MAE Awards for 2016

Jane Austen 

Born-16 December, 1775; Died-18 July, 1817

Jane Austen brings us together. As we know so well, this community thrives because of our shared love for the writing of this intelligent, witty woman whose works are classics and admired all over the world. Two hundred years from the date of her passing and what a legacy she has achieved! Do you not wonder what her reaction would be to the many books, movies, tributes and articles done about her works and in her honor. 

I am thankful for the many friends and acquaintances I have made over the years, strictly because of Jane Austen. We love her, we love her writing and we cannot get enough of the stories based on her characters. There are many of us who have been helped through difficult times in our lives due to Jane Austen and her works, as well as fiction based on her stories and characters. The amount of fan fiction devoted to her novels is countless. With so many new novels coming out monthly and new plots still being created, we fans should have plenty to read and enjoy for quite some time.

In a review I posted yesterday for Cass Grafton's and Ada Bright's book, The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen, I mentioned a part in the story where the world was without Jane Austen, as if her writings never existed. It made me feel so strange when I was reading this part of the book. It also made me think. How different would my life be if we did not have the wonderful works by Jane Austen? Take a minute and think about your life and how it might be different. Many, many things would not be the same. I probably would not be doing book covers or a calendar every year. I might not read as much and most of all, I would not have the acquaintance of so many lovely online and personal friends.

I am inspired by Jane Austen and amazed at the genius that has been unleashed because of her. To have her fifth great-niece, Caroline Jane Knight, become part of this community was such an unexpected delight and seemed almost surreal, as if Jane Austen herself, was among us.  Ms. Knight founding the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation to help women and children learn to read and write, is the ideal legacy of this phenomenon that is Jane Austen. To quote Dr. Seuss, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Today, Miss Austen, I do not cry because your life is over, I smile because your life happened. 

As part of my celebration, I wish to list my favorite Jane Austen fan-fiction novels for 2016. Yes, I am later than most but I decided to do my 2016 favorites list on the 18th of July. Although I do have some books that made my list that are not related to Jane Austen, most are Jane Austen Fan Fiction. It seemed fitting to do this list on this 200th Anniversary in honor of Jane and all she accomplished.

MAE Favorites of 2016

Now to my favorites...these will not be listed in any specific order but will be will be somewhat categorized. I was unable to read as much as usual last year, therefore I know I missed out on many good books that would have made my list. I also have some books on this favorites' list that were not released in 2016 but that is when I read them. 

Pride & Prejudice Variations/Alternate Paths

 Accusing Elizabeth by Jennifer Joy

Ardently by Caitlin Williams

Miss Darcy's Companion by Joana Starnes

The Abominable Mr. Darcy by J. Dawn King

Unwilling by Elizabeth Adams

Minor Character Novellas
The Courtship of Edward Gardiner by Nicole Clarkston

When Mary Met the Colonel by Victoria Kincaid

Jane Austen

A Most Singular Venture by Donna Fletcher Crow

Jane & the Waterloo Map by Stephanie Barron

Pride & Prejudice contemporary and other eras
Undercover by Cat Gardiner

Without a Conscience by Cat Gardiner

Non-P&P

Austen in Austin (4 Texas-set novellas based on Austen novels) by Debra E. Marvin, Susanne Dietze, Anita May Draper and Gina Welborn
The Last Adventure of the Scarlet Pimpernel by Jack Caldwell

Pride & Prejudice/Jane Austen Time Travel/Paranormal

Darcy By Any Other Name by Laura Hiles
The Elizabeth Papers by Jenetta James
The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen by Ada Bright and Cass Grafton

North & South Variation

Northern Rain by Nicole Clarkston

Thanks for stopping by and sharing my list of favorites with me. If any of you have a favorite that did not make my list for 2016 and you suggest I put it on my TBR list to read, please share the book with me. I would love your thoughts. As I mentioned earlier, there are so many books that I didn't get to read and many of those that I know were good books. Maybe I will get to some of them this year and they will make my 2017 Favorites List. I have already read a few from last year and some from this year that have been marked for the list! :)