The Vintage Jane Austen Blog Event: Kelsey Bryant Interview (& Book Review!)

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Today I am honored to be interviewing Kelsey Bryant and reviewing her beautiful book, Suit and Suitability, a retelling of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.

[image error]Join me in welcoming author Kelsey Bryant to Once Upon an Ordinary!

Kelsey, tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a daughter of God who lives in Texas and works at several jobs that I love, including writing, copy editing, and teaching martial arts. I’ve written three novels, but I delight in many things—Bible study and Hebrew, keeping fit and eating healthy, reading British authors and seeing new places, and spending time with family and friends, to name a few. I’m a homeschool graduate and love being a daughter, sister, and aunt.

What first made you decide you wanted to be an author?

My parents passed their love of books to me. I can’t remember never creating stories, so I suppose being a writer and author was always something I wanted. My grandfather was an editor and compiler of Christian books and devotionals, so that went a long way in inspiring me. After high school, I decided to seriously pursue becoming an author because that was the only thing I felt God calling me to do at that point. After several years, I finally completed a novel (Family Reunion, the first book of the Six Cousins series) and was ready to publish.

I love the concept of retelling old favorites. May we have an introduction to Suit and Suitability and a little backstory on what made you choose this book?

Suit and Suitability casts Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, one of my favorite novels, into Great Depression America. Here’s the synopsis:

Canton, Ohio, 1935. Ellen and Marion Dashiell’s world crumbles when their father is sent to prison. Forced to relocate to a small town, what is left of their family faces a new reality where survival overshadows dreams. Sensible Ellen, struggling to hold the family together, is parted from the man she’s just learning to love, while headstrong Marion fears she will never be the actress she aspires to be. When a dashing hero enters the scene, things only grow more complicated. But could a third man hold the key to the restoration and happiness of the Dashiell family?

The heroine of Sense and Sensibility is Elinor Dashwood, my favorite book character ever. Her courage, capability, unselfishness, and strong moral character really inspire me. I love the whole novel, but Elinor is the main ingredient that drew me to write a retelling of it.

What is your favorite aspect of the ordinary life God has blessed you with?

If I had to pick one, it would be the opportunity I have to walk daily with my Lord, Savior, and Teacher and receive His guidance. I can’t imagine living without Him as my best friend and bedrock.

Any plans for further projects?

I’m working on a third novel in my Six Cousins series as well as trying my hand at a fairy-tale retelling for children. Suit and Suitability showed me how much I love writing historical fiction, so I hope there will be more of that in the future.

Thank you so much for coming!

Thank YOU so much for having me!

[image error]Canton, Ohio, 1935. Ellen and Marion Dashiell’s world crumbles when their father is sent to prison. Forced to relocate to a small town, what is left of their family faces a new reality where survival overshadows dreams. Sensible Ellen, struggling to hold the family together, is parted from the man she’s just learning to love, while headstrong Marion fears she will never be the actress she aspires to be. When a dashing hero enters the scene, things only grow more complicated. But could a third man hold the key to the restoration and happiness of the Dashiell family?

I really loved this book. The characters were what made it most enjoyable for me.