Wendi Sotis Interview is in!!!

L. L. Diamond

March 16, 2015

I’d like to say a big thank you to Wendi Sotis for being our Ask the Author guest this month!

For those who have somehow missed Wendi’s impressive list of accomplishments, she is the author of Foundation of Love, Dreams and Expectations, Promises, All Hallow’s Eve, The Gypsy Blessing, The Keys for Love

: Foundation of Love

: Dreams and Expectations

: Promises

: All Hallow’s Eve

: The Gypsy Blessing

: The Keys for Love

Before I post Wendi’s answers, don’t forget to leave her a comment at the end of the post for a chance to win an e-book copy of Foundation of Love!!! Those of you who have asked questions already have their names in the pot, leave a comment for a chance to win, or if you asked a question, a second chance to win!

Anyway, on to the questions and answers!

Why do you write JAFF? What is it that draws you to Jane Austen’s work and characters?

Thanks for having me here, Leslie, and thank you to everyone who participated by asking questions!

What draws me in? I love the manners, language, and propriety of Regency times, though I don’t think I would have liked to have lived back then. Jane Austen has a “voice” that’s almost musical to me. How she weaves her romantic tale in with masked statements about society.

Why do I write JAFF? For years, I kept re-reading Jane Austen’s works, and I wanted more. One day, I searched online to see if there was a Jane Austen fan club, and found several JAFF forums. It was like a dream come true! I guess I had been reading a LOT of JAFF and started literally dreaming new storylines. I was going to jot them down in a plot-bunny thread on one of the forums, but I had always dreamed of becoming a writer, so I decided to write one of them myself.

You have triplets and a husband. When do you find time to write?
(J. Dawn King)

Hi, Joy. The kids catch every illness that’s going around, and in turn, I come down with it, too, so if I was working outside the house, I’d end up getting fired for taking too many sick days. I write pretty much every day instead. It’s something I can do from home and keep an eye on sick kids.

I used to get up at 4 a.m. to write before the kids woke up and write again after they went to bed. I don’t get up that early anymore, but I still do write after dinner instead of watching television. It’s been years since I knew what shows are on!

What I find the most difficult is when I’m interrupted. Switching gears from “living” inside one of my Regency stories to the real world doesn’t always work as quickly as they’d like. Someone will ask me a question, and I’ll just stare at them blankly for a minute as I my brain changes time periods! It’s a little easier with modern stories.

What do your children think of seeing Mom’s name in print?
(J. Dawn King)

At first, they were very excited about it, but with six books out, they’re kind of used to it now.

I have to say that Catherine is not very happy with Lady Catherine’s character, though 😉

Of all of Jane Austen’s characters, who do you identify with the most?
(J. Dawn King)

I’d like to be more like Elizabeth Bennet, of course, but I’d have to say my personality is naturally more like Jane Bennet or Anne Elliot. I think the two characters are very much alike.

Do you write with an outline or fly by the seat of you pants?
(J. Dawn King)

Although I really do try to write with an outline, the resulting story rarely ends up being anything like the original outline! I also tend to write while jumping around during the story, meaning I might write a scene at the beginning, then jump to a scene in the middle that connects to it somehow, and later fill in what happened in between. It makes posting a WIP to a forum rather difficult until a good part of the beginning is solid!

I do make an outline as I go to keep track of when things happened. That’s important since I don’t write consecutive scenes – I have to remember who knows what and when! Another reason is, for example, keeping track of all the drawings/photos in The Gypsy Blessing and Foundation of Love. I had to plan out what would happen before Elizabeth received the drawing or photo, but then I had to keep track when those things would actually happen.

We promise to keep your secret, which is your favorite time period to write? Regency? Modern? Future?
(J. Dawn King)
Do you have a preference on modern adaptations or regency?
(Dung)

Hi Joy and Dung. A double-shot question! I like to read all of them, that’s for sure. Up until recently, I had only written Regency, but I really enjoyed writing the modern stories, too. It’s actually more challenging for me to write modern, probably because I’m not as used to writing it. Keeping myself from writing Regency speech patterns in a modern story is very difficult! Most of the plot-bunnies I have on the back burner are modern, but I’m sure more Regency stories will pop into my head one of these days.

Wendy, you have such a variety of genres in your stories. Is there any one that you favor?
(Jen Red) (PS Hope you are staying healthy these days.)

Hi Jen. I think most of them have a bit mystery and suspense in them, or more than a bit, though there is paranormal in three, as well. Romance is first and foremost. I’d love to write a story set in the future, but that must be a tough genre to write. In All Hallow’s Eve, I had to come up with a different society that could work in the background of Regency society, but to predict what might happen in the future… people who do write this genre amaze me!

I’m good, thanks! It’s sweet of you to ask, Jen!

If you had Mary, Kitty, and Lydia as your three, what steps would you take to improve their character?
(J. Dawn King)

I think this is the hardest question of all, Joy! I did have Lydia change in Foundation of Love after her experience with Wickham. She had such a lackadaisical and selfish attitude toward her behavior that no matter who tried to tell her she was acting too wild, it didn’t help. Unfortunately, she needed an extreme situation to occur where she really could have lost everything before she could realize her behavior had been wrong.

Mary is usually more sensible in my stories than she was in the P&P movies, though I think they exaggerate her character from the book. When Kitty is in one of my stories (sometimes she isn’t,) as soon as she is separated from Lydia, she becomes a different person.

So in real life, if they were my children? (Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about having troublemakers as children in real life!) In modern times, I’d separate Lydia and Kitty, for sure! If they shared a room like my girls do, it would only lead to trouble. I’d get all three involved in activities they are interested in – after school clubs and activities, and encourage them to follow their own paths, but I’d also make sure they actually went there. My triplets were not allowed to be in the same classroom until they were in middle school, so they developed their own friends and interests. If I was their mom in the 19^th century, I probably would have sent Lydia away to a very strict school. I think Kitty would have been okay at home once Lydia was gone.

The premises for your books are so intriguing. How do you come up with the concepts for your stories both modern and regency?
(Dung)

Hi again, Dung. The ideas often come from dreams… Yes, I dream in JAFF! Another way is when I get stuck on a story I’m writing, I often go searching the web for writing prompts. Sometimes I’ll put several prompts together and my imagination goes wild!

Fleshing out ideas usually comes to me while I’m doing mundane tasks, like folding laundry or waiting in line at the supermarket. The shower is a great place to “write.”

Once I sit down to actually get the ideas into the computer, the characters tend to take over and write the story themselves. I know it sounds strange, but it’s the way it works for me.

Did you have a particular basis in reality for All Hallow’s Eve? Was there a particular old religion or mythology that you used for inspiration?

Halloween was coming up, so I did some research into the history of it. I ended up getting lost in the research. I found it was based on ancient Celtic rituals and beliefs, some of which are practiced today by some people. Some of what is in All Hallow’s Eve is based on those traditions, and some I made up. The herbs mentioned in the book were really used at one time or are still used today for those purposes, some by people practicing Wicca but there are other groups as well. I did get creative with them. For example, some might be used as an oil, but I had the characters throw a dried herb into a fire. I tried to stay within European traditions, but I ended up using some Native American traditional uses for herbs as well when I couldn’t find one that suited my purposes.

Were you a fan of Dark Shadows? I kept thinking of Sandor and Magda throughout The Gypsy Blessing.
(kneyda)

Hi Kneyda. Really? No, I never saw it – I had to look it up to see what you were talking about. Where have I been? This is right up my alley. I can’t believe I never heard of it before because I do love science fiction and paranormal. My husband got me into shows like Twilight Zone and Outer Limits when we first met.

I see it’s on Netflix, and I’m excited to order those disks. It’s a good thing they don’t stream it, or I’d be watching one right about now instead of answering your question! Thanks for the recommendation.

Out of all the stories you have written, all the scenes in each – what stands out as your favorite of all and why?
(Sarah Johnson)

Oh my goodness, Sarah, that’s a tough one, but I’d have to say the Netherfield library scene in Promises is my favorite. I don’t know why, really, it was just so easy to write, but one of the most emotional for me to write. I still get teary-eyed every time I think of it.

My question is similar to Sarah’s…which story (not just scene, but story) you have written is your favorite and why?
(Zoe Burton)

I know it sounds like a cop-out, but I really do think my favorite is always the one I’m working on, Zoe.

Do you currently have a new tale in the works? If so, do you have any idea when we’ll be able to read it?

There’s a fabulous narrator, Veronica Leckie, recording All Hallow’s Eve right now. She’s the same lady who did The Gypsy Blessing audiobook. I’m not sure of an exact date, but All Hallow’s Eve audiobook should be out on Audible, Amazon, and iBooks before the fall.

And I’m actually writing three stories right now, Leslie. Whenever I get stuck on one story, I switch to another.

I’m not sure whether the titles will change, but I’m using these for now. I’m very bad at making up titles! I’ll probably ask readers to help me name them.

The JAFF Regency starts out with a revised version of a short story I wrote years ago, A Lesson Hard Learned, and continues from there. I wrote the short in answer to a question: What happened to Darcy to make him change? (Other than Elizabeth’s refusal, of course.) Darcy has a Scrooge-like dream and realizes Elizabeth was right about him. I’ll begin posting that soon at BeyondAusten.com.

The JAFF modern story, Safekeeping, is romantic suspense. I already posted the first chapter on BeyondAusten.com: A woman finds she’s alone in the world and recognizes nothing. Who is she? Why does she have this feeling of impending doom? And why does she feel so safe with a man she’s just met, Darcy Fitzwilliam?

I’m also almost ready to begin posting the non-JAFF Regency, tentatively called The Pact, on BeyondAusten.com. This started out as a JAFF story, but it ended up being so far from Elizabeth and Darcy, that I changed it to non-JAFF. I don’t have a blurb for this yet, but here goes: The Earl of Westbury is running out of money and makes a pact with two men whose lives he saved while in the army. He arranges the marriage of his son, Viscount Eagleton, and his grandson, James Aldridge, to the gentlemen’s daughters, who have generous dowries, Miss Victoria Sharrington and Miss Celia Colton. Mr. Colton’s only addition to the contract is to allow Celia the enjoyment of a normal season in London before being forced to marry, therefore the pact is kept a secret. Celia and James are close until stubbornly-independent James finds out about the arranged marriage.

Good luck with the giveaway to everyone who chimed in with questions and responses!

Thanks so much, Wendi! Now, don’t forget to comment!

Wendi is offering one e-book of Foundation of Love as 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 will welcome Wendi with a question or two!

Final date for comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 18 March.

Winner will be announced Friday, 20 March!

Good luck!!

March – Wendi Sotis

L. L. Diamond

9 comments

March 9, 2015

It’s Ask the Author time!

March is here, and I don’t know about you, but I’m thrilled to see hints of spring peeking through the cold! Despite the still winter weather in some parts of the world, we have questions that need to be posed!

I’m excited to introduce this month’s Ask the Author guest

Wendi Sotis!

Wendi is the author of The Gypsy Blessing, Promises, All Hallow’s Eve, Dreams and Expectations, The Keys for Love, and Foundation of Love.

: Promises

: All Hallow’s Eve

: Dreams and Expectations

: The Gypsy Blessing

: The Keys for Love

But wait!!! Wendi is offering one e-book of Foundation of Love as 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 will welcome Wendi with a question or two!

All questions must be submitted by Friday, 13 March.

The final interview will be posted Monday, 16 March.

Final date for comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 18 March.

Winner will be announced Friday, 20 March!

Leave me your questions in the comments below!

Good luck everyone!!

All blurbs from Amazon.com

Promises –

Adapting characters from Jane Austen’s much-loved tale, this novel takes Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy on a much different journey than Austen did in Pride and Prejudice.

Through their fathers’ friendship, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy meet as children. Over the years, their feelings for each other grow and they promise themselves to each other, but unfortunate circumstances and interfering family members seek to keep them apart.

Will misunderstandings and mistaken impressions divide Elizabeth and William forever?

All Hallow’s Eve –

Since ancient times, every Halloween, the ritual of Sanun is performed, freeing the dead to interact with the living for one night. One Evil Soul discovers a way to hide from the Return, remaining on Earth to meddle with the fates of the living. As the centuries pass, It begins to search for the High Priestess, intending to force her to do its bidding, no matter the cost.

Appearances can be deceiving, even in Regency England. To most, Elizabeth Bennet is simply the second daughter of an insignificant country squire, but in truth, she is High Priestess and leader of an ancient cult secretly co-existing alongside British society. Confusion reigns when she learns that the man she despises, Fitzwilliam Darcy, is her Soul Mate, assigned to protect her from Evil. Can they work together to preserve the future?

Dreams and Expectations –

While staying true to the characters of Jane Austen’s much-loved tale, this novel takes Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy on a much different journey than Austen did in Pride and Prejudice.

Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet quickly recognize their feelings for each other and form a friendship, but misunderstandings and a bit of mystery and adventure hinder their path to happiness.

The Gypsy Blessing –

While taking a solitary ramble on her father’s estate, Elizabeth Bennet finds an injured woman, cares for her, and helps her return to her gypsy camp. For her exceptional kindness, Elizabeth is awarded a blessing, bestowed through gypsy magic.

Forgetting the incident, Elizabeth thinks it merely odd when she begins to receive drawings in the mail with no return address—until she recognizes these same scenes as they become true events in her life. Through the blessing, circumstances bring Elizabeth and Jane Bennet to Ramsgate, where they meet Georgiana and Fitzwilliam Darcy, along with a charming young man named George Wickham.
Will Elizabeth’s efforts to reshape future events alter her destiny?

The Keys for Love –

In this sweet Pride and Prejudice-inspired romance, William Darcy has finally torn himself away from work to join his sister at their vacation house in the Florida Keys. There, he meets his sister’s new friend, Elizabeth Bennet, the housesitter staying next door.

A light, fluffy, feel-good short story/novella. No graphic love scenes.

Harry Potter Studio Tour

L. L. Diamond

no comments

March 5, 2015

I know. I’ve gone from historic buildings and locales to a very modern studio tour, but hey, I love the Harry Potter books and the movies are a great deal of fun. I had wanted to go just to have a look around, but I really enjoyed myself! It was a great time!

I suppose the best advice I can give to someone considering the tour is to go the the Warner Brothers website and plan ahead. We booked in December for a date in February (although the week was a school holiday here) for our selection of days and times–Yes, you read that correctly, times. They claim the tour can take up to four hours. There have been people who have spent entire days in the park, but for the most part, I think planning 4-5 hours is an appropriate amount of time to plan when you schedule your day.

I opted to have our tickets posted so we would not have to wait in line to retrieve them prior to the tour. I will say that it was nice when you consider the line to actually get into the beginning of the tour!

Lobby

We drove into Leavesden from over an hour away, so we allowed plenty of time for traffic and roadworks (road construction) in our planning, arriving with an hour to spare. This did allow us to get the kids a small snack before we got in line for the tour. The most that I can do to warn you ahead of time is that the entire experience is madness. The place is busy and it follows the entire tour. It was very smart for them to make appointment times to spread out the people within the actual studios!

Entering the building itself, the lobby his huge and has a cafe and the gift shop to each side with the queue to enter the tour down the centre. You enter the queue approximately 10-15 minutes prior to your time and you wind your way to the doors leading in. All in all, the line moves pretty swiftly, so unless you are with a small child, it isn’t going to be like waiting in line for Ana and Elsa at Disneyworld!

There is some introduction, mainly two videos and then you begin the tour in the first section, the Great Hall. It’s an amazing jumble of set props, costumes, wigs, room sets in the first portion. Things you wouldn’t have thought were actually sets, but were likely green screens stand before you in vivid detail. Sometimes smaller than you would have imagined with explanations that camera angles helped bring the prop before you to life in the movie. (Sorry about the quality of some. They claimed the lighting would be good for the photos, but my camera found it a bit dark)

: Scabbers

: Costumes

: Crookshanks

We attended while they had some of the actual animals there. We saw Scabbers, Crookshanks, Hedwig, Fang, as well as a few other owls in front of Eyelops Emporium in Diagon Alley.

The beginning section also has some interactive things for the kids. They can ride a broomstick in front of a green screen for you to purchase either a DVD or a photo, and there is a spell casting lesson that my youngest children really enjoyed. I will say that the first portion seems to take the most time of the tour.

: Offices at the Ministry of Magic

: The Hall in the Leaky Cauldron

When you exit the first studio, there is another cafe that serves butterbeer. Just in case people are wondering, we read reviews that claimed it was terrible. It’s not. It’s a lot like vanilla cream soda with a vanilla flavoured whipped cream on top. It is expensive though (£2.75 for a small cup – $4.35), so we purchased on cup and all 6 of us tasted it.

The second half of the tour begins out of doors with some really fun things. Privet Drive, the Potter’s house in Godric’s Hollow, the Hogwart’s bridge, and the Night bus. When you enter the second studio, you begin with masks, make-up, and animatronics.

: Amazing artwork

: Amazing artwork

The next portion is the artwork, which is amazing. I went to art school, but the planning and talent that goes into something like this is amazing! I even had fun looking at the graphic design work they had for the movie.

You visit Diagon Alley, and then the last bit (I’m sure it’s online somewhere, but it’s supposed to be a surprise.)–I was awed. It is incredible! (Oh, and we spent around 5 hours in the tour. Longer than most, but my children loved the entire thing.)

Anyway, the last bit releases you into the gift shop where everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, you could ever imagine Harry Potter is sold. My children had a field day since their grandmother was there to buy them each something they wanted.

Now, after all my gushing about the experience, I will say my main complaint was the cost. The tickets are expensive, especially when you consider there were six of us. Then there was the butterbeer, which was high, and then you get to the gift shop. Some of the items were priced as I would expect, but shockingly, it was was the candy that made me choke. My mother-in-law initially told the kids she would buy them each one item and then a candy. She back-pedalled quickly when she saw the prices.

A box of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavoured Beans was about £7 and a chocolate frog was £8.75! I know it is the novelty of it, but look at the cost of a chocolate bunny at Easter. Most do not cost almost £9. I loved the experience, but please be warned before you go. Fortunately, my children were old enough to understand, and my husband and I purchased them a box of Every Flavour Beans (they asked for them!) and my daughter wanted this weird lizard pop. My oldest bought her own chocolate frog.

That said, I would love to go again. I don’t know that we will because of the cost involved, but I’d still hope for a windfall! Perhaps in a few years. I understand they’re opening a new part of the studio, so we might get to see more!

March Preview!

L. L. Diamond

2 comments

March 3, 2015

For those who have wondered, I’m still editing! I had family come and visit in February so that knocked me back a bit, but I’m making a concerted effort to bounce back strong this month! I’m seriously shooting for a May publication of An Unwavering Trust. Granted, I have other factors that come into play, but I’m crossing my fingers and toes.

Ask the Author promises to be a lot of fun this month with Wendi Sotis stopping by to answer your questions. Call for questions will post on on Monday, March 9, so stay tuned. Oh, and she’s offered a giveaway to go with her interview! I hope to see you here!

The Expat will hopefully have a few posts go up. The Harry Potter Studio Tour was one of our stops last month and let me tell you–it was amazing! You’ll have to stop back by for the details, though. We also saw a portion of the British Museum, which did not disappoint. If you’re interested in either of those, then definitely stop by and check out my experiences. They might give you the inspiration to do them yourself, or be something to add to your future travel plans.

Sources of inspiration will return. I didn’t post quite as much last month as I do normally, but perhaps, I’ll get one or two of these in! I’ll just have to figure out what I’m going to give you a peek into!

I hope you drop by in March! I have some grand plans!

Lavenham

L. L. Diamond

2 comments

February 24, 2015

Have you ever heard of Lavenham? If you’re not from the UK, you might not. I hadn’t until I was searching through the National Trust guidebook for places to take the family. Even then, a guildhall did not really interest me as I thought it might, so I continued to pass it over for other attractions until the Trust sent out an email chronicling places of interest from movies. So, what was so special about Lavenham? Well, the Guildhall is the basis for the Potter’s house in Godric’s Hollow.

: Lavenham Guildhall

: The Potter’s House set (Harry Potter Studio Tour)

Yes, my family and I are huge Harry Potter fans, and once I found that tidbit out the Lavenham Guildhall was on the to see list.

For those who like me were unfamiliar with Lavenham, it was one of the wealthiest medieval villages in England with the Guildhall of Corpus Christi at its’ hub. The Guildhall was once believe to be several homes that were combined to form a centre for the Wool guild and eventually a meeting place for the town; however, because the foundation of the guild was based on religion, it was disbanded with the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII and was later used as a prison and a workhouse.

Today many of the half-timbered homes in Lavenham remain crooked and leaning in some places into the streets. We walked around the town a bit just for the feel and enjoying the decent winter weather on the day we visited. The town is truly picturesque with the gently rolling hills that surround the quaint town. If it had not been for the cars and the modern clothes everyone wore, one could almost feel as though they stepped back in time.

We initially missed a turn to the Guildhall when we entered town, noticing the amazing church just along Lavenham’s edge, which we walked to once we had taken our time through the Guildhall and walking down a few of the small roads surrounding the town centre.

St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church was once probably a wooden church before it was built in stone in the 14th century. Like many of the cathedrals in England, it has been added to over the years, but none of the additions have detracted from the grandeur of this site. I think it reflects well the prosperity this community once had as it is such a grand church in a small village.

: St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church

: Interior

The exterior and interior of this building are just lovely and I found I enjoyed touring it as much as the Guildhall. The exterior has a great deal of Gothic detail to the architecture and I always enjoy the tall ceilings in the chapels. The columns and the different ceilings are all so interesting. Some have similar elements, but they are each unique in their own way.

Lavenham may not appear a great destination at first glimpse, but it is definitely worth an afternoon to walk around. I think I would enjoy returning in the late spring or early summer when everything is in bloom and it would be pleasant to take tea out of doors at one of the tea shops in town.

Winner of the I Promise To… Giveaway!

L. L. Diamond

3 comments

February 13, 2015

A huge thank you to everyone
who contributed questions and comments
for Ask the Author this month!

Without further ado…

Winner of the I Promise To… e-book is

Aimee McKee!

Congratulations, Aimee!

Next month’s Author is Wendi Sotis,

author of Foundation of Love, Dreams and Expectations, The Gypsy Blessing, Promises, The Keys for Love, and All Hallow’s Eve.

Call for questions posts is Monday, March 9! Stay tuned!

Ask the Author – Zoe burton

L. L. Diamond

17 comments

February 9, 2015

I’d like to give a big thanks to Zoe Burton – this month’s featured author!

Zoe is the author of I Promise to…
and a contributor to the Peculiar Ramblings newsletter.

Blurb from Amazon.com – “In this ‘Pride and Prejudice’ novella, Elizabeth Bennet has known Fitzwilliam Darcy since both were very young. When she flees Longbourn and an unwanted suitor, her uncle and his father arrange a marriage between the two. Will Lizzy and Fitzwilliam agree to such a marriage? Will it keep her safe from a Peer who is determined to have her? Will this young couple be able to keep the promises they have made to each other?”

I hope you’re ready for Zoe’s answers since I’m certain she’s put a lot of thought into them! Let’s get going then, shall we?

I have two questions: What do you prefer to write? Regency or Modern? AND since writing your recent short story about finding love at the speedway, have you toyed with the idea of a novel or a series of NASCAR short stories to make up an anthology?. Darcy as a driver could be a first and an interesting little series of stories. 🙂 Hugs
(Cat Gardiner)

I prefer to write Regency. I think it’s a more interesting time period than modern-day. The only modern I can really imagine writing is set in the NASCAR world. I actually have the beginning of a novel-length NASCAR story in my files. I want to finish the Regencies I’m working on before I write it though. I have also been encouraged to turn Pocono into a novella. That’s a possibility. Darcy would be an owner/driver in my novel. I even have (hold on to your horsepower, this does not usually happen) an actor in mind to be my Darcy. Usually my Darcys are faceless, but not this time. 😉 Thanks for leaving me a question! (((hugs)))

When did you first get interested in Jane Austen’s characters and who was inspiring you besides Jane Austen and the characters?
(MaryAnnN)

I first got interested in Jane Austen’s characters a few years ago, the first time I saw Pride and Prejudice on TV. I think it was 2011. I bought that movie and the book. I alternated for weeks between reading the book and watching the movie every day. (I didn’t actually *read* the book in a day….but every day I was either reading or watching or both.) It got to the point where if I told a certain friend/colleague that I was watching a movie, I was asked “Which one, Pride and Prejudice?” LOL

I’d have to say that I was inspired in large part by the JAFF authors I was reading. I would think to myself, “She should have had them do this instead. How would it have come out if she had?” I read everything I could find, and at some point I ran out of stories that appealed to me and began writing myself. Thanks for leaving me a question! 🙂

Zoe, what do you do to distract yourself when you have writer’s block or just need a little break from JAFF?
(JenRed)

When I have writer’s block, I go do something unrelated like laundry or dishes. It seems like the movement away from the computer often helps me think of what I want to say next, with the added benefit of actually getting some housework done.

So far, I have not felt a need to have a break from JAFF, though I do have non-Jaff books, and have read a few in the last couple months. I am still very much enamored of Darcy and Lizzy and I just want writers to write MORE of them. Thanks for leaving me a question, Jen! 🙂

Zoe, I love that you always seem so cheerful. Where do you get your inspiration?
(JenRed)

LOL I do not always *feel* cheerful! I have a very strong relationship with Jesus, and time spent in prayer and Bible study is what helps me stay positive. When I let that slide, things get very tough and it becomes almost impossible for me to remain good-humored. Also, I am rather laid-back. Some might say I’m so laid back I’m completely reclined! LOL I try not to let things bother me overmuch and it takes a whole lot of stress before I break. (And when I do break, it is spectacular!) I avoid confrontation or anything that will rock my boat, if I can. 😉 Love that question, Jen! 🙂

OK, here goes. I’ll try not to go crazy, but… (JDawnKing)

1) If Fitzwilliam Darcy was to cut in front of Matt Kenseth on the final lap at Daytona, would you still love Darcy?

Is he married? If not, I’ll be mad at him for a while but I’ll get over it quickly. If so, I’ll be mad at him a lot longer. Will I still love him? Maybe. 😉 This IS the final lap of Daytona we’re talking about….

2) Are you more Lizzy Bennet or Jane Bennet? Or possibly, Lydia? (No!!! Not Lydia!)

Oooooohh…good question! I am a lot like Lizzy and a lot like Jane. I *used* to be like Lydia, but then I grew up. 😉 I am like Jane in that I always try to see the good in people. I try. I’m like Lizzy in that I am capable of being witty and I see the bad in people. I’m actually suspicious by nature and not terribly trusting. I have issues. LOL 😉 But once you are my friend, I am loyal to a fault. I will build you up and coddle you and try to take care of you. Be careful what you wish for. 😉 LOL

3) Since you are a fulltime teacher, how do you find time to write?

Mainly by NOT doing housework! Seriously…in September, a month after I published “I Promise To…”, my floors were still swept and mopped weekly. Then came October and diagnostic testing and add writing to the mix and routine went out the window. Today my kitchen floor is disgusting. BUT I have completed a second novella!! I have my priorities straight! 🙂

Really, though, I spend most of my Saturday, some Sunday afternoons, and at least half of every holiday writing. I teach online. My commute is nonexistent, but my workday is longer and busier. At the end of a school day, I tend to be too mentally exhausted to write. One hundred words a day would thrill me during the week. But I make up for it on my days off. J Good question…thanks for asking! 🙂

4) (see question #3) What is your greatest sacrifice to use your extra time writing?

I guess my greatest sacrifice is throwing out the routines it took me so long to establish. I was a slob for well over 40 years and a neatnik for about 6 months. LOL! I hate that my house is not clean again, but the feeling I get when I have finished a story…or even a scene…makes it all worth it. Good thing I’m single, childless, and petless, eh? 😉

5) What drew you to Jane Austen fan fiction?

When I finished reading and watching Pride and Prejudice, I did not want their story to end. I found JAFF when I was buying other Jane Austen books for my Nook, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven! THEN I discovered entire websites with FREE Darcy and Elizabeth stories. I *knew* I was in heaven then!! 😉

6) When is your next book due to be published?

My next book, Lilacs and Lavender, is due to be published around April 1^st as part of a boxed set. I will be publishing it as an individual book a few days later.

7) If Matt Kenseth was to cut in front of Fitzwilliam Darcy on the final lap at Daytona, would you still love Matt?

Oh, heck yes! Matt is THE MAN! Have you never seen that cute gap between his teeth when he smiles? Is he married? Well, yes, but shhhhh…don’t disturb my fantasy. Besides, Matt is the.best.NASCAR.racer on the track today. He’s consistent, persistent, and a hair bit sneaky. 🙂 He WILL win the championship this year!! 🙂 Good questions, Joy! 🙂

Zoe, where is your favourite place to write? Any special things you need to make it “feel” inspiring….tea, nutella, music, post its? 🙂
(Leenie B)

Hmmm…..my favorite place to write is actually my kitchen table, but only because I have more freedom of movement there. I actually wrote a large part of “I Promise To…” on a note app on my Kindle Fire, sitting on the couch. 🙂 I wrote part of the Christmas story at Kalarahi during a staff meeting on a legal pad. 😉

Special things I need to make it “feel” inspiring…tea often does this for me, as does pretty much any food, especially if it’s chocolate. I do eat a lot of Nutella and pretzels while I write. LOL! A clean table is frequently helpful, so oftentimes I will stop writing or put it off a while so I can straighten up. All those piles of paper and stuff behind the computer can be annoying. Great questions, Leenie! 🙂

Do you have a character you love to hate? And does it remind you of anyone in real life? (You don’t need to give names but if you hate Caroline, maybe she reminds you of all the catty girls from high school, for example).
(Rose Fairbanks)

Well, I do love to hate Mrs. B. She’s a piece of work, in my opinion. There’s a hairstylist here in town that I went to high school with who reminds me of her…both love to gossip. I don’t like Caroline either…she does remind me of a particular mean girl from high school that I still avoid like the plague. And Wickham reminds me a lot of my ex-husband. Great questions, Rose! 🙂

What inspired you to write this version of P&P? In the blurb, it mentioned if the arrange marriage happened will it keep her safe from a member of the peer… Is the peer you speak of someone in Elizabeth’s circle or more of Darcy’s circle or even someone titled?
(Dung)

This idea for a P&P variation came to me one night as I was trying to go to sleep. I had not seen anything like it before, and when I was encouraged to write my own story, it was the one I wrote. The peer is named Lord Regis, and he is titled. Good questions! Thanks for asking! 🙂

First let me say that I appreciate your having me here. I have been addicted to Jane Austen since grade school ( I am now 67). I Jane Austen Fan Fiction immensely. I do have trouble when reading sometimes. I always have anywhere from 4 to 6 books going at once. I am always reading so there is something to read next to me all the time.I handle that quite well. The exception is this. If I have a Regency era novel going and a modern one at the same time. I sometimes find myself having to stop intermittently and think the storyline and get myself back into the proper era. Lol My multi-tasking self ( which is quite competent normally) needs a reboot so to speak. How as a writer do you manage to train your thoughts to do that? I do remember and keep the comprehension but have to stop and take a breath more often.(louannlajeunesse)

Oh my! That is hard to keep straight sometimes! I have done that myself, having more than one book going at a time. As a writer, I focus on writing one story at a time. I do read other stories when I’m writing, and I know not everyone does, but it doesn’t distract me at all from my own story. But if I tried to write more than one at once, I’d have a mess on my hands. That’s easy enough to do as it is! Great question! Thanks for commenting and asking your question!! And I hope that in 19 years, when I’m your age, I’m still as sharp!! 🙂

I loved your book,I Promise To. I found the characters of Darcy & Elizabeth very tender and loved them. Are you working on another story? If so, can you tell us a little about it? Can’t wait to read any and all future books from you!
(Aimee McKee)

Thanks, Aimee! I am working on another story. It’s out for final proofreading and such right now. It’s called Lilacs & Lavender, and it starts right after the Netherfield Ball, but with greatly altered events. It’s another novella and it’s going to be available as part of a boxed set and individually. The boxed set will be on sale beginning April 1^st or so, and the individual copy will be on sale a few days after that. I am so glad you like my books! Thanks for your questions! 🙂

But wait!!! Don’t forget to leave that comment!!!!

Zoe is offering one e-book of I Promise to… as a giveaway! Usual rules apply – Every person who submitted a question has one chance entered into the pot. A comment now also gets you a chance, so if you submit a question and comment on the final interview you get two chances!

Get your comments in by

Final comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 11 February

to be entered into the drawing!

Good Luck!!!

What’s in store for February!

L. L. Diamond

no comments

February 3, 2015

February is set to be a fun month!

To start, we have the lovely Zoe Burton for Ask the Author. She is offering a copy of her e-book I Promise to… to one lucky winner, so stop by the call for questions and ask something–get your name in the bucket for a chance at that e-book!

February is a busy month over at Austen Variations as well. If you haven’t dropped by to see our facelift, then please do! I love the new look, and we timed the unveiling with our Anniversary celebration. Yes, Austen Variations is one year old, and to mark the milestone, we’re having a month-long party on the blog. Have you ever wondered what our favourite Jane Austen characters were doing one year after their marriage? Well, you can read our ideas at Austen Variations. I am writing a scene with Mr. and Mrs. Collins, which was a lot of fun to write.

Are you a Persuasion fan? Then, don’t forget Persuasion 200 at Austen Variations as well. I am contributing two posts this month to that wonderful endeavour, and I hope you’ll stop by and read my scenes and leave me a comment! (There is a blog button on the side to take you directly to the page! Go ahead and give it a click when you’re done.)

The Expat has been a bit busy lately, but she has a lot of outings planned and will be returning soon. Some locations of interest include: The Harry Potter Studio Tour (I know. Not JA, but I love HP too!), the Tower of London tour, and the British Museum. I don’t know if I will get to blogging them all this month, but I’ll definitely blog them eventually!

Lastly, my new posts, Sources of Inspiration, will take you through the Antebellum houses of A Matter of Chance. If I have time, I will also give you a sneak peek of Darcy’s estate Sagamore in An Unwavering Trust. It’s an amazing property, and I wish it was open to the public. I’d just love to be like Elizabeth Bennet for a day and ramble the grounds!

Anyway, I hope you’ll join me for a great month of Jane Austen, travel, and inspiration!

and

Happy Valentines to all of you!

February – Zoe Burton

L. L. Diamond

16 comments

February 2, 2015

It’s Ask the Author time!

February is upon us, and as we prepare for Valentine’s Day and brave the cold and snow in some parts of the world, we have questions that need to be posed!

And who are we asking questions of you ask?

Well, this month’s ~~victim~~ guest is Zoe Burton

Zoe is the author of I Promise to…
and is a contributor to the Peculiar Ramblings newsletter.

But wait!!! Zoe is offering one e-book of I Promise to… as a giveaway! Usual rules apply – Every person who submits a question gets one chance entered into the pot. If you submit a questions and comment on the final interview you get two chances!

I hope everyone will welcome Zoe with a question or two!

All questions must be submitted by Friday, 6 February.

The final interview will be posted Monday, 9 February.

Final comments to be entered into the drawing Wednesday, 11 February.

Winner will be announced Friday, 13 February.
Someone will have good luck on the Friday the 13th!

Leave me your questions in the comments below or message to me on Facebook!

Good luck everyone!!

Sources of Inspiration – Artists as Modistes

L. L. Diamond

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January 27, 2015

Are the characters in your favourite novels only fictional places in someone’s mind, or is there a corresponding place or inspiration? I am beginning this new installment as a way of allowing you a bit of insight into my mind, as long as you aren’t terrified at the prospect! 😉

Today’s post gives you the inspiration behind the names of the modistes in my novels. If you’ve read historical fiction, then you are likely aware that a modiste was a dressmaker. Women made appointments with the modiste and then searched through fashion plates as they made their orders. It seems many authors use French names for the women in this occupation, and I followed that trend; however, rather than make up names, I derived their actual names from French female artists.

A modiste likely took nips and tucks to fabric to create the perfect gown as artists in history added extra brush strokes to their canvases to create the perfect landscape or portrait. I felt it an appropriate parallel.

Just to give a bit of history, until the 20^th century, women often were overlooked as artists. Mediums common to women (watercolor, paper cuttings, etc.) were classified as craft rather than fine art, and their was even a hierarchy of genres, which, believe it or not, was a list of what paintings were considered more important than others. This list made it even more difficult for women to succeed in painting.

For example, the most respected form of painting was histories. If you consider that genre, these included mythology, religion and allegories. For centuries, women were not allowed to study the human form (primarily the male nude form), so how were they to paint these scenes without the proper training and study? In this portrait of the Royal Academy, painted in 1771-1772, the members of the group are sketching a male model. Two women belonged to the Royal Academy during this time, but if you’ll examine the painting closely, they do not appear at first glance; however, if you look closer, you will see both Angelica Kauffmann and Mary Moser are in portraits hanging from the wall behind the model. Women were mostly relegated to the periphery as far as training and recognition.

Just for reference, this is a listing of the hierarchy of genres to let you know where these women made their names.

Histories (includes religion, mythology, and allegorical subjects)
Portraits
Genre Paintings (paintings of daily life)
Landscape
Animal Painting
Still Life

I see the use of their names as a subtle nod to them and their work. So, without further ado, please allow me to introduce you to the artists.

Rain and Retribution

Madame duParc

Françoise Duparc (1726-1778)

Daughter of sculptor Antoine Duparc, she did not become well-known, even within her own country of France, until the beginning of the 20^th century. Duparc did not sign or date her works, so many of her paintings are unknown with the exception of four paintings she bequeathed to the Musee des Beaux-Arts in Marseille. The works she is known for are all “genre portraits.”

An Unwavering Trust

Self-portrait of Elisabeth Vigee-Le Brun

Madame Lebrun

Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun (1755-1842)

Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun found amazing success during her lifetime as a court painter for Marie Antoinette. A child prodigy trained by her father, over a ten-year period, she painted 30 portraits of the French Queen. She even painted several famous depictions of the monarch with her children prior to the French Revolution.

Due to her fear of the coming revolution, she fled France with her daughter in 1789 and traveled to Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Germany, painting the nobility and aristocracy, before travelling to Russia, where she remained for six years again painting portraits of the aristocracy and the Russian royal court. Prior to her permanent return to France in 1805, she spent almost two years in London.

The painting shown is a self-portrait. I recently had the privilege of viewing a copy she painted that hangs at Ickworth near Bury St. Edmunds. It is a stunning work!

Untitled work-in-progress

Madame Bonheur

Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899)

Rosa Bonheur, like many early female artists, trained under her father, and by the age of 23, had already exhibited 18 works in the Paris salon—an impressive feat for a woman during that time, especially considering her subjects were animals sometimes within a landscape.

Bonheur separated herself by not only being an artist, but by her research. She was known for frequenting the slaughterhouses where she studied in-depth the anatomy and musculature of the animals she painted. It was said she even had a license to wear pants (Yes! She had to carry a license just to wear trousers!) since it was impractical to wear skirts as she made her studies.

I hope you enjoyed this little foray into my thought processes and perhaps gives you some inspiration to learn more about one of these amazing women. If you have a favourite French artist, then please tell me in the comments below. If she fits, perhaps I’ll use your suggestion the next time I require a name!

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