As novelist Jane Austen said, "a person who can write a letter with ease, cannot write ill."

And that adage of wisdom was never so obvious as in 2008 during the "Perfect Love Letter" writing competition that was a highlight of Old Mandeville's first ever Jane Austen Festival; no ill thoughts in the many letters submitted but only expressions of love for persons real or imagined.

"The Perfect Love Letter" competition will return along was scores of other activities when the second Old Mandeville Jane Austen Festival unfolds at two venues on March 7 and 8 in Old Mandeville, sponsored by the Old Mandeville Jane Austen Festival Inc., a non-profit corporation.

A full schedule of activities will take place on Saturday, March 7, at the Mandeville Trailhead and several other events will unfold the next day at The Lake House (formerly Bechac's Restaurant) on the Mandeville lakefront.

As the legendary Austen, hailed as one of the greatest novelists in the history of the English language, put it during the English Regency Era in which she lived, "there is no charm equal to the tenderness of the heart."

That, says Jane Austen Festival founder Kerri Blache, is the core concept behind the "Perfect Love Letter" contest. Indeed, the mission of the festival in Mandeville is "to foster the fine art of letter writing."

Blache says those competing this year have from Feb. 10 to Feb. 25 to submit letters on the topic of love (love of person, place or thing) in 250 words or less. Details on entering can be found here. The letters will be judged by English college faculty members and first, second and third place winners will be invited to read their letters from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on March 8 at the Lake House and last year's winner will precede them by reading the 2008 winning entries. There is no fee to enter the contest.

But there is more to this colorful festival than the quiet, solitary, serene art of love letter writing.

There is an equally popular time to strut your stuff in the most elegant of Regency-Victorian era English attire by entering the Looking for Mr. Darcy and No Plain Jane costume competition which will be held on Saturday on the stage of the amphitheater at the Mandeville Trailhead Cultural Interpretive Center. Details on the Mr. Darcy contest can be found here. All festival goers are strongly encouraged to costume the entire weekend.

As a Patron, you can help the Old Mandeville Jane Austen Festival with their mission to foster the fine art of letter writing. Your support will help with future plans of letter writing workshops, dramatic readings of Austen's works, demonstrations of arts, crafts, dance and culture of her day!

If you are interested in finding out more, click here for more information.