Northanger Abbey Event!

We just started a Northanger Abbey event over at Indie Jane. On the blog so far we've got a review of There Must Be Murder by Margaret Sullivan, with a guest blog post from her on Wednesday. If you're not familiar with her wit, you should also be reading her own blog, Austenblog.

Next week, I'll review Nachtsturm Castle by Emily C.A. Snyder on Monday, followed by a guest post from her. She blogs over at O Beauty Unattempted, often about her Austen related works, or about her theater work.

We're also halfway through our group read of Northanger Abbey, and you're more than welcome to join in. Discussion questions are posted every week in the forums.

What I Blogged On My Summer Vacation

I learned something about blogging this summer, friends: The entire blogosphere goes on vacation for two months. Comments slow to a trickle, new posts are few and far between, and site traffic goes way down. On the one hand, this made it easy to keep up with everything. After all, I didn't go on vacation (sigh), so I didn't miss a thing. On the other hand, I know there are a lot of good posts out there that people might have missed.

I'm going to highlight a few of mine, and then if you wrote an awesome blog post that got lost in the summer shuffle, please post a link to it in the comment thread.

The big news of the summer was the launch of Indiejane.org. Jessica Melendez and I started this site with the vision of it becoming a home for both readers and indie authors of Jane Austen fiction. As of tomorrow, we've been up and running for two months, and things are off to a great start. We're just wrapping up our read-a-long of Sense and Sensibility, and we have a Northanger Abbey event slated for the last two weeks of October.

Indie Jane also took part in this summer's Austenesque Extravaganza, a blog event put on by Meredith of Austenesque Reviews. In our post, we announced a new project, yet again aimed at connecting authors and readers. Dear Jane will link Jane Austen fans with a pen pal for six months. Sign ups go through September 15, so if you're interested, go on over!

And finally, in my posts for the Austenesque Extravaganza, I put together a blog series called Build Your Own Austenesque Novel. I led readers through the various elements of story and plot, and ended with an encouragement to participate in National Novel Writing Month. I've since brought those five blog posts together on their own page, Build Your Own Novel.

Now it's time for the rest of the class to share. Show us your favorite blog posts of the summer!

101 Things: July Update

When I posted my list of 101 things, I said I would blog once a month with results. That day is today.

July was a very busy month. Jessica Melendez and I launched IndieJane.org on the 11th. Indie Jane is a website by and for indie authors of Jane Austen fiction. We're creating a community of writers who are connected to the larger community of Jane Austen fans.

For Indie Jane, I checked #1 off my list: Join/start a writing group.

Despite my constant need for caffeine (if you've ever wondered why everyone doesn't start a website, it's because it's hard work), I also chose the month of July to go without soda. Even though there are still five days left in July, I'm calling this one a win right now. I've got all of you watching me--I'd feel guilty if I caved when I'd come so close.

Also, as I mentioned here, I am far, far closer to knowing what my move to England will look like. I've spent time since that blog post thinking about it, and my target date is February 2, 2014. I sat down last Sunday and created a month by month calendar, detailing what I need to do in my writing career so I can afford to quit my job by then. It's a scary list, but it's doable.

This is the first time in months that I've actually achieved anything on the list, and I know it was largely because I had my blog friends keeping me accountable. So what am I going to do in August? August is FiNancy month. I'll tackle two of the financial goals: not making extraneous purchases and no eating out.

A reminder regarding Indie Jane:

We've got two giveaways open right now, and another opening tomorrow. Enter by midnight to win a copy of Charlotte Collins by Jennifer Becton. The Kindle drawing will be open until August 11. Another giveaway featuring an Austenesque writer's prize pack will go live tomorrow. It's a big month for us; swing by and take a look!

Indie Jane is Here

Presenting Indie Jane:

The Premiere Independent Austen Community

Today is the official launch of IndieJane.org, a community of both indie authors and readers of Jane Austen fiction. Jessica Melendez and I have been hard at work to create a site that will offer something unique for all Janeites.

For Everyone:

We are offering one giveaway a week during our inaugural month, including a Wi-fi Kindle with special offers. Check out IndieJane.org for more information on how to enter. 

For Readers:

In our chat room and on our message boards, you will have a chance to meet some fabulous self-published Austen authors. You'll find reviews of their books on our blog, and weekly posts about Jane.

We'll also run special events, such as read-alongs and movie nights in the chat room. For the reader, Indie Jane is a place to meet other Janeites and make new friends. 

For Authors:

Indie Jane celebrates the self-published author of Austenesque literature. Like you, Jessica and I are hacking our way through the undergrowth of the publishing world, forging our own path. This is something that's always easier done when you have a trailblazer ahead of you. We'll share self-pub hints and general writing  tips we come across, leaving you with more time to work on your story.

We also know how hard it can be to market your book as an indie author. Indie Jane offers you a chance to meet your potential readers in a casual manner. We all love Jane, so right away we've got something in common--readers and authors alike.

And one more thing for authors: Indie Jane has ad space available. We are currently running a special promotion; one month free or two months for $15. Yes, that is one month free with no obligation to purchase the second month. The space is 128p by 250p, or you can send your art to contact@indiejane.org and we will size it appropriately.

There is so much more to Indie Jane than I could ever put in one blog post. It's a community, it's a resource, it's a marketing opportunity. Whether you are a reader or writer of Austenesque literature, or just someone who loves Jane, there is something for you--so come on over to IndieJane.org and check us out!