Over on Twitter, Austen expert, Paula Byrne, recently asked why Jane Austen serves so well as a comfort read in troubled times. Prof. Byrne's question produced many excellent answers, and I'd like to expand on my comment from that Twitter … [Read more...] about We’ll always have Darcy…
I read a book (or the curious foibles of a writer)
In any list of achievements for 2020, reading a book hardly seems worth mentioning. Especially if you're a voracious reader. As I was…right up until the day I started writing novels myself. Then, despairingly, I stopped reading (almost) … [Read more...] about I read a book (or the curious foibles of a writer)
Meeting Mrs Bennet
It seems 2019 is the year of serendipity. After some inadvertent Austen encounters in the UK, another one happened back home in Austria. I bumped into Mrs Bennet. (Otherwise known as actress Alex Kingston, who played Mrs B in 2008's Lost in … [Read more...] about Meeting Mrs Bennet
Accidental Austen journeys
Now and then, fate raises her delicate hand and gently ushers you somewhere you didn't expect to be. And so it was a few weeks ago when holidaying in the UK. It was meant to be a couple of days walking the North Downs Way in Surrey with old … [Read more...] about Accidental Austen journeys
Introducing “A Third Proposal”
Sometimes all it takes is a few pages to tell a story. And so it is with A Third Proposal, a vignette from the life of Mr Bennet as he returns to Meryton from a trip to London. All is not well at Longbourn and Netherfield. But who's to blame? And … [Read more...] about Introducing “A Third Proposal”
Season’s greetings
The snow outside my window tells me the end of the year is close here in Vienna. Which means it's time for me to wish everyone the very best for the holiday season and the coming year. I hope your 2019 is filled with good books and entertaining … [Read more...] about Season’s greetings