Erlynn K: The Healing Power of Darcyholism

Welcome Erlynn Kirsch to Darcyholic Diversions!

Hi, Darcyholics!  I am very happy to welcome Erlynn to Darcyholic Diversions today.  I have gotten to know Erlynn through her following my blog, and now my following hers, 'My Little Corner of the World'!  I am so happy to get a better chance to know her, and allow you to do the same.

For those who are keeping track, my surgery was Monday and I am moving a bit slow, but hopefully I will get all the posts caught up by Sunday! 

Upcoming Guest Posts Are As Follows:

May 18--Rebecca T.
May 20--Matt D.
May 22--Candy M. (So Little Time...)
May 25--Karen Cox
May 29--Jan Ashe
June 1--Kara Louise
June 5--Sharon Lathan
June 8--Gayle Mills
June 12--Shannon Winslow
June 15--Karen Wasylowski
June 19--Krista Bagley
June 22--Stephanie Hamm
June 26--Laurel Ann Nattress
June 29--Pam Dixon
July 3--Jennifer Petkus
July 6--Karen Aminada
July 10--Marilyn Brant
July 13--Meredith Esparanza
July 17--Lori Smith
July 20--Bernadette
And Many more to come!

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Comments on Erlynn's post will be entered into the monthly drawings here at Darcyholic Diversions. Entries will be based on comments on blog posts; but additional chances will be given for joining this site, tweeting this post, Joining this site as a member!, sharing this on Facebook or your blog, Friend me on Facebook, clicking 'like’ on Barbara Tiller Cole, Author's Facebook page, Join Darcyholic Diversions Facebook Page or following BarbTCole on Twitter.

The Healing Power of Darcyholism

My name is Erlynn... and I am a Darcyholic! My obsession with Jane Austen and Darcy in particular did not begin as a happy story.  Oh how I want to impress you with some fantastically fun retelling of my 
obsession turned addiction, but really it starts out as myself being a jilted young girl frantically trying to find escape and finding it with the one woman who seemed to understand my life.

 
Well here goes... my obsession began when three stars in my universe aligned... I took AP English in high-school and first read Austen, my father brought home both the new Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility on video, and I first fell in love.  As a sophomore I was invited to the senior prom, and not just with any boy; he was the captain of the track team and lead in the high-school play.  I probably was dotting my i’s with hearts in English class I was so smitten.  Ugh, but get ready for the Willoughby parallel folks...  after a month of dating, he started ignoring me.   After receiving the cold shoulder for days, when I finally confronted him he acted like I was making a big deal out of nothing and he was never really into me anyway.  I asked him if we were still going to prom as I already had a ticket (which I paid for) and a dress (which my mother made by hand). His answer was yes because even though he didn't want to take me, his mother said he had to keep his obligation to me.  Tired of the endless crying, I finally spent the night catching up on my homework assignment, reading Sense and Sensibility! Naturally, I couldn’t put it down.  I felt like Jane Austen had written this book for me.   I was actually angry discussing it in class; I felt no one understood it the way I did. How could anyone understand my relationship to this book, it was mine, written for me. Jane Austen understood me; no one else did.

In class we read Pride and Prejudice shortly after and I soon became obsessed with Colonel Brandon and then of course, Mr. Darcy!  At night my mom and I watched the videos over and over again.  The question wasn't what are we doing tonight, but rather "Disc 1 or Disc 2?"   My mother and I became very close while I was in high school and we remain best friends today.  I learned a great deal about life, love and how to cope through quotes from Austen's novels.  We still explain new acquaintances by comparing them to characters and encourage each other in life with her quotes. A favorite being “ you do not make allowances for differences of situation and temper.”  I often find myself needing to be a little less like Lizzy and little more patient like Jane, my emotions getting carried away like Marianne, and am completely blinded by my own opinions like Emma.

In college I read my first Austen adaptation by Linda Berdoll and have been obsessed with reading all things Austen ever since.  Amazon became my playground, as I ordered novel after novel of Pride and Prejudice fiction. Amazon recommends novels it believes you will enjoy, and it was a fabulous tool until I ordered the same book twice. I was half way through before I figured it out. Hmm... I needed a way to keep track of all these books.  I began a Google Docs spreadsheet and a blog that now keeps my obsession and Darcy addiction organized.  The spreadsheet works great because I can sort by title, author, or even what I own in print vs. kindle.  While blogging, I found others like myself who were inflicted with the same addiction. I began following my favorite authors on Twitter, many of whom have appeared on this very blog.  I follow their writing careers religiously and patiently await each new book released.  Where once I was a closeted Darcyholic, I have now joined the ranks of those who are proud members of this fantastic, supportive community!

Erlynn is an Ancient History teacher living in Fredericksburg, VA. She has found her own Mr. Darcy and they have been married for almost three years.  Her blog can be found at  http://mylittlecorneroftherworld.blogspot.com/ and you can follow her on Twitter at @iErlynn.