Nicole

Is from: San Diego County, CA, USA
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(a.k.a. Nic, NicoleTG, and Nicole as in 'Maddie and Nicole')

As one might have already assessed from my (handle) name, I am entirely modest and I would not dare bore you with details of me.  Of course along with me being modest I am equally sarcastic.  Be prepared for a long bio because I enjoy the event of talking about my likes and passions.  And I warn you... I have many.

*Me!
I was born in August 27, 1983.  You may work out my current age, if you wish.   I have only one sibling, my brother, Phillipe (b. 1980) who I adore for his humor, intelligence and for being such a great brother [aww, yeah, he's great :))].  My mother and father are also wonderful, supportive, and easygoing.  Mom is a branch manager of a library in the San Diego County and my father is self-employed.  My background is French, Greek, and Mexican.  I look more Greek and French than Mexican I suppose since I have hairy arms... I'm learning French unsuccessfully by two bad experiences with French teachers (which is unfortunate).  My favorite subjects are English, art (support the arts-- it's the first thing to go in cutting budgets), and history.   I hope to become a graphic artist and go to college to achieve that career in a place out of San Diego.  But do not get me wrong-- I adore San Diego!  It has the most incredible weather, I'm ready to experience bad weather...

*"Don't judge a book by its movie."
<< Since my mother is an English major, it seems she was the influence that led me to adore grammar, dictionaries, and many books.  I own three dictionaries, two thesauruses, and three grammar books but there are two more dictionaries for my family to use.  I do not profess to be a scholar in spelling nor grammar.  Rather, I enjoy reading it and practicing it.  As one might guess,   I adore Jane Austen's works.  My favorite novels of her are: Emma and Pride and Prejudice.  Other books, plays, etc. that I adore are: "An Ideal Husband", "The Importance of Being Earnest", The House of Mirth, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Mysteries [from earlier youth], I have not read enough Shakespeare [but I like him already!], The Brothers Karamozov, A Tale of Two Cities makes me cry [though Lucie gets on my nerves], "Antigone" [I have not read "Oedipus Rex" yet, maybe this summer]  and so much more.  I am just so fagged that I do not want to elaborate.  And if you think that for a teenager that this list is far more than a scarce list by most teens, I will go into movies... *grins widely*...

*"Fasten you seat-belts, it's going to be a bumpy night."
>> I love films... It can lift my sprits in immeasurable ways such as literature.  It can be exasperating to be the only person in your class who knows who Bette Davis is besides your teacher but I adore old flicks as well as the new.  I'll just list them and some stars that I like as well:   {DRAMA} Laura, Rebeccacolor="#000000">, Strangers on a Train[I adore Hitchcock], The Apartment [Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine], 12 Angry Men [Henry Fonda and a fantastic ensemble cast], All About Evecolor="#804040"> [Bette Davis and she's pissed! :) ], Now, Voyager [another Bette flick with Paul Henrid], Casablanca [Bogart and Bergman], It's a Wonderful Life [makes you want to kiss life full on the lips (with James "Jimmy" Stewart)], Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington [ such and tear jerker and good!], Rear Window, The Best Years of our Lives, Stagecoach [1st western of John Wayne], The Manchurian Candidate [the wheels in your mind turn when you see this!], LA Confidential [Titanic should have sunk at the Oscars, sorry Titanic fans], The Shawshank Redemption, The Wings of the Dove,Usual Suspects, Miracle on 34th Street,  {MUSICALS} (I find solace knowing Marie L is my musical amigo:) My Fair Lady, Oklahoma! [I used to be obsessed with this musical!], State Fair, Funny Face, Brigadoon [ohh, I love that one...another Gene Kelly :))], Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Gigi, Singin' in the Rain [Gene Kelly ah! so handsome], {COMEDY} Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail [thanks to Rachel and my brother's influence], Life of Brian, Waking Ned Divine [when the dentures fly, I laugh so hard!], Swingers [features on of my favorite bands, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy], Shakespeare in Love [I made a site on it, just go to the bttom section of my bio], My Man Godfrey, Emma, and sooo many more...

*"Are You Hep to the Jive?"
<< Now that I have bored you enough on these subjects, I will go into music.  I am a great, great, great fan of neo-swing, big band, and swing music (maybe some ska).  My favorites are: The Brian Setzer Orchestra [site], Big Bad Voodoo Daddy [site], Royal Crown Revue [site], Squirrel Nut Zippers, Big Time Operator [local SD band; site], Levay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Indigo Swing [sexy-voice singer :))- site], Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Swingtips, Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Darin, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and many more...

* Micellany
>> I am in the progress of three stories: The Proud and the Prejudiced with Maddie, Conquering Churchill, and Caroline.  Most of my effort goes into The Proud and the Prejudiced.  Along with the story I manage the Pothole site and Maddie manages the Proud & Prejudiced homepage.  Lot's of effort and work goes into it so it's a monthly thing (we plan posting monthly...) and with my other stories I have not continued Caroline
for a ling time but I should start posting it in August (1999) and I just started Conquering Churchill which I should make it a weekly story. I think I have already divulged all that I can without picking up a stalker!  Just another thing-- I have a site on Shakespeare in Love and I love color.  It makes so much of a difference! It can make one feel happy, sad, hungry, tired... I am a little tired after writing this...

--Nicole :))

Norma

Is from: San Diego CA
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I usually read just bout anything. I also listen to any type of music (that includes rap). And I watch any type of movies.

I go to school full-time, work full-time and have a six year old daughter.

I'm a lurker by habit. Being an only child has made me very quiet and uncmfortable with people I don't know well.

I think that is all.

O Amy Beth

Is from: Northern Indiana in the good ol' USA
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My real name is Naomi Beth-Nimrah, however my little brother called me O Amy a few years ago when I was studying French and my family called me Noami.

I first read Pride and Prejudice when I was 15 (I think) because there was nothing else to read where I was and voracious reader that I am I had to read. A few chapters later you couldn't get me out of it. In fact I distinctly remember staying up 'til the middle of the night to finish it. I have since read that copy so much it has fallen apart.

I love the stories on this board and am glad to find that I am not the only Jane Austen devotee out there. Besides Austen I am a big fan of Shakespeare and anything on Scotland. I love classical music and needlework. I also love period costumes and just about anything "old-fashioned".

I am heading to college next fall and hope I can manage to juggle classes, studying, work, social life, and keeping up to date on this board.

Pat

Is from: Manitoba, Canada

I'm 37. Mother of 2 and soon another. Secondary school teacher of Art, English, History, who mostly has been used for Art because its a rarer specialty. Degrees in History/EngLit, Fine Arts, Education. Thinking of pursuing studies in Library Science, but not offered anywhere near here, so where, how, and at what cost? I've heard good things about Syracuse Distance Ed. Anyone with opinions about this?
Have been a reader since I can remember. If nothing else is available, cereal boxes will do, but I prefer JA, of course. Also like Dickens, Tolstoy, Robertson Davies, John Irving. Finding lots of current CanLit worthwhile, and do lots of non-fic reading also. Nevertheless, Austen and Davies are where I find my "occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed one."
Recent hobbies are tending to be "mom" ones, if they can be called hobbies at all. Volunteer for my kid's school board and for organising community club programs at the beach in the summer, etc. If I had time, I'd do more renovation, and general house and cottage upgrading. I love that!
I don't (yet anyway) write stories at DWG; I'm just a devoted reader. Non-fic is more my thing in writing...or editing, possibly. My talents run more to dealing with what's already there, than to creating something new! This includes house-design and other design as well; I've noticed that I don't deal well with a completely blank canvas in anything! Maybe that's my next big challenge!
Enjoy music when my purpose is to listen to it (I would rather have silence than "background noise") and my musical tastes run to opera, symphony, chamber mus, including contemporary. Though there are many popular musicians that I usually enjoy if I hear them, I hate listening to annoying commercial stations on the off-chance that I might hear them amidst the mess, so I rarely do. Give me CBC-Radio 1 or 2 over that! Except for the odd special (like PP2!) my TV viewing is thin: I'm most reliable for "Hockey Night in Canada," but even with that I'm not religious. Enjoy some movies, but usually "like the book better."
Currently looking most forward to going to the beach for the summer!
Sorry, but though I've enjoyed everyone else's photos and links, they're a little (a lot!) beyond my computer talents at the moment, so a verbal portrait only!

Paula J.

Is from: Provo, UT, USA
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I am 40 this year on April 29th. I have 4 children. My husband is a trade show magician. We have 6 cats and 1 Peking duck named Lunch (although we would never eat her)! I have a Master's in French and spend most of my time either doing office work for my husband or trying to keep my four kids from causing too much entropy in our home! I was born in Ottawa, KS and went to the University of Kansas. I fell in love with Jane Austen after seeing Pride and Prejudice (1995 version) and fell in love with the site once I found it....instant addiction. I love swimming, running distance, weight lifting and am a movie-holic. I do needlepoint, write occasionally(!), am a genealogical researcher and hope to get a PhD in French some day when I finally feel like I could stand to go back into grad school.

Peg

Is from: IL
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And a link: Romance of the Written Word

Hello, Austen Friends!

I'm one of the older (but not the oldest) DWGers in age, which you must have guessed since Leah is my daughter. I also have 2 college daughters and a Tim-the-Tool-Man type husband. I have been a preschool teacher for 13 years, and like having a place to come in order to use words of more than 4 letters. ;)

I am amazed at the other interests that many of us seem to share, so I'll just say 'ditto,' especially to the books & movies. "Sense & Sensibility" and "Pride & Prejudice" were my first Austen books (in high school). I have read the 6 novels & much of the Juvenilia (very interesting, sometimes unexpected).

I enjoy the DWG stories (and their comments) very much & come here often, though I do not get to read/comment as much as I would wish. You people are sooo talented! I also hold dear my friendships that began here at DWG or at Pemberley.

Other interests: baking (Invite me over, Jimmy - I'll bring dessert), travelling, living vicariously through my children, and sometimes I go crazy & do things like paint a clematis vine all over the ceiling. Oh yes, and tending my rose garden.

My website is listed below.

Thank you, Ann, for DWG, and to Kathlyn & Jimmy for being your helper-angels.

Peg

Pei-Ching

Is from: Mississauga, Canada

I'm Chinese Canadian; I live in Mississauga, which is near Toronto, where I work. I first discovered the DWG in 1999 through the RoP, and have been a constant lurker since then. I love JA and hope to post a story that is as creative as the ones I've read here! I decided to post a bio after showing up in the Chatroom & meeting a bunch of friendly folks.

Other information:
Age: 27
Occupation: articling student (Articling is like an internship year for law graduates before they can get called to the bar in Ontario).
Favourite JA novel: 3 way tie between P&P, Emma, and Persuasion.
Other books that I like: crime fiction (I don't like true crime), especially Brit crime (favourites are Josephine Tey, Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie, early Ruth Rendell, P.D. James), the works of Georgette Heyer, Anna Karenina, 1984, I Claudius, biography etc.
Hobbies: reading, listening to music, and playing games (favourites are Bridge & Scrabble).

Pia

Is from: New Zealand
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Well I have only recently found the DWG but I have been a regular on RoP for ages. As I have read through some of the bios its intresting to see most of you are AMERICANS. I have nothing against Americans but your everywhere and for a 18 yr old girl who lives in a country with only 3 million people your ingolfing me. But I love reading through your storys on the Fanatasia Gallery.

So abit about me 18 years old, this is my last year at high school, I haven't decided what to do next year I'll either get a BA in Classical Studies or travel through Europe on a very very small budget. I live at home on our diary farm, we milk 210 cows. I have two dogs a cat and two very obedient parents, my sister is a teacher and my brother is on his big OE (Overseas Experience)he's working behind a bar in London somewhere.

Anyway I love JA among others, Australian author John Marsden is a favourite ( If you can read his Tomorrow When The War Begins series it rocks, any Aussie out there will know what i mean)Favourite movie is Jerry Maguire, I listen to almost everything, at the moment I have a fetsih for LIFEHOUSE, but among my CD collection you can find Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Queen, Ronan Keating, Joshua Kadison, Kiss and of course no teenagers CD collection would be complete without all the Backstrett Boys Cd's.

My mates and I all have our P&P names, of course I wanted to be Lizzy but I have blond hair, then I wanted to be Jane but I'm not sweet, I wasn't going to be Lydia or Kitty because I can't dance and New Zealand military men have awful looking uniforms (No red coats)So I am MARY, but I thank all those lovely authors out there who are making Mary's life bearable (Especially Shemmelle- Marriage is a mistake every man must make). I had better go because its the middle of the night and I want some sleep, but drop me a line I love to hear from other JA fans because no body in my house will listen to anything I say when I start rattling off about this great new story that has just been posted.

See ya (Oh by the way go ALL BLACKS!!!!!!)
A Rugby mad Pia signing off

Pippa

Is from: Derbyshire, England

Well bless my soul! There are not many Brits around here! I had better act fast before the American Dwiggies gain even more of a monopoly!

I discovered a link to this simply ripping site from the Pemberley Republic when researching a tad bit more information about Jane Austen to use in my English Literature A-level coursework in February (2002). …And I have been using the excuse of ‘research’ to qualify the amount of time I have spent here reading the archives ever since!

Okay, excusing my half-hearted attempt at what some of you may consider to be traditional English phrases…what else is there to say? I suppose I ought to introduce myself…

I am known in my general circle of acquaintances as Philippa, however, should any of my brothers call me that, I know that I could be in serious trouble - Phil normally suffices! Pippa is my pen-name so to speak while Pia is a shortened version of Piapa.

Now I have the mundane task of stating my various names out of the way, let me tell you all a little about where I live. I am fortunate enough to live on the ‘nice’ (a typical British way of saying something/someone is…well…nice!) side of Derby...and a couple of minutes’ drive from one of the most picturesque areas in all of Merrie England…the Peak District. There truly is little else that “compares with the wild and untamed beauty of the Peaks.” As everyone would imagine, I can confirm, to those Pride and Prejudice fanatics who have not been quite so fortunate as to experience it firsthand, that the Peaks actually in Derbyshire, contain the most ‘celebrated beauties.’ Goodness, I’d better stop before this really sounds like a paragraph from a trashy Tourist Office leaflet!!

I join the fascinating world of adults this summer, an age which you now can have a direct say in politics; have complete legal access to all pubs and alcohol but also have to be completely responsible for all your own actions! Oh, shucks!

Being the oldest of 9 children (no, that was not a typing error!), I often bear the brunt of nosey people’s endless questions! Let me answer a couple of them here… No, we are not Catholics…and yes, I do enjoy being part of a big family – because I’ve never known anything different, it doesn’t even feel big…in fact, I find myself thinking that the families who have 3 or 4 kids are massive (!). Oh, and noooo…I don’t know if there will be any more – I gave up guessing about four years ago – Dad and Mum don’t even know!!

I noticed that many, if not all of you, haven’t stated any kind of religious beliefs – is that because you’re all agnostics or just simply find it irrelevant?? Just for the record, I’m a committed Christian.

Likes and dislikes…I prefer concentrating on the likes and it’s probably best just to summarise! I love reading – histories, travel journals, novels (Jane Austen being a particular favourite), and anything else I can lay my hands on! I also enjoy writing. Other than that…well… I suppose the sporty streak in me is probably inherited from my Dad who played lacrosse for England in the 1970s – although my involvement in that particular sport goes no further than stomping up and down the sidelines yelling “come on the reds” on a few early and misty Saturday mornings in a bid to keep warm!! Running, kayaking and rowing is at the very top of the sport ‘like’ list with football (and, guys, I mean the real football – not the American cross between rugby and football!) and abseiling following not to far behind. I am not adverse to rock climbing and sailing while actual participation in tennis was sadly stopped recently due to breaking my elbow and injuring my shoulder whilst dribbling a football.

I don’t think it is worth boring everyone with a list of favourite movies and an even longer one of those I myself find boring. I hardly need mention that I - along with most of my brothers and my 7yr old sister - have watched the Firth/Ehle P&P and Northam/Paltrow Emma movies so many times that we know most scenes off by heart!

I could go on but should stop here - I hope that you all find this as interesting as I found many of yours to be!

Pyro

Is from: Melbourne, Australia
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I'm 16, in 11th grade, and have no idea what I want to do once I finish school. I'm doing the International Baccalauriate (is that how you spell it??) and I'm really enjoying it. I've lived in Melbourne all my life and have made frequent trips to the USA 'cause my mother's family lives there. When I'm not at school, I rehearse in a symphonic wind band and work at my local library - shelving books. Which is great fun (I'm not joking - it is!!). I play clarinet and double bass and like all kinds of music. I play cricket in the summer but nothing in the winter. I'm a keen AFL follower also. My favourite JA book is Pride and Prejudice followed closely with Persuasion. Ditto with movies/adaptations. Other than that, I love Enid Blyton and Mary Poppins! Just one last thing - my real name's Kirsten, though everyone calls me Pyro (in real life too), so if you call me Kirsten, I will answer!!:)

Rachel Elizabeth

Is from: Maple Ridge, BC, Canada
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I am a 24 year old stay-at-home mother of two charming little boys: Joel (3) and Micah (3 mos). I have a loving and supportive husband, Nick, who endures all my idiosyncracies, including my love of all things Jane , with surprising fortitude.
I have loved Jane Austen's stories ever since I saw P&PO at the age of thirteen. My Mom, who has read nearly every romance novel on the planet, and particularly loves historical romance, showed me the movie; so it's all her fault!
Currently, I am writing two novels. The first, called The Nesmiths; or Husband Wanted, is what I call an "Austenesque": a story written in the style and tone as Miss Austen's original works. It is about three sisters and their attempts to find suitable husbands for themselves. You can read it at A Novel Idea.
The other, called Moira, is a fantasy/fairytale about an orphaned girl, who in her quest to uncover the mystery of The Enchanted Wood, uncovers the mystery of her own identity. I have yet to post it.
My next ambition is to take some extra schooling, and embark on a career as an editor (dependent on my ever becoming a famous writer. He He).
Besides being Mommy and a would-be writer, my other interests include interior design and decorating, drawing, dollhouses, and horseback riding.

Rachel

Is from: Columbia, Missouri, USA
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Hmm . . . 'tell us about yourself' is a rather vague phrase for me, especially when I have so many 'selves' that which one is 'your'? My selves are many-named, but none named 'your' . . .

And this is a prime example of my personality. The above paragraph says quite a bit without me telling any further facts, but I'll go ahead and do it anyway.

My full name is Rachel Marie--Rachel means "sheep" or "ewe" or "lamb", or something along those white fuzzy lines, which I find interesting, especially when you look in the Bible and Laban, the Biblical Rachel's father, also had the elder daughter named Leah, and apparently, (according to Leea!) Leah means cow, which I just find very nice, that this guy was not afraid to name his children after farm animals. :) Not that this has much to do with me, anyway, but I just find this interesting.

But in any case, I was born in the University Hospital of Columbia, Missouri, on March 21, 1983. Apparently, I was a late baby, forcing my mom into labor on the very night before labor would be induced, which is probably not surprising to all who know me, as I am a horrible procrastinator. Also, as a young child, I did have books thrown at my head, which is also interesting as one of my chief ambitions in life is to be an 'educated nut,' and I am extremely silly. :)

And as such, my early years can be passed by quickly, especially as I haven't the faintest recollection of them, except that I did learn to read at the tender age of 2, thus beginning a long career in reading, which was another chief ambition of mine in 2nd grade (I told everyone that when I grew up, my job would be to read books. Any books I wanted.)

And after this come a bunch of years that I remember, but have no significance on the story, other than that at the age of 10, I began to show signs of my odd, obsessive personality, best known as manifesting itself in a deep infatuation for the fictional JA character Colonel "Stud Muffin; Fitzie Pie; Lover Boy; No-Name" Fitzwilliam. This particular incident is well-documented; I won't go into further explanation.

However, the only truly relevant event at this point is that in 8th grade, a friend of mine was reading Emma, and I saw the recent movie of Sense and Sensibility, but it was at this point that I saw the Wishbone version of Pride and Prejudice, and thus was induced to try this Jane Austen gal, leading into my introduction into the superior world of Jane and the Regency, and especially the wonderful world of Ann's Derbyshire Writers' Guild. :)

And now, I have my definitive likes/dislikes/quirks for your delection because to truly go in-depth with my life (although what I have is fairly in-depth in comparison) would be pointless and boring.

Favorite Jane Austen Character: A toughie. As mentioned, I am quite enraptured over Jane's Colonel Fitzwilliam (or should I say, the Guild's/Lise's Colonel Fitzie?), but also my next favorite would have to be the interesting Henry Crawford.

Favorite Jane Austen Novel: As you can guess, my opinions change often, but my most long-lasting favorite has been Mansfield Park, although I very much like Persuasion as well.

Favorite JA Silly Character: The Honourable John Yates. Really, everyone should carefully read MP for this character, because he is the most delightful fop! A major reason to see the old MP adaption is the guy picked to do this role--he really makes this odd fop come alive! No other character makes me crack up as much as this adorably silly guy does.

Other Favorite Writers: Georgette Heyer was introduced to me through Pemberley, and I really have to recommend her for a light-hearted all-around good read. Her books are fluffish in nature, but she is a very good writer and has the most wonderful characters with the most hilarious names. Also, Dave Barry--a humor writer with wit and a love of bodily functions, he writes very satirical books about life, love, B.O., and bad songs. C. S. Forester also is good--his Horatio Hornblower books are wonderful, and offer a nice slice of the Napoleonic-era British Navy.

Other Non-JA Loved Books: Les Miserables is, in my opinion, a must read--yes, the unedited version at least once. Victor Hugo was another master-writer, and has a knack with entering into characters and making them interesting and wonderful, even if you can't stand them. Especially with Marius is Victor Hugo great--if you've read the book, you can understand why all these women love this sweet little guy. Also recommended--The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte. This story is told from a man's perspective and changes style as also told through a diary, and offers a much differ perspective on males than her sisters--more akin to JA than Charlotte or Emily. Cecilia by Fanny Burney was a book that Jane Austen read, and mentions in Northanger Abbey--also, it really does have characters that possibly inspired Jane Austen for Pride and Prejudice--although, the parallels made in the intro of the copy I had I think were wrong. A little different in style and speech than Jane, but then, believeable, throughly enjoyable, and well worth the time taken to read it (about 900 pages).

Favorite Actor/ess: Once again, this opinion changes. Currently, recovering from a fanaticism with Shakespeare in Love, I would have to say the lovely Joseph Fiennes, but another 'steadier' favorite has been Kenneth Branagh, who has the gift of making excellent films, whether Shakespearian or otherwise. I would reccomend every movie that this man has directed; just fantastic.

Favorite Movies: As mentioned, Shakespeare in Love is a recent favorite. Anything A & E does is excellent, (The recent Horatio Hornblower movies, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Tom Jones, and of course, Pride and Prejudice) and also Kenneth Branagh's various movies (Dead Again, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Peter's Friends, Henry V) are wonderful.

Profession: At the moment, a student, but minorly a writer here of several works of fiction, such as Jane Austen and the Holy Bits of Ivory, Girls' Night Out, Romancing the Crone, with other works with friends such as Admiration Is Such a Drag with Lise, and Mansfield Revised with Marie L. In future, plan to teach English to high school students, or perhaps British Literature to college students.

Odd Quirks: Am nicknamed "Bob Dole" amongst my intimates, and am known to invoke this name and the name of Dan Quayle often as conversation starters. Am excessively silly; often quote such varied things as Monty Python and William "Billy S." Shakespeare. Another career ambition is to become, as mentioned, the first government-subsidized educated nut (perhaps a PhD!), and plan to write at least 3 books (one being an Austenesque novel) solely in order to fulfil all my promises to various people to dedicate books to them. A sign of deep connection/friendship with me: a tenancy to confuse your name with someone else. Am known to have the men in the white coats planning to take me away upon graduation in college, and tell everyone that I have the FBI following me or that I am a Russian spy. Am harmless, but very amusing--at least, so my friends tell me.

Now, thank you very much for reading, and thank you, Ann, for the creation of the Baronetage and for putting up with this long ramble! :)

Rachelle Paige

Is from: Evansville, Indiana
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I became a devoted Jane Austen fan in 1995 (when i was in the seventh grade), after watching Pride and Prejudice. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite, naturally, and i have read it too many times to count. My video collection of the A&E production is beginning to wear out from 5 years of constant use.
I'm a freshman at Indiana University in Bloomington. I'm an art history major, and hopefully i will pursue a career in historic preservation. I adore reading, although i have no time to do so at school, i love being outside, i love to laugh, and hopefully one day i will finish one of my fuve novels and my countless poetry anthlogies.

Reb

Is from: Calgary , Alberta ,Canada

My name is Rebecca or Becky but since there is a person named Rebecca here. I was given the nick name of Reb with a 2 next to it.. that way folks would not confuse the two Rebecca's ..as I wrote I am from Calgary ,Alberta, Canada.

I am a single parent with a 9 year old son that I am raising on my own.. Like reading when I can, like football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.. I also enjoy cross stitching pictures and cross stitching baby quilts as well.. I have the past few years worked at my son's school , helping in the classroom .. I really enjoy working with children...

I am not sure what else to say so I think I will close .

Thank you.

RebeccaTH

Is from: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
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During the next twelve months I expect to do three things that absolutely terrify me: turn thirty, buy a house, and have a baby. My hands are shaking just from typing those words!

For relief from these tremblings and flutterings, I enjoy reading and writing escapist literature, especially here at DWG. My life has been completely transformed since I found this place. Thanks to all those who make it happen.

I also enjoy my job as a lawyer/librarian, and I have a remarkable relationship with my husband Gordon. In addition to being a voracious reader of both fiction and non-fiction, I enjoy exercising (especially hiking, but I do my best story plotting while jogging - the pain makes me focus!), the theatre and music (and, conversely, musical theatre), and traveling and reading/dreaming about traveling.

I couldn't possibly name a favorite book or movie or piece of music, but, if I were to attempt it, most likely my selections would be old. Mrs. Elton's friends would tell me that I am overloaded with old culture but draw a blank on popular culture. I do try to keep up with sports, and I actually go to see games and watch them on T.V., but besides sports PBS is pretty much the extent of my television viewing habit.

Before I moved to the Boston area I lived in Madison, Wisconsin, Syracuse, New York, and London. I am accustomed to extreme weather conditions - I come from very hearty stock.

About those three terrifying things, well, I guess if I could survive the fear of posting my first story here, I can survive the next twelve months of my life. After all, that's why I left grad school, isn't it? So I could have a real life?

You guys give me courage -

ox Rebecca

Renae

Is from: S FL, but I was born in Detroit.

Okay, there's honestly not much to tell. When I was 4 I moved from MI to FL because my Mom had rheumatoid arthritis, and couldn't stand the cold climate. I'm a very strong Christian, I love chocolate, I like alot of boys, (but not the immature, perverted ones) I have four siblings, three of which are dwiggies, I love listening to Christian music, especially Third Day, & Newsboys.My Dad's a minister, my Mom's a nurse, & that's the story of my uneventful life. I was actually first introduced to Austen, when I saw P&P on Wishbone, my siblings and I thought it was a comedy, and we wanted a good laugh, so we begged our parents to get it from Blockbuster, and then things just went on from there.

Renata

Is from: Porto Alegre, Brazil

My first contact with anything concerning Austen was in 1996, when I was 13 years old and my mom stuck this copy of Sense and Sensibility in my hands after picking it out of a shelf of a Waldenbooks store in El Cerrito, California. S&S (the movie) was nominated for a couple of Oscars that year and if my mom wasn't an Academy Awards enthusiast, I might have never heard of Jane Austen in my life. Not that I'm that ignorant, it's just that people here in Brazil are rarely big on English Literature. I also vaguely remember watching the first episode of P&P2 on Christmas Eve, 1997, at my grandmother's house, and not being able to hear a thing nor reading the subtitles, which would be my next resource for comprehension (too many noisy relatives), and so I understood almost...practically nothing.

Yes, I'm Brazilian (half-Italian on Mom's side, though) and I live in the Southern tip of this humongous country. So when I speak English, people ask me if I'm from Eastern Europe because of my different accent. It gets even weirder because I've never been to Eastern Europe in the first place (but I'd love to go, if anyone will pay me). Anyway, I lived in California between February 96 and February 97 while my parents were visiting professors in Berkeley and I even drove from San Francisco to New York. So for obvious reasons and circumstances, I know the U.S. far better than I know my own country.

I got addicted to DWG a week after I finished Pride and Prejudice and ended up mentally disturbed, just wanting more, more, MORE!... My friends even thought of putting me away in one of those nice places where they have padded rooms and nurses, but then I found you guys and went back to...er...being normal (yeah, right!).

Anyway, among my addictions that do not include Austen are World History, World Politics, CNN, doing my toenails, spending all of my money on CDs, reading and writing maniacally, backing up every comma I write on disk, aspartame (meaning, Diet Coke), and like 99.9% of my country's population, soccer/football - whatever you wanna call it. The only pets I have are six fish that are nameless, but famished half the time, and my little 13-year-old hansonmaniac sister. Her obsession is severe and I sometimes think of putting her in a cage, but who am I to talk?

Let us see...my favorite movies are All the President's Men, Sense and Sensibility, and Another Country (Colin Firth's first movie appearance, I think). I like to listen to the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Janis Joplin, Metallica, and Madonna. I know it's a weird combination, but then, I'm weird. I also enjoy a bit of Bossa Nova, thank you very much. My favorite book is - yes - Pride and Prejudice, but I have a thing for Jack Kerouac, the Brontë sisters, Elizabeth Gaskell, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Isabel Allende, and Leon Tolstoi.

I'm 17 as of April 11th, graduating in a month or so, I hope, and I don't know whether or not I want to take the year off before going to college next year. If I do go to college, it'll be a local one and depending on circumstances I'll be getting my B.A on either History or Journalism. I'll have to get back to you on that one...

- Renata

Rene

Is from: Hawaii, USA

Aloha from Hawaii! How's that for cliche?

I'm a computer programmer/analyst here in beautiful Honolulu where the skies are fair and the clouds fluffy white. And if the temperature ever dips below 75, all local residents pull out their parkas. Cold today! Must have gone down to a frigid 70 degrees! Brrr!

I'm married to a wonderful man who is very understanding of my fascination for all things British. He even jokes to me that his favorite color is blue and his favorite dessert is creme brulee... just like Colin Firth!

I also have two wonderful little boys, ages 3.5 and 7. They, aside from DWG, are my stress relievers. I just wonder if they'll ever read P&P.

P&P has been my favorite book since I first read it when I was in intermediate school. (That's a LOT of years ago!) I had read all of JA's books, but let me say that when I saw the Colin Firth version of P&P, I pulled all the books off the shelf to reread them. And I have to thank my husband for getting me hooked on P&P again. I was home sick from work when he gave me the P&P DVD. I lounged on the couch in the living room for six hours straight watching that show. After six hours, boy, Colin Firth got to looking pretty good!

Other than Jane Austen would you believe my favorite author is Tom Clancy of "Hunt for Red October" fame? Too bad I can't picture Colin Firth playing Jack Ryan... (sigh)

I won't tell you how old I am. Suffice it to say that I'm a year younger than Colin Firth and Helen Fielding (the author of "Bridgit Jones's Diary"). And that, I tell my husband, is why I found BJD so entertaining and CF so charming! It's that common age thing.

Annnnywaaayyy...I just thought I should introduce myself since I've been lurking and reading your wonderful stories for about a year now. Thank you everyone, and especially Ann and her volunteers, for giving me a place to escape to! I hope you're here forever!

Mahalo!

Renée

Is from: The Netherlands
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Hi, my name is Renée, I'm from Holland, 51 years old, married and mother of two teenage children, a daughter (18) and a son (almost 17). I'm a French translator and own a translation office where I receive commissions mainly from institutions. I take care of the French translations myself, but I forward requests concerning different languages to freelance translators who belong to my network. So, French is my second language, but ever since I watched the P&P miniseries and read the book again and again, the English language became practically as dear to me. Thanks to the fact that I made a couple of great friends in the Austen fandom who are willing to judge and correct my work, I started writing Fanfiction myself and was even so bold as to post my stories (my latest, a retelling of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, 'To love unselfishly', that I wrote together with Roya and Lisa L.). My profession is my hobby, but apart from that and my family, I love classical music, reading, writing and art.

Rivky

Is from: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Hello, all! I've been lurking around the DWG for an age, and I only recently got up the nerve to start posting (the lovely Tamara helped me be brave, we beta for each other), so I thought I would introduce myself.

My name is Rebecca, but since there are a whole bunch of Rebeccas already running around here, I'm posting as Rivky, which is what my Hebrew class calls me. I'm 22 years old, my birthday is February 18, 1981, and am an only child and therefore outrageously spoiled. But still rather nice!

I like many things. Here are some (apart from Jane Austen, who I consider to be the greatest genius who ever lived):

Edward Lear, Emily Dickinson, Margaret Atwood, English and French Lit., Women's Lit. (I could go on and on here), old movies, Indian food, esp. shahi paneer (yum!), Black Adder, classical music, particularly opera (Gilbert and Sullivan too, although Rossini is my favorite), going camping. And more recently, the Lord of the Rings phenomenon thanks to my roomate last year, who is fanatical about it! I have read the books, though.

I also ride horses, which is great fun! Mainly jumping now, but I used to do three-day eventing in my pony club days. I was awful at the dressage but pretty decent at the cross country and show jumping phases. No horse, I'm a poor college student. I just ride whatever our barn has at the moment. I'm hoping to start showing again next summer, wheee!

I'm majoring in French at my university and am hopefully going to study in France next semester. French food, here I come! I work at my campus' Hillel, which is a national (possibly even international) Jewish organization for college students, and it's a wonderful place. I'm just a student intern there, but it's fun!

My family has a lovely dog called Aimee (french for loved) who is 10 years old now but still as young as ever. And we have one evil cat, named Leo. She is never in a good mood. To her, my family are mere things that are only good as food sources and giant scratching posts.

I like to travel, esp. to England and France, although Wisconsin is a beautiful state, and Milwaukee is a lovely place to live, I kid you not.

Now that I've written an essay, I think that's about it, except to note that I am far from normal, in fact, slightly insane. But that's a good thing, right? Please feel free to email to say hi or just to comment on my strangeness!

Roni

Is from: New Jersey, USA

Well, let's see...
"My name is Veronica, (I like Roni better for posting purposes) I'm 15 years old, and I love Jane Austen." ("Hi, Roni!")
I've been reading DWG stories for years. I just never got aroung to introducing myself.
(note: this is all IMVVHO)
Best JA Story: Persuasion!

Best JA Hero: Mr. Darcy!

Best JA Heroine: Anne Elliot/Fanny Price/Catherine Morland/dunno who else.

Best JA Movie: P&P2 (1995 Firth/Ehle/Davies Version)

Worst JA Movie: MP2 (2000 Patricia Rozema & Co.)

What else? I've hung out at Pemberley for a while too. Both of you guys are great! Hope to maybe someday post a story on DWG, since I have 2 in Bits of Ivory in Pemberley.

Interests? Reading (no! ), Writing (no! ), Drawing, (Classical & Old-Broadway) Music, Playing Piano and Singing, Movies, History, Old Movies, Tennis, &c...

Roos

Is from: Purmerend, Holland
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Hi all,

I'm Roos, born 11th of may in 1979. I was born and raised in Amsterdam, but I'm living in Purmerend now with my husband Bastiaan. We're moving back to Amsterdam soon though.
I'm a student of developmental psychology.
My hobbies are reading, singing and listening to classical music.
I first discovered Jane when they showed P&P2 on dutch television in 1996. I've read all her books since then and P&P is still my favorite novel and adaptation.
I've been here since the start and every day I just have to check if there is new fan fiction to read. I love it!
My husband is complaining already about all the stacks of stories that lay around the house.
Hope to enjoy your stories for a long time and maybe onde day I will try to write one of my own.

SBRobinson

Is from: Castro Valley California
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Where to begin? I'm 27 and work for an electronic publishing company in Foster City CA. I love JA of course, and spend far to much time here at DWG. I'm addicited to reading, chocolate and diet coke; and I LOVE to travel. I've been to Europe 3 times in the last 6 1/2 years and am planning to go again soon. I went to School in Chattanooga Tenn (Tennesse Temple Univ) and majored in History. I love the stories posted here and am amazed sheer quanty (and quality!) My biggest hang up is that I'm dyslexic, and consiquently mis spell things All The Time! Therefore, please accept my sincerest apologies for what is doubtless a horrific experience; trying to decifer what the heck it is that i'm writting about! :)
My ABSOLUTELY favorite book(s) are the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. Yes, our dear JA comes in a close second on my favorite author list. (Blasphmy I know, but please dont stone me!) :)
Favorite Type of Music is definately Swing. However, I'd like to point out that I loved Swing and Big Band LONG before it was all the rage, and Gap was using it in it's commericals. (I was the only kid in JR. High with a picture of Glen Miller in her locker) I do appreciate the recent surge of new Swing music available though, like the Big Bad VooDo Daddies, and Lavae Smith and her red hot skillet lickers. Not to mention Lee Press on and the Nails.
OK, on to movies...
P&P2 (was there any doubt?) the Anthony Andrews/Jane Seymore version of the Scarlet Pimpernel (would that be SP2?), which was also my favorite book in High School. I read it in 9th grade and thought that scene at the end of chapter 15 (i think it's called Richmond) where Percy is so overcome by love for Margurite, that he kisses the steps where her foot has trod and the places where her hand had rested, had to be the most romantic thing ever written. ok, more movies -Princess Bride, Father of the Bride I and II, ANYTHING with Cary Grant in it, BraveHeart, Emma, S&S. But of course when (if) they ever get around to making DG's Outlander into a movie that will probably become my favorite. :)
Man of My Dreams: That would have to be James Alexander Malcom Mackensie Faser. However, since he's been dead for quite sometime (about 200 yrs) I'd pretty much settle for almost any sweethearted, huge, redheaded Scotsman. Speaking of which... if you happen to have any (single) in your family around the age of 30 -send word express! ;)

Sally O

Is from: California
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I've been a fan for, well let's just say, a while. I am a surgical scrub nurse at a cancer research hospital with hobbies that include cooking, sewing and writing...reading, too.

I have two step-daughters and five grandchildren. I live in Southern California where the weather promotes outside activities including hicking and gardening. My bicycle gets a workout occasionally.

After reading several biographies of Jane Austen my husband and I wrote a book that theorizes who the person Austen used as a basis for Mr. Darcy (of P&P fame). The scholars all think he was a composite of several people she knew or knew of, our theory is a bit more fanciful than that. We wrote the book to give as gifts to friends and family and so I typeset it, copied it and hand bound it with satin ribbon. We did it in three volumes (like Austen's books)and it was a big hit with everyone.

I lost Mike not long after and decided to try and get the book published. It comes out in April of this year by Kensington Books (an imprint of Kensington Publishing). He called it the ultimate valentine because it came out of the love we have for each other.

Happy Valentine's day all.

Samantha Evans

Is from: the sticks
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I am really bored tonight and no one is in chat so I've decided to post my spectacularly boring bio...
Truth be told, normal people wouldn't find it spectacularly boring, in fact, I believe that they would find it downright eccentric, but since not many of us on the 'net and especially the DWG can be considered normal...
I'm Sam (that's a nickname, yes, I am a girl), and I'm somewhere between sixteen going on 25 and sixteen going on three (not really sure which, today I feel 21...) I'm a JA addict ("Hi my name is Sam and I have a problem" "Hiii Saaammm")even though I haven't read all of her books yet- but I'm working on it. My addiction is mostly based on anything and everything P&P, though I also love S&S the movie, particularly because of a certain Colonel Brandon... did I mention I'm a Rickmaniac also?
My other favorite authors are Terry Brooks and Susan Kay and the ever amazing JK Rowling (Harry Potter all the way), though my book interests range from Manga to Victor Hugo to Robert Jordan and Calvin & Hobbes. Fav. movies are pretty damn varied too, some of them including, of course, P&P (A&E), Monty Python, The Matrix, Spiderman, Beauty and the Beast, Moulin Rouge, and the Nightmare before Christmas. I like to watch Witchblade, Buffy, the Pretender (though it's now only reruns), the Dead Zone, and I'm just now getting into Monk, it's so cute!
Favorite actresses: I only really have one, Julia Roberts (oh, but I do like Yancy Butler)
Fav. actors: ah, where to begin... Ewan Mcgregor (can't spell his name, but damn! can he sing), Colin Firth (the ONLY true Darcy), Eric Etibari ('cause he's so damn hot), James Marsters (for the same reason), Hugh Grant, and who could forget the ever wonderful... Alan Rickman.
My other loves include Phantom of the Opera (the world's greatest love story besides P&P), Soccer, writing, art, fanfiction, and naps. Oh, and also thinking up comebacks, being melodramatic, and leaving sentences ended with a ...
I am hoping to go to college in England and to eventually to become an Egyptologist, and to publish a novel. Greatest Wish? To go back in time and snag a Darcy of my own, or to meet one in my own time period.
And here's a neat fact: My sister, who is absolutly beautiful with waist length dark hair and light eyes, is an auto mechanic with a spitfire temper but a great personality... and she's named Elizabeth. Once I found out about P&P I thought it would fit her so perfectly, and then the other day I found a story where Elizabeth Bennet is a car mechanic! It was so...kinda unnerving that I stopped and didn't even read the story, but I'm hoping to see it lived out in real life...sigh. Also, I have blond hair and blue eyes, but I'm younger, and no Jane, since our personality's match.
Sooo... love me, hate me, can't decide? Email me or IM at firefly8679 and we'll talk! I love to make new friends!

Sandra R

Is from: Sydney, Australia
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Well, where to start? Umm I was born 25 April 1974 in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to Portuguese parents and migrated to Australia in '77. Nothing remarkable with primary school or high school apart from the fact that I talked too much and read all the books that weren't on the reading list (yes I'm a bit stubborn, don't like being told what to do) and met my future husband. Persuasion, Emma and Mansfield Park were recommended reading in my final year of school, and I hate to say it, but I didn't like them. I work as a secretary at a financial company and got married in '97 to MY Mr Darcy, Robert. No kids yet. I'm ashamed to say that I had never read P&P until I saw a repeat of the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice in '99. I just couldn't wait until the following week so I went out and bought the tapes and from then on, my poor husband would arrive home for about a month with me on the couch watching it over and over, completely oblivious to the fact I should have been cooking, needless to say, we lost a bit of weight in that month (could that be a new diet? The Pride & Prejudice diet - no food, just liquids for a month) So far I've managed to convert my sister-in-laws, my mother & mother-in-law, my auntie and I'm working on my younger cousins, neice and nephew. Another 2 neices or nephews are to be born this year, so I've bought the mothers the videos, got to get them when they're young!

After that I finally realised, that I LOVE Jane Austen, and I'm kicking myself that it took so long! Pride and Prejudice, closely followed by Persuasion are my favourites.
I have never written any stories, but there is no greater joy, than logging on and finding all the
new posts and catching up with archived stories.

Sandy (and John)

Is from: Tasmania, Australia
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Help! What does one say....I know, STATISTICS!

Real name: Janet Hoban. (but I prefer Sandy)
Hair colour: Red
Eye colour: Blue or green, depending on my temper and what I'm wearing
Born: 1980
Place of Birth: New South Wales, Australia.
Siblings: Elder brother, elder sister, and John.
Pets: I cat of my own, but we have three in the family.

Well I still have both my parents. My mum is an American, my father is Australian.

Sports: Formerly a field hockey goalie. But now I fence, and not very well.

Favourite books are Anne of Green Gables, Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Persuasion, Georgette Heyer, and some of the Agatha Christie books, Dune, Scarlet Pimpernel books (there are approx. 10) and The Prince of the Captivity.

Hobbies: Errr, ummm, ahhh. Sailing, bushwalking, playing the violin, tinkering with bicycles. Writing.

Favourite movies:*a few more umms and arrr's* Anything with the Marx brothers. Sound of Music. Starwars. Anne of Green Gables. I think that's all.

I am presently studying engineering at the University of Tasmania.

With John, he just says, Ditto, ditto and a bit more ditto. But skip the Anne books and movie, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and add Alistair MacKlean and Hardy boys to the list.
Sports: Former wing in field hockey, also fences badly.
Then a bit more ditto.
Name: John Alexander
Hair colour: Red
Eye colour: undecided. (says he doesn't study his eyes)

SandyLiz

Is from: France
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I am 18 and I live in France . I am a great fan of Jane Austen and especially of Pride and prejudice. I am french so I still have to progress in english . I often make mistakes( I hope you will forgive me !).
I also love horses and I ride since I have 7 . I love the JA fan fictions and I check everyday to see if there is something new in the stories in progress I am following.

Sanela

Is from: Iowa
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I am 20 year old female and I have been married for 2 years to a wonderful man. I am originally from Bosnia and have been livng in the United States for about 6 years. I have first seen Pride and Prejudice in Bosnia in 1996 and fell in love with it. When I came to the Unites States I bought all Jane Austen books and movies. My favourite book is Pride and Prejudice and second close is Persuasion. My favourite shows are Buffy the vampire slayer and Angel.I have bought all the season that have been released in the United States.

Saphrie

Is from: England
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I've been lurking here for a while now and thought it was about time I did one of these things even though I have no idea what to put! So I warn you stop reading now if staying awake is a priority!

Ok starting with where I live. That would be in the West Country of England. Any jokes about a) "Ohh arr" Cider c) Tractors d) White Picket Fences (?) don't bother, I've heard them! And still remain proud of where I live!

At the moment I am in Sixth form doing (against my better judgement) English Literature, History, Psychology and Sociology. The one relief is that I am studying Pride and Prejudice in my English Lit class, joy of joys! I now have an excuse to indulge in Austen for hours (not that I didn't before!) In fact it was because of that that I found this site, so gratitude goes to examiner!

I first got to know Austen through the latest PandP adaption, my favourite Austen character of all times stands as Mr Bennet. I love his dry humour which is very simliar to my own.

Ancestry: This one takes some explaining, I am at the moment part English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and American. It takes more time to explain then I can be bothered with, suffice to say, all the blame lies with my dad's side of the family!

In my spare time (although recently I have had to ask myself what that is) I enjoy reading, reading and reading! Apart from that I like shopping, chatting with friends and my daily visits to the ROP and DWG to see what the rest of you are up to.

My favourite books change regularly although I do have all-time favourites, P and P obviously and I love the Jeeves and Wooster series by P.G Wodehouse.

I am not sure how you are supposed to end these things, with a poignant memorable message or what so instead I am just going to share a few of my favourite quotes with you and say all the best and happy Dwiggying (New word?)

"A little rebellion now and then is always a good thing"

"All who wander are not lost"

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely"

There are other but for your snaity and mine, I'll stop right there!

love Saphrie

Sara K

Is from: Seattle WA
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Hello, all! I am a college student currently living in lovely Seattle-- studying theatre and history-- and I have just recently discovered this wonderful site. I read "Pride and Prejudice" for the first time a few years ago, and have recently started reading more and more of Jane Austen's stories. I find that the more I read her work the more I love her.
I am not much of a writer myself, and am mostly posting this so if another Sara K shows up it won't get too confusing. I love lurking and reading everyone else's stories, though.
Besides reading, in my spare time I enjoy crocheting, taking long walks, and participating in any theatre related activities. I am also a chronic singer, and have a habit of belting out showtunes in particular-- something my neighbors don't appreciate too much!
In addition to loving Jane Austen I am passionate about Mariner's baseball, Arthur Miller, and old movies.

Sara

Is from: A small (very small) town in Sweden
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Here's a pic:

Since I'm doing this of my own free will, I shouldn't complain about not knowing what to write, since I should've thought about that before, but, I don't always do what I should, or shouldn't, so I'm going to complain anyway. I don't know what to write!

That is, I guess, a rather good explanation of who I am. I never do what people think I should do, at least, not very often. I am what other people might call strange. Actually, I think strange isn't enough. Never mind. Not many think that I'm normal, and that's how I want it. The last thing I'd like to be is normal. I hate normality.

Some things about me is however normal, at least here. In other places they are not ('How can you like Jane Austen? And Pride and Prejudice? It's sooo boring!' and 'You think Colin Firth is good-looking???? He's old!'). I started liking Jane Austen when I was eleven and saw P&P2 the first time. I liked Mr Darcy then, but since I was afraid to be abnormal back then, I said I didn't. This was mainly because my friend, Marika, hated him so much that she screamed as soon as she saw him (or, really, when she saw Colin Firth). Since then, I have read all Austen-books, my favorites being Pride and Prejudice and Persuation. I have seen most of the movies and I love P&P2, Persuation (the one with Ciarin Hines, don't know if there's any others) and Emma (the one with Kate Beckinsale, hate the Gwyneth Paltrow version).

Other books I like are: Every DiscWorld-book I have ever read (you can do nothing but love Death!), most Katarina von Bredow-books (I have her autograph) and John Marsden's books about some Australian teens who escape being imprisoned when their country is invaded. And, I'm sure, loads of other books that I don't remember right now.

Other movies I like are: Swing Kids, Dead Poets Society (these two movies are great because of everyting, but the fact that Robert Sean Leonard stars in both of them isn't exactly bad), Shooting Fish (love everything about it, especially the music), Monty Python And The Holy Grail (Brave Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot. He was not afraid to die, oh brave Sir Robin!) and a lot of other movies.

Music: I like a lot of different kinds of music, but not pop. Well, I guess some of the groups I like play what others might call pop, but it's not the usual kind of pop (like the one Britney Spears or Backstreet Boys make).
I like Savage Garden, BrainStorm (or Prata Vetra as they are called in Latvia), Imperiet (Swedish group from the 80's who played punk - got to love them!), LOK (Swedish hardrock group, that no one outside of Sweden's ever heard of), Hardcore Superstar (Swedish hardcore), The Ark (Swedish band that plays some kind of 80's music, although they do it now) and some classical music.

For not knowing what to write, I must say that I have written a bit. Too much I'm afraid.

Oh, about the picture: I'm not tri-colored in real life, I just like to fiddle around with pics in Photoshop :)

Sarah H.

Is from: Colorado

I am not sure if I should post this, but since I'm currently posting a story, I probably should let you know who I am.

I was born smack in the middle of the Cuban missile crisis. Excitement wise, it has been downhill from there. :-)
I have an M.A. in English and Literature.

I've taught and worked as a translator, but eventually drifted to writing, which is my passion. Or should I say my need?

I write SF/F/Mystery. I've been published in a few magazines and my first novel will come out next October. I have two sons, four cats, a guinea pig and a wonderful husband who always believed in my writing even when I didn't.

I read mostly SF and fantasy, and I love Shakespeare, Jane Austen and -- on a quite different plane -- Alexander Dumas and Sir Walter Scott. I enjoy wood working and furniture refinishing and I do my best plotting work while painting walls.

I've become addicted to Jane Austen fan fic as a work-avoidance technique (actually as a means to rest when I'm burned out.)

Don't expect brilliance in the stories I post, I usually write them because I need to rest but my brain refuses to quit. However, I'm a step from dead tired, when I write them. Also, I'm a lousy speller. :-) Thank heavens for spell checkers.

....But I will try to make them entertaining, because that's the least I can do in return for all the wonderful stories you've allowed me to read in the past year.

Sarah Jane

Is from: Cardiff, Wales
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I'm 24 years old, I have three younger siblings 2 sisters and a brother. I work in administration for a small Insurance Company. I spend my spare time split between seeing my frinds, reading, bellydancing and medieval re-enactment.

I love to read Jane Austin, Tery Pratchett, Agatha Christie and Grace Livingston Hill(which I am finding quite hard to get hold of)

Accomplishments: I am learning to play the flute and violin, can paint (on occasion), and I have recently started to spin and weave (mainly at re-enactments) I am hoping in the next year to learn how to use a long bow and possibly a sword.

Sarah Kate

Is from: Elkhart, IN
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Hey evrybody! To answer the "Big questions":

Birthday: August 29, I will be 18 this year- yay!

Education: I am graduating High School this year (praise the lord) and am planning on continuing my education at Millikin University, which is in Illinois. I will be majoring in Musical Theatre and minoring in Philosophy- (hey- I'm a geek)

Favourite JA book: Pride and Prejudice

Favourite JA movie: P&P2 Colin Firth is so awesome!!

Favourite non JA book: Would either be Jane Eyre or anything shakespeare- I'm a brit lit fanatic!

Favourite non JA movie: AMADEUS! I love it so much- it's the best movie ever, I think I could recite it for you. To give you an idea, when I was little, I would drive my babysitters nuts by singing Don Giovanni (complete with gibberish kid- italian) at the top of my lungs. I was a strange kid. Other than that, I love Bridget Jones Diary, Quills (Geoffrey Rush was snubbed at the Oscars), Life is Beautiful, Moulin Rouge and Cabaret.

Comments: I really love this site- I have always loved Jane Austen, but most of my friends thought I was crazy when I would try to get them to watch a five hour movie, or talk about books written so long ago. I am an admirer of all Austen, but Pride and Prejudice is my absolute favorite- Elizabeth Bennet is the best Character in English Literature. (Making room for similar characters, such as Beatrice in Much Ado...)

Other than Austen, I love musicals and film- I am passionate abut music and theatre- and could never imagine myself doing anything else. Some of my fav musicals are: Les Mis, Cabaret, Into the Woods, and Music Man. Plays: Crucible, Inherit the Wind, Proof, Wit. I love to write, and have started my first story on this board (which is moving very slowly due to AP exams and the like). I think I've babled enough, so if you have any questions, email me!

Sarah Marie

Is from: Ohio, USA
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And a link: The Blurb Edition

OK, I don't like the bio I wrote many moons ago, so I'll rewrite this to make it more coherent and such, which will be a sight to see if it were to happen.

Anyways, I live in Ohio. I'm finally a Freshman in college! The fun! *rolls eyes* Seriously, I attend Xavier University, which is in Cincinnati, so if anyone is around the area (while I'm going here) send me an email and we can get together or something.

My birthday is on October 5th (the best day of the year if you ask me ; P )...um...*thinks*...hmmm...was born in 1983 (how that is useful in knowing, I don't have a clue).

Jane Austen is my favorite author, of course, with Pride and Prejudice being my favorite book. I also like Shakespeare, Keats, Byron, Dickens, Fitzgerald, and I could go on! Ahem, anyways, I like to read! My friends always thought I was strange for spending money on books! LOL...they'll never understand me.

Hmmm...what else...music! OK, I listen to about any genre. Again, friends found this strange, especially when they would find me listening to classical *shakes head in amusement*. The only thypes I don't like are techno, regae, and um, others I can't think of.

Now onto movies! *cheesy grin* OK, P&P2 is an obvious favorite...then there's BJD...and at the moment, I am watching the Forsyte Saga which I am hooked on! Also love Ever After, Ferris Bueller's Day Off (hey! it's a classic!), (closet) Disney fan, and others that I can't think of. I have been one of the unfortunate souls and have yet to see either TIOBE or Possession. *pouts* I am all anticipation for it to come out on DVD!!!

Colin Firth is my favorite actor *thinks about him and drools*.......er, what was I saying?

The DWG was the first writing community I got involved in, and I LOVE it here! I did post at BOI, that is until they changed their guidelines...oh well...that did what they felt they had to do. At the moment, I am also an active paticipant at the Season. *is always up for anything Austen*

AOL: ladymorgans
Yahoo: serene_princess2002
MSN: lilacrose8@hotmail.com
Feel free to add me to any or all of your IM contact lists.

If you ever want to email me and for some reason and my hotmail account isn't working as it should, go ahead and sen me an email at: dwg_writer@cliffhanger.com (and yes! that is a real email address!)

*thinks* *taps fingers* Well, like I said earlier, I enjoy reading. Also, I really enjoy writing, even though most of the time it isn't even coherent, lol. *points to this bio as a prime example* I would some day like to publish a book, but I'm not so sure if that will happen. *sighs* One can hope.

Oh! I also I have a website...sort of...I'm still kind of putting it together...anyways, it will eventually host my stories and others if they want theirs there as well. I'll still post here, it's just that I was bored one day and thought, 'Why not? I have some free time...might as well do something with it!' Well, anyways, if you want to have a look at it, I'll leave a link down below.

Anyways, that's me. One screwed up dwiggie ; P

Sarah

Is from: Fayetteville, Arkansas

Let's see I am 21 years old. I am in college, majoring in accounting. Don't hold it against me though! I'll offer up that I am minoring in History. Hope that appeases some people. I am the middle child with an older brother and a younger sister. Still living with my parents while I go to school. The University of Arkansas is about 5 minutes away from my house.

I first became a Jane Austen freak when the A&E adapation came on. After that I read everything that I could get my hands that she had written.

Other authors/books that I love: Anything by Stephen Lawhead. He writes alot about Celtic legends and Arthur, stuff like that. My favorite trilogy of his is the Song of Albion. READ IT IF YOU HAVEN'T!!!! Robin McKinley's Blue Sword. I have read probably 8-9 times. She has some wonderful books out. Tom Clancy is awesome. Without Remorse is my favorite. I don't know I have a thing for Mr. Clark. Victoria Holt is another favorite author of mine. I LOVE Ivanhoe by Scott. Of course Shakespeare, my favorite would have to be Much Ado About Nothing. I could go on and on but will stop there for now. If you ever want to talk books with someone, you will always find a ready and willing ear with me.

On to movies: A&E's P&P, Long Hot Summer, Rebecca, Cold Comfort Farm, Hunt for Red October, Star Wars(trilogy), Memphis Belle, Gladiator, Braveheart, Much Ado About Nothing, Patriot, Black Swan, Big Jake, McClintock, The Quiet Man, Princess' Bride, Goonies, Last of the Mohicans, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Grosse Point Blank, George of the Jungle, A&E's Ivanhoe, Robin Hood (old), Sneakers, Leave Her to Heaven, To Each His Own, Cool Hand Luke, Great Escape, Midway, In Harm's Way, Scarlet Pimpernal, Abyss, and a WHOLE LOT MORE.

Anyway, I love movies and reading. If you can't tell. I haven't posted anything on the site yet but I would like to if I ever get the nerve. Once school is out I can maybe have some fun and do that. Lots of ideas in my gray matter.

I love talking to people so if I am ever in Chatsworth someone PLEASE talk to me. Until then, God Bless.

Sarita

Is from: Florida
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Heidi ho and salutations to all!
Just thought I'd introduce myself and give you a smidgen of an idea about who I am.

Name: Sarah a.k.a. "Sarita"
Home Town: Orlando, Florida
current location: (as of fall '01) Urbana-Champaign, IL
Favorite color: Blue, no green..aaaahhhhh!
Hobbies: knitting, crocheting, beading, reading, singing, painting, and alot of other "ing" things.
Favorite Book: Currently is "Bridget Jones" and "Edge of Reason", but that is bound to eventually change.
Favorite Old Book: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, can't wait till December..hoo ha!

I just graduated from Clemson University (go tigers!) and am going to be attending University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign come the fall of '01. I just recently posted my first story, which I was rather proud of.

What else is there to say? I really don't know. If there's anything you want to know, just ask!

Saskia

Is from: Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands

Well, to begin with, I'm 14 years old.

My biggest hobby is dancing... ballet as well as Latin and Ballroom dancing. Apart from that I spent most of my time behind the computer... and I'm sure it's not very hard to guess which site I visit the most... DWG! (what should I do without it?

My favourite Jane Austen novel is P&P (surprise, surprise!), which is followed by Emma... and after that I like both Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. I think S&S to be very boring... even though I like the movie with Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet very much. I haven't read Mansfield Park yet, though I have seen that movie too.
Other favourite books are Wordt toch Wakker!, by a Dutch writer called Ellen Tijsinger and of course the Harry Potter series .

Favourite non-JA movies are Kate & Leopold, Gangs of New York, American Pie 1&2, Sleepless in Seattle, Costa!, Shrek, Someone Like You and a lot more I forgot to mention. I prefer romantic comedies, but sometimes like other kind of movies as well, like the Matrix and Lord of the Rings.

As for favourite JA adaptations, those are P&P2, Emma (with Gwyneth Paltrow), Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet) and Mansfield Park (I have NO idea what the names of the actors are... sorry).

My favourite computer game is Worms... that's such a cool game!

My birthday is on 23 June... yeah, PRESENTS! I like that day... *grin*

Anyway, I'm the youngest in my family; I've got two elder sisters. The middle sister, called Maaike, and I are still at high school, while my eldest sister Anniek (She's the one who got me addicted to the DWG! She lurks around here too, so beware...) has moved out already and goes to university.

As for my looks: My hair is dark blonde, I’ve got blue eyes and I’m tall for my age. Since I’m Dutch I can only tell you how tall I am in meters, I know nothing about inches and yards and that stuff… I am 1,80m by the way, and still growing a bit.

Well… that’s about everything there is to tell about me...

Bye!
Saskia

Scully

Is from: Brisbane, Australia

First things first...my name - on official documents I'm Gillian Andrews and since I have auburn hair (I refuse to call it red) and have quite a substansial interest in space, I have ended up being called scully, although I have only ever really watched the X-Files once, maybe twice

I am a committed lurker on the DWG which I discovered along with with my friend Helga in our first year of uni about 3 years ago. We have started a story together (Looking at her Strangely - full of jokes which no one but us most likely get) but it's most likely never going to be finished since it acts as stress relief.

My favourite Austen is P&P and Persuasion would now run a close second (although I haven't actually read it - its amazing what Fan Fic can do to you) I also feel I must proclaim that the ending of P&P the BBC movie is such a let down! I love the ending of the book (I mean the second proposal bit) and they did such an excellent job of the rest of it that they fell at the final hurdle. Okay, not fell but stumbled a bit.

I study aerospace engineering at the Queensland University of Technology.

Selene G

Is from: New York

I'm 35 years old, married with three children. I work as an installment loan supervisor at a nearby bank. Love JA and that was my first post.

Sheila

Is from: Los Angeles, CA
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Where to begin? I used to be a part of the Austen-L list for a few years...but got so busy with grad studies to keep up with the endless posts! But now, my guilty pleasure is to visit DWG and RoP as often as possible inbetween work and studies, as well as to write stories inspired by JA's novels.

I'm currently a grad student in 18th century French lit., working on my PhD, and have been teaching beginning French for the past few years (at UCLA). I was born and raised in Southern California, but part of my heart will always in be in Boston, where I went to school (Boston University) and where I will return someday. My parents are from the Philippines, so people are often confused by my passion for French...it is a language I've always wanted to learn, but never dreamed it would become such a big part of my life!

So what's a Francophile doing at DWG? I discovered DWG only a few months ago, and I've only started posting stories in May (last month). I've loved Jane Austen for almost as long as I can remember...my first experience being Northanger Abbey when I was 11. Then I read Pride & Prejudice a few years later and I got hooked...soon afterwards, I read all of her work. As an English Lit. grad student, I took a seminar on JA (with Julia Prewitt Brown), and it was one of the best courses I've ever had...can you imagine...homework was never so much fun. Despite all my academic background, I don't think I fit the stereotypical profile of "academic" at all...I like to watch TV, listen to all kinds of music, and I am a major bookaholic, as I cannot go anywhere without at least my writing journal or book to read (okay, so there's one aspect that makes me a nerd!).

As for JA's novels...Persuasion is my sentimental favorite, while Pride & Prejudice runs a very close second. While Mansfield Park is perhaps my least favorite, ironically enough I wrote my seminar paper on it! I own most of the JA adaptations on tape, including the BBC ones, save for NA, which I've not been able to find. I find myself constantly re-reading JA, and never tiring of it. My other favorite authors include Shakespeare, the Bronte sisters, George Eliot, Milan Kundera, Laurell Hamilton, John Keats, Voltaire, Diderot, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Kafka, Charles Baudelaire, Marcel Proust, to name some of the many. But JA is my absolute favorite in all languages...I have several editions of each novel as well as some continuations both bad and not so bad. I prefer to read the JA stories online, of course!

Let me just state for the record how much I enjoy this site and appreciate the efforts of Ann and all of the editors who keep it going...it is wonderful to be a part of such a creative environment where there is living proof of how much JA is beloved everywhere. Thank you so much!

If you have actually read this far, I thank you for your forbearance!

Skylar Burris

Is from: Virginia
Send an email
And a link: Ancient Paths / Skylar's Site

I am a wife, adminstrative assistant, poet, writer, and editor. I publish my own small press literary magazine twice a year, called Ancient Paths. You can find it (and more information about me) on my website.

Solange

Is from: Minneapolis, MN
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My name is really Rebecca Nelson but I gained the nickname Solange in high school French and it stuck, both in real life and online. Since there are so many Rebeccas everywhere I usually introduce myself as Solange so that's how all my friends know me (and yes, they do know my real name, too).

My birthday is February 28, 1982 (I just turned 20 woohoo!).

I live at home with my parents in a suburb of St. Paul/Minneapolis but that is going to change in January of 2003. I just made the decision to drop out of school (University of Minnesota) and move down to New Orleans, LA, in order to become a police officer. My ultimate goal in life is to become a homicide detective and hopefully someday to join the FBI.

I love JA and her works. Other books I enjoy are murder mysteries (of course). The best are those with a little romance worked in! I also enjoy more contempory novels by authors like Jennifer Crusie, Helen Fielding (you knew that was coming) and others. My favorite gift to get are Barnes and Noble giftcards. If I'm not online reading this wonderful fanfic then my nose is stuck in a book. Or I'm writing my own fanfic (I have a story in the works that I hope to post here soon).

Music is another passion of mine, whether I'm listening to it or playing some instrument or another. I've been playing piano for years and picked up flute, euphonium, trombone, percussion, and a little guitar through high school band and (patient) tutelage from my brother and sister (who are both far more musical than I am and in bands. Oh well, they're much older than me, too!).

Traveling is great fun. I've only been across the pond twice but have stayed on the continent both times. I went with my parents to Germany and Paris once and then on an exchange trip with my high school to France the other time. I can't wait until I get to go to England and Scotland. My parents went to Scotland in October of 2001 and are going again in May of this year. My mom's family has roots in Scotland and Germany so we've been visiting the lands of our ancestors.

I'm currently job hunting for something in security in order to boost my resume when I go down to New Orleans. Wish me luck.

I'm also beginning to think all this P&P stuff is bad for me as no male I've met lately can compare to Darcy. Do they have mail-order Darcy catalogues? I'll take one of the tall, dark, handsome, strong, brooding, intellegent, humorous ones, please!

I'd like to say thank you to those who keep this site up and running. A day without the DWG is a nightmare for me. Keep up the good work!

Sophie T

Is from: Somers CT USA
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Allo!
My name is Sophie, and I live in Connecticut...dun dun dun...also known as Snoozedom. I live in a small town in the country, but I'm a city girl at heart. I got my first taste of Jane Austen when I was 13 when my godfather bought me a copy of Pride and Prejudice. I read it, fell in love, and have read every novel shes published. Exactly a year ago, I was introduced to the AE version of Pride and Prejudice, and fell in love ALL OVER again. Since then, I've been cruising around this site, reading the dwiggie stories, and have become obsessed, a little!
I'm 16, a junior in high school, aspiring English teacher and writer, and I speak french fluently and my backround tends to come out in my writings, so if I ever do post something here, you can be sure Paris won't be far behind.
I love British humor, ecspecially in Monty Python.
Voila! C'est moi!
Sophie T

Spring

Is from: Texas

nfm

Stacie

Is from: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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I have the same birthday as DWG!!! (Feb. 3). I, however, am much older! (early 30s--yikes!!!!)

How did I find JA? -- I read Pride and Prejudice as a high school sophomore; I was hooked! Reading it may have sent me on my career path. I am a graduate student in English Literature (18th and 19th Century British Literature).

Favorite JA novel? -- Pride and Prejudice followed by Persuasion. As I have gotten older, Persuasion has grown in my affections. Perhaps, I'm hoping that, like Anne Elliot discovers, "it isn't too late for true love." :-)

Stef F

Is from: Sydney, Australia
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My full name is Stephanie TakYee Foy and am a third geno Australian. My mum is from Hong Kong and my dad's great grandparents are from China. i am 16 (turning 17 in september)and in year 11. I discovered P&P in 2004, after my mum bugged me to read "Literature" since i was 10. after high school, i plan to study Commerce at the University of Sydney.

I have recently started my first P&P fic, but will not post it for a while (so look out!)
I like both P&P2 and P&P3, but i think Jennifer Ehle is a bit to old to play Lizzy, which is what i liked about P&P3

what else...
i go to "Northern Beaches Secondary College, Manly Selective Campus" (that is the full name of my school)and regret choosing Business Studies (Economics is much better...)

i have 3 younger brothers, so i spend most of my free time at home reading JA fic.

I spend most of my weekend studying (on Saturday) and at church (on sunday)

oh...and my favourite band is MUSE!!!!!!!!!!

SunnyB

Is from: Colchester, England
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I am currently a PhD student at the University of Essex, studying art history, specialising in Regency era art.

Susan Catherine

Is from: Columbus, OH
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Hmm. . .well I am an avid reader of many things, so I am a huge fan of DWG. . .although it has not been quite so kind to my paper writting this semester. I am a Senior history major at Grove City College in Grove City, PA. When I graduate, I plan on going on to get certified to teach social studies seconary education, and eventually to get a masters in either Russian History or Byzantine/Late Antiquity. Eventuall, I want to teach at the college level.

I'm not much of a writer, so I doubt I'll ever get the courage to post anything, but I feel like I spend so much time reading what everyone else has written that I ought to introduce myself.

My first experience with JA was a birthday party when I was in Middle School, when we went to go see Sense and Sensibility. But I fell in love with JA when a good friend in high school forced me to read P&P, for which she has my undying graditude.

I love movies, pretty much of any sort, although lately I haven't had the time to watch them. For this I blame my grandpa, who wathced John Wayne movies with me all the time when I was little. My favourite movie of all time is Casablanca. Other favourites include The Lord of the Rings (all 3), Sleeping Beauty, Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, The Last Samurai, The Princess Bride, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Of course, JA adaptations are highly appreciated, especially P&P2!

Well, I do believe I have rambled on enough about myself, especially as I am doing this as a study break while writing a paper (8-10 pg. exegesis on Jn. 1:1-18).

Susan P

Is from: Califoria, USA
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I'm Susan Parker - happily married since 1995, my husband is a marine and it was on one of his his deployments in 1999 that I discovered the movie- Pride & Prejudce... and got addicted. I saw all three versions, then started reading the books (Emma, S&S, Northanger Abbey, Sandition, Watsons..etc) I found Pemberley (BoI) in May of 2000 and DWG several months later.
I am ADDICTED to this stuff. I think I might have to find a 12 step program so I can function on days when I CAN'T go online. *ugh*
It is really getting bad.... but, I do love the stories posted here. I finally decided to try my hand at writing in December - when I started "Quitting the Sphere" Writing is both more complicated and more rewarding than I previously thought.
other info: I currently work at my church as admin staff - it's the first time I have truly loved my job since I started working more than 10 years ago. Luckily, I get to use some creativity in producing flyers, programs, postcards, and even writing a little.

SusanCEC

Is from: PA, USA

For starters... the "CEC" at the end of my name are my middle and last initials (Catherine Elizabeth Cerniglia). I didn't put my town name because it's soooo small that I doubt most of you would have any clue where it is. :-)

I'm one of the youngest here (still in high school), and have been reading JA for a little over two years. I first read P&P on a blessed snow day, and only put it down to eat dinner. I've read (and loved) all of her completed works, but P&P and Persuasion are my favorites.

School, music, and sports fill my life almost completely. I play the French horn in band, the violin in orchestra, and the trumpet in jazz band. Also, I sing in chorus and am in our annual spring musicals. As for sports, I play soccer in the fall and do track in the spring. School is school, but I do love studying history and geography when I get the chance.

I'll listen to any kind of music imaginable (but I do have trouble with most rap and heavy metal/alternative songs) I love to read whatever I can, which usually means jumping from Austen to fantasy/sci-fi to Shakespeare to historical fiction. My favorite movies include The Princess Bride, Star Wars, Sabrina (both of them), My Fair Lady, Sleeping Beauty, Gettysburg...