L.L. Diamond's Blog, page 26

Walking in Jane Austen’s Footsteps

Well, perhaps not quite in her footsteps, but after almost five days wandering around Alton and Chawton in Hampshire and touring her home, I would say I likely trod on one of her paths!

Most of you have probably seen the multitude of photos posted to social media and gotten glimpses of our week. I wish I had the words to convey exactly what it was like to spend that time in Jane Austen’s old stomping grounds. Inspiring, exciting, and interesting are words that all fit, but do not quite capture the essence of what it is like for a Janeite to immerse themselves in this atmosphere.

I agreed to Jane Austen Regency Week months ago when I was invited to take part in the book table on Regency Day. I was not a part of Austen Variations at the time, and it was amazing to be included. Since then, I signed up for a few other events and anticipated actually taking part, yet I really had no idea what to expect as far as how the week would go.

I have to say that it was an experience I will never forget! I had only ever chatted with Maria Grace, Cassandra Grafton, Susan Mason-Milks, Jane Odiwe, Monica Fairview, and Abigail Reynolds by email or through Facebook, yet they were all warm, welcoming and great fun to spend time with whether we were stuffing cellophane bags with goodies for passers-by or drinking a glass of wine and enjoying the ball.

We also took great pleasure in learning little facts about Jane Austen, including that our book table was set up in front of a building Jane Austen visited for the doctor and touring the seldom visited attics of her home in Chawton.

Abigail gave a wonderful talk where she was more than happy to share the spotlight, featuring fellow authors in a panel discussion towards the end of the night and including our books with hers for perusal and purchase by those who attended the talk. Susan Mason-Milks and I attended her workshop and were on occasion called upon for our opinion or experience to illustrate certain points. I am still relatively new to writing and publishing compared to Abigail, so I was honoured to be asked for my input.

 

I also had the opportunity to meet and speak with fellow authors Joana Starnes, Jeanna Putnam-Ellsworth, blogger Sophie Andrews, and online friend Hazel Mills. I could list so many wonderful ladies who I met this week, but then this post would go on for quite some time!

 

For those who have not been to Jane Austen Regency Week, the event is relatively new compared to the festival in Bath, but I recommend the experience. The countryside is beautiful and there is Jane Austen History everywhere. I loved my visit this year and I fully intend to return next year. How could I stay away?!

If you are interested in more of the sites in Alton and Chawton, I will be blogging them in the Expat’s Travel Guide. I hope you’ll stop by!

 

 

An Unwavering Trust giveaway winners!

We have winners!

Now for the final wrap-up of the An Unwavering Trust blog tour.

Thanks so much everyone who hosted and took part. I appreciate all of your support and for giving me and my new book a moment of your time.

Now for the winners!

 

First prize

One P&P quote tote bag, one “Pemberley” scented soy candle, P&P magnets, P&P journal, and a P&P bookmark

go to

Suzan Lauder!

Congratulations!

Now, Suzan already has her paperback of An Unwavering Trust, so we were able

to have three winners this month!

Congratulations to

monicap!

Who will receive a signed paperback of An Unwavering Trust.

And lastly, the e-book of An Unwavering Trust goes to

Regina Sylvia!

 

Congratulations, Regina!

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone for your amazing questions and comments!

Next month’s featured author is

Maria Grace!

Call for questions is July 6!!

L.L. Diamond Interview is IN!

Wow! Everyone really outdid themselves this month. Well, here are my answers! I hope everyone gets the response they asked for! I don’t mind answering questions in the comments, so ask away if you want!

Don’t forget to comment for the giveaway too! The big prize is a lot of fun, and I had so much fun putting it together!

There is also an e-book up for grabs of An Unwavering Trust!

 

 

Usual rules will  be reviewed after the post! For now, on to the questions and answers!

 

Have you ever been to the UK before? If you have, have you ever been to any of the places associated with Jane Austen before?

(Anji)

The last time I was in the UK, I was 3 years old, so other than photos of myself in an umbrella stroller or in the bathtub (apparently the hotel had a huge tub and my parents thought it was fun to take a pic.) I don’t know what I did when I was here last.

 

Well Leslie, now that you are no longer living in the USA, I often wonder how the transition has been for your family.

(Jennifer Redlarczyk)

Hi Jen! It was a quick study on a lot of information, but I think we managed to get our bearings rather swiftly. One of my neighbors asked about two months after we moved here if we’d been here before since we knew how some things worked so quickly. I was pretty proud of myself for that.

 

Since you are now living across the pond is there anything that you miss about the states?

(Dung)

I miss family and friends. I am on social media quite a bit keeping up with people, but it isn’t the same as being face to face.

 

Have the kids or you begun to pick up the British accent?

(Jennifer Redlarczyk)

They are all pretty old to gain an accent, but I wouldn’t be surprised if my 10 year old can speak with an English accent in a few years. We’ve noticed her using certain voice inflections and phrasing without realizing it.

 

Have you experienced any subtle prejudices towards your family or kids being American?

(Jennifer Redlarczyk)

I think it would be odd not to have any issues with this, and we have had some subtle and some not so subtle instances—some due to cultural stereotyping or due to Americans who have come before us and not made the best of impressions. We moved here expecting to conform to a different lifestyle and culture and had no problems with it. There are some who move here, but expect the local populace to conform to them. It doesn’t work that way.

That said, we’ve met some amazing people who we enjoy knowing and on the whole, most are very welcoming. I won’t let the actions of a select few ruin my enjoyment of my time here.

 

Then I also wonder how the lifestyle is different, aside from having tea and all. Of course being able to visit all of the historical sites and the land itself must be a godsend for a JAFF author.

(Jennifer Redlarczyk)

I think for an American who is moving here, the most noticeable differences are how narrow the roads are and that the homes are typically smaller. We loved that we could bring our dog in some restaurants when we first moved here. She was being boarded until we found a house and we liked the ability to take her somewhere for the day without having to pack or find a place for a picnic.

Parking isn’t as ubiquitous as it is in the United States as well. If you are going to town or into a village for errands, usually people park at the local car park (which often costs money) and walk wherever they have to go. Public transportation is much more common here. Some people do not drive and solely walk everywhere and take a bus or train depending upon whether they need to travel long or short distances. One great thing is that most villages and towns have sidewalks not only along the roads, but also throughout the villages, which makes it shorter and easier to walk wherever you wish to go.

 

I have to ask if living in England has given you more inspiration for your regency stories. I cannot imagine living in the same country as our fictional characters and Jane Austen herself.

(Brenda Webb)

It has definitely given me plenty of inspiration. I think it’s more in description and lifestyle when I write over actual locations so far, but it has definitely impacted my writing. A JAFF friend and I took an “under the stairs” tour of Wimpole Hall, and the piping for the ale and the guide’s explanations of how people did not drink water unless it was mixed with wine really impacted me too. I never realized that the cause of most child mortality back then was water-borne illnesses. It’s been interesting what works its way into what I write.

   

I know you’ll be in Hampshire soon, what are you most looking forward to seeing/experiencing? (Wish I could be there too, but I have to work all week up here in Yorkshire).

(Anji)

That’s difficult! I don’t know if I have any one thing that is standing out over everything else. I am usually content to walk and take photos of everything! I am definitely looking forward to Regency Day when I meet everyone and sign books!

 

I am rubbing my hands together and flexing my fingers. Are you ready, Leslie?

(Joy Dawn King)

Oh boy! I guess so! Fire away!

 

Why Regency?

(Joy Dawn King)

I do have a published modern and I have quite a few modern plot bunnies. Part of what I have written so far is mostly the whim of the muse, and a small part that readers seem to prefer Regency. It might also be that for some reason, I find Regency conversations easier so far. Perhaps it’s just too many choices in a modern fic? I remember spending a lot of time considering what D&E would discuss when I was writing A Matter of Chance.

 

You’ve written both regency & modern day versions of P&P. Is one easier than the other and do you have a favorite?

(Dung)

I enjoy both for different reasons and there are difficulties that arise with both eras. I have a difficult time with topics of conversation for modern stories, yet I spend quite a bit of time researching my Regency stories. I can’t say that I prefer one over the other, but sometimes it’s just easier to go with my brain and write whatever is stirring around up there.

 

Why Jane Austen?

(Joy Dawn King)

I fell in love with Jane Austen’s works and Pride and Prejudice a long time ago for what was on the surface. I read her books and watched adaptations but never considered much more than what was obvious. As I have re-read and learned more about her writing, I appreciate all of her subtle and not so subtle references and social commentary. I adore Mr. Bennet’s sarcasm too. He is such a well-written character!

 

Have you ever thought of a story other than a Pride & Prejudice variation?

(Joy Dawn King)

I wrote a Persuasion based short story once, and I wrote two scenes for Persuasion 200. Other than that, most of my writing is P&P based. I do have one plot bunny that isn’t Jane Austen based at all, but the muse hasn’t been interested in writing it since it came to mind. I’ve considered making it JAFF rather than an original story. We’ll just have to see when/if I ever get to it! So many plot bunnies, so little time!

 

Do you feel more Jane Austen-ish now that you live in the UK?

(Joy Dawn King)

I wish! I’d love to feel Austen-ish! I was so excited to go to Ramsgate, and I have gotten a thrill out of driving through Kent when we travelled down there. I think the biggest thrill was on the day we arrived. I noticed a sign for Hatfield on the motorway. Hatfield was where Elizabeth was headed in Rain and Retribution when Darcy found her! I tried to take a photo on my phone, but it didn’t come out well.

 

Have you seen Colin Firth, Judi Dench, Matthew Macfadyen, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, or David Gandy in any of your shopping or tourist expeditions?

(Joy Dawn King)

Nope, I haven’t seen or met anyone famous other than while watching Graham Norton. ;)

 

Who would you most wish to see? Who would you be the biggest fan-girl over?

(Joy Dawn King)  

Difficult question. I noticed an actor from a few movies at the Whole Foods in Omaha once. I actually walked the opposite direction and avoided him because I found myself staring trying to place him.

I would love to meet or talk to Emma Thompson. She seems like she would be a lot of fun when you watch her in interviews. For drool factor, I wouldn’t mind Rupert Penry Jones or Henry Cavill. I would probably look and not go up to them, though. I’m certain it must get frustrating having people ask for selfies all of the time. I might have to approach Henry Cavill though for my son. He’d love to meet Superman!

 

Which of Jane Austen’s characters would your schoolmates think you were most like?

(Joy Dawn King)  

I had no idea how to answer this, so I asked one of my best friends from high school who would be very familiar with Jane Austen. Her response was, “Hmmmmm….Elinor Dashwood immediately popped into my head. I always thought that you were (are) very sensible, reliable, etc.”

 

If you could change anything about yourself and your writing career, what would it be?

(Joy Dawn King)  

I honestly never thought I would be here as far as my writing career. I assumed I would write something, get a few comments, and that would be it. I didn’t expect to love it, and I didn’t expect the response I had and that I still get. I can’t imagine changing anything about my career.

As for myself, sometimes things sound funny or fine in my head, but come out all wrong. I suppose I wish I had a better filter in my head! I try to warn my friends that if I say something offensive, I probably didn’t mean it the way it came out. Fortunately, a few of them are the same way. We giggle about our crazy comments sometimes.

 

It takes guts and courage to put your work out there. Is that your typical persona?

(Joy Dawn King)  

I would have to say it depends. If I want to do something bad enough, I usually will push any fears aside to do it. I had a great support system of friends who were my cheerleaders when I first posted, and I decided to publish due to a few people messaging me and suggesting it. I will admit that it is much easier for me to post and publish for people I don’t know. I am weird about my friends and family reading my work. I know some do, but it’s more because my husband outed me than because I brought it up!

 

Which Jane Austen character would you most like to have to your home for tea?

(Joy Dawn King)

I like good conversation, so I think Elizabeth Bennet might be fun. That is if I can’t have Darcy to stare at while he had his tea. ;)

 

Which Jane Austen character do you wish she would have written with harsher outcomes?

(Joy Dawn King)

That’s difficult! There are a few, really. I think Wickham had a pretty easy outcome. I know I’m judging him by today’s standards, but he preyed upon girls for profit. A pretty sick endeavor if you look at it in that light.

Quite a few characters got off pretty easy in Mansfield Park. The Bertrams were terrible to Fanny Price in my opinion, and while I understood that Fanny forgave them, I wanted her to at the very least tell them off.

 

What does your family think about your JA obsession? Are you obsessed?

(Joy Dawn King)

They would definitely say that I am obsessed. My husband doesn’t seem to mind as long as I don’t go off on a long tangent. My 13 year old rolls her eyes because she gets tired of all lessons being able to be explained by Jane Austen :) They loved Stourhead’s gardens, so they haven’t minded me indulging in my obsession while I am here. Yes, I would call it an obsession.

 

Is Pride and Prejudice your favourite Austen novel? Which comes second?

(Anji)

Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Austen novel with Persuasion a close second.

 

Which is your favourite Austen/Austenesque dramatisation and why?

(Anji)

That’s really difficult. I think quite a few bring something wonderful, even if it is just the scenery or music. Overall, I think the 1995 P&P and the Ang Lee/Emma Thompson Sense and Sensibility are my favorites.

 

Why the story of Darcy and Elizabeth?

(anadarcy)

Why not? I suppose that I love that Darcy deep down was a good person despite how he behaved. He took Elizabeth’s reproofs to heart and endeavored to amend his conceit with no expectations of meeting her again or winning her heart. He also finds Lydia and pays out a small fortune, expecting nothing in return. I think he portrays a love we all dream of as teenagers. A man who would treat us well and ensure we are always happy.

 

What do you enjoy about writing of Darcy and Lizzy?

(MaryAnn Nagy)

A big part is my answer above. Their characters and Darcy’s devotion inspires plot bunnies. I just enjoy finding something to change in the story and how it would effect how their love story would change or turn out.

 

I have read many Jane Austen variations. Pride and Prejudice seems to be the favorite to explore. Do you think that Darcy and Elizabeth would really be as happy as everyone writes them?

(schilds)

I believe they have that possibility. I think if we don’t have some belief that they would be incredibly happy, then we would not have as much inspiration for all of the variations. I do believe they would have some spectacular arguments, but often those who love deeply, do argue with passion.

 

What was your inspiration to write your first book?

(Debbie Fortin)

I had friends pushing me to write and post a story, but I had resisted because grammar was never my strong suit. I just couldn’t imagine writing something anyone wanted to read.

Then, I had the idea of Elizabeth fleeing Longbourn and meeting Darcy on the road on the way to London. It didn’t take too much to have the rest worked out, but the bunny wouldn’t stop nibbling at my brain. In the end, I wrote it and I really expected that I might have one or two people read and comment when I posted. What occurred was not what I thought would happen at all!

 

When we met, one of your first plot bunnies was a lot like one I had, except mine was a role reversal. In fact, that was supposed to be your first story until R&R got bossy and took over. Are you still interested in that story?

(Suzan Lauder)

Yup, you were there that night in chat when I attempted to give away that plot bunny. It still comes into my head. I think I have it mapped out with everything but a final scene or two. I still go back and daydream it from time to time, but I have had other stories that seem to push it out of the way when it comes to putting it to paper. I may still write it one day. I just might change up the setting in which I initially imagined it since I don’t know much about New York. I will have to figure that out. New Orleans could be fun, but the city has changed a great deal since Katrina and I haven’t been there in so long!

 

What inspires you to come up with the plots to your stories?

(Dung)

Also what gives you the inspiration to come up with the plot of the novel and do you use any life experiences in your novels.

(MaryAnn Nagy)

I’ve been rearranging movies and stories in my head since I was a little girl. As a freshman in high school, I had to read Romeo and Juliet and detested the ending. I daydreamed an entire new ending.

I also rearrange stories when I love them as well though. Usually, it is just an idea for a scene that pops into my head. For A Matter of Chance, I was mowing my yard and I was mad at my husband for something, and I just had an idea for Lizzy mowing because she was pissed off for some reason. I then began winding an entire plot around that one scene. It wasn’t long after that I wrote the prologue. The rest flowed from there.

There are some life experiences and personal bits in some of my novels. I used my children’s first names in Rain and Retribution as well as my favorite history teacher. Bear and his backstory were real and from a dog I had when I was young. Page was my horse when I was in high school. He was my big baby!

A Matter of Chance has a lot more of me than R&R. My favorite medium as an artist is watercolor and I used a description of my work from my instructor as Darcy’s description of Lizzy’s work. My mother took me to Natchez when I was 14, and I used it as the inspiration for Meryton. I also had a few personal experiences in the book. I had friends when I was at University who called me “Betty.”

In An Unwavering Trust, I used more sayings that my mother and grandparents used to say. Among them was that the first baby can come at any time, after that it takes nine months. I believe my grandfather used to say that. My mother used to say that I could blame her for things—that she had broad shoulders. The dowager used that phrase at one point.

Tidbits make their way in. I enjoy that they do, too.

 

I know you’ve used aspects of your real life in your novels, such as Elizabeth’s art career in AMoC, Bear and Page, anecdotes about your family that became Playground stories at AHA, and places you’ve lived. I remember when you used an older photo of yourself with long hair for something on the web, I commented that you looked a lot like I’d envision Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Leslie is more than handsome enough to be Mr. Darcy. (Although his mini-me is handsomer!) You know where I’m going with this, right? How much alike are you and Elizabeth Bennet? Do you see yourself as her, or is she just lucky enough to get to act out your life?

(Suzan Lauder)

I don’t remember that photo! LOL! I definitely don’t mind being thought to look like someone’s imagining of Elizabeth Bennet though!

The mini-me blushed when I read out loud that he was handsomer than his dad. At least he didn’t yell that he wasn’t handsome. Teehee!

I believe I have a sense of humor and I’ve always been rather independent; however, I think Elizabeth Bennet has more tact than I do! Though, I can be a bit fearsome when I’m seriously angry. I suppose I have aspects of Elizabeth’s character, but I wouldn’t say I’m too like her.

When I imagine stories, it is usually with me in Elizabeth’s point of view. I suppose at times she acts out something from my life, but that part is rare. It’s more in a modern setting since I’m not good at translating it back to Regency.

 

Mr. Leslie has been a sounding board for your fiction and your writing career all along. Does he inspire your Mr. Darcy characters at all?

(Suzan Lauder)

*SNORT!* His head would swell to substantial proportions if he thought that I based my Darcys on him! My husband is protective, a loyal and steadfast companion, and very much an idealist. I think those are qualities Darcy and he share. My husband has a sense of humor that is beyond what I usually give Darcy, since he enjoys jokes and pushing people’s buttons from time to time—although never in a mean spirited fashion. I think some might compare him to Colonel Fitzwilliam in JAFF in that regard.

For the most part, I keep my husband and Darcy separate in my writing. I might one day consider writing an LSU obsessed, Saints obsessed, Cajun Darcy. For now, I’ll let him play his Madden while I answer these questions!

 

Have you thought about writing about other novels of Jane Austen? (anadarcy)

I’ve written short stories from Persuasion, but I don’t really have any plot bunnies that include full length stories from any of her other works. Not so far anyways!

 

What do you think of Captain Wentworth?

(anadarcy)

I adore Captain Wentworth! I think his letter at the end of Persuasion is the most romantic thing I have ever read!

 

What was your inspiration for An Unwavering Trust?

(Debbie Fortin)

The original plot bunny for An Unwavering Trust was a bit different, but the basic idea was the same. Mainly, without giving anything away, the idea popped into my head of her basic situation. That she is on her own, and both uncles were conspiring to do what they were in the novel; however, Darcy purchased her and they flee to Scotland where they married. Then have to solve how to deal with the uncles.

Obviously, it took a few turns in the time between I had the initial bunny and when I wrote it.

 

Who has the unwavering trust in this book? Is it as I imagine, Darcy and Elizabeth?

(anadarcy)

If you read the book, “unwavering trust” is attributed near the end to a certain character; however, I think once Darcy takes the turn to accepting that Elizabeth is really his future, he places his trust in her. He is still wary of not having his feelings reciprocated, but he trusts her. Because of her position, Elizabeth has to trust Darcy from the beginning, so you could say that they both have the unwavering trust.

 

What do you think the best piece of advice has been about your writing career?

(Joy Dawn King)

I think the best advice has been to write what I want. My betas, my friends, and even my husband will fuss and fume if I let a review or someone’s negative words impact my writing.

 

Do you have a favourite time of day, writing place, etc. or do you just fit it in as you go along?

(Suzan Lauder)

I had my own writing place when we were in Omaha. I had a sitting room off my kitchen that had a gas fireplace with built-in bookshelves. We had a recliner in there for my husband and I had what’s called a chair and a half and an ottoman. I wrote pretty much the entirety of Rain and Retribution and A Matter of Chance in that chair and in that room.

Unfortunately, my chair was in terrible shape by the time we moved. I had added new foam and re-covered the seat cushion in the last year and it was really too big for UK homes, so we sold it.

I wrote a lot of An Unwavering Trust moving wherever I happen to find quiet or be comfortable. I wrote a lot sitting on my bed, but I had to get myself out of that habit. I sleep better since I began writing in the living room or at the dining room table.

As for time of day, I typically write better between 11am and when I have to pick up my children from school. That does sometimes change depending upon my mood. 11 just happens to be the magic time after I take my kids to school, eat breakfast, get my social media fix, and get comfortable and set in for the day.

 

Are you working on any new projects?

(Dung)

I’m playing around with a prequel that tells the love story of Darcy’s grandmother and the Earl. I need to go back and do a re-write of sorts, but I was really enjoying writing it until things became crazy. I’ve had a lot come up since publishing An Unwavering Trust that’s required my time (Two children’s birthday parties, a 13 year old with a hyperextended knee, a sick 1o year old, and an 8 year old with a broken ankle). I’m hoping that I can finally get back to work after Hampshire!

Don’t forget to comment for the 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!

Time to comment!

Final date for comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 17  June.

Winner will be announced Friday, 19 June! 

Leave me your questions in the comments below!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

 

June – L.L. Diamond

It’s Ask the Author time!

June is here, and I don’t know about you, but I’m excited because

Jane Austen Regency Week is this month!

But in the meantime, the Ask the Author victim is

L.L. Diamond! (Yup, ME!!!)

This is my wrap-up to the An Unwavering Trust blog tour.

I hope everyone has some great questions because I have some great giveaways!

Are you ready?

First prize is

One signed paperback of An Unwavering Trust, one P&P quote tote bag, one “Pemberley” scented soy candle, P&P magnets, P&P journal, and a P&P bookmark

and if that isn’t enough, I’m giving away an e-book of An Unwavering Trust!

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 will ask me a question or two!

All questions must be submitted by Friday, 12 June.

The final interview will be posted Monday, 15 June.

Final date for comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 17  June.

Winner will be announced Friday, 19 June! 

Leave me your questions in the comments below!

Good luck everyone!!

June Preview!

June is here and if the blog seems quiet, it is because I am in the midst of a blog tour! I have posts appearing on other blogs, so I didn’t think you would enjoy being deluged with posts at multiple sites. That said, we still have a bit of blog tour left, so don’t forget to stop by and say hello at one of the next stops!

 

3 June – Austenesque Reviews 

5 June – My Peculiar World

8 June – Call for questions here for Ask the Author! 

Also, be sure to check out Ask the Author this month since I am the victim. I don’t believe I hide much, but you can ask me anything you’ve been itching to know about my books, characters, and me! There will also be giveaways, so don’t be shy and contribute a question or at least comment once I’ve answered your queries!

I have two posts on Austen Variations this month;

Stop by on 11 June, when I expound on research that I did on Bath for An Unwavering Trust. I loved learning about Jane Austen’s time there and using her opinions and bits from her letters for inspiration.

On 16 June, I thought it would be fun to go into what a housekeeper actually did in a Regency home. What was Mrs. Reynolds duties and would she be the godsend she is in most JAFF variations?

On the calendar this month is also Jane Austen Regency Week! I’m so excited to be going and meeting some of my Austen Variations’ colleagues in person! I hope to have posts here and I know we’re going to post some on the Austen Variations blog about our time there.

Lastly, I have to thank everyone for their overwhelming support of An Unwavering Trust. I am blown away by your comments, your reviews, and the overall reception of my new book. Thank you so much! I look forward to more as I finish the blog tour!

Anyway, June will be a crazy busy month! Do you have anything fun planned for June?

Winners of the Abigail Reynolds 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! 

Without further ado…

Using my super-scientific method for selecting winners!

Winner of The Darcy Brothers e-book is

The Darcy Brothers

Dung!

 

Congratulations, Dung!

&

Winner of the Alone with Mr. Darcy e-book is

Alone with Mr. Darcy

Klb0823!

 

Congratulations, Klb0823 !
Also a huge thank you to Abigail

for stopping by and answering your questions!!!

 

 

Next month’s Author is L.L. Diamond (What? I can do my own blog!)

to wrap up my blog tour for An Unwavering Trust.

Call for questions posts is June 1st! Stay tuned!

Abigail Reynolds Interview is in!!

Are you ready for Abigail Reynolds!

Her answers to your questions are in!

A few questions were similar or the same so I combined two into one so she didn’t have to answer it twice. I hope that’s okay! :)

Have you always been a lover of romance or were you a closet romantic when younger?

(J. Dawn King)

I loved historical romance as a teen – mostly Tudor and earlier – and then went through a phase of modern romances but found they lacked something at the time because the heroines were always a secretary or a nurse. Fortunately that’s been changed!

What is it about Mr. Darcy that appeals to you? What about Elizabeth Bennet?(J. Dawn King)

I’m doing an entire lecture on this topic in June! What do I love about Darcy? He fell in love with Elizabeth because of her intelligence and wit, not her looks or figure, and he proved loyal in a crunch. Elizabeth? I love her wit and teasing combined with her warmth.

Did you like Mr. Darcy the first time you read/watched Pride and Prejudice? Did you have to overcome your own prejudice?

(J. Dawn King)

You know, I don’t remember. I read P&P for the first time when I was twelve or so and didn’t catch a lot of the characterization at the time, and by the time I was old enough to understand it, I already knew.

Which Bennet daughter would your Mom say you were most like when young?(J. Dawn King)

Mary. Bookish, quiet, and not quite there on social skills. ;)

 

 

If you could play a character in any of Austen’s writings in a new mini-series starring your favorite leading man, which character would it be and who is that leading man?

(J. Dawn King)

Help! I can’t do leading men! As for a character… well, I’d love to say Elizabeth Bennet, but I’m more a Charlotte than an Elizabeth. So I’ll go with Elinor from S&S. J

   

Abigail, you have written so many fabulous books. Does any one particular book stand out as a favorite? One of mine is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the Last Man in the World, even though I prefer the audio cover.

(Jen Red)

Which of your own stories is your favorite?

(J. Dawn King)

Among my Regency books, I’d say it’s a tie between Mr. Darcy’s Obsession and Mr. Darcy’s Noble Connections, but my actual favorite is my modern, The Man Who Loved Pride & Prejudice. Readers often seem to like either To Conquer Mr. Darcy or Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World best, so I don’t know what that says about me!

Jen, the audio cover is actually made from the original cover designed for the Sourcebooks edition, but at the last minute the CEO said she didn’t like it and had the new one made. A big mistake, to my mind! I loved the first one.

   

Love that you continue to write P&P stories, I just can’t get enough of Darcy & Elizabeth! What inspires you to write P&P stories?

(Dung)

I started writing them because I loved reading them and had run out of stories to read. This was back in 2001 when such a thing could still happen! The big thing is how much I love the characters. When I’m writing a book, the characters live in my head for months on end, so they have to be people I really like and can relate to. I’d go crazy if I had Emma living in my head!

Do you write from an outline or does it start with an idea and just flow?

(J. Dawn King)

When I consider a plot line, often a very vivid scene from it will jump into my mind, and that’s what motivates me to write the book. I tried to use outlines at the beginning, but learned that the characters will always hijack the story part way through and it’ll end up going somewhere else. So now I just have a rough idea of the first third or so, then wait to see what the characters plan from there.

 

Which do you enjoy writing more, modern or historical Austenesque tales?

And, will Alone with Mr. Darcy be coming out as an audiobook, as all of your others have?

(Anji)

Writing modern and Regency is so different it’s hard to compare them. I really love both, and I think being able to go back and forth helps keep writing feel fresh to me.

Alone with Mr. Darcy will indeed be an audiobook, probably sometime this summer. J

Hi Abigail. I’m a big admirer of your work and though my favourites of your titles are your historical variations of P&P I also really enjoyed your contemporary books. Do you have any plans to write any more contemporary novels?

Also, would you consider writing something historical based on one of Austen’s novels other than P&P?

(Ceri)

Thanks, Ceri. I do plan to write more moderns, and I even have most of a book finished, but they’re on the back burner because at the moment I’m supporting my family with my writing. Much as I love my modern Woods Hole series, the books don’t sell well. Even many of my loyal Regency readers won’t try my moderns! The same, sadly, is true of non P&P stories. So many people ask for them, but then the sales don’t come through. I do hope to get back to my moderns, but for now I’m just grateful that I also love to write things that do sell!

I’m a huge fan of your work, both the historical variations and the contemporary series set in Woods Hole. Correct me if I’m wrong but since you write exclusively in the P&P variation genre for Regency setting, would you consider switching to other genres (sequels, retelling, prequels, etc)? Have you considered jumping into another Jane Austen’s novel such as Persuasion, Emma or S&S? Or do you consider her other stories complete that it does not give enough room to play around with ideas?

(Lúthien84)

Somehow writing sequels never appealed to me, but The Darcys of Derbyshire is in some ways a prequel as well as a variation. I’ve considered a retelling, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to stick to Jane Austen’s plot line the whole way. My characters have ideas of their own about what should happen!

I do have a secret yen to write a variation on Mansfield Park…

Do you have plans for any more books set in or around Woods Hole? It doesn’t even have to be Darcy related.

(Evie Cotton)

See above. J

   

Have you considered creating The Darcys of Derbyshire into full-length novel?

(Dung)

No, I haven’t. I wish it were longer, but the story fit just perfectly in novella size, and I didn’t want to add anything extraneous just to make it longer.

 

Hello Abigail,

I am totally entertained by both your contemporary and Austen variations. I am a huge Austen fan as well, and often find it strange to see how upset some fans get over sex in Austen variations. I love reading it if it’s tastefully written. Do you feel that the sexual tension between Darcy and Elizabeth is something that Austen fans love to read about or do we want to go further and read about their lovemaking, undying love for each other?

(Pemberley Pebbles)

Your question is a very good one. Clearly some readers love books with intimate scenes and some don’t. The question of why we can’t all co-exist happily, each reading the kind of books we like, and not judging each other’s taste is one that makes me want to bash my head against the wall, so I’d probably better stop here before I get myself in trouble! ;)

Abigail, I’m pleased you’ve agreed to this, and look forward to reading all the fun questions and responses! Darcy has a great deal of passion below the surface in your novels. Did reading of other Austen-inspired novels influence that persona? What other reasons caused this mental image that brought us all those steamy scenes?

(Suzan Lauder)

I’ve always seen Darcy and Elizabeth as very passionate people with a certain disregard for some social rules. Not the big ones, just the little ones – women should always be chaperoned (unless they really want to take a long walk); single men should never write to an unmarried woman (unless it’s really important); a gentleman should not attempt to meet a woman privately while walking on an estate (unless he really, really wants to); gentlemen should never say things to ladies about admiring their figures (unless they’re Darcy). They don’t pitch all the rules out the window; they’re just both perfectly comfortable bending them when it suits them.

Elizabeth understands about passion. When she hears about Lydia’s elopement, she has a lot of questions about why she put her passions before her rationality, but she never asks why Lydia would want to do such a thing. She gets it why her sister would want to run away and sleep with Wickham, and that tells me she knows those feelings for herself.

And Jane Austen tells us Darcy and Elizabeth are passionate and physical, if we only know how to read what she says. Suppose she wanted to tell us Darcy kissed Elizabeth, but by the rules for a single lady writer, she couldn’t use the words kiss, touch, lips, embrace, any physical sensations, or anything else describing physical contact. Why, she’d have to say something like, “he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do.” Wait a minute, she did say that! Readers in Regency times would have understood the code words for physical action – code words like ‘not very fluently’ being used for a woman who always has a quick response ready. So try reading this paragraph from the second proposal again with my annotations:

Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently [Elizabeth is always fluent; this is a clue that she didn’t use words], gave him to understand [she spoke before, so this has to be something other than speaking] that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances. The happiness which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do. Had Elizabeth been able to encounter his eye [and why can she suddenly no longer encounter his eye? Hmm?Maybe because her face is pressed into his chest?], she might have seen how well the expression of heartfelt delight, diffused over his face, became him; but, though she could not look, she could listen, and he told her of feelings, which, in proving of what importance she was to him, made his affection every moment more valuable.

Or, to offer a quick translation: Elizabeth, feeling all the awkwardness of the situation, said, “Oh, no! My feelings are…” Too embarrassed to say more, she held out her hands to him. He didn’t need a second invitation and kissed her, then held her tight while he murmured words of love.

   

 

Your writing has influenced many current Austen-inspired writers, since when many of us got into reading JAFF, there were less than 100 books out there, and you had a good half-dozen, when it was rare for a writer to have published more than one. Now, hundreds are published each year. What differences do you see in the JAFF novels and readership in the last five or six years? How has that influenced your writing?

(Suzan Lauder)

LOL, when I got into publishing, there were half a dozen books out there, and we wouldn’t have dreamed of a day when there could be a hundred! As far as the readership, it’s certainly grown dramatically with more books being published. As for the novels, I can’t say much about the difference because I can’t keep up with most of them anymore!

In most ways it hasn’t affected my writing process. I’m still trying to write the best book I can and always to improve my writing skills. The only big change is that now I run into writing problems from the pressure to conform to the ‘No Sex, We’re JAFFish’ school of thought. My Muse seriously objects to being told what to write or what not to write, and it definitely hinders my creativity when I have to consider the backlash if I let a story take its natural course. Sometimes it’s a non-issue when the book I’m writing wouldn’t have had sex scenes anyway, but when the characters and the Muse are pushing forward and I have to block them, it creates writer’s block and, IMHO, leads to an inferior book because I’m ignoring the true characterization.  

 

Were you the originator of the steamy scene that was kissing only, that I called “The Kissing Challenge” on AHA?

(Suzan Lauder)

I’m not quite sure what you’re thinking of, but there are a couple of scenes I wrote with the deliberate intent to show that a G-rated scene can be very hot. It was an exercise to show that the reason my sex scenes were evocative wasn’t because I was depicting sex, but because I was depicting a passionate relationship.

   

I started reading JAFF with your stories. I love them! Would you consider making a collection of them?

(tgruy)

Since Sourcebooks has the rights to some of my books, so I could only do a collection of my White Soup Press books, which are pretty cheap to start out with. But if you think readers would like it, I’ll look into it!

Have you and the other authors consider a sequel to the Darcy Brothers project?

(Dung)

Yes, we’ve discussed a sequel. I’m hoping we’ll be able to talk about it more at Jane Austen Regency Week in June when all five of us will miraculously be not only in the same country, but the same place! Usually we have to cope with living in 3 different countries, 2 continents, and 4 different time zones!

What can I expect to add next to my row of books by Abigail Reynolds?

(Betty Campbell Madden)

I always get in trouble when I answer that question since my Muse can be quite unpredictable! But I can tell you I’m about ¼ of the way through the first draft, and in an ideal world, I’d hope to have it out sometime next winter.

What is your favorite place to visit in England that is Jane Austen related?

(J. Dawn King)

I love Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton and the Steventon church – both give me goosebumps. But in some ways I feel even closer to Jane when I’ve followed in her footsteps off the beaten JA tourist track, like when I walked from Rowlings House in Kent where she stayed with her brother along the footpaths she took to pay calls at Goodnestone Park, or when I visited Hertingfordbury, where Jane Austen stayed when she visited Hertfordshire and which may have been her model for Longbourn. Me, obsessed? Why, what makes you say that? ;)

 

 

If you were caught with Mr. Darcy in a snowstorm for a few days with only an onion, some dried apples, and assorted odds and ends, would you cook or would he?

(J. Dawn King)

Definitely me! If I have to eat it, I don’t want him cooking it!

 

 

How has stardom affected your kitty? Is she more demanding? Does she require a lady’s maid of her own? Is she a more refined eater? Just asking.

(J. Dawn King)

She has always known she’s a star! She’s actually quite undemanding, but does have her own dressing room, which used to be my walk-in closet but is now Snowdrop’s special room.

As for eating… well, Snowdrop likes food. She likes all food. She likes lots of it. We have 6 cats. Snowdrop weighs under 5 lbs. The next smallest is 9 lbs, and after that they’re in the 12-18 lb range. She eats 1/3 of the food we put out, and the other 50-odd lbs of cats split the other 2/3. But she does eat with an odd delicacy, like a bird pecking at food!

Don’t forget!!! Abigail is offering one e-book of The Darcy Brothers AND one e-book of Alone with Mr. Darcy for giveaways! We can have two winners this month! If you have an e-book of one of these marvellous titles, please let me know and I can omit you from that drawing. 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 question for Abigail!

Final date for comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 20 May.

Winner will be announced Friday, 22 May! 

Good luck everyone!!

May – Abigail Reynolds!!

It’s Ask the Author time!

May is here, and we have a treat for Ask the Author this month!

Abigail Reynolds is our guest!

In the last few months, Abigail Reynolds and a team of Austen Variations’ writers published The Darcy Brothers. Abigail also released her new book

Alone with Mr. Darcy.

Now, you can ask Abigail a question about her writing, her books, or even Snowdrop! Don’t be shy! Please leave a comment with your question!

 

Oh and Guess what!!! Abigail is offering one e-book of The Darcy Brothers AND one e-book of Alone with Mr. Darcy for giveaways! We can have two winners this month! If you have an e-book of one of these marvellous titles, please let me know and I can omit you from that drawing. 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 question for Abigail!

All questions must be submitted by Friday, 15 May.

The final interview will be posted Monday, 18 May.

Final date for comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 20 May.

Winner will be announced Friday, 22 May! 

Leave me your questions in the comments below!

Good luck everyone!!

 

May Preview!!

May is here! May is here!

May might be just another month for most people, but I was born in May AND I have some great things happening this month!

First thing is first!

An Unwavering Trust comes out this month!!!

I have scheduled an official release date for May 30, but I will release it early if I get everything sorted before then. I just have some personal things coming up early this month and I don’t want to promise a date that I can’t deliver. Believe me, editing and formatting is something I would rather do than moving houses–even if it is just down the street!

With that book release comes a blog tour!

 

I’ve never done a blog tour before, but I thought I’d give it a go this time around. It should be a lot of fun, and I will be doing giveaways of e-books and other goodies I’ve been collecting, so stop by one of the blogs and check it out! The last stop will be Ask the Author here and you won’t want to miss that!

May 21 – Austen Variations

May 25 – The Writings and Ramblings of Colette Saucier

May 26 – Laughing with Lizzie

May 28 – More Agreeably Engaged

May 30 – Release Date

June 1 – My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice

June 3 – Austenesque Reviews

June 5 – Sarah Johnson: My Peculiar World

June 8 – Call for Questions – Ask the Author – lldiamondwrites.com

 

And the big news for May! The incomparable Abigail Reynolds has agreed to be our Ask the Author victim this month, and she has offered giveaways!

Whether you have read her new releases or not, I urge you to stop by and pose a question. Questions about her new releases would be awesome as well, but please be certain to mind the spoilers for those of us who have not read them yet. I for one have Alone with Mr. Darcy, but I haven’t had time to read it as of late. I want to be surprised!

If you have somehow missed Abigail’s newer releases. She was part of a group writing project called The Darcy Brothers that was released just a short time ago, and she released Alone with Mr. Darcy in April. She has been a busy lady!

I will post the call for questions on Monday, May 5, so do stop by and ask her a question! I look forward to reading the amazing questions that I am certain will be posed.

 

What do you have planned for May?

 

 

Inside the Ely Cathedral

If you’ve been following my travel blog, you might remember that during a trip to Ely, we did walk around and even inside the cathedral there. At the time, there was a service, so we weren’t allowed to explore as we wished.(http://lldiamondwrites.com/2015/01/03/arrival-in-the-uk-and-ely/) Recently, we made a return trip and paid the admission to go inside the cathedral, which is stunning!

The interior of the cathedral is not just a simple church. There are several chapels, ornate crypts, and incredible ceilings to take your breath away.

Upon entering, there is an entry and the breathtaking view down the centre aisle toward the altar, but that is not all. To the side there are amazingly detailed walls of columns, and when you walk up the aisle, you find the altar is overset by another incredible ceiling.

The chapels to the front have incredible detailed walls and ceilings. Each has it’s own character and slightly different look, despite being in the same building. In a way, the chapels are rather incongruous to the rest of the structure. With the smaller detail work of the walls.

I can only say that if you find yourself near the cathedral, it is certainly worth the price of admission!