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…
I have no idea who is next month! Any ideas? Feel free to leave requests below!
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.
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!
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?
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
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 Kara Louise!
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!
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?
What is in store for October? Well, I’ve been busy prepping and pulling things together, so there’s bound to be something big! We’ll start from the beginning of the month and move forward from there.
Monday, the call for questions goes up for Ask the Author. Kara Louise is our guest/victim this month, so I’m certain everyone will want to submit a question or two. Someone is bound to be curious about one of her books!
I hope to get a few more expat posts up, though I feel as though I owe an apology to those who do follow my ramblings. I became side-tracked prepping The Earl’s Conquest for publication and it has almost taken over. I do promise to get a few posts up after Ask the Author is completed. I want to make sure Kara has your undivided attention for her interview. I just need to remember where I am on my trip. I think I was getting ready to tell you about Durham and Yorkshire–and then there’s Bath to add! I’ve been rambling a lot!
Last but certainly not least is the release of The Earl’s Conquest! Mark your calendars! October 28th is the day. Pre-order is up at Amazon, so don’t forget to reserve your copy. I doubt their estimate of 209 pages is correct, however, since I added a preview of the first two chapters of An Unwavering Trust in the event someone hasn’t read it. All I need to do is finish proof-reading and formatting it!
Don’t forget to come back Monday for Kara!
Me at St. Anthony’s Chapel
We arrived at Edinburgh after driving through the rain all day on a Friday. The weather had cleared by the time we arrived in Edinburgh, so we walked down to the town centre for a look around and dinner.
The next morning, we visited the Georgian House, which is a National Trust property in Charlotte Square. It was disappointing that I was not allowed to take photos inside the house, but it was interesting to walk through. They have a great medicine box with labelled bottles of old remedies with a legend explaining what each cures. The kitchen was great as well. The guide explained how everything worked, which fascinated my children.
After lunch, we went to Holyrood Park for a walk and to catch a glimpse of Arthur’s Seat. I didn’t realise we would be so close, so one of my daughters and I were not wearing the proper shoes for a climb. We ended up climbing the neighbouring hill to look at St. Anthony’s Chapel. The climb is a bit steep in a couple of spots, but not a difficult one or a long one. The view is definitely worth the effort!
That evening, we returned to the town centre so my children could ride the ferris wheel and for dinner. Since we were in Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival, it was rather difficult to find a table for six, but a nice couple and their friend were kind enough to save us their table when they were ready to leave.
On Sunday, we spent the day at Edinburgh Castle, which has a lot of great places to see–the Great Hall, the Crown Jewels, and various war memorials. Then there are the views of Edinburgh, which vary depending upon where you are in the castle. It was an interesting place to visit and we enjoyed each of the different exhibits and views!
Some other things to do are The Royal Mile – we did walk down the Royal Mile while we were there. I enjoyed Rose Street, which is a pedestrian road with a multitude of pubs (We had a laugh at one named Dirty Dicks–especially because people would pose for pictures outside of it) and shops. Princes Street also has a view of the castle as well as a lot of shops and touristy things.
I wish I could’ve seen more of Edinburgh, but we left first thing Monday morning to visit a friend in Durham and to visit Yorkshire–which are up next!
Lory Lilian, author of the wonderful Rainy Days, Remembrance of the Past, His Uncle’s Favorite, The Perfect Match and Sketching Mr. Darcy 
has answered your questions!
What will be your favourite character from Pride and Prejudice if I do not let you choose Elizabeth or Darcy? and why?
(anadarcy)
Mr. Bennet – I just love his wit! But I admit to be partial, as he reminds me very much of my own father.
Apart from Darcy, which of Jane Austen´s gentleman do you prefer? and why?(anadarcy)
Mr. Knightley – because he had the strength to love Emma somehow hopelessly, and despite her sometimes spoiled and annoying behaviour, remained close to her, helped her and even censured her when needed.
Of all of Jane Austen’s characters, who would your closest friends say you are most like?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
Probably Emma –- with a tendency to get involved in other’s lives sometimes too much, and getting burdened with everyone’s problems. lol.
Which Pride and Prejudice character would you most like to have over for tea?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
Oh come on, do I need to say it? I would walk all way to Derbyshire to have ten minutes tea with Mr. Darcy!
What is your second favorite Jane Austen story?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
Sense and Sensibility.
I know JAFF writers prefer to write stories based on the characters or themes of Pride and Prejudice from the plethora of new books published every month. Have you thought of writing books based on other Jane Austen’s novels like Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility or Emma?
(Lúthien84)
I’ve thought about it many times … the problem is that I have been in love with Elizabeth and Darcy’s story since I was 13 (more than 30 years ago lol) and I simply cannot stop thinking of new situations, new stories, new dialogs regarding them. So it is not so much my choice but that I cannot help myself lol.
If you could pair a hero and heroine from any of Jane Austen’s books with Lizzy (other than Darcy), who would it be?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
Oh please, please do not ask me that – it is torture to think of this …. I love P&P precisely because I cannot imagine Elizabeth and Darcy with anyone else but each other. BUT, if you insist on torturing me, I would say Mr. Knightley again.
If you could ask Jane Austen one question, what would it be?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
“Dearest Jane, have you been truly happy?”
If you could travel back in time to the Regency period with a small suitcase, what would you take with you?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
Ohhhh …. Jane Austen’s books, my daughter’s pictures and my laptop to write.
Hi Lory, it’s Michelle, your UK stalker!! Have you ever been to England and visited where Jane Austen used to live or visited any of the locations where P&P was filmed? If not and you could only visit one location in England, where and what would it be?
(Michelle Hall)
I have only been to London twice – one visit was business related and the second visit was two years ago when I met Ellen, my editor. I would love (and it is my plan for next year!) to visit locations where P&P 1995 was filmed!!! I am dying to see “Pemberley” from where you send me some awesome pictures !!!
Since I have a blank mind… what is your favorite color?
(tgruy)
Ha ha – purple ! I will even have my Christmas decorated with purple this year.
You’re one of the longest standing JAFF writers. How has the genre changed over the years? Name one really good thing and one thing that makes you sad about the changes.
(Suzan Lauder)
Yes, I am 11 years old in JAFF … One good thing is that lots and lots of new readers and writers joined the genre in the last years and it seemed an ongoing process. It makes me sad to see some offensive arguments, reactions, tendency to “sabotage” others and some very nasty reviews from people who obviously did not read the specific book but only intended to hurt the author. I am not sure where this came from and why. I remember about 10 years ago when the only huge argument (sometimes very heated) in the JAFF community was Colin versus Mathew and P&P 1995 vs P&P 2005. Miss those days.
How do you come up with such wonderful ideas? I have read all your books numerous times including Sketching Mr Darcy and can’t decide which is my favourite – usually whichever one I am reading.
(Glynis)
As I said, I so much love Elizabeth and Darcy as a couple that they are always with me. lol (hmm, I wonder if this sounds normal lol). The ideas just keep popping into my mind and start developing, growing. If I only had time to write them all down…
What do you do to help your muse (walking, jogging, gardening, listening to music, etc.) when writing a story?
(Debbie Fortin)
Re-reading Pride and Prejudice (always back to the masterpiece), listening music but mostly the ideas came to me when I am driving long distances, hours and hours …
What is your native language?
(Debbie Fortin)
Romanian – born and lived in Bucharest all my life.
Because English is not your native tongue, you must work twice as hard to write. Are there areas where it’s harder to express yourself? Are there words in English that just make you laugh because they are so strange?
(Suzan Lauder)
Ha ha – there are no words that make me laugh, but my editors!!! lol. Now things are better, but in the beginning I used to use lots of expressions which sound so good in Romanian and so strange in English!!! The funny thing is that I CANNOT think and even less write my books in Romanian! I always wrote them directly in English, because I also read Pride and Prejudice and watched all the adaptations only in English. I cannot imagine Elizabeth and Darcy speaking in other language but English.
Do you write from an outline?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
Not exactly. Usually, when an idea comes to my mind, it keeps growing and developing and in a couple of days I know pretty clearly how it will end. I do write down ideas, dialogs, situations – in fact, I used to dictate them to my phone as soon as they came to me. Before doing that, I used to lose lots of good stuff because I could not remember them well enough once I returned to my laptop.
Do you have a specific time each day when you are most creative?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
Unfortunately – when I am at work and I have to do other things rather than write lol.
Do you have background music or complete quiet to write?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
I prefer silence – me and Darcy’s voice in my mind (darn, again, this does not sound well …)
I know from talking to you that you’re among those of us who enjoy mild erotic romantic scenes. If you were giving advice to new authors, what would you say regarding writing steamy scenes? Similarly, you have some stories with high angst. What would your advice be in that area?
(Suzan Lauder)
Oh, I hate writing angst! I am an angst wimp and I can hardly bear to read it – even less to write it. But it is needed, I know. I could hardly give advice in this – there are some brilliant stories with huge angst in them. My own rule for myself is to solve any angsty situation as soon as possible – mostly in the next chapter.
But I do love writing hot mush! Again, I would not dare advise anyone but I write steamy scenes based on feelings, sensations, thoughts of both characters. I am trying to show not what they are “doing” but how they feel while doing it. Lol And I always use hot scenes for the development of the story. Those of you who read my book, I hope you noticed that each scene is different – usually showing Elizabeth’s increasing trust in her husband and in herself as his wife.
All your books published so far are based on Jane Austen’s time. How comfortable are you on writing modern stories? Have you attempted to begin writing them but found that it not to your liking?
(Lúthien84)
Yes – I have one in progress but it is not going too well. As I said, I am so much in love with Elizabeth and Darcy as Jane Austen wrote them, that I found it difficult to change the settings, their behaviour, the rules of their relationship, the restraint in speaking to each other and so on … I admire very much the authors who do a wonderful job with modern stories.
I have thoroughly enjoyed each of your books with Remembrance of the Past as the top of the list. Which of the books you have written is your favorite?
(Debbie Fortin)
I really cannot have a favorite – they are so very different from each other and I put a piece of my heart into each of them. Most readers preferred Rainy Days – it is low angst and all about Elizabeth and Darcy and their romance. I am so happy that your favorite is Remembrance – I really loved writing Lady Cassandra! People had mixed feelings about her – half loved her, half hated her because they thought she stole the “air time” from Elizabeth. Now, Sketching Mr. Darcy has seemed to become my readers’ new favorite.
Who is your favorite character in the stories you have written and who is your least favorite?
(Debbie Fortin)
My favorite is Lady Cassandra, because I developed her story in-depth. But I am also very proud of Becky, Lady Matlock, Lord Matlock in His Uncle’s Favorite … The least favorite – Lord Markham in Remembrance. He was a horrible character, truly… it pained me to describe Caroline’s suffering.
Who is the easiest character to write – Darcy or Lizzy?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
Lizzy; I understand her better than Darcy and I can put myself in her shoes easier.
Do you have a specific actor in mind when you write your main characters? (Firth/Macfadyen or Ehle/Knightley)
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
P&P 1995 is the reason why I started writing jaff … So – Colin and Jennifer. I liked M/K pair, too, but I had some major issues with the script and dialog in P&P 2005.
Hi, Lori! Now that you are a veteran author…. which of your books was the easiest to write? The most difficult to write?
(junewilliams7)
The easiest – Rainy Days ! 390 pages in less than three months !!! The hardest – Sketching Mr. Darcy, because it was written during a very, very difficult time of my life and also had more angst.
After reading that blurb, I really want to read what happens for them to getting married, what bond is that??
(anadarcy)
I would say it is a very sweet one – Elizabeth met Lady Anne Darcy and Georgiana 10 years before – and also Darcy, but this secret will be revealed later in the story. I always love to have a touch of originality in my stories – something that was not done before
His Uncle’s Favorite is one of my fav Austenesque books of all time. I was always curious though if the title referred to Wickham, Elizabeth or both? Was the side plot of the Earl and Mrs. Gardiner originally part of the plan for that book or did it come about as you were writing?
(Shannon)
So happy to know you liked His Uncle’s Favorite so much ! Well, it was meant from the beginning to be a “words game”: the favorite was Elizabeth, Wickham and also Darcy – who is the favorite nephew. Yes, the Earl and Mrs. Gardiner plot was part of the story from the very beginning.
I read from the back cover of your last release, The Perfect Match, you will be releasing a book titled My Husband, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. Has the title been changed into Sketching Mr. Darcy or is it still in progress?(Lúthien84)
Indeed, the first title was “My husband, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.” I changed it after a short brainstorming with my editors. Mostly because it was too long for the cover LOL
Does your family know you write Jane Austen fiction and are a globally famous author?
(J “Joy” Dawn King)
Ha – thanks for the compliment, Joy, you are very sweet. Yes, they know and so are my colleagues.
I am wondering whether your next book will be a continuation of P&P or another re-imagining? I must admit I love it when we get to see life after the wedding.
(Lynn Bischoff)
My next very close project is a sequel to Rainy Days – which was requested by readers for ten years now lol. It will be also a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, as it will show our dear couple’s life after their marriage.
Finally, do you already have another book in progress?
(Shannon)
I have all of your books and read them often. I have 2 questions: What will the next book be about? When will it be published?
(klb0823)
I have three new books in progress! One is the sequel to RD – which will be published next month – hopefully – the other one is a sweet love story from Elizabeth’s point of view which might be out around the new year, and the third one is a much more difficult one … more complex and more angst…
Lory–Please give us a preview of your next book. Are you working on sequel to Rainy Days?
(Barbara)
How is the sequel to Rainy Days coming along? Any ideas on a release date yet?(Glynis)
I already answered that but it is my pleasure to do so again – the sequel will be out hopefully next month – to celebrate ten years since I finished Rainy Days.
**Before you go don’t forget to leave a comment because Lory is offering one paperback of Sketching Mr. Darcy and one e-book as a giveaway and the giveaway is open internationally! Everyone who has left a question or more gets their name put into the pot once, but if you leave a question and give a comment on the final interview, you get two chances to win!
Final date for comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 16 September.
Winner will be announced Friday, 18 September!
Leave Lory your comments below!
The children are back in school once again, and while I’ll miss them during the day, I can now get my nose back to the grindstone!
So, how should we celebrate?
I think with a new Ask the Author!
And I’m super-excited this month to say that
Lory, author of the wonderful Rainy Days, Remembrance of the Past, His Uncle’s Favorite, and The Perfect Match has just released her newest JAFF novel Sketching Mr. Darcy!
The morning after the Netherfield Ball, Fitzwilliam Darcy is ready to leave Hertfordshire, taking his friend Bingley away from the lady of his choice and distancing himself from her sister, who has disturbed his tranquility for weeks.
The path, meant to lead him away, unexpectedly brings him close to the person he most wants to avoid, and saving Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s life becomes not only his immediate goal but also a decision that affects his future.
A strong and powerful yet forgotten bond from their past—combined with startling events in the present—brings Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy into a marriage not planned but accepted by both, forcing them to break the barriers between them in order to build their future happiness.
The book includes mature content.
**Before you go don’t forget to leave that question because Lory is offering one paperback of Sketching Mr. Darcy and one e-book as a giveaway and the giveaway is open internationally! Everyone who leaves a question or more gets their name put into the pot once, but if you leave a question and give a comment on the final interview, you get two chances to win!
I hope everyone has a query or two for Lory!
All questions must be submitted by Friday, 11 September.
The final interview will be posted Monday, 14 September.
Final date for comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 16 September.
Winner will be announced Friday, 18 September!
Leave Lory your questions in the comments below!
Chatsworth was first built in the 16th century, but the home we are all so familiar with was when Chatsworth was re-built by William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire in 1696. Over time, the original structures were added to, and the North Face of the structure was altered by the 6th Duke of Devonshire in the 19th Century. All of the little renovations and additions over the centuries have culminated in one of the grandest homes in England.
The drive alone to reach Chatsworth is a scenic one since the property is in Peak District National Park. The countryside is beautiful, and the villages and towns are all old and quaint. As you enter the grounds, there are several old stone bridges which are one way, either you must watch and wait or there is a traffic light indicating when you have your turn; however, once you reach Chatsworth from the other side of the River Derwent, it cannot do anything but hold your eye.
Since I am exceedingly cheap and did not want to pay for parking, I purchased our tickets online a few weeks prior to our trip. There is a large car park to the left of the house, but we were ushered into the overflow parking in a large field between the front of the house and the river.
One thing I will say about Chatsworth is that the employees were some of the nicest people! When we began to approach the house, a woman at the gate gave us detailed information about the different places for us to get the children a snack and then after, she was in a different position, but directed us to the correct counter once we entered. It was preferable to waiting in the queue!
From the entry point, the house is roped off in such a way that you follow the path through the house for the tour. After passing through a corridor, you are taken to the Painted Room–the entrance hall in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. In my opinion, while it is amazing in the movie, it is more incredible in person. The marble floors and the paintings covering the walls and the ceiling are breathtaking. There are also diagrams that tell you the identity of all the Greek deities on the ceiling. There are painted ceilings in quite a few rooms, when you tour this house, so always look up when you enter a room! You don’t want to miss any of the artwork!
After the Painted Room, the tour progresses through rooms built in the event of a royal visit. All have painted ceilings and ornate furniture with dark panelled walls. These rooms were interesting, but I did not enjoy them as much as the remainder of the house. The rooms that had authentic Georgian era chinese wall fabrics and were more likely family bedchambers and rooms intrigued me more.
The library is huge, and unfortunately, roped off, but the door is left open for the public to see inside.
And then there is the artwork!!! Portraits by Gainsborough and portraits of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, George IV as well as others line the walls. Then there are the sculptures. My favourite was the “A Veiled Vestal Virgin” (Raffaelle Monti, 1847) who is near the library as you’re walking through. I heard people asking the guides posted throughout if the entire sculpture is marble and even had someone who looked at me amazed when they commented, “It’s all stone!” It is a marvel that the artist managed to give the detail of her face through her veil, and my favourite part of the piece.
The sculpture gallery is the last room of the tour and incredible on its own. I was already familiar with Neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova, who has several sculptures in this room, as well as replicas of his work sculpted by the master’s students (the lions). The room is beautiful, and I have to say that I spent a good twenty minutes to half-hour going through the room piece by piece, taking photos and studying the works.
Of course, every house you tour has a gift shop, but what’s special in the Chatsworth gift shop? You can take your picture with the sculpture of Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen) from the 2005 movie. Did I take my picture with him? No. I did take a photo of him, and get a giggle over the sign asking ladies not to kiss Mr. Darcy.
I wish I could say that we were able to go through the entire gardens, but the day was one of those misty at times and drizzly days. Other than a few drops, we managed to avoid a lot of the rain as we looked, but my children wanted to go to the play area before everything closed, so after viewing Paxton’s rock garden (by the Paxton who designed the Crystal Palace), the maze (yes, there is a hedgerow maze), and a few of the conservatories and the cascade, we left the house for the playground.
At the end of the day we set up our picnic blanket at the edge of the River Derwent, but that was when the heavens opened and the rain began falling more steadily. My husband did pull over as we drove out so I could walk into a field and take one last picture.
Up next…Edinburgh!
First word of advice if you are looking to visit this site is to make certain your directions are good! I couldn’t get the sat nav/GPS on the car to find the site, and the Apple App found it first. We followed that to the Matlock town centre–not where this site is located!! The Google Map app found it, but took us to a narrow country road where it claimed it was at the bottom of a public footpath with a lay-by for parking. Fortunately, my husband asked someone passing, who told us where to go to find an easier trail.
The problem is that the site is not marked–at all! No street signage or anything until you reach the footpath at the top of the hill where there is minimal parking edged with stinging nettles. We had to all crawl across to the driver’s side to exit the car. Then about 100 ft into the walk is a sign explaining the site where the trail splits in two with nothing to tell you where to go. We discovered later that both trails take you to the same place, but we did worry that we had taken the incorrect path at first.
Now, complaints aside! I must say that it is an interesting place! Watch for the presents left by the cattle and sheep along the footpaths, but the view along the walk is pretty. There is an old train nearby because we could hear the whistle and the chug as it moved along through the valley.
Nine Ladies Stone Circle is a Bronze Age stone circle, which means it dates back to between 3200-600 BCE according to the European Bronze Age. The site is in Stanton Moor, located in Derbyshire in Peak District National Park.
When you get closer to the stone circle, you walk through a bit of a wood with heather interspersed with the long grass and other wild flowers and weeds. The Nine Ladies, which are traditionally thought to represent nine ladies turned to stone for daring to dance on a Sunday, sit in a clearing surrounded by trees and heather. They don’t come far out of the ground, but do make a circle.
A nearby tree has various ribbons and homemade ornaments adorning it. We were fascinated by them, and while looking were informed by the mother of another family visiting the site that they were “wishes”. She offered us a bit of torn material or “ribbon” from a scarf she was wearing, and the children had a great time making their own wishes and tying them to the tree.
For those who find the stone circle, there isn’t much more than a short walk (if you find the trail at the top of the hill) and the circle. The stop would have taken us not more than a half-hour detour out of our way to Chatsworth from where we stayed in Ashbourne if we hadn’t taken the scenic route through Matlock 😉 . I do have to say that it was fun driving through Matlock! Unfortunately, I was too busy navigating us around to take any photos! 😦
Up next…CHATSWORTH!!
One can see a lot of beautiful scenery simply driving through Peak District National Park, but when you get the chance the ability to hike it is tiring but amazing. The National Trust site said the hike through Dovedale was easy, but once you pass Thorpe’s Cloud, the walk can be a bit more challenging. Climbing Thorpe’s Cloud is definitely difficult and I didn’t even go all the way up!
Ilam Park
The National Trust maintains Ilam Park, a 158 acre estate dating back to the 16th century. The grounds are still maintained around the house as part of the buildings contain National Trust guide offices. The house itself is leased to a youth hostel and did not appear to be open to the public.
The walk begins at the front of the estate and passes the church, through the town to a field across from the River Manifold.
After passing through several fields by gates and climbing stiles, you reach a car park near the River Dove where there is a small National Trust booth selling guide books and souvenirs.
From there, the walk proceeds down the River Dove which separates Derbyshire from Staffordshire until you reach the “Stepping Stones.” The stones have been reconstructed, but can be crossed to reach the opposite side of the river, depending upon whether you crossed the river by the bridge near the car park.
At the Stepping Stones, Thorpe’s Cloud can be climbed and crossed to reach the town of Thorpe on the opposite side. I admit to climbing a portion where I stopped and let my husband take my children to the top. It can be rather steep and I wanted to walk more of the path which stretches to Milldale.
Once you pass Thorpe’s Cloud, the walk becomes a trail of natural sites, which you can trace in the guide-book, should you purchase one or a map printed from online. We passed Dovedale Castle, Lover’s Leap, Tissington Spires, and followed the path to Reynaud’s cave where we turned back.
I have seen maps online which suggest there is a path which circles back when you reach Milldale, but we were at Lover’s Leap when my children and mother-in-law were worn out. My husband and I were the ones who pushed further forward. Maybe next time we’ll finish the entire trail!
For those who enjoy hiking with your dogs, the trail is a common destination for people and their dogs. It was a great time watching those who enjoyed playing in the water. I have to say that the water was some of the clearest I’ve ever seen for a river. My children said that it was freezing when they waded in it! I’ve posted a map with this post to get an idea of the entire trail and the part we walked. I definitely recommend the experience. The scenery is breathtaking!
Next up…Nine Ladies Stone Circle
L.L. Diamond 