Sophia Rose's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"

I have decided to do a bit of something new for some of my blog posts. So voila, I have for you Sophia's Sofa Chats coming soon to a couch near you.

Much in the spirit of having a friend or two drop in for a visit to my home, I will be hosting the occasional GoodReads friend at my GoodReads’ blog.

Each of these guests have graciously volunteered to allow me a chance to interview them. Hopefully, it will be a lively time for you to get to know some of the authors, bloggers/reviewers, and readers I have friended through GoodReads and discover something about their book-related hobbies and work.

Stop by to make the acquaintance of my guests and feel free to toss in your own questions or fun comments. More the merrier.

Upcoming Sofa Chats:
April 22nd with Claudine the hostess of Just Jane1813, a book review blog

May 6th with Rita the hostess of From Pemberley to Milton, a book review blog

June 3rd with Ceri the hostess of Babblings of a Book Worm, a book review blog

My first guest has been a GoodReads friend for nearly two years now. We encountered each other over our mutual appreciation for all things Jane Austen. Claudine is an active supporter of Austen and Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF) stories and writers. Her thoughts on books are insightful and she gives great recommendations. I was tickled to death when last year saw the launch of her blog, Just Jane 1813 where she talks books, authors, and all things Jane Austen.
Ope, there she is now, right on time…

Howdy, Claudine!

Thank you for inviting me here today. Your place is so lovely and it feels so inviting. I have to thank you for your lovely comments about my blog, because people like you have been a tremendous support to me along the way. I also want to thank you for all that you do for Austenesque lovers, such as myself. Your Austenesque group on Goodreads has been such a delightful way to connect with readers who love Jane Austen.

Ahhh, my pleasure! Love the camaraderie of the group, too.

Come on in and make yourself comfortable. It’s a bit nippy here still in Southeast Michigan, but oh so green and the flowers are in riotous bloom. We’ll sit here by the window and appreciate it all. What’s spring like for you in your neck of the woods?

It’s been really chilly in my neck of the woods. I got in my car several days ago at 7:00 am to head to work, and the car thermostat said it was 25 degrees outside here on Long Island. Springtime weather in NY has become less predictable in recent years.

Can I offer you some tea? Coffee? Hot Cocoa? And surely you can’t pass up my latest batch of raspberry thumbprint cookies? Or I do have the back up blonde brownie stash just in case I murdered the cookies which I can do once in a while when I get lost in a book…

I’d love a nice steamy cup of coffee and a nibble, or so of one of those blondies. They are a guilty pleasure of mine.

Fantastic choice! No worries about the ‘guilt’ just enjoy the ‘pleasure’. I waved the magic calorie wand over everything before you came. We’re all good here.

I was just telling the folks about your love for Jane Austen and JAFF and how you have taken the initiative to start your own blog, Just Jane 1813.
You get this question a lot, I’m sure, but where and when did your Austen love begin? And when and how did you discover JAFF?

My love for Jane Austen began nearly twenty years ago, when I came across the title of “Pride and Prejudice” in Anna Quindlen’s book, “How Reading Changed My Life.”
She has these wonderful lists towards the back of her book, and “Pride and Prejudice” was listed first on her list titled Ten Book’s I’d Save in a Fire (If I Could Only Save Ten)

Therefore, in 1999, I was twenty-nine years old when I read the most memorable opening line in the history of literature and fell head over heels in love with the arrogant, but loyal Mr. Darcy and the feisty, but compassionate, Elizabeth Bennet. As an avid reader, I immediately followed “Pride and Prejudice” by reading all of Austen’s novels; yet, “Pride and Prejudice” always remained as my personal favorite. There’s never been another story for me that has captured my heart, my soul and my mind in the very same manner.

Flash forward to 2011, when I saw “Death Comes to Pemberley” by P.D. James at my local Costco. I had never seen another book related to “Pride and Prejudice” and I enjoyed it. Costco? Really? That’s where I encountered my first JAFF story, too. But ahem, sorry to interrupt. However, I was very busy pursuing my studies and working full-time, so I never ventured further to see if there were other books similar to Ms. James’ book, so I remained completely oblivious to the existence of the JAFF community until I accidently stumbled upon a list of recommended JAFF titles on Pinterest.

I selected “Unequal Affections” by Lara S. Ormiston as my next JAFF read, and I have been “beyond hooked” on JAFF ever since this time.

Pretty sure it’s a safe bet that you swoon over a good romance.
If I say ‘forced marriage trope’, does that cause your heart to go pitter pat or do you get stirred up over an entirely different trope- enemies to lovers? Love triangle? Forbidden love? Second chance? Friends to lovers?

I have learned that the text structure doesn’t matter as much to me when I look for my next JAFF read. For me, I am most attracted to reading JAFF stories with great characterizations, an interesting mixture of internal and external angst that’s all within a well-written storyline. The other non-negotiable for me is that I love stories where Darcy and Elizabeth spend a lot of time in each other’s company. Perhaps that’s because in canon, they spend so little time together in each other’s company and I find the connections between them to be quite mesmerizing.

Got a recommendation from your favorites’ shelf for the forced marriage trope or one of the others?

Back in the day, when I was a teacher, my students would tell me that I had too many favorite books and songs to name just a few. I feel the same way about JAFF. For readers who want to see me favorites, they can browse my (https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... ) virtual shelves.

With Fan Fiction there are some regular types that the reader can expect.
When it comes to types, does a variation do it for you best or is it a retelling or sequel? What type is your least favorite?

After reading nearly 200 JAFF stories, I can honestly say I don’t have a favorite type. I initially started looking to read more JAFF sequels when I began this journey; however, I have read so many great sequels, variations and retellings, that I can no longer claim one type of story solely as my favorite type.

If you can’t read Jane Austen or JAFF, what are some of the other books you pick up?

Why wouldn’t I be able to read Jane Austen or JAFF? LOL!!

I have been an avid reader my whole life. The very first series I ever read, Laura Ingalls Wilders’ “Little House” series, sits right in front of me in my office each day, as a reminder of my tremendous love of reading and the power of a memorable series of books. I read cookbooks, magazines, websites, professional resources, research articles, and nearly anything that speaks to my interests. I was a big fan of Jodi Picoult’s books for a long time, and I met her a few times, but there isn’t an author of fiction who communicates to me the way that Austen does through her prose, so when I am not reading JAFF, I read from a variety of authors and genres.

Because I’m nosey, just how many books are sitting on your TBR Pile right now? No judgment here, ‘kay because I have enough to bury me alive between virtual and real shelves.

Only 440... I thought it was a larger number, but that’s where I am right now.
Oh, not bad. You’re doing great staying on top of that thing. It’s the group challenge, right? Haha!

When you’re not reading, what’s something else you enjoy doing?

I love to be creative and I love history, so I have spent a lot of time scrapbooking my children’s’ lives. I’ve made so many types of scrapbook albums and pages, it’s something I love to do that I also find very meaningful in the overall scheme of our lives.

I also love to cook, entertain family and friends, and most of all, I love to spend time with my four children, except when I am trying to get them to do something they don’t want to do, such as their homework, wink, wink!

In the real world, what do people think of your love of books?

Many people think that I am a bit too obsessed with books. I have always been the type of person who brings a book everywhere with me, even to go to the movies, so I can read before the movie begins. Every time I see a bookstore, I have to go inside of it. When I travel, I pack bags filled with books, magazines, articles, etc. Even my mom, who has known me the longest from anyone else, thinks I am too consumed with reading. Now that I read mainly JAFF, she recently asked me, “You read all these books and they all have same characters?” Therefore, having all of these amazing friends on Goodreads has connected me with so many people I can connect with through JAFF and it’s really hanged my life in so many wonderful ways!

Do you have a particular reader pet peeve? Personally, I hate it when someone walks up to me while I’m reading and says ‘hey you’re not doing anything…’


The only thing I can’t tolerate is when people don’t take good care of books. I’m typically so obsessed with keeping my books in good condition, I can’t fathom how some other people don’t feel the same need to preserve the quality of the books that they read.


Now reviewing…what made you start writing them? And what made you decide to carry that over into blogging?

When I discovered JAFF, it was as if I died and went to heaven. I couldn’t believe that there were so many fabulous stories in the world who were writing such memorable stories based on Austen’s characters! As I became happily immersed in JAFF, I felt tremendous gratitude to the authors who took the time and energies to write these stories that have made me so very happy. When I learned how important reviews are to an author’s livelihood, I wanted to give back in a way that mattered to their success, and I felt writing reviews was a way that I could do this for them.

The idea for blogging evolved from my own love of blogs, I have followed many blogs over the years, and yet, I never felt I had an inspiration to write my own blog that would keep me inspired and enthusiastic for the long haul, until I started reading JAFF. First, when I started reading JAFF, I found the JAFF world very challenging to navigate. Who were the authors, where were all of the JAFF books located, especially the kinds I wanted to read? So, eventually I created a blog to help others navigate the JAFF world and to give back to the authors in some small way, for all they have given to people like me through their stories.


How did you come to calling your blog Just Jane 1813 and what decided you on the scope of your blog content (or are you still expanding on that)?


I really wanted a catchy, memorable “brand” name, knowing that anything too long may not be easily remembered. Do you remember on the show “Will and Grace,” when Jack would say “Just Jack?” Well, that seemed like the perfect way to convey my blog’s vision and the addition of 1813 is in honor of the publication date of Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

Clever! Now I get it.

My vision for Just Jane 1813 is evolving; I didn’t know I’d love blogging as much as I do! Therefore, I am creating my vision for my blog throughout this first year, with the hopes that by the end of year one, my blog will look and feel the way I want it to for the next several years.


Now that you have several blog posts and events under your belt, do you have a favorite yet?

Thank you for asking me this question. I am still establishing my blog and my vision for its potential. Therefore, I don’t have any favorites yet, since I have found myself relishing this whole experience.

If I were someone new to Just Jane 1813, what could I expect to find when I visit your blog? Love the warm, welcoming atmosphere and the little extras you add to your reviews like the linked articles, play lists, and Pinterest Boards. Regular features? Special posts?

I am thrilled that you’ve noticed the little touches I’ve added to make Just Jane 1813 a little bit more than a typical reading experience for my readers. I am very responsive to the creative aspects of blogging and hope to expand my creativity as my technology skills develop over time. I can’t help but ponder what Jane would think about our tech-savvy world today!

The vision of Just Jane 1813 is to create a modern JAFF community based on stories, author interviews, and various works of art that are inspired by the compelling vision Jane Austen had regarding our relationships with each other, especially her ideas about womanhood and woman’s roles within society. That’s why I love to include JASNA and other related articles on my blog, as well as special Pinterest boards and playlists. They help to inform my readers about Austen and the Regency era, while immersing them in other pleasurable activities, such as web-browsing and listening to music related to Jane Austen and the lovely JAFF stories being published in recent years.

I also want blog visitors to know that Just Jane 1813 is still a work-in-progress and that I am open to hearing their feedback about what they enjoy on the blog and where I can improve the blog. I also have a blog redesign scheduled in the next several months, where I will have a new structure to my home page and the overall blog, including gorgeous graphics that speak to my vision for Just Jane 1813.

Anything new coming up on Just Jane 1813 you want to share about?

This year, I have been working very hard on a yearlong group read of “Pride and Prejudice” titled “We Still Need Her.” This past Sunday, April 17, 2016, Meryton Press author, Karen Cox, hosted chapter 18, which is the pivotal chapter containing the events of the Netherfield Ball. Karen did a wonderful job bringing her wit and her insights to this post where she describes why this chapter reads like a sit-com titled “Everyone Loves Elizabeth.” I’d love for readers to jump in and enjoy this chapter and consider joining this informal group. Readers can join us at https://justjane1813.com/category/jus... and have their share in the conversation.

Next month, I am hosting my fifth blog event. I don’t have a name for it yet, but I will be reviewing and highlighting JAFF that’s based on all of Austen’s major works, except for “Pride and Prejudice” because I wanted to give my readers some exposure to some different kinds of JAFF, since I focus a lot of my posts on JAFF based on “Pride and Prejudice.” I’m hoping readers enjoy this event, as I will be offering a variety of posts throughout this event, including a review of the new Jane Austen adaptation, “Love and Friendship.”

I’m also very interested in hearing what readers want to see more of on my blog, so if there are suggestions for me from your readers, I hope people feel free to make suggestions on this post.


Sofa Starter Questions:
Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi
Dog-ear or bookmark? Dog-ear
Clutter Queen or Organized to the hilt? Organized to the hilt!
Live to eat or eat to live? Live to eat
Hike or Dance? Hike
Introvert or Extrovert? Extrovert
Willoughby or Crawford? Always Willoughby… I have a strange weakness for him that I can’t really articulate.

And, I guess I should let her get back to real life. Thanks so much for stopping by Claudine! I’ll bundle up some of these cookies for you to take home with you.


Here’s where you can find Claudine when she’s not hanging out on GoodReads:
Blog: https://justjane1813.com/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/JustJane1813

Twitter: https://twitter.com/justjane1813

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...

I have another guest dropping by today, folks. Rita is a friend I met through GoodReads over the last year and we soon learned that we share a love of Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell which, incidentally, is how she came up with the name of her book review blog, From Pemberley to Milton. Love it!

Rita's bookshelf on her blog

What a gorgeous sunny spring day here in Southeast Michigan! We’ll have our chat on the cushy chairs on the back porch. It’s early afternoon so I think I’ll put out an array of sandwiches, fruit, and mini cream puffs. Do you think that sounds good?
And there’s the knock, right on time…

Bem vinda, Rita! (Did I get that right? My grandfather spoke Portuguese, but I’m sadly, monolingual.)

Hi Sophia, your Portuguese is perfect ;) Thanks for having me here today, I’m very happy to visit your lovely house.

Yes, indeed, your visit has been much anticipated. You’ve come from quite far. What’s the spring like in Portugal? Have you gotten out to do any spring activities?
The weather in Portugal is truly amazing! It’s never too cold or too warm. Spring took a little longer to get here this year, but now that I’ve started to see the first signs of it, I’ve started doing one of my favorite things: sit in a coffee shop in front of the ocean while reading a book, that’s my favorite spring activity.

Oh, now that is good that you enjoy sitting out with a nice view because we’re going outside to my best view when I’m reading. Hope you don’t mind. Your visit gave me the added incentive needed to make my flower beds more presentable. Do you do any gardening or growing of plants?
I wish I could do some gardening! I live in an apartment and there isn’t much space to grow anything, but one of my dreams (along with having a library) is to buy a house with some space where I can grow some flowers and vegetables. Until then, I keep dreaming…

Oh yes, I had to get creative with the leafy friends when I was apartment living.

Here I have a little something in case you enjoy a light spread of food while we chat.
Would you care for tea, coffee, or juice?
Coffee please! That’s my one and only addiction! I can’t resist the smell and taste of coffee.
On a regular day I would have drunk 3 already, but today this will be my first, so I really appreciate it ;)
You know, I often think I wouldn’t adapt to regency because I love coffee but I hate tea (I know…shame on me). Er, um, I’m not a fan of tea or coffee so I’d really not be a welcome sight to Regency hostesses. *said in an aside*
But go on, I don’t won’t to interrupt your line of thought. Yes, let’s do move on before the tomato throwing starts.

So, Rita, I know you love to read and particularly fan fiction for Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell’s stories. But what made you choose to start blogging about books? How long have you been a blogger?
As almost every story, that is a long story, but I’ll try to sum it up.
When I discovered JAFF, back in 2010, I started reading so much that at a certain point I didn’t know which books I had read, who were the really good authors, etc. Everything was very blurry because the characters were the same, some premises were similar and so on. Also, after reading over 30 books, I realized there were some genres I preferred to others.
So, I decided to organize the books I had read by genre to help me be more thorough in my amazon research when looking for new purchases. I also started writing reviews to remember what I had read and which authors I liked the most.
Yep, I’m tracking with you there. That was one of my reasons for writing review, too.
At that point, those reviews were just for myself, I was still a long way from thinking I could ever become a blogger, until one day while talking to a co-worker about this, and complaining I could not find a place on line with a list of JAFF books per genre that would help restrict Amazon’s research (no matter how many times I googled it, I could never find an updated list, nor did I find any of the amazing blogs that are now on my favorites page…don’t ask me how, but it’s true), he suggested I did it myself.
And so, I created a blog with the list of books I’ve read organized per genre and author. A few days later I started posting the reviews I had already written, and I was so welcomed by the community I never stopped until today. It was 9 months ago, and I hope I can still go on, even if sometimes it’s really hard to coordinate this with my day time work.
Those clever co-workers. They’re good for something, right?

What is the best thing about being a blogger? Is there something you struggle with or want to learn still when it comes to blogging?
The best thing about being a blogger is to have the opportunity to talk to other readers and authors. To be able to discuss the books I’m reading with people who share the same love for JAFF than me and who know these books and can talk with me about them, share their opinions and suggest other books and authors.
I’ve learned so much in the last months, and met so many amazing people that I can truly say the best thing about blogging is the people I meet along the way. I used to think I was alone in this, and that few people read JAFF, but now I know I am part of a huge, amazing community with wonderful people such as yourself Sophia. Ahhhh, right back atcha, lady! :)

What I struggle with is the IT part of it. I have to confess, I suck when it comes to technology, so most of the time I waste a lot of time just trying to understand how to do something on the website. I’m an old fashioned kind of girl who still prefers letters to e-mails and likes to send postcards to her friends whenever she travels, so all this technology tires me a bit.
Oh hey, ditto. I am the opposite of tech savvy. You’re off to a good start though.

With fan fiction, there are a variety of plot types. I personally don’t have a preference, but what about you? Are you a fan of variations, sequels, retellings? Only historicals or will you read moderns?
When I started reading fan fiction I had a very rigid vision of it. I only read “clean”, close to canon regency variations. I wasn’t too fond of sequels, modernizations didn’t appeal to me and if I saw a review stating the book was not “clean” I would probably not buy it.
But now I realize that, just like Elizabeth, I was being prejudiced and I overlooked many good books because of it. I’ve read some modernizations that I really loved, and they opened my eyes, so now I read a bit of everything. :)
But I’m still partial to variations in regency era. They are definitely my favorites because I believe they are the ones which transmit the greatest intensity between Darcy and Elizabeth and I love an intense and emotional book.


But if you’re not reading fan faction, what other types of writing to you enjoy? Is there a genre that you can’t stand or have no interest in?
I used to read a lot of different books, but since I started the blog I hardly have time to read all the JAFF books I want to read, let along other types of literature. But I do miss other types of literature, so I’m trying hard to read at least 2 or 3 non JAFF books per year. Last year I manage to read Haruki Murakami and David Duchovny, but this year it’s been only JAFF.

I enjoy the South American magical realism very much.
I remember loving Luis Sepúlveda, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende with all my heart, but some of my favorites are The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Blindness by José Saramago, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (obviously) and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.
Dumas and Bronte, le sigh....
There isn’t a specific genre I can’t stand because I like reading many different things, but there are some authors I particularly dislike such as Kafka or Virgílio Ferreira.
You've mentioned quite a few authors that I need to investigate. :)

As you can see, I enjoy gardening (yep, in virtual world, I can look like the best gardener in the world. In real life? Not so much, but I do try).
What is something you enjoy doing besides reading?
I am a woman of many hobbies; I’ve collected postcards, coins, I love the theatre…but apart from reading, my biggest passion is traveling. I love traveling! I love researching for places to visit, to organize the whole trip, including transportation, hotels, points of interest and then to actually go to a different place, see new landscapes, meet new people, know new cultures and habits. Everything about traveling is appealing for me and I can talk about this for days! My husband says that even before going on a trip, I’m already planning the next one, and I think it drives him a bit crazy, but in the end he enjoys these trips…well, except maybe that time when we spent 18 hours on a regional train going from Xi’an to Xangai. Oh, yikes, that would put a damper on the fun. Haha!

Rita at Big Sur, California
Hsst, my dad's side of the family is from this area of Central California. So neat that you got to see it.


Knowing you're a travel bug, I do have to go there with the questions. Where have you been outside Portugal? And for those of us who have never been to Portugal, what is a must see site if we ever come to Portugal?
You can tell right? I think I’ve been to over 20 countries apart from Portugal. I’ve been mainly to European countries due to the proximity, but I’ve also been to Cuba, China, Turkey, Israel and the USA.
My favorite trip so far, was the road trip I did with my husband last year on the West Coast of the USA. That was a dream trip for both of us, and we are eager to go back because even though we’ve been to 4 different states, there was so much left to see and to enjoy! I spend God knows how many hours planning it, but it was worth it… I’ll never forget the indescribable landscapes, the people, the feelings it brought on me and…I Hop (gotta love the American breakfast…and all the other food).
Bless you dear lady, I am an IHoP fan as well.
Unfortunately I spent so much time abroad I think I have neglected Portugal in the last couple of years, but I’m trying to mend that.
Portugal is a wonderful country to visit, did you know Portugal is the country in Europe with the oldest established borders? That’s right, we are basically the oldest country in Europe as were established in 1139 and our final borders have remained the same since 1297, so you can imagine that our country is full of history, with plenty of castles, palaces and old towns to visit. But we are also a very sunny country with a lot of beaches and mountains.
See! That's the sort of information I find fascinating. Thanks!

Lisbon

The must visit city in Portugal is Lisbon, and I’ll be happy to make a plan for anyone who wants to come. Just let me know and I’ll be your guide while you’re in Portugal ;)

And finally, if I were new to your blog, what are some of the features I should look to enjoy? Anything new coming up on From Pemberley to Milton to which I can look forward?
Well, I mainly post reviews, guest posts and interviews in From Pemberley to Milton, but I like to think that the blog might still be useful in its initial purpose: to allow readers to see an organized list of fan fiction per genre. Also, I’m very happy to have not only information on JAFF but also North and South fan fiction, which I also love.
I’m currently working on a blog button (actually, a friend of a friend is, because you know me…technology is definitely not my thing), and once I have it, I hope to start having some additional buttons and lists. I would like, for example, to finally publish a list of my favorite books. :)

I would also like to develop 2 other projects: to start hosting fellow readers with their own guest posts as part of a specific event (Any volunteers? My idea is to promote discussion and give everyone a chance to share their opinion and insights on the topics they are very knowledgeable and fond of ), and putting together my love for traveling and my love for Jane Austen by posting a Jane Austen Tour by Rita. What do you think? Sounds interesting? Yes, this is fantastic!

Uff…I’ve talked too much, no? Sorry…I can be boring sometimes, ask my husband…he knows.


Rita being boring getting her kicks on Route 66, USA *that was said with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Ha! This gal is not boring and I'm thinking her husband would agree. ;)


Sofa Starter Questions:
Brooding hero or Flirty hero?
Brooding! No seconds thoughts on that ;)
Paper or Electronic book?
That’s a hard one…Do I have to choose?
Appetizer or Dessert?
Dessert…
Spa Day or Road Trip?
Road Trip! Every day *smiles big for the camera*
Caroline Bingley or Mrs. Norris?
Caroline
Museum or Sports Arena?
Another hard one…I love both…But If I have to choose…Museum

Ahhh, thanks for being a fantastic guest, Rita. I enjoy having you stop by for a visit. Have a safe trip back and keep us posted on what's coming up for your next traveling adventure and we look forward to the unveiling of that new blog badge. :)

Here’s where people can find Rita on the internet:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.s.deodato
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritadeodato/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RitaDeodato
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4...
Blog: https://frompemberleytomilton.wordpre...

Time to welcome another visitor for a Sofa Chat.
My guest today is Victoria Kincaid. This lovely gal has been a GoodReads friend for almost two years. Fun to learn we share the same eclectic taste in books.

Victoria is a lover of Jane Austen and her books are popular with JAFF fans. She’s supportive of other authors and makes herself available to readers.

I appreciate that she is willing to stop by knowing she must keep a pretty busy schedule with all the hats she wears.

In the spirit of variety adding some spice to life, I’ve asked Victoria to come ready to go walking for this chat. And look at her being such a good sport to go along with my mobile interview today.

Howdy, Victoria!
Ready to hit the trail? I know you’ll probably walk circles around me since I’m more of an ambler. I thought we could take the county park path by the river where we can enjoy the lovely spring scenery and it’s quiet enough to have a chat. I have pie and coffee when we get back to the house as my reward for hoofing it with me, but here’s a bottle of water to keep you hydrated. And no worries, I disappeared the calories in that pie so eat with no guilt.

Thank you for inviting me along on your walk! How delightful. It’s been raining here for 18 days in a row (a new record for Washington DC), so I’m happy to have a walk (even a virtual one) where there is no precipitation. And I appreciate your consideration in getting rid of the calories in the pie. If only real life were that easy!

Ah, you bet! Always happy to make the virtual calories disappear. Would be great to find a magic calorie wand in the real world for certain!

So, speaking of walking, is that an activity you enjoy? What was the prettiest place you have ever taken a walk?
I do enjoy walking, although recently I’ve had some back problems that make it hard to do as much as I’d like. I’ve done some memorable hikes (very easy ones) in the mountains here in Virginia which result in beautiful views.

Do you have a favorite type of exercise or hey, is ‘exercise’ a dirty word in your dictionary?

My favorite forms of exercise are pilates and aerobic dance. I did ballet when I was younger, so dancing is fun for me.
Yay, Pilates was a thing with me and still is a little since my tailbone injury. And how cool, ballet!

When you’re not writing, what other things keep you busy?
My kids! I have a 16-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy. I spend a lot of time driving them to school, activities, and friends’ houses or helping them with homework. They’re both great kids though and I’m grateful to have them in my life. I’m also a freelance writer/editor, so during the workday I’m on conference calls, sending emails, visiting offices, and turning in projects.
As you can imagine, I don’t have a lot of free time, so my main leisure activity is reading. I take my kindle everywhere so that I can make use of those boring times in the dentist office waiting room or the grocery store checkout line.

Ha, my Kindle is holstered to my hip, too. Only way to survive the dentist for sure.

I noticed that you live in the Washington DC area. I’m such a history buff that it’s like knowing a kid who lives near Disney World (don’t laugh, I’m well aware DC is not Disney).
What’s your favorite DC area site or place to visit and do you have a tip for a future tourist like moi? DC is a great place to come if you’re a history buff! One of the things my family loves about it is the abundance of free museums because of the presence of the Smithsonian and other museums run by the federal government.
I love the National Gallery of Art which has cool architecture in addition to a wonderful collection of paintings. We’ve been to the Natural History Museum a lot because my daughter is interested in paleontology. They also have a great (fairly new) mammal exhibit and one on evolution which is fascinating! The American History Museum has the original flag that inspired the National Anthem – it’s huge—and some great exhibits on transportation, presidents, etc. – and the First Ladies’ dresses! The Newseum (museum of News) has some great historical exhibits. It’s my son’s favorite, although (alas) it’s not free.


Have you been in the Library of Congress (said in hushed, reverent tones)?

I’ve been to the Library of Congress, which has some great temporary exhibits. It’s a beautiful building – the main reading room is something to see! Okay, so maybe you’ve guessed I’m a history buff too.

Let me know if you’re coming to DC. I’d love to show you around! One opportunity would be in October, the Jane Austen Society of North America is holding its Annual General Meeting here, and there will be special tours, talks, and JA related events-including a period costume exhibit, a performance of Sense and Sensibility adapted into a play, a visit to an exhibit about Jane and Shakespeare, (yes!) a tour of the Library of Congress and many other activities—as well as dancing. I’m really looking forward to it.

http://www.jasna.org/agms/washingtond...
*Sophia just descended into a puddle of goo* That would be like a dream come true to attend the conference in DC to experience all that.

Changing gears…
Were you thinking writer all the way or did you discover your writing gift later? Did your first story get published or was it so awful that you consigned it to the incinerator?
I have always been a writer and wanted to be a writer since I gave up my dream of being a ballet dancer in middle school.
I actually received an honorable mention in a national writing contest when I was in high school, so I guess I wouldn’t consign that story to the incinerator (although I’d probably cringe at it now). That said, I have written lots of stories that should never see the light of day.

For many years I focused my efforts on playwriting (and some screenwriting). I still teach playwriting with a group in DC. But it’s very hard to get plays produced, so it’s a frustrating field to pursue. Writing JAFF has been so much more rewarding and very fun.
Now that is interesting to know that you write plays. I’m not a huge play buff, but I love to attend local community theater and drive to Detroit for the occasional big marquee stuff.

What has been your big magic moment as a writer? And did it happen in front of witnesses when you squealed or did the Snoopy Dance? Haha!

The biggest aha moment for me was when I put my first book up on Amazon, and it started selling like wildfire. I didn’t know much about the JAFF market and didn’t know what to expect. I was watching the sales climb and climb and climb some more, and I was on the Regency Romance Bestseller list on Amazon! It was so unexpected. My family was there to witness my excitement. I was thrilled because it meant I could write more JAFF, and it would sell. We went out to dinner to celebrate. I’m very grateful to the JAFF community for that experience and their ongoing support.

You’ve got a nice stack of books under your belt now and all are set in the Pride & Prejudice world. What set you along the path of writing JAFF and particularly P&P Jaff?
I started reading JAFF and got hooked. It’s actually the reason I bought a Kindle because the ebook versions of JAFF novels were cheaper than doing print. After a while I started having my own plot ideas. Then I had to convince myself I could write a novel even though I had spent most of my adult life writing plays.

Though I’ve only read one of your books so far (yep, that makes me a bad reader girl), this does not reflect a lack of interest. I have been intrigued by each release and the creative elements you incorporate into the stories. One takes the characters to Paris, one creates a love triangle, another has the potential marriage of convenience nightmare, a lovely interlude of romance with minor characters, and then a forbidden romance (readers can treat it like a treasure hunt to match up which books go with which description). But I said all that to ask: Which was the most difficult or complex book to write?

The first book was hard to write because I was getting the hang of writing narrative and description after years of needing to explain everything through dialogue. Even now my characters tend to be big on talking, which is okay, I think, since Austen herself conveyed a lot of characterization and plot through dialogue (probably one of the things I like about her books).


Is there a story element or plot that intrigues you, but you haven’t had the chance to write yet?
There are a lot of story elements/plots I haven’t had a chance to write yet! When I first started writing I worried I would run out of JAFF plot ideas, but they have only multiplied. The more JAFF I write, the more ideas I get for new books. If only I could write faster!

Is there a research book or website you have found to be one of your go-to sources?
Nancy Mayer has a blog on Regency history which has been invaluable to me. http://www.susannaives.com/nancyregen.... She will also answer obscure Regency questions, which is quite a life saver when you need to know how they celebrated birthdays in the Regency or what they ate and drank at balls.
The Austen Thesaurus website http://www.writelikeausten.com/index.php is a great resource to help you figure out the authenticity of your Regency language.

Darcy Vs. Bennet is your most recent release. Please share why we really need to read it.

Darcy vs. Bennet is Romeo and Juliet meets Pride and Prejudice (without people dying in tombs). The premise is that Darcy and Elizabeth fall in love at a masquerade ball, but their fathers have an ongoing feud which means they must conceal their feelings. In fact, they have to pretend to dislike each other! It’s very fun.
Ah, clash of the potential in-laws! That offers up some good tension, I’m sure.

And finally, what’s up next from your pen?
I’m writing the last draft of a new novel called Chaos Comes to Longbourn. I’m hoping it will be out in June. It’s another humorous P&P version (like Mr. Darcy to the Rescue). I don’t have a formal blurb written yet, but I can tell you it starts with Mr. Darcy getting engaged to…Lydia. Do I have your attention yet?
You have my full attention! Authors are such tormentors. Haha!

Sofa Starter Questions:
Summer or Winter? Summer all the way!
Italy or Australia? Ooo that’s a tough one. I love Italy (All that history! All that art!), but I’ve never been to Australia and would love to see it.
Colonel Brandon or Mr. Knightley? Another toughie. Colonel Brandon, I suppose. I love how steadfast he is. Plus Alan Rickman did such a great job with the character.
Drama or Comedy? It’s funny. I love to watch and read both. I thought I would write mostly drama, since I love stories that sweep up emotionally. But my readers have really enjoyed my humor, so I’ve found it surprisingly rewarding to write comedy.
Dishes or Dusting? Dusting. My husband (bless his soul) does the dishes.
Fish or Beef? Fish, although I like a good steak or burger now and then.

Ah, look at her, still as fresh as a daisy! That was a pleasant two miles (yep, that’s my limit at the moment). Let’s settle in for some well-deserved pie.

Here are some places you can find Victoria when she’s not hanging out here on GoodReads:
Website: www.victoriakincaid.com
Twitter: VictoriaKincaid@kincaidvic
Blog: https://kincaidvictoria.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kincaidvictoria

Lord have mercy! One needs gills to breathe this air today. Good thing I’m lucky enough to have A/C and a dehumidifier. The first five years here after growing up in the dry West, I had neither. I shamelessly laid on the kitchen tile in front of a fan and thought I would die. Erm, you didn’t need to know that. Focus Soph…

I have a guest today who probably battles the heat and humidity as well since she’s not too far south of me down in Kentucky.
But who is coming, you wonder of all things? Hint, hint!
Not enough hint, okay, fine. Karen Cox is coming to chat.

This lady keeps busy as wife, mother, author, and delightful member of the GoodReads and greater on-line community. I have been familiar with her name since she only had one book published and I was a newbie to the Austenesque world. I thought it was the wildest thing ever to take the Pride & Prejudice story and set it during America’s Great Depression. I mean, *gasp with hand clutched to heart* how could that be?
But since those days, I have come to not only appreciate, but relish Karen’s settings, characters, and treatment of Jane Austen’s stories. Her on-line presence has allowed me to know her a little when we bump shoulders on social media and at the blogs. It was a true pleasure to share in the team effort of the last year’s release of summer short story anthology, Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer (which, incidentally, is out on a Road Trip visiting all its authors. Details below).

Howdy, Karen! So good to have your company. It’s a scorcher out there. Come on in!
Thanks, don’t mind if I do!

Oh look she brought me some Kentucky Bourbon.
No not really. Stay back ATF. Buahaha!

I watch the kids playing in the neighborhood and they don’t seem to feel the heat. I remember those days. I played outside all day long it seemed and yet I remember checking out stacks of books at the library and devouring them (miss how child days magically had enough hours to do both and cram in chores and summer jobs while I was at it). Mysteries mostly like Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Three Investigators…but The Black Stallion, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Lucy Maude Montgomery books snuck in there, too.
What about you? Were you a reader child?
Oh, yes! I was definitely a reader child! I don’t remember learning how to read – my mom says I asked her to teach me when I was three, but she was afraid she’d teach me wrong. By the time I was five, she realized I was reading anyway. And I devoured books as a child.
What were your favorites? Did you have a fictional best friend? Personally, I was tight with Nancy Drew’s buddy George.
Some favorites were all the Little House books, the Oz books (there are fourteen in all, I believe), The Littles, Black Beauty, Caddie Woodlawn, A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels, the My Friend Flicka trilogy, and another one that was probably my favorite, called Time at the Top. As I went into middle school, I started reading Judy Blume, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Gone With The Wind, The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Then my teenage years hit, and books took a back seat to afterschool activities, friends and boys. ‘Tis sad, I know.


I hope you like ice cream. I did up a berry crumble to put over some vanilla ice cream. Interested?
If there’s ice cream involved, I’m interested. Yum!
What’s a favorite summer dish you serve guests or if you head out to any family/friend barbecues?
I cook and bake a little. For summer, my favorite is probably strawberry shortcake with the freshest strawberries, the biscuit-like cake and real whipping cream. At parties, I have a big plastic water dispenser that you can see through. I layer sliced citrus fruit (lemons, limes, oranges) over ice water and serve that instead of sodas. It’s always a hit. Yeah, that sliced fruit in water would beat the heat, for sure.

You’re from the Bluegrass State. I think it is absolutely lovely down the I-75 interstate the few times we had to travel it. (Sophia ‘hearts’ road trips) I’ve always wanted to tour the Horse Park and see the Mammoth Caves. Have you been there?
Thank you! I think Kentucky is lovely too. Yes, I’ve been to both parks. Love the Horse Park. I took my daughter there one spring break a few years back. It’s been a long time since I was at Mammoth Cave—I was probably about fourteen. And although I love parks and museums—caves? Well, not so much. I suffer from claustrophobia, so caves are not my friends. Oh, yeah, whoopsie, sorry to give you those imagines in your head then. Let's move on here.

What’s your favorite Kentucky site or activity?
Actually, Kentucky has some beautiful lakes – for boating, fishing, skiing, swimming. And I love the Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington. There’s a meet in April and one in October. It’s more picturesque than places like Churchill Downs or the Red Mile, in my opinion. And because of my Black Stallion adoration back in grade school, I've actually heard of Keeneland. ;)

Have you been to any local Jane Austen events? Any book festivals or cons? If so, what was it and what was a fun part of it?
I’m a member of JASNA Greater Louisville, but I don’t get to meetings very often because of my work and family commitments. Every July they host a Jane Austen Festival (except for last year, when Louisville hosted the AGM) that is fantabulous! I hope I get to go this year. Yowsers, I guess so.
As far as book festivals, I’ve done several over the years: the Los Angeles Festival of Books, Decatur GA Book Festival, the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, South Carolina Book Festival, and the Kentucky Book Fair and Southern Ky Festival of Books. Book fairs are fun, especially when readers stop by and say hello—and when the weather’s nice. It is a lot of work, but meeting people: other authors, readers, publishers, and talking about books are the best parts.
Decatur Book Festival

I noticed you set Find Wonder in All Things in your neck of the woods. Is the location a real place you’ve been?
While I was writing Find Wonder in All Things, I told one of my beta readers that it was my way of making peace with my hometown. The story, of course, is complete fiction, given that it is an adaptation of Persuasion, but the setting is loosely based on the Lake Cumberland area where I grew up. In the Prologue of that story, the characters go on an outing to an old railroad tunnel that is typically under water until the summer gets dry and the water levels go down. The real Lake Cumberland was made in the 1950’s, and the town of Burnside was moved from the valley up onto the hills around the newly formed lake. This means that there are remains of Old Burnside at the bottom of Lake Cumberland. This event in Find Wonder was based on a real experience I had as a teenager, when I went with some friends to one of those abandoned tunnels. It was a very uneventful trip though—even less eventful than it was for Laurel, Virginia, Stewart and James.
1932 was set in the area where my father grew up in South Central Kentucky, a tiny community called Hiseville, which is about a half-way between Louisville and Nashville, and a little off the beaten path. I like knowing that background, thanks!

You chose to set your books outside of Jane Austen’s England in time and place. I am curious about your choice of modern versus historical. What drew you toward modern vs historical?
Well, for me, the biggest appeal of Austen isn’t the Regency time period. I enjoy reading Regency stories written well, but what really drew me to Austen was how applicable the themes were across time and place. For example, Pride & Prejudice is about erroneous first impressions. Persuasion is about second chances and making a new start when given the opportunity. Emma is about humility, and so on. Those themes are still very relevant today, so wouldn’t modern readers (who might not necessarily invest in parsing the original texts) enjoy those stories? And might that enjoyment then induce those readers to try the original Jane Austen text and learn those themes ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’? I thought so, and it was why I began writing 20th century versions of each novel. I don’t know if I can make it through all six novels, but that was my original plan.
In some ways, it IS difficult to dissociate Austen’s stories from Regency England. Some characters and events do not translate all that well, but what I’ve found is that, if I keep those general themes in mind, I can write stories that are analogous, modern versions of the events depicted in the original novels. In fact, that extrapolation is a big part of the fun for me as an author.

and America vs England?
As far as America versus England, I simply felt more competent writing about the States, particularly the South, because I’m a native here. Undeceived has many locales though, and that was a real stretch for me. A lot of research went into those chapters that take place abroad!

Now, this next curious fact about your books I do love because my actual favorite Austen novel isn’t Pride & Prejudice. It’s fun for me when JAFF authors tackle the other Austen works (not that I don’t adore P&P). You’re one of the few writers I’ve seen in JAFF to not focus on only one of Austen’s novels for your variations. Of your published works, Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion, and your short story retelling of Northanger Abbey are covered, right? What made you decide to diversify and what aspect of each of these particular Austen novels made them your choice to adapt for your stories?
I explained a little above, but to add to that, I chose to diversify simply because I love Austen’s work, and I think that every story has a unique truth to speak to us. Persuasion is such an elegantly constructed novel. Reading it is like sipping a very smooth, expensive wine. Before you realize it, you’ve drunk half the bottle! I mean, read half the book! Maybe a little of both can make a reader heady.
The appeal of Northanger Abbey was Catherine Morland. She’s so sweet and honest, a bit naïve, yes, but definitely not stupid and with a great capacity for growth. Also, the Northanger Abbey story arc seemed to fit the summer-themed Sunkissed anthology so well—going to the Southeastern Atlantic coast with its rich history would be analogous to going to the resort town of Bath.

Ever considered tackling any of Austen’s other works for your stories?
I’m currently working on a 1970s adaptation of Emma titled I Could Write a Book. It takes place in Kentucky’s horse country. Both Emma and Mr. Knightley are from old families that were part of the horse farm tradition in this area. Woohoo! Oh, pardon me. Pray continue...
The original Emma is delightful, and oh! How it made me laugh! I’d be reading along, ‘listening’ to Mrs. Elton or Miss Bates—thinking, “Lordy, why doesn’t she hush?” but also knowing if I stuck with it I’d be rewarded with a chuckle or a little insight, and when it happened, it was just lovely. Genius!

So we have that one to look forward to. Beyond your Emma adaption?
I really want to finish I Could Write a Book this summer. My personal life has been a bit crazy the past couple of years: I began working full-time. My son just finished college, and his daughter was born 16 months ago. So of course, I have to spoil her! My daughter just graduated high school last month and is off to college this fall. Plus, I’ve had some minor health issues. Nothing tragic, just things I need to take care of, and all that takes time, you know? It eats away at my writing time, but I only feel whole when I’m writing, so I’ll keep chipping away at the stories in my head. Good Golly Miss Molly! You win the busy lady award, that is a lot of balls in the air, but I can see you wouldn't trade it for the world.
I’ve also started a women’s fiction novel, and I’ve got a P&P gender swap, time and place swap idea in mind as well. I’ve toyed with the idea of a Regency novel. I feel like I’m at a place where I want to do a lot of writing exploration, learn a lot of new things. I just want to have the time to do it justice, regardless of what I choose to write next. I want to write it to the best of my ability. That’s why I’ve never been able to put out books one right after the other. Each book has to be the best I know how at the time—readers deserve nothing less than that. And thank you for that. You do indeed put out quality work that engages the readers. Jane would be proud. And you know we will all be one clicking and getting excited when these near release time.

I used to think summers were the slow time of my life, but of latter years that really has not been the case. Doing anything interesting this summer?
My sister-in-law is getting married on the North Carolina coast this month, so we’re traveling there for a week. Other than that, just writing and swimming and enjoying my daughter’s company before she goes off to college next fall. Traveling is great summer fun and I do love your other summer plans, too.

Sofa Starter Questions:
Ham or Turkey? Ham. I’m not sure why, just…ham.
Orange or Yellow? Yellow (it’s my favorite color!)
Paper cut or Mosquito Bite? Paper Cut! I hate the mosquito bite itch – the gift that keeps on giving :P
Ironing or Dusting? Is this which one I like or which one I hate? ‘Cause I’m not too fond of either. But I guess ironing is tolerable. And I’m allergic to dust.
Mr. Bennet or Sir Thomas Bertram? Mr. Bennet – at least you could laugh with him, make sport for your neighbors and laugh at them in your turn.
Guinea Pig or Parakeet?
Parakeet. Guinea Pigs are too rodent-like for my taste.

Karen needs to get back home to her family and her writing desk, but I do appreciate her joining me for a chat.
Take care, Karen, and I appreciate you stopping by!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to chat, Sophia!


If she’s not here on GoodReads, this is where you can find Karen:
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/karenmcox
Meryton Press blog: www.karenmcox.merytonpress.com
And on several of the usual social media haunts such as Facebook, (karenmcox1932), Twitter (@karenmcox1932), Pinterest (karenmc1932), Instagram (karenmcox1932), and Tumblr (karenmcox)




Karen is also participating in the Sun-Kissed Summer Road Trip as one of the authors who will host the book, take it around her neck of the woods for some sightseeing, drop in a local souvenir, and then send SK on it's way.
The last stop on the Road Trip is still up in the air as we wait to see who wins the giveaway for the anthology signed by every author and all it's souvenirs from it's travels. Visit the Meryton Press blog to follow the SK Summer Road Trip or enter the giveaway ending on July 15th: http://merytonpress.com/skroadtrip/

Oh boy! That was close. First I had to rid myself of Poison Ivy and then I caught a head cold and infection. But it all went away just in time for me to prepare for my next guest. It has been a pleasure to get to know each one a little better as a result of our chats.

Today, I welcome, author Lory Lilian. She is visiting from far away Romania (or at least far for me here in Michigan). Lory has been a joy to know through her books, our encounters on-line, and of course it was fun to have my story share an anthology with her own very delightful tale in Then Comes Winter. She has been a busy lady lately and has just released the sequel to her Rainy Days called The Rainbow Promise: After Rainy Days. I’ve started a re-read of Rainy Days to refresh my mind before I jump into the sequel. There is no doubt in my mind that it will be as lovely, passionate, and engaging as the first book.
I think I hear someone now…

Buna Ziua, Lory! Ce mai faci (how are you)?

Did I get that right?
I bungle other languages frequently because I am most definitely the typical monolingual American. I am utterly amazed that you not only speak another language, but you can write such beautiful and heartwarming stories not only in English, but about another period in history. Now that’s serious talent in my book.


Thank you so much for inviting me, Sophia – I am so excited to chat with you and your readers! And yes, you got the greeting in Romanian perfectly! Thanks for your praise - I owe everything to Jane Austen's genius, who has been my favorite author since I was 11. And especially to Pride and Prejudice – my all times favorite book. Elizabeth and Darcy’s story had been close to my heart for more than three decades, and I read it countless times. Then I slowly felt the urge to humbly attempt to create new stories around it, to indulge my insatiable desire for more E&D.

If it isn’t too nosy of me, how did you learn to speak and write English so well?
Well, first I studied in school. Then, for years I used English in my job (business English). And In 2004 I discovered the world of JA forums and JA fanfiction. After spending days and nights reading online and “talking” in chatrooms, my skills in English improved significantly. :-)
Ah yes, I think a lovely JAFF romance would urge me on to being more fluent in another language.

Do get cozy. Would you care for lemonade or iced tea? I did up spice cupcakes with butter cream frosting today. I hope you like them. Is there a particular dessert from Romania that you enjoy?

I must say I am not particularly fond of sweets. I like apple pie and fruits ice-cream – but not necessary Romanian.
Oh boy, apple pie is a favorite around here.

Now, I have seen some lovely pictures of Romania’s old cities, forests, and mountains and I’ve actually read more than a few books that were set in Romania. It sounds like a wonderful place. Are there any particular places you’ve enjoyed seeing and visiting there? What is something fun you like to do when you’re not writing?


Transalpina Road in Romania
Romania has many, many beautiful places! I particularly like the Brasov area (yeah, Dracula Castle included lol); there are also two spectacular roads through mountains (Transalpina and Transfagarasan – on which Nicolas Cage filmed "Ghost Rider 2 - Spirit of Vengeance") - where I enjoy to drive whenever I can. And many other beauties that deserve to be visited and admired, including the seaside, which I absolutely love. When I do not write – I prefer to read and spend time at the spa/ pool with my friends. No particular funny hobbies, I am afraid.

Now that The Rainbow Promise is published and released, I’ll bet you heaved a great sigh of relief. When did you decide to write a sequel to Rainy Days?
Was it more difficult to come up with the story for the sequel, The Rainbow Promise, than for Rainy Days?
What was your favorite part of writing a sequel?

Funny thing, the sequel was planned the day I finished Rainy Days! Then for years I hesitated to work on it, until I started to receive more and more messages, asking about the sequel. I decided to do it last year, and once I dived into it, it grew and doubled its initial length. Many things in the sequel were not in the original draft – including the title.
Rainy Days – which is 390 pages – was completed in about three months! It was such an exciting time for me to write my first ever story about E&D and to share it with the readers! I was thrilled to post each chapter and to read the lovely responses to it! The Rainbow Promise, which is only 230 pages, took me much longer. What I loved the most was to revisit Rainy Days and to enter once again into the beautiful, romantic relationship Elizabeth and Darcy shared in this story. Every small detail was important, every particular gesture, smile, and so on… Hope the readers enjoyed reading it too.

I’m pretty sure based on your writing that Pride & Prejudice is a favorite book. I’m curious about some of your favorite things about it.
Do you have a favorite quote or scene?

Oh, I most certainly do. The dance at the Netherfield Ball, Elizabeth’s visit at Pemberley (the introduction of Georgiana, then Elizabeth and her aunt having tea with Georgiana and Darcy coming to greet them, Darcy’s visit back at Longbourn, with all the awkwardness and Elizabeth’s turmoil – and of course, the short scenes of their engagement, where JA said so little and implied so much! So much inspiration for future stories!

A favorite character?
Oh come on – you cannot pretend you do not know! Let's just say I have my suspicions. HeHe But I also like Mr. Bennet a lot ! I love to explore his character whenever I have a chance. I also like Georgiana very much – I often try to understand what was going on in her shy mind and gentle heart…

I’m curious about your reader girl habits. What kinds of books grab your interest? Any favorite authors?
I read a lot – from historical romance to modern and to personal development or business books. For many years, my second favorites after Pride and Prejudice were Shirley and Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte.
I've not read Shirley, but I adore Jane Eyre.

How many books are on your shelf that you still need to read? Do you have a long wish list of books that you want to read?

I have about 20 urgent to read books and many others in the queue. Not bad. I have ever so many, too.

Do you have a special place in your home where you do your writing and reading?

Yes, I have a special armchair by the window, where I usually write and read. Sounds cozy!

As a writer, do you have any writers that you meet with locally? Like a writer’s group?

Sadly, mostly on internet, as Romania is pretty far away … I hope to meet many fellow jaff authors next year, when I planned a long visit in UK. There are 3-4 Romanian writers that I meet from time to time, but they are in another genre. I just started to disclose my work to the "large public" in Romania a few months ago. That will be a fun trip. Make sure you take pictures and share with us. :)

Do you get to attend any book conventions or festivals? How popular is Jane Austen in Romania?

I do attend book conventions and festivals in Romania, but only as a visitor. Jane Austen is very popular here, too, but there are no special events related to her – or to any other famous writer.

And before I let Lory go, I have to ask, what’s up next? Are you working on a book right now? Far enough along to share about it?

Oh yes, I am in the middle of a new project, of which I am sooooooo excited! The most complex one I wrote so far. It is about a more difficult road that E and D must take before reaching the romantic part.:-). I suspect the readers will need some tissues and will also be angry at the favorite characters from time to time. It is full of misunderstandings, pride, prejudice, stubbornness and resentfulness. It should be enough for lots of angst, right? There will be hot mush too, of course; it is a must in my stories. (do you know the readers from several online forums called me "the queen of mush"? Very proud of it. :-) ) Oh yeah, you own that title. Haha! I did not decide the title yet, but I will let you know as soon as I am certain of it. I am writing very, very fast, so I expect it to be out in September. Well now that you've got us all excited...

Sofa Starter Questions:
Salty or sweet? Salty
Spring or Fall? Spring
Catherine Morland or Anne Elliot? Anne
Crafts or Cooking? Cooking
Drama or Comedy? Comedy (for the last 2-3 years. Too much drama in RL lol)
Yellow or Green? Green


Well, I had best let Lory get going since she has a long distance to travel, but at least in virtual land the jet lag is non-existent (as is lost luggage, long security lines, and passport control). Hurrah for that.
Multumesc (thank you), Lory!

Thank you so much, Sophia – I loved being here and hope to repeat the experience soon. And hope you will someday come to visit Romania – I would love to be your guide! Oh yes, I would love to visit both the old cities and the beautiful forests and mountains.

If Lory isn’t here on Good Reads, here are some other places to find her on-line:

https://www.facebook.com/lory.lilian
https://mobile.twitter.com/LoryLilian

“Cat! Up here!” *waves from the cockpit of the parked B-25* “Oh and don’t you look adorable in you 1940 era USO get up. I’m pretending to be Rosie the Riveter in my red kerchief and blue dungarees. I’ll come down and meet you.”
photo of B-25 Mitchell is attributed to Dustin M Ramsey

Hi, Sophia! Don’t you look the bee’s knees! Now, if you have a dreamy pilot in the cockpit with you, I can understand if you don’t come down. Better yet, if the co-pilot is up there, too … get your bottom down here with them both. We’ll make this a double date!

Isn't she a corker? Wish I did have dishy pilot or two stashed away in the cockpit...

I’ve asked my Sofa Chat guest to go the extra distance and meet me away from the house and just a half hour north west of here near Ypsilanti to visit the Yankee Air Force Museum of Willow Run with me. I thought it was a fitting setting considering her book was set in WWII and boasts a dashing bomber pilot hero.

Link: http://yankeeairmuseum.org/

Why is this location fitting? Well, because Willow Run was not the little small airport and museum you see around you today when it all got started.
Willow Run and its run way was built in 1941 by Henry Ford as “the largest factory under one roof in the world” to quote A History of Willow Run.
1942 B-24 Liberators being manufactured at willow Run plant
Hank got the Army Air Corp contract to build the B-24 Liberators and other weapon components that were shipped to other plants. When this bad boy plant was in full swing it was knocking out 650 Liberators a month which was half of the bombers produced.

On a side note, the Liberator was not the favored bomber to the pilots according to Max Wallace’s The American Axis: Air Corps Chief General "Hap" Arnold told Charles Lindbergh, then a consultant at the plant, that "combat squadrons greatly preferred the B-17 bomber to the B-24 because 'when we send the 17’s out on a mission, most of them return. But when we send the 24’s out, most of them don’t.’” Yikes, right? Some updating was in order to work the bugs out.

But anyhoo, about my guest…
Author, Cat Gardiner, is a lady who likes to do her research and it pays off in spades for her readers with each new book release. She immerses herself in the world of her books as she writes and brings them to publication. In the few years since I have been reading her books, I have been transported from a scorchy NYC fire fighter’s charity calendar shoot over the holidays to appreciating the Cuba of the 1950’s with a seductive female private eye.

I first encountered this clever, creative lady when I was invited to review her first release, Lucky 13, and I in turn invited her to be my Jane Austen Birthday guest author. The experience of reading Lucky 13 taught me how amazing and whole-media approach one can be in the virtual world with the links to a real blog that goes with the book, themed Pinterest boards, and music play lists. Cat’s on-line presence is strong. Her warm personality is paired by a professional work ethic as an author that gained my high respect and appreciation (I want to be an author like Cat when I grow up).

“What do you think, Cat? Want to explore WWII planes with me while we talk? If you want, tomorrow we can go up in this B-25. It’s a little something special since it’s only one of two left that are still flight-able. Or there’s a B-17 if you’d rather that experience...
Wow, Sophia! You’re making blush over that introduction. Thank you for your kind words. And what a fabulous venue for our chat! If I lived nearby, I’d spend all my time here. I’d love to take a stroll with you down the flightline and talk books, the 40s experience and whatever else tickles your fancy. Of course I’d love to go up in either the B-25 or B-17; both are magnificent warbirds. My uncle went down over Germany in a B-17 in 1943, so I’m keen on checking out the “Yankee Lady.”

You're a peach! Thanks for just going with it.

So I chose Willow Run’s air park because I understand you’re celebrating the release of your WWII Historical Romance, A Moment Forever.

You couldn’t have picked a better era and situation for your story to appeal to me more. I grew up listening at the knees of grandfathers and grandmothers talking of their experiences during the war and my folks were Air Force so I was frequently around planes and geeked out at the base fairs and museums. Movies? Yeah, 12 O Clock High, Flying Leathernecks, Midway, Flying Tigers, Memphis Belle anyone?
Ahem, sorry Cat, I get a bit excited about some things. Want some Cracker Jacks? I thought those were a fun snack for the visit.

Cracker Jacks are my favorite! In fact, there is a little mention of them in A Moment Forever and they play a romantic part in bridging 1942 to 1992 at the end of the novel. I know what you mean about this era and the movies, the radio shows, and the music. We cling to these romantic elements, which embody the home front during the height of war and its horrific atrocities. All of them were considered morale boosters toward victory and, today, our human nature embraces―even romanticizes―certain aspects of wartime 1940s. I know I do.

Kindred spirits...
Care to share a bit of something about how you came to write your Liberty Victory series?
Ah, well, I came to write WWII-era novels through JAFF. My first posted story The Very Thought of You was a fabulous experience even if my writing style was underdeveloped. And that story was inspired by a couple who were patients in my husband’s medical practice. My Dearest Darling (now published as non-JAFF A Moment Forever) followed on the forums and that was inspired by many elements – the first of which being a house and then a song. I had always loved the era. Mr. Cat and I have been swing dancers since 1991 and the music always called to us.

Now that's something I'd like to see. My brother took lessons because of how fun he found the older dances to be. Quite a workout, too. LOL

And, in A Moment Forever, how did your hero become a pilot and what plane/s did he fly?
William Martel is a B-26 Marauder bomber pilot. When I set out to write A Moment Forever, I really wanted to bring the journeys of my New York hero and heroine to the Tampa Bay Area.
Since MacDill Army Air Field had been constructed just prior to our entrance into the war and dedicated in 1941, I decided that in 1942 The Army Air Forces would be Will’s branch of service. Not only did MacDill train B-17 but also B-26 flight crews.
As you mentioned earlier about the popularity of the B-17, most WWII romance novel pilots fly one! LOL So I chose to have my leading man fly a plane with a reputation of being a “widowmaker.” The term “One a day in Tampa Bay” originated from the difficulty—and tragedies—associated with flying those bombers. Like the Liberator, the Marauder had a sketchy beginning.
B-17 arriving Attributed to Tascam3438
*points up to B-17 engines as we pass by* See here, on a B-17 there were four engines. Our boy’s warbird had two, similar to the B-25 you just exited. It was fast, but difficult to fly. A pilot really needed to be quite the mustard (a smart, sharp pilot) in the cockpit. Will was a mustard, inspired by Howard Hughes’s flight around the world in 1938.

I’ve appreciated your 1940s Experience blog posts that kept me up to date on your research trips and reproduction attempts in cooking and dressing. What was one of your 1940 fail experiences? What was a fun triumph?

Cat Gardiner's The 1940's Experience
Link: http://www.cgardiner1940s.com/?draft=...
I’m so happy that you have a swell time with the blog. So much goes into it, so it really delights me to hear that, Sophia. Maybe you’ll visit with a guest blog about your childhood memories with your grandparents and share their 1940s experience and what you remember? *begging* Perhaps, I might have a little something if you want it. :)
Jeepers! Have I got a story for you about an EPIC fail. It was on the recent book launch of A Moment Forever. I spent the day dressed in period costume at a local armed forces museum with my re-enactor husband and his army division. The reproduction dress (the one I’m wearing now) I had ordered from England didn’t arrive in time so I had no choice but to wear vintage. Sheer silk chiffon with a full slip below. What was I thinking?! It was Memorial Day and 95 degrees in the shade. With each passing tick of the clock the dress was deteriorating on me! It was 70 years delicate and the heat and perspiration caused Armpit Blowout! (Yes there is such a thing.) I expected at any moment that a sleeve would fall off – or the dress itself! By the end of the afternoon, I had ruined a fabulous piece of history, which now has 6” wide frayed holes under both arms! I suppose it was air-conditioning in a way. *weeping and beating myself up in stupidity*

Also involving a dress was my fun triumph at the first USO dance I went to as part of the 1940s Experience. I took great care in getting my outfit historically accurate from hat to hosiery. There were many attendees dressed in rockabilly and pin-up styles, both based loosely on pin-up art, (overly done victory rolls with streaks of color, tattoos, heavily made up eyes, etc.) I had received many compliments throughout the night but the most important one that I received was from an elderly lady as I was leaving. She said her mother dressed just like me and that I looked authentic. That made me proud, so happy that I had gone the extra mile to “get it right.” (Looking back, I am eternally grateful that vintage frock didn’t wardrobe malfunction.) We talked a bit about her husband’s service in the war and all the boys from her neighborhood who didn’t come home. I wish I had taped our conversation. It was a true 40s experience: hers. Now that is a special moment.

As I’ve pointed out to the readers, you really immerse yourself in your stories. Is it my imagination or do you really put a bit of yourself in each of them? Oh, I don’t just mean you into your characters, but I noticed that NYC comes alive for me in Lucky 13, Villa Fortuna, and Undercover- all my senses from the taste of the local food, the sites of the local neighborhoods and iconic places, the sounds of the local accents and music… Is that a bit of you and your background coming out?

Yes. I love New York. I miss New York, and I’ll always be a proud native New Yorker. Villa Fortuna, however, is the closest to my background (even the plot premise of the building named Villa Fortuna) and therefore, the closest to my heart. Sssh… don’t tell anyone but most of those wacky Italian-Americans were written after people I know! My parents had such a howl of laughter every Wednesday when I read to them what had been written during the week. So much of the lingo and NY Italian language, even the hand gesticulations, we had grown up with, including the baked goods and traditions. We had a great time and ate Italian rainbow cookies that I’d made the night before.
In the case of A Moment Forever, I hope to shine a spotlight on Long Island’s (where I grew up and Lizzy’s home) Gilded Age and WWII history, as well as my current residence, Tampa, also rich in WWII history.

I noticed when I received your book for review that first time and beyond that it was published by Vanity & Pride Press which I later learned is an indie publishing partnership for you and author, Pamela Lynne. How did Vanity & Pride Press come about? And what made you ladies go this route with your writing?
Yes! VPP is a collaboration with Pamela. I can’t speak for her reasons for becoming an indie author or joining up with me – maybe it’s because I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse (LOL.) For me, the decision to become truly indie was because I wanted 100% ownership of what I published and how I did it. Together Pamela and I share ideas, marketing plans, trial and error, professional resources, and support each other with promotion. It’s all done in friendship and loyalty. I can say – and I know Pamela would agree – we wanted our readers and author buddies to have an enjoyable time. Our website and the FB Group page engages them as friends (because they are) with giveaways and other fun things – even excerpts, stories, and vignettes, just for them. Our VPP world is a happy place.
Link: http://www.vanityandpridepress.com/
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/14983...
You ladies have done a fantastic job. Look forward to more from VPP and seeing your beautiful peacock symbol gracing so many more books. :)

Now, you are living in Florida. I have never been though I know it is a destination state. As a native, not native :) what is something off the beaten path that you feel is a sensational shouldn’t-miss experience? And feel free to list a few more (good food really should be included):
Unconditional Surrender Statue in Sarasota, FL taken by Cat

You must come down to Florida and I’ll take you to Sarasota. It’s a lovely destination on the bay. One of my favorite go-to places is the John and Mable Ringling Museum, which not only has an impressive art museum, but a circus history museum and the 1920 Ringling home is open for tour. Also in Sarasota, at the marina, is the 26 ft. “Unconditional Surrender” VJ Kiss statue.
If you are a beach-goer, my favorite spot is Sanibel and Captiva islands. Nothing to do but relax, get lost in a book with a Corona, or go shelling.
Cuban food in Ybor City, Tampa is a must, specifically the 110 year old Columbia Restaurant.
Sold! I need no more convincing.

If time and budget weren’t an issue, where are some places you would love to see?
I’d begin in the Pyrenees Mountains with the Basque people, where The Very Thought of You, set during 1944, took JAFF readers. I would then travel south through all of Spain to Andalucía and Seville where Darcy and Liz danced the tango in Denial of Conscience. Yeah. I’d like to stand in that gazebo and think “if only.”

When you’re not writing and have the time to read, what types of books do you like to snag?
Honestly, if a friend recommends something, I’ll give it a try. I enjoy anything from chick-lit to cozy mysteries to WWII-era. And of course, JAFF.

Have you been a lifelong reader? If so, what were some of your early favorites?
*Snort* I was not. In fact, I abhorred even reading Cliff Notes for required school assigned books. Although, I do recall my early years of book exploration with Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret. Maybe it scarred me for life. LOL. Other books along the way have hauntingly stayed with me. Left to Tell is one of them. Oh yes, good ol' Judy Blume...

As the summer is in full swing, do you have any interesting plans for the rest of it? Any fun current or future projects you want readers to know about?
I’m committed to writing this summer. That’s been my promise to a few readers who have patiently – or not so patiently – been bugging me for Without a Conscience. (You know who you are *wink wink*)
But … I did just join up with a group of re-enactor ladies “The Era Girls” in the Tampa Bay area and will be planning a few things. Well get you! The re-enactor group sound fab and I won't complain if you're busy at the writing desk.

Sofa Starters:
Carrots or peas? Carrots for eating, peas for flicking across the table.
Ship or Train? Train to nowhere.
Washing windows or Weeding Garden? Gardening because I was, in fact, born a Gardiner.
Caroline Bingley or Lady Catherine? Caroline, because at least SHE is a true proficient.
Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse? Bugs Bunny because he has a combination of Brooklyn and Bronx accent.
Red or Pink? Red because there’s a seductress in everyone.

Hope you enjoyed the walk through the air park and the hanger, Cat! I enjoyed having you visit and chat with me. Here’s a chilled lemonade to beat the heat for the rest of your trip. I understand you’re actually out on tour right now so I’ll let you head out for your next port of call with True Book Addict blog on Aug 3rd. Ciao, bella!
I had a wonderful time, Sophia! You’re positively lulu, and the museum is incredible. This has been a fabulous journey through WWII history with great conversation.

What do you say about seeing if we could go up in one of those bombers now? I’m feeling ready to soar high! I'm game! Stick with me, kid!

Thank you, everyone, for letting me share a little bit about myself. Thanks for the lemonade, too! Keep ’Em Flying!

When Cat is not hanging around GoodReads, here is where you can find her:

Goodreads = https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Books on Amazon = http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Gardiner/e/...
Social Media
https://twitter.com/40sExperience
https://twitter.com/VPPressNovels
https://www.facebook.com/cat.t.gardiner
https://www.facebook.com/DenialofCons...
https://www.facebook.com/AMomentForev...

If you're following the A Moment Forever Tour, the next stop will be Aug 3rd at True Book Addict blog: http://www.truebookaddict.com/


Pssst, if you’re interested in her latest release, A Moment Forever, I noticed that it is a GoodReads giveaway right now for US residents: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

August was my traveling month to visit new places and experience new treats. Lots of scope for a First time on the First posting , in other words.

So let's see...
I experienced the pizza of Napoli for the first time at Settebello Pizzeria Napoletano in Farmington, UT.
http://settebello.net/About-Us-Our-Pi...
My order was for the Panzanella salad and the Diavolla pizza. I finished it off with a lemon gelato. Mmm!


Then I might have visited Paris for the first time. I'll let you be the judge if Paris, Idaho counts.


You've heard of Moon River (the song), well I got to see a gorgeous and peaceful Moon Lake high up in the Uintah Mountains on the Utah-Wyoming border


And now, I am experiencing another first. I'm writing to suit the rules for an open call book submission to a popular publisher. Let's just say the muse is tough to amuse with this concept and is fighting me on this one. Recalcitrant beast! Not to be confused with what is commonly know as 'writer's block'. But it is a great exercise in writing for me and I thrill to the challenge.

I am in the mood to walk down and visit our local Fountain Park—where the heart of our community is located. I know my latest guest will have no trouble finding me. Our community fountain is huginormous and can be seen from the main road easily just beyond the library and the bike path, so here I wait for her.

The fountain in Fountain Park

Do you ever think back about your first encounter with the folks you know? I love how each of my sofa chats encourages me to do that.
My latest guest did me the honor of joining a group I formed here on GoodReads—Austenesque Lovers TBR Reading Challenge.
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Don’t let the group name fool you. We do a bit of reading challenging and a lot of book and movie talk and recommending. And yep, I realize that sort of defeats the purpose, but hey, a good time is had by all.

Anyhoots, she has been with the group from nearly the beginning. Her keen insights on books and wit along with encouragement to others and interaction in the group particularly impressed me. Then, how exciting is this, we both had our short stories printed together in an anthology, Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer. That added to my respect and knowledge so that I decided I would adore to know her in real life. Without further ado…

Abigail! Hi! Uh-oh! Watch out for the cyclist. Yikes that was close. Hey lady! Good to see you. How was your summer?
It’s such a pleasure to be able to meet you at last, Sophia! We have this mutual-admiration-society thing going on: I’ve always loved your boundless enthusiasm and energy for reading and writing, as well as the positivity you’ve brought to the Austenesque Lovers group on Goodreads. (Not to mention your fabulous story in Sun-Kissed; I think it was everyone’s favorite in the collection.) The Austenesque Lovers group is always my favorite stop on the Web! The past year has been a bumpy one for me in the real world, and the community of readers has been a lifeline. I have found our group quite the pick-me-up as well. Great group of encouragers!

Southeast Michigan in September is still hot and humid so enjoy the spray off the water here in the shade. We can snag an ice cream treat from the Good Humor wagon that comes through the park on his rounds.
It’s fun to be here in Michigan while the weather is still warm. You know what Mark Twain said about the Bay Area, where I live: the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. Oh yes, I do remember that tricksy quality about Bay Area weather. I always knew that if I was melting over in the Valley that I could slip through the Coastal Mountains and it was a whole new climate on the coast. :)

Hope you don’t mind meeting up at Fountain Park. It’s one of my favorite places to pass through on my walks and of course the trips to the library right over there next to the old Heritage buildings and museum.
What about you? Do you have a favorite lovely place locally where you live that you frequent?

My sweetie and I both haunt a wonderful gift to our neighborhood called the Wave Garden. A homeowner had a vacant lot in front of his house; if anyone had built on it, it would have spoiled his view. So he bought the lot and had a landscape designer create a beautiful garden there—which he then left open for anyone to enjoy! I go there whenever I need to remind myself of the fundamental goodness of others.

picture from The Wave Garden webpage: The Wave Garden: http://www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/wa...

I know you live in Northern California’s Bay Area. I’m generally familiar with the region and spent some time there since I grew up just northeast of Sacramento. I hope to return for a visit someday.
Have you always lived there?
I am a recent escapee from Los Angeles—good move!

What are some of the places that make the Bay Area special for you? Best place to dine?
I love being in a spot where, in half an hour, I can either sample the excitement of a sophisticated city or lose myself in wilderness. I can take a ferry to the Embarcadero and indulge my inner gourmande at the Ferry Building, or wallow in the sublime on the Marin Headlands, or pop over to the Point Isabel dog park (the largest off-leash dog park in the country) for some serious canine therapy.

Ferry Building picture from travel all together webpage


Marin Headlands picture from VisitMarin.org page


The Bay Area also has a gift for repurposing structures from its industrial past to create vibrant public spaces. Just the other day, more than 2,000 people came together at an old Ford plant in Point Richmond that has been made into a public event space: they were all dressed up as Rosie the Riveter to set a new Guinness Book record for most Rosies in one spot. How random is that? It’s an ongoing rivalry with a Michigan city (you might know which),
***From this point on in the interview, the standard print refuses to work (gremlins, I'm sure) and my part in the chat will now be distinguished by italic print. Sorry for that. And now back to our regularly scheduled programing.
Ha! I certainly do. In fact, I just featured in a recent Sofa Chat the Willow Run and the Yankee Air Museum where the Michigan Rosies gather. But ahem, sorry to interrupt.

- and they keep trading the record back and forth.
Rosie the Riveter Challenge: http://richmondstandard.com/2015/09/f...

Picture of the Richmond Rosies courtesy of the Richmond Standard

As to dining, we have an embarrassment of riches in the Bay Area. You have to work to get a bad meal here. Being a little budget-conscious, though, I’ll skip over the Chez Panisses and give a shout-out to a little spot in an office block in Sausalito called Avatars. They serve Himalayan-Mexican fusion food, a mind-bending combo that works really well. And the people are so nice there—they foster a feeling of community. My professions keep me solitary much of the time, so it’s food for the soul to go there.

Well doesn't that blend sound intriguing.
http://www.enjoyavatars.com/

I have a confession to make. Would you believe that about a year and a half ago I was intimidated by you? Don’t laugh! Yes, it’s a fact. I saw your bio here on GR and noted that you are an editor. I have it in my head that editors are people with lovely grammar, are so articulate, and cringe when the rest of us butcher grammar rules. (I said you couldn’t laugh. Okay, well maybe a little so you don’t split in two.) So, anyway…I’m curious. What is it like being an editor? And, what is the grammar rule/s that most makes you feel homicidal when it is broken? I ask this so I know which one not to break and thus preserve my life.

It’s hard for me to imagine anyone being intimidated by a person who, like Miss Bates, finds it a challenge to limit herself to saying only three very dull things indeed! I’m undecided whether the excruciating dullness I suffer from is the result of being a copy editor or what turned me into a copy editor. And there’s a certain nagging-schoolmarm aura that hovers over the profession, for sure. I have to admit that my career was more a matter of inertia than intent: cast upon the world after going to a very old-fashioned girls’ school (grammar and penmanship) and graduating from college as an English major, what was I to do?
I’m not a very doctrinaire editor, though; working for many different publishers, I’ve had to learn not to become attached to one style rule or another. But I do have a pet peeve: I have been known to throw things at the TV when someone tells me that “looks can be deceiving.” “No, they can’t!” screams Abigail. “Looks are passive, and deceiving requires agency! Looks can only be deceptive.” And now we’re back in Miss Bates territory, I’m afraid.

Nonsense. See? I learned something. I am a 'looks can be deceiving' offender. Haha!

Switching gears, a bit, let’s talk about Abigail the reader. I know you love Jane Austen. What other authors make your all-time best list? Have you discovered any fantastic new to you authors or books this year that you can share?

This may be surprising, but I have a secret weakness for authors who overwrite. Michael Chabon is one—the jewels of sentences that fall from his pen! Just perfect. I want to bathe in his sentences. I want to dance clothed in nothing but his words. Also in the overwriting category would be authors who have swallowed the entire Oxford English Dictionary—like J. I. M. Stewart, an English don who also wrote murder mysteries under the name Michael Innes. I always get crushes on men who are smarter than I am, and this passion for too-too writers seems to be a corollary of that.
I’m dorky enough to read poetry sometimes, especially wordy paeans to nature: Pattiann Rogers is a great practitioner of that art. I love her work so much that in my Austenesque novel I have Darcy fall in love with Elizabeth while listening to her reciting a Pattiann Rogers poem. That was a bit of snark, actually: I find Darcy to be a bit of a sap, and I was punishing him for his “I’ve always considered poetry to be the food of love” remark (or however it goes). I would never treat Henry Tilney that way.

I thought your modern Pride and Prejudice retelling, An Obstinate Headstrong Girl, sounded engaging and added it to my wish list right away (still there, sadly, bad Sophia!). When did the germ of this story come to you? What was the process of bringing it from your imagination into print?

An Obstinate, Headstrong Girl was part homage, part exercise for me. I think my years as an editor have left me great at working with another person’s ideas but terrible at originality. I get a vague idea for a novel—a character, a scenario—but don’t know how to plot it out.
So for a first novel I wanted to work within a set framework, and naturally I turned to the Greatest Writer Ever. I set the story in the modern day (not quite present; I didn’t want to have to deal with social media) in order to force myself to think adaptively: Pride and Prejudice relies on a certain social order to drive the plot, and how could the plot be driven if the social order was different? I took the characters as they existed in the original, but they had to find different solutions for different problems because they were living in a different world.

As I worked closely with the text of Pride and Prejudice, though, another challenge arose: for me, the real magic of the book lies not in the characters or storyline but in the language, the exactitude of the words used. This was something I could not reproduce in modern terms. So I came up with the idea of having Jane Austen tell the story herself, as if she had accidentally time-traveled to California in 1999 and then told the story that was already in her head in the new setting.

Okay, that tidbit just made me sit up and pay closer attention. Time traveling Jane is great!

Of course, she did pick up some contemporary vocabulary and her characters speak in more modern language. But the narration is hers alone.

As for bringing it to print, I was hampered by a deep shyness about self-promotion. I approached a couple of agents and a couple of publishers, but didn’t really go to bat for the book. Luckily, I found a small Bay Area publisher who was looking to move from magazine publishing to book publishing. His company had some assets I lacked—a good designer, access to the Ingram distribution channels—and I had something he lacked, copyediting skills. So we made a deal. I underestimated the importance of a professional marketing operation, which is what a more mainstream publisher would have brought to the table. I had the silly notion that simply making the existence of my book known to the community of Austenesque readers would have sufficed to get it read, but I underestimated both the volume of books being churned out in that genre and the discriminating tastes of the readers! I’d say I was out of step with their expectations; mostly they want romantic fiction, and I was offering social comedy.

Yes, I can see how the mood and expectation of the readers affects the books marketability. Personally, I'm a fan of both romance themed and the comedies (which are fewer and farther between).

Now what about The Jane Austen Companion: With a Dictionary of Jane Austen’s Life and Works? How did you come to be part of that team of writers and is it a reference tool for the Austen enthusiast or more for scholars?
You’ll be relieved to hear that my connection with that project is a swiftly told tale! I wrote my undergrad thesis on The Watsons. One day I saw my thesis adviser in the elevator at the publisher where I was working and he said, “You’re just what we need! Come with me.” So I was pulled into a meeting where the book was being planned, and the editors needed someone to produce a Jane Austen dictionary (listing and identifying characters, place-names, literary references, family members, and so on) as an appendix to the critical essays that made up the rest of the book. I was starving, so I did it.
The Companion tried to straddle the worlds of the scholar and the fan, and wound up pleasing neither very much. Some essays are too intimidating and others are too simplistic. My dictionary was intended to be a quick reference, almost a glorified index; but I couldn’t resist putting in a million juicy quotes from the novels, and the editors could bring themselves to take them out again, so it’s a rather heftier project than originally conceived.

This would come in handy, for sure. I'm constantly forgetting names and details.

I loved that you chose to write a mash-up of Sanditon and Pride and Prejudice for your short story in Sun-Kissed. Dashing choice! And I learned so much from your series of posts on the Meryton Press blog highlighting and discussing Austen’s minor works. What draws you to the minor characters, the unfinished novels, and the minor works of Austen?

The Jane Austen of the published novels is very controlled. The plots are believable, the characters function within the boundaries of propriety (more or less), or are punished for straying. But in the unpublished works she really lets her freak flag fly! Crazy people do crazy, sociopathic, outrageous things. These works haven’t been toned down to suit a theoretical audience. I think if I had known Jane Austen personally, at a certain point I would’ve gotten fed up with civility and said, “No, seriously: tell me what you really think.” That’s the minor works in a nutshell—they tell you what she was really thinking.

Oh, tidbit,here. Do you know what I discovered today when looking something up about a character from Sanditon on Wikipedia? Sanditon was originally supposed to be titled The Brothers, but after her death, Jane Austen’s family chose Sanditon as the title. Had to be the Parker brothers, but ahem, back to our interview. ;)

Do you have any works in progress at the moment? If so, care to share about it?
After the Obstinate, Headstrong Girl, I tried to write a contemporary mystery-thriller, but I found I couldn’t scrub Jane Austen’s syntax out of my writing. It just wasn’t working. So there was nothing for me to do but retreat into the past. I’m working on a series of novels that take place in the year 1800 around a small market town in Surrey. Each book has different characters and a different type of story, but with overlaps and connections from book to book. The series is called Darking Hundred, and the first one (I’m about halfway through) is Coldharbour Gentlemen. It’s about a boy who gets mixed up in smuggling. So far at least, none of the stories has a romance element, though one or two center on a marriage.

Uh huh...you had my attention at 'smuggling' .

And final burning curiosity question… Are you going to finish your Austenesque Lovers Reading Challenge Goal for the year? Just teasing!

[Hollow groan] You mean I’m supposed to finish? I’m afraid the TBR list has the last laugh there, because no matter how many I read, it just keeps getting longer. And here I’ve been thinking you were a nice person for starting this group for us Austenesque fans, and really all along you were intent on leading us deeper and deeper into the quicksand. I see it now—you’re a fiend!
But where would we be if we actually did succeed in reading every book we wanted to? Just put me out of my misery if that ever happens!

*snort* You all blame me for everyone's growing TBR piles. Hand to heart- I really intended us all to lessen the pile. Really. Swear. Haha!

Sofa Starters:
Mint or Caramel? Mint in summer, caramel in winter
Heels or flats? Oh, flats; I’m already six feet tall
Elizabeth Elliot or Maria Bertram? Maria Bertram! She’s less annoying, and would be sure to run off with some man before long.
Spring or Autumn? Autumn; I’m on Team Anne [Elliot]
Cat or dog? Dog is my copilot! In fact, I was raised by wolves. Long story.
Beaches or Mountains? Tough one. I grew up with the sound of the sea in my ears, but my dreams were all about becoming John Muir.
Purple or Red? Red. Unless it’s a nice purply blue, like an ultramarine or a Persian blue.

And look at that, we walked along the path and made it right back where we started. Thank you so much for joining me, Abigail. It was a pleasure having you visit, but now I’ll let you get back home and back to your projects. I am honored to have had the opportunity to yak your ear off!

When Abigail is not on GoodReads, here’s where you can find her:
Nowhere else, I’m afraid. GoodReads is my only social medium. Hoping to have a Darking Hundred Web site up sometime next year.