All in the name of Research!

A couple of years ago, my sister treated me to a long weekend in Derbyshire. We don’t do it very often, but it’s always lovely to spend time together on our own. One of the fascinating places we visited was the Red House Stables Working Carriage Museum. It was in the middle of winter and [...]

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A Poem dedicated to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, by her sister Lydia

Lydia Bennet’s Online Diary.At this time of the year I always read Pride and Prejudice and I thought it would be fun to see what Lydia is thinking about all the goings on at Longbourn. Lydia’s online diary starts just before Mr Bingley arrives and finishes where my novel, Lydia Bennet’s Story, begins.Tuesday, 29th September, [...]

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Mr Bingley arrives at Netherfield Park

Lydia Bennet’s Online Diary.At this time of the year I always read Pride and Prejudice and I thought it would be fun to see what Lydia is thinking about all the goings on at Longbourn. Lydia’s online diary starts just before Mr Bingley arrives and finishes where my novel, Lydia Bennet’s Story, begins.Sunday, September 27th, [...]

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Lost in Austen

Two words – utterly brilliant!Well, I was going to leave it there, but I need to add that if you want Pride and Prejudice, read the book. If you want to escape to the imagined world of an alternative Pride and Prejudice, where the plot takes on a life of its own and where the [...]

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Lydia Bennet longs for a ball!

Lydia Bennet’s Online Diary.At this time of the year I always read Pride and Prejudice and I thought it would be fun to see what Lydia is thinking about all the goings on at Longbourn. Lydia’s online diary starts just before Mr Bingley arrives and finishes where my novel, Lydia Bennet’s Story, begins.Friday, September 25th, [...]

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Lydia introduces her sisters, Jane, Lizzy, Mary and Kitty Bennet!

Lydia Bennet’s Online Diary.At this time of the year I always read Pride and Prejudice and I thought it would be fun to see what Lydia is thinking about all the goings on at Longbourn. Lydia’s online diary starts just before Mr Bingley arrives and finishes where my novel, Lydia Bennet’s Story, begins.
Tuesday, September 22nd [...]

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Lydia Bennet arrives from America!

What excitement! When a large parcel arrived from Sourcebooks in America, I could scarcely contain myself. Seeing an image of my book is nothing to actually having the pleasure of seeing it and holding it in my hands at last. I am absolutely thrilled and I can’t thank enough all the people who have worked [...]

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What do you think of my gig, Miss Morland?

I painted this scene from Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, to illustrate the part where Catherine Morland is introduced to Isabella’s boorish brother. Catherine and her friend Isabella have almost been run over by an approaching gig, which to their surprise contains their brothers.
“Oh, these odious gigs!” said Isabella, looking up. “How I detest them.” But [...]

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St Nicholas Church, Steventon

Here I am standing outside St. Nicholas Church in Steventon. Jane Austen’s father was the rector here and Jane worshipped in the church as a girl. This beautiful part of Hampshire is very unspoiled and travelling around the area feels a little bit like going back in time. In Jane Austen’s day there was no [...]

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Beatrix Potter and Jane Austen

I’ve been going through some old photos and came across these taken in the Lake District. I have always been a huge admirer of Beatrix Potter’s books ever since my first was given to me at a birthday party. It was the Tale of Tom Kitten and I, like thousands of people before me, [...]

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