Based on a Jane Austen classic, 91大黄鸭 writer Lona Manning has released her debut novel.

is Manning's variation of Mansfield Park, authored by Austen in 1814.

In A Contrary Wind, the heroine, Fanny Price, is given an opportunity to change and grow, to learn and to make mistakes, while Edmund Bertram鈥檚 fascination with Mary Crawford, and Henry Crawford鈥檚 efforts to avoid matrimony, lead to completely different outcomes.

All of the familiar characters from Mansfield Park are included, and many 鈥� such as Mrs. Norris and little Betsey Price 鈥� help drive the plot. New characters, such as the brusque but kindly widow, Mrs. Butters, and the impecunious but charming writer, William Gibson, are involved with the movement to abolish slavery.

Real characters from history鈥攑oliticians, writers, and sea captains, join the story and there are even some cameo appearances from characters in other Austen novels.

鈥�Like many Jane Austen fans, I鈥檝e wished that Austen had written more than six novels,鈥� says Manning. 鈥溾�橝 Contrary Wind鈥� is my homage to Austen, and a bit of a 'what if' scenario.

"I really loved working with the unforgettable characters Jane Austen created, such as Henry and Mary Crawford and Mrs. Norris, while adding a few new characters of my own.鈥�

A Contrary Wind is in Kindle. A paperback version will be available in the near future.

Manning is the author of 鈥淭he Hurricane Hoax,鈥� 鈥淭he Murder of Madalyn Murray O鈥橦are,鈥� and other true-crime articles available at True Crime Magazine online.

She is currently teaching English in China. Lona and her husband make their home in the Okanagan Valley.