The Portsmouth Bookfest, now in its 10th year, will take place February 15 through March 7, 2021.
Award winning author Donna Fletcher Crow will be appearing at the 2021 Portsmouth Bookfest on March 1, 2021 as one of her most beloved writers, Jane Austen. As Austen, she will conduct a walking tour (via Zoom) of Portsmouth, showing sites she remembers and pictures of scenes that have long since disappeared.
Jane Austen has strong ties to Portsmouth. Austen lived in nearby Southampton between 1806 and 1809. Austen set a major scene in her novel 'Mansfield Park' in what is now Old Portsmouth. Her brothers Francis and Charles attended the royal Naval Academy in Portsmouth, and Francis, who rose to be Admiral of the Fleet, made his home in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth has a strong literary heritage. Besides Jane Austen, the town has links to Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and H G Wells. Bookfest continues that heritage by annually presenting top authors from Britain and abroad at their 3-week long event.
In 2019, Donna participated as a panelist in Mysteryfest. Mysteryfest is a one day event, dedicated to the craft of mystery writing, that is presented as part of the bookfest and co-sponsored by the Mystery People group to which Crow belongs. Other panel members included Leigh Russell, Sally Spedding, Diana Bretherick and Carol Westron.
Crow said, “I am very excited to be presenting at Bookfest via Zoom this year, even though I’ll admit I’d rather do it in person.
“My attendance at Bookfest and Mysteryfest has a chequered record, at best. In 2018 I had hoped to attend the first ever Mysteryfest. I was in England at the time, but the 'Beast from the East' arctic storm blew in and forced cancellation of the event. Last year I was scheduled to present 'An Idaho Cowgirl in Austenland' where I would talk about becoming an Anglophile through literature. The Coronavirus—which was just ramping up at that time—forced us to scrub all of our travel plans.
“So this year, I am thankful for the technology that will allow both Jane Austen and myself to attend—and our friends around the world will be able to join us. More details and samples of the places Jane will be taking us are available on my website: https://donnafletchercrow.com/p/426/Jane-Austen-to-Appear-at-Portsmouth-Bookfest ”
It is important that attendees register early. More information can be found at the Portsmouth City Council site at https://portsmouth.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/EVSESENQ/4354931/15162076,17.
Donna Fletcher Crow is the author of 50 books, mostly novels of British history. She has taken a number of high-level industry awards for her work. 'Glastonbury' is her best-known book, which received the prestigious First Place, Historical Novel, award from the National Federation of Press Women. Readers and reviewers have raved about 'Glastonbury', calling it "The best of its kind," "richly fascinating," "beautifully researched," "gloriously evocative," and "panoramic." One Amazon reader said, "WHAT a work! Every reader can be enveloped in the sheer scope and quality, every historian be constantly nodding at the precise detail and accuracy, and every Christian can rejoice in the fullness of scripture. For me it is simply beyond descriptive praise. I would urge all who value truth to treat themselves to a feast."
The Elizabeth & Richard Mysteries is a literary suspense series using literary figures as background: Rudyard Kipling in 'The Flame Ignites', Dorothy L Sayers in 'The Shadow of Reality', Shakespeare in 'A Midsummer Eve's Nightmare', and Jane Austen in both 'A Jane Austen Encounter' and 'A Most Singular Venture'. Watch for 'A Prodigious Sum of Corpses: Seeking Sanditon at Jane Austen’s Seashore', which will take readers to all of Austen’s favorite seashore resorts. Accounts of Crow’s visits to these sites are available on her blog under the heading “Jane Austen Seashore Tour.”
The Monastery Murders Series features atmospheric contemporary crimes with their roots buried deep in the middle ages. Books in the series include 'A Very Private Grave', 'A Darkly Hidden Truth', 'An Unholy Communion', 'A Newly Crimsoned Reliquary', 'An All-Consuming Fire' and the newly-released 'Against All Fierce Hostility.'
The Daughters of Courage, 'Kathryn', 'Elizabeth' and 'Stephanie' is a pioneer family saga based on the stories of Crow's own family and other Idaho pioneers in the Kuna, Nampa and Boise area. A short story on her blog entitled “A Nostalgic Fourth of July” is based on a scene from ‘Kathryn: Days of Loss and Hope'.
Where There is Love is a 6-book series of the enduring legacy of love and faith all based on historic people and events. The titles are: ‘Where Love Begins’, ‘Where Love Illumines’, ‘Where Love Triumphs’, ‘Where Love Restores’, ‘Where Love Shines’, and ‘Where Love Calls’.
The Lord Danvers Victorian true-crime series is an Amazon bestseller in the British Detectives category. Books in the series include 'A Lethal Spectre', 'A Most Inconvenient Death', 'Grave Matters', 'To Dust You Shall Return' and 'A Tincture of Murder'. Donna provides a no-charge download of 'A Tincture of Murder' for those who sign up for her newsletter. More information is available at her website.
Donna Fletcher Crow's awards include:
Where Love Begins, Best Historical Romance, Pinnacle Awards 2019
A Lethal Spectre, Best Mystery, Pinnacle Awards, 2019
Glastonbury, First Place, Historical Fiction, National Federation of Press Women Award of Merit
The Banks of the Boyne, Silver Angel; First Place Historical Fiction, National Federation Press Women
The Fields of Bannockburn, First Place Historical Fiction, National Federation Press Women
Professional Achievement Award, Northwest Nazarene College
Juvenile Books Award of Merit, Idaho Press Women
Top Idaho Author
Pacesetter Award, Mt. Hermon Writers Conference
Outstanding Historical Fiction, Idaho Press Women, National Federation of Press Women,
Idaho Writer of the Year
Best Inspirational Novel, Finalist Romance Writers of America
Writer of the Year, Mt. Hermon Writers Conference
Donna is available for media interviews and can be reached by email at donna@donnafletchercrow.com. All of her books are available at online book retailers. More information, including a no-charge download of 'A Tincture of Murder', is available at her website at https://www.donnafletchercrow.com.
About Donna Fletcher Crow:
Donna and her husband live in Boise, Idaho. They have 4 adult children and 15 grandchildren living on 3 continents. Donna is a former English literature teacher and lifelong Anglophile. Idahoans with long memories will remember her as a former Queen of the Snake River Stampede, Miss Rodeo Idaho and runner-up for Miss Rodeo America. She is an enthusiastic gardener.
Contact:
Donna Fletcher Crow
donna@donnafletchercrow.com
https://www.donnafletchercrow.com
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