We have had a fantastic round of storms tonight, including two tornado sirens and hail. I truly love nights like these when I can sit with my window open and listen to the thunder and the rain as it intensifies and diminishes again. There is only one sound more soothing than this to me...though it is far off from this place...

A few nights ago, I was introduced to an author that I knew relatively little about. I knew the rough time period in which she lived and the names of a few of her books...and that was about it. She is a common name and most are stunned that I have never read any of her works. Jane Austen.

My mom was intent on watching the movie "Becoming Jane" when it came out as she is a Jane Austen fan and she has an England connection. I however, informed her that it looked "prissy" and was not interested. (Insert foot in mouth.) Feelings of guilt overwhelmed me and when it came out on video I told Mom if she got it I would watch it with her.

Little did I know.

The story itself, like most Hollywood productions, is embellished. However, I have to believe that the core characters and story line are fairly accurate. One would not think this upon shallow research, but after looking long and hard for how this story was thought up, I found it. It is not so far fetched apparently. If you are curious, check these out:

http://www.jasna.org/persuasions/on-line/vol27no1/walker.htm
http://www.janeausten.co.uk/magazine/page.ihtml?pid=489&step=4
http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/brablet1.html#letter1

After learning about these events in her life, I feel like Jane is my new friend. I connected with her through the movie and then finding actual circumstances of her life. So much so that today I went and picked up Pride and Prejudice and have already fallen in love with it. Most writers have someone that they look to for inspiration - I think I have found mine. Fiction has always frightened me. However, after much consideration this past week, it does not seem nearly so scary...and unlike life, can always end happily.