Read Any Good Books Lately?

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Shannon Winslow

That question is more than just a comfortable conversation starter, isn’t it? We really want to know! That’s how we find the next book we’re going to read. And we’re hoping it will be a real standout, maybe even become an instant favorite and a story that will stick with us for a long, long time. That’s certainly what happened to me when I first read Jane Austen. Her novels resonated with me immediately, and they quite literally changed my life!

I’ve had a copy of this painting (Fragonard’s Young Girl Reading) on my wall since childhood, so I guess I was always meant to be a big novel reader… and then a writer of novels too.

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. I have read all Mrs. Radcliffe’s works, and most of them with great pleasure. The Mysteries of Udolpho, when I had once begun it, I could not lay down again; I remember finishing it in two days – my hair standing on end the whole time.” (Northanger Abbey, chapter 14)

Because of it’s inclusion in Northanger Abbey, I had to read The Mysteries of Udolpho. (I’m highly suggestable that way.) But it didn’t make my list of favorites. What did? It was interesting to take another look at a post I wrote 8 years ago: Summer Reading Picks, to remind myself what I considered my favorite books back in 2018. And for the most part, I stand by that list. Several of them I have read more than once, too, which is a strong recommendation. So click on the link above and take a look. I’ll wait right here until you get back.

Next, after that review, I took a look at my more recent reading history (I keep a record, of course!).

Over the last several months, I have read a mix of things chosen for a variety of reasons. For example, my granddaughter told me how much she liked the Enola Holmes movie, which prompted me to read four of Nancy Springer’s books in that series. I was cleaning out my book shelves, donating a bunch of things to my library, but before getting rid of them, I decided to read YA stories Island of the Blue Dolphins (Scott O’Dell) and My Girl (Patricia Hermes). I read Kristi Ann Hunter’s 4-book Hawthorne House series because someone recommended it and I had enjoyed a few other titles by that author.

Except for these, though, it seems that all of the books I read recently were actually re-reads. Maybe I’m in a nostalgic phase, but I often just feel like revisiting old friends – stories already tried and proven for giving me enjoyment.

Periodic rereads of Jane Austen’s novels top the chart, of course. Most recently, I spent some lovely months with Persuasion while I was working on Captain Wentworth in His Own Words. Then I reread one of my own novels: Leap of Hope: Chance at an Austen Kind of Life. (It was fun to come across bits I especially enjoyed writing or things I had forgotten about completely, making me laugh all over again!) I reread The Indebted Earl (Erica Vetsch), and a favorite from my youth: The Black Stallion (Walter Farley). Now I’ve just finished re-listening to three Georgette Heyer titles that I especially like, in audio again: Venetia, Sylvester, and Faro’s Daughter. Next I plan to reread People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, since I’ve now seen the movie and am curious how closely it followed the book (which I read too long ago to remember well).

Is any of this ringing true for you too?

Some further thoughts about Georgette Heyer. I’m sure most of you are familiar with her already. When JA fans run out of Jane Austen to read, we often turn to GH as a reasonable substitute. Her stories are perhaps not as masterfully crafted, have a little lighter in tone, and I’ve heard her historical details aren’t always accurate, but they are creative and very enjoyable. Plus, there are a lot of them! Georgette Heyer (1902-1974) was a very prolific writer, and I’ve read at least two dozen of her Regency titles. The novels are a little long-winded in places for my personal taste, which is why I will choose an abridged version when available.

If you are of the same mind, let me suggest another prolific author to you: Marion Chesney (a.k.a. M. C. Beaton). She has a long list of Regency stories that are highly entertaining, imo. And they read like short, brisker-paced Georgette Heyer novels. Perfect!

Not sure there’s a specific point to this ramble. I guess I just wanted to share and to get your response in return.

Read any good/great books lately? What most influences you when choosing what to read next? Have you ever read a book because it was mentioned in another book or a movie? Do you ever reread? – occasionally, frequently, never? Have you read Georgette Heyer and/or Marion Chesney? What are you currently reading and what’s next? What are some of your all-time favorites? Yes, I’d really like to know! You may help decide what will rise to the top of my TBR pile!

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What’s in a Title?

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Shannon Winslow

What’s in a name? No, wait, that’s Shakespeare. Wrong author! I’m supposed to be channeling Jane Austen! Let me try again.

“…But there is nobleness in the name of Edmund.  It is a name of heroism and renown – of kings, princes, and knights; and seems to breathe the spirit of chivalry and warm affections.”  (Mansfield Park, chapter 22)

Fanny Price imbues her beloved Edmund’s name with more latent significance than most of us would. But we at least consider the meanings in a baby name book before deciding what moniker our child will be saddled with for life.

Authors give nearly as much thought to what to title their latest work before sending it out into the world. A lot can ride on that decision. If the title (and/or cover) fails to hook a reader’s interest, they may go no further. So it should be something catchy and memorable. It also should give the reader some clue as to what to expect inside.

I actually have a lot of fun with titles, especially chapter titles or names for blog posts, where far less is at stake. It tickles me when I can employ a fancy word, such as Elucidation (used as a chapter title in not one but two of my books). I’m a fan of alliteration also, like Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility), as evidenced by these chapter titles among others: Sisterly Society, Richard Returns, Wardrobe Woes, Demands of Duty, Company Coming.  I’m not above borrowing a famous phrase now and then: The Play is the Thing, Miles to Go, Teacher Know Thyself, A Tale of Two Movies. And if I can incorporate an inside joke or some double meaning, so much the better! Chapter titles Taken For a Ride and Bump in the Road apply literally as well as figuratively. “Persuasion” in my book title The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen refers both to her novel and the fact that she herself was persuaded to give up the man she wanted.

I think Leap of Hope contains my favorite collection of chapter titles. It’s such a fun story (I say this with authority, since I just finished reading it again!) that it seems to lend itself to fun, even silly, chapter names: Light Dawns, Making Jambalaya, A Day at Disneyland, The Dearly Departing, A Two-Horse Race, No More Hope (double meaning), Back in the Saddle, Not in a Million Years, The Last Dance, The Other Shoe, Bleak House, Reader’s Digest, Arrivals and Rivals, Too Many Suitors, and The Cherry on Top.

The bigger challenge, however, was coming up with a title for the book itself. And that’s where I may have gone a little wrong. I actually thought Leap of Hope was kind of clever – “Hope” being the character’s name (a modern girl) and “Leap” referring to her leap across time back to Regency England for a Chance at an Austen Kind of Life. If you don’t notice the information in the subtitle, though, you won’t immediately know that this is totally a JAFF story. And the cover doesn’t necessarily give it away either (Hope is supposed to be thinking about stepping through into the picture of Chatsworth). Perhaps I should have gone with my other idea: Pemberley or Bust!

Of course, some title issues can’t be anticipated. Consider my novel Return to Longbourn, published in 2013. All was well until the following year when Jo Baker publish Longbourn, leading to some confusion. From the titles, at least a few people got the idea that Return to Longbourn must be a sequel to Longbourn (never mind that the authors of the two are different and Return was actually published first).

I’m not the only one who has struggled with title issues, of course. Jane Austen herself changed the titles to at least three of her books before publication. As you probably know, First Impressions became Pride and Prejudice. Elinor and Maryanne became Sense and Sensibility. Northanger Abbey underwent the most transformations. Austen originally called it Susan, after the heroine. Then she changed both the title of the novel and the heroine’s name to Catherine to avoid confusion with another book that had recently come out. But it was ultimately published as Northanger Abbey after her death.

Now I have another title issue. Last month I told you about what I will be publishing next: a novelette about, of all things, a VW Beetle. I intended to call it A Bug’s Life: the story of a little car with a big heart. And I probably still will. But someone has now raised the question about the fact that A Bug’s Life has already been used for the Disney Pixar series about actual bugs. I knew that, but since book and movie titles can’t be copyrighted, there’s no legal issue. And the stories are so different that there shouldn’t really be any confusion created either. It’s more a question of whether it’s a smart choice or not. It’s such a cute title, and it fits the story so perfectly, that I hate to give it up.

What do you think? Should I keep the title or find another. Have you ever selected a book purely on the strength of the title? Conversely, have you ever been steered wrong by a title or missed a great book at first because the title didn’t grab you? Is there one of my books that doesn’t interest you due to an unappealing title? I’d like to know. I’ve used chapter titles in most, but not all, of my books. Do you think they add something worthwhile to the reading experience?

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Something Unexpected

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Shannon Winslow

It’s been a few months since the publication of Captain Wentworth in His Own Words, and perhaps you’re wondering what’s coming next.

Long range, I really don’t know. But short term, I’m going to give you something unexpected. I’m going to complete something I’ve been meaning to write for years, since 2017 to be precise. That’s when a trip to a beautiful lake in Montana inspired the idea for a story about a car. Yes, that’s right: a car. I thought A Bug’s Life might make a cute title, since it was a VW beetle. But it was still only at the “idea stage.”

Visiting Ashley Lake a second time the following summer, I turned the idea over in my head again and went so far as dashing off a prologue. Then, I had to set it aside to finish the novel I already had in progress. Then came another book… and another book… and another.

I never forgot about my car story, though. I worked on it a little from time to time, and more diligently the last few months. So now, eight and a half years after its inception, this “book” is finally finished. Yay! But, weighing in at just over 60 pages, we’ll have to call it a “novelette” instead. So a very quick read. When I was playing around on Canva recently, I created this fun cover design (although the final version may look entirely different). I hope to have it published within a couple of months.

Here’s the Author’s Afterword, at the very end of the book, to hopefully whet your appetite:

The inspiration for this little story literally came out of the blue.

In 2017, we vacationed at Ashley Lake, Montana, for the first time. It’s a beautiful place, full of family history for us, and clear water the turquoise blue of the Caribbean. One morning when we were paddling our canoe across the glassy smooth surface of the lake, we saw what was unmistakably the rusted remains of a VW beetle not far from shore, submerged in about ten feet of water.

My mind immediately went into story mode, asking the obvious questions. Where had the car come from? How long had it been there, and how had it ended up in that unfortunate situation in the first place? Since no one we talked to knew the answers, my imagination started filling in all those intriguing blanks.

Before long, I was constructing a full history… And perhaps a future resolution? Because in my version of events, I couldn’t simply leave the poor beetle there at the bottom of the lake. My books always have happy endings! So I was determined to somehow give the fictional car (now named Leonard) a better outcome. And while I was at it, why not let him tell the story himself?

We return to Ashley Lake every summer. And every summer, when we cross the water to visit the still-submerged V-dub, I renew my vow to tell this story. It’s taken me a while, but I’m finally keeping that promise. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Leonard – the little car with a very big heart.

Obviously, this isn’t a Jane Austen piece, but it is actually kind of a love story, in an off-beat way. I hope my faithful readers will be interested in this unexpected offering. (For more about A Bug’s Life, including pretty pictures and the prologue, read this 2018 post: An Inspiring Trip to the Lake.)

After that, who knows? For nearly the first time in my 16-year writing career, I don’t have a particular story burning a hole in my brain, demanding to be told. And when I looked back through past posts where I had asked your opinion about what I should write next, along with different possibilities I was considering, guess what? I discovered I’ve already checked nearly all of them off my list! But you might have a different list. Tell me what I’m still missing. What would you have me write next? Or, dare I say it, last? What one book should I not retire without writing? Hmm.

…for, provided that nothing like useful knowledge could be gained from them, provided they were all story and no reflection, [Catherine] had never any objection to books at all. – Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, chapter 1

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Pride & Prejudice Set to Music

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Shannon Winslow

Look what I found when I was snooping around in my county library’s online catalogue! I could hardly believe it –a P&P adaptation I’d never heard of, and a musical besides! Although produced in 2020, it was totally new to me. Naturally, I requested it immediately. Shall I tell you how many times I’ve watched it since? I would, but I’ve literally lost track.

Over the years, I’ve been to see several plays based on Jane Austen’s works – some musical and some not – and enjoyed them all to one degree or another. It’s always special to see a live performance. [Side note: I’ve often thought how thrilling it would be to attend the premier of a play based on one of my own novels, and I even took a stab at writing an adaptation of The Ladies of Rosings Park for the stage.]

The only problem with a stage play is that the enjoyment lasts a couple of hours, and then, except for some fond memories, it’s over. Unlike a book or DVD, you can’t take the play home with you to watch again and again if you want. This one you can:

Pride & Prejudice: A New Musical is a musical adaptation by Tony Award nominee Paul Gordon (Broadway’s Jane Eyre), filmed during a 2020 live performance at the Tony Award-winning TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley (directed by Robert Kelley and choreographed by Dottie Lester-White).

A play, especially a musical, is an entirely different story-telling medium, so we can’t expect it to be absolutely faithful to Jane Austen’s original work. This one sets a slightly more modern tone, for one thing. But I was quite impressed with how true it remained on the whole, managing to cover all the major plot points and necessary characterizations, using clever scene transitions and often breaking the fourth wall to quickly slice through to the heart of the story with no waste of time. Especially considering how much needs to be cut out to fit a 2-hour format while also making room for the songs, I was amazed how many lines from the original novel had been squeeze in: a treat for every Austen insider.

There were changes made, of course – some minor and presumably done for expediency (Mrs. Bennet preparing food in the kitchen, the Netherfield ball moved from November to Christmas, elimination of Louisa and Mr. Hurst, and so forth). The largest departure from canon was Mr. Bingley’s personality transplant. Instead of being outgoing and jovial, he’s painfully shy, especially around Jane, which is very effectively used for added humor. Because, you see, this adaptation is deliberately and delightfully funny, and I found myself laughing out loud along with the live audience.

Mary Mattison plays a charming and feisty Elizabeth, and Justin Mortelliti is a passionate and tortured Mr. Darcy. They both did a admirable job in their demanding leading roles – acting and singing both (although I found Mattison’s less-than-perfect British accent a little distracting). Mortelliti has a particularly fine singing voice (if I am any judge), and when he cuts loose, I can easily forgive him for not being as tall as Mr. Darcy is supposed to be.

The supporting cast is excellent as well. I particularly got a kick out of the performances of Lucinda Hitchcock Cone (wonderful name!) as Lady Catherine and Heather Orth as Mrs. Bennet. Although Mary Bennet (Melissa Wolfklain) may actually have gotten the most laughs with her deadpan delivery.

The music itself is perhaps the most difficult thing for me to evaluate in any kind of objective way. To say I really enjoyed it would be true… but not enough. The songs did what they are supposed to do: adding drama and emotion, giving us a more in-depth view of what the characters are thinking and feeling, helping us to join in their experience. Perhaps the best recommendation is to tell you that I still have the music and lyrics running through my head! I’d say that’s a pretty good mark of success.

This production will never win a prize for costuming (not all are period correct, and a couple of the wigs are pretty awful), and there are other flaws. But, at least to me, the faults are minor when compared to the fact that I can now watch a musical version of my favorite story anytime I want, since I’m adding this DVD to my permanent collection. You may be able to find it at your library, as I did. It’s available through Amazon in “rent” or “own” formats. And it’s free to watch on the Jane Austen page at streamingmusicals.com. I hope you’ll give it a look see.

My rating: four and a half stars. (Read my other movie reviews here.)

Have you seen this adaptation? If so, what did you think of it? If not, are you interested?

The party, like other musical parties, comprehended a great many people who had real taste for the performance, and a great many more who had none at all; and the performers themselves were, as usual, in their own estimation and that of their immediate friends, the first private performers in England. – Sense and Sensibility, chapter 36

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December Happenings

Posted on December 10, 2025 by Shannon Winslow

I’m in that lull after publishing a book and before really getting started on the next project. Besides, it’s almost Christmas, and let’s face it, no serious work is going to get done before the holidays are over. But that doesn’t mean I have nothing to share with you!

First of all, did you know that in less than a week we’ll be celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth? She made her debut at the Steventon rectory on December 16th, 1775, the seventh child born to Rev. George and Mrs. Cassandra Austen in Hampshire, England.

The Austens occupied a position at the lower end of the gentry class. Still, by virtue of her father’s profession and education, and through her brother Edward (who was adopted by rich relatives), Jane was exposed to the wealthier sorts of people and the higher kind of society that she would later write about in her novels.

Because of her birth and literary legacy, our lives have been greatly enriched! And so all kinds of major celebrations are planned around the world to mark this occasion! I will probably bake a cake in her honor and celebrate quietly by plugging in a DVD of one of my favorite JA adaptations. What about you?

At Austen Variations, were doing an Advent Calendar with lots of games and gifts. Bop over there to get in on all the fun if you want. But I’ll share here what I posted on my day:

Only 2 weeks left until Christmas. Time to get your cards in the mail! Oh. Wait. Most people don’t do that anymore, do they? But I’m not ready to give up the tradition quite yet.  Every year I create my own cards, featuring some of my artwork on the outside and a newsy letter on the inside (see this 2014  post if you’re interested).

Last year, it occurred to me that the cover of my newest book (a short novella entitled It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Darcy) could make a great Christmas card with a little modification. Part 1 of today’s Advent Calendar fun is to put together a puzzle to see how the card turned out (follow this link to Jigsaw Explorer). You can modify the number of pieces to make it more or less challenging.

All done? I hope you had fun solving the puzzle, and also that you will consider it my personal Christmas greeting to you, despite the incorrect date.

Part 2: In the spirit of giving, I’ve reduced the Kindle price on It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Darcy to $.99 for a limited time! (It’s also available in audio, narrated by Harry Frost, and the paperback makes a nice little gift for the Jane Austen lover in your life.) Find all three formats at Amazon.

Part 3: Whether you read the book or not, I thought you might enjoy this opening scene – Christmas at Pemberley – as told by Darcy himself:

It is Christmas evening – my first of many happy Christmases with Elizabeth, God willing – and we have dear friends gathered at Pemberley to share it with us. Georgiana is here, of course, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Mr. Bingley and Jane have come, as well as the entire Gardiner family.

I glance at Elizabeth, who sits by my side, her hand tucked in mine. We exchange contented smiles, and I know I am the most fortunate of men.

It has been a full and satisfying day.

We woke to a blanket of white resting an inch or two thick on the ground – enough to delight everybody but not enough to create much inconvenience. So we were still able to safely reach Kympton to attend divine services on this holy day. Afterward, the Gardiner children played on the lawn, throwing snowballs and building what they could with the limited supply of the white stuff. Some of the adults braved the chilly air again as well, joining in the children’s play or just strolling about in the wintery scene, all of us bundled up in our warmest clothing.

Indoors, there have been games and conversation, along with good things to eat morning, noon, and night: hearty but simple fare for the most part, much of it prepared yesterday to lighten the load on the servants today. A few of them volunteered to remain on duty. But most – anybody with family in the area – have gone off for their own Christmas celebrations.

Now I can see through the drawing room windows that the sky is painted with more pink and orange hues than blues. The candles are lit, and the day is coming to a close. As I look about myself, at my comfortable home and the happy faces of my dear ones, I could wish to remain in this present moment forever.

And yet my thoughts refuse to do so. Without warning, the cheerful Christmas scene is now changed for something entirely different. Images from a much darker period suddenly appear, unbidden, before my mind’s eye. Familiar sensations, both frightening and exquisitely painful, clutch at my heart.

I resist the temptation to blink them away at once. Instead, I briefly allow the powerful recollections to wash over me again, as they so often have done since the event took place. It is good to remember, so that I never take Elizabeth and all my other blessings for granted. And so, for just a minute or two, I give myself over to reliving that wonderful, terrible time.

It happened eight months ago, in April, just after Elizabeth refused my first dismal proposal. That was a devastating blow indeed, and it must have in some manner brought on the strange episode that followed. I can conceive of no other explanation. This is the question which still lingers, however; was it real or only some kind of extraordinary dream? One could rightly call it a nightmare except for what I learnt by it. A painful event, once survived, may be counted a treasure if it proves to have been of tremendous value in the end.

The experience to which I refer certainly was – a valuable treasure, I mean. In truth, I count it a great gift, one I shall never forget. Christmas is a time of gift giving, is it not? Perhaps that is why the peculiar episode comes back to my mind again now. But if not a mere dream or even a nightmare, what shall I call it?

It was a visitation.

Now you’re all caught up! I hope all your holiday celebrations are delightful, and that the reason for the season isn’t lost in all the busyness of shopping and going and doing. Now, since I boldly proclaimed that I still plan to send out Christmas cards of my own design, I’d better get to work on them! Do you still send cards? Do you have special plans this year? What are your favorite holiday traditions?

Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that he can spare from me. You are all to come to Pemberley at Christmas. Yours, etc. (Elizabeth, letter to Mrs. Gardiner, Pride and Prejudice, chapter 60)

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Audiobook Giveaway Celebration!

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Shannon Winslow

Yay! With the publication of the audiobook of Captain Wentworth in His Own Words, this project is officially finished! (If you’ve missed anything along the way, get caught up by reading all about the book here and in recent posts.)

I’m very pleased with how the audiobook turned out! Nick Cracknell is such a talented voice artist, and he did an amazing job convincingly portraying all the characters (including females and children), bringing them to life. He puts emotion and excitement in where it belongs too, which really enhances the listening experience. Honestly, though, I think I could listen to Nick read the phone book, his voice is so easy on the ears. I invite you to hear what I mean with the audio sample.

I’m pleased to report that early reviews of Captain Wentworth in His Own Words are excellent, averaging 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon (5.0 at Goodreads!). A big THANK-YOU to those who’ve taken the time to leave a review to help the book off to a good start! Here’s what one Amazon customer (verified purchaser) had to say:

Shannon Winslow does it again. She brings our imaginations alive with the excitement and details never before seen while always maintaining the standard we’d expect from a Jane Austen book.

Persuasion is my favorite story and the way Shannon has captured the gallant Captain Wentworth through his trials as a child to the hardships and adventures of becoming himself has added a depth to his character that makes him more human than ever before. It shows his struggles against family values and unrequited love it makes him more human and easier for us readers to connect with him on a human and personal level.

Congratulations and thank you, Shannon on another amazing book it will definitely be a favorite for years to come!

Now that the project is complete and the work of the past year has paid off, I thought I’d celebrate by giving away some lovely audiobooks! Interested?

To be entered in the random drawing, just leave a comment below saying why you want to listen to Captain Wentworth in His Own Words. If you have already read it in another format, say why you’d like a reread in audio. (If you’ve already purchased this audiobook, another will be substituted.) And don’t worry; you don’t have to have an Audible account to redeem your book, just have access to Audible US or Audible UK. Please state in your comment to which marketplace you belong!

The contest will close on November 15th, and winners will receive their free audio codes by email. Good luck!

Captain Wentworth… had been lucky in his profession… He had always been lucky; he knew he should be so still. Such confidence, powerful in its own warmth, and bewitching in the wit which often expressed it, must have been enough for Anne… (Persuasion, chapter 4)

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Mr. Collins Interviews Shannon Winslow

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Shannon Winslow

I’ll explain about this post in a minute, but first an UPDATE on CAPTAIN WENTWORTH IN HIS OWN WORDS. The book is now available (here) in paperback and Kindle, with the audio version coming within a week or two! My sincere thanks to those of you who have already purchased and read it! – and ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT A REVIEW at Amazon and/or Goodreads. That’s about the nicest thing you can do for any author you enjoy!

I’ve been on a limited blog tour with the book since it published (see previous post), and I originally intended this fun little piece for one of those stops. But then I decided to share it here instead! You see, it has become a tradition that, with the publication of each new book, I sit down for an interview with Mr. Collins (now Sir William Collins). Did you know that, after his run as a legendary literary figure, he turned his talents to a new career as a talk show host? It’s true!

I’m sorry to say, though, that he and I have not always been on the best of terms. The awkwardness stems from the fact that I made his character’s early demise my top priority as a writer. In fact, Mr. Collins expired in the very first chapter of my very first novel (The Darcys of Pemberley). I’m afraid he’s never quite forgiven me for that. Here’s our most recent interview:

[House lights dim. Applause sign flashes. Stage lights come up to reveal a platform with twin retro club chairs occupied by host Sir William Collins and today’s guest, the modestly successful and impeccably dressed author Shannon Winslow. Collins lifts a hand in the style of a royal wave to acknowledge the audience before turning his glowering attention to his guest.]

Collins:  Ms. Winslow, you’re back.

Winslow:  As you see.

Collins:  Then I suppose I am obliged to welcome you once again to Meet the Author.

Winslow:  Thank you, but I must say you don’t seem very happy about it.

Collins:  How perceptive you are, Ms. Winslow. It’s this book of yours. [holds up copy of Captain Wentworth in His Own Words]

Winslow:  Is there something the matter with it? [takes and examines the book] It looks perfectly all right to me.

Collin:  It’s only the title I take exception to… Oh, and the cover picture… And I presume the contents as well, although I haven’t read it.

Winslow:  You don’t approve? Oh, wait. Now I see what has distressed you. You were hoping for a different character to be featured: Mr. Collins in His Own Words. Is that it?

Collins:  I knew you would come to the right conclusion, given enough time.

Winslow:  Pardon me, Sir William, but I’m sure I mentioned to you the last time I was here that this novel was underway. I had to finish it before considering anything else. Besides, I already have several Pride and Prejudice novels, and I was eager to do something else from Persuasion – my second favorite Austen. It’s hard for me to believe, but it’s been more than ten years since my only other Persuasion story was published: The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen. Do you remember?

Collins: [waves his hand dismissively] I see so many authors, so many books.

Winslow:  Of course. I understand. I am still quite proud of that one, though. Some of my best work, I believe, although it’s a little like saying you have a favorite child, I suppose. They’re all special to me in different ways.

Collins:  So what’s “special” about this latest book, then?

Winslow:  Well, anybody who’s read one of my other …in His Own Words novels (Fitzwilliam Darcy, Colonel Brandon, or Mr. Knightley) will be familiar with the basic concept. I take an Austen hero and expand on his story– retelling the original story from his point of view, yes, but adding so much more. In fact, this book (same as the others) is at least fifty percent brand new prequel material. I dig into the character’s past, where he comes from and what he’s experienced – things that shape the man he’s become and how he behaves later on.

In Captain Wentworth’s case that’s a major departure from the others, because he’s not born to the landed gentry class. He starts pretty low on the ladder and has to make something of himself by his own effort and genius.

Collins:  You sound as if you admire him, Ms. Winslow.

Winslow:  Oh, I do, Sir William! At least the man he becomes. He’s very flawed and damaged in the beginning, due to things in his past, but he completely redeems himself in the end. I think it’s how far he’s had to come and the size of the obstacles he’s surmounted along the way (including his pride) that makes it such a satisfying story. Then there’s the adventure and romance of his life at sea to savor!

Collins:  In that case, Ms. Winslow, you might be interested to know that I too have had to surmount several very formidable obstacles in order to rise to the towering success and universal admiration I’ve achieved. Not the least of those obstacles, I would remind you, was the premature termination of my run as a beloved literary figure!

Winslow:  Still can’t let that go, can you?

Collins:  Great men learn to rise above adversity and injustice, but one never forgets.

Winslow:  I see. [awkward pause] Well, I suppose it couldn’t hurt to at least discuss the possibilities of a Mr. Collins novel – delve a little into your past misfortunes, how you overcame them, and so forth.

Collins:  [nods head in a bow] Thank you. That is excellent news. Then it may be as well to be silent about past grievances. Only let me assure you, my dear Ms. Winslow, that I can from my heart most cordially wish you felicity and success with this new novel. I hope Captain Wentworth in His Own Words will be celebrated as a great triumph. Although, I flatter myself in thinking that, with our future collaboration, the best is yet to come!

Winslow:  [says doubtfully] I suppose anything is possible, Sir William, but remember. I have only promised to discuss the possibility…

Collins:  [rises to his feet and interrupts Ms. Winslow to address the audience with much bravado] Ladies and gentlemen, you heard it here first! Mr. Collins will finally be given his due in a forthcoming Shannon Winslow novel!

[applause sign flashes and the audience responds with loud cheering]

Winslow: No, Sir William! You misunderstood me. I never promised… [but her words are completely drowned out]

[While Sir William continues to bask in the adulation of his fans, Ms. Winslow is escorted back to her dressing room by an assistant, who observes her shaking her head in bewilderment and muttering, “What have I done? What have I done?”]

I hope you enjoyed this interview! I wrote the last part as a joke, obviously, but it did get me thinking about the possibility. Mr. Collins in His Own Words? It would be a very different kind of a book since Mr. Collins is a very different kind of “hero.” But it might be fun! What do you think?

Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank – such affability and condescension as he himself had himself experienced from [Shannon Winslow] – Pride and Prejudice, chapter 14

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Pre-Release Post – Captain Wentworth in His Own Words

Posted on September 12, 2025 by Shannon Winslow

Less than a week to go until the official launch of Captain Wentworth in His Own Words!

Publishing a book is a little like taking a major trip. It’s equally exciting, for one thing. Also, there’s a LOT of preparation required. Only instead of researching and planning your itinerary, making reservations, and packing your bags, there’s writing/editing 90,000 words, formatting and uploading files, and setting up dates for a promotional blog tour.

For the reader, it’s a little easier. Just decide on a literary destination and go!

Think of this showy graphic I created as one of those big, glossy travel posters that get you hooked on taking the trip in the first place. It gives you a vision of what you’ll see and sparks your imagination for all the adventures you’ll experience if you sign up for the trip!

Or maybe you’re influenced more by word-of-mouth recommendations. I just received this endorsement for the book today from one of my advance readers: “Read the first 5 chapters so far and I’m sooo sucked in!!! I’m loving his childhood story so far!!!”

So I hope you are onboard, ready to come along on Captain Wentworth’s adventures starting September 18th.

Now that everything is pretty well set, and I’m just counting down the days, I wanted to be sure you’re up to speed with the full itinerary.

In case you missed it, I held the “strip-tease” cover reveal at Austen Variations last week. You can pop over there to read it if you’re interested. But I always save the first look at the full paperback cover for here, for my own loyal subscribers. So, without further ado, here it is!

This will wrap around 300 pages covering everything from Wentworth’s childhood, his days in the Navy, meeting Anne the first time, their falling in love and painful breakup, as well as the events of the original novel told from his point of view. As you can probably guess, there WILL be a happy ending to the story!

After the official release post at Austen Variations on the 18th, the travelling continues – around the US, Italy, and Portugal – on a 6-stop blog tour, listed below. I will add live links as available so you can follow along. There will be never-before-seen excerpts, interviews, and other good things!

So check back here for updates. The paperback and Kindle copy go live atAmazon on Thursday, September 18th! (You can preorder your Kindle copy now to avoid delay.) And for you audiophiles, I’m happy to say that the audiobook is already in production. Thanks for reading and sharing this journey with me!

“So much novelty and beauty! I have travelled so little that every fresh place would be interesting to me. But there is real beauty at Lyme, and in short” (with a faint blush at some recollections) altogether my impressions of the place are very agreeable.” -Persuasion, chapter 20

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Captain Wentworth in His Own Words: Cover Art Reveal!

Posted on August 20, 2025 by Shannon Winslow

The new cover isn’t quite ready, but I couldn’t resist giving my faithful readers a special preview in the meantime! So, today I’m revealing the artwork that will grace the front cover as well as the steps in the cover design process along the way. (UPDATE: continue on and you will now find the finished cover at the bottom!)

First, since this book is part of a series, the cover will follow the basic format of the others: Fitzwilliam Darcy… Colonel Brandon… and Mr. Knightley in His Own Words. (See right sidebar, if you aren’t familiar with them.) So it will feature a portrait of the title character (an artist’s interpretation of one of his film adaptation incarnations). Then the title band goes above it, with the hero’s name in large, standard font and the rest in script. The author name band goes at the bottom.

There’s a second, smaller image above the title band also. For the other three books, that second image is a house associated with the story. But that wouldn’t do for Captain Wentworth, because he’s not a house-bound sort of guy. So I decided, and I hope you’ll agree, that it had to be a ship (a frigate, like the Laconia, as in this painting) taking that top spot.

The portrait will obviously be the most prominent part of the cover design, though, and it’s based on Ciaran Hinds’ portrayal of Captain Wentworth. I know that won’t please everybody, but it is in line with the overwhelming preference of readers that I polled (see this post for official results).

But even with the subject decided, it was difficult to find the perfect image to base the portrait on. So in the end, I chose two – one for the face…

…and the other for the uniform…

Meld them together, and what have you got? Something like this:

Not a perfect likeness, I know (perhaps a plus for you non-CH fans!), but then neither is Captain Wentworth perfect! He’s a bold but flawed hero, as his story will reveal.

So now that I’ve given you all the elements of the cover design, just close your eyes and put them together in your mind! Can you picture it? If not, stick around for more info soon: finished cover reveal, publication dates (mid-late September), etc. Follow my Facebook author page or check back here for updates. In the meantime, you can read more about the book, including the Prologue, here.

UPDATE! Here’s the finished cover! Read the official cover reveal post here. The launch date for the paperback and Kindle versions of the book is set for September 18th, with audio following within a couple of weeks afterwards. Preorder your Kindle copy here.

I hope you’re excited to read Captain Wentworth’s story in his own words.- to learn how he wound up in the Navy at a young age; how he met and fell in love with Anne the first time; and why he flew off in such an unreasonable rage when she tried to put their engagement on hold. And what about his bad behavior when they met again – flirting with the Musgrove girls right in front of Anne? Inquiring minds want to know why!

I think you’ll agree that Captain Wentworth has a lot of explaining to do. Right? So it’s high time he got started!

“I mean to offer some kind of explanation, some kind of apology, for the past; to open my whole heart to you, and by convincing you, that though I have been always a blockhead, I have not been always a rascal, to obtain something like forgiveness…” (Sense and Sensibility, chapter 44)

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Austen Men

Posted on July 21, 2025 by Shannon Winslow

I had hoped to have a cover reveal for you by now, but these things always take longer than one thinks they will. (Projected publication date for Captain Wentworth in His Own Words is now September.) So I’m going a different direction today, contemplating some of the important men in my life!

First, to keep me out of trouble, I’d better acknowledge my darling husband and my two grown sons. I love them dearly, but unfortunately I can’t reasonably describe any of the three as an “Austen Man,” in the sense of loving Austen. They are supportive and pleased with my modest success as a writer of Austen fiction, but I’m sure they cannot begin to understand the appeal. (selfie of the whole gang a few years ago – husband, sons, self, daughters-in-law, and 3 of our now 4 grandkids).

Next, I’d like to give a shoutout to a fine list of men who were created by the mind of Austen herself: Mr. Darcy, Mr. Knightley, Colonel Brandon, Henry Tilney, and all the rest. Since my personal favorite Austen hero tends to be the one with whom I’ve been spending the most time, that would be Captain Wentworth at the moment. As I’ve been writing Captain Wentworth in His Own Words, I’ve come to understand that he is a very flawed hero (and why). But he redeems himself with possibly the most satisfying character arc of any of them, growing and becoming enlightened over the course of the book! So it’s been a real pleasure to spend the past year getting to know him better!

Captain Frederick Wentworth… was at that time a remarkably fine young man, with a great deal of intelligence, spirit, and brilliancy... (Persuasion, chapter 4)

As for real-life guys who understand and appreciate Jane Austen, they are a small but excellent set of men! Maybe some of you are even lucky enough to have married one. As you now know, I did not. But I have been lucky enough to meet a few. And there are two such paragons that I have spent quite a bit of time with recently, earning them both a mention here.

Collins Hemingway is one such man. This is a really smart guy with multiple degrees, including a master’s in English Literature, and several published works – both fiction and non-fiction. I first met him in 2016, when he was in the midst of writing/publishing his trilogy: The Marriage of Miss Jane Austen. (Read my two interviews with him here and here.) Lately, though, I’ve been spending time with him in the sense of reading his more recently published non-fiction book: Jane Austen and the Creation of Modern Fiction: Six Novels in “a Style Entirely New.”

Jane Austen’s creative process has been largely unexamined. This book explores her development as a writer: what she adapted from tradition for her needs; what she learned novel to novel; how she used that learning in future works; and how her ultimate mastery of fiction changed the course of English literature. Jane Austen overcame the limitations of early fiction by pivoting from superficial adventures to the psychological studies that have defined the novel since… This evaluation of Austen’s creative process brings into focus the strengths and weaknesses of her six novels. Each is examined in its use of major fictional techniques… The result is a revealing analysis of how world-class fiction is built from the ground up.

I usually struggle trying to read scholarly works (which this serious criticism definitely is), but I found this one surprisingly accessible. I certainly learned a lot about Austen’s work, her process, and her progress through her writing career. Although I have loved her novels for years (so much so that they inspired my second career as an author), my appreciation for them and for Austen herself only increased by understanding more about the trails she blazed, her ingenious writing innovations, and the different distinctions of each novel. So thank you, Collins, for opening my eyes and expanding my horizons!

Last, but certainly not least, I want to acknowledge Jack Caldwell as a true Austen man as well as an Austenesque author. His many JAFF titles include Mr. Darcy Came to Dinner and his Jane Austen Fighting Men series. I have worked with Jack for a long time over at the Austen Variations blog (where he is the sole male author of the group, btw). But during the last year, I’ve spent quite a bit of time haunting his email in-box. That’s because he very generously consented to serve as my unofficial technical advisor for all the Regency era sailing bits in Captain Wentworth in His Own Words.

Readers told me they wanted to hear about Wentworth’s adventures at sea. The problems was that even after a fair amount of research, I was still woefully unequipped to write knowledgeably and convincingly about that aspect of his past, which could not reasonably be omitted. That’s when Jack, who is very well versed on the subject himself, came to my rescue. He patiently answered my many questions, offered to read the finished manuscript for accuracy, and even granting me permission to adapt two of his own short stories to include in the book!

In short, he went above and beyond the call of duty, and I truly don’t know what I would have done without his help and contributions to the project. THANK YOU, JACK!

Aren’t Austen men wonderful? Do you know one personally? Have you had the good fortune to marry one? Or perhaps, by your influence, you’ve turned your non-Austen-appreciator husband/son/friend into a real Austen man. Share your story!

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