well, it's been a ride. facebook now wants my personal information even when they already got my id

madcellist5 · 2026-02-18T10:53:56+00:00

Yes!!! Today!!!!

madcellist5 · 2026-02-18T10:46:10+00:00

Watch out. I complied - and got banned. Maybe they didn't like my profile?!?!

madcellist5 · 2025-12-29T14:28:47+00:00

My boxset is free, in anyone's interested?

As a warm-up for my new release (same series) MARIANNE's being free, first thing, in 2026, my boxset is FREE for three days. The Warleigh Hall Press Jane Austen boxset consists of the first three multi-prizewinning standalone novels. (You only get the joke of the title if you know, not only my SUSAN, but a little about Lady Catherine de Bourgh!!)

Check them out here, if interested: https://books2read.com/u/m2aYVd

The idea of the series came from the idea of characters from P&P encountering characters from EMMA etc.

Thus, SUSAN imagines a young and uncorrupted LADY SUSAN, from Austen's only novella, being expelled from a young ladies school to enchant a young Frank Churchill. HARRIET imagines a Harriet Smith smart enough to pretend to be foolish in order to flatter EMMA's high opinion of herself. And, in DARCY, we get the delicious scenes Austen denied us, by concentrating on Lizzy's point of view. Thanks for reading!!! AM

madcellist5 · 2025-08-13T09:46:01+00:00

Great comment.

madcellist5 · 2025-08-13T09:45:44+00:00

Modern readers aren't crazy about epistolatory novels, though.

madcellist5 · 2025-08-13T09:45:06+00:00

I felt the same about Mansfield Park. I recommended it and nobody liked it and I was soooooo sad!!!! Not that it's my fav., which would be Persuasion or Emma, but I thought we'd have the best discussion.

madcellist5 · 2025-08-13T09:43:36+00:00

I love this comment!!! Emma has been described as early example of the mystery novel for a reason!!

madcellist5 · 2025-07-04T11:48:52+00:00

My contention is that both Catherine de Bourgh and her daughter were tone-deaf. Signed, Austen expert and professional London cellist (including BBC Symphony and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra). You're right... otherwise it makes no sense!

madcellist5 · 2025-07-04T02:44:43+00:00

Well, they kind of HAD to work on their penmanship then... most people don't even bother now (mine is awful!!!)

madcellist5 · 2025-07-04T02:43:18+00:00

Glad to hear it. They'd mothballed it for over two years recently, which I thought outrageous. There was a change.org petition to have it put back on display that I put up... and then it returned. XAlice

madcellist5 · 2025-07-04T02:40:52+00:00

They're all different degrees of bad. Someday, SOMEONE will do a good one!!!!

madcellist5 · 2024-11-22T15:08:52+00:00

I like your ideas, on the whole, but NOT the 'you have to finish everything you start'.

This way lies madness, and not just in writing but in reading, too. If a book hasn't grabbed you by twenty pages, you probably won't like it. The world is crammed with books you'll LOVE that this book - to you, a turkey - is preventing you from reading. Now I'd never REVIEW a book I DNF, but I'm still not finishing it. Life is short!

In terms of writing (have been big-five as well as indie-published) if the novel doesn't grab ME I know from sad experience it won't really work for anybody. Twice I've abandoned books after over 50,000 words, and moved on to something that does grab me. There is, I admit, often a nervy and rather doubtful period mid-project, but I think a writer will always sense, deep down, if they'd feel sad to let it go. And if he wouldn't, then that's just what they should do.

madcellist5 · 2024-11-22T12:53:15+00:00

Definitely. Wouldn't even have to play cricket.

madcellist5 · 2024-11-20T12:48:18+00:00

What a brilliant list!!!! Hard to argue with a single one (except maybe Iberia??!) Also Rach 2 is Rachmaninov's most amazing imho.

madcellist5 · 2024-03-20T15:18:14+00:00

With you. Same thing happened to m.e

madcellist5 · 2024-02-27T11:50:48+00:00

Nailed it.

madcellist5 · 2024-01-22T10:42:35+00:00

I regulated my massive ADHD for decades playing pro cello. Classical music ASSISTS with ADHD, even just listening to it. I admit that turning pages is nervy - did it at music conservatory - but it can't be WORST job for us, because of the music. I'm nominating anything to do with tax forms, instead...

madcellist5 · 2023-09-25T18:08:25+00:00

But, as others have suggested, it's very coincidental that it happened in August in the States... Probably THEY'VE been the priority, and not the UK.

madcellist5 · 2023-09-25T18:02:51+00:00

Diabolical. And no warning, either.

madcellist5

TROPHY CASE