Without a doubt, this has been a year full of celebrations around the world. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much enthusiasm for a deceased author. There are several authors of classical literature who have their followers, but I don’t think anything compares to the number of people who have admired our Jane Austen.
It was on December 16, 1775, a particularly cold winter, in the village of Steventon, Hampshire, that little Jane was born to Reverend George Austen and his wife Cassandra, the seventh of eight children (six boys and two girls).
Although no diaries have been preserved, it is thanks to her letters that we know quite a lot about Jane’s life, although parts of her life remain a mystery.
What is not a mystery is how much she cared about her novels. There is a letter from early 1813, when Pride and Prejudice was published, in which Austen referred to her book as her beloved child. We know that she devoted a great deal of time to her novels, writing, editing, and publishing them.
And it is that great dedication that we see reflected in her six novels, her early works, and even in the works she did not manage to finish.
And it is because of that great dedication that we are so proud to be able to share with you, for the SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, our Christmas Anthology: Christmas Celebrations, in the 250 anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen!!!
Available on Amazon!
I would like to thank my family, my husband, and especially my sister Mariana (who designed the cover and did the layout) for all their support. Without you, this would not have been possible!
I look forward to this Christmas Anthology every year. Cristy does a wonderful job producing it, and I’m fortunate she has found my stories worthy of inclusion for so long. I admit, every year it’s a struggle to write something short enough, but doing so is an important exercise in writing, and I enjoy the challenge. Thank you, Cristy, for another great year! – Summer Hanford
This is my first time participating in the Christmas Celebrations anthology, and I have truly loved being part of it. It has been a joy to join such a talented group of authors, each bringing their own perspective and creativity to the world that Jane Austen created first. I am especially grateful to Cristina for making the process so smooth and welcoming—she made participation a pleasure from start to finish. Being included in a collection like this, created with such care and generosity of spirit, has been an honor. – Melissa Anne
The Christmas Celebrations anthology will always have a special place in my heart, because the editor, Cristina Huelsz, kindly took a chance on a brand-new writer, allowing me to publish my first Austen-inspired short story in 2023. The anthology is a fabulous way to introduce readers — in English and Spanish — to the wonderful world of Austen variations, and support a cause dear to the hearts of all Austen fans, the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton. I am thrilled to be in the anthology for a third year and look forward to many more editions. – Zarilda Belle Frost
Cristy is such a gem! She works hard to put these anthologies together every year! I had such a great time putting together my part and hope to do it again next year. The process was straight forward and simple. I love when austenesque writers come together to create something special! – MJ Stratton
One of my favorite things to write this year was my Persuasion short for Christmas Celebrations Short Stories of Jane Austen Fan Fiction 2025 Anthology. The pleasure of sketching an unwritten moment for Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth could only be overshadowed by the great fun of working again with Cristina and having my story included with the other amazing authors who are included in this wonderful set of tales. I already look forward to our next project! – Kimbelle Pease
I was so honoured to be asked to contribute a story, it was only the second Austenesque story I’d ever written! Fortunately, I had an idea ready that really tied into my own experience as a narrator, that I then attributed to Darcy and gave him some of the thoughts I’d had about what a ’serious’ use of one’s time can and should be. Cristy was wonderful throughout, sending me the (absolutely stunning!) previous edition so I could see the style and take inspiration from all the wonderful authors she’d worked with in the past. She helped me workshop my title and, after a few edits and drafts back and forth, she just took it off my hands and this wonderful anthology appeared! Thank you so much for a wonderful experience, and I hope everyone enjoys reading once they get their copy. – Harry Frost
One of the most beautiful parts about Christmas is the hope that comes from a Savior being born. Without Him, none of us would be able to change, to grow, to become better – and isn’t that what we love about Jane Austen’s stories? Mr. Darcy, Emma, Marianne… all of these characters had tremendous growth. With my story this year in the Christmas anthology, I wanted to capture that redemption for Lydia Bennet. She was only fifteen years old, and we all know how life would be for her being married to Mr. Wickham. So this year, my offering is one of hope: hope that comes because of Him. – Tiffany Thomas
Cris Translates 