Here's the new Midnight in Austenland cover. The jacket spine you see left. It's much the same as the previous one I showed you, just zoomed and juggled a bit. There are often many versions of a cover before a final is selected. While I am consulted, the book cover is chosen by my publisher, as is the case with 99% of books. (Many authors don't even get consulted, so I'm lucky!) I hope you love it.
And I have (or will shortly, postal service willing) an ARC to give away! You have till Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 10 pm to make a comment on this post to enter the contest. One comment per person. I'll use a random number generator to select a winner. And to give you something to talk about, if there was a real Austenland (i.e. immersive Austen vacation), would you go and why?
I can't wait to read this book! Woohoo!
Posted by: Amanda Copulos (Coranne) | September 12, 2011 at 09:56 AM
Oh yes! I would love to read the book!
Posted by: Teresa Raines | September 12, 2011 at 09:56 AM
I would want to go so bad! But honestly I think my married-with-children state might make me feel a little silly if I did... It's fun to imagine, though!
Posted by: Kristen | September 12, 2011 at 09:57 AM
Of COURSE I would go...if I had any money.
Posted by: Susan Phelan | September 12, 2011 at 09:57 AM
If it were all expenses paid, I might go. Except I'd like an Austenland family style, a place not for romance (I'm happily married) but for going with my kids and having them see what it was like to live back then. Also, I'd love an ARC!
Posted by: Emily M. | September 12, 2011 at 09:57 AM
*Squeee* Such a beautiful cover. So, nice. So, nice.
Also, Austenland would be a great holiday place.
I mean, really, a chance to experience life in 1700/1800? That would be fascinating.
But this is coming from a major history fanatic who thinks anything in the past is fascinating :D
Posted by: Ing | September 12, 2011 at 09:58 AM
Love the final cover! I'm so excited to read Midnight in Austenland!
I would definitely go to a real Austenland(if I could afford it). I love to travel and visit other cultures so the chance to submerse myself in another culture and time would be fabulous!
Posted by: Amy | September 12, 2011 at 09:58 AM
I don't know if I would actually go to a real Austenland: I'm too practical and I would just spend the whole time laughing at myself. But I think it would be great if there was such a place. That's why your books are fun, I guess.
Posted by: Mrs. Mordecai | September 12, 2011 at 09:58 AM
While reading Austenland I kept asking myself, would I go. I don't think I could do it alone but if I could go with my sister or best friend, someone who could laugh at myself with then I might go for a day or weekend.
Posted by: Connie | September 12, 2011 at 09:58 AM
I would go so I could wear all the fancy dresses. The cover is breathtaking.
Posted by: Melina from Reading Vacation | September 12, 2011 at 09:58 AM
LOVE the cover! I would definitely go to an immersive Austenland, if only for the chance to wear flowy empire-waist dresses everyday. (Though of course I do love the books as well.)
Posted by: lilie | September 12, 2011 at 09:59 AM
I really really really really really really want this. And I can't wait for the movie. So many exciting things!
Posted by: Deb | September 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM
I'm so excited!! And if I could go on an "Austenland" vacation, I'd take my daughter to Ireland. She's been dreaming about it her whole life.
Posted by: Rebecca Whipple | September 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM
You bet I would go!! My husband may not be too happy with it, so that would be an obstacle, but that's why there are books to live vicariously through, right?
Posted by: Naomi Hancock | September 12, 2011 at 10:02 AM
I would totally go to Austenland!
Posted by: Karie | September 12, 2011 at 10:02 AM
I would definitely go on an Austenland vacation. To get to experience firsthand what life was like back then (except hopefully we'd get indoor plumbing, like in Austenland) would be amazing.
Posted by: Jenny Williams | September 12, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Oh, man. My friend just posted a picture of "Pemberly" and my daydreams yesterday were fierce. Yes! I would go!
Posted by: tawnya | September 12, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Can't wait to read this!
I would definitely go to Austenland. The problem would be getting me to leave.
Posted by: R | September 12, 2011 at 10:04 AM
If my husband could come with me, I'd jump at the chance.
Posted by: Ginny\ | September 12, 2011 at 10:04 AM
I'm excited for the new book, and for the new movie! I would go to Austenland just to have a break. That's why I read....to have a little break from reality. Anyway, who would turn down an all expenses paid vacation to England. I definitely wouldn't.
Posted by: Charity Williams | September 12, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Without hesitation, of course I would jump at the chance to go to Austenland! Sometimes I feel like I've already been there in my mind, so the real thing would be phenomenal! Congratulations to you and all the success you've received with this book!
Posted by: Angie Workman | September 12, 2011 at 10:06 AM
I would definitely go! My husband might not think it was a grand idea, but then again, if I could talk him into going with it would be even better!
Posted by: Julie Petersen Seavey | September 12, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Yep, count me in. Although even if I do win I will still buy one. I need a perfect hardback after all :)
Posted by: Angie | September 12, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Somewhat apprehensive about a a sequel, but looking forward to it. Not sure about attending a real Austenland to be honest (but if it had zombies or moon men ...) :)
Posted by: Alden | September 12, 2011 at 10:07 AM
I would live to go on an Austenland vacation. I have worn out my Lost in Austen DVD. But I just hope there would be air conditioning. I can't handle the heat.
Posted by: Charlotte Burrows | September 12, 2011 at 10:07 AM
So exciting! Would love to win!
Posted by: Tommie @ Ilene Books | September 12, 2011 at 10:08 AM
I just watched the PBS series "Regency House Party" where 5 single men and women go to a Regency manor for 6 weeks or so to find love, and it reminded me so much of Austenland. I wouldn't want to visit that kind of Austenland with rules about when women could or couldn't talk to each other and no showers or deoderant! but I do love the idea of Austenland, but with some modern conveniences.
Posted by: Annie Walker | September 12, 2011 at 10:09 AM
I enjoyed Austenland so am looking forward to this one.
Posted by: Emily | September 12, 2011 at 10:09 AM
I wouldn't go, I could never stay in character. But I like reading about it!
Posted by: caron | September 12, 2011 at 10:10 AM
I think it might be fun to go to a place like Austenland as sort of an immersion history/literary experience, and any excuse to see England would be awesome, but the idea of people being payed to pretend to be in love with you is a little creepy, so I'd definitely want to opt out of that. Especially since I'm married to a better-than-Darcy kind of guy.
Posted by: jenelcc | September 12, 2011 at 10:11 AM
The only way you could get me to LARP would be if it was Austenland :) I think it would be amazing if it was more than just one house, but maybe a village as well. That would make it more interesting. Also, more men!
Posted by: Elise | September 12, 2011 at 10:11 AM
I'm pretty frugal, but if I had a rich aunt who sent me there, I'd go and have a blast!
Posted by: Janeil Jones | September 12, 2011 at 10:11 AM
I would LOVE an ARC! I don't know if I would ever go to Austenland because I don't think I'd ever want to come back!
Posted by: Shelly | September 12, 2011 at 10:12 AM
At this moment, Austenland sounds just about perfect. Leaving my husband for a week to go would be perfectly innocent, right?
Posted by: Katie | September 12, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Seeing how I am Jane's non-fictional twin (and thought I was crazy until an entire book was based upon my life :) I would LOVE to see the story continue!!!!
Posted by: Chels | September 12, 2011 at 10:17 AM
hmmm...it would be fun to go but only if i went with my husband...and he soooo wouldn't go to a place like that!! if i was single, then sure i'd go alone!! i think just to go for a day and dress up and have a ball...that would be awesome :)
I WANT TO WIN THE BOOK!!!
Posted by: jen bryner | September 12, 2011 at 10:17 AM
I can't wait to read it!
Posted by: Kimberly Davidson | September 12, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Austenland sounds like a great place to visit with out my kids.
Posted by: Julie@my5monkeys | September 12, 2011 at 10:18 AM
How very lucky you are to get such a great cover!
Posted by: Mel Fowler | September 12, 2011 at 10:18 AM
I would totally go. I would love the clothes, the absurd (to me) formality, the talent showcasing, but not the food unless it was like what you were describing on set!! Oh ya, and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy to Midnight in Austenland!
Posted by: Tiffany Peterson | September 12, 2011 at 10:19 AM
I would definitely go to Austenland, and I'm a little embarrassed by how much of my reasoning is the costumes.
Posted by: Courtney | September 12, 2011 at 10:19 AM
I love the book! I don't think I would go to Austenland because I couldn't spend the money or stay in character.
Posted by: Lady J | September 12, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Um, I would love to go, but somehow I don't think I could justify the expense.
So, I'll have to settle for reading about it! :)
Posted by: Janelle | September 12, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Oh my gosh! So exciting! I hope I win! I can't wait to read this!
OF COURSE I would go to Austenland if it really existed. I am a super obsessed Austen fan and actually have my own entire wardrobe already since I do historic costuming. The idea of three weeks in the actual "period" just sounds like heaven!
Posted by: Carly | September 12, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Love the cover!! I'm am so excited for this book! I loved the first one (I gave all my sister-in-laws copies of it because I loved it so much!) ... and I'm excited for the movie.
I'm not sure if I would go on the vacation though. I'm kind of a shy, quiet person, so I think I would have a hard time with it. But I love reading about OTHER people going!! :)
Posted by: Sara C. | September 12, 2011 at 10:21 AM
I would love to win this book!
Posted by: Elise | September 12, 2011 at 10:21 AM
So gorgeous. Can NOT wait!
I would love to go somewhere like Austenland. Sure, I'd have some geez-this-is-sort-of-creepy-can-I-even-trust-the-gardener?-type reservations like Jane did, but I also think I'd be over them pretty quickly. Why? Because it's the greatest, most bizarre vacation opportunity ever: to literally step into a book. And even though we know novels are fiction, that doesn't stop us from getting lost in them. (At least, it doesn't stop me!)
Posted by: Alisa | September 12, 2011 at 10:21 AM
I would definitely go, and know many friends who would go also! The book looks great!
Posted by: Amy | September 12, 2011 at 10:23 AM
It would be wonderful to be in Austenland! The clothes, manners and tea! Don't forget the tea... I will have to settle to simply read about it. *sigh* And use my imagination.
Posted by: Amy | September 12, 2011 at 10:23 AM
I would love to go, if I could talk my husband into coming with me. Somehow, I have my doubts. I would have LOVED it when I was single! So fun. And yes, I would love to win the ARC! Good Luck to me!
Posted by: Gina R. | September 12, 2011 at 10:24 AM