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The Perfect CottageA charming cottage Jane Austen would be delighted to pen her next heroine within. Written by : JL VampaFrom the sway of the lilacs along the picket fence, to the moss climbing the stone front, you’re instantly translated to Victorian England upon walking up to the mint door of the Darling Cottage. Despite being located in the foothills of Georgia, the picturesque home was designed with the English countryside as its muse.In 2008, florist Laura Darling, and her carpenter husband, Luke, purchased the abandoned “Millcreek Shanty,” as it had been dubbed. The property was near to ruin and...

Let's face it, everyone is busy in our culture. I personally find it a travesty. I am often looked down upon because I'd rather spend time with my family or reading than "getting ahead," making more money, or working 59 hour weeks. That's simply not how my family desires to live life. HOWEVER, if you're a human, you have many things pulling at your time regardless of how much you don't mean for them to. A job, a significant other or spouse, kids, friends, hobbies, running a household, bills, laundry, pets, Netflix (c'mon, you know I'm right...) I feel most...

The Hello Girl by J.L. Vampa   I wasn't supposed to hear it. I didn't intend to hear it. The other girls live to eavesdrop on the callers. In the night, conversations are the whispers of lust-laden lovers and gossip fiends. It’s a coveted shift for the lonely and vain. I find that privacy is sacred. At 10 o'clock in the evening on a Tuesday, the calls are juicer, though fewer, as are the switchboard operators. Kate was ill that Tuesday and I took her shift. What else did I have to do? Sherry had dismissed herself to powder her nose when...

How I Stay Inspired : 6 Tips by JL Vampa Whether an author, a teacher, a blogger, a banker, a student, a you-name-it, it can be difficult to stay inspired at all, let alone inspired enough to hone your craft or hobby. Here are a few ways I keep my creativity alive and well as an author and in general. 1) Get out! You are a product of your environment. If you aren't living somewhere that truly inspires you daily and infuses you with hope, you need to get out of town. Or move. But really. At least visit a...

Wychwood Manor By J.L. Vampa The wheels of Madeleine Thornton’s carriage crunched on gravel as it pulled to a stop outside Wychwood Manor, Wiltshire, precisely three minutes shy of her predicted arrival time. The young woman straightened her hat and opened the carriage door to the soft sunlight and smell of rose blossoms wafting from the manor gardens.  She bid the jittery carriage driver adieu, still wondering at his confusion when she’d stated the address. She began making her way to the lavish front entrance until she realized she’d left her bag behind. Madeleine ran, rather unrefined, to catch the...