Thank you so much, Meredith, for hosting me on your blog today. Mr Darcy’s Christmas Calendar is a new novella for the holidays. I’ve loved writing this book, combining some of my favourite things – Jane Austen, Christmas, and a little magic! I’ve always loved Advent calendars, and have quite a collection, as I can never bear to throw them away. My favourite type have windows and doors, one for each day up until Christmas day, and discovering the pictures behind them is what makes them so special.
I wanted to write a book that follows the same idea, only having a chapter for each day instead, and hopefully, 
reading each one will give you a ‘picture’ in your mind.
My modern heroine, Lizzy Benson, visits Jane Austen’s house at Chawton in December, and buys a special advent calendar in the gift shop. Strange things start to happen when the lady in the shop encourages her to open up the first door. Lizzy finds herself back in Regency Chawton with all the beloved characters from her favourite book, Pride and Prejudice, but more mysteriously, keeps glimpsing a young lady who leaves her writing lying about with tantalising snippets of a similar but alternate story to the one Lizzy knows so well.
Every day brings a new experience, and a puzzling addition to the tale – this is not Pride and Prejudice as she knows it, and where is Mr Darcy?
I hope you enjoy the little excerpt! You can read the first three chapters on Austen Variations.
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The door opened easily, and Lizzy was drawn instantly into the world beyond by its subject matter and vivid colours. The little painting was exquisitely detailed and when she looked more closely she could see a long gallery of the kind she remembered her teachers at school describing as an entertainment space for the richly dressed Elizabethans who promenaded in stiff farthingales and ruffs, dripping in jewels and precious stones. Indeed, the room was decorated with paintings hanging on the walls, and incredibly, she could see the tiny details of every one. Her eye was drawn to a painting of a young girl dressed in black, her stiff stomacher enlivened only by an ornate gold cross, but rather severe until a froth of pleated ruff and diaphanous wings above it softened and framed her beautiful face. Her hair was curly and caught behind a string of gleaming pearls. The only other adornment was a single red rose she held between a finger and her thumb. She looked a lot like a portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots, that she’d once seen in the National Portrait Gallery in London and Lizzy remembered how she’d been touched to her heart by the sad tale of the young queen.
A voice in her ear startled her. ‘Do you ever wish you could go back in time and change history, Miss Benson?’
Curiously, and weirder still, she felt herself shrinking, as she had done once before, and in the next second she found herself standing in the painting, as large as life. It was a moment or two before she could speak. One minute she’d been sitting on her bed with the calendar in her hand, the next she was through the door itself. The picture gallery stretched before her, rush matting under her feet and diamond paned windows illuminating the space on every side. It was an empty room except for the paintings along one panelled wall, of course, and the occasional chair or oak chest bearing a bowl of dried lavender, which emitted sweet fragrance like an Elizabethan pomander.
When she turned to answer the girl at her side, she knew exactly whom she must be. There was a strong resemblance to both Elizabeth and Jane; they could have been taken for sisters. It was the girl she’d seen crossing the yard at the back of Chawton cottage, it could be no one else but Miss Jane Austen.
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Jane Odiwe is the author of seven Austen-inspired books, Mr Darcy’s Christmas Calendar, Mrs Darcy’s Diamonds, Project Darcy, Searching for Captain Wentworth, (White Soup Press) Mr Darcy’s Secret, Willoughby’s Return, and Lydia Bennet’s Story, (Sourcebooks).
Jane was born in Sutton Coldfield, England, and gained an arts degree in Birmingham where she indulged her great loves of Fine Art, Literature, and History. After teaching in the midlands for some years, Jane moved to London to teach, until writing novels, and a growing obsession with all things Jane Austen, took over her life.
With her husband, children, and two cats, Jane now divides her time between North London, and Bath, England. Jane is a member of the Jane Austen Society and when she’s not writing, she enjoys painting and trying to capture the spirit of Jane Austen’s world.
Connect with Jane
Blog ❧ Website ❧ Facebook ❧ Twitter
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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Today, Jane brings with her two copies of newly released novel, Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Calendar (2 ebooks), for me to giveaway to TWO lucky winners!
To enter this giveaway, leave a question, a comment, or some love for Jane below!
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Jane!
- This giveaway ends December 1st!
Intriguing! Love the idea of the Advent Calendar–very clever!
Fascinating idea. I love Advent calendars too but I doubt I could control myself to ony read one chapter a day..
Love the idea. Thanks for the giveaway.
Don’t enter me in the giveaway as I have it on my Kindle app…but I just wanted to say I don’t have the restraint to read one chapter a day. I will tuck in and devour the whole once I get a chance to sit down with it. =D Thanks for the excerpts. I already told you this, but the idea of Christmas, Jane and time slip all in one pretty package makes me positively giddy!
Judging the novella by the cover….it looks wonderful!
I already bought this lovely book so please don’t enter me in the giveaway. I just wanted to pop by to say how much I loved it. I tried to pace myself, as you’re supposed to do with an advent calendar. Be warned, it can’t be done, unless you have a will of iron (and I don’t!). Same as with a box of yummy choccies, once you’ve opened the lid there’s no stopping till you’ve eaten them all 😀
I am so interested on this story. What fun ot would be to open a door into Jane Austen’s world and stories. Great idea! Would love to win.
I have been reading this story on various blogs. How exciting to be opening doors to an Advent Calendar and to be transported into the doorway’s story. Mr. Darcy’ Christmas Calendar sounds wonderful. Thank you for the giveaway, but where exactly is Mr. Darcy?
The story sounds very interesting and the calendar is also a great idea. Reading only one chapter a day gives us time to bake those Christmas goodies. New and exciting is being brought into Jane Austen’s world by no other than you/.
What a magical premise! I’d love to read the whole story! Thanks for the giveaway!
Gorgeous cover and intriguing story. I just bought my grandson his Advent Calendar that my daughter will bring out on Dec. 1st. My children loved the daily opening of their calendars so the tradition continues. Thank you for the opportunity to win this novella!
Loving the excerpts! Thanks for sharing them!
Advent calendar is not popular in my church and I admit I have never heard of it until you talk about it, Jane. I would love to read this story and it is perfect for the coming Christmas holiday season. Thank you for bringing a different excerpt than the one posted on Austen Variations.
Great idea! Thanks for the chance to win this 😀
What a neat idea with the Advent Calendar! I’ve actually never owned one and I can’t remember if I’ve seen one in someone else’s house. I’ve only read about them and seen them in the movies. They seem so cool and now there is a magical one straight to Jane. Nifty!
Great excerpt! Would love to win a copy…
Thank you all for your lovely comments – good luck for the giveaway!
I just bought a chocolate Advent calendar today. I am sorely disappointed that nothing magical happened! But I would be happy if I could find an Advent calendar with little windows that open to reveal Darcy. XD
Great idea for a book! Can’t wait to read it!
Love the idea if the advent calendar. Congrats on another new release. But I don’t think I could do only a chapter a day, but sounds like a good challenge. And love the cover, by the way.
Thank you all so much for your lovely comments! I highly recommend the traditional German Advent calendars-they are beautiful-all with wonderful illustrations and pictures behind the windows. Trouble is I never want to throw them away-I have quite a big collection!
What an imaginative premise. Would love to read it. Thanks for the giveaway.
Yay, another Odiwe book! Thanks for sharing the excerpt. This looks great as well! And thx for the giveaway!
I like her books and having a Christmas one sounds good.
Yay! A new story by Jane Odiwe!! Her time travels are always exciting! 🙂 Thanks for the lovely excerpt and the giveaway!
LOVE the cover!!!! Thank you for the giveaway!!!
That cover is perfect for this season! I’m sure the novella is, too!
A very intersting concept. I will love to read more!
interesting twist on the story
Denise
I think mixing Jane Austen and Christmas together in a book is perfect!
Such a beautiful cover!
The cover of this book looks so beautiful! 🙂
I’s indeed Christmas time xd the novel sound mysterious and great
I love her books and this one sounds very interesting! Cover is beautiful too 🙂
JAFF and Christmas time, what a wonderful concept! Looking forward to reading it!
What a beautiful, brilliant idea! Can’t wait to read it!!