Taking Stock…

So much has happened since HEYERWOOD: A Novel was released. Now that we are in a new year, I decided it was time to take stock. There are several things I plan to do differently when my next novel is ready to publish!

1. Ask more questions! At every level of the process, there were so many questions I should have asked. Looking back, I see areas where I should have asked for more information; now that I recognize them, I think that my next effort will work more smoothly.

2. More eyes! Although I did get some help with proofreading and editing, next time I will have a professional help me with this. Spellcheck? Not much use, frankly.

3. Have a marketing plan in place. As a writer, I did not want to think about the business end, and managed to avoid it until after the book was released. Like it or not, whether you publish traditionally or self-publish, the author has to think about this BEFORE the book is published. This is an area that I am still learning (and my learning curve is bigger than I wish it were!), but I will be much better prepared to introduce my next book!

All in all, my experience has been a good one, made so especially by the encouragement, support and kindness shown by people who have read my book. I have much for which to be grateful, and I am.

Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft: Did Jane Read A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN?

     Mary Wollstonecraft was born 4/27/1759. Because of an abusive father and her family being in poor financial straits, she worked as a companion and a governess (her experiences as a governess were highly influential on future writings).  She also started a school with a friend, and worked as a reader and translator, and was a published author, providing financial support for her family. She reported on the French Revolution. Mary was obviously affected by the ideas of the era-rights of man, questions regarding the morality of slavery etc. A pamphlet “Thoughts on the Education of Daughters” published in 1787 argued against many of the accepted theories and practices of raising and educating girls, and is the forerunner of her book A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN, published in 1792. In this book, she protested the false life (“the doll’s life”*) approved for the women of her age. She felt that, as human beings, women were rational, should have the same rights as men, and should be allowed to take up the work for which each was best qualified, whether solely domestic or not. She considered neglected education to be the source of misery, with women rendered weak and wretched, resulting in a puppet like situation with women being pretty to look at, vain and helpless, with no other object than to gratify the whims and passions of men. She did not want to change the order of things and acknowledged men’s characters, superior physical strength, etc. Her viewpoint was that there was no reason to conclude that men’s virtues were superior to women’s virtues, and that both would benefit by better education and improved characters. (She made the interesting point that, if men were really concerned about the morals and virtues of their wives, daughters and sisters, they should improve their own morals and strengthen their own characters first-a virtuous, loving husband being far less likely to have an unfaithful, immoral wife!)
     Mary Wollstonecraft lived a highly unconventional life-she lived with Captain Gilbert Imlay, an American army officer in France, with whom she had a child. They were not married though she presented herself as his wife, and she would not give him up until she had no choice (they were not living together, he was unfaithful and indifferent). After two suicide attempts, she went back to her literary life, and formed a relationship with William Godwin, whom she married when she became pregnant again (with her daughter Mary Godwin who became a writer-FRANKENSTEIN, born 8/30/1797). She died 9/10/1797 from complications resulting from childbirth. Mr. Godwin’s subsequent biography of his wife, which included a frank discussion of her unconventional ideas and relationship issues, was published in 1798 and succeeded in ruining her reputation.
     Mary’s experiences as a governess in the household of an Irish noblewoman led to her view of the current “false system of education”* which was designed to make women “alluring mistresses”* rather than affectionate wives and rational mothers. She said that the minds of women were enfeebled by false refinement, resulting in women being treated as subordinate beings. She also condemned the education of rich ladies as tending to “render them vain and helpless, and the unfolding mind is not strengthened by the practice of those duties which dignify the human character.”* The focus of women’s education was for them to become “pleasing” instead of functional partners. “When the husband ceases to be a lover, and the time will inevitably come, her desire of pleasing will then grow languid, or become a spring of bitterness; and love, perhaps, the most evanescent of all passions, gives way to jealousy or vanity.”
     Did Jane Austen read A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN ? I contacted Jane Austen’s House and Museum, Bath Central Library, Jane Austen Centre, and Chawton House Library.  No catalog of Rev. George Austen’s library is known to exist. (Jane Austen’s House and Museum does have a copy of the inventory of the contents of the Steventon Rectory but no catalog of his books.) The Bath Central Library indicated that VINDICATION was on the catalog for Marshalls Circulating Library on Milsom Street dated 1808; it is the only one they have in Jane’s time frame. Since VINDICATION was published in 1792 and was a well-known work, this argues that the book was probably available via a circulating library when Jane Austen lived in Bath, or visited in London or other cities.
     Jane is known to have had a copy of HERMSPRONG, or man as he is not by Robert Bage (philosophically, Mr Bage embraced the idea of the superiority of the “natural man”, considered women the equal of man and supported women’s rights, and was known to have had a high regard for Mary Wollstonecraft; these ideals are demonstrated by the story in HERMSPRONG)/ Jane’s copy is in the Huntington Library (her signature in all 4 volumes). This would argue a mind open to the ideas expressed in VINDICATION. There is also a theory that Jane would not necessarily referred to Mary Wollstonecraft’s work or influence, due to Mary’s unconventional morals and lifestyle (see Claire Tomalin and Miriam Ascarelli).
     It is clear that Jane Austen was exposed to and affected by Mary Wollstonecraft’s A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN. As previously quoted, “…to make them alluring mistresses than affectionate wives and rational mothers”- Mrs. Bennet and Lydia Wickham in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE are clear illustrations of this. When we re-read the passage “When the husband ceases to be a lover…” , we see that the marriages of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and Charles and Mary Musgrove in PERSUASION, and Jane’s comments on them, are superb illustrations of the unequal marriage. The marriage of Admiral and Mrs. Croft in PERSUASION, especially where Mrs. Croft refers to women as “rational beings”, and the discussion of their unorthodox style of driving (he holding the reins, while she puts out a hand to correct his steering) as a metaphor for their marriage, is a clear illustration of what a marriage should be, according to the ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft. The characters of Lady Catherine DeBurgh, Elizabeth Eliot and Miss Bingley, reflecting their vanity, and minds not strengthened by performance of duties and activities, are also very illustrative of Ms. Wollstonecraft’s ideas. In SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, the discussion between John Dashwood and his wife resulting in him doing little for his sisters parallels an example in VINDICATION. Also worthy of note is the relationship of Mrs. Jennings’ daughter and her husband: she is empty headed, and he is surly because he can’t give her back, according to Mrs. Jennings (another example of an intelligent man caught in an unequal marriage.)
     That Mary Wollstonecraft’s work was known to Jane Austen is not a point of serious debate that I can find. However, I find it striking that there are so many illustrations in Jane Austen’s novels that support points raised by Ms. Wollstonecraft, indeed are almost direct references to A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN. I think it is very clear that Jane was profoundly influenced by Ms. Wollstonecraft’s work, and, using her light touch and subtle humor, highlighted the issues Ms. Wollstonecraft raised. While she could not very well have acknowledged this influence at the time she published, Ms. Wollstonecraft’s reputation being what it was, I think Jane Austen clearly carried Ms. Wollstonecraft’s ideas regarding the education of women, and a higher concept of marriage, forward.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books:                                                                                                                                                        Austen, Jane.  PERSUASION, from The Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen NORTHANGER ABBEY AND PERSUASION.3rd edition.  Oxford University Press. Reprinted 1988.  Oxford: Oxford University Press.                                     Bage, Robert. HERMSPRONG, or man as he is not. Originally published 1795. Edition used: The Folio Society, London 1960.
Ivins, Holly. THE JANE AUSTEN POCKET BIBLE. Richmond, Surrey, England: Crimson Publishing, 2010.
Ray, Joan Klingel, PhD. JANE AUSTEN FOR DUMMIES. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing, Inc. 2006.
Tomalin, Claire. JANE AUSTEN: A Life. Edition used: Vintage Books Edition, May 1999, New York NY.
Wollstonecraft, Mary. A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN. Originally published 1792. Edition used: Introduction by Elizabeth Robins Pennell, London: Walter Scott 1891.

On-line Articles:
“Jane Austen”-Brandeis University; http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/austenbio.html
“More Views of Jane Austen”. Smith, George Barnett.http://www.mollands.net/etexts/other/gbsmith.html
“Mary Wollstonecraft”. Biography Resource Center. http://galenet.galegroup.com
“A Feminist Connection: Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft.” Ascarelli, Miriam. Persuasions On-Line V 25 No 1 (JASNA)
“Feminism In Jane Austen”. Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice–Notes on Education, Marriage, Status of Women, Etc. Republic of Pemberly. http:www.pemberly.com/Jane info/pptopic2.html
“’Hermsprong or man as he is not’ Robert Bage”. Perkins, Pam. University of Manitoba. The Literacy Encyclopedia. http://www.litencyc.com

JASNA 2004 AGM-Huntington Library information

Happy New Year!

It’s amazing – 2012 is here already! As I’ve remarked before, time goes by so quickly. I wish everyone a joyous and blessed new year. Instead of making resolutions, I’ve been reviewing my daily activities, and deciding where to make the adjustments needed to move forward. Let’s face it, we all know what we need to do. We don’t need to make resolutions; just take the daily action steps to get things done! I’m trying not to look at too many “big pictures”; just figure out the steps I need to take to continue the journey, build on past successes and learn from the mistakes and failures. (I find that, sometimes, focussing too much on the goal can be overwhelming; it’s easier to view the process as a journey, and focus on the steps needed to reach the destination.)

I got some more work done on the new (as yet unnamed) novel. It is moving slowly; my plot took a turn I didn’t plan, and is requiring more research into a new area. However, it IS moving forward, and I am pleased with it so far, as a first draft. As it progresses, I will keep you posted!

News Flash!

I’ve been contributing to the English Historical Fiction Authors blog, a collaboration of a number of authors who write historical fiction set in England. Many talented authors have written some outstanding articles, and it’s an honor to be affiliated with the blog. I’m very pleased to announce that this week’s giveaway at the blog is HEYERWOOD: A Novel. Please visit and leave a comment for a chance to win! Here’s a link: http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html?spref=fb   (Please copy and paste if you have difficulty clicking.)  While you are there, be sure to read Maggi Andersen’s article The Lost Houses of England.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

     The tree is up, and (if I say so myself) looks lovely.  The mound of boxes has been weeded, and two enormous bags of trash put out to disappear.  There is one small bag going to Goodwill as well.  While I was not as ruthless as I had hoped, I did at least pare it down significantly, and have new sturdy boxes to pack things away at Epiphany.  (The tree stays up for the 12 days of Christmas.)

     The tin trunk is the last hurdle!  I found the key last night.  Who knows what mysterious treasures remain?  My husband has not brought it down from the attic for several years now-it’s so heavy, and I can never remember what is in it so would tell him I didn’t need it.   Do you think the lid will creak when I finally get it opened?    More in the next installment!

‘Tis The Season…

     I don’t rush into decorating for Christmas.  For one thing, I want to enjoy Thanksgiving.  It seems a shame to leap straight into shopping and decorating for Christmas before one has even had time to digest one’s dinner, never mind contemplate one’s blessings.  Secondly, I like to leave my decorations up for the full 12 days of Christmas.  I enjoy them more if I save them for the actual Christmas time.

     This year, decorating is going to be a bit more leisurely.  Now that almost all of the boxes are down from the attic, I’m going to go through them as I put up the decorations and get rid of the ones that I no longer use.  As an unabashed sentimentalist (I even cry at commercials, sometimes!), I have a tendency to hold onto things that were gifts or have memories tied to people I love.  At this point, I have ornaments going back to childhood.  Some have got to go.  I know that this will make decorating a bitter-sweet event this year, but it is time to purge. 

     Does everyone have boxes full of chipped, cracked, slightly crushed  items that one just can’t bring oneself to throw away?  I have held on to way too many items, because the occasion or the giver is a cherished memory.  I’ve finally had time to realize that one doesn’t need the object to retain the essence.  I’ve decided that this is the year that I need to put some of these worn-out items to rest.  Will it be a clean sweep?  Of course not!  (I know myself too well to have unrealistic expectations in that department, although I know my husband is hoping-he’s the one who lugs everything up and down the attic steps!)  However, I’ve already seen several items that aren’t hugely sentimental that will not make the cut, and I have hopes that this will begin a reorganization, which will continue when it’s time to take things down.  I can’t keep everything; I have to set priorities and keep the best, and let the damaged or no-longer-valued items go.  That way, I can really enjoy what I’ve kept and have room for new ones as they come.

Autumn Thoughts

It is a gorgeous morning, sunny and warm, here in Florida. However, today I am feeling fall in the air. This has been a domestic morning, with laundry and so forth. I have prepared a crockpot full of vegetable soup for dinner, full of fresh corn, squash and other wonderful vegetables, as well as my own fresh herbs. I think we’ll have some homemade garlic bread with it. Even though the temperature may say it’s still summer here, I know that it is a beautiful autumn!

Carrying on my autumnal theme, I feel a re-read of PERSUASION coming on! PERSUASION is my favorite of Jane Austen’s novels. It is her last completed novel, and it opens near the fall of the year. Her heroine, Anne Elliot, is a wonderful character. She is older than Austen’s heroine’s, and is definitely feeling that she is approaching the autumn of her life. As the book proceeds through the seasons, we watch Anne’s life unfold. It is a delightful read, especially at this time of year. Somehow I always reach for it when I first feel that fall feeling in the air!

What is your autumn reading choice?

Jane Austen and Me

It is no secret that I am a Janeite. I love Jane Austen’s writing, and am constantly inspired by her. I am not alone in this. Many, many talented authors have taken the step into writing sequels and variations on Jane Austen’s classic novels. Provoked by a recent question on one of my favorite blogs, I have followed their lead into a piece of “fan fiction.” I have written a short story (my first), posted here. Your comments would be appreciated!

The Murder of Caroline Bingley…
By Lauren Gilbert
     Miss Bingley paced the drawing room. “I must be rid of her!” she fumed to herself. “She has bewitched him, and the others follow him like sheep. With her out of the way, it would be easier to convince him that there are other, worthier consorts.” Miss Bingley had just returned from a visit to her brother Charles and his wife Jane. Of necessity, a visit had been paid to Pemberley. Observing Darcy’s felicity with that brass-faced hussy had poured salt into a wound that had never healed. Just then, her sister Mrs. Hurst entered the room. “La, Caroline, do sit down!” she exclaimed in annoyance. “Watching you prowl the room gives me a nervous headache. Whatever is troubling you now?”
     “Oh, Louisa, I am … I am … I am offended and resent the fact that that unworthy wretch has the power to affect me so.” Mrs. Hurst nodded wearily. “Ah, I see we are back to Mrs. Darcy yet again. Caroline, you must give it up. They have been married for three years, and a blind man could see how contented he is with her. Can you not see how you demean yourself? You are approaching thirty, after all, and no nearer to settling yourself than you ever have been.” Caroline looked at her sister angrily. “Demean myself? How could I demean myself more than by settling for a less eligible parti? Before Miss Eliza Bennet practiced her allurements on Mr. Darcy, he found me … attractive enough. In time…”
By now, thoroughly tired of the endless discussion of the iniquities of Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Hurst responded bluntly. “Frankly, Caroline, I saw no indication of any interest in you on Darcy’s part. He has always been polite and gracious enough to us, as sisters of his friend. I daresay, if not for Charles, we may never have formed acquaintance with Mr. Darcy and his sister at all. Don’t let the wish become fact in hindsight, my dear. ‘If only…’ are two of the most futile words. You must come to terms with reality, sister, and think of your future.” Aggravated beyond measure, Caroline flounced out of the drawing room, leaving Mrs. Hurst alone.
     Gazing absently, Louisa Hurst reflected on the situation. When Mr. Hurst agreed to allow Caroline to live with them, it was with the understanding that the arrangement would last only so long as needed for Caroline to marry and form her own establishment. Instead, Caroline had been with them for several years. Mr. Hurst had given her yet another uncomfortable reminder of the household expenses, and she had not had the fortitude to mention that several of the bills in question included purchases made by Caroline and charged to Louisa’s accounts.
     Although Louisa and Caroline had received equal settlements from their father, Caroline’s finances were in much better condition than her own, due to Caroline contributing nothing to the household and being slow to repay Louisa for her purchases. With an unladylike grimace, Louisa faced yet another unpleasant confrontation: trying to convince Caroline to reimburse Louisa for her purchases, and to set up her own accounts. Mr. Hurst had not yet mentioned the dread word “retrench”, but she feared the bare possibility, as Mr. Hurst’s idea of retrenchment involved year-round residence at their home in the country.
     In her own room, Caroline also stared out of the window, her thoughts equally unpleasant. In just a few months, she and the Hursts would be accompanying the Bingleys to Pemberley for an extended visit. The gentlemen would be hunting and fishing, leaving the ladies to entertain themselves. “More opportunity for her to flaunt her success!” steamed Caroline. “It is not to be born.” This time would be different, she determined. She was not sure how it would come to pass, but she would see her rival humbled, if not eliminated altogether. “Wait. Eliminated…” thought Caroline. Elizabeth…gone, removed, as if she had never been. But how to encompass such an elimination? Wild thoughts of hiring someone to carry Elizabeth off flitted though her mind, only to be dismissed. “Darcy would insist on trying to bring her back. Convincing Darcy that Elizabeth was a fallen woman would take too long; then, there would come the difficulties of divorce.” No, something far more permanent was needed. Caroline sat, lost in thought.
     Louisa was passing through the hall, when a servant presented her with a sealed missive. Opening it, she discovered an outrageous bill for ells of expensive lace, purchased by Caroline and charged to her account! Over one hundred pounds…for lace! Suddenly, Louise could bear no more. Feeling as if her head were going to burst, Louise ran up the stairs and rapped on Caroline’s door. When the door opened, Louisa pushed her way in so impetuously that Caroline almost fell. “What do you mean by this?” she hissed. “I have asked you repeatedly to start paying for your purchases. This is ridiculous!” Brushing her skirt exaggeratedly, Caroline sniffed and turned away. She tossed the length of lace at Louisa. “Why should I?” she asked. “My few little purchases…” “Little purchases?” replied Louisa, ominously quiet. “Over one hundred pounds for lace is no ‘little’ purchase! I will notify my purveyors that you are not authorized to charge any items on my accounts tomorrow. This is finished!” Shutting the door gently behind her, Louisa took herself into the garden, not noticing she still held the lace crumpled in her hand.
     Shrugging her shoulders, Caroline adjusted her hat just so, threw on a shawl, picked up her reticule and left the house, after waiting impatiently for the servant to open the door. She walked briskly to the apothecary shop in the shop district, and stood at the counter, studying the bottles and jars to see what useful substance might be available. Weighing the advantages of laudanum, she stood irresolutely. Just then, she was approached by an unusually-garbed woman. “May I help you, madam?” the woman asked. Caroline just stared at her, not knowing how to respond. Dropping her voice, the woman asked quietly, “Are you looking for a particular nostrum, or for … something else?” Suddenly panic-stricken, Caroline went towards the door. The woman followed her. “I know what ladies like you are looking for, madam, but you won’t find it here.” They left the shop, and walked a few squares, deep in conversation. They stood on the corner, and some money changed hands…
     Louisa could not settle. The garden suddenly felt closed in, suffocating, so she went back into the house. Using the servants’ entrance, she slipped out of the house and walked aimlessly down the street, which was mercifully deserted. As she approached the first shops, whom should she see but Caroline, standing on the corner in front of one of Louisa’s favorite shops, deep in conversation with a stranger! Giving her money! Her blood boiling, Louisa became enraged all over again. Stepping into a narrow gap between the buildings, she waited for Caroline to finish her conversation, hoping against hope that Caroline was returning home. Peeping around the corner, she saw Caroline approach. As Caroline drew near, Louisa reached out and grabbed her arm. Quick as a flash, she threw the length of lace around Caroline’s neck and pulled with all her might. Completely off balance, Caroline was unable to struggle very much, merely gasping and choking for air. “I have had enough of you,” said Louisa, conversationally. “You should never go out without your lace!” Letting Caroline fall heavily to the ground, Louisa dropped the lace contemptuously over her face, daintily dusted off her hands, and stepped back into the road.
     Still no one appeared. Louisa returned to the house, slipped back into the servants’ entrance and back out to the garden. Resuming her seat on the bench, she looked around, feeling as if she were just awakening from a heavy, nightmare-ridden sleep. Refreshed, she rose and returned to the drawing room and picked up her embroidery. When the butler brought in the tea tray, Louisa enquired casually for Caroline. “I believe Miss Bingley has gone shopping,” he said. “Young Thomas mentioned letting her out some time ago.” “Thank you,” replied Louisa. She sat tranquilly sipping her tea, enjoying the peace and quiet.
     That evening, Louisa and Mr. Hurst were preparing to sit down to dine when there came a knock on the door. The butler entered, shaken, and said, “Sir, Madam, there are some people here from the town. It seems they have found Miss Bingley!” Returning to the drawing room, Mr. Hurst was required to support his wife as the news of her unfortunate sister’s demise was broken to her. Bursting into tears, Louisa wailed, “I thought she was dining with a chance-met friend! It is not her way to notify me when she will be out…” Thomas was summoned to give the men as much information as possible about when Miss Bingley left the house, and in which direction she walked. Bowing quietly, the men left the house of mourning, to begin the investigation.
     Mr. and Mrs. Hurst were mortified to read a brief notice of the finding of Caroline’s body in the local journal two days later. The investigation continued for some days, but no useful information surfaced. The only solid clue was the length of lace with which she was strangled. After a few more days, the episode appeared to be forgotten. Mrs. Hurst noted with great satisfaction that the household accounts were in much better condition, as Mr. Hurst made no further complaint. Upon discovering that Caroline’s will divided her assets equally between herself and their brother Charles, Louisa thought of Caroline affectionately indeed.

Epilogue: A few weeks later, Louisa read a gazette printed in Derbyshire, forwarded by Charles, with great interest. It appeared that an armed man actually fired at Mrs. Darcy as she was walking in the village of Kympton! The miscreant’s aim was fortunately inaccurate, and the man was set upon by Mrs. Darcy’s footman and others. In the ensuing melee, the assailant was badly injured. It was determined that he was not from the local area. No one knew him, and he died without saying a word.

Lauren Gilbert Copyright © 2011

Happy Hallowe’en!!!

Hallowe’en was a favorite holiday where I grew up in the midwest.  One tradition of my grade school days was the telling, or reading of scary stories and spooky poetry. 

An old favorite was written by James Whitcomb Riley.  It is a regional favorite, written in a local speech/dialect pattern.  Here is a verse:

Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn’t say his prayers,-

An when he went to bed at night, away up stairs,

His Mammy heerd him holler, an’ his Daddy heerd him bawl,

An’ when they turn’t the kivvers down, he wuzn’t there at all!

An’ they seeked him in the rafter-room, an’ cubby hole, an’ press,

An’ seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an’ ever’wheres, I guess;

But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an’ roundabout;_

An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you

         Ef you

             Don’t

                 Watch

                       Out!

Read out loud around a fire outside at night, we looked twice before we scurried off to bed!

Sleep tight!

Home Again…

How does the time go so fast?  Last week flew by, at the JASNA AGM in Ft. Worth, TX.  The weather was stunning, and Ft. Worth is a beautiful city. 

This is just one of my favorite buildings viewed on a walking tour, under the beautiful blue sky of Ft. Worth.   Sites we saw included the Tarrant County Court House, the Wells Fargo building, complete with antique stage coach, and the Sid Richardson Museum which houses a wonderful collection of western art.

There was so much to do at the Annual General Meeting-so many excellent speakers, entertaining workshops, interesting people from all over.   Numerous speakers gave interesting and informative programs about Jane Austen’s writings, her time and her life.  My favorites included a Special Interest Session by Victoria Hinshaw, titled “The Sensible Regency Wedding”, and the address by Dr. Joan Klingel Ray, titled “SENSE AND SENSIBILITY as Austen’s Problem Novel.”  (The theme of the event was the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the publication of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY.)   A special guest was Andrew Davies, who adapted Jane Austen’s novels, who gave a delightful presentation.  I had the opportunity to present a breakout session, and can attest to the attention and kindness of the attendees present.

Saturday night, there was a wonderful banquet and a ball (of course!).  Both were wonderful events.   The ball following the banquet was a beautiful affair, with live music, wonderful Regency gowns, and (of course) dancing! 

Finally on Sunday morning, the Author Signing event took place.  A whole room full of authors had the opportunity to showcase their works, and to sign books for eager readers.  I was fortunate enough to bring HEYERWOOD: A Novel to that event:

It was such a treat to be able to spend time with others who share so many interests, whether Jane Austen, writing or reading!  I must confess that being allowed to sign my book was a very special thrill.  (Yes, I did manage to get a few authors’ signatures in books for myself as well!)

The entire conference was an amazing experience, one I will not forget.  I doubt that anyone who attended will argue with that!