L.L. Diamond's Blog, page 23

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! 

November – Joana Starnes

It’s November already! This year is flying by so quickly. I’m not ready for December yet and it’s swiftly approaching. Nonetheless, it is November, which means it’s time

for another Ask the Author!

So, who is our guest this month?

Well, I had a request for the lovely and amiable

Joana Starnes

to be a guest and guess what? She agreed!

In late September, Joana added 

The Unthinkable Triangle

to her list of accomplishments,

and I know you are all eager to ask her about it and her other wonderful books!

Don’t be shy! There’s plenty to ask! After all, Joana has a total of five books to her name (From this Day Forward, The Falmouth Connection, The Second Chance, The Subsequent Proposal, and The Unthinkable Triangle).

She’s also been so kind as to offer an e-book

of the winner’s choice

for a giveaway!

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

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!

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!

Bath

For this trip, I decided to take the train, which was an adventure in itself! I caught one train into London and then travelled the tube to catch the train from Paddington Station to Bristol, so I could go to “Bath Spa.”

The best part of taking the train is not only that you don’t have to drive, but also that if you go out the front doors of the station you are right there near the town centre. Of course, I took the wrong way out and exited from the back and had to walk around, but even with the detour, it did not take long to find the Roman Baths, the Abbey, and where I needed to go to meet up with friends.

Leads to the Roman Baths, Pump Room and the Abbey

I planned my trip during the Jane Austen Festival, but opted to go later than the famous promenade and only had a few days that I could spend before I needed to return home. I do feel like I got a lot in, but I do look forward to returning and exploring other parts of the city at a more leisurely pace.

I travelled to Bath on Tuesday, making it in time to attend a talk on transportation in Regency England given by Hazel Mills, went to lunch with friends, and was then left to my own devices for the rest of the day. I do feel I made good use of my time by walking through the Holburne Museum and walking through Sydney Gardens.

The Holburne was once the Sydney Hotel and sits at the end of Great Pulteney Street with Sydney Park directly behind. In Jane Austen’s time, the rear of the hotel held public breakfasts every morning as well as three Galas a year–on the King and Prince Regent’s birthdays as well as one to coincide with the Summer Horse Race Meeting at Bath. Jane Austen’s letters even refer to both the public breakfasts and that she attended a gala or two. Unfortunately, the balcony where the orchestra would play is no longer there, but the rear is glassed in with a tea room and more exhibit space.

 

Since Jane Austen lived at 4 Sydney Place, she often walked in Sydney Gardens and it was nice to take a tour of the park as well as walk the canal as she probably did often. The park is not large, but it is pretty with a temple/folly or two and the iron gates which lead you down to the canal as ornamentation.

I walked down to Pulteney Bridge and the Weir before calling it a day on Tuesday.

Royal Crescent

One Royal Crescent was the first place I stopped on Wednesday morning. After a somewhat long walk uphill, I took my time touring and enjoying each room. The guides were lovely to speak with and were very knowledgeable about the house and the 18th century time period it depicts, even explaining about the presence of a pineapple on the table. People would rent them for an evening because a pineapple was a symbol of status–only the very rich could afford to rent one for the evening. One that graced your table one night, might grace another family’s table the next evening. Crazy!

After Royal Crescent, I walked down to The Circus, then to the Assembly Rooms which are reconstructed versions of the one from Persuasion (The Bath Assembly rooms were damaged by a fire in 1821 and had to be rebuilt), and then to Gay Street to the Jane Austen Centre. After, I walked down to the Pump Room where I ate dinner and tasted the waters (blech!!!). Then, since I had plans for the evening (I’m hoping we’ll write that up for a post at Jane Austen Variations and post it in the next few weeks. For any Jane Austen fans, it’s exciting news!), I walked down to Queen’s Square and back to where I was staying down by Great Pulteney Street

Thursday morning, I attended an art exhibit at the Victoria Art Gallery. Cassandra Grafton and I wandered through and enjoyed all of the art, but especially the exhibit they featured on Jane Austen’s Bath. Paintings of people, places, and of the city that figured into so much of Jane’s work were displayed and it was fascinating. They even had two of Jane Austen’s letters to her sister, Cassandra on display that Cassandra and I had a giggle over as we read them. Jane really did have quite a sense of humour and it is often seen in her letters to her sister.

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and I had to return to real life at some point. I had a great time and catching up with JAFF friends was definitely part of the reason I came! I even managed to fit in a meet-up for tea just before I boarded the train. I arrived home later than I had originally planned, but it was worth it!

Thanks to Jane Odiwe, Cassandra Grafton, Hazel Mills, Joana Starnes, Mira Magdo, Sophie Andrews, and Mary Buzzuto! It was so much fun to see you all in person rather than online!

Middleham Castle

The start of building of Middleham Castle can be traced to 1190, by Robert Fitzrandolph, 3rd Lord of Middleham and Spennithorne, and is best known these days as the childhood home of Richard III.

Located in Wenselydale (Yes, like the cheese.) in Northern Yorkshire, the castle is surrounded by a small village and the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

In 1270, Middleham became the property of the Neville family (Earl of Warwick) and from what I can find remained their possession until the reign of James I when it was sold. The structure then fell into ruin during the 17th century and became what it is today, but the ruins are beautiful and a lot of fun to ramble around.

When visiting Middleham, there is no car park for the property, so parking is on the street, where permitted, and in the local car park. There is also no toilet/restroom facilities in the castle itself, so if you need the loo, then you must walk to the town’s public facilities as with six people we learned rather quickly.

The castle appears compact from the outside, but is actually rather large when you go within the walls. The rooms were a good size, and there is a repaired spiral staircase that can take you up to the roof where there are some amazing views of the local countryside and give you an aerial view of some of the internal structures within the castle.

There are wells that can still be viewed as well as the old ovens in the kitchen and the remains of the old horse mill, which are really fascinating. The Great Hall can be seen from above as well as the cellars beneath due to the missing floor.

There is an English Heritage gift shop just after you walk through the Keep with the usual fare as well as a 15th century replica of the Middleham jewel that is on display for visitors to view.

I will say my children loved this castle. They tend to like ruins and places where they can run around, and despite Middleham’s age, it is a pretty good spot for that. Fortunately, mine aren’t so young that I have to worry about the steps, which would be of concern with parents of toddlers. :)

 

Next up…Bath!

Release Day is Less than a Week Away!

Not that I haven’t posted this everywhere, but look what the UPS guy brought me today! I know, but I was really excited to get a look at the physical cover because it’s always a bit different than the Photoshop file. The back cover was a bit darker than I had planned (I actually lightened it a lot just before saving the file), but I don’t mind. I didn’t want the image there to distinct.

Anyway, so what’s planned with this release? I haven’t got too much planned so far. A far cry from the release of An Unwavering Trust. I really never expected this book just to fly out and onto paper like it did, though.

Here is what’s planned so far!

On release day, I have a post set up at Austen Variations with a giveaway. One e-book and one paperback are the possible prizes.

I am thinking of having a Facebook giveaway on release day as well, so watch out for that!

Meredith at Austenesque Reviews will be hosting me on the 23rd of November. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I need to get that going!

In the meantime, The Earl’s Conquest is up for pre-order at Amazon.com! The proof is approved for the paperback and also for the distributor that supplies to B&N, Kobo, and iBooks. All we now need is for October 28th to arrive!

 

 

Fountains Abbey

When you venture out to visit Fountains Abbey, there is bound to be something for everyone! The entire property consists of 800 acres, and in that space, the National Trust cares for Studley Royal (an 18th century water garden), Fountains Abbey (The largest Cistercian ruins in Europe), a Jacobean mansion, and a church built in the Victorian era and designed by William Burges. Viewing this is a good deal of walking, but definitely worth the time spent at the end of the day–and I would set aside a day to take in everything. It definitely earns its place as a World Heritage Site in my opinion.

We set out on a misty/rainy England morning to Fountains Abbey and managed to get down to the ruins before the rain began in earnest. I have to say that the abbey must have been absolutely incredible when it was whole. It’s enormous with an arched doorway on the inside dwarfing anyone who stands beneath it. My daughter and son are standing inside because I couldn’t resist taking the shot to show the scale of the opening.

Not only are the ruins beautiful, but the location is so picturesque. It’s easy to find a multitude of camera angles to take some amazing shots if you love to play at photography like I do.

From Fountains Abbey, we followed the paths to Studley Royal Water Garden, which was built by John Aislibie in the 18th century. It was his son William who purchased the property containing Fountains Abbey. Unfortunately, the Studley Royal Hall was destroyed by a fire in 1946, but at least  the gardens remain for us to enjoy.

The gardens consist of several paths which circle a series of man-made lakes. The lakes are sourced from a river that flows up the hill from the property and are embellished with statuary and temples common in the Georgian Era.

As we walked, we crossed paths with pheasants and a few other birds, and my children enjoyed the temples/follies. There is also a scenic point where you can look down over the valley and see Fountains Abbey in the distance. It is an amazing view!

We spent several hours between touring Fountains Abbey and walking the water garden, but as the day wore on, the rain increased. Even with our raincoats, we were cold and our legs were about soaked through, so we decided to call it a day without viewing the house or the church. I do want to return in better weather and see everything again as well as finish touring the site!

 

Next… Middleham Castle!

 

Durham and Yorkshire

From Edinburgh, we drove down and stopped in Durham to visit a friend. For those who may have never heard of it, Durham is a beautiful city steeped in history. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the cathedral and the castle. Archeology gives evidence that Durham has been a settlement since 2000 BCE, so it is definitely deserving of the title World Heritage Site.

Once we met up with my friend, Jude, in the market square, we followed her up the hill to the cathedral. We had tea at a lovely tea shop where we could sit outdoors and enjoy the scenes of not only the cathedral on one side, but the view of the castle up the hill on the other.

We took a tour of the cathedral, but unfortunately, photographs are not allowed inside, so I cannot show you my own photos of this spectacular building. You’ll have to look it up online and find some yourself. :)

After spending a few hours in Durham, we finished our trek to Yorkshire. We stayed in a small village near the town of Ripon, which was a neat place and afforded us the opportunity for any shopping we might need.

Outings while we were in Yorkshire consisted of driving through the Dales, Hardraw Force, Fountains Abbey, Middleham Castle, and Pateley Bridge. I will save Fountains Abbey and Middleham Castle for their own posts, but will elaborate on the rest.

The Dales are a good bit like the Peak District. It’s a beautiful area with a lot of scenic views, though the roads are narrow and bordered by rock fences–again like Derbyshire.

Hardraw Force is reputed to be England’s largest single drop waterfall with a fall of 100 feet. It’s on privately owned property, so once you find the little village of Hardraw. The parking is hidden behind the Green Dragon Inn. You pay and enter through the little ice cream parlour and from there it’s a short walk. If anyone finds the spot familiar, it was used in the Kevin Costner version of Robin Hood. It’s where Maid Marion sees him bathing/swimming.

Lastly, Pateley Bridge is a lovely little village/town nestled in a valley in the southern part of the Dales. It is picturesque, quaint, and boasts of the oldest sweet shop in England–of course, we had to stop in! We spent the day roaming the town and ate at one of the local pubs. I will say that the food in the north was mostly the same, but amazing. We were so impressed.

 

Next stop…Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Winner of the Kara Louise Giveaway!

Thanks so much for everyone’s participation this month! I’m so glad everyone enjoys the Ask the Author segment as much as I do. It’s so much fun to be able to ask each author for their experiences and their books on an individual basis and based on their body of work. Thank you for helping me make this segment a success!

Without further ado, the winner is…

Dung!
Congratulations to Dung!

I have no idea who is next month! Any ideas? Feel free to leave requests below!

Kara Louise Interview is in!

Are you ready to read Kara Louise’s answers!

I know I am! 

 

So let’s get to it!

 

What was the first Jane Austen book you ever read?

It was Pride and Prejudice after I had seen the 6 hour film. I had never read Jane Austen in school; I had read Jane Eyre and other classics, but none by her. I was so taken by the film, I immediately purchased a small Penguin Classics book with some annotations, which really helped me understand a few things from the Regency era. After that, I bought the complete set of her books and read them one by one, also viewing a film if I could find it.

 

 

What is your very favorite part of writing JAFF literature?

(ladysusanpdx)

I love writing the JAFF literature because it makes me examine things from the original, like motives, thoughts, and feelings. I will be writing a scene, and all of a sudden something will hit me and I’ll think, “That’s why he said this or she did that!” I love it when those things happen. And I love her characters and the basic elements of her stories.

 

 

Which Bennet sister would most people say you are most like?

I would probably be most like Jane. I can usually dismiss the faults in others and not let them affect my opinion of them. I think I try to see the good in people more than their faults. And like Jane, I don’t display a great deal of emotion, even more so when I was younger.

 

 

What is it about Darcy and Elizabeth that inspires you?

I love that both are people of high integrity, even though Elizabeth doesn’t see that in Darcy right away. And then I love the process of each of them finding out the truth of the other person. For Darcy, it is discovering what Elizabeth’s opinion of him is and then what he is going to do about it. For Elizabeth, it’s finding out the good man Darcy really is, and coming to terms with her misjudgment and what it cost her. Even though they both have faults, the journey they take to each other is a delight to behold.

 

 

Hi Leslie And Kara. I’ve almost finished listening to the audiobook of Pirates and Prejudice that I won in an Austen Variations giveaway recently, and even though I know what’s going to happen, I’m enjoying it as much as when I read it as an e-book last year. I have a vision of David Gandy dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow (possibly minus the eyeliner!) in my mind as I listen. I blame Joy King and Cat Gardiner for this!! How do you draft your books? On paper and/or computer?

(Anji)

I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying it, Anji! And I think your idea of David Gandy is a great one! I am definitely a computer author, although I sat in an airport one day (before we had all our hand-held devices) and wrote a portion of Drive and Determination when Elyssa was sitting in the airport. I make too many changes as I write, so a computer makes that a little easier.

 

 

Do you write to an outline?

(Anji)

I don’t use an outline, but I sometimes save a word doc of future scenes and I might even write a scene in advance when I want to get it down. I pretty much know where I want to go with the story, but then it sometimes changes directions on me! And sometimes I don’t even know the direction the story is going to go when I begin. As I wrote Mr. Darcy’s Rival I did not know who the rival, Mr. Rickland, really was. It wasn’t until I was several chapters into the book that I knew the direction I was going to take with him.

 

 

Do you have a place and time for writing?

(Debbie Fortin)

I do my best writing in the morning when I have a good block of time alone. But since I now watch my granddaughter while her parents work, I write when I get the chance (when I have a good block of time alone). I used to have a computer room when we lived in Wichita, but now I either sit in the living room in my chair with my feet propped up on the ottoman or in our sun room at the table looking out to the woods behind our house. Usually, as is the case right now, one of my (5) cats is on the back of the chair or on the armrest next to me.

 

 

Do you have a set routine when it comes to writing? Set times or certain number of words per day?

(Anji)

Because of watching my granddaughter, that has taken a back seat. Last fall, while I was writing Mr. Darcy’s Rival I actually went about two months not writing a thing, as I was enjoying being a ‘Nana’ so much and as she was then becoming more mobile, I found it impossible to do much of anything else but watch her. And I didn’t mind at all! One day I might get back on a schedule. Maybe.

 

 

I’ve often read authors saying that their characters can take over a story. Has it ever happened to you?

(Anji)

Yes. For example, it did happen in Mr. Darcy’s Rival in two areas. One was in the background to Mr. Rickland, who is Darcy’s rival. (I won’t give out any spoilers!) And the other was in the fact that Anne de Bourgh ended up secretly being an author. No one else knew but Mrs. Jenkinson. When she confided that to Elizabeth, it was as much a surprise to me as to Elizabeth. That fact, and the novel she had written, A Peculiar Engagement became an important part of the book.

 

 

With the local events of last week causing my mind to be in a muddle, I don’t have my usual barrage of questions for you. For this I am sorry. I love your work, Kara Louise. Master Under Good Regulation made me cry. Darcy’s Voyage made me sigh. Pirates made me swoon, and your latest made me laugh. I guess the only question that begs an answer is: Do you currently have another work in progress. I desperately want to know.

(J. Dawn King)

Do you have another book in the works?

(Debbie Fortin)

I actually have three stories that I have begun, but unfortunately, right now I don’t have as much time to write. (The easiest part of writing for me is the beginning of the book!) On the days I don’t watch our granddaughter I tend to run errands and get things done around the house. I used to be able to write a book in 3-6 months, recently it’s been averaging about 2 years! But I have had several people ask if I’m going to publish A Peculiar Engagement and I think I might do that. For those who do not know, A Peculiar Engagement was the book I wrote that Anne de Bourgh had written and published about being engaged to Mr. Darcy her whole life. I had ‘written’ it for Mr. Darcy’s Rival so that I knew what Elizabeth might discover about him as she read it. I’m now working to improve it, and I’d like to publish it with an added chapter of having the ‘behind the scenes’ take on what happens in Mr. Darcy’s Rival when Darcy returns to Rosings to see Anne. That might not make sense to some if you haven’t read, “MDR”, but basically, there are two different endings to Anne’s story.

 

 

Kara, I see all your stories dwell in the world of P&P set in the past. Do you plan to bring Darcy, Elizabeth and their stories to modern times? How about venture forth into the realm of other Austen novels, say Emma or Persuasion?

(Lúthien84)

I actually have one novel that is modern, Drive and Determination. In that novel, Denton (Darcy) is CEO of a small coffee company and Elyssa (Elizabeth’s character) is an interior designer. The story takes place in Chicago, California, and Guatemala. The events in that story that take place in Guatemala were all based on a trip I took, doing much of the things Elyssa ends up doing. As for venturing out into other novels, I mentioned earlier that I have begun 3 other novels. One is actually an Emma based story about Harriet Smith. Another is the modern sequel to Drive and Determination, focusing on Denton’s sister, Gina, which has a Persuasion angle. Persuasion is my second favorite Austen novel.

 

 

What inspired the plot bunny for Mr. Darcy’s Rival?

I had seen several stories where Elizabeth takes an interest in Colonel Fitzwilliam, but I began to think about possibly other cousins – and those from the other side of the family, the de Bourghs. I wanted to make this gentleman more of a rival for Darcy and not be someone with whom he is particularly acquainted with.

 

 

What was the most difficult part of writing Mr. Darcy’s Rival?

Probably the most difficult part of writing any of my novels has been deciding what to do with some of the basic elements of P&P and whether or not to use them. For example, there is Darcy’s proposal, letter, Wickham and Lydia, and Lady Catherine confronting Elizabeth. I decided to really change up the first three in MDR, and then because of what happens in the book with Anne, didn’t need a Lady C confrontation. But it is hard to know what people expect or what I need to address.

 

 

When your muse leaves you in a tight spot, what do you do to get it going again (ie. walking, sewing, gardening)?

(Debbie Fortin)

I love crafts, and I basically gave up my crafting when I began writing. I still have boxes of unfinished crafts and materials down in our basement, and have just recently begun doing some things again. I love paper crafting, have begun working with polymer clay, and I hope to pick up cross-stitching again. Haven’t touched it in 20 years but have tons of books and floss. The only thing I don’t like about crafting is that it means getting a lot of stuff out and then putting it all back! To get me into a romantic-writing mood, I love old songs (I mean, from my parents’ generation – Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Andy Williams, as well as instrumentals by Mantovani and Mancini), and will put Pandora on to see what comes up. Some of those old lyrics are so wonderfully romantic!

 

 

Do you cry when you write the sad parts of your stories?

(tgruy)

The only story of mine that readily brings tears to my eyes is at the end of Master Under Good Regulation. That is the story of P&P told from Darcy’s dog’s point of view and it’s hard for me to read and not get choked up. I haven’t read a few of my stories in years, so if I went back to read them, I might just surprise myself and get teary eyed. I do want to read, Drive and Determination again soon.

 

 

What made you decide to make Darcy a pirate?

I love pirate stories! I was so excited when Disney finally made Pirates of the Caribbean because I loved that ride at Disneyland. The idea of making Darcy a pirate swam around in my head for quite some time. I wasn’t certain how I was going to make it work, and had actually begun with a completely different premise; one which I was not completely satisfied with. But one day I was looking at a map of England and noticed a small set of islands down off the south-western coast. I zoomed in and discovered they were the Isles of Scilly. In doing some research on those islands to find out whether or not they were even inhabited, I was thrilled to discover that with all the rocky outcroppings and caves surrounding them, it was a haven for pirates. I also discovered that people have lived on the larger islands for hundreds of years. It opened the door to some great adventure in that story.

 

 

Kara, I love all of your books. For curiosity, where did you get your idea for the dog in Master Under good regulation? I have seen dogs act so much like your dog hero. I loved that old pooch. I recently read Mr. Darcy’s rival and had such a good laugh at Darcy’s expense. Thanks for all you do for the JAFF community.

(Jennifer Redlarczyk)

I got the idea for a dog to tell the story as I was reading Pamela Aiden’s trilogy. In that series, Darcy’s dog makes several appearances, and I wondered just how much a smart dog could influence the story. I actually chose an English Springer Spaniel because they are retrievers and would be a great hunting dog. When I wrote it, I did not realize that in the ’95 P&P, when Jane is sick at Netherfield and the men go out hunting, there are 2 ESS dogs with them, one of which, of course, is Reggie (I am sure!). Reggie turns out to be more aware of what his master wants and needs, and often gets quite impatient with Darcy’s actions. But Reggie knows how to save the day! We now have our own Reggie, rescuing her 5 years ago. Unfortunately, she is nothing like the original Reginald. In fact, SHE is Regina, but is scared to death of gunshots, fireworks, and thunderstorms. We think she probably ran away from her owner when he took her out hunting and he decided it wasn’t worth it to go after her. (That’s just my conjecture.) You may wonder how often we hear gunshots. Well, we live in the country, and so it’s not that rare. (In fact, right now there is a meat shoot going on less than a mile away. In the fall, every Saturday from noon until dusk, our dog sequesters herself down in the basement under the stairs and does not come up until she is certain the shooting has stopped.)

 

If you could have tea with Jane Austen, what would you ask her?

I would want to meet with her in modern times to ask her what she thought of her popularity and whether she ever considered the fact that 200 years after she wrote her novels, they would be so warmly embraced, received, loved, and what she thought of all the novels being written based on her stories and characters.

 

Thanks so much Kara for taking the time

to answer our questions!

I’m so excited you were willing

to be our guest this month!

But don’t disappear yet!!! Kara Louise is offering one e-book of Mr. Darcy’s Rival for a giveaway! Usual rules apply – Every person who submits a question gets one chance entered into the pot. If you submit a question and a comment on the final interview you get two chances!

I hope everyone has a query for Kara Louise!

Final date for comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 14 October.

Winner will be announced Friday, 16 October! 

Leave your comment below! 

Good luck everyone!!

Mr. Darcy’s Rival

Blurb for Mr. Darcy’s Rival – Mr.Darcy has learned he must prepare himself when he and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, make their yearly visit to his aunt, particularly when it comes to Lady Catherine’s expectation that he marry her daughter, Anne.

This year, however, will throw in a few additional obstacles to Darcy’s peace of mind with the presence of a nephew on the de Bourgh side of the family, and quite unexpectedly, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

An interrupted proposal, a letter written and unknowingly lost, a harsh accusation, and a rival all conspire to thwart Mr. Darcy in securing Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s affections when he visits his aunt at Rosings.

Will Elizabeth find the handsome and engaging Mr. Rickland more suited to her than Mr. Darcy? And will a novel she reads that was written secretly by Miss Anne de Bourgh help smooth the path to the couple finding true love?

 

October – Kara Louise!

It’s Ask the Author time!

Fall has certainly arrived and I’m enjoying the cooler weather!

I’m also excited that we have a new

Ask the Author victim!

Everyone get busy and welcome

Kara Louise

with a question or two!

In June, Kara Louise added her newest JAFF novel

Mr. Darcy’s Rival

to the impressive list of novels she’s written!

And there are still more!!

Kara Louise is waiting, leave your questions in the comment thread below!

While we’re on the subject of questions, please read the comments posted before yours so we don’t have repeats!

But wait!!! Kara Louise is offering one e-book of Mr. Darcy’s Rival for a giveaway! Usual rules apply – Every person who submits a question gets one chance entered into the pot. If you submit a question and a comment on the final interview you get two chances!

I hope everyone has a query for Maria Grace!

All questions must be submitted by Friday, 9 October.

The final interview will be posted Monday, 12 October.

Final date for comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 14 October.

Winner will be announced Friday, 16 October! 

Leave your questions in the comments below! 

Good luck everyone!!

Blurb for Mr. Darcy’s Rival – Mr.Darcy has learned he must prepare himself when he and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, make their yearly visit to his aunt, particularly when it comes to Lady Catherine’s expectation that he marry her daughter, Anne.

This year, however, will throw in a few additional obstacles to Darcy’s peace of mind with the presence of a nephew on the de Bourgh side of the family, and quite unexpectedly, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

An interrupted proposal, a letter written and unknowingly lost, a harsh accusation, and a rival all conspire to thwart Mr. Darcy in securing Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s affections when he visits his aunt at Rosings.

Will Elizabeth find the handsome and engaging Mr. Rickland more suited to her than Mr. Darcy? And will a novel she reads that was written secretly by Miss Anne de Bourgh help smooth the path to the couple finding true love?