Yours Faithfully, Amanda

22 November 2019 Connecticut Dear Jane, As the youths of today say, "It's been a minute." What I am really trying to say, though, is that I am terribly sorry for not writing since August! I can't imagine that you are surpised by the delay, however, as you have been subjected to over six years of inconstant letters from "Yours Faithfully." I suppose "yours faithfully" is a rather ironic sentiment when I am anything but faithful in my letter writing. Perhaps I should sign my letters with "Yours Sometimes...when I feel like writing, Amanda." That would be rather horrible, though, so I shall keep to the classic, "Yours Faithfully, Amanda" and silently acknowledge that it is merely a facade. Now, Jane, as often happens in the journey of life, much has changed since August when last I wrote. My eldest sister welcomed a daughter named Aurelia at the end of the summer and she is just the sweetest little darling. Her big b...

March 1, 2019 Dear Jane, Imagine a world where one could go to a nearby town's public library and enjoy a whole host of Jane-Austen-related activities, completely free of charge. Surely, such a beautiful world does not exist! Spoiler Alert: It does and it's the world I live in. While that introduction may have been *slightly* over-dramatic, I firmly believe that public libraries deserve to be recognized for the undeniable joy they bring to the lives of so many. It just so happens, though, that a particular library has inspired this joy and dramatic flair within me today: The charming   Cheshire Public Library  of Cheshire, Connecticut. Throughout the entire month of February, they hosted numerous Jane-themed events and called the series, "For the love of Jane Austen."  How divine! Although I did not learn about the existence of said series until the middle of February, I feel truly #blessed that I was able to attend two events that were both exceedingly divertin...

November 10, 2016 Dear Jane, Now, then, shall we continue? (I promise, this is the last installment...though, perhaps, it will be a welcome distraction from our current political unrest here in America). To give you a reminder of where I left off in my last letter, I had just attended Miss Kim Wilson's lecture on how to give a perfectly proper Regency party and was resigned to trying to find the perfect outfit for that evening's festivities. However, being a lady who does not enjoy the art of shopping, I was not looking forward to such a venture. And now without further ado, part three... Afterwards, the time came to bid adieu to my friends in order to begin my search for a new dress. Where was one to find a Regency-appropriate garment in the heart of Washington D.C. in the Year Of Our Lord, two-thousand and sixteen? Luckily, I found an acceptable "maxi" dress rather quickly at a store called, Marshall’s. This could not complete my search, however, for it had t...

April 3, 2016 Dear Jane, I know this is all very untoward, but instead of a writing you a normal letter, I will instead, be reviewing a film that I saw on the thirtieth of March in this, the year of our Lord, two-thousand and sixteen. It was a movie adaptation of your own novel,  Lady Susan   called "Love & Friendship." I am sure you may be surprised to learn that this was the chosen title as you have a different story (from your juvenilia period) of the same name. Rest assured that they have not merged the two stories, but just had a notion that "Love & Friendship" would be a good title for the film. After all, you never actually called the novel  Lady Susan  on your original manuscript, that was just how it was published after your passing (it gives me great pain to speak of such a woeful event). Anyway, with out further ado, here is my review. I do hope you enjoy it and that all of my gentle readers have the opportunity to see this movie! Love ...

December 8, 2015 Dear Jane, I do detest being deceitful, but you and I both know that the quotation above has not been displayed in its original entirety. My apologies, for playing such a trick on you, gentle readers, but surely you should know better than to believe I could claim to have any sort of genius. An amateur authoress stops at nothing to get her blog read...even if she has to lie to her dearest friends at times by claiming to be a genius. The quote (in it's entirety) is as follows: "Expect a most agreeable letter, for not being overburdened with subject (having nothing at all to say), I shall have no check to my genius from beginning to end."  In case you had doubts, I shall now present three reasons to prove to you that I truly am not a genius. (I told you that I had nothing much to say, after all). Oddly enough, all three examples are from my time in high school. Many of my dear friends and family know this already, but I often boast (yes, boast) ...

September 19, 2015 Dear Jane, I dare say that you will not believe the fantastic week that I have had unless I give you a thoroughly precise account of it. (Do not let yourself become too excited for I have not yet fallen love with a modern day Mr. Darcy, but it is still exciting news!) I hardly know where to begin! (How often is it that I start a letter with so much glee? I must endeavor to have a happier tone in my letters if this such an uncommon occurrence.) ... The three dots above indicate a lapse in time in which instead of writing, I walked to the local washer woman (or rather, the laundromat) and dropped off (or rather, did myself) my clothes to be cleaned. This is my least favorite errand to complete as I am now very weary and have no desire to do anything else for the remainder of the day. That being said, I shall do my best to continue this correspondence. Where was I? Oh yes...my adventures. I shall go day by day so that I can be sure that I do not leave a single...