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Happy 2026!!!!!!!

Sorry to have missed doing last month’s newsletter BUT Christmas had a lot to do with it, plus our daughter’s being here in London before returning to Harvard (she’s probably jumping into several feet of snow in Massachusetts, as I write!)

The intensity of the storm in the US reminds me of how I used, as a teen, to love snow-days in northern Virginia... How we used to gather round the radio waiting to hear those magic words: "FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED"… We lived – my mum still does – at the foot of a hill steep enough that kids brought sleds from miles around!  (Kids will be sledding there as I write… I envy them!!!)

Anyway, Austen lovers have crazy-busy lives, too busy to notice the lack of a single email!! The news from here is mostly good:

First, was DEEPLY HONOURED to be put on the top table at the Jane Austen (London Society) Christmas event, where I met the amazing Gill Hornby (who wrote MISS AUSTEN, which is a must-read, if you haven’t read it yet. The BBC production was so good that a second series is coming!)

She addressed us after the lunch, and v. entertainingly.

Was secretly thrilled to pass by South Audley Street - where I chose to have Marianne live, in my Marianne: A Sense and Sensibility Sequel, on the way home, but Berkeley Square, lit up for Christmas was prettier, so you get both!

First Giveaway!!!

Our last giveaway winner – randomly selected by Sweepwidget – has yet to claim her Jane Austen earrings, despite two reminders – but hey, Christmas/New Year is mad, so I’m allowing her another fortnight.

If she doesn't want them, will re-list them here!!!!

(But please check for an email from astmcveigh@gmail.com (if you entered the draw for the earrings, I mean!)

Now check out this giveaway: 

Classic Austen!!!! (And no prizes awarded for guessing which character said, "You have no compassion on my poor nerves!").

A perfect size at 16 inches square, this cream shopper is decorated by Regency wreath of English wildflowers, of the kind Lizzy might have made for Jane - or Jane Austen for her own sister Cassandra.

As always, I don't restrict entry to UK/USA. Enter from anywhere, and I'll get your prize to you (Sweepwidget chooses a random entry and notifies me).

Good luck!!! Alice

Click here to win
NEWSFLASH: MARIANNE IS ALL GOLD!!!! 

Since you last heard from me, MARIANNE has won more gold medals, to add to the American Writing Awards (romance), the Literary Global Book Awards (romance), the HIstorical Fiction Company (where she was also a "Book of the Year" finalist and the Coffee Pot Book awards.

In addition to a B.R.A.G. (Book Readers Appreciation Group) medallion and winning “Best in genre” (historical) in the Bookshelf Annual Book Awards 2025, she just won gold in PenCraft’s 2026 “best book in historical romance”

 

MARIANNE IS GOING TO BE A HUMAN-NARRATED AUDIOBOOK in April!!!! 

As some of you have requested, I have secured Elizabeth Grace to make a GENUINE, HUMAN, non-AI audiobook of Marianne by April!!! (As you might recall, I organised a really bad Kickstarter campaign to fund audiobooks. One kind friend wrote, kindly itemising all my newbie mistakes. Well, I could try again - thanks to my writer friend, I understand better I went astray - but, as Marianne has done soooooooo well, have just plunged in with her. (At the moment, only Susan is an audiobook.)

Elizabeth Grace, actor/narrator, is a Londoner, expressive and brilliant, and has recorded lots of JAFF. She was recommended by another writer friend AND we're even going to meet up for lunch soon, yay!!!

Funny excerpt from my MARIANNE - from Margaret Dashwood's very own first Gothic novel!

(From Margaret’s diary)

I have begun and, for my very first effort, it is really going rather splendidly. I do not think even Marianne could have conceived an outline superior, though I doubt its being very improving. Instead, it is thrillingly exciting, boasting dangerous highwaymen, perfidious dragoons and hauntings of all sorts. This is the beginning of my romance:

The beauteous Lady Arabella was very beautiful indeed. She had hair as black as midnight and azure eyes and everyone who saw her admired her. She was greatly admired, from the top of her tumultuous hair to her tiny shoe-roses, by everyone who clasped eyes upon her. Everyone who beheld her must admire her, and bore their neighbour with how exceedingly lovely she was.

Only yesterday I had thought this quite divine, but today, I greatly fear… nothing is occurring. It is all loveliness, beauty and shoe roses. Mrs Radcliffe would have been ashamed! I tore it up and began again.

The moon shot through the landscape like a dagger, showing up the haggard ruin of the castle’s twisted yet amazingly picturesque visage. Through the cemetery crawled the macabre hand of the lost nobleman, Sir Roger. It had been lost – alas, alack – in the duel which had ended the empty forlornities of his life.  

This, I cannot help but think, has the makings of something rather splendid. But where ought the castle to be? I had thought of Italy, where so many authors set murders, castles and any number of horrid mysteries. But here I am at a sad disadvantage, for I have never been to Italy – nor am I ever likely to visit it – and I have no wish to make myself a laughing stock. Instead, I long to have all London almost desperate to discover who the mysterious ‘lady’ author might be – for ‘by a lady’ is the correct method of keeping an avid populace agog as to one’s identity. (That is, until everyone finds it out.)

I think about this quite often in the middle of the night, when fighting slumber. 

(Later.) I have decided that Northumberland is safe, for no one I know of has even visited it – and it is distant enough to sound wild, dangerous, uncontained, rich with thick forests, sinuous swamps and dark ravines. Though, as I wished to be absolutely sure, I asked Marianne after dinner, ‘Is not Northumberland a very wild place? ’Tis close to Wales, is it not?’

‘Not at all, it is quite the other way. Were you to leave Wales for England, and to progress east, you would find yourself in Northumberland. Were you to move north from Northumberland, why, you would be as far north as Scotland! Have you lost your map of the British Isles?’

‘But is it not very wild?’ I asked, feeling rather disappointed (in Northumberland, especially).

‘Wild? Are you thinking of wolves or wild boar, perhaps?’ asked Marianne.

‘No. I was thinking of wild and misty hills, craggy ravines and stormy winds.’

‘There are forested hills certainly, and heather moors, and it is said to be very pretty,’ said Marianne, looking for some reason rather amused. ‘I am doubtful about ravines, however – I should rather have thought of those as being in the north of Wales, which also boasts waterfalls and great peaks.’ 

Wales did sound delightful. But I have got Northumberland in my head and cannot seem to relinquish it.

If interested, check out my latest Medium post, here, about Jane Austen's tolerance. Or join me on social media here.

Second Giveaway!!!
LATEST!!! 17 Austenesque authors combine with a Valentine's Day giveaway!!!
Click here to win
Third Giveaway!!!

This opens in a couple of days, and – though the header is the same as two months ago – the books are almost all new freebie offers.

ALL historical fiction, and a hugely wide range, from action/adventure on the high seas to WWI romance... Chase those winter blues away with historical fiction!!!! 

Click here to win
Happy Reading!!!