I got some news last Tuesday that took my breath away.
In the past two years, I’ve written (among other things) four mysteries for adults. Three were part of a historical series. One novel featured Jane Austen.
This week I got an email from a woman in charge of collections at the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton, England.
It was about my Austen novel, A Dangerous Tide, and her decision to add it to the museum’s Reading Room.
Felt Like a Dream
Sue Dell, from the museum, said the following: “Having reviewed your book we have decided we will place your book on our public shelves in the Reading Room at Jane Austen’s House. It will remain on the shelves for 12 months. We like to show the public that Jane still inspires writers today, and your story is a lovely example of this.”
I read the email several times before it sank in. My novel featuring my all-time favorite author, Jane Austen, is sitting on a shelf in Jane’s house in England, just down the short hallway from the dining room where Jane sat at her tiny, twelve-sided table and 
wrote Pride and Prejudice,Sense and Sensibility, and others.
I was more thrilled by her email–and my book being placed in their Reading Room–than any award I ever received for a book.
Below is a photo of one side of the reading room, and the other photo shows Sue Dell adding A Dangerous Tide to the shelves. [And below that, I’ll share a dozen photos of places in Jane’s house that appear in the book.]
The Fun of Onsite Research
The events in the book were purely fictional, but the historical setting is accurate, the historical events of the time are real, and the Austen family is based on a lot of research done over the years of enjoying her books and movies and biographies.
For those of you who subscribe to the series (and for my friends who’ve read the book), I thought I’d share some photos of my trip to Jane’s house last September. I have included photos of places featured in the book’s story.
In no particular order then…
Congratulations, Kristi! Wonderful news:)
Thanks, Karin. I’m walking on air this week. 🙂
How exciting, Kristi! Congratulations!
Love seeing you in the photos of Jane Austen’s house. That must have been an amazing trip!
Myra, thank you. Yes, it was an amazing trip. I felt so blessed the ten days I was gone. I was sick nearly all of last year, and I almost cancelled the trip, but those ten days I felt really well and slept well! God was so good to me that whole time. I took about 900 pictures. A little overboard maybe, but other than buying books, I don’t spend much money. 🙂 [On another note, I’m so glad you and I have kept in touch over these many years.]
I drooled over every bit of this post. So exciting. So beautiful. And your book in Jane’s house!!!! Squeeeee!!!!
I love when someone really “gets” my excitement over this, Vijaya! You are a kindred soul, for sure, but I guess we knew that a long time ago, huh? 🙂
Wonderful news! Congratulations!
Thanks, Deanna! It’s been a fun week just thinking about it…and reliving my trip. 🙂
How fantastic! I can only imagine how thrilled you must be! Congratulations, Kristi!
Thanks, Stephanie! It doesn’t seem quite real, to be honest. But it was a thrill! 🙂
Con-cat-ulations….. This is so thrilling for you. A wonderful achievement and honor.
Thanks, Allia! It was certainly a surprise. It will keep me going for a long time.