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Alice McVeigh

Alice McVeigh

Few Words From the Author/Publisher:

Author's Biography

Alice (Spaulding Taylor) McVeigh is a London-based ghostwriter. Her first two contemporary novels were published by Orion/Hachette; her third, Last Star Standing (Unbound Publishing) a Kirkus-starred speculative thriller, is current a semi-finalist for the Cygnus Award and a Wishing Shelf Book Award (adult fiction) finalist, as well as a just-announced winner (action/adventure category) in the 2022 Independent Press Awards.

 

Susan: A Jane Austen Prequel was a BookLife 2021 quarterfinalist, rated 10/10 in Publishers Weekly("This Jane Austen-inspired novel echoes the master herself.") It won an IndieBRAG medallion, along with gold medals/First Place/the gold medal in the Pencraft and Global book awards. Shelf Unbound magazine selected it as one of 100 "Notable Indies" of 2021 (included non-fiction). It is currently shortlisted for several other prizes.

McVeigh’s newest novel (Harriet: A Jane Austen Variation) was published on Feb. 3, 2022. Just as Susanimagined a youthful Lady Susan, Harriet imagines a Harriet Smith clever enough to appear stupid and malleable to the great Emma Woodhouse. On March 28th, Harriet is due to receive an “outstanding” rating on Publishers Weekly.

 

A few of its editorial reviews so far:

 

“An immersive, high stakes, and heartfelt take on the classic – and a fantastic tribute to Austen’s Emma.” (Clarion Reviews)

“A dynamic take on a revered classic. This is still Austen’s Emma—but the story that unfolds through the recollections of these two ‘side’ characters feels remarkably fresh… With or without an understanding of Emma, Harriet contains a fully-formed narrative that should satisfy even the choosiest Austen fans… Readers will rarely find the words ‘page-turner’ and 'Jane Austen' in the same sentence, but McVeigh’s impeccably written Harriet certainly fits the bill.” (IndieReader)

“Harriet Smith boldly catapults herself into the delicate world of high society in yet another masterfully penned homage by Alice McVeigh. Swirling rumors, sardonic asides and complex romantic geometry make for a saucy read, but there are also profound commentaries on gender roles, friendship and heartbreak laced within the prose… McVeigh delivers a remarkably engaging tale of love, loss, and learning from one’s mistakes, skilfully capturing the essence of Austen’s world, but adding fresh dimensions.” (SPR featured editorial review)

“Harriet reimagines Jane Austen’s Emma through the eyes of two characters, Harriet Smith and Jane Fairfax. McVeigh brings new depth to the original, while in tone and language she successfully recreates this familiar part of Jane Austen’s world. It is a pleasure to revisit this familiar story though a different lens… an enjoyable and intelligent reimagining.” (Editorial review, BlueInk Reviews)

“A highly engrossing novel that captures the spirit of Austen and celebrates all the best qualities of her work from new and innovative angles… The characters are vibrant and full of life – McVeigh hits the mark spot-on.” (Readers Favorite editorial review by Pikasho Deka for Readers Favorite)

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