Yours Faithfully, Amanda

January 31, 2019 Dear Jane, Happy belated New Year, my dear friend. I truly cannot believe that the end of January is upon us; this month has flown by so quickly! Even though not very much has occurred since the new year began, I do have an exciting literary adventure to recount for you. So, without further ado: A Day in New York City with J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien... If you are a lover of books, then I'm confident that I have grabbed your attention with the above italicized line. If you are not a lover of books, but rather a lover of films adapted from books, then hopefully I have also grabbed your attention. If you are a lover of neither, then I have nothing left to say to you and now must say, "Good day." I jest, of course! In truth, I am in an odd mood today, Jane, so I shall write on until I am not...or until I finish my letter (whichever comes first). On Friday last, the twenty-fifth of January in the Year-of-our-Lord, two-thousand and nineteen, I ...

October 6, 2018 Dear Jane, Please accept my hearty Autumnal Greetings, friend! In truth, I am elated that my favorite month, October, has finally arrived. That being said, however, I must continue sharing my adventures from my time in England this past summer. I believe I left off ready to relate our activities from Saturday, the fourth of August, and pray, be excited for it was a royally diverting day. Now, if I recall correctly, Saturday started off quite precariously because the tube station near our hotel was undergoing weekend construction and we had a very small window to catch the correct bus to our first destination...breakfast. Just kidding (sort of). We did have breakfast reservations, but more importantly we had a timed ticket entry to Kensington Palace at 10:45 in the morning. That may not seem early, but when one is jet-lagged, on vacation and in need of a good breakfast with many cups of coffee...timing is everything.  Pray, do not worry yourself, for I am happ...

July 18, 2018 Dear Jane, Photo by Yours Faithfully, Amanda We have once again reached the sad day of your passing. It has been two-hundred and one years since you departed this earth, but your memory and legacy are stronger than ever. To be sure, janeites around the globe mourn your early death (you were only forty-one) and yet we simultaneously rejoice in the beautifully written words you left behind for us. In truth, it is a most bittersweet day.  Now, as I have much updating to do, I will leave off with a short poem and the promise of another letter either this week or the next.  I wrote the short poem below after being inspired by the picture you see on the right. I took this photo this very morning, and the words, "She needed a hero so she became one," instantly caught my attention. You really were your own hero, Jane and I still admire you so very much! (And yes...that is a Jane Austen action figure.)   Jane the Hero She needed a hero and so ...

December 27, 2017 Dear Jane, Season's greetings and Merry Christmas, my dear friend! But more importantly, Happy Belated Birthday! I know not if you are aware of this (I, myself, would surely lose track), but you recently celebrated your 242nd birthday on the sixteenth of December in the Year of Our Lord, two-thousand and seventeen. Quite the milestone, I must say! Happily, I celebrated your birthday in the best way possible and I shall tell you all about it in this letter. Before I get to that, however, it is also worth noting that Christmas was but two days ago and as it was my darling nephew's first, it was a most joyous occasion. And to make it even more special, we woke up to a beautiful blanket of Christmas snow which was ever so charming and festive. Being amongst my family for the holiday was the best gift I could ever ask for. Merry Christmas from the Forkers and von Gootkins! Now to return to your birthday festivities. The sixteenth of December began with an ...