Debbie’s Comments (group member since Dec 27, 2020)

Debbie’s comments from the Austen Lovers TBR Challenge 2021 group.

All you ladies here: Get your annual mammogram!!!! My cancerous lump could not be felt on physical exam and would never have been caught this early if I were less diligent about getting those scans done as recommended.

Had my surgery yesterday. All went VERY well. No Operating Room surprises, according to the surgeon. I do have a drain, which will be removed next Wednesday. The only source of concern is waiting for the pathology report sometime next week, which will determine whether I'll need chemo treatments or not, but all early indications are that it'll be more good news.

I'm doing quite well post-surgery - picked up prescribed pain pills on the way home but haven't used any - haven't even needed a Tylenol, much less anything stronger.

We'll have a laid-back Christmas Eve here with our son's family later today, and then go to their home tomorrow for Christmas Day. SO happy to have this behind me so I can relax and fully enjoy our family time!

From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of you who reached out and/or prayed for me. A Merry Christmas to all!!

The beloved Wade H. just posted a poem (to the meter of "The Night Before Christmas") on fanfiction.net:

https://m.fanfiction.net/s/14007566/1...

Sheila wrote: "You will be in my prayers tonight and daily thereafter. You have been busy. Let us know what the diagnosis is and what operation you must undergo. I can empathize with you as I have had so much go wrong as I have aged...starting at age 50 with a leukemia diagnosis. Getting old is not for sissies!"

Kirk wrote: "Congrats on the editing and golfing! Wishing you a quick and full recovery. You have been missed but glad to read you have been lurking. :)"

Shelley wrote: "Hi Debbie, You have been missed. Hope all is well. Sending you my prayers on future medical stuff. Enjoy your golf game… what is your handicap? I bet you are having a great time with your nephew."

Thanks so much for the encouragement and kind words!

I should mention I'm feeling fine with no symptoms, and the form of cancer I'm dealing with isn't life threatening (unless I ignore it).

Shelley, every once in a while I'm able to break 100, but my official golf handicap is around 36. My husband's is about 12. I learn a lot playing with him, though I often have more fun playing with the local ladies golf league!

Just had little Sam here yesterday, and he's VERY impatient for Santa to get here.

Hello, dear friends! I apologize for my absence. It's been a year of transition for me, leaving me without the free time to do much more than lurk from time to time.

I HAVE been reading, though I'm only into Emma Watson's library rather than all the way up to my usual spot in Mr. Darcy's. I haven't kept up with listing them here, but you are welcome to visit my bookshelf (https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...). I know I've read more than that - there've been a few online stories I didn't track - but 169 Austenesque books ain't bad, and there are still three weeks left in the year for me to add more to the total! I feel guilty that I haven't had the time to review more, though I have been diligent about posting star ratings.

As you may or may not have heard, I've been proofreading and editing. It's taken up most of the time I used to spend here and other social media. Brigid Huey's Interrupted Plans: A Pride & Prejudice Variation came out in February, and it was my first full-fledged editing work. (When I reread it recently, I was appalled at having missed a few errors - but I know I've gotten better with practice!) I spent a lot of the year editing Kelly Miller's Persuasion-based variation, Captive Hearts. Meryton Press will probably be publishing it in January 2022, so you'll start hearing about it soon. I did some work with Jennifer Joy on Fitzwilliam Darcy, Man of Fortune, which was SO much fun! (Darcy and Elizabeth on a pirate ship - what's not to love?) And recently I edited Anngela Schroeder's Comfort and Joy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella, which had me chuckling the whole way through and totally got me in the Christmas spirit.

Plus I'm playing lots more golf (we moved almost exactly one year ago now, and our new home is on a golf course in northern Florida) and spending a bunch of time with my 5-year-old grandson now that we're only a half hour away.

So, there's plenty of good stuff going on here.

I do have a medical issue that's cropped up recently. My doctors are still determining the exact diagnosis, and then I'll find out the extent of the treatment I should have. There is definitely some surgery in my near future. A few prayers would be appreciated.

Anngela Schroeder's 2021 Christmas novella, Comfort and Joy: A Pride and Prejudice Novella is scheduled to release December 17 and already up for pre-order on Amazon. Today's www.AustenVariations.com post has an excerpt from Chapter 2. (There was an excerpt from Chapter 1 on October 25.) I see that Ceri also hosted Anngela on her https://babblingsofabookworm.blogspot... with an excerpt from later in the story.

I had the pleasure of editing the book, and it's absolutely adorable. Darcy and Elizabeth are stranded in a hunting lodge during a snowstorm. Okay, before you start thinking you've read THAT storyline before, believe me, you haven't! That's thanks to three little girls - Elizabeth's two nieces and their friend - who are stranded with them. Apparently, Emily Gardiner is a childhood version of Elizabeth Bennet, and when she and her friend Katie Joy are together...! Well, they steal every scene they're in as they innocently help Elizabeth fall in love with Darcy. And the plot includes magical Christmas fairies. Gotta love it!

Sophia wrote: "I've already got my copy, Abigail, but I love that you're hosting a giveaway. What fun!"

Same here!

Merci beaucoup! 😘

Hi Danielle! I notice there are two listings in GoodReads for Angela Schroeder's A Life Worth Choosing.

There's this one: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

And there's this one: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Could you combine these, please? Thanks!

I know Rose mentioned Mr. Darcy - A Man of Honour here. I've owned it for a while and finally got around to reading it.

I found it entertaining but frustrating. It's like the author made Jane evil just for the sake of making her evil. I mean, yes, Mrs. Bennet spoils her the same way she spoils Lydia, and Jane's selfish personality starts there - but I don't understand where the depth of her immorality and, specifically, her hatred for Elizabeth comes from.

Ceri wrote: "Also currently free (in UK, but check your country too) Wasted Words which is a modern inspired by 'Emma' and Celestial Persuasion which I thought was futuristic, bu..."

Yes, Celestial Persuasion is Regency, and it's sort of a Prequel to Persuasion. The heroine knows Captain Wentworth through her brother, who served with him in the Navy. Anne Elliot does not appear.

It's free right now in the U.S. too.

mary wrote: "Hey All. I have a bookshelf of the kindle books I own that are lendable LOANABLE

PM if there are any books you would like to borrow!"

That's really sweet of you, Mary.

FYI - Once you loan out a book, I believe Amazon doesn't allow you to loan out the same book again. Once and done.

Hey Dawn! I have it. Checked on Amazon, and it IS loanable for me. PM me your email address and I'll be happy to have it sent your way!

Abigail wrote: "Definitely get Mirta’s book! Unusual and very satisfying, especially if you like spitfire heroines. A very interesting way to interact with canon."

Abigail wrote: "I mean it!"

I second that endorsement!

One-day sale TODAY on brand new Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon Prime members in the U.S. $79.99 reduced from $129.99 - savings of $50.

wosedwew wrote: "Molly Greeley has a book on sale.
The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh (The Pride and Prejudice Series) is currently $5.99 down from $12.99.

This is sti..."

Thanks so much for posting this, Rose. I snagged and devoured it. You're certainly right about the final chapter - I was bawling like a baby!

Unfortunately, the sale price is gone, but I would've paid the full $12.99 for this one.

Hi Danielle! Could you please add a book? It's Celestial Persuasion by Mirta Ines Trupp. Here's the amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0956GBQR8?ref

Thank you! You're the best!!

Hey, Mary!

We're happy you discovered us! Welcome aboard!

Amanda wrote: "Hello, fellow Janeites!

My name is Amanda. I'm a devoted Janeite, but I've been out of the game recently. My reading was restricted to materials that related to work and grad school. I came to lov..."

Adele wrote: "I’m living in Akron Ohio and working my way into retirement this year. I read and loved Jane Austen some time in college (40+ years ago).
Like so may others 2020 brought professional and personal ..."

Maria wrote: "Hello everybody! I'm Maria and I'm Italian. I love Jane Austen (of course haha) and Austenesque books. Last year I didn't meet my goal but this year is going very well already. I hope to read 10 bo..."

Delighted to have you three ladies join us! You've found your way to the BEST group EVER!

We're a diverse group - members of every age, nationality, gender, and interests - but we all share a love of reading JAFF and talking about it together. No-guilt approach to your challenge goals, just encouragement.

The same with participation. Feel free to comment as much or as little as you're comfortable with. I've been largely absent this year because I've just had too many other things going on, but the party always feels like it's still in full swing when I pop back here and we're all part of the "in" crowd. Enjoy!

Sheila wrote: "Comes up as not free but available on KU."

Must've ended. I got the set for free yesterday. Sorry!