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Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Welcome Back? | Studio Vlog, Shop Updates, What I've Been Doing...

Oh, hello. We've really gotta stop meeting like this.
But no, really, it's be a LONG time since I've posted, and while there are reasons for that, honestly, I should have been back ages ago. I'm in a weird kind of limbo where I'm not really sure what I want to do with this blog (if anything) moving forward, because I'm just not talking, or feeling like talking, about books as much lately (even though I'm still reading every day).

But this is a chill vlog + chat, to ease me back into video making. I’d love to know how things are going for you, and what type of content you want to see. 

And I've said this before, but I cannot stress enough: if you don't want to miss any videos I post, make sure to subscribe/check out my youtube channel. I routinely post things there and forget to share them here (such as this video being shared almost 2 weeks after it went up... )

   

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Shop Update, Blog Update, 30DBB Round... Something, & Giveaway News!

Hello all!
I always promise myself that I'm NOT going to disappear for weeks on end after the onslaught of Austen in August posts, but it always happens, because I (generally) need recovery time. This year, though, I have an excuse -- two, in fact!

One, as you may already know, the power outage that sent AIA into a tailspin for a week also took my computer out with it. I have yet to buy a new computer, and tbh, I'm not really in a rush too.  (Tech shopping is one of my absolute least favorite things.) We do technically have a house desktop, but...for whatever reason (well, for many reasons), I don't like working at it, especially when it comes to writing or editing for a prolonged period of time. Fortunately, between the desktop and my ipad, I'm still able to run my business, but blogging has definitely taken a hit.

Which brings me to point #2: I have a business! Fulfilling orders, designing for the new collection, and my other work and life stuff, has meant no time for blogging, though I've been talking to you guys a lot in my head! I hope to be back to light blogging soon, so wish me luck! 

The point of ALL THAT is to say: hello again! I've missed you, and I'm ready to talk about books with you again SOON! I also know that this month was supposed to be a 30 Day Book Binge month, but it's not (officially) because I just don't have time to cheerlead or promote it, especially when I'm not sure who even wants it anymore. I get a lot of requests, but hear from virtually no one during the months when it runs, so I don't know if it's just wasted time. However, I do look forward to having that little reading boost, myself, and I know that people look forward to free printables.

And to that end...


My love of free printables combined with my love of coloring contests this month, and I am adding a free "coloring card" to all orders in my shop this month! As far as I'm concerned, this was a stroke of genius; it combines my passions of encouraging creativity in others with my desire to see more people send thoughtful snail mail (I often include an extra card for the recipient to send to a friend whenever I send a card to my own friend) -- it truly is the best of both worlds for me! Although you can obviously do whatever you want with the card once you have it, customers who color the card and share it on social media with my shop's hashtag (#WildPrairiePaperie) in the month of October will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift card to the shop!

But I couldn't leave you guy out! There may be no official 30 Day Book Binge this month (though I still encourage you to take the challenge on yourself if you need a boost!), but there's still a free printable! 

I've designed a second version of my coloring card, and I encourage you to print it out (on cardstock, if you have it!) and spend a nice afternoon coloring and sending on to someone to brighten their day. They print two per sheet, ready to cut (directly in half), fold (again, in half, but the other way this time), and send! Feel free to print as many as you want and make it an activity for the kids or the classroom, and brighten lots of days!

And I'm not leaving non-customers out of the giveaway, either! Those who color and share the printable version on social media, again with the hashtag #WildPrairiePaperie, will also be entered into a drawing! This time, 1 winner will receive a $10 gift card -- but depending on the number of entrants, I may pull more winners or do more/other prizes -- you never know! 

Either way, I hope you'll print and send these cards, and I hope you're having a lovely start to your Fall season.* And I really hope you'll embrace the opportunity to get creative and spend some time being a kid and coloring for a bit. I can't wait to see what you create! 


*If you're in the southern hemi, happy Spring to you! 

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

FINAL Austen in August Winners!

I know we just had a post full of many, many people who won things during Austen in August, but uh... we weren't done. The last few giveaways, because they were right at the end of the month, I decided to extend to give people more time to enter. 

Which I can do, since I'm the won sending these prizes from my brand new shop! 
Below you'll find the winners listed (they've all be contacted), as well as a sneak peek of some of the other things I've got going on at Wild Prairie Paperie. I've been blown away by the response, and want to thank you all for the support, shares, purchases, and good vibes! It all means a ton. <3

(And you may be seeing more giveaways from future launches, I'm just saying...)

THE WINNERS:

Jason
Erin
Amanda
John

Jessica

Sophia


All this and then some, with LOTS more to come!

Jane Austen, Austen in August, blog event, Jane Austen fan fiction, JAFF, The Book Rat, BookRatMisty
Click here to return to the master list of Austen in August posts!

Monday, September 6, 2021

Austen in August winners!

With the announcement of winners and winners and WINNERS, comes the official end of another Austen in August. So bittersweet. Thank you all so much for joining me this year; I always love everyone's enthusiasm, but (maybe because we took last year off) this year felt extra special.

Before we get into the endless list of winners, I want to say two things. The first is a MASSIVE THANK YOU to all of the authors and guest posters who contributed to this year's event. I always say I couldn't have done it without you, but this year, I really couldn't have. There would not have been an Austen in August without the time, creativity, and generosity of the many, many people who contributed to this event, so THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

The second thing I want to say is, there are still two giveaways that are up and running until the 10th! There's an international giveaway for these art prints, and a US giveaway for a whole box of stuff from my new stationery line! --  so if you haven't entered them, make sure to do so! 

Now, onto the giveaways. The full list of giveaways and their winners can be found below, in the order they were posted during AIA. All winners (except 2***) have been contacted, so if you see your name and you're not sure if it's you or someone whose parents had the same idea, check your email! All winners have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize, or a new winner will be chosen.

***Wyndwhyspyr, I can't seem to find a way to contact you, so please contact me! Robin, your emails are bouncing back!

THE GIVEAWAYS / WINNERS:

Buturot
Colleen L.


Kelly W.

    Ceri

Stephanie C.

holdenj


Wyndwhyspyr

Beth

Tessa W. 

Nancy P.
Gabrielly

DarcyBennet (main prize)
Rachel G. (runner up)

John S.

Morghan V.
bn100

Congratulations to everyone, and I hope you all enjoy your prizes!!



Jane Austen, Austen in August, blog event, Jane Austen fan fiction, JAFF, The Book Rat, BookRatMisty
Click here to return to the master list of Austen in August posts!

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

#AustenInAugust x Wild Prairie Paperie GIVEAWAY!!

We've reached the end of another Austen in August, and if you follow me on Twitter you’ll know, it’s been…trying. I had a lot of plans and posts I wanted to get to, but the universe said “Nah, bitch,” so here we are. 

Among those plans was an entire vlog leading up to this giveaway and the moment my shop would go live, but uh… that has been delayed. But that doesn’t mean the giveaway has to be! Let’s send this summer off in style, shall we?


 

****GIVEAWAY ****
To celebrate another successful (?) Austen in August, and the upcoming (??) launch of my new business, I’m giving away a selection of products from the Jane Austen -inspired line of my new stationery company, Wild Prairie Paperie! And to make this super-special event even super-specialer, I’ve commissioned a mug from a friend’s shop to make the package complete! One winner will receive:
  • “Take Me to Pemberley” sticker sheet
  • “Obstinate, Headstrong Girl” sticker sheet
  • set of watercolor teacup stationery with matching envelopes, in white
  • set of Regency lady Stationery with matching envelopes, in cream
  • set of 4 “What are men to rocks and mountains?” blank notecards
  • “Take Me to Pemberley” tear-away notepad
  • “If a book is well-written…” art print
  • “To sit in the shade on a fine day…” art print
  • “If adventures will not befall a lady…” art print
  • “What are men to rocks and mountains?” art print
  • “Take me to Pemberley” ceramic mug
  • Probably some other random surprise bits…
To enter fill out the Rafflecopter below. Because of shipping costs and the fragility of the package, this giveaway is US only (sorry, international friends!!), but international readers do have a chance to win some of the stationery bits in the Mega Prize Pack 2 giveaway, as well as the 5x7 quote prints in the two giveaways I have running for it (on the blog and on Instagram).
Please do not leave any email addresses or sensitive info in the comments!
Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Jane Austen, Austen in August, blog event, Jane Austen fan fiction, JAFF, The Book Rat, BookRatMisty
Click here to return to the master list of Austen in August posts!

Eat Like Austen: Parmesan Ice Cream!

Beth has been a constant fixture this AIA-season, and for that (and helping save my sanity, on which I have a tenuous grasp once August rolls around), I thank her! She joins us today for one last post, and she's leaving us with a sweet* treat!
*maybe? Only time will tell!

Ices and ice cream were popular dishes in Georgian, Regency, and Victorian times, made in fantastic molds (or bombes) for dinner parties and available at confectionary shops. They appear to have ranged in consistency from a sorbetto-like fruit-based "ice slushy" to a gelato-like cream-based frozen custard. The surviving recipes for flavors- and there are quite a few- range from sweet to savory, mundane to bizarre. French and Italian confectioners in London helped to popularize ice cream, so I imagine the exotic flavors offered by them increased appeal.

Among flavors of the era? Hazelnut, elderberry, lemon, currant, bergamot, burnt sugar, elderflower, muscadine, lavender, royal (lemon/orange with a bit of spices and a hint of orange flower), rum, rye bread, and Parmesan. Frederick Nutt, a popular London confectioner, published The Complete Confectioner in 1789, which includes 32 different ice cream recipes. And I'll be honest, 30 of them intrigue me enough to try making at least once.

Today, I've decided to try making Parmesan. Nutt's recipe for it looks relatively simple and straightforward, and I'm intrigued by the contrast of a funky savory flavor with the sweetness we'd expect from ice cream. 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 16 oz. heavy cream
  • 3 oz. grated Parmesan cheese

  1. Make a simple syrup. Because this is a Georgian-era recipe, I went for a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water. Leftovers can be used in cocktails, hot cocoa, or just about anything else.
    1. Heat 1 cup water over moderate heat- you want it hot but not boiling- and stir in the sugar until dissolved, then let cool.
  2. In a clean pot over low heat, combine 8 oz. of the cooled syrup, the eggs, and the heavy cream.
  3. Stirring constantly, gently bring to a bubble over medium-high heat.
  4. Still stirring, add the cheese. The texture will change immediately to a curds and whey consistency, then to a thicker porridge consistency.
  5. Remove from heat and let cool.
  6. Sieve through a strainer, gently pressing on the curds to expel any liquid into a bowl.
  7. Cover the bowl and set it in the freezer to harden. The curds can be reserved for snacking. The curds, in case you're curious, taste like a sweet, dense quickbread (especially when eaten cold).
What does it taste like?
The ice cream tastes like a subtle Parmesan cheesecake. The Parmesan is noticeable, but it hides behind the sweetness rather than fighting it. Overall, it's very rich and I found it delicious!

About the author of this post: I'm Beth: a bookwyrm, history geek, hobby baker, Austen fan, and collector of pastimes. Henry Tilney and Elizabeth Bennet are my Austen fictional crushes, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about me. I can be found blogging at https://bethwyrm.blogspot.com/ and creating general nonsense at: https://www.instagram.com/goddessbeth/https://www.tiktok.com/@artemishi, and https://twitter.com/ArtemisHi.
Find more posts from Beth here

Jane Austen, Austen in August, blog event, Jane Austen fan fiction, JAFF, The Book Rat, BookRatMisty
Click here to return to the master list of Austen in August posts!

Monday, August 30, 2021

The Bridgerton Effect: A Janeite Roundtable


The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things; of Dukes and hot goss and TV shows; of Netflix and other things...
In other words, it's time for our last Janeite Roundtable Conversation! Today we're taking on the "Bridgerton Effect," and the flood of Austen "updates" that seem to be coming our way (fingers crossed!). I asked:  

With the success of Bridgerton (and the quasi-success of Sanditon), it seems like networks and streaming services are scrambling for the next big Regency hit with a modern or edgy spin, and are of course looking to Austen -- including announcing a new P&P-themed dating show. It promises to be an absolute trainwreck, of course.  But my question is multi-faceted: are you excited for potential modern reimaginings of Austen?  If so, what would you like to see? What do you think would lend itself to a modern interpretation, however loose?

MARILYN: I absolutely laughed out loud when I read about that upcoming P&P-themed dating show!

MISTY: Very much, same.

MARILYN: I know curiosity will get the better of me, so I'm sure to watch at least the pilot episode, but we'll see the results of this particular reality TV experiment... 

MISTY: Even if it's awful, I think I'm in for the duration. Ha!

MARILYN: The thing I appreciate most about having Austen-inspired work in the media is the sheer amount of mainstream coverage it gets and, thus, the way it opens the door to conversations about JA and her novels. 

MISTY: Yes! That's what I'm hoping will be the inevitable result.  Original text-wise, but also movie-wise: we're overdue for a good spate of new adaptations, and I'd love to see some modern takes get the big budget treatment, too!

MARILYN: For some people, there will be little interest in digging deeper into her writing. But for others, it may be the perfect jumping off point, and they might become the newest Austen fans.
Modern reimaginings of Austen are my jam! Much as I enjoy all things Regency, I actively seek out contemporary interpretations because I love seeing Jane's plotlines and character types mingling with the modern world. To me, she's forever relevant and timeless. 

MISTY: And endlessly relatable! All around the world, in any number of cultures, you find people relating to her characters and her insight, and wanting to tell and retell her stories.

MARILYN: Her observations about humans are as true today as they were a couple hundred years ago -- and I'm sure that'll still be so in the future. On an even more personal level, wanting to highlight how applicable JA's insights are to modern life was a major driving force behind my desire to become a novelist. My debut novel According to Jane was almost completely inspired by the hope that I could show how human behavior, especially in pursuit of relationships, is no different now than it was in Austen's time.

CHRISTINA: I could easily see “The Darcy Monologues” anthology becoming a mini/series with each of the stories, regardless of era, being played by the same cast for key characters. 

MISTY: 1) I love that format, and the creativity and range it brings out of actors, and 2) Yes, please! I'm sold!

LONA: I would like to see Mansfield Park in an Asian or East Asian setting. 

MISTY: I want to see an entire series of the books in an Asian or East Asian setting! I love that we're starting to see more diverse takes gain traction.

LONA: I think such an adaptation would work very well. Maybe Sir Thomas Bertram is a sweatshop factory owner in Guangzhou or Bangladesh. 

MISTY: I don't need more reasons to hate him, honestly. But I would love to see the familiar stories and characters and romances play out against new backdrops, with new perspectives and cultures adding depth.

RIANA: I have to confess I’m not a big television-watcher. I’m also a bit cautious of how the networks are re-imagining some of the classics, if we can call Nancy Drew and Archie “classics.” Dark Austen? Is that what’s next? The Ghost of Netherfield Hall? The Phantom Spirits of Longbourn? 

MISTY: I'm honestly not opposed... but then, I'm shameless. And easy! Slap Austen's name on it and I'm in!

RIANA: We have had P&P&Zombies, so there is obviously interest. Still, anything to spread the love gets a thumbs-up from me. I can’t predict what upcoming shows would work well, but I thought The Lizzie Bennet Diaries of a few years back was brilliant. 

MISTY: Truly.

RIANA: The linked vlog posts, Twitter feeds, Pinterest pages, and all that, really came together fabulously to create realistic and relatable characters, while keeping to the gist of the story. If someone can recreate that, it would be amazing.

MISTY: Man! I'm definitely overdue for a rewatch of that series. And Emma Approved!

ALEXA: This isn’t strictly Regency, but I’d really like an historical cookoff show with a literately twist. 

MISTY: You are speaking my language, Alexa!

ALEXA: Maybe one episode challenges contestants to reproduce food from Austen’s novels, like white soup and syllabub. Maybe another episode focuses on Shakespeare, and they could make posset and wild boar. The judges could be a mixture of chefs and historians. It’d be great!


<hr> 

So, friends: what would you like to see? 
And what should we talk about next year? Let me know in the comments. But for now, that's us, signing off on another great year of Janeite Roundtable discussions! 

BIG THANKS to this year's roundtable of contributors:
Alexa Adams, author of The Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice series, et al
Christina Boyd, editor of  The Quill Collective anthology series
Lona Manning, author of the Mansfield Trilogy and the blog series "Clutching My Pearls"
Marilyn Brant, author of Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match, et al.
Riana Everly, author of the Miss Mary Investigates series, et al.

Jane Austen, Austen in August, blog event, Jane Austen fan fiction, JAFF, The Book Rat, BookRatMisty
Click here to return to the master list of Austen in August posts!

Guest Review: Jane by the Sea by Carolyn V Murray, from Beth!

Beth joins us today for a review of Carolyn V. Murray's Jane by the Sea; take it away, Beth! 

Synopsis

Very little is known about the young man that Jane Austen met during a seaside holiday in 1800. Her sister was later to say that she believed this young man was falling in love with Jane and was someone she felt was truly worthy of her sister. What transpired that summer? Perhaps it happened this way...

Jane begins her search for love with giddy optimism, but her first encounter proves devastating. The young Irishman who captured her heart is convinced by his family that marrying a penniless clergyman’s daughter would be a terrible mistake. Jane resolves never again to succumb to false hope, romantic delusions, and pathetic heartbreak.

Lieutenant Frederick Barnes is on medical leave from the Royal Navy. By the time he crosses paths with Jane, she has lost her faith in love and is determined to protect her heart at all costs.

But the Lieutenant is captivated and equally determined to break through her defenses. Jane must battle between what she knows and what she feels. What will happen to her heart if she is wrong again?

My Review

Having recently read Miss Austen, and previously read other works of fiction that touch on Jane Austen's supposed one (or two) moments of love, I found this to be the sweetest take on that quasi-known part of the author's personal history. Most of this book is supposition, by Carolyn V. Murray's admission, but she pulls from Austen's own published works (both in scenes and characters, and in direct lines from the novels), which makes this something of a love-letter to Jane Austen. 

I was a bit startled at Jane's writing scenes to express frustration by punishing her fictional characters- both the level of violence and the act of it felt immature, and not something I'd expect from a woman whose perception of human nature feels like it would come with self-awareness. But it was entertaining, and I don't honestly know if Jane wrote bloodthirsty scenes as a child (it's possibly reference to that survived in letters). 

Jane's own second-chance romance mirrors Persuasion so much that it's hard to not be charmed by Lieutenant Barnes. Even knowing what happens (from my previous reading), I had hope for a better ending for Austen. And I get the impression that Carolyn V Murray did, too.

So if you lean into the fiction part of historical fiction, and you're a fan of Jane Austen (the woman and/or her works), I highly recommend this sweet, entertaining story.


About the author of this post: I'm Beth: a bookwyrm, history geek, hobby baker, Austen fan, and collector of pastimes. Henry Tilney and Elizabeth Bennet are my Austen fictional crushes, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about me. I can be found blogging at https://bethwyrm.blogspot.com/ and creating general nonsense at: https://www.instagram.com/goddessbeth/https://www.tiktok.com/@artemishi, and https://twitter.com/ArtemisHi.
Find more posts from Beth here

Jane Austen, Austen in August, blog event, Jane Austen fan fiction, JAFF, The Book Rat, BookRatMisty
Click here to return to the master list of Austen in August posts!

Friday, August 27, 2021

GIVEAWAY: Jane Austen Quote Art Prints

Update: I've added a second giveaway of these prints, over on instagram. One winner will receive the full set of all four prints!

For whatever reason, I seem to enjoy putting extra work on myself whenever things are super chaotic. Case in point: my printables series

This year, I'm taking the printables idea a step further in that, I'm printing them and sending them directly to you! (Well, some of you, anyway...) What can I say? I'm just itching to have my stationery shop open, finally



If you'd like to see how these prints were created, you can check that out in the video above. And then, make sure to enter to win one of the four prints featured! And don't forget, I've also included tidbits from my stationery shop, Wild Prairie Paperie, in each of this year's Mega Prize Pack giveaways, so make sure to enter those, too!

 ****GIVEAWAY**** 

Win 1 of 4 hand-lettered quote prints, featuring some of my favorite Jane Austen quotes!
To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below. Full terms in the Rafflecopter. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. 
Please do not leave email addresses or sensitive info in the comments. 
Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Jane Austen, Austen in August, blog event, Jane Austen fan fiction, JAFF, The Book Rat, BookRatMisty
Click here to return to the master list of Austen in August posts!

Beth Reviews Clueless, arguably one of the best movies of the 90s

Beth is back today with a look at everyone's favorite modern take on Austen: the 90s classic, Clueless! I mean, it is everyone's favorite, right? You couldn't possibly love another as much. As if!

Adaptation of: Emma

Character Guide:

  • Emma = Cher
  • Mr. Knightley = Josh
  • Harriet Smith = Tai
  • Mr. Elton = Elton
  • Frank Churchill = Christian
  • Robert Martin = Travis
  • Mr. Woodhouse = Mel Horowitz

Notable Changes:

  • Rather than the Jane Fairfax secret romance, Christian is gay (props for a rare mid-90's LGBTQIA+ representation!)
  • There are a few new characters (Dionne, Murray, two teachers that are kind of stand-ins for Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston).
  • There's no Miss Bates analog.

Thoughts: 

Right off, I'm going to admit my bias toward this movie based on the fact that Paul Rudd plays Mr. Knightley. There's a small bit of cringe in some insensitive language, but that aside, it captures a cheeky self-aware silliness about a subculture in a point of time, and uses Emma as the framework in which to do that.

As adaptations go, it hits the major plot points, but less so the minor ones. However, the characters remain true to their original incarnations: Cher is a bit of a snob but she means well and has a maternal streak; Tai is hopelessly out of her depth but starts to believe herself "above her station", which brings her unhappiness; Elton is a social climber with a sleaze; Christian is relentlessly cool; Travis is kind-hearted throughout. Josh is less chastising than Mr. Knightley, but still nails the friends-to-lovers sweet spot.

Now, as oddness goes, my rewatch had me considering the age difference between Cher and Josh. There is one, clearly (milder than in the book, thankfully) and it's never fully stated what that is. But Cher is 16, and Josh is "college-aged"- I really hope that means 18, and not 20, or I'll be squicked out.

Verdict: 

Capturing the classism within the setting of high school popularity, and walking the delicate balance between sweet-MC and obnoxiously wealthy-MC, this mid-90s subculture-set adaptation of Emma is cheeky and approachable. It hits all the broad strokes of the book, with a fun soundtrack and (if you're an Old who grew up in SoCal, like me) a fair side of nostalgia. Worth a watch.


About the author of this post: I'm Beth: a bookwyrm, history geek, hobby baker, Austen fan, and collector of pastimes. Henry Tilney and Elizabeth Bennet are my Austen fictional crushes, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about me. I can be found blogging at https://bethwyrm.blogspot.com/ and creating general nonsense at: https://www.instagram.com/goddessbeth/https://www.tiktok.com/@artemishi, and https://twitter.com/ArtemisHi.
Find more posts from Beth here

Jane Austen, Austen in August, blog event, Jane Austen fan fiction, JAFF, The Book Rat, BookRatMisty
Click here to return to the master list of Austen in August posts!

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