About Lona ManningNon-fiction writing
I research and write about whatever grabs my interest. Currently I'm focussing on Jane Austen and the novels of the long 18th century. My other avocation is researching and exposing frauds and hoaxes. I uncovered the ways a prominent provincial politician had embellished his biography, a story that led to the collapse of his bid for political party leadership. Some of my research into the many biographical falsehoods of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter appeared in the online magazine Quillette. My other articles at Quillette: a kerfuffle at a Canadian non-profit, the Mary Wollstonecraft sculpture, the #disrupttexts movement, the debate over Jane Austen and slavery, and a hoax at Stanford University. Actually, all my Quillette articles are about kerfuffles. Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine has published some articles about discoveries I've made in my Regency research. I've also had some research articles published in Persuasions Online, the journal of the Jane Austen Society of North America.
My background
I was born in South Korea a few years after the Korean War. My parents served as missionaries in Seoul. My father taught library science at Yonsei University. And -- being from the South, he also taught his students how to do the Virginia Reel. My mother fostered Korean war orphan babies in addition to raising her own children in a country that was struggling to recover from four decades of Japanese occupation and the devastating civil war that has left the country divided to this day. When my parents moved back to the United States, they became active in the civil rights movement and protesting against the Vietnam War. (I've visited Vietnam twice, my thoughts here). Our home was filled with books and magazines and stimulating conversation. Our family moved to Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, in 1967. By then we numbered six kids. I put myself through university, earning scholarships and working at a number of part time jobs. Over the years, I've been a legal secretary and a market researcher, but chiefly I worked in non-profit administration. My husband Ross and I raised two sons; one is now a computer programmer and the other works as a researcher for the provincial government. I live in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Clean Sweep
After six years as the executive director for the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate in my hometown, it was time to start a new chapter in my life and make a clean sweep. When I worked at a private ESL college, it was a privilege to watch the owners/teachers, Moni and Susan, at work in the classroom. The example they set was a big factor in my decision to return to school and obtain my TESL certificate at Okanagan College. Since then, I've had the pleasure of teaching English to all age groups and proficiency levels in a wide variety of settings. My China adventure
I spent four very rewarding years in Shandong Province, China, teaching English, travelling around, and meeting wonderful people. I'm so grateful that life threw me this twist--and my husband came along for the ride as well. There's a lot more about my life in China on my blog. Feel free to get in touch with me below. No worries, you will not be placed on a mailing list! |
Me and my hubby
Article about me, "Late Bloomer" in Inspired 55+ Magazine, July, 2018
"Meet the Author" Dissect Designs website October 2018 
In Korea with a childhood friend
Dad at a civil rights meeting
Four years in China
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"I've learned
that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -- Maya Angelou Andrew Knowles of Regency History talked with me about doing research and writing in Regency-era idioms.
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