L.L. Diamond's Blog, page 22

The Beau North Interview is in!

Thanks for everyone’s amazing questions!

I know no one wants to read my intro, so let’s get to it, shall we?

Which is your favorite Jane Austen novel and why?

(Debbie Fortin)

I have a special place in my heart for Persuasion, actually. It was the first Austen novel I ever read, and while it isn’t as much fun as Pride & Prejudice or Emma, it feels like the most mature and thoughtful of her books. It’s the story of a woman, older and wiser, looking back on a time in her life and wondering if she could have done things differently. I think we can all relate to that!

 

Which Jane Austen character would your closest friends say you are most like?

(Joy Dawn King)

Mary Crawford, without a doubt.

 

Since you have published stories with both Darcy and Wentworth, which is your favorite Jane Austen hero? Or is it someone else?

(Joy Dawn King)

Wentworth and Darcy have got the brooding romantic hero down pretty well, but I think my heart might truly belong to Henry Tilney. The brooding would get old pretty quick, but a sense of humor is priceless.

 

To add to Joy’s question #7, which of Jane Austen’s heroines do you prefer….Anne or Elizabeth or another and why?

(Debbie Fortin)

I love Anne Elliot, I relate to her, but Elizabeth Bennet’s wit and intelligence put her a cut above the company. She’s the girl you want to hang out with!

 

If Mrs. Bennet arranged a blind date for you with Mr. Collins, what would you do?

(Joy Dawn King)

Order the most expensive thing on the menu.

 

Who is your favorite Jane Austen villain and why?

(Debbie Fortin)

Emma Woodhouse! I know Emma is technically a heroine BUT she exudes this cluelessness (see??) that only comes from excessive privilege. She means well, but that only seems to make things worse.

 

If you could rehabilitate a character in P&P in a re-telling, who would it be & why?

(Jenetta James)

That’s a tough one, because there’s a lot of potential there. I think it would be fun to have a good Wickham for a change, but it would almost have to be a parody similar to the Sherlock Holmes movie “Without A Clue,” where Holmes is sort of this bumbling goofball in the spotlight and Watson is quietly solving all the crimes. It would be incredibly funny to play up Darcy’s ineptness and have Wickham playing the straight man guiding him along. Hey maybe I’m on to something here…

 

Do you have a special place and time to write?

(Debbie Fortin)

I used to write better in the early mornings, but lately it’s whatever time I can grab. I have a hard time writing at home because there’s always things to be done and Netflix is just right there. So I try to make it a point to sit in a coffeeshop for at least an hour a day and get as much writing in as I can. I have a few here in Portland that I love, The Happy Sparrow and the Nectar Cafe, where I wrote maybe the last third of Longbourn’s Songbird.

 

When your characters are uncooperative what do you do to get through those rough patches….walk, garden, etc?

(Debbie Fortin)

I have a couple of things I do. First, I start doing housework. When my hands are busy my mind can wander, and sometimes the solution will just appear. Walking is always good. There are some fabulous parks here and it’s good just to clear out the cobwebs. Also, when you go out in public like that there is the added benefit of watching people interact. Real life feeds fiction. A stranger on the bus might speak or gesture in such a way that will have me racing home to add that little detail to a character. All you need to start a fire is a couple of sparks.

 

I’ve read so many great reviews for your novel. What inspired you to write a modern day version of P&P?

(Dung)

Thanks Dung! I think it was reading so many other great fanfics that made me want to give it a whirl. I don’t think I ever considered writing Regency, because at the time I knew absolutely nothing about the time period. Plus, the best part about fanfic is the What If? I’ve read some incredible modern takes on Austen, so I thought I’d throw my hat into the ring as well.

 

In Longbourn’s Songbird, what drew you to place your story in Post WWII America?

Before I started writing, my dad sent me a bunch of old family photos he’d scanned, quite a few of my grandmother and her brothers. It got me thinking about what it must have been like to live in that time and place, and how would someone like Elizabeth Bennet have fared? There were some thematic parallels between that time in our country and Jane Austen’s time–the war, the rules of society, etc. People tend to overlook the fact that, like Jane Austen’s time, there was also a lot of social injustice happening.

 

If Longbourn’s Songbird was a movie, who would you want to play your main characters?

(Joy Dawn King)

Well I did get into this some on my blog tour. Elizabeth would be a difficult casting for me because she was largely inspired by young Hedy Lamarr, but I’ve since seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens and I have to say that Daisy Ridley would be amazing. She comes across as very earnest and sincere, and I think I loved her instantly. Jennifer Lawrence would be lovely as Jane, I think, and she’s already a southern girl so she’s got that going for her. Darcy…well, I wrote Darcy as Sam Reid (just pretend his hair is dark) but since I’ve seen In Secret I have to say Oscar Isaac would make a phenomenal Darcy. He’s got so much charisma and those eyes! Okay, so he isn’t tall, but he’s incredibly dreamy.

Richard has only ever been Tom Mison to me. I got the chance to meet him at a convention back in September and told him how he inspired one of my main characters and he was very sweet about it. Can you believe he’s even more gorgeous in person that he is on television? For Bingley I would say Taron Egerton, because he could be very funny in one second and very intense the next. The divine Tatiana Maslany would be Anne and Felicity Jones would make a great Charlotte. Not that I’ve given this very much thought!

 

Are you a bird lover?

(Joy Dawn King)

Oh boy, I’ve been dreading this question. Actually, I am fine with smaller birds in the wild. I have a lot of bizarre allergies and one of them is feathers, or birds, I’ve never figured out which, but I can’t be in a house where birds are kept as pets. Aside from the smaller ones, I have a deep mistrust and fear around birds of prey. Any kind of raptor gives me the creeps!

 

Why did you move the action to South Carolina? I’ve definitely got to read this … from my cozy house in South Carolina! And with all the good reviews, I’m looking forward to reading it!

(JanisB)

Thanks Janis, I hope you enjoy it! I grew up in a very small town in South Carolina, so it was very easy for me to picture it as Meryton. I don’t think my hometown has changed much since 1948! South Carolina is such a strange place to be from if you live anywhere else in the world. I love it, but I fear it. It’s beautiful and wild but also ugly and in many places stuck in the past. I have so many conflicting feelings about it. I wanted to capture it’s warmth and hospitality without excusing it’s faults. I hope I did that!

 

I know you miss boiled peanuts and other specific things from the South, and a pilgrimage back there helped you with “Longbourn’s Songbird.” That’s great, because the voice in the novel is very clear. Do you think you could do something similar for other places you’ve lived: capture the essence of the people and the geography?

(Suzan Lauder)

Thanks Suzan! I suppose I DO run on about my love of boiled peanuts and other southern treats (Sweet Tea is the nectar of the Gods). I hope I’m able to capture the essence of other places I write about. In ‘Holiday Mix Tape’ I chose to set the story in Portland, because it can be a very moody atmosphere here, and I hope I managed to get some of that across despite being such a recent transplant. I’ve been working on a handful of other projects, two set in Minnesota where I lived for about ten years, so I think that’s still fresh enough in my mind to get that setting right, and of course The Colonel is set primarily in New York City. I’ve been planning to visit the city again and just get a feel for the sights, the sounds, the daily rhythm of life.

 

You’ve said writing sex scenes is difficult for you. Do you see this as something you need to push yourself to do? What you infer is often sufficient, even lovely! (Or not, if Caroline Bingley is in the room…) But I wonder how YOU feel about this, and if you see it as a failing (you shouldn’t).

(Linda Beutler)

Well, thanks for that, Linda! I don’t think “failing” is exactly right, I just always feel like it’s such a struggle to get it right without it being cliché. Also, there are words in the English language used to describe anatomy that I don’t think I could ever, ever use because I find them too funny. One of these days I’m just going to sit down and use them all to write the funniest sex scene ever, after a glass of wine or three. I have been working on building my confidence and I’m happy to say I think I’ve made some progress. I’ve written some scenes that I would even call downright smutty!

 

Do you sing to the radio when you are in the car?

(Joy Dawn King)

My husband has a fantastic voice and is really the car-singer between the two of us, but if it’s a song I really love I will belt it out. My voice? Not so fantastic. However, I love hip hop and can’t resist the urge to rap along with the radio. And yes, it is just as funny as you’re imagining it to be.

 

In the #Austenwatch events, you demonstrate one heck of a good wit. Have you considered writing a comedy? Perhaps a parody?

(Suzan Lauder)

Oh, comedy is hard. I have to take my hat off to any and all of the JAFF authors whose books have made me laugh (Linda Beutler, Jessica Evans, KC Kahler, Pamela Aiden, Laura Sanchez) I would really love to write something comedic but it’s always difficult knowing what will land and what will sink like a lead balloon. I’ve considered collaborating with my brother, who does stand-up comedy from time to time and is one of the funniest people I know. I’m much better at being funny in the moment than I am writing comedy.

 

I first saw “Rhymes with Nerdy” when you celebrated little known women in science. What inspired the research? Do you have a background in science? How did you find these obscure people?

(Suzan Lauder)

As much as I’d love to take credit for that article, it was written by a smart young writer named Spencer Seams (follow him on twitter @Matt_seams). We have a “stable” of talented writers over at Rhymes With Nerdy, and I give them a free hand to write about anything they want. I think the only thing I ever banned was a review of Ender’s Game because I didn’t want to do any favors for Orson Scott Card. There’s even a wonderful article there on the History of Fan Fiction, written by my friend Jo West.

 

Do you have any Regency stories up your sleeves just begging to be written?

(Joy Dawn King)

Not exactly. I do have something in the works that would best be called “Alternate Universe Regency.” I find that in order to write a story I have to relate to it in some way, or there has to be a fair amount of worldbuilding going on. While I love reading Regency romances, I don’t think I have the talent for writing them. But, bend the rules a little, throw in some magic and danger? That’s something I can do! I love Fantasy and Science Fiction, Horror and Mystery as well as Romance.

 

Longbourn’s Songbird was excellent. Are you planning to write another Pride and Prejudice variation?

(Carol Perrin)

Thank you, Carol! I always said One P&P variation and that’s it! But I’ve been working on a short that may turn into something longer.

 

A little bird (pls excuse the pun :D ) told me there’s more where that came from, and I’m eager to find out as much as possible about it. So Beau, is there anything you could share without giving the game away?

(Joana Starnes)

This is actually a funny story. I’d always planned for this book to be about Colonel Fitzwilliam, P&P told from his point of view, but it turned into a somewhat straightforward P&P retelling. My writing partner, Brooke West, told me that I had to write Longbourn’s Songbird for one reason — it’s meant to be a prequel to The Colonel. I did drop a few hints at the end of Longbourn’s Songbird that Richard’s tale doesn’t end there, and that has been a project I’ve been working on for a while now. I can’t say with any certainty how soon it will be finished, sadly, but I can give you a few morsels: Part of the book will focus on Richard’s grown son and one of his Darcy cousins, there are some chapters that are so sad even I don’t want to re-read them, and a few of the lingering questions from Songbird will get answered. Questions like, what was Richard doing in the years between 1945 and 1949?

 

Okay, so you’ve written another delightful P&P variation, and I’ve thanked you for the pleasure I received in reading it when it was released, now my big question is “What are you doing for me next!” Seriously, thanks for our pleasurable past, but what about our future? I–and lots of others–want another goodie soon, please.

(Betty Campbell Madden)

Thank you Betty! That means a lot. I’m hoping to make some more headway with The Colonel, and I mentioned there is a short I’m currently working on that I hope to start posting over at A Happy Assembly in another few months, it’s tentatively called Modern Love. I’ve also got 98% of an urban fantasy novel written, and a modern gothic romance, Blackthorn. The problem is that I’ve always written in fits & starts, jumping between projects, and sometimes it’s agonizingly slow. It took me six years to get Longbourn’s Songbird to a point where I felt comfortable submitting it.

 

If you had a chance to ask Jane Austen one question, what would it be?

(Joy Dawn King) BTW, great bangs. #JEALOUS

Thank you! I’ve actually thought about this before and I think the only question I would have for Jane would be “What are we having, the red or the white?”

 

A huge thank you to 
Beau North

for answering all of our questions about herself and her new book

Don’t forget about her short story included in the latest Meryton Press anthology,

Then Comes Winter

Now, Don’t Forget!
Beau North has a signed paperback of Longbourn’s Songbird to giveaway!

And the giveaway is open internationally!

Rules for the giveaway – 

If you ask a question on this post, you get 1 chance in the drawing.

If you comment on the final interview, you get 1 chance in the drawing.

If you leave a question and a comment, you get 2 chances in the drawing!

Don’t forget to leave that comment.

You don’t want to miss out!

**Final date for comments is Wednesday, 27 January, 2016**

January 2016 – Beau North

I can’t believe it’s 2016!!!

Happy New Year to everyone and welcome back to Ask the Author!

This month I am really excited to welcome

Beau North

 

as our victim for January!

Beau is an exciting new face in JAFF, but has already earned rave reviews for her first novel

Longbourn’s Songbird

She also has a short story included in the latest Meryton Press anthology,

Then Comes Winter

So, don’t be shy! Step up and ask Beau a question!
She’s also been so kind as to offer a signed copy of Longbourn’s Songbird

for a giveaway!

And the giveaway is open internationally!

So, get your questions in!

Rules for the giveaway – 

If you ask a question on this post, you get 1 chance in the drawing.

If you comment on the final interview, you get 1 chance in the drawing.

If you leave a question and a comment, you get 2 chances in the drawing!

Please join in and ask a question or leave a comment. Authors love answering your questions and hearing from you! 

**Final date for questions is Thursday, 21 January, 2016**

(We’ve been getting more and more questions and the authors had little time to answer them, so I’m giving them an extra day.)

Interview posts Monday, 25 January

Last day for comments for the giveaway is Wednesday 27 January

Please leave those questions below!

January update!

Well, we’re almost a week into January, but this is the first day I have to myself since the children were let out of school for Christmas break. What have I written over that break? Nada! I wish I could say I have, but it was impossible. Too many obligations, not to mention the sweet face of my son asking me to sit with him while he watched movies or to play a card game. I couldn’t resist!

Today, my children are back in school, and I’m trying to get back to my usual routine. My spin class was cancelled, so as of this moment, my normal routine is off. I hold out great hope for the next few days. Perhaps by Friday? *snort*

We’re attempting to get out and about, but if you’ve noticed the flooding in England, the weather has not been great. Most days it’s raining, which is usually light or misting but accumulates as much as a heavier storm it seems and the wind this winter has been atrocious. Pretty days are few and far between and we have tried to take advantage, but nothing has been successful; however, I’m still crossing my fingers for an Expat post soon!

In the meantime, I believe I’m 15 chapters into the latest story. No name yet and no beta opinions. I’m not sure, but it’s a bit different from anything I’ve written so far–I think. I’m sure someone will disagree when it finally sees the light of day. I’m biting my fingernails at the thought of someone else finally reading it. Eeek! I’m a big ninny in case people didn’t know!

Also, if you haven’t been over to Austen Variations, please stop in this month. We’re celebrating Jane Bennet in January with a bunch of scenes and stories featuring sweet, beautiful Jane, of course. It should be great fun! I have a post later this month. I need to decide what I want to write, too! Decisions!

Lastly, don’t forget Ask the Author this month! We’re having it a bit later to accommodate schedules, so make sure you come by on 18 January to welcome our newest victim, Beau North!

I’m hoping I’ll have more as the month goes along, but we’ll see. Maybe the weather will miraculously clear and we’ll get out somewhere awesome.

Winner of the J.Dawn King Ask the Author Giveaway!

A huge thank you to everyone

who contributed questions and comments

for Ask the Author this month!

I’d like to give a special thanks to those repeat offenders out there who have been contributing questions or comments on every interview. Y’all are awesome! 

 

 

So winner of the amazing bracelet Joy offered as a giveaway is…
ladysusanpdx!

 

Congratulations!
Also a huge thank you to Joy
for stopping by and answering your questions!!!

 

Winners of the J.Dawn King Ask the Author Giveaway!

A huge thank you to everyone

who contributed questions and comments

for Ask the Author this month!

I’d like to give a special thanks to those repeat offenders out there who have been contributing questions or comments on every interview. Y’all are awesome! 

 

 

So winner of the amazing bracelet Joy offered as a giveaway is…
ladysusanpdx!

 

Congratulations!
Also a huge thank you to Joy
for stopping by and answering your questions!!!

 

The J. Dawn King Interview is in!

I hope y’all are ready!
Joy has answered all of the questions and we have them ready to go! Don’t forget to comment at the end of the interview for a chance to win the wonderfulcharm bracelet Joy is giving away!

 

Who is your favorite sister??? Kelli or Rita???

(Kelli Weekly)

Ha! I bet you thought you would stump me. My hands-down favorite sister in the whole wide world is Jonah’s. For those who do not know me personally, Jonah is my grandson. He has a twin sister who is my only granddaughter. She would be my favorite. #grandkidsrule #grandkidsarenumber1

 

Joy…I noticed that in the fine details of your stories, you use personal information from your real life Example: Using JJ’s birth date for Georgiana. Can you give a couple of other examples where you did this?

(Rita Malone Paul)

Good eye, Rita. I’ve actually used Jennifer’s birth date a few times. I’ve “borrowed” names from people I love or don’t love and have used them accordingly. Mainly, I have been pretty cavalier about adapting characters to fit personalities of people I know. (And, people you know as well.)

 

How do you stay so positive and upbeat all the time? Does your writing help with that or is it part of your character to not let life get you down?

(Janet T)

Thank you, Janet. Those are words I will cherish. For this you may blame my parents. By naming me “Joy”, it obligates me to a certain attitude. And, I LOVE living. To me, every breath is precious and every minute should be filled with something we love to do. If my day is particularly challenging, I write happily ever after.

My instinct is to walk away from negativity and in-fighting. It’s why I rarely get in the middle of an issue unless it affects someone I love. Then, the claws come out and I’m single-mindedly fierce.

 

How long did you live in South America? Did your experience influence your writing?(tgruy)

John and I lived in Ecuador twice for a total of four years.

Absolutely/positively, Tere, our living there influenced me. I am forever filling my days to overflowing. In Ecuador, the pace of the whole culture is slower and more relaxed. Eventually, my health and the high altitude forced me to slow down. It was then that I started thinking I might actually have the time to put a story to paper.

It also helped me to realize that Regency England was a culture. I found it much easier to place myself there alongside my characters with the experience of getting outside my comfort zone.

 

Which is your favorite Jane Austen novel? …. And why is it your favorite?

(Debbie Fortin)

Pride and Prejudice is my favorite. Why? I think it’s the family dynamics of the Bennets and the Bingleys. There is no doubt that my siblings played a huge role in how I grew up. Getting to read about the same in P&P is like watching reality TV.

 

Which are your top three favourite Austen novels?

(Joana Starnes)

Pride and Prejudice
Persuasion (John was at sea for 21 years as a sea captain. I still cherish the letters he wrote. So, Captain Wentworth’s letter? It’s easy for me to think he spent years imagining what he would say to Anne Elliott if he ever had the chance. The days on the ocean, when not in port, are lonely and quiet. Lots of time for a healthy imagination to work.)
Emma – I will just say she reminds me of someone I know well.

 

The best variations, in my opinion, are most credible when the values of the original are not ignored but, instead, are built on as circumstances change from the original source. That said, how many times have you read Jane’s P&P and how recently?

(Betty Campbell Madden)

Good question, Betty. I’ve read it twice in the last three years. How many JAFF have I read during that same time? Literally hundreds.

 

Which of the Pride and Prejudice films is your favorite, and why? (insert evil laugh here)(Robin Helm)

You are a stinker of the first order, Robin. However, the answer may surprise you.

When Jennifer was still at home we watched the 1940 version with Greer Garson. That was way before I ever read the book. Jennifer was an only child so observing her watch the Bennet sisters was a hoot. She had grown up thinking that having a sister would be the same as having a best friend. Then she found out some sisters are “Lydia” and she changed her mind. Those memories make it my favorite.

 

What is your favorite non Jane Austen movie?

(carterkristina2)

I LOVE sweet chick-flicks like You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and Clueless. The Anne of Green Gables series is a special favorite and old musicals are a standby. My guilty pleasure? Sam Elliott westerns.

 

Which is your favourite Mr Knightley in the adaptations?

(Joana Starnes)

Both Jeremy Northam and Jonny Lee Miller are excellent actors. However, since I’m almost the same height as Jonny Lee Miller, I’d have to go with Jeremy Northam (he’s 4” taller). Besides, his clothes in Emma are the height of elegance, just as I imagine Mr. Knightley would wear.

 

Who is your second favourite Austen heroine and why?

(Joana Starnes)

This one is hard, Joana. You might assume that Elizabeth Bennet is my favorite. She’s not. From the first time I read P&P she frustrated me to no end. Yes, I would have reacted as she did at the Meryton Assembly. Yes, I would have wanted to make witty comebacks to Darcy and Caroline. Yes, I would have refused Mr. Collins as she did. But, she was smug. She arrogantly thought she knew everything she needed to know to pass judgements on people. Of course, by the end of the book she was a much smarter and mature young lady. She’s my third favorite.

My first is Anne Elliot. I love her loyalty.

My second is Elinor Dashwood. She loves her sisters more than herself.

 

Which Austen villain do you dislike the most and why?

(Joana Starnes)

Fanny Dashwood. Such a cold-hearted snake.

 

When did you begin writing books?

(Mary Michael) 

I wrote a horrible book when Jennifer was little (about 30 years ago). It ended up in the trash bin. My first published book was written in 1985. It was a cookbook for the cancer clinic in Mexico where I was treated. In just over a month, it will be two years since I started “A Father’s Sins”. I published it March 2014.

 

What was your initial inspiration to begin writing JAFF?

(Jen Red)

When I read “The Journey” by Jan Hahn (see the next question), I longed for more. I would dream about that story and spend hours’ day-dreaming that particular Darcy and Elizabeth in a variety of altered situations. I found more and more JAFF, but never lost my storyline that came from those daydreams. After about a year, I just HAD to write it down.

 

You mentioned once that ‘The Journey’ by Jan Hahn was part of your inspiration for starting your writing career. What about that book was so special to you?

(Janet T) 

I had just finished reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time when I found Jan’s book. At the start, Darcy and Lizzy are in a carriage with the Bingley sisters. Darcy actually had a conversation with Elizabeth and I thought, “well, it’s about time.” His tender care of her during the robbery and kidnapping were exquisite. THAT was the Darcy I fell in love with.

Then came chapter 8. Wow! I’ve never forgotten it and reread it on occasion. By the end, I closed the cover, closed my eyes, and sighed a happy sigh.

   

I remember reading that you had found your type of writing and it was fluff! Why do you call it fluff?

(Janet T) 

I love being in love. Love it! Love it! Love it! I love a hero who slays dragons with his brave heroine by his side (with a sword of her own, of course). I admire capable women immensely. Therefore, my stories tend to have Darcy and Lizzy stand together as one against their enemies. It gives me pleasure to watch a relationship bud and grow into something tested and strong. So, I write them falling in love easily. That’s my fluffy marshmallow crème method of storytelling.

 

The only question I can think of, and it would be for all authors, is where ever do you come up with the ideas for variations? As much as I read, I can’t say that I have ever had a new idea for a story popped into my head.

(Sheila L.M.)

Sheila, after I read a story I ponder over one small change. Then I mentally follow that to what I believe the conclusion would be. Thus, a new variation of an old story.

 

What inspires you to write JAFF (P&P) novels and how do you come up with the plots?

(Dung)

As I mentioned above, Dung, it involves a lot of thinking and a healthy dose of imagination. Many nights I lay awake moving my characters around like furniture in a room. I get to know my characters better as I imagine them reacting to unexpected influences.

If I am entertained by the path they take, I make a note of it for later. There’s my story.

 

My question is how do you get your ideas on paper? I want to be able to write but I just can’t get the ideas and conversations in my head to make sense on the written page. I envy you this ability.

(schilds)

I used an outline with my first book. I wrote 2-3 sentences describing what I wanted to take place for each chapter. Then I went back and filled in some details to move the story from one chapter to the next. Then, keeping in mind the need to show rather than tell, I thought of conversations that would move the story along and reveal qualities and motives of the characters as they spoke. It’s not as hard as you might think.

Another tool is to use the forums to post a chapter at a time. The feedback you get between each chapter is invaluable. The reviewers want you to improve and succeed.

 

After Jane Austen, what deceased author and what living author have been the greatest influence on your writing?

(ladysusanpdx)

Ohhhh, good question. I think it’s a tie between Charles Dickens and Lucy Maud Montgomery. For current? Hmmmmm! Let me think. It would have to be Jan Hahn for JAFF and Richard Peck (his kid’s books are so awesome – Way Down Yonder and A Long Way from Chicago are my favorites).

 

I have really enjoyed all of Joy’s stories and particularly love Married in “One Love, Two Hearts, Three Stories”. I’d like to know what was your inspiration for this story. I thought Georgiana’s character was excellent and very believable for a fifteen year old.

(Lynn Bischoff)

Lynn, it was actually Georgiana that started Married! for me. What are the facts as we know them from Pride and Prejudice? She was a teenager who showed a propensity for poor judgement by falling for Wickham. She was wealthy, privileged, and without a parent’s authority. It was an easy leap to make her teenage years more challenging to her dear brother. I couldn’t see Darcy dealing well with it on his own so put him and Elizabeth together quickly. Married! Is my particular favorite as well.

 

Would you ever consider writing a non P&P variation such as one based upon Persuasion?(Debbie Fortin)

Yes. I have a story outlined that is Persuasion based. In it, Anne Elliot has developed a subtle rebellion that none of her family are aware of. Captain Wentworth doesn’t realize the woman he admires is actually Anne. When he finds out, he loves her more than before and his letter at Bath is 100% justified. Maybe one day I’ll finish it.

 

Do you try and keep a set schedule for writing, or do you write whenever the inspiration hits you?

(Pam Hunter)

I try to write every day. However, I have the bad habit of editing as I go. That slows me down considerably. And, I’m easily distracted.

 

How do you stay motivated?

(Jennifer Joy)

Funny you should ask this, Jennifer. I have a lovely daughter that badgers me unmercifully.

 

I love your stories, Joy. I do have a question or two for you. When writing, I am sure, you sometimes have moments when your characters just aren’t cooperative. What do you do to get through those rough patches….walk, bake, watch a movie, etc?

(Debbie Fortin)

Excellent question. I take them to bed with me. They invade my dreams and thoughts until I realize where I went wrong in my writing. Right now, Bingley continues to give me fits. You would think that such an amiable man would be easy to write. He’s NOT!!! HE DRIVES ME CRAZY!!! I won’t have relief until I tell his story exactly as he wants me to. Period!!!

 

If you could meet Jane Austen what would you talk about/ask her?

(Debbie Fortin) 

I would like to hear her describe each family member one by one. In her writing, she provides very few personal details about her characters, so I would try to listen to see if that was her inclination with the real people in her life as well.

 

I love how in your variations the villains don’t get to do much damage, and if Darcy and Elizabeth have challenges to face, they often communicate and face them together. Will it be the same in your next novel?

(Joana Starnes)

No. My next Darcy and Lizzy is called “The Abominable Mr. Darcy”. When she overhears Darcy at the Meryton Assembly, she says he goes from an enigma to an enemy. (Very much a departure for me. I keep wanting to make everyone play nice and get along. It’s not happening in this story.)

 

Georgiana was a very entertaining surprise in ‘Married’ – very different to canon, but deliciously naughty and it was easy to believe why she would act as she did. Do you have another surprise like this in store for us?

(Joana Starnes) 

I believe the path Jane Bennet takes will be shocking in my Bingley/Jane story. She is much more “real”. Still kind and good, of course, but as imperfect as everyone else.

 

Is your next book going to be a novel or a collection of short stories, and how long till the next treat?

(Joana Starnes)

I wish I could make Bingley/Jane a short story so I can be done with them. Grrrrr! But, no. All are full-length.

 

Would like to know about a publication date on the next book but I hate to seem like i am putting any pressure on you/her. Things all happened in good time, is a philosophy I seem to adhere to.

(Sheila L.M.) 

I adore you, I’m working on it, Sheila. Truly I am.

 

Now, how long do I have to wait to add more Joy King creations to my inventory? I’m certainly ready for another good fix! And I’d be so happy, even jubilant, moving my mouse, turning the page, with that coveted bracelet decorating my wrist.:)

(Betty Campbell Madden)

Thank you kindly. As mentioned above, I’m typing.

 

Joy, I have all of your books and have read them several times. Are you still planning on finishing the sequel to A Father’s Sins?

(Tammy Bould) 

I am. It is book 2, Bingley, which I am working on now.

 

What other projects are you working on?

(Dung)

I have two books and one screenplay in progress right now. If I’d quit bouncing back and forth I would probably get one finished sooner. I’m working on it.

 

My question is when you plan to get your next book out so your sister by choice will stop going crazy while waiting? ??

(Melanie Schertz)

I would be more than happy to publish my next book, Melanie dear, but I started your latest yesterday and can’t put it down. So, as soon as I finish yours I can start working on mine again. (Please don’t tell Jennifer that I read your book. She’s on me like a tick on a hound to keep my nose to the grindstone. That girl!!!)

 

How many more ideas do you have for stories? I need more things to read.

(Rhiannen Franklin) 

The truth is that my brain keeps spinning with ideas. I don’t think it will ever end. Thanks Rhiannen!

 

Since I have and thoroughly enjoyed all your books and audios I was wondering. Are you branching out writing something else, like kids books?

(Marie Jones) 

Eventually, yes, I would love to publish my children’s stories. I get such enjoyment sharing them vocally with my nieces, nephews, and grandchildren that I’ve not taken the time to write them down. I’ve not forgotten them.

 

Joy do you have any suggestions for an aspiring writer?

(Fawn George)

Yes. You will never have a finished book if you don’t start. I think there’s a shoe company whose advertising slogan is “just do it.” Think of a story you would love to read and write it. The rewards are astounding.

 

What words of wisdom can you share with someone who is thinking of pursuing writing and publishing as a career or hobby?

(Jennifer Joy) 

Jennifer, I don’t know how wise I am, but thinking about writing is like sitting in a rocking chair – you don’t go anywhere no matter how hard you think/rock. Writing a book is like eating an elephant – one bite at a time/one word at a time. I love those metaphors because they help me not be overwhelmed with the process.

If I type a few words, I have a sentence. If I type a few sentences, I have a paragraph. A few paragraphs, I have a chapter. Before I know it, I have a story in front of me that’s begging for “the End”.

 

 

My sincerest thanks, Leslie, for your invitation to be part of your blog. I look forward to 2016 with great anticipation.

 

Thanks so much, Joy!

 

Now, don’t forget to comment for a chance at that amazing charm bracelet! 

Rules for the giveaway – 

If you asked a question, you have 1 chance in the drawing.

If you comment on this interview, you get 1 chance in the drawing.

If you left a question and now, a comment, you get 2 chances in the drawing!

 

 

 

December – J. Dawn King

With the holidays fast approaching, we have one more Ask the Author before this year is done. I can’t believe we’re about to usher in 2016!

So, who is our last Ask the Author victim of 2015?

I’m pleased to say that she is

J. Dawn King!

Joy has now published three JAFF books

with one translated into Spanish,

and I am certain she’s working diligently on something new to tempt us!

Put on those thinking caps and start posting questions! Joy is waiting!

Joy has even come up with a special giveaway.

Joy wants to give one lucky reader this lovely Jane Austen charm bracelet!

Just follow the rules below and you’ll be entered to win. It’s that easy.

Rules for the giveaway – 

If you ask a question on this post, you get 1 chance in the drawing.

If you comment on the final interview, you get 1 chance in the drawing.

If you leave a question and a comment, you get 2 chances in the drawing!

If you already own the book, please join in and ask a question or leave a comment. Authors love answering your questions and hearing from you. 

Please leave those questions below!

Questions must be posted by 11 December, Interview posts 14 December!

December preview

I don’t know about you, but I’m always busy during the holiday season and this year is no different. In fact, I believe it is worse! The blog has quieted down some since I have had little time for travel and sightseeing, but I hope to get out and about and blogging again soon!

So what have I been up to? Well, my children and my husband (a.k.a. my oldest) have all decided to pass around a nasty cough virus. So far, I haven’t noticed that I’ve had it (*knock on wood*), and I’m still hoping it passes without dragging me down with it!

Swimming has been keeping me busy the last two months as well. I began swimming with a swim club here in May and the distance championships as well as the club championships have kept me busy. I won’t say that I’m a fast swimmer since I’ve been a couch potato for the last four years, but I’m trying! At this point some 10 year olds beat me, but oh well. I’ll just do my old lady 50m front crawl and take my time. As long as it’s a personal best, I’m happy.

On the JAFF side of things, I’m writing! I think I’m on Chapter 13, so I’m plugging right along and loving it. I’m involved in the holiday event this month at Austen Variations. We’re having 12 days of holiday themed posts and giveaways! I hope you’ll stop by and check that out this month.

Meredith at Austenesque Reviews is to read and review The Earl’s Conquest (*bites nails*). She’s such a nice person, but the entire review process always makes me nervous. I’m crossing my fingers that she likes it!

Compromised!

The last bit coming up is Ask the Author! Don’t forget to get your questions ready because on Monday, we’ll rev things back up with J. Dawn King! I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait! You don’t want to miss it either. She’s got a great giveaway lined up!

I hope everyone has a happy, safe, and blessed holiday season! 

 

Winner of the Joana Starnes Giveaway!

A huge thank you to November’s Ask the Author victim
Joana Starnes

She has been a great guest and now it’s time to announce

the lucky winner of one of Joana’s fabulous books!

Congratulations
Jennifer Joy!


Please join us next month when our
 Ask the Author guest for December will be 

J. Dawn King!

Call for questions starts 7 December

She sounds like she’s planning a great giveaway, so don’t miss out!

Joana Starnes Interview is in!

I have a confession to make. I usually organise the questions and email them to the author on Saturday morning. I have sent them out late, but never completely forgotten–until Saturday! 

Fortunately, Joana copied all of your questions and answered them because she’s a star! Thank you so much, Joana! 

Don’t forget to leave a comment after Joana’s interview! You could win an e-book

of one of Joana’s wonderful books!

Many thanks Leslie for the kind invite, and thanks everyone for the exciting questions, I had lots of fun answering them. So, without further ado…

 

Question for our dear author: In The Unthinkable Triangle, as well as many other works of JAFF, authors seem to love to make Darcy suffer, far more than we learn he suffers in canon. Why is that, do you suppose? What is it about Jane Austen’s hero that leads authors to torture him? (Linda Beutler)

Yes, some of us do delight in torturing him, Linda :) You were so much kinder to him in ‘A Will of Iron’ (I loved that story!) In my case I think it’s largely because he starts off by being so sure of himself, so dismissive of everybody’s feelings but his own and so insulting in his first proposal. There’s no Hunsford proposal in ‘The Unthinkable Triangle’ – not from Darcy anyway – and in that particular case I felt he had it coming. He should have courted Elizabeth while he had the chance. He only has himself to blame if she should be snapped up by someone else, who is ready to act on his feelings and acknowledge her true worth. Besides, we have to torture someone, and in my opinion Darcy deserves it far more than Elizabeth. He is the one who has everything but humility. She, on the other hand, is already at a disadvantage because of her poor prospects, lack of fortune and embarrassing family members. I thought it would be unfair to give her the extra torment of unrequited love.

 

 

I would like to know when you first got interested in writing novels? Secondly when was it that you read your first Jane Austen novel? Which novel was it? And who is your favorite Jane Austen character? (MaryAnnN)

Writing has been my idea of fun ever since I was in my twenties, MaryAnn, maybe even earlier, but I’ve only started writing JAFF seven years ago. My first Jane Austen novel was ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and I read it when I was around 12, then re-read many times over the years. My favourite character, hands down, is Mr Darcy. There is something irresistible about the self-assured man who has his preconceptions altered and, seeing the error of his ways, is prepared to change for the woman he loves.

 

 

How accurate are the locations in the Falmouth Connection? Is there really a Falmouth in Cornwall? Google was no help! Thanks! (JerryT)

They are quite accurate, Jerry. I had lots of fun with old and new maps as I was plotting the locations. Yes, there is a Falmouth in Cornwall, not far from Lizard, its southernmost point. In the summer of 2014 there was a ‘Tall Ships’ regatta from Falmouth to Greenwich, and those gorgeous sailing ships were such a sight to see! I’ve posted some photos of them on ‘The Falmouth Connection’ Facebook page. I’ve also posted photos from Cotehele, the National Trust house that was the inspiration for Landennis Manor. The only artistic licence was the distance, Cotehele is in fact some 50 miles from Falmouth, not just 10.

 

 

Colonel Fitzwilliam is my favorite secondary character. I love to see him get more page time. Question: What drove you to put the colonel against Darcy for Elizabeth? For me it is an uncomfortable, yet intriguing idea. Thanks! (Becky C)

Colonel Fitzwilliam is my favourite secondary character too, Becky. Kind, intelligent, warm-hearted, with a great sense of humour and a knack for conversation, he is actually very much like Elizabeth, which was one of the reasons why I thought they’d be drawn to each other and get on really well. Certainly well enough for Elizabeth to mistake fondness for love.

I’ve begun to write ‘The Unthinkable Triangle’ a fair while ago, but for a very long time I was unsure about finishing it. Much as I enjoy writing love triangles, especially ones with no easy choice, I was very uncomfortable with imagining Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam as rivals. Had Darcy not lost enough already? Must he see his relationship with his closest friend threatened too?

Usually Colonel Fitzwilliam is the light-hearted companion, the plain-speaking friend who urges Darcy to follow his heart. It was very compelling to sound the depths of his character and see him as something other than a plot device that pushes Darcy’s courtship forward. And also see how both men would rise to the occasion – as rise they must – if their closeness is threatened, and act as honourably as we know they would.

But the main reason why I simply couldn’t abandon this scenario was that, while the colonel is fighting for his country, Elizabeth would be constantly thrown into Darcy’s path, so she would get to understand him without an almighty row and the Rosings letter. She would have plenty of opportunities to learn that Wickham’s accusations were nothing but lies, and that Darcy is in fact the most steadfast and honourable man of her acquaintance. Which of course compounds the difficulty of the love triangle, once she finally begins to see him for what he truly is, and understand the workings of her heart. As for the two gentlemen, I think their interaction is best described by a line in one of the reviews for ‘The Unthinkable Triangle’: ‘love conquers all, except the bonds of another love.’ Hopefully that makes this particular love triangle a little bit less daunting.

 

 

What, in particular, do you love about Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy? (Joy King)

So many things, Joy! His unfailing sense of duty, his devotion to his nearest and dearest, his generosity and fairness, his beautiful grounds at Pemberley ;) But above all I love the idea of a strong man made vulnerable through love, and the fact that he is willing to change for the love of his life.

 

 

Who is your second favorite Jane Austen hero? (Joy King)

Mr Knightley. I think post-reformation Darcy would be just like him.

 

 

Do you have a person you pattern your Darcy after (Firth/MacFadyen/James Bond)?

(Joy King)

Colin Firth. Always and forever.

 

 

Who is your favorite Jane Austen heroine and why? (Joy King)

It has to be Elizabeth. She is clever, well-read, witty, full of vivacity and fire, but sufficiently flawed by her own pride and her prejudices to be believable and human, not just a fictional ‘picture of perfection’.

 

 

Which one of Mrs. Bennet’s daughters are you most like? Would your friends and family agree or would they choose another Bennet? (Joy King)

Not sure… Mary, maybe (without the sermonising), and a touch of Kitty. As for the second part of the question, I just went off to ask my husband and he said ‘Mmm, I don’t know… Mary?’ Aww, he knows me so well. And phew! Thank goodness he didn’t say I was like Mrs Bennet!

 

 

Do you practice kissing so you can write them so well? (I’m snickering here!) (Joy King)

Snickering too. No comment ;) Big thanks though, I’m so glad you thought I wrote them well!!

 

 

I LOVE that your stories are fast paced and move along. Is your personal life like that as well? (Joy King)

Thanks! Yes, it often gets pretty crazy around here – with young children it can’t be helped – which is why I don’t manage to spend as much time on Facebook as I’d wish to. Plenty of time for that when they leave the nest, I suppose. But no swashbuckling gents or Cornish smugglers in day-to-day life, more’s the pity.

 

 

Do you outline your stories before you write or fly by the seat of your pants? (Joy King)

A bit of both. I do jot down the general direction I’d expect the story to take and as I go along I keep a calendar of events so that I don’t end up with, say, a five-month successful pregnancy, but there’s an awful lot of flying by the seat of my pants too. All my books have had some changes in the plot line, some major, some not.

 

 

Do you have a particular place and time scheduled for writing? (Joy King, Debbie Fortin)

I tend to write in the mornings, when the house is quiet. When it’s not so quiet I sometimes hide away for an hour or two. I’ve discovered a lovely spot, a bench on the green, not far from home, and I’ve written many scenes from my last two novels there. The bench bears the inscription ‘In memory of Major H. V. Rees’. I’m very grateful to the Major for letting me sit and dream on his bench, so if you come across Major Sir Henry Vernon-Rees in ‘The Unthinkable Triangle’, this is where the name came from.

 

 

What’s on the agenda for the next book? (Joy King)

Any hints on the next book that will be released? (Luthien84)

Not quite sure which of my projects will be finished first but, much as I said I’d rather not torture Elizabeth, I think in all fairness it’s her turn next.

 

 

How did you get interested in writing P&P variations? What is your background (do you have an English Literature Degree)? Have you written other fiction? (Susan F)

As many of us, the great incentive was P & P 1995. Having watched that exquisite adaptation, I was left wanting more. I discovered Republic of Pemberley and Derbyshire Writers Guild and, having read virtually all the variations available at the time, I was tempted to try my hand at writing my own. I posted ‘The Second Chance’ at DWG in an earlier form (back then it was called ‘Steady To His Purpose’) and wrote ‘From This Day Forward’ just for my own pleasure. Then, in 2012 Sandra Platt (Cassandra Grafton) introduced me to the world of self-publishing (thanks for the tips, the good times and the fun, Sandra) and the following year I started publishing my old books, followed by the new ones.

My fascination is probably odd, since my background has nothing to do with either history or literature, but rather with medicine, physiology, cardiology and clinical trials. Which is why there are medical references in all my books. You can take the woman out of the profession, but the old job out of the woman’s head – not so much. But these days I’m more of an expert in cupping and leeches than cardiology. As for other fiction, I’ve written two non-JAFF novels (one finished, one not). Not sure if they’ll ever be published, my heart’s in Georgian England and Austen novels now.

 

 

Just curious….Joana, which gives you more pleasure…reading or writing JA variations? (Pam Hunter)

Definitely both, Pam! If I’m on a roll with a new idea, I can’t set it aside. If I start reading a great variation, I can’t put it down. It’s always such a joy to find new favourites, this genre is full of delights!

 

 

Thanks Leslie for this post and Joana for the giveaway. I have all the other books and am still trying to win this one before I give in and buy it. I would like to know how you come up with all the great ideas and ask if perhaps the next one won’t have Darcy suffering so much please? (Glynis)

LOL Yes, you’re right, Glynis, Darcy has had more than his fair share of torture at my hands and I definitely should give him a break next time. As for the ideas, they come and some of them stay. The one for ‘The Unthinkable Triangle’ for instance simply wouldn’t go away, largely because it was an opportunity for Darcy and Elizabeth to spend A LOT of time together, little as Darcy enjoyed it to begin with. I try to think of scenarios that haven’t been done before and after a while this becomes quite a challenge since there are so many of us digging for gems in the same Jane Austen mine. But I don’t suppose it really matters if I hit upon an angle and then discover it’s been addressed already, as was the case with my latest novel.

A few years ago I came across this post that stayed with me: http://moreagreeablyengaged.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/painting-pictures-with-wordsand-linda.html

I wholeheartedly agree with Linda Wells and I think she put it beautifully when she compared JAFF authors with art students who paint from the same model. As she pointed out, although the model is the same, the finished products are as different as the artists, because authors are invariably influenced by their own experiences and views, and would add their own interpretations and their own touches of shadow and light.

 

 

I have all Joana’s books so please do not enter me in the give away. I do have a few questions though….When you write a story does inspiration come from a place you visited, such as Cornwall or do you visit a place that you believe would fit into the story? Do you have a specific place and time to write? When your muse decides to be uncooperative what do you do to get her cooperation again (walking, cleaning, listen to music, etc)? (Debbie Fortin)

I do get an inspiration from the places I visit, Debbie, especially from holidays in Derbyshire and Cornwall (many scenes snuck up on me there). But I also make a point of visiting places that would fit into the story, such as the lush gardens at Cotehele or some steep, dark and narrow Cornish lanes. I’ve also looked all over the place for a garden temple that would suit the scene where Elizabeth and Mr Darcy finally reach their understanding in ‘The Unthinkable Triangle’. In the end I found the temple at Cliveden near Windsor and the best setting for it at Chatsworth, so there was just one thing to be done: photo-shop! My best writing spots are at home and the bench I mentioned in response to Joy’s question, but when the muse just wouldn’t play ball I usually sit in the back garden to listen to the birds and the voices in my head as I ponder what the characters would do next.

 

 

After going thorough your five novels, I notice all your stories are set in Regency era. Do you have any plans to bring Jane Austen’s novel to modern times? You have written a P&P + Persuasion and P&P + S&S. What about combining P&P with Emma or NA or MP? (Luthien84)

I haven’t thought about writing a modern variation yet, Sylvia. I probably know more about 18-19th century courtship than about what 20-year-olds are up to these days, and I can write more convincingly about bonnets than iPads :) But when the time comes to live vicariously through my nieces and my children then maybe I could dream up a modern twist. In the meantime I just enjoy other people’s modern variations, such as the last two I’ve read and enjoyed enormously: ‘Longbourn’s Songbird’ by Beau North and PN Stockwell’s ‘Enchantment Among The Bluebonnets’. As for combining P & P with other Austen novels, I’m still tempted to write a link to Emma, or maybe even one of the others. But of the three, Emma’s the greatest favourite.

 

 

I love how well you convey emotions in your books, Joana! As a writer, I’d like to ask: What motivates you to write? Do you have a special routine? As a reader, I’d like to know: Are you working on the next project? (The world is ready for more of your stories!) (Jennifer Joy)

Thanks for the lovely words, Jennifer Joy, they mean so much to me! I read and write JAFF because it makes me happy to think that there’s a red thread guiding us through our troubles towards our happiness and that, regardless of obstacles cruelly set before them, Elizabeth and Mr Darcy would always be together and all’s well with the world. I adored P & P 1995 and I don’t want the magic to end. Thanks to beautiful stories like yours and lots of others, hopefully it won’t for many years yet. I can’t say I have a special routine, I write whenever I can and when the mood strikes. I have three different projects in the pipeline, and I’ll just have to wait and see which one wants to be finished first.

 

 

I recently read “From this Day Forward – The Darcys of Pemberley” and there was a part that hinted to the reverse of “The Unthinkable Triangle”. Did that spark your idea for “The Unthinkable Triangle”? You have a wonderful way of including angst filled moments with swoon worthy one with Darcy and Elizabeth. What gives you the inspiration to write them? (Dung)

So glad you spotted that, Dung! Yes, that’s exactly what happened. There was a part in ‘From This Day Forward’ that made me think what if it were Darcy rather than his cousin who would seem to be at the losing end for a while. Thank you so much for the wonderful words about my writing, you’re so very kind! I’m inspired by Jane Austen’s perfect novels, the delightful P & P 1995 adaptation, the great JAFF works I’ve read over the years and the hope that love is what makes the world go round.

 

 

Thanks again for the warm welcome, Leslie, and hugs to you all for a wonderful time!

Thank you Joana!

Don’t forget that you can win

one of Joana’s books in e-book format!


One lucky winner will get to choose from:

From this Day Forward

The Falmouth Connection

The Second Chance

The Subsequent Proposal
and
The Unthinkable Triangle

That’s right! The winner can pick which of Joana’s wonderful books they want!

And the giveaway is open internationally!

So, get your questions in!

Rules for the giveaway – 

If you asked a question, you already have 1 chance in the drawing.

If you comment on the final interview, you get 1 more chance in the drawing.

So, if you leave a question and a comment, you will get 2 chances in the drawing!

If you already own the book, please feel free to leave a comment. Authors love answering your questions and hearing from you!