I was surprised and touched to receive an amazing gift from a talented quilter-friend: a quilt based on the coverlet Jane Austen made with her mother and sister. The original coverlet quilt is on display at Jane Austen's House Museum, which we visited during a group tour I was privileged to host in 2019. We saw the quilt (and much more) during the visit and I am honored and delighted to now … [Read more...]

I recently took an online class taught by The Regency Cook in association with the Regency Town House in Brighton and Hove, England. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. If you have the opportunity, you may want to check out his other class offerings for yourself. I mentioned mincemeat in two of my novels (The Silent Governess and An Ivy Hill Christmas) so I thought it was time I actually … [Read more...]

In my first-ever Christmas novella, we included a recipe for a cookie (“biscuit” in the UK) based on a British recipe featuring honey (in honor of Honeycroft cottage in the novel) and adapted to US measurements. The cookie reminds me of a spicy Snickerdoodle in taste, but the addition of colored sugar makes it more festive. I have been so delighted to hear how much people are enjoying … [Read more...]

A Castaway in Cornwall releases in one week. Ideally, I’d be able to focus on promoting it, but instead I’m frantically trying to finish my rough draft of next year’s book. Oh, the balancing act, especially around the holidays! But I am not complaining; I’m so very thankful to get to do this job I love. Speaking of being thankful, I thought I’d share a few verses that were spotlighted in a … [Read more...]

My new novel, A Castaway in Cornwall, releases in just three weeks (12/1/20). In anticipation, I thought I’d share a short video trailer a friend made for the book. Hope you enjoy it! The book is available for pre-order now and early reviews have been great: Klassen delights with a winsome love story between an orphaned young woman living on the coast of North Cornwall, England, in 1813 … [Read more...]