Everything Austen Challenge & a Quick Giveaway

I haven't been myself these past two days, so I didn't get this post up in time, but have been excited to announce that I'm joining the "Everything Austen Challenge" over at Stephanie's Written Word. Here are the details, in short:

The details! The Everything Austen Challenge will run for six months (July 1, 2009 – January 1, 2010)! All you need to do is pick out what six Austen-themed things you want to finish to complete the challenge.

She goes on to list a myriad of Austen items you might choose for your list, so here are the Austen-related things I've decided on:

1. Re-read Pride and Prejudice (on my Kindle...since it's been about 10 years since I read the original!)
2. The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy
3. The Other Mr. Darcy
4. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre
5. What Would Jane Austen Do
6. Re-Watch the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice

***A FEW OTHER AUSTEN OPTIONS: Just as a side note, at the beginning of the week, I posted a "condensed review" of two books coming out in September. Neither of these books appeared on Stephanie's original list, so I might recommend them to any that are involved in this challenge. You can see my post under "Release Dates: Jane Austen Sequels and Period Pieces." I also reviewed Sharon Lathan's extremely romantic sequel to Pride and Prejudice, Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One, which I adored for all it's romantic possibilities. Please put aside your own prejudices against sequels and give it a try! Last of all, I reviewed a romance novel, Seducing Mr. Darcy, which you can follow the hyperlink to read my review. I must be a real sucker for all things Austen, because while it was definitely a "romance" in all the best ways, I laughed my way through the novel and give it two thumbs up for entertainment. So, here are a few additional options to try out! (If you click on my Pride and Prejudice label, I think there might even be a couple I've missed, but I've listed some that stand out to me as especially good or memorable, in my opinion.)

I can't wait to get started! If you'd like to join, please visit Stephanie's Written Word (linked above) to participate. Also, in anticipation of the 4th of July, let me wish everyone the very best holiday!


This picture is the background on mylaptop. Can you tell where this comes from? Leave me a comment, letting me know where it comes from (be specific), and I'll draw one comment on July 10th to win a pretty little bookmark from Waimea Park here in Hawaii (I've fallen in LOVE with these bookmarks...they are wood & super flat). Please include your email address so I can contact you after the drawing! Twitter the giveaway, and come back to let me know and I'll add you in for another entry.