Yours Faithfully, Amanda

February 16, 2019 Dear Jane, As it two days after Valentine's Day, I must discuss something with you of the utmost importance. I do not wish to play the blame game, Jane, but you must admit that you gave me (and all your gentle readers) some very unrealistic expectations about love when you wrote characters like Captain Wentworth, Mr. Darcy & Mr. Knightley (and the lesser-talked-about, Admiral Croft. He was a true gentleman, Jane, who clearly valued his remarkable wife!). But do not fret for I forgive you, dear friend! We are most fortunate to have your novels to turn to both when love is in the air and when it is not. Of course, that is not to say you were a writer of mere love stories. I am a firm believer (as are most, I should hope) that your novels are some of the greatest works of fiction ever written. However, as it is the month of love, I shall share my favorite romantic moment from Persuasion: Captain Wentworth's letter. "I can listen no longer in silenc...

May 3, 2018 Dear Jane, A flowery image I took this very morning! I write to you as we begin the month of May with both exceedingly hot weather and the most beautiful flower blossoms. In truth, I prefer the latter without the prior, but seeing as we saw two snow showers in the beginning of April, one must not be too particular! It seems that summer is fast approaching whether or not we are ready for it, Jane. Happily, I have a great many things to look forward to (though the hot weather is not one of them). I fear that it will sound as if I am bragging about my upcoming adventures but please know that this is not my intention; I merely wish to keep you informed...and cannot think of anything else to write about at present. Is this not a writer's greatest obstacle? My upcoming schedule (pronounced SHED-YOOL) is as follows: -------------------------------------- May I couldn't resist taking a  bookish photo! I, along with my sister and two friends, will be ...

March 8, 2018 Dear Jane, First of all, Happy International Women's Day! Oh, how you would have loved to celebrate such a momentous day whilst you were living. I must say that you are a very important figure in Women's History , Jane,  and will always be remembered as such. I must now acknowledge that I forgot to wear purple today and humbly ask the women of the world to forgive me. The Gentlemen! Secondly, it has once again been too long since last I wrote, but I wish you to take solace in the fact that I often have the intention and wish to write even if I do not often follow through. I must say that I am all astonishment that we are already in the midst of March! Why, my father has already celebrated his sixty-fourth birthday, or as he likes to call it, his "Beatles birthday," and my sweet nephew, Octavian, celebrated his eight month birthday (both on the fifth day of this month). Laugh.Out.Loud. 28+1...equals 29. Now, this is difficult for me to conf...

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...