TALKING JANE AUSTEN WITH ... MICHAEL THOMAS FORD, AUTHOR OF JANE GOES BATTY + GIVEAWAY

Readers and critics alike embraced Michael Thomas Ford’s clever and campy novel Jane Bites Back, which recasts everyone’s favorite Regency era author as a vampire.  Now Jane returns—fangs and all—in JANE GOES BATTY (Ballantine Trade Paperback Original; On Sale February , 2011) and the pre-pub reviews have been glowing. Michael has kindly accepted to answer my questions to present his work to the readers of My Jane Austen Book club. Read the interview, leave your comment, add your  e-mail address and you'll have the chance to win a copy of Michael's JANE GOES BATTY (US and Canada only).

Thanks a lot Michael for being my guest today.  After  the success of Jane Bites Back, Jane Goes Batty will be released on February 1st.  I have read  brilliant  reviews of your  Jane vampire series. I’m actually surprised by the great success mashes-up  Austen/vampires have got so far. Could you try to explain what the appeal of such blend of genres is to a contemporary audience? 

I think mash-ups initially became popular because there are a lot of modern readers who assume the classics are boring. Adding monsters to well-known novels appeals to a certain segment of the population because  it appears that these classic books and their authors are being skewered. But what many readers find is that they're intrigued by the original books and want to read them.  Many fans of classic literature  decried the mash-up phenomenon, saying that it was in a sense sacrilegious , but I think the mash-ups have actually led to a renewed interest in the novels on which they're based. 

Have you asked (of course you have!) yourself: would Jane Austen find this funny? Would she like reading it? And what would she like best?

I do think Austen would enjoy reading the books and would find them amusing.  We know from her letters and her novels that she had a wicked sense of humor, and of course she could hardly pass up the opportunity to remark on what I got wrong in my books. As for what she would like best, I think it would be the  friendship between my  Jane and her assistant Lucy. I based it on Austen's real-life relationship with her sister Cassandra, which in many ways was the defining relationship of her life, and I hope  that she would find my fictional Jane and Lucy reminiscent of that.

 What typical elements of Austen’s world and work did you try to re-propose in your novels?

Because the books are set in modern times, there aren't a lot of day-to-day elements of Austen's world in them. However, I have included a number of references to real-world people and events from Austen's time. For instance, in Jane Goes Batty she listens to a recording of Heinrich Marschner's opera Der Vampyr and recalls seeing an early performance of it. That performance did occur at a time when Austen, were she really a vampire, could have seen it. I've sprinkled little moments like that throughout the books to bring a bit of Austen's life into them. 

How did you approach Austen and her Regency world? What kind of research did you carry out to face the task to write about Jane Austen and make her your protagonist?

I deliberately did not do a lot of research on the Regency world, primarily because the books are about Jane Austen living as a vampire in modern times and I didn't want to weigh the stories down with historical details just for the sake of having them in there. What I did concentrate on was the way in which relationships and social interactions were carried out in Regency times, because after all that's what Austen's novels are about and I wanted that reflected in my books. As far as using Austen as a protagonist, again I tried not to worry about it too much. Austen's fans are  notoriously protective of her, and I felt that if I worried too much about getting her "right" I would end up second-guessing of my choices and end up with a boring story. So instead I asked myself what the Jane Austen I see through her novels might be like after almost two centuries of living as a vampire. This Jane is of course not going to be the Austen every one of her readers sees, but I think she's a Jane who captures a lot of what makes Austen so popular with readers.

Have you got a favourite one among her works? A favourite heroine or hero?

Different novels appeal to me at different times in my life, and my enjoyment of them is often affected by what's happening to me at the time. I think my favorite Austen novel is Mansfield Park, largely because it's often named as the least popular with Austen readers and I like to be contrary. I also think it's the most difficult of Austen's novels to enjoy, mostly because Fanny is an unlikely heroine and her complexity is often overshadowed by her timidity and piety.  She's no Bennett sister, that's for certain, and the novel is seldom joyful. But if you can get beyond that, Mansfield Park is a fascinating look at society and its effects on both self-perception and interpersonal relationships.

Is there a Mr Darcy for your Jane ? More than one?

Poor Jane. She's not entirely sure what she wants in that department. On the one hand she has the kind, sensitive, and dependable Walter. On the other is the dashing, mysterious, and broody love from her past. And of course Walter is not a vampire, which makes a future with him difficult. Which will she choose? We'll have to wait and find out.

What is the nicest review you got for your Jane vampire (either related to Jane Bites Back or Jane Goes Batty)? What about the worst?  (I know it’s not nice to ask, but I’m so nosey!)

There have been many nice and gratifying reviews, both in trade publications and from readers. I tend to be most pleased with (and upset by) reader reviews, because after all I write books for readers, not reviewers. So my favorite "reviews" are actually all of the wonderful e-mails I get from people who have enjoyed reading the books. As far as professional reviews, one of my favorites came from Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose, who was an early and vocal champion of Jane Bites Back. When the book was announced there was some understandable skepticism from Austen fans. Laurel Ann was the first major voice in that community to encourage Janeites to give the book a chance. She wrote that, "you will chortle and guffaw until the last bite." That did a lot to break down the barriers some Austen fans had put up. As far as bad reviews, the one unfavorable reader review I can remember was from a woman who said that she didn't find it funny and while reading it kept thinking of ways that she could have made it funnier and better. Reviews like that make me crazy, because the writers never say what they would do to make the book better.  I don't mind if someone doesn't like a book, but I want to know why.

 Would you like to “vampirize” any other classic heroine/hero or writer? What fun can that be?

As fun as it's been, I really have no interest in monsterizing any other literary figures. Although Jane Bites Back came out after Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (which effectively launched the mash-up phenomenon), the proposal for my series was written and sold almost a year earlier. I honestly had no intention of being part of that phenomenon. Initially I was amused by the idea of writing about a Jane Austen who was indignant about what had become of her body of work in the centuries since her supposed death. Really the books were intended as a commentary on the writing life, using Jane Austen as an example. I just happened to get caught up in a wave of seemingly-similar books, which was both good and bad. But I  don't think there's anyone else I want to turn into a werewolf or mummy or any other thing that goes bump in the night.

 Did you read any classic Gothic novel, before starting writing your own?

I've always loved Gothic novels. Frankenstein has been a favorite since high school, as well as Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White  and even Walpole's Castle of Ortranto. I love anything with a darkness to it, whether it's Shirley Jackson or Stephen King or William Faulkner. Although my Austen novels are comedies, I'm actually much more comfortable writing novels with a darker  edge to them.

10. Would you adapt or let others adapt your Jane vampire series for the screen?

Absolutely. In fact, there should be some good news on that front any day now, although for the moment I must remain mum. 

How would you tell the story of Jane goes batty in about / less than 50 words?

Having successfully published her first novel in almost two hundred years, Jane is now watching a Hollywood film crew turn it into something she barely recognizes. Also, her potential mother-in-law arrives for a visit and expects Jane to be Jewish. Oh, and a vampire hunter is trying to kill her. Hilarity ensues. 

Now, my last request is… Michael, try to convince skeptical janeites to read you books.

If we learn anything from Austen's novels it's that things are not always what they appear to be, and that making hasty judgments only leads to unhappiness and tears. On the other hand, when one takes chances and allows oneself to be open to possibilities, one is often pleasantly surprised. 

Thank you, Michael! You've been brilliant. It was a real pleasure to have you as my guest today. 

GIVEAWAY TIME|!!!

 Readers  living  in the US or Canada can leave a comment and their e-mail address to be entered the giveaway of a copy of JANE GOES BATTY. The winner will be announced next Wednesday 16th February. Good luck!

More about Michael Thomas Ford and his work at his site
  http://www.michaelthomasford.com

DARCY & FITZWILLIAM, A TALE OF A GENTLEMAN AND AN OFFICER by KAREN VASYLOWSKI

"The Two men stared off in different directions, making their awkward final good-byes to each other .

They were in appearance and comportment, as dissimilar as two men could be. 

Though both were exceedingly tall, Fitzwilliam Darcy the younger by nearly two years and a gentleman, was dark and handsome, elegantly dressed in the finest coat and neck cloth, breeches and boots. His air was one of a man of elegance and breeding, his demeanor of a man three times his age; heavy, solemn, serious, and levelheaded. He was also shy to the point of seemingly rude indifferenceW. The owner of one of the largest estates in England, inheridted by him aat the grand old age of twenty-one and then doubled, he had achieved his great success at the expense of his youth.

The elder of the two men, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, was bulkier, barrel-chested and slightly rougher looking, dressed in his unkempt colonel's uniform. An uninhibited joy of life exuded from him. He was like a large gangly puppy, a happy wild spirit trapped within a respectable soldier's body. What he lacked in physical beauty he more than made up for in character, the magnetic center of anywhere he went and of everyone he knew." (from The Prologue pp. 1-2)

What is absolutely new in Karen Wasylowski' s spin-off story based on Pride & Prejudice is its being a modern bromance set in the Regency period.  This modern term refers to a close but non-sexual relationship between two (or more) men . It is a story of special , close friends which,  in ancient times already, Aristotle described as “ those who desire the good of their friends for the friends' sake that are most truly friends, because each loves the other for what he is, and not for any incidental quality”. This is exactly what happens between  Darcy and his cousin Fitzilliam .

Reading this novel gives a new point of view, which is entirely male, on the events. It is  like being admitted beyond that close door which separated the ladies from the gentlemen during Regency after-dinner private gatherings. It is like being allowed to share the men’s confidential chatting,  which Jane Austen usually neglected making us rather follow her heroines’ share of the events. In her novels we are banished from the men’s room and left  in the sitting room with all the ladies.

Being Darcy and Fitzwilliam the protagonists of this novel, we are,  instead,  allowed to make the acquaintance of the secret aspects, jokes and  quirks men usually don’t share with women. This is definitely the novelty in this amusing story based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

The  witty style chosen by Karen Wasylowski becomes even hilarious - if not farcical  - at times , which reminds me Georgette Heyer more than Austen. Many scenes might well be part of a Feydeau’s theatrical farce : Darcy and Elizabeth vivacious and continuous arguing in their married ménage or Caroline Bingley “ambushing” her dream man, Darcy, alone  in her brother’s house in order to seduce him, or the hilarious meeting of Fitzwilliam and Doctor Anthony Milagros.
The character of Lady Catherine is  outstanding, rather different from the original, that is ...  incredibly human and understanding - even with Elizabeth - and so patient that she accepts  being called “old girl” by Colonel Fitzwilliam, decorated hero in the Napoleonic war, but  free and easy even with her, his aristocratic stern aunt. Maybe she's becoming old indeed!

The novel is set into three parts; Volume 1 focuses on Darcy and the continuation of what began in Pride and Prejudice, Volume 2 focuses more on Fitzwilliam and where he is heading in life, and Volume 3 is the conclusion of the two and focuses on the family as a whole.
There are old and new characters and among the latter, two ones are rather peculiar or bizarre: Amanda ,  a charming widow coming from the new world with a very complicated family situation who succeeds in conquering Colonel Fitzwilliam's heart , and Doctor Anthony Milagros, her handsome close friend.
I had fun reading this book and I think it is a remarkable first attempt at fanfiction, being this a debut novel for Karen Wasylowski.  Many authors try to write like Jane Austen, in this case instead , the author managed to capture the essence of Pride and Prejudice but creating a work that has her own  voice.
 To be totally honest , as I ususally try to be,  I must admit that there are things in the book that may offend Austen purists. So if you are among them, I must warn you:   you'll find sex scenes between the protagonists and  a blunt, rather modern language, so  you can have the impression of  little attention given to the Regency etiquette or you might even find some twists in the plot improbable. However, I'm sure everybody can appreciate the enthusiasm and love with which Karen Wasylowski approaches  the task of writing Austen fanfiction.
Personally,  I  was amused most of the time and never offended. And if a weakest link in the novel  must be found,  let it be ... its length to me. I would  have cut it shorter, avoiding the third volume. The first one was definitely the best, there's greater control over every aspect of the narration.

Now I've got some urgent questions for Karen Wasylowski and she has kindly accepted to answer ... Till very soon then, to further discuss this new Austenesque read .

This was one of my tasks in the Jane Austen is My Homegirl Reading Challenge hosted at The Book Buff.

RUDE AWAKENINGS IN THE UK

Today’s women are no less desirous of love, and marrying for love, than they were in your time. But they, like so many women before them, simply fear it is an unattainable goal. And thus they settle for what fleeting plasures they can find, creating an endless cycle of pleasure, despair, ad infinitum. Human nature is the same today as it was in your time. The only difference between today’s world and your world is that people have more choices now than they did then.” ( RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, p.265)

This was my first Austen-based book, never read one before, only the original novels by Jane.  RUDE AWAKENINGS is the sequel of Laurie Viera Rigler’s first novel, CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, which I  read only after this one (wrong order? Not at all, no problem) . What was this first experience like? Great , pure amusement. 

Now I'm glad to announce that Rude Awakenings has been just released  in the UK. Cute cover, isn't it? (see picture above) If you haven't read this delightful novel yet and you live in the UK, you've got the opportunity to do it now. If you are Ms Rigler's fan and want to collect the different editions of her novels, (there's even a beautiful Italian one of Confessions, translated into Shopping con Jane Austen)  here's a new item for you! I really loved reading this novel.

Laurie Viera Rigler knows Austen quite well and it is a pleasure to recognize that background while smiling at the entertaining series of misunderstandings, blunders, weird situations her time – travelling protagonist, JANE MANSFIELD, finds herself involved in . Jane wakes suddenly up in 2009 in Los Angeles but she is an English girl living in 1813, fondly in love with Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. She is completely misplaced and shocked, her body even is a stranger’s one: she looks at herself in the mirror and sees a nice blondie everybody calls Courtney Stone!  Fun garanteed.

My review of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

DANCING & JANE AUSTEN

Matthew Mac Fadyen, Keira Knightley, director Joe Wright  and other members of the cast  and staff of Pride and Prejudice 2005 discuss the key role of balls in 18th century dating in one of the extra videos I have in my DVD.  

"Dancing was absolutely central in ther society - says Jane Gibson, coreographer - in terms of finding a good husband or a good wife. When you went to a dance or if there was a dance at the end of a party you would almost always be in the presence of your parents.So if you think about how you want to behave with your mum and dad watching..."
We know much about this from reading our beloved Austen "majors" , especially Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, Emma and  Sense and Sensibility, since less about the importance of balls we find in Mansfield Park or Persuasion. As we also know that a dance was the only moment you were allowed to talk alone with someone you were attracted to or in love with.

As director , Joe Wright, states in the video below : "  ... the fact that it's difficult to talk to someone who you're in love with is brilliantly highlighted in the etiquette of Austen's period, where you actually, physically, weren't allowed to talk to them alone, except when you were dancing. That's the only time you were alone, so to be able to use those dances in that way was a great way of forming collisions between characters".

"If you are only allowed to have physical contact in the dance, then dancing with someone is electric, it's so charged. And it's having that formal structure. Especially the dance, playing the little moments between  two people in that very formal structure..." - states Matthew MacFadyen (Mr Darcy)

And Keira Knightley adds: "They never really touch. Women do not shake hands with men, so the first time Darcy touches Elizabeth (she refers to a scene in the movie) is when he helps her into the carriage , which is a really beautiful moment because it is the first skin-on-skin touch and I think, today, we don't think twice about that all ..."
So we can just imagine the excitement you could experience at a ball dancing with a partner you liked!

I find this series of interviews extremely interesting and, since balls in Jane Austen 's novels and in their film adaptations have always charmed me, I've decided to post about them adding some of my favourite videos from Austen - related films and series.

First of all, there were three main kinds of dances or Formal Balls in19th century England as noted in Jane Austen's novels, and, as stated above,  they played a significant role in people's lives.

These balls included: Assembly Room dances that occurred in town, smaller dances thrown at country inns, and private balls given at a country home by a private citizen.

The Assembly Room 

Rooms were public venues specifically built for public balls. In his book What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew, Daniel Pool talks about the Master of Ceremonies, whose responsibility was to know the background of the young men and women present, and then introduce them so they could dance, as it was improper for men and women of the day to introduce themselves. The Master of ceremonies also made sure that the attendees maintained their propriety and proper etiquette.

We can see an example of this in Northanger Abbey 2007: Henry Tilney after meeting Lady Allen and Catherine at a public ball in Bath helps them and inappropriately talk to them without being previously and formerly introduced. So, in order to repair the serious crime against propriety, he asks the Master of Ceremony to introduce him to the ladies. Only after that, he asks Catherine to dance with him.

Dances at country inns were similar to this, but on a much smaller scale. They were usually held in smaller communities, organized by locals, and consisted of dancing and dining. When gentlemen and ladies of high rank happened to make their appearance in such happy but humble gatherings, surprising and unexpected things could happen. Thinking of  Meryton Assembly Dance in Pride and Prejudice, of course. But also in Emma we've got a similar dance organized by Miss Woodhouse and Frank Churchill  who hire a big hall in the village for the occasion.

The Private Balls

The smallest gatherings were balls thrown at private estates by individuals.These balls would also consist of dining as well as dancing. The dinner was held very late (around midnight) and could consist of a few courses to sometimes even eight or ten. According to Maggie Lane's book Jane Austen's World, the menu consisted of things such as soup, pigeon pie, veal, cheese, oysters, and trifles, and was typically served with wine or negus, which was a mixture of boiling water, wine, lemon, spices, and calves-foot jelly. Mr. Bingley throws one of these balls at Netherfield Park in Pride and Prejudice. See this beautiful fanvideo blending scenes from Pride and Prejudice 1995 with scenes from P&P 2005
Though we are not at all sure things went this way, I love the dance in Becoming Jane ( 2007)  in which fictionalized Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) and Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy) dance together at  Lady Gresham's private ball. I love when he comes out of nowhere with that incredible smile and magnetic look. Classic romantic moment.

The Style of Dancing

 As for the actual dances, they were not the dances of couples as we know in the modern sense. According to Janet Todd's Jane Austen in Context, the “ladies and gentlemen [would be] standing opposite each other in a line or a circle." These dances could have as few as three couples, and upwards of twenty. Because all of the dancers, not just the couples, were involved with the dancing, the more couples involved with the dance, the longer a set lasted. This was good for the couples, because if there were a lot of people dancing, they may have to wait their turn to dance, so they could flirt with their partner. This is seen at the Netherfield Ball in Pride and Prejudice when Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth converse throughout their dance. An average dance would last around thirty minutes, giving the couple ample opportunity to talk.

The Etiquette of Dancing

As for the dancing, it was improper etiquette for a woman to dance more than two dances with the same partner, and if two people did dance more than two dances together, they were assumed engaged. This is seen in Sense and Sensibility when Marianne and Willoughby are “partners for half the time” and “were careful to stand together and scarcely spoke a word to anybody else." Ladies would also carry dance cards to mark the names of men who they had promised dances to, so as to keep it all in order.

All of these circumstances provided the perfect opportunity to have fun, and if they were lucky, make a life match.

A PARODY OF AUSTEN REGENCY BALLS

How would a modern girl used to dancing in clubs and  discos and to today's open, even  blunt , interactions between men and women behave if invited by Mr Darcy himself (Edward Cowan) to join him and dance? 

Though Pride and Prejudice and its world have  no secret to Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) , the protagonist of Lost in Austen, the result is not very succesful.

    

TALKING JANE AUSTEN WITH ... SUSAN ADRIANI + GIVEAWAY

Susan Adriani has been a fan of Jane Austen and her beloved characters for as long as she can remember. Originally from New England, she attended a small art college close to her home, where she majored in illustration. In 2007, after contemplating the unexplored possibilities in one of Miss Austen’s most celebrated novels, Pride and Prejudice, she began to write her first novel-length story, The Truth About Mr. Darcy (formerly Affinity and Affection). With encouragement from fellow Austen enthusiasts she continued, and is currently at work on her second book. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, young daughter, and a very impertinent cat. The Truth About Mr. Darcy will be available in bookstores in May 2011. 

 

THE GIVEAWAY is open worldwide this week!!!  Susan Adriani's book is inspired to Pride and Prejudice,  so we decided that, since her novel is not available yet,  leaving your comments and e-mail address you'll have a chance to win a brand new copy of very special edition of Jane Austen's masterpiece: The Annotated Pride and Prejudice, edited by David M. Shapard.

 Glad to talk with you about Jane Austen, Susan. Thank you for accepting to answer my questions.

 Thank you so much for inviting me, Maria Grazia. It's a pleasure to be here today.

 Welcome on My Jane Austen Book Club and thank you, Susan. First question, as usual, you and Jane Austen. When did it start and how?

 My first journey into Jane Austen's world was when the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice first aired on television. My best friend lured me to her house, where we spent an entire rainy afternoon glued to the television (she'd taped it on VHS). The next day I went out and bought the book. After that, there was no turning back.

 

 What is it in her work and in her life that most fascinating you?

 At first, it was Jane's sense of humor that drew me in, but it was her cast of characters—heroes, heroines, and villains alike—that captivated me throughout. She also paints a very vivid picture of life in the regency period, and I've always found that life fascinating. I love the politeness of the era, the formality, the customs, the language, the dress—the list goes on and on!

 Do you think she fully  accepted  or she just bore the fact of living in the  world she depicted, that of England’s country gentry? I mean, did she dream in a different reality? What’s the impression you got from her stories?

I've always noticed a very prominent undertone present in Jane's writing. Her heroines each have a certain strength and determination about them. She lived in a time where women had very little say about their fates, and her novels depict many different aspects of that life, be it through the eyes and experiences of heroines like Elizabeth Bennet and Emma Woodhouse, or more minor characters such as Charlotte Lucas, and Anne Elliot's friend Mrs. Smith. Women of the gentry couldn't work to support themselves and still be considered respectable, nor were unmarried ladies allowed to venture outside of their homes unaccompanied. Their well-being and their futures were entrusted to men—first their fathers, then their husbands. It mattered little what befell them; society expected them to conduct themselves respectably, and with dignity at all times, regardless of their situation. Jane used her talent and her sense of humor masterfully. Through her novels, we are given a very clear picture of how she felt about a woman's role in regency society.

 Pride and Prejudice inspired your  The Truth About Mr. Darcy (formerly Affinity and Affection) which is going to be released by publisher Sourcebooks in May.  What is so special in P&P that it has inspired so many fanfiction writers, in your opinion? 

Pride and Prejudice gives us such a realistic view of the world, but in an entertaining and often comical light, and I think  that appeals to so many readers on a universal level.

 Why  is it so special to you instead? 

Pride &Prejudice has always been my favorite of all of Jane Austen's works. I've lost track of the number of times I've read it, but the bottom line is that I simply fell in love with the characters. From Mr. Collins to Mrs. Bennet, from the Gardiners to the Bingleys, there are so many unique, vivid  personalities, and I find each one of them completely intriguing.

Mr Darcy is Jane Austen most beloved hero. What are the qualities that have made him a cult beyond time, the dream  man of many a women?

Mr. Darcy's manners may not be as engaging as Colonel Fitzwilliam's, Captain Wentworth's, or Henry Tilney's, but he is, without a doubt, the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome! While we are initially given to believe that he is proud, haughty, and aloof—we soon discover there is more to him than our initial impression. His quiet brooding lends him a very powerful and enigmatic presence, one that is all the more enticing once we learn how much of a gentleman Darcy truly is, and how brightly he burns for Elizabeth Bennet. The fact that he takes her reproofs to heart, and truly makes an effort to change his haughty ways so he could someday earn her good opinion, only sweetens the deal!

Among the several Mr Darcys we saw on screen, have you got a favourite one?

 I have always admired Colin Firth's performance in Andrew Davies' 1995 adaptation, but that may have something to do with the fact that it was the very first adaptation I had the pleasure of seeing, and is, by all accounts, my favorite.

 Can you tell us,  without giving  huge spoilers away,  what “ the truth” about Mr Darcy is ? Is there anything we never suspected? Any terrible secret to unveil? 

  I'm afraid that this Darcy isn't as secretive and mysterious as the new Sourcebooks title makes him sound! He begins the same way as he does in the original P&P—believing himself above his company and, more particularly, Elizabeth Bennet and her family. It isn't until George Wickham comes to Meryton and Darcy sees him speaking to Elizabeth (and Elizabeth's enthusiastic reaction to his former friend) that the master of Pemberley finds himself moved to act in a manner he otherwise wouldn't. Darcy quietly acquaints her with Wickham's dissolute tendencies and questionable character, putting Elizabeth on her guard. A series of events and interactions soon culminate in Darcy realizing much earlier on that Elizabeth's opinion of him is not at all equal to his ardent admiration of her. Though you did mention it earlier, Maria Grazia, I would like to point out once more that "The Truth About Mr. Darcy" is not a new novel by me, but a re-release of my debut novel "Affinity and Affection." There are no major changes to the storyline, but there has been quite a bit of editing, which has yielded a much cleaner and more finished text.

Among Austen heroines, which is the one who most resembles your personality?

 Hmm...that's a tough one, but I think I'd have to say I'm mostly a cross between Elizabeth Bennet and Elinor Dashwood and leave it at that!

 The minor character you would like to write a spin-off story of ? 

I hate to admit it, but I really do like Mr. Collins, and a writer can have a lot of fun with his character's back-story!

 The hero or heroine whose destiny you would like to change re-writing his/her story?

 Though I am a huge fan of Colonel Brandon (I literally wept with happiness when he finally won Marianne Dashwood's heart in Sense and Sensibility), I always wondered what might have transpired had Willoughby chosen to remain in Devonshire with Marianne, rather than running off to Town and engaging himself to Miss Grey and her fifty-thousand pounds. Knowing that he really did love Marianne, there's a little part of me that always wanted the sentiments of his heart to prevail over the more demanding  tug of his purse strings. Of course, he'd have an awful lot to answer for whether he stayed or fled. Either way, it would be a fun project and a great challenge!

Are you working on any new project, while waiting for the release of The Truth about Mr Darcy?

 Of course, I'm always working on something! At the moment, my list includes three P&P inspired "What Ifs", so I'm definitely keeping myself busy. Though none of them are finished at this point, anyone who is interested can read a sampling of my work on my website at:

http://www.thetruthaboutmrdarcy.weebly.com

Thanks again  for being with us today, Susan. Good luck with the coming out of your book.

Thank you so much, Maria Grazia. It's been wonderful talking to you and all of your readers. I've enjoyed being here very much!

Now it's your turn, dear readers. Leave your comments or questions for Susan Adriani. She'll be glad to answer you. Don't forget to add your e-mail address to be entered in the giveaway. Remember: open worldwide! Winner will be announced next Wednesday 16th February. Good luck!

AUSTENESQUE NEWS

1.  JUST RELEASED 

Karen Wasylowski, DARCY & FITZWILLIAM

For the first time ever, a bromance with the famous Mr. Darcy takes readers on a whirlwind look at an elegant sequel to Pride and Prejudice.

The novel is set into three parts; Volume 1 focuses on Darcy and the continuation of what began in Pride and Prejudice, Volume 2 focuses more on Fitzwilliam and where he is heading in life, and Volume 3 is the conclusion of the two and focuses on the family as a whole.

Michael Thomas Ford, JANE GOES BATTY

Readers and critics alike embraced Michael Thomas Ford’s clever and campy novel Jane Bites Back, which recasts everyone’s favorite Regency era author as a vampire.  Now Jane returns—fangs and all—in JANE GOES BATTY (Ballantine Trade Paperback Original; On Sale from  February 1, 2011) and the pre-pub reviews have been glowing. 

Jane Odiwe, MR DARCY'S SECRET 

Caroline Bingley and George Wickham begin to besmirch Darcy's good name and sow seeds of discontent, but while Darcy and Elizabeth are already at odds, revelations of past conduct emerge that threaten to destroy their happiness...
Jane Odiwe's latest release promises great twists and surprises! 

2. THE HEALING POWER OF JANE AUSTEN

Emma Thompson reveals the work of Jane Austen saved her from depression and  romantic novelist JoJo Moyes examines the healing power of literature in this article from  The Telegraph. Emma Thompson suffered severe depression after the break-up of her first marriage, and to such a debilitating extent that, in her own words, she “should have sought professional help”.

But her choice of self-medication drew a huge nod of recognition, in this house at least. For Thompson was “saved” not by Prozac, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, but by immersing herself in Sense and Sensibility, the Jane Austen novel she turned into an Oscar-winning screenplay. Obviously meeting the very handsome Greg Wise, starring opposite him in said film, and then marrying him might have provided a little balm to the soul too, but as anyone who loves books knows, fiction – and Austen especially – is a great remedy for the steeper humps of the human condition.  Read more 

3. SOCIAL NETWORKING IN THE AGE OF AUSTEN?

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet on Facebook? With social networking the hot topic of the day, a computer science grad student, his advisor and a literature professor teamed up to analyze social interactions in 19th century British novels.

The answer was to use Elson’s program to try to analyze a longstanding literary theory that Victorian novels set in the city have more characters, looser social networks and less dialogue than those with country settings. Read more

4. JANE AUSTEN'S HOUSE MUSEUM AT CHAWTON - CELEBRATING SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

2011 is the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane's first published novel, Sense & Sensibility. Celebrations are going over the Net and everywhere there's a big or small community of Austenites. Chawton House Museum will be celebrating throughout the year with a range of events including talks, music events, family activities and more. Events will be added to the website as they are confirmed. If you would like to join our Event Mailing List please sign up via the Contact Us page of the website. CLICK HERE

5. JANE AUSTEN'S EMMA PERFECT FOR THE STAGE

Very positive review for Emma on stage, the musical: "All 12 members of the cast gave stand-out performances, most notably Murin. Her sunny portrayal of the lead role makes her immediately engaging and it helps that she has strong comedic, drama and musical skills. Her Mr. Knightley (Adam Monley) is very sarcastic and completely believable as he banters and playfully insults Emma while she innocently wreaks havoc on others’ lives. The Jan. 29 performance had an understudy play Emma’s father, Mr. Woodhouse (Richert Easley). His interpretation of a man who does not like change is hilarious, because he takes everything much more seriously than the other villagers of Hartfield".

GO ON READING

  

Tickets and information on “Jane Austen’s Emma” can be found at theoldglobe.org.  

 

WATCH A VIDEO

NOCTURNE BY SYRIE JAMES - GIVEAWAY WINNER

Last week Syrie James, author of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen among others, was my guest here on  My Jane Austen Book Club. We talked Jane Austen and Syrie  also presented her latest release, an intriguing modern romance, NOCTURNE. One lucky reader who commented the interview  is going to get her brand new  free copy of this novel.
My congratulations go to ...

stilettostorytime

As usual, thanks for taking part in the giveaway to all those who entered and,  if you couldn't last week because not living in the US or Canada, or haven't won this time, or even if you have (why not?)  stay tuned! A giveaway open worldwide will be soon on My Jane Austen Book Club, connected to my next interview for the weekly event "Talking Jane Austen with..." I'll wait for you all here tomorrow. MG

GIVEAWAY WINNER - THE THREE WEISMANNS OF WESTPORT by CATHLEEN SHINE

This modern retelling of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility is the first book given away in the Sense and Sensibility Bicentenary Celebration here at My Jane Austen Book Club,  which opened in January with Jennifer Becton's guest blogpost "Men, Marriage and Money"

The winner is ... Margay !

Congratulations!!!

THE THREE WEISMANNS OF WESTPORT is published by Picador Publisher. They kindly offered this free copy to the readers of My Jane Austen Book Club. Stay tuned for February guest blogpost and giveaway   (see the schedule of the event )

AUSTENESQUE NEWS

SIX THINGS JANE AUSTEN NEVER DID

How would  Jane Austen and Charles Dickens fare as writers marketing their books in today’s world? This is what Kathleen Baldwin, author of Regency romances, wonders in her  curious brilliant post Six Things Austen and Dickens Never Did: they never tweeted, They did not set up a home office network, They never bought promotional pens, bookmarks, postcards, or other give-away goodies. Read the rest of the delightful blogpost HERE

FROM PRADA TO NADA RELEASED IN THE US

Directed by Angel Gracia; written by Fina Torres, Luis Alfaro and Craig Fernandez, based on “Sense and Sensibility,” by Jane Austen , has been just released in the US. Read this review from The New York Times

From Prada to Nada - promo picture

 JANE AUSTEN INSPIRED BUSINESS WOMAN

While watching an adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense And Sensibility, Kathryn Davis had a sudden brainwave. The key scene was when Mr Willoughby rode at a galloping pace across hill and down dale to the rescue of Miss Dashwood.

As any good horsewoman would note, what excited Kathryn was not the dashing Willoughby but rather his powerful horse traversing miles of uninterrupted bridleway. It was that experience of riding freely across open landscapes that Kathryn wanted to offer riders, not nose-to-tale trekking on weary ponies across road and motorway. Read more.

 COLIN FIRTH: FROM LITERARY SEX SYMBOL TO BRITISH ACTING ICON 

For years, Colin Firth was the reading woman’s sex symbol. When a TV mini-series was made of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 1995, and when a movie version was made of Bridget Jones’s Diary, Helen Fielding’s chick lit classic, in 2001, he wowed as the flesh-and-blood embodiment of each book’s respective version of Mr. Darcy. Now, with back-to-back Oscar nominations for Best Actor for demanding roles in two terrific dramas, 2009’s A Single Man and this winter’s The King’s Speech, the British actor has become more popular than ever. (Make of it what you will that at the same time, the star wattage of fellow British male stars such as Hugh Grant and Jude Law, who in Hollywood’s eyes once outshone Firth, has dimmed considerably). Go on reading and watching (there are great clips!) 

By the way, I've seen The King's Speech! 
I saw it yesterday. My review is on Fly High! 

Another interesting article is on The Telegraph.  Philip Sherwell  states that Colin's triumph has fuelled Jane  Austen fever.

TALKING JANE AUSTEN WITH ... SYRIE JAMES + GIVEAWAY

 

 After a successful career in Hollywood, in which she sold nineteen screenplays and teleplays in a variety of genres to Tri-Star Pictures, Fox Family Films, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX TV and the Lifetime Network, Syrie James decided to follow her passion and write a novel. Syrie was thrilled when her first work of historical fiction (about one of her favorite authors), The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen, sold at auction after a two-day bidding war between three major publishing houses, received critical acclaim, and became a bestseller. The Lost Memoirs was then followed by other successful novels: The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte and Dracula My Love. Syrie James latest release is Nocturne, a modern romance. Read through the interview and leave your comment + e-mail address to win a copy of Nocturne! (Giveaway open to US & Canada readers only)

Join me and welcome Syrie James 

on My Jane Austen Book Club!

When was your first encounter with Jane Austen and her world ? What fascinated you at first?

I first became introduced to Jane Austen in a British literature class in college. We read "Emma" and "Pride and Prejudice." I was an instant fan. There are few writers who can match Austen for pure brilliance of plot, characterization, and dialog. 

 Like many of my blogmates and readers, I’ve read and loved your biofic “The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen.”  I was incredibly impressed at how true that story seemed to me, how it told about the Jane I had in my mind.  How long and detailed was the preparation for that book?

I read dozens of Austen biographies and scholarly works as well as books about the Regency era. I re-read Jane Austen's six novels, her unfinished works, her juvenilia, and all of her surviving correspondence. I went to England and walked in Jane's footsteps, with a visit to her house at Chawton Cottage, the ruins of Netley Abbey near Southampton, the Cobb at Lyme Regis, the city of Bath, and a pilgrimage to her grave at Winchester Cathedral. I was also granted a rare opportunity to visit Godmersham Park, one of the grand manor homes belonging to Jane's older brother Edward, where Jane often stayed. It was a glorious experience! I also watched all the movies of her works many times to familiarize myself with the customs, fashions, and lifestyle of Jane's England.

Then the real work began: to outline and create the story. It was a challenge to interweave my imagined love story with the known dates, times, places, and facts of Jane Austen's life. I am so glad the story rang true to you, because I felt a great responsibility to remain true to Jane Austen's known history, and to accurately represent not only her, but her real-life friends and family members.

  

While researching,  what did you discover about Jane that you didn’t suspect before, that surprised you the most?

I was astonished that there was no known record of a love story for Jane. I couldn't believe it! She wrote so beautifully and with such insight about love and courtship, I feel certain she had a romance of her own—one that she was obliged to keep hidden from the world. That's the story I decided to tell.  And my novel is inspired by a true incident—another thing I learned that both surprised and intrigued me. Jane's sister Cassandra confided to a niece that if Jane ever truly loved anyone, it was a man she once met at an unspecified seaside resort. That unnamed, mysterious gentleman has tantalized biographers for two hundred years. I decided to invent him.

What is there in Jane the woman that you most appreciate?

I admire her wit, observation of detail, and appreciation of the small joys in life, as evidenced in both her novels and her letters. She was a devoted sister, friend, and daughter, very close to father and all her siblings, and her feelings for them and for Anne Sharpe, the governess to her nieces and nephews, is truly touching.

  

What about Jane the writer,  instead?

I greatly admire her incredible skill when it comes to characterization, plot, and dialog.  Sir Walter Scott once wrote, " That young lady had a talent for describing the involvement and feelings and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with. The big Bow-wow strain I can do myself like any now going, but the exquisite touch which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting from the truth of the description and the sentiment is denied to me. What a pity such a gifted creature died so early!" I couldn't have said it more perfectly.

As I wrote in my review, the hero in "The Lost Memoirs," Mr. Ashford,  owns features which are typical of some of Jane’s heroes. Your suggestion is then, Jane didn’t  totally create them in her mind but was inspired by and tried to describe the reality. Is it the same for you as a writer? Where do your heroes come from?

I believe Jane did draw on the men she knew when inventing her heroes, while at the same time fantasizing about the type of man she (and her heroine) would fall in love with. And yes, so do I.  Isn't that what all writers do? In "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen," I also incorporated unique characteristics not found in Austen's heroes to create Mr. Ashford—the kind of man I believe Jane Austen would have fallen in love with. 

Going back to Jane, what is it in her little close country world that becomes so appealing to our contemporary audience?

Jane Austen's stories and characters are a microcosm of the world we live in today. Everyone knows someone like Mrs. Bennet, Marianne Dashwood, or Mr. Woodhouse. We all want to be Elizabeth Bennet and marry Mr. Darcy. The issues she explores—relationships between men and women, family obligations, money or the lack of it, lack of opportunities for women, morality, overcoming pride and prejudice, learning from past mistakes, gathering the courage to follow our destiny and do what is right—we can identify with all of them today. And it's fun to read about a world before television, automobiles, cell phones, and the internet; a quieter world where conversation and music had to be experienced in person, men wore tailcoats and tight breeches, and people walked everywhere or rode in carriages.  We've glamorized it to be sure, but it's still fun!

Have you got a favourite Austen hero and a heroine?

Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.  My second favorites, and also dear to my heart, are Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth.

 I’d love to see a film based on your  Lost Memoirs.  It would be a new, very credible biopic Janeites would love, I’m certain.  Would you accept? And in the game of dreaming and  keeping hope  high, who would you cast as  Jane and  Mr. Ashford?

I'd be thrilled to see  "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen," come to the screen. I have already written the screenplay! I'd cast Richard Armitage or Colin Firth as Mr. Ashford, and Rachel Weisz, Emily Watson, or Emily Blunt as Jane.

Really? Ok, Syrie. I'll start campaigning for your screenplay, then!  (Richard Armitage as Mr Ashford ? Yes, please!) 

Back to books, now. After writing about Jane Austen, you wrote Charlotte Brontë’s biofic “The Secret Diaries of …” and "Dracula My Love." It seems classic literature is a great source of inspiration to you.

It is indeed! It was a thrill and an honor to research and write from the point of view of two such remarkable women. I loved exploring Charlotte's true life love story and the inspiration behind her novel "Jane Eyre" (another one of my all-time favorite novels) in "The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë." There is a lot to admire in Bram Stoker's classic novel "Dracula," and it was exciting to re-imagine it from the point of view of the heroine, Mina Harker, as a passionate, dangerous, and secret romance in  "Dracula, My Love." 

 Your latest book is instead a modern  thrilling romance, "Nocturne."  How much did Jane Austen and her romances influence you in this case? 

When I wrote "Nocturne," I was very heavily influenced by my love for all things Austen. "Nocturne" is the story of a woman whose car runs off an icy Colorado road during a blizzard, and she's snowbound for days with a brilliant, gorgeous, charismatic, reclusive man with a dark secret. They fall deeply in love, a profoundly meaningful experience that is destined to change their lives forever. Having written three historical fiction novels in a row that took place in England, I have fallen in love with dashing, cultured, accomplished men with luscious accents, and I knew at once that Michael Tyler, the hero in "Nocturne," had to be British. You might say that Michael is a blend of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightley and … (but to give away any more would be telling!)

Michael and Nicole also share a love of classic literature represented by works including Austen's, and one of Michael's secrets directly relates to something quite Austenian.  I can't say more without giving away plot points.

 So, do you think Janeites may love your "Nocturne"? And what especially in it?

I fell in love with Michael and Nicole while writing "Nocturne," and I hope Austen fans will, too! It's both a love story and an exploration of redemption and of the sacrifices needed to arrive at one's destiny—a theme that is very Austenian. I am humbled and honored by the response from critics, who I think explain the novel better than I can. Here's a sampling of just a few reviews:

- "Lyrical, lush, and intensely romantic ... this infinitely touching, bittersweet story from James ("Dracula, My Love") will weave its way into readers' hearts, with its complex characters and compelling emotions sure to linger long after the last page has been turned." (Library Journal) 

-  "Nocturne is the kind of book that makes you want to turn off the phone and the television so you can do nothing but read (and maybe sip some tea or hot cocoa.)" (Barnes and Noble's Heart to Heart Blog) 

- "Tauntingly compelling … the perfect escape book for romance readers." (Austenprose.com) 

- "Brilliant, couldn't put it down … a beautiful romance that pulls at the heart strings." (Book Chick City)

- "A once-in-a-lifetime kind of love ...
 each incredible revelation kept me turning pages long into the night." (A Simple Love of Reading)

"If you read any book for Valentine's Day, read 'Nocturne' by Syrie James."  (Miss Remmer's Review)

- "If you've never read a Syrie James novel you're missing out. Whether you begin with her odes to Austen, Brontë, Dracula, or Nicole and Michael – you will most assuredly  read every word she's written and become a true fan for all time." (Feathered Quill)

You can read more reviews here. Click here to read an excerpt from Nocturne.

Thank you so much for hosting this Q & A today. I love to hear from readers, and hope you'll visit me at www.syriejames.com, where I invite you to leave me a message and sign up for my newsletter.  Happy reading!

Thank you very much, Syrie! I wish you and your Nocturne great success! And to my readers in the  US and Canada,  I suggest not to miss the chance to win a copy of this great novel  leaving their comments and e-mail addresses here,  below this post.The giveaway ends February 2nd .