arm Agrippa, so, I figure he'll have a major part in this too eventually. I found this preview for him and the youngest daughter.




A dear friend of mine is such a fan of Dan Stevens that she offered to set up his Facebook page for him and she maintains it. He seems very nice, they tweet back and forth. Of course she says he tweets so much to everyone that she has to turn it off sometimes.

And now for Lucy and the Firth ladies...

The books are walking among you - beware

I have heard from several people that they've received the dreaded books. Good gravy this is scarey. One FB friend said she took it to the dinner table to glance at the Prologue and realized she was on Chapter eleven before she knew it and her dinner was cold. Best compliment I have ever received.

Colin Firth was twelve years old when this scene was filmed. Look at the hair this guy has - unbelievable. Odd thing in his old movies is that he doesn't seem to have eyebrows. He must have to color them or something. I had to answer some questions for the blog tour I am doing in February and one of the questions was:

Colin Firth or Matthew Macfadyen?

Funny how nothing else was needed. I answered that wars have been started with that question and that I thought they were both beautiful. I have listed the blog tour sites and dates on my website http://www.karenwasylowski.com/ and now I have to twitter.




I am beginning to hate this woman married to Colin Firth. She's giving me a complex. You say she has a doctorate and a line of products and other things going on. Can't settle on a career can she. Pretty shallow. Just kidding. I hate her. Lucy should have ended up with Colin, we all know this.

I love watching Matthew in this movie, he is such a rat. The Way We Live Now. He is such an amazing actor. His expressions are priceless and he plays drunk better than anyone.



I hope you all like the book. All ten of you. No one is allowed to quit this blog so don't try it. Now the book is very thick, but the original was nearly twice and long. My editor told me I was rambling and she was right. OMG this horrible, this waiting.

Death at a funeral, Emma Thompson

Well, some people have received their books in the mail by now. I got a message on facebook from someone who said she thought she'd check out the Prologue at the dinner table and was at Chapter 11 before she realized it - her supper got cold. I don't think I could have a better compliment. I get ten free copies, four of which are promised to family and friends and the others I better keep for all these give aways that seem to take place.

I love this next video of Emma Thompson accepting the Golden Globe for writing the screenplay for Sense and Sensibility. I like her tremendously and her mother too. That was a wonderful movie, but I wish it had been done with someone other than Hugh Grant. He always seemed like his shoes were too tight in that movie, or he was walking on eggs or something.

I got news of another book signing that will go along with the one at the Savannah Book Fair. This will be at the Barnes & Nobel in Savannah. Thank god for Regina Jeffers - her name is getting us these book signings. I told her I will be table serf to her.

I heard from someone that CF's wife is 43, and isn't she a producer or director or something? My god she's something else. I liked her face - really sweet and lovely. I hate her. Unless she buys my book.

And last but not least, Lucy what did you mean by the Nacho's site? Watch this video - you'll love it.

Blog Tour

I'm going to have a blog tour. My brain is too old to take these terms seriously. February 2 will be Diary of an Eccentric, February 4 is Sia McKyes Thoughts over Coffee, February 9 is Phychotic State (someone must know me personally), February 22 Luxury Reading and February 24 is Royal Reviews. They are all Austen sites, I am sure.

I just got the questions for another blog - Jane Austen World - the mothership! Good gravy I have to be careful what I say in these things. How can I admit I've never actually read Northhanger Abbey and the only thing I know from Emma is the movie version with Gwyneth Paltrow.

I better get some new clothes.

Lucy, did you like the Colin Youtube? His wife can't be more than 28. They were obviously wed when she was twelve or thirteen - they do that in Britain you know. It's kind of like Appalachia. Thank heavens I don't have many followers with the things I say. I haven't been back to the Darcylicious site since they threw me off a few months ago and I miss all of the Mathew Macfadyen pictures and news. To tell you the truth, the night before all hell broke out with me over there I had finally figured out how to get into their vault of pictures - they have some there that were provided by his family, very sweet stuff. But then I saw something that disturbed me. I saw pictures of him walking down the street with his newborn cradled in his arms and he was looking like a normal bloke with messy hair and glasses and concern and love on his face for the little one. It just seemed wrong to be seeing something so private. I suddenly felt really foolish. Then the next day I insulted the moderators over something else and was asked to leave. I'm a bad girl.

Here's my wonderful Matthew MacDarcy, once again.

Golden Globes

What a boring, boring show. I didn't know anyone under forty during that whole thing. Justin Bieber or whatever his name is looks like my friend's grandson and who would have thought Burlesque was even out. I didn't hear it had opened yet. Best presenters were Tom Hanks and Tim Allen.

Boring speeches again - why don't they forbid them to thank individuals other than family members. No one cares.

Well, the Austen ladies must be screaming by now, Colin won, and he deserved to win. He was magnificent in that role. Hubby and I went to see the Black Swan today and maybe there was too much hype for me before hand because I was not that blown away. It is a long nightmare with a sort of ending but no real beginning. That's why I don't like movies too much anymore; I like a beginning, a middle and an end. That's what I'm used to I guess. Natalie Portman was very good in the film - they will probably both win oscars. I like Colin but I'm not on the Colin Darcy side. His wife looks very sweet but very young and he said lovely things to her. They must be newlyweds. I'm a Matthew Mac Darcy person to be perfectly honest, but I don't like his wife, Keeley Hawes. You can't say that on any of the Darcy sites because you get booted off if you don't like her - it's strictly forbidden. She stands for photographers like Paris Hilton does. I didn't say I was a deep thinker.

The dresses were nice for the most part. I don't like Angelina Jolie so I didn't like her dress, even before I saw it, I did like Jennifer Lopez's and Hayley Barry's. It was nice to see that some of the women weighed more than others. The Glee lady is a hoot, I always like her. Sandra Bullock - OMG, what was with the hair? She looked really sad too. Nice lady, sorry about the hair remark now. Al Pacino - really don't enjoy his acting anymore. A lot of screaming and puffy cheeks - not a good look for him. He had the same hair do as Annette Benning - who knew? Robert Deniro (how do you spell his name anyway?) always like him although his movies lately are more commercial than artistic - the Fockers (a bad play on words driven into the ground) however, he is a perfect commedian. Of course, he's the best actor there is so he can do comedy. Anyone ever see him on Extras? Very good.

Next movie I have to drag DH to is The Social Network. Then we're done for the year. Your Youtube for today is Colin. But tomorrow is Matty MacDarcy again. Sorry, I can't seem to stay away...

I will pay you to look at my blog (watch for Sean Bean at the end of this)

I saw on the Market news yesterday that they are inventing a printer that will reproduce in 3D. It uses plastic jets inside instead of ink and can reproduce a solid form from an image. This is interesting, is it not? Hmmm... This may be a wonderful Christmas in 2011. I will take my little printer and steal off into the woods with my Mathew Mac dolls. Of course, there are those who would want something else. Something say a bit older, a bit more regal, a bit more colin...

It has not escaped my notice that I got back my lost follower - I am back to ten now so evidently the Firth pictures are doing the trick. Now that I am a Cancer sign instead of a Leo I must behave in a more civilized manner. Here are the new breakdowns:

Capricorn: January 20-February 16
Aquarius: February 16-March 11
Pisces: March 11-April 18
Aries: April 18-May 13
Taurus: May 13-June 21
Gemini: June 21-July 20
Cancer: July 20-August 10
Leo: August 10-September 16
Virgo: September 16-October 30
Libra: October 30-November 23
Scorpio: November 23-December 17
Sagittarius: December 17-January 20

I was going to go for 1 to 4 books in the Austen Prose Reading Challenge. I've never read a book about a fictional Jane Austen before so I may not like them. If any of you want to read with and give me your impressions I'll forward them on and then we can divvy up the gift if we get one. Plus I'll hve to consider putting you all on salary to read this blog.

And now for no apparent reason other than to look at him, a Youtube video of Sean Bean as Sharpe - a great series of books written by Bernard Cornwell recreated into a mediocre British TV series staring a gorgeous British man.

The theme was a great great song from the 1800's, an actual British Army song sung by John Tam - not so beautiful but a great folk singer. I wanted to use this song so badly for my video for Darcy and Fitzwilliam but then it would just be the Colonel's part and not Darcy, but I love this song. Absolutely love it. And isn't Sean Bean a treat and a half. He usually plays such heavies in films, then came The Lord of the Rings and he was Bromoseltzer or something. But before that he was my beloved Richard Sharpe! All my great loves are named Richard!

This is the Jane Austen Reading Challenge for 2011 featured on Austen Prose, one of the blogs I follow here.



Novels in the Series


Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor (1996)
Jane and the Man of the Cloth (1997)
Jane and the Wandering Eye (1998)
Jane and the Genius of the Place (1999)
Jane and the Stillroom Maid (2000)
Jane and the Prisoner of the Wool House (2001)
Jane and the Ghosts of Netley (2003)
Jane and His Lordship’s Legacy (2005)
Jane and the Barque of Frailty (2006)
Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron (2010)
Jane and the Canterbury Tale (2011)


Challenge Details
Time-line: The Being a Jane Austen Mystery Challenge runs January 1, through December 31, 2011.
Levels of participation: Neophyte: 1 – 4 novels, Disciple 5 – 8 novels, Aficionada 9 – 11 novels.
Enrollment: Sign up’s are open until July 01, 2011. First, select your level of participation. Second, copy the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge graphic and include it in your blog post detailing the mysteries that you will read in 2011. Third, leave a comment linking back to your blog post in the comments of this announcement post. If you do not have a blog you can still participate. Just leave your commitment to the challenge in the comments below.
Check Back Monthly: The Being a Jane Austen Mystery Challenge 2011 officially begins on Wednesday, January 12, 2010 with my review of the first mystery in the series, Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor. Check back on the 2nd Wednesday of each month for my next review in the challenge.


Your Participation: Once the challenge starts you will see a tab included at the top of Austenprose called Reading Challenges. Click on the tab and select Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge 2011. Leave a comment including the mystery that you finished and a link to your blog review. If you do not have a blog, just leave a comment about which book you finished with a brief reaction or remark. It’s that easy.


The Prizes
Oh, of course there are prizes! Author Stephanie Barron has very generously offered one signed hardcover or paperback copy of each of the novels that we will be reviewing each month here on Austenprose to be drawn from comments left with each post, and one signed paperback copy of each of the eleven novels in the series to one lucky Grand Prize Winner to be drawn from comments left at any and all of the reviews left on this blog or yours. Yes, that means that your readers who comment on your challenge reviews have a chance to win too. Winners will be announced monthly two weeks after the blog post, and Grand Prize winner will be announced on January 01, 2012. Shipment to US or Canadian address only.
Bonus Stuff: Yes, of course there is more to get happy about. Availability of each of the novels in the series is great. The books can be purchased or eBooks download at most online etailers and brick and mortar stores. Since the series is so popular, your local library should be a great resource too.


One of the delights of the series is the incredible historical detail that parallel Jane Austen’s life. To expand upon our reading journey in 2011, author Stephanie Barron will be blogging about researching and writing each of the novels as we progress through the series at her Stephanie Barron blog. What an incredible resource and motivation for your reading challenge!
So, make haste and join the challenge today. I am so looking forward to revisiting all the novels in the Being a Jane Austen Mystery series in 2011 and hope you can join in too.
Cheers,
Laurel Ann


Participants
Laurel Ann – Austenprose
Theresa – The Treehouse
Ruth – Book Talk and More
Ruchama
Karen Field
Joanne – Slice of Life
Kimberly – Reflections of a Book Addict
Bella
Kristin
Dana – Much Madness is Divinest Sense
Stephanie
Staci – Life in the Thumb Reading Challenges
Meredith – Austenesque Reviews
Katherine – November’s Autumn
Luthien84 – For the Love of Jane Austen
Joan
Wallace – Unputdownables
Lauren Cartelli – The Literary Gothamite
Brooke – Bluestocking Guide
Angie – Attentively Attentive to All Things
Jenna – Face to Face with his Heart of Mine
Mimi – I Have a Writers Blog
Susan
Amy L.
Velvet – vvb32 Reads
Kerri
Alice
Emilee Turner – Another Binkley Sister Blog
Lee Smith – Butterfly Blessings
Mags – AustenBlog
PJ – Book Reviews by PJ
Nicole – Infusions of Wit From An Everyday Girl
Valerie
Krystal
Whitney – She Is Too Fond Of Books
Angela Traubel
Katherine Keenan
Anna – Diary of an Eccentric
Andrea – Custard Kisses
M. C. – This Life for Rent
Patricia Gulley
Alice – Jane Austen is My Wonderland
Kim – Love Letters to the Library
Valerie
Kelli
C. Allyn Pierson
Jessica M. – Goodreads Bookshelf
Angie – Never a Dull Moment
Karen V. Wasylowski – Author Karen V. Wasylowski’s Blog
© 2007 – 2010 Laurel Ann Nattress, Austenprose

Seventeen days left

Day three of my blatant pandering to Lucy and now Meredith. I found this great Youtube video of Colin with David Letterman. I am liking Letterman more and more as he, and I, get older. We are both mellowing. Interesting that Colin lived in St. Louis and his mother is from Iowa or something like that. Of course Colin is his usual relaxed elegant self.

Anyway, evidently my book is being shipped earlier than expected by Amazon. Can't get rid of them fast enough - the price is dropping faster than my IQ. The Fresno book signing will take place in April in a place called The Paul New Center. I was very excited about finally being united with the first love of my life when Sharon Lathan explained that it was not THAT Paul Newman.

Lucy, the trailer I was talking about before needs major work. $3,800 worth of work. The trailer isn't even worth $3,800. However, the floor in the second bedroom is sagging and the closet floor is about to give way. This is what happens in Florida. Everything gets old.

And now, for your Firth viewing pleasure....




And for the Macfadyen viewing audience...

Eighteen days to go

Hello everyone and Lucy,

As I am now forced to pay people to look at my blog I submit this Youtube of a 2003 Colin Firth and a gushing Jon Stewart. (man crush) Colin looks very young, thin and fit, as we all did seven flipping year ago.

If you go to Austen Authors you will see two posts today for books debuting on February 1. The second one is mine. Go directly to that one and say something nice about me. Supposedly the book is being shipped out earlier than they had previously said. I am including a lot of words here so that this video does not obscure my Darcy and Fitz video to the right.

Enjoy!

Join in the Story on Austen Authors!

Austen authors is having a twitter story go round with everyone able to participate in creating. They are taking story ideas now through the end of January. I imagine this as like participating in one of those Sims games. You can take your character through your story but the next person can take the story any other way. it will be fun and unpredictable - like real life. Go to www.austenauthors.com and check out the details.

Twenty days

Twenty days to go and our attention is aimed toward putting out fires here at home. We own a vacation trailer that we rent out for the Florida season when everyone over ninety-five up north decides to come here and annoy us. I am not that much younger than them anymore and it pisses me off. Anyway, we were contacted last year by a couple, held the trailer for them until they arrived New Year's Eve. By New Year's day the nasty lady was calling, eight in the blessed a.m. to complain that the family we had rented it to during the summer left the place a mess. It was immaculate. The woman is insane.

By Tuesday the couple said they couldn't live in the trailer anymore. To be fair to them the floor is a bit wobbly (it's an old trailer but really cute. It was redone to look like a little house. For vagrants.) By happenstance they have family nearby who live in a trailer park and the trailer next to them just became available. We let them go. I would have driven them over if I could.

Now we are going to rent to a nice teacher and her son. She has a relative who can fix our floor there so that's good. The trailer looks out onto a huge field so it's not a bad place to live all in all. I'd love to move back north and use it ourselves just for the winter. One day I am hoping common sense and drugs will make my husband see the reasoning in this. Until then, I am stuck here in paradise.

Twenty days to go. And now for your Colin Firth Darcyites...

My First Review - Booklist!!!

BOOKLIST

Advanced Review – Uncorrected Proof
Issue: February 1, 2011
Darcy and Fitzwilliam.
Wasylowski, Karen V. (Author)
Feb 2011. 496 p. Sourcebooks/Landmark, paperback, $14.99. (9781402245947).

Married life is bliss. At least that is what Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam’s cousin Fitzwilliam Darcy would have him believe. But Richard has no intention of stepping into the parson’s mousetrap until he encounters America widow Amanda Penrod at one of London’s innumerous balls. Instantly smitten, Richard suddenly finds himself behaving as foolishly as Mr. Darcy did when he was courting Elizabeth Bennet. While Richard is busy struggling to navigate the unfamiliar seas of romance with Amanda, an unexpected storm in the person of Caroline Bingley threatens to stir up the formerly placid matrimonial waters of the Darcy household. While staying true to the spirit of the immortal Jane, Wasylowski does bringsome subtle changes of her own into Pride and Prejudice (including giving one of literature’s great harridans, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, a kinder, gentler personality), and her deftly written tale of family, friendship, and marriage should please most Regency readers
— John Charles

Pride and Prejudice