The Twelve Gifts of Christmas

Inquiring readers, During this month of holiday celebrations, Laurel Ann and I will be offering the Twelve Gifts of Christmas. Some of the gifts will be giveaways, others will be free offerings online, and still others will be great gift ideas for you to give to others. None are expensive, but every gift will have a special relationship to this blog, us, or Jane Austen. We offer one lucky reader a free calendar as

Gift Number Three:

Last year author Lori Smith's first book, A Walk With Jane Austen, made a smash appearance. The book, first for sale in the U.S. is now available in a U.K. edition. Photographs of Lori's trip to Jane Austen's England sit on each page of this calendar. Included are a description of the places in which Jane Austen lived and traveled.

For a chance to win your own free copy of this truly unique gift, leave a comment stating where you would like to take a walk in Austen's England and why. Next Saturday (the 13th) we will draw the winner's name out of a hat. (Please contact us to provide your mailing address if you win!) Those who do not win can order the calendar at this fabulous site for their own copies. We HAVE a WINNER! Kimberly Ann please email us your contact information.

Our four reviews of Lori's book sit in this link. We are so excited to be giving away this very special gift.

• Gift Number One

• Gift Number Two

Posted by Vic, Jane Austen's World and Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Mansfield Park Madness: Day 5 Give-away!

“We have a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be.” Fanny Price, Mansfield Park

This beautiful Jane Austen inspired lined journal is designed by Potter Style and is the next give-away to be offered on day 5 of Mansfield Park Madness at Austenprose. It has a vintage image of a Regency era lady on the cover and a great quote by the shy but wise heroine Fanny Price from Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park.

Be sure to check out all the discussion on the novel, movies and book sequels during this great blog event continuing to August 31st. On day 5 we will be exploring and discussing chapters 9-16 of the novel. By leaving a comment there, you qualify for a drawing for this charming journal. Don’t miss out on your chance to win any or all of the 17 great prizes being offered over the course of the 17 day event. It's not too late to participate!

Upcoming posts
Day 5 – Aug 19 MP novel discussion chapters 9-16
Day 6 – Aug 20 Metropolitan movie discussion
Day 7 – Aug 21 MP novel discussion chapters 17-24
Day 8 – Aug 22 MP great quotes and quips

Posted by Laurel Ann, Austenprose

Kayla Loves Jane and Tom Becomingly

Are these the last of the icons for the contest? We'll see.

You Pierce My Soul: Animated Icon

Do you love Captain Wentworth and his Anne? Click here to see Diane's animated icon titled, You Pierce My Soul. It's guaranteed you'll like it.

Another Icon

There's a cute story behind this icon, submitted by Lana. Her 19-year old brother helped to create it! Jane would have approved of such brotherly devotion.

Two More Icons From Jane V

Aren't they lovely? You have 14 hours before voting begins! Keep the icons coming.

Hero Icons from Lois

Lois sent in some fabulous icons. I noticed that a majority are of JA heroes and quite a few are NOT Mr. Darcy! Bring 'em on! You have until midnight tomorrow until the icon contest closes.

Emma

Persuasion

Sense And Sensibility

Pride and Prejudice

Last but not least, I just HAD to add this icon of Jerry Butler as the Phantom of the Opera. He's not part of the contest, but, oh, be still my beating heart. Yummylicious!

Animated GIF Icons of Matthew as Mr. Darcy

Two readers submitted animated GIF icons for the "A Walk With Jane Austen" icon contest. All three are truly magnificent. I saved them on zoomshare, so to get the full effect you will have to click on the links below (not the pictures) to see them.

The first one was sent in by Darcylicious, and it shows Mr. Darcy emerging from the mist.


Cubbie sent in the next two: Mr. Darcy smiling,







and Mr. Darcy saying "I Love You Most Ardently."

Icon Contest Heating Up

Ah, yes, I knew the Matthew Macfadyen fans would come to the fore, although the Colin Firth aficionados are holding fast! Here are Cubbie's entries. Kudos go to her for her persistence, since she has been trying to send her entries to my old clunker of a computer for three days. Her icons finally came through, and they were well worth the wait. She also sent two GIF icons, which I will post later.

Pride and Prejudice

Lizzie and Darcy

Darcy at the dance

Lizzie reading (Cubbie has a sense of humor: She titled this icon
Lizzie reading avatar contest)

Despair

Mr. Darcy writing

Longing

Sorrow

Lizzie and Mr. Collins

Darcy peeks (Cubbie made this one in jest, writing:
Who knew Caroline was so well endowed?)

By the lake

Voting begins on Monday! You have until Sunday, November 4th to send in your entries. (See contest rules in the sidebar.) All icons will be made permanently available on a link on this site and Jane Austen's World. First Prize is an autographed copy of A Walk With Jane Austen (author Lori Smith is helping to choose the final icons), second prize is the paperback version of Mr. Knightley's Diary by Amanda Grange, and third prize is my well-thumbed hard back copy of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler.