Jane Austen: known to many as the queen of regency romance. Despite her struggles, she proved that women could go after their dreams. Her determination, perseverance, and drive made her the authoress that we all know and love today. Here are five reasons why I love Jane Austen:

1. Witty humor

Miss Austen always knew how to insert humor and wit into her stories, creating seemingly light and frothy dialogue between her characters. Readers, however, can always pick up the underlying substance and meaning of the conversations hidden underneath all of the "peaches and cream."

2. Great heroines

Each of Austen's heroines are strong women in their own right. They go after what they want and don't care what other people may think, especially the men! Ironically, their stubbornness gets them into some sticky situations! Despite their faults, they always come to realize that they deserve happiness, often with the men that opposed them!

3. Chivalry & Etiquette

Chivalry and etiquette are essential parts of every Austen novel. Men and women of the Regency Era were expected to maintain a certain state of manners. They weren't allowed to be in a room alone together unless they were married, men were expected to propose, and women were never allowed to make the first move.

4. The Gentlemen

Let's face it, we all know that we only watch the movie adaptions of Austen's novels for the gentlemen! Who wouldn't want their own Darcy, Tilney, Wentworth, Knightley, Bertram or Bingley? All of the men in her novels know how to treat a lady with respect and honor, things that women in this day and age find lacking.

5. Miss Austen herself

I love her strength, resilience and courage. She defied what was expected of her and paved her own path. Her own love story inspired Pride & Prejudice (though she never got her happy ending, as Tom Lefroy's uncle didn't approve), and she always had the courage to go after her dreams, something that really inspires me. She had a difficult life, stuck in between the middle class and aristocracy, but she gritted her teeth and rose to the top of the ladder with her pen and ink. Her novels take me to a simpler time, a time where men were courteous and women were ever present gossips.

Jane Austen has helped me go after what I want in my life and to not be ashamed about it. She was a go-getter, and a woman of confidence. Thank you, Jane, for allowing me into your world, for writing characters with brains and heart, and for being one of my inspirations in the world of writing.