Leona

Is from: Vancouver, British Columbia
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Stats
Full Name: Leona Janet Pauline White
Birthdate: October 31, 1979
Height: 5'9"
Hair: brown with natural blonde highlights and red undertones wonder where my character's hair comes from?
Eyes: Blue

Homepage: www.geocities.com/lady_ashmore/index.html

Bio:

Hmmm, who am I?!?!?! The girl who uses *lol* too much in chat, *snort*. Who am I?!?!?!?! should be a simple question, maybe you should get back to me when I am a bit older, *lol*. So I'll just talk about my interests and such.

Education: My love for Jane Austen actually grows out of a love of history. I attended University on an athletics scholarship (golf), and recently completed my bachelors of arts in history with a minor in religious studies. I am currently working towards my bachelors of education in secondary school. As well, shortly I will be beginning a Catholic Teacher's degree from a theology college. I hope to eventually teach history and theology in Catholic school. I am an avid athlete and a ravenous reader. I read perpetually, from the news to novels to even song lyrics sometimes, *lol*.

Discovering Austen I first 'truly' discovered Jane Austen through the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice a couple of years ago. I did read it previously during high school, but my teachers had managed to ruin it for me. I think I love Ms. Austen's writings because they combine so many things for me, my love of history, my love of wit and intellectual humour, and my love of romance. I have since read much of the remainder of Ms. Austen's works, though I must confess to not having read all of her works yet. I will almost be sad the day I do, it will be the end of something. No doubt it such emotions will quickly pass, as I will go back and reread them again.

Favorite Literature Hmmm, my favorite book of all time, however, is not Jane Austen's. It is All Quiet on the Western Front. I consider it the best novel ever written, for its honest consideration of the horrors of war. Perhaps this would make more sense if I had mentioned that my area of specialty in history was modern European history. Aside from Ms. Austen's novels, another favorite of mine would be The Count of Monte Cristo. For more recent authors, I would have to nominate anything written by Audrey Howard. I have only recently begun to read Georgette Heyer, but I do believe that she will shortly become a favorite as well.

Favorite Music In music, my taste runs all over the board. I enjoy everything except hard rock, the majority of rap and country. My favorite bands would be U2, The Tea Party and Nelly Furtado. I generally prefer well written rock songs, but I do enjoy pop as well but without such a lasting enjoyment. I good rock song stays for me forever, but a good pop song fades.

Personal I am engaged to a very wonderful man who I have been dating for the last five years. I will in a few years (I am still in school after all!!!) be known as Leona De Sousa. Strange name I know!! I also use a variety of John's characteristics unabashedly in my first attempt at fan fiction. So much in fact, that he is the sole inspiration for one character in particular. I'll leave it up to everyone to guess which one (like it isn't obvious). I started my first fan fiction attempt here but choose to remove it. I hope to post the two sequels to it here, for I feel it is only fair for me to give something back to all the wonderful authors I have been enjoying for so long.

~It's not that my glass is empty but I need another cup~

Leonore

Is from: Berkeley, California, USA
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DWG Name: Leonore
Real name: Lee Bridges (but someone had taken this at RoP already, so I use Leonore, which is my stage name at the Renaissance Faire)

Author of “In A Different Style” and “Pride and Prejudice: The Opera.”

Professional writer and crisis manager, motorcyclist, outdoorswoman, carpenter, and one of the world’s miniscule number of certified female fencing coaches, all three weapons. Spend lots of time in pirate costume at historic festivals, teaching people to swashbuckle. Love animals, cooking, music, dancing, and my husband Mark, also a writer and martial artist.

Native Californian who tried the East Coast for two years, couldn’t find any good mountains to climb, and transferred to the University of California at Berkeley. Lived in San Francisco for ten years thereafter, keeping people from being evicted illegally and sending documents on political corruption to the newspapers while the Planning Department tried to find out where the leak was. Since I didn’t work for them, they never did.

Love adventure. Can hack my way semi-competently through five languages. Once rode motorcycle alone from San Francisco to Guatemala for five months to see what Mayan ruins look like during the rainy season (damp).

Most embarrassing moment: dove into swimming pool and lost the top half of my bikini. I don’t wear bikinis any more.

Long term goal: get China out of Tibet. Medium term goal: build music studio big enough to hold all our instruments. Short term goal: keep the gophers out of the vegetable garden.

Live in gorgeous house in Berkeley, California, filled with invisible sea serpents and too many books.

Lesley Friend

Is from: Where am I from, deep question, well, first Chicago, IL; now Memphis, TN; and soon, Montclair, NJ!
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And a link: ...every DIVA needs her own pink webpage...

AGE: 18
SCHOOL: Graduated senior, it took me two years to pass Latin II for some reason, but I have by three points -- so I get to go to college. I will swear until my dying day that it was the teacher. She is the only teacher EVER to give me detention or suspension. Maybe that is because I have a tendency to swear at her. ANYWAY! I will be attending Montclair State University in the fall, majoring in vocal music performance and minoring in theater. Then hopefully I will be a world famous opera star.
FAVE JA BOOK: Pride & Prejudice is number one, but I just started Persuasion, so I am not sure. Emma and Mansfield Park run close seconds.
FAVE JA FILM ADAPTATIONS: Sense & Sensibility, I wrote a paper on how this film's direction and photography were symbolic of the manners of the people of the time. I really think it is a great film. Phenomenal!! If you watch, the scenes where the characters are trying to be intimate are far away, wide screen shots. Very eentaressting! Then of course A&E BBC P&P! I watch that once a month at least! And you know, as much as it is not really at all like the novel, I have an affection for the 1940 Pride & Prejudice with Greer garson and Laurence Olivier. I first saw the film during my Ollie obsession, and its what got me reading Austen. It'll always have a place in my heart.
OTHER STUFF I LIKE: I have very odd tastes. I lived and breathed X-Files for a good 2 years. I know every word to Rent, The Wild Party, both Audra McDonald albums, Cabaret, Pucini with Pasta, Marie Christine, every Audra McDonald Album, Chef Aid, Marilyn Manson's Coma White, and the new Nine Inch Nails (only the left side, don't like the right) I happen to think South Park is probably the most intelligent show on television, the most entertaining voice of America, ever. Have you guys seen House of Mirth, that movie, oh, man, it just rips you apart and requiem for a dream, that is hard to watch. I really love Lucia di lammermoor, Joan Sutherland's mad scene is one of the coolest things you can ever hear. I really TCBY as well. Phenomenal.
COOL THING: I got a summer job working at Bravo! Its an italian restaurant where the waiters sing opera and showtunes while you eat pasta, cool huh? I'm excitied anyway.
WORDS I LEAVE YOU WITH: Passion is it people, you have to have a passion in your life, accounting, botany, or music. Its gotta be there. Music is the blood of life, it makes you move, it helps you breathe, it lets you see, it forces you to feel, it lets you know what you don't know. Can't you feel it jumping in your veins? On that note, Oscar Wilde said,

"We are all in the gutter -- but some of us are looking at the stars."

Lillian C.

Is from: Oklahoma, USA
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My full name is Tara Lillian Collins. I'm 21 and am the eldest of four sisters. I'm six-feet-tall and have long, curly brown hair and green eyes (so I'm easy to spot in a crowd). Apart from being a fan of Austen, I also love J.R.R. Tolkien, Samuel Richardson, and Frances Burney. Needless to say, I also love to read the stories found in the archives at DWG. They're great! When I'm not being a bookworm or a writer, I love to play the piano or watch Audrey Hepburn movies, the Star Wars trilogy, and A&E's P&P (duh!). I go to the University of Central Oklahoma and am majoring in French and elementary education with an endorsement in science. C'est tout!

Lisa Anne

Is from: Ohio
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Hi! Definately not my first visit here :) I found this site from Republic of Pemberely and I haven't left since! Total addiction.
I'm in my senior year of college majoring in public relations hoping to find a job sometime soon. For spring break, I'm heading off to England for 9 days - and hoping to retain some accent (I've been formally trained in diction so it should be that hard).
I love Jane Austen (esp. P & P!) and many sequels to it. The first book I ever loved was Jane Eyre, but now my P & P book is so worn I can toss it open and it will stay flat. My box set of the movie is so worn from my corridor watching it that they actually bought me another one.
We hold tea parties once a semester and watch P&P2 together! I'm also a silly girl who now has a Lizzy's Netherfield ballgown in her possession! Thanks to Jennie over at Sensibility.com!
Thanks for all the wonderful postings and great readings that let me procrastinate.

Lisa

Is from: Houston, Texas
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I am one of those people who would rather be reading books than doing any sort of work. I especially prefer historical fiction with a bit of romance and humor. Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion are my favorite Jane Austen stories. In my current profession, I do a lot of writing (business reports). Once my computer at home is fixed, I plan to take a stab at writing something for this web site.

LisaRenee

Is from: Cleveland, Ohio (now I'm in Columbus, Ohio!)
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And a link: Lisa's Loony Bin

Hello and welcome to the not-so-interesting life of Lisa Renee, presented to you in third person. Lisa Renee, a loudmouthed redhead, was born May 21, 1981. June 6, 1999 marked her graduation date from high school, where she graduated in the top 10% of her class with over a 4.0 GPA.

As for entertainment, Lisa enjoys many types of music. Her favorite band is R.E.M., which is currently unrivaled although her mother says she's on a "punk kick" because of all of the type of music she listens to frequently. She wonders "Can you blame me for listening to music that has a faster beat than my semi-mundane life?" She also likes alternative music, lamenting the end of her favorite Cleveland based radio station.

As for hobbies, Lisa plays piano and has been playing for almost 15 years. She is not sure what she is doing with that in the future, but is looking to do some jazz piano at Ohio State University, where she will be attending as of September 15, 1999. Her major is currently Chemistry, but her passion is calculus. She considers herself to be a decent writer, and has a few on this very site. Her favorite authors are Jane Austen (to which she says "duh") and Stephen King (The Stand, It, and Insomnia. As for Austen, her favorite is Pride and Prejudice, but she is currently reading Persuasion, having never done so before. Her claim to fame is to have "Jerry Springerized" Emma for a junior year English prokect.

She is a movie and Hollywood buff. Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is no match for Lisa! But, before the reader is put to sleep, Lisa will end this short, informative piece. Please check out her pages!

Lisette

Is from: Holland
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Hello everybody, I don't know if I have posted a bio here before(I can't find it anyway), but here goes:
I'm 20, and I really enjoy reading JA and watching her adaptions.
P&P is my all time favorite but Northanger Abbey is a close second. Persuasion comes 3rd and Emma 4th.
I have to admit that it has been a while since I read one of the novels, but now the hollidays are there, so I'll have plenty of time to do so.

I have a very jealous boyfriend, jealous because I'm crazy about JA and therefor spent less time with him. ;)

I'm rather suprised at the number of men around here (so few). But those who are here are fun to talk with.

Well my hobbies are reading JA and discussing her novels here or at the Republic of Pemberley.

That's all for me, byebye.
Lisette

LissaMU

Is from: Cincinnati, Ohio (Oxford, Ohio at school)
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And a link: Happy Thought Indeed

I am a 21-year-old junior biochemistry major at Miami University in Ohio. I hope to graduate in May 2003 and go to grad school in Britain and live there forever!
My friend Lisa introduced me to the wonders of P&P2 (you know... the Colin version) 2 years ago and I've been completely addicted ever since. Several months ago, she told me about Republic of Pemberley and DWG, and I started out by lurking and reading fan fic and the message boards, then started posting and writing stories. I now have DWG as my home page and visit it at least 5 times a day (when I should be doing homework!). I've read almost all of the JA canon (just have to finish Emma and the juvenilia), but P&P is still by far my favorite. Another favorite of mine is Jane Eyre, and most recently The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, which is about a sort of alternate dimension England where people can go into books (imagine the joys of that... a trip to Pemberley anyone?) and time travel, and an evil genius decides to kidnap Jane Eyre from her book and hold her for ransom. I think I was born in the wrong century... Regency England is where I belong!

Liz C.

Is from: USA
And a link: My Girl Scout Troop's website, which I built

When asked to describe myself, the first words that come to mind are JESUS FREAK! Beyond that, not much else matters, does it? I've been hanging around on the RoP for some time, and have turned to DWG in desperation since the message board sabbatical was put into action today. I can't wait to explore. (<: You can find out all about me by reading my posts and bio at RoP (pemberley.com), but I'll give a brief idea here- I'm into reading, writing, Christian music (dcTalk, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, MaryMary, Avalon, Delirious?, Chris Rice, you name it!), and being very opinionated. My favorite radio station is Spirit 105.3 KCMS (spirit1053.com). I like to think that people describe me as one person once described Jane Austen: "...a little girl who is a judge of character and keeps silent."

Liz K

Is from: Centerport, NY
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I became interested in JA after I read P&P in the 10th Grade in high school. Seven years later, I am more devoted than ever, and watch the A&E P&P2 at least twice a month. I am a graduate student in History studying Georgian England with a concentration on Gender Politics in the Regency period.
See! It is possible to make a living from your love of JA!

Liz M (updated bio)

Is from: Michigan, USA
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Greetings from the upper Midwest! Now I have one more state to add to the ever-lengthening list of places I have lived: I was born in New Jersey, grew up in Houston, went to college in Boston, and lived in Seattle, Wisconsin, and West Virginia before I got here.

I am a chemical engineer who works at a large pharmaceutical chemical plant. The career is a good fit for me, since I am very fact- and detail-oriented, and I love math and science: algebra, calculus, differential equations, chemistry, physics, you name it. (I have been known to solve double integrals on the backs of bar napkins for friends who couldn't get the solution on their own.) About the only technical stuff I don't enjoy is geometry and biology.

To make sure I get the best use out of the other side of my brain, I am also a voracious reader. (If I don't have at least two and possibly three books going at once, I don't know what to do with myself.) I re-started my writing hobby something like four years ago, when I posted my first story on the Bits of Ivory board over at the Republic of Pemberley. I play the piano and the flute (though I'm miserably out of practice on both), I'm a moderately accomplished singer (in both classical and theatrical styles), and I act and/or sing on stage whenever I can get a role in local community theater productions.

The love of my life is my dog Nemo, who is a 100-lb German shepherd. I trained him as an air-scent search and rescue dog when I lived in WV, but he's semi-retired from SAR work at the moment since I haven't found a new team to join here in MI. SAR is an ususual hobby (to say the least), but Nemo loves it, and it's great to hang out with people who are all as dog-crazy as I am.

And now some random information that might come in handy if you ever want to strike up a conversation with me at Chatsworth:

Favorite authors: Tom Stoppard (if you haven't read his Arcadia yet, you are missing one of the most perfect plays ever written!), Guy Gavriel Kay, Charles de Lint, Robin McKinley, Thomas Hardy, Henry James, Charles Dickens, Isabel Allende, Carlos Fuentes...and Jane Austen, of course.

Favorite music: David Wilcox, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Indigo Girls, Shawn Colvin, Duke Ellington, Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Mozart, Verdi, Puccini.

Favorite actors: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham-Carter, Daniel Day-Lewis, Danny Kaye, Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, Greer Garson, Grace Kelly, Buster Keaton.

Long live the DWG!

Lu

Is from: Ithaca, New York USA
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Okay, for starters, let's just get the name thing straight. It's really Lauren, but for some unfathomable reason I used Lu when I first came to Pemberley way back when. You may also hear me referred to as "Lulu," particularly in chat. That is the original form of the nickname, but since it sounds very pink and frilly, which I am not, I don't get called that much these days.

Basic info? I was born on September 19, 1979, which makes me currently 19 years old. I have dark brown hair, perpetually ponytailed, brown eyes and dark skin considering I'm mostly Scottish in origins. I was always one of the shortest in my class as a kid until I was in about 10th grade, when I somehow sprouted all of a sudden. I am now 5'8", which is not gigantic but a big improvement. When I say I'm from Ithaca, that's where I compute from. I go to school up here at Cornell University, "Home home," (as opposed to just one "home") is in Norwalk, Connecticut, right on Long Island Sound. I'm a sophomore bio major here, concentrating in evolutionary biology. I like science. Go ahead and laugh, but my parents send me clippings from Science, The Science Times and even (gasp!) Scientific American! I am not very "cultured" in the traditional sense, although Leah Michelle is doing her level best!

In an effort to be different, I'm going to try to leave the books/movies thing alone, except to say that I have never seen most of P&P2 and that I liked Wuthering Heights. Of course, that does not imply that I liked Catherine and Heathcliff. I just kinda enjoy thinking about those dark psychological kinds of books. Crime and Punishment and Heart of Darkness are my all time favorites, so that probably goes a long way toward explaining things. Well, I just did what I said I wasn't going to do. Oh well.

Some of you may have noticed that I am bordering on obsessive about sailing. Hey, you like Colin Firth! I am going to insert a plug right here for Sea Education Association, the program that I did last summer and got me on to that whole tall ship thing. For those of you who are college or pre-college, this is a great way to spend a semester or a summer! I'm probably going to go back to work for SEA this summer, and hopefully someday I will get a mate's license so they can actually pay me more than $5 a day.

I did an ungodly amount of competitive horseback riding back in high school. If any of you are into this, I did show jumping, and competed mostly in the Open Equitation division (Big Eq or Medal/Maclay to insiders). I loved riding, but "Eq Kids" spend so much time chasing points to qualify for the national finals that I got a little burned out. Getting up well before the sun three or four times a week in the summer to drive an hour and a half to some dinky horse show in bumble&#$% definitely got old after a while. But I learned a lot from it, and I'm not going to deny that competing in the national finals wasn't a thrill! My horse's name was Louie, and one of my trainers (the nice one-I had several and most were pretty scary!) had a dog named Lucy, so I would answer whenever someone called the dog, the horse, or me, much to the amusement of my peers!

Other things I enjoy doing include fly-fishing, birdwatching (I learned it from my parents, what can I say??), hiking, playing with creepy-crawlies such as frogs, salamanders, snakes, etc (anything except centipedes and earwigs *shiver*). I have spent a lot of time in Montana in my life. My family has some property on the Smith River, which is very remote and beautiful, except when the water is high because then there are too many floaters (for those of you with potty brains, that means people floating the river). Did I mention that I like to row my raft on the river?? ;-)

Here is some very random information about me:

I am an only child. But I don't think I'm spoiled or quiet or whatever you think only children are. Independent, maybe.

I drink a lot of Sunkist and I eat a lot of Pepperidge Farm Nantucket cookies. They are good, and my best friend's great-grandmother started Pepperidge Farm, so a have a certain amount of almost-family loyalty.

I've traveled a lot, but mostly to weird places. For example, I have never seen most of Europe, but I have been to Papua New Guinea. And Mongolia.

I really liked that question in Leah's bio "what kind of shoe would you be if you had an option," so just for the record I would be a Teva.

I like to memorize poetry. My biggest undertakings to date are Poe's The Raven and Noyes' The Highwayman. I also have a somewhat larger repertoire of shorter poems. Sometimes I recite them when I'm alone in chat, just for entertainment purposes.

I like puzzles and brain teasers. I liked Calculus. I like to play Boggle. Green is the best color in Trivial Pursuit, except that sometimes they're stupidly easy. Pink is totally impossible, and orange isn't much better.

I'm a tomboy! *grin*

~Lu

Lucinda

Is from: Midwest, USA
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Name: Lucinda Norton

Favorite Book: "Pride and Prejudice," and I think that goes for all novels, not just Austen ones. The first time I read it, I finished it in about three hours. And then, I picked it up again and re-read it the same night.

I also lurrv me some "Harry Potter," and have an intense love/admiration/empathy with Ron Weasley.

More Austen related things: Elizabeth Bennet is my favorite character, but I also quite like Jane Fairfax, and have always had a soft-spot for Jane and Frank, who I think get the short-end of the stick some times when their relationship is discussed. OH, and Mr. Darcy? As Bridget Jones would say, FWAW!

Other Things: I love going to the theatre, going out to clubs to dance, reading, watching movies (old and new), and most of all, writing.

Lynn O.

Is from: MD, USA
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I hate writing biographies, so this will be short. I'm 27,
I live in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, I have an MA in International Relations, and work for a non-profit organization that focuses on foreign and defense policy issues.

When I'm not working or visiting DWG, (which isn't too often) I enjoy reading (mostly non-fiction, especially history, politics and current events), genealogy research, walking and hiking.

I first read Sense and Senseibility and Persuasion years and years ago, but didn't get around to the other JA novels until recently. I read P&P for the first time last year and couldn't put it down. I was bored one rainy weekend and decided to surf the net for P&P related info, and found DWG, and was soon hooked. My stories here are my first attempt at fiction of any kind.

Lynne Robson

Is from: Dronfield, Derbyshire England
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My name is Lynne and I am 45 years of age living in Derbyshire not far from Chatsworth, Matlock, and Bakewell. I love Derbyshire specially the Peak District it is wonderfully peaceful.

I have been a great fan of Pride and Prejudice since I was about 12 years old. I am married with an 18 year old son called Matthew and a 16 year old daughter called Danielle. My Husband Mick is an avid Star Trekki, and scifi fan as is Matthew but he tends to like Star Wars a bit more and collects all the figures. Danielle like most girls has her likes one week and dislikes the next but does like P & P like her mum.

At the moment I am between jobs as I was made redundant at the beginning of the year but I am hopeful soon that I will get another job as a Secretary. My Hobbies are reading, sewing, and the movies loved The Importance of being Ernest, and Hope Springs.

I love reading all your wonderful stories and don't ever think that I would have the nerve to publish one on the net like many of you have. So I look forward to reading many of your wonderful stories and wish that they printed a book to buy with many of them in it would be a good way of helping the up keep of austen.com and perhaps get some of the authors her in print as well

Lynne

LynneRobson

Is from: Dronfield in Derbyshire England

I am now 46 years of age and was married to my darling husband for 20 years until his untimely death in September of this year.

I have a daugher named Danielle who is seventeen years old and a son named Matthew who is nineteen years old. At the moment I do not work but when I was working I was a Admin worker and/or Personal Assistant but was made redundant jus short of two years ago.

I love Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and first read it when I was about 11 or 12 years old at school and fell in love with Mr Darcy then. Over the years I read many other books but still found that P&P was my favourite.

I first saw P&P2 in 1996 when my mother bought it on video after seeing the series. When the series was first shown I was in hospital having an operation which went wrong so I missed it due to me being very ill.

I saw p&p0 which was good but found that it was spoilt by not sticking to the book. When I first saw P&P2 I loved CF and JE as Darcy and Elizabeth,and I was so relieved that the series did stick very closly to the book which made it all the more enjoyable. CF is the ideal Darcy he is not over the top and is so loveable yet aloof like Jane Austen wrote.

I love all fanfiction especially Pride and Prejudice ones, What if's are my favourite. After lurking for around two years I wrote my first fanafic this year and hope that everyone liked it.

Léa Elizabeth

Is from: USA
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I'm an American-born who has spent most of her life globe-trotting which is why I wrote merely that I was from the USA. Right now my family is living in India which leaves me kind of homeless and wandering to whichever family member or friend will have me.=)

I am a 20-year-old elementary/special education major with a minor in theatre. I was originally an English major (spurred on by my love of words), but that changed when I realized how much junk English majors have to wade through.

I've loved JA since I was in junior high (although I have to admit to HATING Mansfield Park). Right now, I feel like JA's books are the only adult books I get to read anymore. The rest of my time is spent with Bridge to Terabithia or Charlotte's Web or If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

When I get the time, I like to lurk about DGW although I very rarely find the time to post anything. I have enjoyed all of your stories and discussions, though...it has been a real treat to read them. =)

M Palo

Is from: Finland
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I don't want to be too accurate about my hometown, since somebody might recognize me...And my name is in the E-mail address!!!!!AAARGH!!!

I like Jane Austen enough to write fanfic about her novels, but I have other interests even greater. I fancy myself a film buff, and I'd like to be an actor some day. And if actor is too far fetched, Id like to be an author too. I'm also an anglophile of sorts. I love P&P2, even though that's a TV-series. I'd still like to include to my favourite films, because that made love JA in the first place. My other favourites are: Day for night, Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, L'Enfant sauvage, Dr. Strangelove, or: how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb, Fantasia, Judgement at Nuremberg, JFK, The man who shot Liberty Valance, Inherit the Wind... I could go on forever, but I won't.

As for the music, everything goes, but I just love classical music. My favourites are: Für Elise, Also sprach Zarahustra, Ode for joy, Finlandia, Night on the bold mountain, The Scorcerer's apprentice... again, I could go on forever. And I like the Beatles too.

My favourite Austen book is Pride and Prejudice.
My Favourite non-Austen books are (I couldn't choose): Graham Greene's The Comedians and Ernst Hemingway's The Snows of Kilimanjaro

My intentions towards this website are perfectly honourable. I only wish to write some relatively harmless fanfiction which, hopefully, will appear on the site. And I myself WILL appear in my own stories, alongside with some other familiar faces mainly from pop-culture, but from real history as well. I've already posted a few stories to the Boi, where, I hope, they still are available.

And oh yes... I'm MALE!(and straight)

Mags

Is from: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Personal: I am in my mid-30’s (rapidly progressing to late 30’s—argh) and work as a Data QA Editor for an online information service. It’s kind of like high-tech proofreading. I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. I used to want to move away, to New York City or California or maybe Arizona, but I have learned to like it around here and can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Education: I graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Liberal Arts and English. I was a band geek; actually a band front geek, I guess. I was a majorette (baton twirler) in grade school and was in color guard (flags and rifles) in high school and college. I can still do some tricks if I practice a bit first. I also marched in a drum and bugle corps one summer. We went all over the country in broken-down old buses. Within six weeks’ time I swam at Daytona Beach, Florida and dipped my toes in the Pacific at Monterey, California. It was hard at times but still one of the neatest experiences of my life.

Hobbies: I like to do needlework, mostly cross-stitch and needlepoint, and crochet. I like to make doilies, the more intricate and difficult the better. I’m a big ice hockey fan. My favorite team is the Philadelphia Flyers (of course). I’ve been a fan since I was a kid and I’ve been up and down with them over the years. I write as much as I can in my spare time and hope to eventually make my living at it. I just have to write something that somebody wants to publish or produce. It will happen, one of these days. In the meantime, I can inflict the products of my wandering mind on my fellow Dwiggies.

Favorite JA novel: Persuasion, with Pride & Prejudice and Northanger Abbey vying for second. I absolutely love every one of them, however, even the unfinished works and Juvenilia. "Lady Susan" is awesome.

Favorite writers besides JA: I read everything John Grisham writes, good and bad ;-), and Tom Clancy (he’s not exactly Hemingway, but the man can tell a story). I like Stephen King, mostly his older stuff, especially The Stand. I’m getting into Georgette Heyer in a big way. I like anything to do with King Arthur and his knights. My favorite re-tellings are The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and the Pendragon series by Stephen Lawhead. I think I want to read the Hornblower books. I also like to read non-fiction history books.

Favorite JA adaptations: P2, P&P2, S&S2, and Clueless, in that order. I’ve seen all of them, even the old BBCs, except E1 and MP. I would have seen them by now but they’re always checked out of the library when I go.

Favorite non-JA films: "Slap Shot" (of course), "Singin’ in the Rain," "West Side Story," "The Wizard of Oz" (noticing a trend here?) Anything with swordfights is good—The Musketeers movies, old Errol Flynn movies, etc. I just love a good swordfight (lightsabre fights as well). Star Wars/Trek films—I’ve seen them all!

Favorite film quote: "Use your imagination. It’s what I’ve been doing." - Reg Dunlop (Paul Newman), "Slap Shot."

Favorite JA heroes: The Right Reverend Henry Tilney (Da Man), Mr. Darcy, Captain Wentworth, Colonel Brandon, Henry Crawford (oh wait, he’s not a hero).

Favorite JA heroine: Lizzy Bennet, hands down.

Ideal man: Henry Tilney’s charm, intelligence, personality, and wit, and Colin Firth’s looks. Not too much to ask for, is it?

Maho Koneko

Is from: U.S.A
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As you can probably guess, Maho Koneko isn't my real name. Maho Koneko means 'Magic Kitten' in Japanese, which is a language you'll find me often mingling with English. What can I say, comes from being half-Japanese and completely obsessed with anime.

I also adore Jane Austen novels; Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility being my favorites. I was Marianne in my school play of S&S and Kitty in P&P -- after that I HAD to read the novels ^^

I'm into j-rock {japanese rock} bands like Dir en Grey, X-Japan, and Malice Mizer. I even like some j-pop like Ayumi Hamasaki and Hikaru Utada. If you share my taste in music, feel free to email me ^__^

I hope to feel welcome here, ne!

Malini

Is from: Hard question, but I was born in Calcutta and am Bengali(Indian), which is something to start with.
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I'm nineteen years old, and a junior (third of four years) at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire -- or more accurately, the middle of nowhere. I'm studying an odd mix of English, Computer Science, Mathematics, and some history.

I like to flatter myself that I'm something of a nomad -- I speak four languages basically fluently and I'd lived in nine different living spaces (houses or appartments) on three continents before I went to College. I am mainly a city/suburban kid, which is one of the reasons I decided to come out here to the middle of nowhere for College.

I love reading, and have too many favourite authors to name (almost all of whom write in English), but some that I have been obsessed with at various points in my life are Enid Blighton (as a child), P.G. Wodehouse, W. Somerset Maugham, Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, and Salman Rushdie. The book that's been my favourite for about a year now is The Shadowlines, by Amitav Ghosh.

I also love watching movies -- period pieces, indie flicks, Woody Allen (the man IS a genre), and the occassional Hollywood big budget blowout. I am proud to say that I still haven't seen Titanic. I also watch Hindi films occassionally in appreciation of their thoroughly and unapologetically mindless content.

I like food -- cooking it and eating it. I'm game to try most things, although of course there are foods I don't like. I like French, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai and most Indian cuisines (there are a lot of different ones), and almost any other cuisine I've ever tried.

And I love writing. I'd love to do nothing but someday, but I lack the necessary focus, so the best I can hope for is to get a real job and write on the side. And finding this real job is the dilemma of my life at this point.

All of which is more than anyone needed to know.

Mar

Is from: Royal City, WA, USA
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I am, of course, a lurker. Being shy I can't help it. I am now 14 (my birthday is October 10), so hopefully my I'll grow out of it. My name is really Mary, but everyone calls me Mar. I love Jane Austen (especially P&P and Persuasion), and enjoy all of the stories here. I have a younger brother who finally knows who JA is and I know many people who think she wrote Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Clueless. Obviously any place where there's people who understand this obsession with JA is a haven.

I love to read, and am currently writing 8 or 9 different stories, 2 of which have to do with Austen. I want to write when I grow up so hopefully I'm on my way. I also taught myself the piano, but that is definitely something you don't want to hear.

Like I said, I 'm shy so I probably won't post a lot, but know that I really enjoy Austen.com and everything it has to offer.

Margaret D.

Is from: London, UK
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I was working on a Calculus problem back in September 1999 when I heard a kooky girl I kind of knew from my organic chemistry class say, "I need to find someone else who loves Jane Austen." I wasn't very interested in the math problem, so I turned around and said, "I love Jane!" And thus I became friends with Crysty. She told me about here, and now I'm as addicted as everyone else.

I'm originally from Baltimore, MD. I went to university in Boston, MA, and studied computers. I fled the country after graduation, traveled around Europe, became hopelessly addicted to opera, failed to learn German, and eventually ended up in England. I'm now happily living and working in London.

Though I don't post very often on DWG, I write constantly. I don't write much fan-fic because, well, I'm a very selfish sort of person and I like to have complete control over my characters' names. I love reading the stories everyone else posts, though. I've already read everything dear Jane left us, so it's great to see Edward Ferrars saying something new. My favorite JA book is Pride and Prejudice (of course). I first loved Jane Austen for her writing style, and now I'm standing in line to marry Mr. Darcy. Non-JA, my favorite authors are (currently) Anita Brookner, Martin Amis, and Katherine Mansfield.

When I grow up, I want to be Linus Pauling.

Margaret

Is from: Los Angeles, California USA

Margaret Janus (married; 1 very old cat -- that is in pet, not husband. Husband is not so very old!
aka Margy, MJ

Originally from Chicago, was transplanted here in Southern California where I miss the weather back
east! People here think I am crazy to love snow, but alas, I do. However, it is so beautiful here that I can
hardly complain. I do still consider myself a midwesterner -- and have the sense of humor to prove it!

I love reading, and particularly Jane Austen. I seem to be stuck in early 19th century literature, but
break out every now and then.

I am a better editor than writer; creative director than isolated artist. I love to encourage creativity, and
have found a wellspring of it here.

Thanks to all the writer who have brought hours of reading pleasure and entertainment. Keep up the
good work!

Mari A.

Is from: Germany
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Hi, I'm Mari, I'm from Germany, and I was born in 1984. At the moment, I'm studying English and History, maybe I'll become a teacher and can teach JA's works to my pupils.

I've loved Jane Austen ever since I first discovered her works when I was about twelve. I read a lot of JA-based discussion in the internet and occasionally post in the RoP boards under the same name, which is, incidentally, a nick name - variety of my first name, which my little sister gave me when she was younger. I discovered this place through the RoP, and I really enjoy reading the many stories, some of which I could not stop reading.

I am currently working on some pieces myself, maybe I'll post them when they are ready, maybe not, if I do not like them. I hope I will have a great time here with you all.

Marie L.

Is from: IL, USA
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Well, I really don't know how to start, but I guess I can say that my name is Rhiannon Marie (yes, after the song--one of the main reasons why I don't care for it. Plus, no one seems to be able to pronounce it :) ). Anyway, I go by my middle name here, though everywhere else I use my first. I'm an 18-year-old senior in high school who will graduate in May, so right now I'm very excited! I just got a job working at a plant nursery part-time after school and full-time in the summer. It's decent now, and doesn't take up so much of my time that I can't go to the DWG.

In the fall I'll be going to college to major in English, though I really don't know what I want to be. But there's still time! Otherwise, I love music, and play piano and in the percussion section led by my lovely band directors.

I'm absolutely obsessed with broadway musicals--mostly the old ones. My favorite of all time is My Fair Lady, and I love others by Lerner and Lowe such as Gigi and Brigadoon. Otherwise, my favorites are constantly changing, from Oklahoma! to Funny Girl to The Music Man to Kiss Me Kate, but I love them all. I also like songs from around that era by the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Johnny Mercer, and more, and as far as performers go, they can't get any better than Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

Aside from musicals, I love watching old movies, though there have been some new ones like Shakespeare in Love that I've had to watch more than once. But some that I love include Breakfast at Tiffany's and Casablanca, or basically anything that has Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, or Ava Gardner in it.

As far as authors go, Charlotte Bronte is my favorite, though I do like Emily and Anne as well. Villette is a wonderful book of Charlotte's--better than Jane Eyre, I'd have to say, though that one will always be my favorite. Other writers I love are George Eliot, Thomas Hardy, Fanny Burney, George Sand, Collette, Tolstoy, and too many to list. I also love reading biographies--particularly those having to do with Kings and Queens of English history. I am a huge fan of Elizabeth I, and believe that her mother was wronged! :)

Oh, my (sad) claim to fame is that I'm a relative of President Reagan's--he's an 8th cousin, I think, and I live not too far from where he grew up. My great-grandmother knew him when he was a boy, but sadly I've never met him. I'm also an unrelenting conservative, a strong 'Dole-ist' (Elizabeth, not Bob), so I try to stay away from politics in chat! :)

Marie

Is from: Sydney, Australia

A short history of my obsession:

Many years ago (but not too many) when I was in high school my older sister was studying P&P for class. As any student would do, she got out the movie to watch. My sisters and I became obsessed, every holidays I would rent a copy and watch it over and over again until I realised I was wasting my money… so I went out and bought my own copy. Finial my mother informs me that she had a copy of the novel. It had been sitting on the bookshelf for years. I read the book and devoured it over and over again. A hopeless romantic to the core I didn’t stop there, I watched whatever movies had been produced based on JA’s novels then read the books themselves.
Then one blessed day I was playing on my brothers computer reading fanfic from some TV shows when it occurred to be that people may have written stories based on JA’s work. It didn’t take me long to find what I was looking for…and so it began.

Me:

As you may already have noticed I have a very quirky sense on humour and I will not be offended if you think me rather strange…because I am. My humour does not always come across properly so forgive me if I some times don’t make sense.

I’m 23 years old (as of June 2004) I was born and grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney Australia and have only recently moved out of home to start a education degree at uni. I went to uni for almost one year straight after high school but didn’t like it. Since then I have had several jobs finally deciding that teaching was the career for me.

My tastes are eclectic. I can knit; I just finished a lovely scarf, and have just learned to crochet. I love classical music, rock, alternative and many others.
Apart form JA and all her stories I enjoy most romance stories and movies. At school I was a nerd, which would account for many things including my love of science fiction and cop/mystery shows. I also have really bad taste in TV series and end up watching shows that only screen at random hours of the night and never for more that a few series. I love most kid cartoons and shows especially those ones that use to be on when I was a kid.
For the last 5 years I have been a member of the State Emergency Service. It is a volunteer organisation that deals mainly with storms, floods and tempests. Basically our job is to clean up after large storms, removing fallen trees and making things safe. My favourite part of the job is the chainsaw, it can be cutting up a fallen tree or 30m up in the air in a cherry picker slowly cutting of a section of the tree at a time. It doesn’t matter. See more about the SES at: http://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/

I have had many ideas for stories over the years but have only put one to paper (so to speak). I have been writing it for 3 or 4 years on and off, it is not complete but I hope I will get enough courage to post what I do have soon.

That’s me for now.

Marie

Marks

Is from: Australia
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Marks

I have not posted a bio, because I am not sure that it would be of much interest to people. However, since I was asked nicely........

Rather than write directly about myself, I shall let you deduce what you will from the following:

My parents gave me the most incredibly loving and secure childhood. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my brother, my second cousin (he lived with us after his mother and father died) and I sitting round the kitchen table at tea time, listening to my father's stories. (Now there was a born storyteller for you). He used to tell us the day's happenings at work and yarns from his days in the Navy and have us in stitches of laughter. I don't ever remember my parents fighting, nor arguing. My mother was and is a tower of sanity, strength and compassion in my life.

I fell in love only once, with a very smart lady (teacher with a double masters). Unfortunately it never came to anything - we parted on the best of terms though. That particular person was very special, and taught me just that little bit more about relationships that my parents could not.

My friends come from different backgrounds and countries. They have a number of things in common though; they are intelligent positive people and laugh at themselves, and me when I need it. (Like when the TV show "At Last the 1948 Show" finished - I went to school the next week and complained that this great comedy show had been replaced by some sort of ##@$%# Circus show! Did my friends have a laugh at my expense - it was "Monty Python's Flying Circus")

My only (personal) enemy in this world is someone who is a member of a club that I once was in. He used to bully and threaten and psychologically abuse people - especially if he thought them vulnerable. It was no surprise to those of us that knew him that he went further than that with his wife (but there was a happy ending for her). I left the club, because I found that the only way to defeat him was to act like him. That experience taught me: Don't walk away from negative people - RUN!

I have also been fortunate to have been born in a wonderful country where I have been able to realise my ambitions for education and lifestyle. My teachers at school, my lecturers at University, and later my colleagues at work have all challenged me, and I am so incredibly lucky with the people I have been around. (I could mention the Dwiggies at this point....:)...).

I live in the city of Darwin in the tropical north of Australia (low 30's max temp all year round - the only variation is in the amount of rain we get), where I have two jobs - one as a civil engineer (hydraulics), the other teaching the odd class of aerobics (the Marquis de Sade school of aerobics instruction).

After all that, who would not want a healthy serving of pudding?

Marry

Is from: the Netherlands
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After posting every now and then in the tea-room I think it is time to make myself known.
What to tell about myself. I have just been reading the other bios and I think I'm one of the eldest, because I'm 52 years ols. So that's said. I'm a real lurker when it comes to the stories on this wonderfull site.
I discovered P&P in 1996, because I was recovering from hospital. Ever since I'm addicted to Jane Austen and especially P&P, I adore all the stories in the Epilogue Abbeye, but I don't often visit the Fantasia Gallery.
I started a story once just form myself and I promised myself that one day I will finish it, but I don't know when that day will be.
Further more I'm a French teacher and schoolcounselor, a full-time job and my students are 12-16 years old. I love French very much, but it's a pity there is no P&P in french. Luckily my english colleague also adores P&P and she is just as fond of Mr. Darcy/Colin Firth as I am.
I live in a very small village (400 inhabitants) in the centre of Holland, I'm the mother of two sons (23 and 25 years old) who don't live at home anymore and I'm happily married for 30 years next week, to my dearest loveliest husband, who is not romantic at all.
My hobbies are: reading all the stories on this site, browsing trough the internet to search all kind of things, making a powerpoint with photos whenever there is a celebration in the family, gardening, reading poetry and visiting my friends.
My favorite author is Tolkien and then Jane Austen and I adore reading childrens literature,but not HP.
Well that's it I think. I hope to enjoy all the stories for a long time to come.

Martha Ellen

Is from: Rochester, NY and Providence, RI
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I actually live in Rochester during the summer with my parents and in Providene during the school year for school (I'm going to be a junior at Providence College). I am a Public and Community Service major and a Community Health Policy concentration. What is that? Basically I can do anything with that. I really hope to end up working for a hospital doing advocacy or human relations. We'll see. I also want to try to get a degree in communications at somepoint.

I first started loving Jane Austen when I watched Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle when I was in seventh grade (1996 or 1997). So that was right after it came out and on its first broadcast on A&E. I read the book right after that, did a book report on it, and a love affair started up right afterwards. I took any chance I could get to introduce my friends to the goodness of Jane Austen, and have gotten the chance to show P&P to my best friend. Unfortunately, at school, my friends back away from the idea of watching a movie that is 6 hours long. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, followed by Sense and Sensability.

Other interests of mine include music (I sing in my school's church choir and play the alto sax in the Pep Band). As well as those activities, I play the piano, guitar, and clarinet. I also enjoy reading (books by Barbara Kingsolver rank among my favorites) and watching classic movies and musicals.

Mary Collette

Is from: Kalamazoo,Michigan
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I am a forty something woman, my birthday is
August 1st. (For some reason it seems that not too many peo-
ple were born on that day.) I am the fourth child, and first
girl in a family of nine. I like the works of "Our Own Dear
Jane" and Regency Romance novels, plus the works of Tolkien,
which I cut my fantasy/sci-fi teeth on as in my family you
were looked on askance if you had not attempted at least
"The Hobbit" by the time you were at least nine or ten. We
are also a family of chess freaks. I enjoy all sorts of old
movies, i.e. The Shop Around the Corner, Harvey, and the old
Thin Man movies. In the modern cinema I have enjoyed the
following: "Star Wars", "The Princess Bride" & "Ladyhawke".
These are some of my favorite television programs: "Highlan-
der", "Due South", and "Beauty& the Beast".

Mary Kate

Is from: Aurora, IL, USA
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Here's a pic:
And a link: Lady Mary's Keep

I'm 19 and finishing my freshman year in college at the best school in the world: Notre Dame, home of the Fighting Irish. I'm a biochem major, speciality genetics, and starting in the fall, I'll be a varsity fencer.

I'm a musician, flute and harp, and I love to be on stage. My favorite books are David Eddings' Elenium and Tamuli, and my book about Elizabeth I. My favorite Jane Austen novel is Pride and Prejudice. At the moment, my favorite movie is Ever After.

More details can be found on my website (which is still under construction). And the picture of me isn't the best, but I didn't scan it.

María T.

Is from: Naranjito, Puerto Rico
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I'm thirty something, have a BBA in Computer Systems and Finance and a MBA with accounting (i'm also a CPA) but i'm barely using any of that knowledge. Presently, i'm the dragon who don't let the students of the College of Business at the UPR chat and fool around the net at one of the computer centers (a job i hate, i own).

In cooperation with my sisters I take care of my eldery parents, but as i live with them it limits my activities outside my home. Fortunately, i'm an avid reader since i were a child (that got me thru the U) and read anything that take my fancy. I admit that American literature i do not like. Since i finished my MBA i devoted my reading to anything that appears to be most unbusiness like. That's how i discovered JA (Clueless was the very culprit). My favorites? Pride and Prejudice but with Persuasion i was desperate to finish it so I could start reading it again. Other favorites are Fanny Burney, Georgette Heyer (i'm making a collection of her books), Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy.

As for movies Sci-Fi and period movies are my choices, my fav adaptation? P&P1 y P&P2, Persuasion (although i don't think it did much justice to Anne) Dangerous Beauty, Jane Eyre and Everafter. Others include Jurassic Park, Armageddon, Twister, Contact... (I admit i have problems with the present)

How i got here??? I'm a fanfic addict ;)

Meg Marisa

Is from: Boston
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Hello everyone! I would just like take a brief moment of your time to introduce myself. My name is Meg Marisa and it is my real name (well Meg is dervived but but most people with my name get called Meg too, so you could probaly figure it out) I discovered this site in the fall of my freshmen year of high school right after I had seen P&P2 and read P&P, and I have been addicted ever since. Although I was always to shy to introduce myself. I am now a senior in high school which means that I have been lurking here for 3 years now. So even though nobody knows me I have a pretty good idea of who every one is.

I hail from Boston(or rather a suburb of it) and think it is one of the best cities on the east coast. I've lived here my whole life, on my Grandfather's farm which I know sounds odd. I really do live in a city it's just the farm has been there longer than industrilation.

I am 17 and have no clue what I want to study in college(or where I want to go for that matter). But I do know i want to get a minor in photography. I've been taking photography classes for the past 3 years.

My favourite novel is Pride and Prejudice with Persuasion in close second. I also love fantasy: JRR Tolkien, Lloyd Alexander, CS Lewis, and Mervyn Peake. And also just about everything else Victorian. I have always wanted to travel to Europe and I was suppose to go France this year, but of course along with every thing else it got canceled. I also want to live in Europe at some point, even if its just in a study abroad program.

That's it!
Meg Marisa

Megan G.

Is from: St. Louis, MO-- USA
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I was introduced to Jane Austen by my mother, whose favorite book is P&P. For years she tried to get me to read it, but I had this really odd misconception of what the story line was. I have no idea why, but I thought that it took place in New York City during the early 1900s, and that Darcy and Lizzy were always a couple--they just bickered a lot. Like I said, it was very odd. All of this changed, though, when I walked into the living room one day and my mother was watching P&P2. After ten minutes I was hooked. And, as they say, the rest is history. Since then I've read all of her novels and have fallen in love with Henry Tilney.

And now, a little bit about my life... I was born on May 25, 1982 in Colorado Springs, CO. When I was still a baby we moved to St. Louis and that's where I've been ever since. One of my very first friends was our own Bethany of "Beauty Within" and "The Arrangement" fame. I have a younger brother, sister, and a cat. I play the trumpet, and the piano (very ill indeed!) and I sing alto in the church choir. My Christian faith is very important to me. I've gone to Lutheran schools all my life (even preschool), so it will be a bit of a change when I start classes at Truman State University this fall. I plan on majoring in English and getting a job as a princess. If the princess thing doesn't work out I'd like to go into publishing or journalism.

I like (obsess about) many other things non-JA related including musicals (Les Miserables, Rent, A Little Night Music, Guys and Dolls just to name a few), opera (The Marrige of Figaro is my favorite), and British history. My parents call me and Anglophile. I love reading. My favorite authors are Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, C.S. Lewis, Susan Cooper, Peter Robinson, and Madeliene L'Engle. Things I don't like are math, ground meat (it's disgusting, I can't even touch it) and canteloupe-flavored Jelly Bellies.

This is my favorite website, and I'm so grateful to Anne and all the others who make it so wonderful. Thanks!

Megan W

Is from: Fredericton NB, Canada
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(I used be Lady Meg)

I live in Fredericton, the capital city of New Brunswick which, for those of you unfamiliar with Canadian geography, is on the East coast.

I'm doing an MA in English at the University of New Brunswick, focusing on (you guessed it) Jane Austen. When I'm not slaving away at school (ie, reading books I love and writing about them!), I play trombone and sing in two jazz bands, read books I don't have to read (I'm obsessed with Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander series at the moment, Georgette Heyer's Regency romances, and of course, Harry Potter), watch tv (especially Alias!), and go to the movies.

Megan

Is from: St. Louis
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I'm 17. My favorite JA book is P&P. I am also obsessed with Les Miserables. I love musical theatre, too. And opera. Gosh, there's not musch to me. Oh well, bye!

Meghan

Is from: MD

I absolutly adore Jane Austen. I am a true obssesor. I spend hours watching and reading anything about her. My favorite Austen novel is P&P which, I can't get enough of. I have been around here for a while and never got a chance to post a bio, so here it is.

Mela

Is from: Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
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My complete name is Carmela Teresa Paulino Almonte. Paulino is my mom's maiden name, and if you take it away, Carmela Teresa Almonte means something like "garden reaper from the mountain." Cool huh? And my nickname is Mela, which means "apple" in Italian. So since Carmela means "garden" and Mela is "apple," that's "apple in the garden." I just love freaking people out with my analysis of my name.

Anyway, I live in Manila, and am 19 years old (turning 20 in May 17). I study in the University of the Philippines Diliman, and am taking up BA English Studies majoring in Anglo-American Literature. There are only 11 Anglo-Am majors in the university as everyone else take either Language or Creative Writing due to the mistaken notion that Anglo-Am is hard (!!!). So, we're like the "enlightened ones," the "elite force," "quality over quantity," I can go off...

I have a 17-yr-old brother named Alex who is under the illusion that he is older than me just because he is a 6 footer and I am barely 5'2''. I'm a Roman Catholic and I'm a member of THE Organization of English Majors in U.P., UP Lingua Franca. I have never been kissed.

I'm movie buff and among my fave movies are Fried Green Tomatoes, Gone With the Wind, 10 Things I Hate About You, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Forest Gump, Jerry Maguire, Come Live With Me (w/ Jimmy Stewart and Hedy Lamarr), Errol Flynn-Olivia De Havilland films, A Pyromaniac's Love Story and a WHOLE bunch of others. Of course I also love the movie adaptations of S&S, Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuation, and P&P with Lawrence Olivier. I have yet to see the newer P&P version coz it's unavailable in the Phils.

My fave books are P&P (I've practically memorized it and my copy is so worn), Persuation, The Mayor of Casterbridge, The Count of Monte Cristo, Hallucinating Foucault, Jane Eyre, and I'm sure I've forgotten something. Of course, being an English major, I'm being exposed to new authors and new works everyday. My motto is: be. And you probably should know that I talk to much. Ok, I'll stop now.

Melissa D.

Is from: Stillwater, OK USA
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Here's a pic:
And a link:

Name: Melissa Renay Demel
Birthday: July 12, 1977
Hometowns: Miami, OK (parents house) Stillwater, OK (my house)
Family: Two younger sisters and one niece.
Favorite Books: Pride and Prejudice and the Princess Bride
Favorite Hobby: Dancing. I love ballet and I have just joined a new company. We perform in three weeks. It is a version of Dracula.
Occupation: Full time student at Oklahoma State University. I am an English major and hope to graduate in December. I also work part time as an assistant to a program coordinator of education programs.

I spend a lot of time commuting between my home to my parents to work with the Dance Company. We are very small right now but hope that our performances attract more dancers.

I love this site. It is my haven in the crazy world of papers and tests. My friends and boyfriend think I am a little obsessed but hey there is nothing wrong with that. My boyfriend is moving to Houston in a week and a half to work for IBM. So I will now be here all of the time.
Thanks to all of the great people here who make this place feel like home and thanks for all of the wonderful stories.

Melissa Renee

Is from: Oshkosh, WI
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I am currently a freshman at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice. Even though my mother is the only member of my immediate family to have read it the other members do know the plot and key quotations. (They claim this excuses them from reading the book.)

I'm a history major, considering an English minor but I'm not sure yet.

Melissa

Is from: Floirda
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I am a 22 year old student at Florida Atlantic University and I love Pride and Prejudice.
I also keep a good stock of fish handy for anyone that needs them when our lovely authors leave us hanging. :)
And I love to chat and write stories.

MelissaJ

Is from: Currently living in Utah, USA
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Tell you about myself, huh? What do you want to know?

I found the DWG after lurking around the Republic of Pemberley for a while. I have enjoyed both sites for the past year or so.

Age: 20, until June 21st when I turn 21! hehe!

Occupation: Full time student at Weber State University and part time student assistant at the library on campus--Special Collections department. I love my job because I get to be with books and I learn lots of new things every day!

Major: English for now, but soon to be a Teaching English major--just as soon as I get myself up to the English office to change it. Don't know what my minor is yet, but I'm thinking of biology--go figure. I will be going into secondary education.

How I discovered JA: My mom read JA because her mom read JA, and my grandma read JA because her mom read JA. (My great-grandmother loved P&P!) My mom recommended that I read P&P for my high school english class, and when I did I first I thought "Oh nice story, won't be reading that again." Then I did read it again and it made more sense to me. I got used to her wit and style of writing and now I'm obsessed!

Other obsessions/interests/hobbies: Star Wars, (Episode II comes out in about two months!) tennis, music, (play the flute and kind-of-sort-of the piano) ummm . . . I'm developing a love of hats, but mostly I just look at them because I think I look silly in hats.

Fav JA quote: "Run mad as often as you chuse, but do not faint!" This describes my life most of the time. I think it will be my motto.

Family: Mom & Dad, three siblings, I'm the oldest. Then Jessica (she also loves JA and lurks around here from time to time) then my brother John, then the youngest is Katie. Plus a whole slew of extended relatives--my maternal grandmother had 12 children--whom I love very very much.

Plans for the future: Well, obviously I hope to someday graduate from college. At the rate I'm going it won't be any time soon, though. It also won't be from WSU. I'm hoping to transfer to Arizona State University. (I used to live in Tempe for almost five years and that's where my heart is--I'm a desert rat!) I would also, someday, like to travel around the world--the British Isles, India, and Africa especially. I will of course pay proper homage to Jane when (not if, because I will get there someday!) I get to England. Finally, it is my goal to see Les Miserable before I die, preferably on Broadway, but if not there, then in the Grady Gammage Auditorium, which by the way is absolutely beautiful!

Well, I guess that's it for now. ^_^

Michele J.

Is from: New Jersey
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I'm an addict of Pride & Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion......well you lovely people get the point. My day is only complete when I visit this web site everyday. You know, go to austen.com, then check email, and then start wifely duties......cooking, cleaning.....okay so I really don't do that, I let him do it :)
I'm 27 going on 26. I've been married 4 1/2 years and beside jane austen, I LOVE MUSIC! That's all folks.

Michelle Ann

Is from: Sydeny, Australia
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Well, there isn't much to tell you really. I am part student, part worker as most young people are who are trying to afford an education, experience in the industry (for use at getting a job when/if I graduate) and to maintain my lifestyle of buying too many books and videos (VHS and DVDs)!

As to study and profession, I am one of those big, baddie IT students (on the programming side) who alternate between being completely useless, and so amazingly brilliant that you wonder why they haven't discovered a cure to the common cold yet (I wish they would!). As for me- I lean more towards the former.

I find that one good thing has come out of the extremely radical feminist movement, however, that is- jobs for females in IT without requiring much expertise. Ok, I might be saying this to the wrong people, but I have lots of issues with radical feminism- I'm sure JA would have too!

I must be eternally grateful to RoP to having guided me to this site where I have continued to thoroughly enjoy the many wonderful fanfics posted here! I am also eternally regretful because they are so darned good I find that I'm hopelessly addicted and am a considered nutcase at work because they find me alternating between giggling at the screen and sighing in contentment (or sadness!).

I still live at home, at an inconvenient distance from the city. I would love to move out but have various reasons not to-

1. have you seen the prices of renting houses/apartments near the city?!


2. part time work means part time pay


3. I need to find someone I can live with who wants to live in the same sort of area that I do and that can support themselves!

What else is there to say?? hrmm..
My most favourite book would have to be The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I also really love Science Fiction (Philip K Dick, Asimov, Neal Stephenson to name a few) and really recommend all of the SF Masterworks series published by Millenium. I am also, from a misspent youth, quite infatuated with Fiction Fantasy- I am reading and will continue to read until he finishes or dies (whichever comes first!) the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. Other authors in this genre include David Eddings, Katharine Kerr, J R R Tolkien (how can I forget him?), to a lesser extent now than when I was young (and foolish? :P) the DragonLance series' and Forgotten Realms books. On the flipside, I (of course) love Austen, the Brontes, Dickens, absolutely love Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskall. I really could go on and on!

As to other hobbies, I suppose I don't really have very many (outside reading, watching movies, whinging and cultivating the art of being a nuisance)- I like playing computer games (I am a computer programmer after all! I even drink copious quantities of Coke!). I thoroughly enjoyed the Baldur's Gate series, IceWind Dale, Age of Empires, Empire Earth, Caesar III, Monkey Island, Zork (Nemesis, Grand Inquisitor, etc) and of course, Boggle!

After starting by luring you in with a "there isn't much to tell you" I'm sorry to say that although there are many words, nothing much was said! (I dislike the comparison to Mr. Collins, Lady Cat or other annoying Austen characters, but I might have to concede a point after re-reading this stuff!)

Anyhoo- I thought I would add myself to the Prestiges Baronetage and feel like a true member!

Mirele

Is from: California

Hello all you lovely people out there!
I've been lurking about the DWG for quite a while now, and thought I'd give myself a formal intro.
I'm a 16 1/2 yr. old "young lady" who is not yet quite "out" (of high school, that is, although I do graduate this year!).
I am half Indian, half Brit, half American (yeah yeah I know, but I never was good at math!)
I am partial to Italian and Indian foods, and I enjoy Celtic music very much. I also enjoy Karate, Sewing (and designing) clothes, and most of all, writing (don't worry, I'll concoct something for the DWG one of these days)
And most of all, I LOVE Jane Austen. Probably since me mum introduced me to this wonderful, witty, intelligent, sarcastic (yes, i do like adjectives) most Noble Authoress (right then, I'll stop there since I'm starting to sound like Collins...eeck!)Jane Austen!
I read my first austen book at the grand old age of 7. didn't understand much then, but i did like it! I rediscovered it at 13, and since then, I've read almost every book. My favorite so far has definitely been P&P. But I do love S&S as well.
ALrighty then, hope to chat with you all soon, and hope you'll see some stories from me soon too.

That's all folks ( sorry, can't help but be corny old me! )

Monica

Is from: Hartford, CT.

Name: Monica Devon
Nickname: Monie
Birthplace: Boston
Age: 18
offspring: No
Work: CVS
School: College
Hobbies: Art, Sports
Sports: BasketBall, Soccer
Fave Book: A Year Down Yonder, By Richard Peck.
Food: Tacos
Clothes: Fashion Bug, Gap, Old Navy.

Also, I'm new here...

Mortie

Is from: All over MI
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Well, I'll start with the fact that no-one can remember my name. I have been called everything from Mary to Megan, Amy to Shelly, and Meredith to (the most popular by far) Melissa. I love nicknames in general, giving and recieving.
Mortie is the name I give myself, because Michelle is kinda common in my area, and Mortie is easier to remember!

I live in Adrian, MI during the school year, attending Siena Heights University, majoring in Theater and Speech Communication, minoring in Art and Creative Writing. At other times, I can be found wandering the nothern half of the lower peninsula (the mitt) or in Dearborn.

Fave J.A. book: Sense and Sensibility
Hero: Colonel Brandon
Heroine: ummmm.... probably Emma Woodhouse, or Jane Bennett.

Fave Non-Austen book(s): "Her Magesties' Wizard" by Christopher Stasheff, "Sabriel" by Garth Nix, "The Enchanted Forest Chronicles" (four books total) by Patricia C. Wrede.
Fave movie(s): "The Court Jester" (or anything with Danny Kaye in it...) "Ever After", "the Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged)" by the Reduced Shakespeare Company

I got hooked on Jane Austen kind of by accident, really. I was on an Emma Thompson kick and wandered into the video rental place and picked up Much Ado About Nothing. My tradition is to rent something I've seen and something I haven't, so I picked up the S&S version with her in it. then I *had* to read the book, and the rest, as they say, is history...

I love reading and writing, but don't have much time for it nowadays (sniffle). I write a bit of fan fics, and I hope to post some when I get the chance...

So that's me. Any questions, comments, concerns or nicknames can be sent to my email.

Mortie

Mosylu

Is from: MI, East and West sides depending on whether school is in session
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And a link: Mosylu's Web Spot

I'm at college, majoring in English and minoring in Classics. I'm going to be a writer when I grow up :) and probably will pen a mixture of fantasy and romance novels. I'll be the one living in Central Park in a box.
Annnnnnnnnnnnnyway, I was absolutely delighted when I found this place, because the BoI at the Republic, while full of wonderfulness, is not quite the place to post some of the stuff I had in mind. Especially Longbourn Academy.
Um. That's pretty much all. My website link is below, if you are incredibly curious.

Mrs. Smith

Is from: Gadsden, Alabama
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Hello all!

I am a God fearing lady, been saved for almost 7 years, and married just as long. My husband is a wonderful preacher, and treats me like a queen. We have four of the most precious little darlings heaven could afford to send and we are so blessed!!

I have brown/auburn, naturally curly hair, pale skin, blue eyes. I would love to have been given those deep brown eyes like Mrs. Elizabeth Bennet, but thankful for the blue anyways. I am 27 years old, and I love to sew, and read!!

Authors I have enjoyed: Jane Austen, and God almighty! I read hers and Gods' (the KJV-bible)

I feel so beautiful when I read P&P, and I can feel myself living and walking amongst those "silly" women.

What my present projects consist of?:
I am presently trying to make a regency dress,( pattern from www.sensibility.com ) trying to make 25.00 last for a weeks worth of groceries, praying for a compatible friend in the area to meet with and discuss J.A. over tea

Myrna

Is from: North Carolina (now)
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Hi Everyone!

I currently live in NC, but have lived in the southeast US for the past 6 years, although I am a native New Yorker. I like the Southeast alot. The weather is beautiful, the people here are really nice, and there's lots of places that you can visit of historical importance.

I have my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Theater and Classics. I was a professional actress for quite some time, and decided I wanted a change. Presto Chango! I now am a manager of a jewelry store. I absolutely love it! What woman wouldn't love being surrounded by diamonds every day?

My family is originally from Puerto Rico, although my Spanish is not that great. But, it's good to be able to combine visits to the family with trips to the Caribbean.

I've found my own particular Darcy, and we've been together five years. I think we'll stay in NC, we both love it.

I have loved Jane Austen since I was in the 7th grade. My teacher was assigning books to read over a break, and my particular assignment was P&P. What a wonder!!! I fell in love with the Crazy Bennett family. And Dary and Elizabeth helped to define my idea of romance.

I tend to switch my favorite JA books, depending on which one I am currently reading. So, Persuasion is on the top for me, although at any time P&P or Emma or MP or.....

Other authors? Diana Gabaldon, Henry James, James Patterson, Maeve Binchy. Music? I like most music forms.
I enjoy writing, although my life is so busy now that there's not much opportunity beyond simple scribblings between meetings and lunch breaks. Oh well!!

I'm very glad to have found this place. I've been on RoP for awhile, but with all the restrictions on BoI, I came wandering over here. I love to read all the different takes on JA's stories... Live and let live, I say. I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you.

Nacie

Is from: Waverly, Ia ~ USA
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I am a 47 year old female, married 24 years to a generous, funny man whose character I utilize freely in my writing. I have two grown sons, James and Ian, and a rather spoiled tabby by the name of Katie. I love to write, especially the sequels found on this site. There is something about the A&E/BBC production of P&P2 and its actors (in particular CF as Darcy), which seems to have taken hostage of my mind, heart, and imagination. I don't know when this fever will leave me, but until then, I am enjoying the ride...completely.
I also love music. I sing with two different local choral groups, and I use, as a sort of inspiration, every kind of music as background while I am writing.
My only other real hobby is drawing, although with the writing and singing, I am finding less time for this.
Through all of this my husband understands, and although he does not share my "firth obsession", he has learned to tolerate it as it has increased my creativity in many ways unforeseen.

Naomi

Is from: Adelaide, South Australia
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I am a 24 year old university student, and have nearly finished my law degree. In mid-1999 is was in a second hand shop and picked up a tattered old combined Sense & Sensibility/Pride & Prejudice novel. My life has never been the same. I have now read most of JA's novels, and I watch the 1995 BBC P&P on video at least once a month, sometimes more often!

Nat

Is from: Perth, Western Australia

This is a renewal of my old bio (and I mean old!)

I'm now 23, a BA(Asian Studies)/BCom(Accounting) graduate of two years, and have been employed as an English ALT by the Board of Education of a small city in southern Japan *deep breath* since August 2001. My Japanese fluency (spoken) has not improved as much as I'd hoped, but I'm certainly having a wonderful time working with Japanese kids of all school ages, traveling, making friends and enjoying Japan's unique culture.

My previous bio is chock full of waffle - here is the slightly abridged version .

Interests (other than Austen):
Buffy/Angel
Harry Potter
Tolkien

Hobbies:
Travel
Sport (distance running, aerobics, cycling)
Movies
Travel
Literature (although I've been ODing on fanfic lately)
Music (esp. singing)
Coffee (oh, for a decent cup!)
Internet
Travel

Favourite Austen:
Clinging steadfast to the author of this obsession of mine, that somewhat predictably being P&P . I saw P&P2 for the first time in 18 months last week and make pathetic whimpering noises everytime CF came onscreen. Well, what can you expect after so long a period of Darcy-deprivation!

Nicole G

Is from: New Jersey, USA
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I am a romance junkie and everything Jane Austen ever wrote fits the bill.

I am married with a very small son born in 2000 and I work in the internet business as a developper/webmaster/project manager and I love it because I can easily spend two hours a day at the DWG and noone notices.

My dear husband is an angel but is very jealous of the DWG since he thinks I love Mr. Darcy more than I do him...well.....ok, Mr. Darcy is not real, but if he was there may be a danger