FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Now with a new foreword and an updated cover showcasing Jane's own handwriting, this re-imagining of Jane's life continues to charm and delight readers of literary fiction worldwide.
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All her heroines find love in the end–but is there love waiting for Jane? Jane Austen spends her days writing and matchmaking in the small countryside village of Steventon, until a ball at Godmersham Park propels her into a new world where she yearns for a romance of her own. But whether her heart will settle on a young lawyer, a clever Reverend, a wealthy childhood friend, or a mysterious stranger is anyone’s guess. Written in the style of Jane herself, this novel ponders the question faced by many devoted readers over the years–did she ever find love? Weaving fact with fiction, it re-imagines her life, using her own stories to fill in the gaps left by history and showing that all of us–to a greater or lesser degree–are head over heels for Jane.
Why I wrote a Jane Austen re-telling.
Jane Austen, frankly, didn’t get a fair shake. She died young, her name was not on her books during her lifetime, she never found love (that we know of), and she was probably considered a burden on her family as she got older.
I always like to imagine Jane as someone outside of her time, not wanting to live within the norms and rules for women simply seeking a good match. Jane was the original rebel.
When I discovered Jane Austen’s books, it was a revelation. Her voice, strength of convictions in a constrained time awed me. Then when I read about her life, well, something had to be done. I called this book a daydream because in many ways it is.
It is not a normal historical fiction, it could almost be considered experimental literary fiction because of some of the twists I put in it (which I won’t discuss here, more fun to discover them for yourself). This is my daydream for Jane. It is her, living in one of her tales (a new one, with new surprises). And maybe there, Jane might find love, happiness, success, and a fairer shake.
Scott D. Southard
"For those of you who are exhausted by the innumerable retellings of Austen's novels, this is a style entirely new.... be rewarded by a quick paced novel unlike any you can ever have read, which injects new ideas and possibilities into the world of Jane Austen." Laura Boyle, The Jane Austen Centre
"Mix one-part biography and one-part historical re-imagining...add witty characters and some surprises and you have A Jane Austen Daydream. This was a delightful read." Amelia Rodriguez, Jane Austen Society of North America
"...Lovely, thought-provoking novel. Fans of Austen will adore this book."
Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Life List.
"Southard has taken the facts about the great author and woven them into a credible, touching, and also entertaining portrait of a life."
Historical Novel Society
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About the Author
Scott D. Southard, the author of A Jane Austen Daydream, swears he is not obsessed with Jane Austen. He is also the author of the novels: My Problem with Doors, Megan, Permanent Spring Showers, Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, and 3 Days in Rome. With his eclectic writing he has found his way into radio, being the creator of the radio comedy series The Dante Experience. The production was honored with the Golden Headset Award for Best MultiCast Audio and the Silver Ogle Award for Best Fantasy Audio Production. Scott received his Master's in writing from the University of Southern California. Scott can be found on the internet via his writing blog "The Musings & Artful Blunders of Scott D. Southard where he writes on far-ranging topics like writing, art, books, TV, writing, parenting, life, movies, and writing. He even shares original fiction on the site. Currently, Scott resides in Michigan with his very understanding wife, his two patient children, and a very opinionated dog named Bronte. Find out more at Scott's blog sdsouthard.com and follow him on Twitter @SDSouthard
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