Hot off the presses is an announcement today in Publishers Weekly of a new Jane Austen short story anthology to be published by Random House in 2011. The collection will include approximately twenty stories inspired by Jane Austen, literature’s witty muse of the modern novel and astute observer of human nature and the heart.
Readers familiar with Austen inspired paraliterature will recognize many popular authors among the list of those contributing and a few surprises from best selling authors who greatly admire Austen’s works. Contributing to the line-up are best selling authors Karen Joy Fowler (Jane Austen Book Club), Stephanie Barron (A Jane Austen Mystery Series), Adriana Trigiani (Brava, Valentine), Lauren Willig (The Pink Carnation Series) and the husband and wife writing team of Frank Delaney (Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show) and Diane Meier (The Season of Second Chances). Approximately twenty Austenesque authors and others from related genres have already committed to the project including:
Pamela Aidan (Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman Trilogy)
Elizabeth Aston (Mr. Darcy’s Daughters, & Writing Jane Austen)
Stephanie Barron (A Jane Austen Mystery Series, & The White Garden)
Carrie Bebris (Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries Series)
Diana Birchall (Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma, & Mrs. Elton in America)
Frank Delaney (Shannon, Tipperary, & Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show)
Monica Fairview (The Darcy Cousins, & The Other Mr. Darcy)
Amanda Grange (Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, & Mr. Darcy’s Diary)
Syrie James (The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, & The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte)
Diane Meier (The Season of Second Chances)
Janet Mullany (Bespelling Jane Austen, & Rules of Gentility)
Jane Odiwe (Lydia Bennet’s Story, & Willoughby’s Return)
Beth Pattillo (Jane Austen Ruined My Life, & Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart)
Alexandra Potter (Me & Mr. Darcy, & The Two Lives of Miss Charlotte Merryweather: A Novel)
Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino Bradway (Lady Vernon & Her Daughter)
Myretta Robens (Pemberley.com , Just Say Yes, & Once Upon a Sofa)
Maya Slater (The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy)
Margaret C. Sullivan (AustenBlog.com, & The Jane Austen Handbook)
Adriana Trigiani (Brava Valentine, Very Valentine, & Lucia, Lucia)
Laurie Viera Rigler (Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, & Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict)
Lauren Willig (The Pink Carnation Series)
In addition, a short story contest hosted by the venerable The Republic of Pemberley website will be held to fill one slot in the anthology for a new voice in Austenesque fiction. Further details on submission and manuscript deadlines will be posted here and at Pemberley.com.
And if you were wondering how I know so much about the project, I have been secretly working on it for months and will be the editor. I’m the luckiest Janeite in the world!
Cheers, Laurel Ann
© 2007-2010 Laurel Ann Nattress, Austenprose
Austenprose 
How exciting and what a wonderful list of authors, congratulations! Can’t wait to read it. ;)
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I am floored, Laurel Ann!!! First I read about this magnificent anthology featuring so many of my favorite authors and then I find out you are the editor!!! What fantastic news!! I am so very happy for you,I hope you have a blast on this project!
If you are allowed to answer this: what kind of editting will you be doing?
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Thanks for the complements Meredith. I am thrilled and honored to have this book project. A short story editor is as Vic would say “a maid of all work”. They do everything from start to finish from prospecting for authors to helping with story ideas to editing the manuscripts to writing the intro and more. They orchestrate the whole project and make sure everything is finished by deadline. I am very excited to be working with such an amazing group of authors and a distinguished publisher like Random House/Ballantine. I also have an editor too who offers advice and help. Lots of checks and balances. I will be very busy for the next year. And, last but not least, I have a fabulous agent who made the deal happen with his amazing connections. It is a dream project all around and I thank Jane every day for the opportunity.
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Congratulations, LA, Vic
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That is amazing! I am really happy for you and I can imagine that you are absolutely thrilled with being an editor of this new book!
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How wonderful! I just have no notion how I will stand the wait until the book comes out. Congratulations on the amazing project – I have no doubt it will be a magnificent collection.
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Great news! Looking forward to this.
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I didn’t know the roster until now – got a bit of a giggle. Amanda, Syrie, Janet, Beth, Pamela, Diana, Lauren, Adriana….Frank?
But, as Peter Leithart wrote, “Real men read Austen.”
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I’m tickled on two levels (at least). The Republic of Pemberley is delighted to be hosting the contest, and I am personally delighted to be included on the list of participating authors.
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This is awesome news! Congrats on the editing gig, I can’t imagine someone more perfectly suited to the role. And the author lineup is astounding – I just wish I didn’t have to wait till 2011 to read the stories!
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what a wonderful selection of authors! Sounds like a great collection, I’ll look forward to it :) and congratulations on getting to be part of the project!
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This just about made my day!!! Congrats on becoming editor for this, LaurelAnn..absolutely well-deserved and I’m very happy for you :)
Totally excited about this anthology! :D
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That’s wonderful Laurel Ann! I’m so happy and excited for you and about the book that I’m just beside myself! This makes my day!
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Congratulations Laurel Ann, and all the authors to be included in this exciting anthology. As Katherine said, above, I only wish I didn’t have to wait until next year to read it. I think you’ll have a solid hit on your hands.
Thank you also, for explaining what your job entails, LA. It sounds like very interesting work, AND a lot of fun; a dream project, indeed!
Cathy Allen
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Diana Birchall. very well done. Your books are so authentically Austen in their tone.daphne
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Awesome ! Truly, one anthology of stories I must read ! Congradulations Laurel Ann, you’re just the editor for such a Jane project and Congradulations to this drumroll of Austenesque authors too.
To those of you I see on Facebook….I will be reading You !! ;-D
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Congratulations, Laurel Ann!
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LAUREL ANN!!! Congratulations! I’m so crazy excited for you and can’t wait to get my hands on a copy — so many fabulous authors! Now, what will I do to occupy myself until 2011?! ;)
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I can’t wait to read it. I think you included all my favorites, including Lauren Willig! Thanks for the great idea and good luck.
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WOO HOO!!! I can’t believe it– TONS of my fave Austen-inspired authors ALL in one book!! Congrats, Laurel Ann on editing this amazing book! I CAN NOT WAIT to read it! And I think I will take the plunge and enter the Pemberley contest!
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I am so thrilled for you, Laurel, and delighted with the project. Can’t wait!
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Oh Laurel Ann, am still doing the little dance of joy for you! =)
You are indeed the perfect editor for this Jane anthology. 2011 can’t be here soon enough.
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Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing it in print.
Really Angelic
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I hope Oprah stays on the air long enough for you to be a guest!
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LOL Mary. You made my day. Doubt Oprah will be picking my book for the book club selection, but a girl can dream can’t she! Anyway, she would have me crying in two minutes flat.
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If you do get on, let me know. I can do your makeup and hair!
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Ooh ! LA, Hope you & some/ all Austen authors do a youtube trailer to promote the book !
And Laurel Ann, will you be available for autographs !? :)
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What great news! I am sure they have found the right Janeite for the job. Congrats Laurel.
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Laurel Ann! most excellent news! – what a lineup of writers and to have YOU as editor is the icing on the cake! Congratulations to you! Have fun – and please share your editing journey with all of us…
Best,
Deb
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wow! the list of authors is like my dreamlist of who I’d want to read! can’t 2011 come any sooner? and awesome for your Laurel Ann to be the editor! Hope it’s super-fun, very enjoyable, and relaxed and easy! =)
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Thanks to everyone for your kind wishes. With such talented authors on board, it will be such a great experience. After years of being a bookseller it is very interesting to see the publishing side of the biz.
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Perhaps you can experience it like Austen did in “Jane Bites Back”! (like how Jane was a bookseller-turned-writer sensation).
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Thanks Nicole. I do feel like my life is out of a book right now.
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Dear Laurel Ann,
so happy to hear about your grandious work: a book of contemporary writers inspired by Jane Austen! I’m at my scientific paper based on such Austenesque authors as mentioned in your article (3 May 2010). Would you be so kind to send me a copy as the result of your up-to-date project. I’ll be mostly grateful. I could have sent you the results of my research.
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Hello Lada, thanks for your comment. I have removed your address from your comment for your protection. Best not to put it out there for thieves to use. Unfortunately, I am not able to send free copies to all who request them since it comes out of my pocket, but there is always the possibility that the book will be available to purchase in Russia in the future, or you could order it and have it shipped. Good luck with your paper. Thanks again, Laurel Ann
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What a line-up! Truly looking forward to this! Also, I’ll be glad to send Lada a copy. I taught at Saratov University in 1996-1997 and know how precious such things can be!
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Thank you Nancy. I am rather pleased with the author lineup too. A dream team so-to-speak. What/where is Lada? Russia?
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I can’t believe I missed this post, but I saw the link in your Day One update. Congratulations! That’s awesome!
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Going along with Anna here – not sure how I missed this! CONGRATULATIONS!!
How did this happen?!?!
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