Yours Faithfully, Amanda

December 31, 2016 Dear Jane, How I have been longing to write you a letter this past month! Pray, forgive my long absence from corresponding for I dare say I have found myself rather busy of late. In truth, now that the last day in the Year-of-Our-Lord, two-thousand and sixteen, has come upon us, I could not have let it pass without writing to my most favorite authoress. Firstly, you must think me the most terrible blackguard in the world for not writing to you on your birthday! I want you to know that I had a delightful cup of tea on the sixteenth of December to mark your two-hundred and forty-first year. How glad I am that you were born, Miss Austen! Your faithful Janeites would be quite lost without you. Now, Jane, since last I wrote much has changed. About two weeks before Thanksgiving, I quit my apartment in Queens and removed to Connecticut. I wish you to know that this was a most difficult decision to make and  I already miss my wonderful friends there . However...

April 19, 2016 Dear Jane, If I am to be completely honest with you (which I have decided to be), I have nothing new to report in regard to my life in Queens. My jaunt with the Miss Nelson is Missing tour came to an end at the end of March, and I have returned to my life as a "temp." I dare say you shall agree with me when I conclude, that life has once again become a quick succession of busy nothings. (Your brilliant words, of course.) Before I move on, I must state that I heartily agree with the quotation above from your novel,  Mansfield Park . Unfortunately, there has been no "active indispensable employment" to be had, so my sorrow has not been much relieved as of late. Let me explain. When I say that I have returned to temping, I must also admit that I did not work a single day last week. How is it possible that in a city as giant as New York, not one office needed a last-minute, fantastic receptionist, such as myself? I was all astonishment...and anger...

December 29, 2015 Dear Jane, As I sit on my sofa in Queens, waiting for my dear mama's lasagne to warm in the oven, I find myself happily reflecting on the joyous Christmas I had with my family. I truly had the most delightful week at home and I miss it terribly already! I am all astonishment at how quickly the holday passes by and find myself overwhlemed at the thought of having to  prepare for the approaching new year. Fortunately, my resolutions have been declared and will be put to the test when two-thousand and sixteen arrives in three days time.  I dare say I was inspired to write you a letter this evening after watching a movie called "Becoming Jane." It is a wonderful (though at times rather fictional) movie about your life as a young lady in Hampshire. As a hopeless romantic, I confess that I am quite moved by the story. The movie implies that you were madly in love with a Mr. Tom Lefroy and almost eloped with him. Unfortunately for your most avid admirers,...

September 7, 2015 Dear Jane, I confess that I had no intention of writing another letter so soon after my last, but I dare say the occasion calls for it. I moved back to Queens this past Saturday with the assistance of my wonderful sister, Rachael. It was naturally bitter-sweet (with rather more emphasis on the bitter) for not only is New York exceedingly hot, but my family is not with me here. To make matters worse, I must begin working and auditioning this week. I confess that I already miss my lovely summer in Connecticut, but I understand that as a twenty six year old female it is important to live independently from one's family. Anyhow, the purpose of my writing this letter is not to complain about moving back to New York (although I have already done just that), but rather to tell you about the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, England. I am sure you would have been very surprised to learn that one day a grand festival would be held entirely in your honor every year. Unfor...