Meet the Austen Authors!!!

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Regina Jeffers

Several times over the past few weeks, I have mentioned being a part of a unique group of writers: the Austen Authors. In early September 2010, this group took into its own hands a way of meeting new readers: We launched www.austenauthors.com on September 6, 2010, as a means of support. Each of us writes Jane Austen sequels and variations based on Austen’s six classic novels. However, when you, as a reader, researches for any of us in your local bookstore, you normally stumble across us in the General Fiction section. Today, I would like to introduce you to the Austen Authors and their novels.

Regina Jeffers www.rjeffers.com
Darcy’s Passions: Fitzwilliam Darcy’s Story
Darcy’s Temptation: A Sequel to Fitzwilliam Darcy’s Story (formerly titled Darcy’s Dreams)
Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion (formerly titled Wayward Love: Frederick Wentworth’s Story)
Vampire Darcy’s Desire
The Phantom of Pemberley

Susan Adriani
The Truth about Mr.Darcy (formerly titled Affinity and Affection)

Pamela Aidan http://pamelaaidan.xanga.com/
An Assembly Such as This
Duty and Desire
These Three Remain

Marsha Altman http://marshaaltman.com/
The Darcys and the Bingleys
The Plight of the Darcy Brothers
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape

Juliet Archer http://www.julietarcher.com/
The Importance of Being Emma

Diana Birchall http://www.dianabirchall.net/
Mr. Darcy’s Dilemma
Mrs. Elton in America

Marilyn Brant http://www.marilynbrant.com/
According to Jane

Skylar Burris http://www.editorskylar.com/
Conviction
“The Strange Marriage of Anne de Bourgh”
An Unlikely Missionary

Jack Caldwell http://webpages.charter.net/jvcla25/
Pemberley Ranch

Victoria Connelly http://victoriaconnelly.com/
A Weekend with Mr. Darcy

J. Marie Croft http://prideand.weebly.com/
Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge

Carolyn Eberhart
“Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Carol” in A Darcy Christmas

Monica Fairview http://www.monicafairview.co.uk/
The Darcy Cousins

Cindy Jones
My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park

Susan Kaye http://wytherngatepress.com/authors/susan_kaye.asp
Frederick Wentworth, Captain: None But You
Frederick Wentworth, Captain: For You Alone

Sharon Lathan http://www.sharonlathan.net/
Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy (formerly titled Two Shall Become One)
Loving Mr. Darcy
My Dearest Mr. Darcy
In the Arms of Mr. Darcy
“A Darcy Christmas” in A Darcy Christmas

Kara Louise http://ahhhs.net/
Darcy’s Voyage (formerly titled Pemberley’s Promise)
Drive and Determination
Assumed Obligation
Master Under Good Regulation
Something Like Regret

Kathryn L. Nelson http://www.klnelson.net/
Pemberley Manor

Jane Odiwe http://www.austeneffusions.com/
Lydia’s Story
Willoughby’s Return
Mr. Darcy’s Secret

Beth Pattillo http://www.bethpattillo.com/
Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart

C. Allyn Pierson http://www.callynpierson.com/
Mr. Darcy’s Little Sister (formerly titled And This Our Life: Chronicles of the Darcy Family)

Abigail Reynolds http://www.pemberleyvariations.com/
To Conquer Mr. Darcy (formerly titled Impulse and Initiative)
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy (formerly titled The Last Man in the World)
Without Reserve
By Force of Instinct
From Lambton to Longbourne
Mr. Darcy’s Obsession
The Man Who Loved Pride and Prejudice (formerly titled Pemberley by the Sea)

Heather Rigaud
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rockstar (formerly titled Slurry)
Longbourn and Pemberley Go to War

Lynn Shepherd http://www.lynn-shepherd.com/
Murder at Mansfield Park

Mary Simonsen http://marysimonsenfanfiction.blogspot.com/
Anne Elliot: A New Beginning
Search for Pemberley
The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy

Karen Wasylowski http://www.karenwasylowski.com/
Darcy and Fitzwilliam: A Tale of a Gentleman and an Officer

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Make a Difference Day – Have You Committed to It?

Posted on October 10, 2010 by Regina Jeffers

On October 23, volunteers from across the U.S. will “make a difference” in their communities. It is our nation’s largest day of volunteering for the good of someone else, with more than 3 million people helping 20 million others. Make a Difference Day is in partnership with HandsOn Network.

USA Weekend Magazine, along with the National Basketball Association and the NBA Players Association, will team up for Make a Difference Day 2010. According to USA Weekend Magazine, there are inspirational messages being included in the magazine each week. This past week was one from Steve Nash, which highlighted his Steve Nash Foundation’s work with under-served children. Viewers of the NBA-TV, NBA.com, and NBPA.org can also see the messages.

So, what can you do on this special day? First, go to makeadifferenceday.com for ideas, planning guides, and tips. After you have planned your project, enter the details into the Make A Difference DAYtaBANK. By registering your plans, you receive a free Newman’s Own food item. An additional 50 plans will be chosen to receive Newman’s Own food items to help feed their volunteers on October 23.

Also, this year, as in the past, 10 volunteer efforts will be chosen as National Honorees and receive $10,000 from Newman’s Own for their charity. For the first time, 3 cities will receive a City Award and $10,000 from Newman’s Own. This award is sponsored in a partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service.

What if you do not want to organize a group of your own? Then check for volunteering opportunities in your community and become a part of something bigger than yourself. Several of my students and I did just that last year, and we had such a wonderful day of helping others. Words cannot describe the feeling. I am thankful that the school in which I taught requires service hours of our students. It helps so many of our young people to see the world revolves around “us,” not around “me.”

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Cyber Bullying

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Regina Jeffers

I, too, am climbing aboard the cyberbullying bandwagon. As a teacher, I have seen numerous examples of bullying, and like most people, I experienced lots of discrimination of my own in school. People have always “attacked” others to justify their own greatness. I do not condone this norm, but the internet has magnified the problem – has created a two-headed monster. It allows people to place hurtful words and images before a captive audience sitting at their keyboards. No longer are we living with the school bully who torments a child with name calling. Now, that school bully can silently attack his victim, with little recourse available. I pray that the government attaches language to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which will give teachers and schools some leverage in stopping these actions.

Meanwhile, as educators and parents we need to look for signs of depression, withdrawal, the sudden and ongoing onset of physical complaints, school “phobia,” changes in eating and sleeping, and missing items. All these are signs that a child is being bullied.
For more information on cyberbullying, I might suggest the website for The Dr. Phil Show (www.drphil.com). There are numerous articles on the site to help parents and teachers to recognize the signs of bullying, and there is a summary of what we can do as individuals to encourage our elected officials to take action.
Take a look at the Cyber Bullying Quiz. It is most enlightening.

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Momentous TV

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Regina Jeffers

I found an article in my AARP newsletter about TV moments we all might remember. The newsletter included:
October 1960 – the Richard Nixon/John F. Kennedy debates (Did you watch the debates, or did you listen on the radio? Your perception of it will differ from your friends depending on which you experienced.)
November 1963 – John F. Kennedy’s assassination (I was in llth grade and, ironically, in American History class when the principal announced this over the intercom.)
February 9, 1964 – the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show (I am sure I saw this, as we used to watch Ed Sullivan each week, and I have seen clips of it in newreels, but I really do not recall seeing this the first time. Maybe I was doing homework instead. Trig was really fun!!!)
August 26-29, 1968 – Riots at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago (I remember watches these and crying over the way it was handled. Anti-war protestors and Chicago police fought in the streets and in the convention hall.)
January 12, 1969 – Joe Namath predicts a Super Bowl III win over the Colts. (As I am a big NFL fan, I saw this one.)
July 20, 1969 – Apollo 11 Moon Landing (Neil Armstrong giant leap was unforgettable.)
July 20, 1981 – Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s Wedding (It was like watching Cinderella come to life, except Diana was no Cinder Maid.)
August 1, 1981 – MTV Debuts (Truthfully, I do not remember much about MTV in the early years. I was too busy raising a family and working fun time.)
January 16, 1991 – Persian Gulf War Invasion (I recall this one very well. My ex-husband was in the Army at the time. We lived day by day wondering about a call up. My son was 7 years old and very frightened that his father might have to go to war.)
September 11, 2001 – The World Trade Center disaster and the other Plane attacks (I was teaching 8th grade Language Arts at the time. We were told to keep the students busy until we knew whether it was an accident or an attack.)
So, can you think of other events that stand out as these do? What part of each of these events do you remember?

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October Celebrates …

Posted on October 6, 2010 by Regina Jeffers

On the Austen Authors Website (www.AustenAuthors.com,) we are planning a “Halloween” celebration at the end of the month, where we will feature Ben H. Winters, author of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters.
Planning for this made me think what else might be celebrated in the month of October, besides Breast Cancer Awareness Month, of which we are fully aware. Here are some of the more interesting ones I found.

October Celebrates

The Atchafalaya Basin in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The beauty and mystery of the Atchafalaya Basin will be the focus of a state-sponsored month of events and activities called “Experience Atchafalaya Days,” which is designed to help people learn about opportunities for education, recreation, and adventure in the great swamp.

Saskatchewan Small Business and Cooperatives Month
For two special weeks in October, the spotlight will shine on the enormous contributions that co-operatives and small businesses make to Saskatchewan’s economy.

National Arts and Humanities Month
National Arts and Humanities Month is coordinated by Americans for the Arts, the national organization working to empower communities with the resources and support necessary to provide access to all of the arts for all of the people. This month-long celebration grew out of National Arts Week, which was founded in 1985 by the National Endowment for the Arts and Americans for the Arts. With 45 years of service, Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.

Women’s Small Business Month
October pays tribute to women who own their own small businesses.

Naruto’s Birthday Month
It’s Naruto’s birthday October 10, and Viz Media invites fans to help celebrate the birth of the world’s most popular ninja with the release of the latest volume of the Naruto manga series, the next NARUTO SHIPPUDEN box set, special coverage in SHONEN JUMP magazine, and a series of fun events planned around the 2010 New York Comic Con and Anime Festival.

Health Literacy Month
The month of October brings us two health-related events to celebrate: Health Literacy Month and National Healthcare Quality Week (October 18-24). Both events give healthcare workers and their organizations a chance to think about current practices and how to improve in the name of patient safety.

Croydon (UK) Black History Month
October brings the annual celebration of black history back to Croydon with a busy programme of performances and exhibitions – including plenty of interactive events for all ages.

So, tell me, Dear Readers, what else is celebrated in October in your own communities?

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Romantic Suspense Winner!!!

Posted on October 4, 2010 by Regina Jeffers

My newest novel, The Phantom of Pemberley, has been awarded third place in the Romantic Suspense category in the 5th Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Contest. The contest is sponsored by the Southern Louisiana Romance Writers of America.

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Austen-Related Actors with October Birthdays

Posted on October 2, 2010 by Regina Jeffers

http://pf.kizoa.com/sflite.swf?did=1126808&k=P62782385&hk=1

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A Family Crest for the name Jeffers does not exist!!!!

Posted on October 1, 2010 by Regina Jeffers

I am doing research again for my latest novel, and I went to look for websites about surname meanings, etc. Choosing a name for a character in a book is very important to developing characterization. For example, the given name of Gabriel should evoke images of an avenging angel, but the surname is equally as important in developing the character. In my book, I planned an elaborate “family crest,” but much to my surprise that term is a misnomer. It appears that a coat of arms is bestowed upon an individual, not upon a family. So, there could be numerous forms of display for my name Jeffers. So, looking for a particular surname means that a researcher must also consider the derivation of the name, the location or region in which a person’s family originally lived, etc. I never realized how many variations there might be. I should have known this, but it was never clear. It appears that the best one can do is to trace his family history to the oldest ancestor to discover a Coat of Arms.

This is what I know of the name Jeffers. It is of Welsh descent, and my ancestors lived around Herefordshire, even before the Norman Conquest. Jeffers often became Jefferson (as in the son of Jeffers) or Jeffson or Jephison. All three are common spellings of the name. The Jeffers family was one of great antiquity. They were direct descendants from the great Tudor Trevor, Lord of Hereford, and Whittington, founder of the Welsh Tribe of Marches. They branched into neighboring Worcestershire at Earls Croom, having been granted land by King Edward VI. They established estates at Clifton Corncastle in Worcestershire. Eventually, they moved into Yorkshire and settled Thicket Priory and Ripon and intermarried with the Dunnington family. The Venerable Joseph Jefferson was Archdeacon of Colchester in 1821. Records of American ancestors include John Jefferson (1620 Virginia); Mary Jefferson (1653 Viriginia); Edmund Jefferson (1682 Pennsylvania); Robert Jefferson (1774 Nova Scotia); Thomas and John Jeffers ( 1642 Virginia); and the third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. My family’s coat of arms contains a red and silver griffin and the motto “A Cruce Salus.”

Some of the sites I have explored are
Origin of Surnames:
http://surnames.behindthename.com/

http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/

http://www.surnameguide.com/surnames.html (has links to genealogy sites)

http://genealogy.familyeducation.com/family-names?detoured=1 (has tabs for first names, as well as surnames)

Heraldry:

http://www.digiserve.com/heraldry/

http://www.fleurdelis.com/coatofarms.htm (good site – explains all the parts of a family crest – lots of basic information, but very helpful)

http://www.rarebooks.nd.edu/digital/heraldry/ (Heraldic Dictionary)

http://heraldry.net/ (5000 most popular family crests)

http://www.heraldica.org/

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Education Nation – How Do You Learn Quiz

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Regina Jeffers

As a former educator, I have been keeping up with the information that NBC has highlighted all week long. Yesterday, I found it a bit ironic that the national push is for more “Career-Oriented” education, while my local school district has taken the stance to phase out these programs. As my son’s teaches what is known as CTE courses, my interest was piqued by the mixed messages. Of course, I sent him the link.
Today, I decided to use the “How Do Your Learn” online quiz offered by the University of Phoenix. It is very easy to do. One must sign on to www.howdoyoulearn.educationnation.com to take the quiz. It is around 20 questions in length and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. I have always considered myself a visual learner, but I must have adopted other learning modalities over the years.
27% of those taking the quiz are verbal … I was at the 20th percentile.
45 % are solitary … Again, I was at the 20th percentile.
25% are social … It did not surprise me to have my score at 17%.
16 % are logical … I was at 13%.
19% are physical … I was at 10%.
28% are visual learners … I was at 10%.
24% who took the test are aural learners … I was at 6%.
When one finishes, the site offers to send a person a more detailed analysis by just putting in an email address.
I am most anxious to hear the breakdown.

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Reconnecting

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Regina Jeffers

Over the last few months, it seems I have reconnected with a great many former students and former classmates. At least half of my “friends” on my Facebook page are represented by these groups. Do not get me wrong. I really enjoy finding people on “The Social Network.” When one gets to a certain age, more and more of those “former” acquaintances are not available to us, and we are taken aback because we realize we did not say to them what we should have long ago.

Recently, a dear friend found me, and we are less than 40 miles apart – a miracle of sorts because we are both from a different state. We have corresponded by email and over the phone, but we have yet to see each other face-to-face. The anticipation rises, and I wonder if I have changed so dramatically that he will be disappointed when he first sees me. “First Impressions” are so important. What should I wear? How should I fix my hair? All are silly questions, but we all feel that moment when we must throw caution to the wind and to admit we are no longer young and thin and sparkling with potential.

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