THE WINNER IS.....

The winner of 1 set of 2 books, The Pemberley Chronicles and My Cousin Caroline by Rebecca Ann Collins is Joanne. Congratulations!! Please email your address within 48 hours.

Rebecca Ann Collins, Author of My Cousin Caroline Interview and Book Giveaway

Today I have the honor of interviewing guest author Rebecca Ann Collins. Ms. Collins is the author of the new Pride and Prejudice sequel, My Cousin Caroline which came out in bookstores on September 1st. She has most graciously agreed to answer a few questions for my readers.

*GIVEAWAY--I will give away 1 set of 2 books: The Pemberley Chronicles and My Cousin Caroline, to one lucky winner on SEPTEMBER 22nd, compliments of Sourcebooks.

The rules are:
*Leave a comment with your email address for 1 entry
*Become a follower for 2 entries (let me know if you already are.)
*Blog about this giveaway for 3 entries (let me know if you do this).

*Drawing is open to Us and Canada residents only.

Author interview:
Q1- What drew you to portray the main character of the book?
Ever since I completed the first volume in this series- The Pemberley Chronicles, in which I developed the character of Caroline Gardiner from a rather pert young girl into a lovely, personable young woman, I was drawn to the idea of giving her a book of her own. Setting up her love affair and marriage to Colonel Fitzwilliam, a minor but attractive character in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, provided the opportunity to do this. She is intelligent and capable; yet she has a streak of romanticism; I have always been interested in the development of character and Caroline’s is a more modern and complex disposition than we encounter in most Regency novels. In writing My Cousin Caroline, which has a time span crossing over several of the volumes, I had the chance to do just that with Caroline and several other characters in the series.

Q2- What is your favourite line in the book?
There are several but the one that encapsulates the relationship between Caroline and Fitzwilliam is my favourite: He had been attracted by her beauty and sweetness of disposition and loved her for her passion, her loyalty and determination; she had frequently astonished and delighted him and sometimes, very rarely, exasperated him, but he loved her dearly and had never tried to change her. He would not do so now.

Q3- When did you know you wanted to be a writer and how long have you been developing your craft?
Since I was about nine years old when I had a story published in a children’s page of a Sunday paper. I have been working at my craft throughout my days at university and thereafter, writing both fiction and non-fiction. Apart from music, it is my most absorbing interest.

Q4- Is reading a large part of your life? Which book made the biggest impact on your writing?
Reading is a vital part of my life. I recall being read to by my parents when I was two or three years old and reading anything I could lay my hands on, as I grew up. As a teacher and then a librarian, as well as a writer, I have been intimately involved with the promotion of reading to both children and adults.

Several books, and their authors, have had an impact on my writing; I cannot really name one. I might say, generally, that good literature is the best source of inspiration and example for any writer.

Q5- What are your three favourite books?
I have many favourites, but Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh would be the chief among them.

Q6- Does storytelling run in your family?
No, not in a formal sense, but as children, (in the era before Television) we used to tell stories to entertain our families and friends and “published” a monthly handwritten and illustrated “magazine” which we circulated by hand, among our circle of friends. It was a great vehicle for imaginative young writers!

Q7- When creating a story, which is more difficult, the beginning or the end?
The beginning is most important; it has to create interest, so the reader wants to go on reading, point forward to the progress of the story and provide a logical starting point for the narrative. Once you have the plot moving forward and the characters developing within a defined context, the ending evolves logically. While a surprise ending may sometimes be appropriate, I don’t like shock endings, which are designed to manipulate the reader.

Q8- What is the writing process like for you-?
Once I have designed the framework of the piece I am working on, the process is mainly one of doing the research, developing the characters and plot , writing, re-writing and refining the composition of the work. It is hard work, but very rewarding.
(b) Are you a morning or a night person?
Definitely and evening to night person.
(c) Do you have a special place you like to go for inspiration?
No, but I am inspired by certain special places- for example when working on Mr Darcy’s Daughter- a visit to a a genuine Regency residence built in the era of Jane Austen , set in beautiful grounds and and maintained in 19th century style, inspired the idea of Camden House , which Mr Darcy purchases for Cassy and her family.
(d) What energizes you?
Creative Imagination and energy - are the source of my inspiration and drive to write. The positive response of readers adds pleasure and encouragement too, but the main urge comes from within.

Q9- What advice would you have for emerging writers?
First- Don’t write for a “market,” write because you have something to say or a story to tell, which is new and interesting and the market for it will grow. Second, write as you think and feel- not what you think someone expects to read. Third, if you are writing a “sequel” to another writer’s work, remember to respect the original writer. When you borrow his or her characters, as you would expect to be respected for your work.

Q 10- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
The absolute delight of sharing your characters and their stories with others is unarguable; but when one is published and read by readers all over the world- there is a very special thrill. The response that the Pemberley Chronicles Series has received from individual readers, who have written, emailed and blogged their warm appreciation and love of the characters and stories of the Pemberley Chronicles is my greatest reward.

Readers, be sure to enter the giveaway. Good luck to all and happy reading!

My Cousin Caroline: Review

Author: Rebecca Ann Collins

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (September 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1402224311

Book Description:

Sixth in the bestselling Jane Austen sequel series.

In this installment of The Pemberley Chronicles series, Mr. Darcy's cousin Colonel and Elizabeth's cousin Caroline Gardiner take center stage.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Caroline develops from a pretty young girl into a woman of intelligence and passion, embodying some of Austen's own values. Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, and the Wickhams all move through the story as Caroline falls in love, marries, and raises her children. Caroline rejects the role of a compliant Victorian wife and mother, instead becoming a spirited and outspoken advocate of reformist causes in spite of the danger of scandal.

Caroline's advocacy of reform, undaunted by criticism, demonstrates strength in a time when a woman's role was severely restricted.

My Review:

Written in much the same style and tradition of her predecessor, Jane Austen, the author brings to life the love story of Caroline Gardiner and Mr. Darcy's cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.

The novel takes place in a time of tremendous upheaval in England; a time of great economic depression and public unrest. Due to the writer's vast knowledge of the political history and cultural norms of that period, the reader can glean a wealth of insight into the era, while enjoying the familiar characters found in Jane Austen's original classic, Pride and Prejudice.

As an Austen fan, I found this masterfully written and historically interesting. It's a book I'm sure Ms. Austen would appreciate.

(Thank you to Sourcebooks for my review copy.)

THE WINNER IS.....

The winner of the set of sequels The Darcy's and the Bingleys, and The Plight of the Darcy Brothers is Ms. Lucy. Congratulations!

Thanks go to Sourcebooks for the giveaway!

Interview with Marsha Altman, Author of The Plight of the Darcy Brothers + Free Books

Everything Victorian is proud to welcome author, Marsha Altman, as our special guest today. Marsha is the author of the newly released The Plight of the Darcy Brothers. She's going to talk about her new book and also answer a few of our questions.

Marsha Altman is an author and historian specializing in Rabbinic literature in late antiquity. She has a degree in history from Brown University and an MFA in creative writing from the City College of New York.

(A book Giveaway can be found at the end of this interview.)

Synopsis:
In this lively second installment, the Darcys and Bingleys are plunged into married life and its many accompanying challenges presented by family and friends.
With Jane and Elizabeth away, Darcy and Bingley take on the daunting task of managing their two-year- old children. Mary Bennet returns from the Continent pregnant by an Italian student promised to the church; Darcy and Elizabeth travel to find the father, and discover previously unknown—and shocking—Darcy relations. By the time Darcy discovers that there's more than one sibling of questionable birth in the family, the ever-dastardly Wickham arrives on the scene to try to seize the Darcy fortune once and for all.


A Bit About the Time Period of The Plight of the Darcy Brothers and My Research By Marsha Altman

My stories (The Darcys & The Bingleys, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers, and the Feburary 2010 release Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape) actually takes place in the Regency, not the Victorian period. I will point out that if readers keep buying the books, future books will be in the Victorian period, or at the very least the brief reign of William IV. Interesting trivia here: Queen Victoria had her first official meal after coming “out” (meaning, she ate with the adults at a dinner party) at Chatsworth, a manor house owned by the Duke of Devonshire, who also owned “half of Derbyshire.” Jane Austen visited Chatsworth during her travels in the North, and since Darcy owns a great house (named Pemberley) and “half of Derbyshire,” it is assumed by many Austen fans that Pemberley is based on Chatsworth, and Darcy’s financial situation is based loosely on part of the Duke’s holdings. This led Joe Wright to film the exterior shots of Pemberley in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie at Chatsworth, which starred Keira Knightly (The interiors could not be used because the rooms are too small for filming). Now to play six-degrees-of-separation to some extent, Keira Knightly also stared in The Duchess, where she played the Duchess of Devonshire, and one scene was filmed in the gardens at Chatsworth, which means she sat/stood on the steps to the same house for two different films.

I visited Chatsworth as part of my research for books 2 and 3 in March 2008, and they wouldn’t let me run down the steps ala Pride and Prejudice (that particular set of steps is closed to the public), but they did have the old table settings out that may have been used later in the century for Queen Victoria’s first dinner, as the audio guide told me.

Not to contradict history more than necessary, in the universe in which the events of my books occur, Darcy owns Pemberley and half of Derbyshire and the Duke of Devonshire owns Chatsworth and the other half. The Duke is mentioned but is not an appearing character, though in a later novel Darcy and his relatives are invited to the dinner with the future Queen and they recount that. But we’re not that far in, so here’s hoping the series is good and readers will want more so we can get that far for that one reference that I wrote in after my Chatsworth visit.

A few questions for Marsha:

1. What drew you to portray the main character of the book?

If I have to pick a main character, and I really do, it’s probably Darcy, and I wanted to challenge his assumptions of the universe. Now that he’s happily married, it’s time for some new challenges, which involve rescuing another Bennet sister’s reputation and digging up some old and uncomfortable family history.

2. What is your favorite line from this book?

Wow. There are a lot to choose from, and most of them give away a lot of the plot or don’t make sense out of context. Here are two lines between Darcy and his toddler son that I think some people will miss:

“Was Mr. Wicked really my uncle?”
“Mr. Wickham. And yes, he was.”

3. When did you know you wanted to be a writer and how long have you been developing your craft?

3rd grade. I started working on my first book then, which was called Joey, and about an alien who came to earth and had various adventures like going to a parade and playing baseball. Since then I’ve always been writing something or other. Redwall spinoffs. SeaQuest DSV fanfic. I spent a lot of time writing fanfic for cartoon shows – a lot of time. These were like book-length stories and they took up a lot of time in high school. In college I wrote a lot of urban fantasy/cyberpunk and vampire novels that haven’t been published, probably because they weren’t good enough to be published, but I did try to get them published.

In terms of developing my class, I had a double major in college of history and creative writing at Brown, though really the focus in creative writing classes is on the short story, a form I’ve never been thrilled with, because it enables the class to be able to review each other’s work in a timely fashion. Also, everyone wrote about themselves. Then I took an adult ed class held in a local high school while I was applying to grad schools, and everyone wrote about themselves but were far less pretentious about it. I have a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from City College, where I spent 2 ½ years studying literature and taking workshops were everyone wrote about themselves. What I learned from all this is that I don’t care for workshops and also I learned way too much about the personal trauma my classmates had endured in their lives. This is totally the wrong blog to say this, but I was once in a class where every person wrote about either their first “intimate” experience or the time they O.D.’ed. The professor said he would fail me if I didn’t write something personal, and seeing my options, I wrote a story about the time I was in post-op and they gave me too much morphine and I had respiratory depression, which was somewhat less dramatic than crack or heroin rehab but all I could offer. I passed. Meanwhile, I was writing the novels people are reading now (books 1 and 2 of my series, and several to come). The Darcys and the Bingleys was published six months after graduation. Since it had a book offer and was headed for publication my advisor let me use it as my thesis.

4. Is reading a large part of your life? Which book made the biggest impact on your writing?

Reading pretty much is my life, or has been since I started writing historical fiction. My overburdened and starting-to-warp-from-the-weight shelves can attest to that. I can’t really point to a particular author as an inspiration, as there have been so many over the years and they all have been so different. I love Jane Austen, but I’m not capable of writing like her and it would be really stilted if I tried. Each time I finish a novel I think, “If only I could write like that” so really I should just point to what I’ve read recently, which is a variety of fictional accounts of the life of Alexander the Great. Actually most of them have been terrible in terms of writing, and I would actually say they inspired me not to write like them.

5. What are your three favorite books?

Watership Down by Richard Adams
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (duh)
Mossflower by Brian Jacques

6. Does storytelling run in your family?

No. In fact, family members frequently ask for my help on writing anything at length.

7. When creating the story, which is the most difficult, the beginning or ending?

Ending. Opening lines are easy because I spent so much time learning how to write a good one, as the opening line is crucial to setting up the entire book, and in publishing it can be crucial to getting your book sold. I have no idea how to write an ending line. Nobody writes books on that.

8. What is the writing process like for you? Are you a morning person or night person? Do you have a special place you like to go for inspiration? What energizes you?

I very rarely write in daylight. I have to be either under a deadline or incredibly enthusiastic to be writing in daylight. Most of my writing is done between about 11 pm and 5 am. As for inspiration, I usually find it along the way while I’m doing something else; I don’t actively seek it out. As for energy, I don’t have any. Thank G-d I’m a writer. Not a lot of physical activity required there.

9. What advice would you have for emerging writers?

Write a lot. It doesn’t really matter what it is yet. I recommend fan fiction, because you get feedback and encouragement without having to seek it out by bugging all your friends to read (and therefore praise) your work. Also, don’t think seriously about publication until you’re at least 20. Even if you do manage to get published earlier, you will be really embarrassed by your early work.

10. What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Seeing my novel in the bookstore, something I used to dream about when I went into stores.


Thank you Marsha for the lovely interview. Best wishes with you ventures!



A set of The Plight of the Darcy Brothers and The Darcys and The Bingleys will be given away to one lucky winner on August 15th. Entering is simple:

* 1 entry per comment per day

* Become a follower for 2 entries.

* Drawing is open only to residents of US and Canada


(Thanks to Sourcebooks for the giveaway.)

The Plight of the Darcy Brothers: Review

Marsha Altman will be here Monday for an interview. She will talk about her new book, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers.

My Review:

Darcy and Elizabeth are disappointed when Elizabeth loses a baby, but unexpected news comes rather quickly, sending the couple on an unpleasant trip to the Continent.

While away from home they meet an unusual young man who has a major impact on their lives, and gives them some startling information that sends Darcy into a tailspin.

There is a surprise on almost every page of this book. It is well-written, exciting, and certainly intriguing. In my opinion, this sequel is the author’s best yet.

**This review is also posted on Amazon. com under B. Davis "crazy about books." If you like the review, I would very much appreciate a "yes, it was helpful" vote on the Amazon site. Thank you so much!

(Thanks to Sourcebooks for my review copy.)

Marsha Altman Interview and Book Giveaway Coming Soon

I'm having author Marsha Altman as my guest on August 10th. She will be answering my questions and talking about her new Jane Austen sequel, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers.

A set of The Plight of the Darcy Brothers and The Darcys and The Bingleys will be given away to one lucky winner on August 15th. So please stop by on the 10th for a visit with Marsha and to enter the drawing.

(Thanks to Sourcebooks for the giveaway.)

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The Darcys & the Bingleys

Author: Marsha Altman
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (September 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1402213484

About the Author:

Marsha Altman is an historian, and is an expert on Jane Austen sequels, having read nearly every single one that's been written. She has worked in the publishing industry with a literary agency and is writing a series continuing the story of the Darcys and the Bingleys. She lives in New York.

My Review:

Have you ever wondered what happened after Pride and Prejudice? Well, this is the continuing story as imagined and told by author, Marsha Altman.

A few days before their double wedding, Charles Bingley has a question for his friend, Mr. Darcy. Bingley is getting the jitters and starts to doubt his skill in the bedroom. Much to his surprise, Darcy kindly provides him with a copy of an old how-to book with illustrations. And from there, the story gets even better.

This is a romantic book that will make you smile. It continues with all the characters you loved in Jane Austen's enduring classic.

101 Things You Didn't Know About Jane Austen

Author: Patrice Hannon, PH.D.

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Adams Media (January 19, 2007)
ISBN-10: 1598692844

Product Description:

Sure, we've read the novels, but what do we really know about Jane Austen herself...Who was the Irishman who stole her heart? Why was their affair doomed? Which Austen heroine most resembled Jane herself? Who were the real Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy? In "101 Things You Didn't Know about Jane Austen", readers learn the answers to these fascinating questions and much, much more. As evidenced by the ongoing spate of Austen-inspired films and novels - from the most recent remake of "Pride and Prejudice" starring Keira Knightly to the bestselling novel "The Jane Austen Club" - fans of this celebrated novelist can never get enough Jane Austen. Written in an engaging, easy-to-read format, this lively guide to all things Austen is sure to please romantics everywhere - and just in time for "Becoming Jane", the new film about Jane's own star-crossed love life!

About the Author:

Patrice Hannon, Ph.D. (New York, NY), received her doctorate in English literature from Rutgers University. She is the author of Dear Jane Austen: A Heroine's Guide to Life and Love. Among her publications on British literature is "Austen Novels and Austen Films: Incompatible Worlds?", which appeared in Persuasions: The Journal of the Jane Austen Society of North America. She has taught Austen's novels to hundreds of students at several colleges.

My Review:

I'm a fan of Jane Austen and can't seem to get enough books and movies associated with her. I have several books on her life and the times in which she lived. Each one has its own unique quality and information. "101 Things You Didn't know About Jane Austen" did not dissappoint me. It's a little treasure book of Austen facts.

Just to give you an idea of what you will find in this book, here are a few of the many chapters which are included:

*Bloodline of a genius

*Jane's education

*The other writer in the Austen family

*What did Jane really look like?

*Was Jane Austen a snob?

*Love at first sight

*What do Austen's novels say about beauty?

*What killed Jane Austen?

This little book is compact and easily carried along on a walk or a trip. I have enjoyed my copy and keep it in my purse for those little quiet times alone.

THE WINNER IS.....

The winner of The Jane Austen Handbook is robin titan. Congratulations!! Please send your mailing address to fatimastreasure@hotmail.com within 48 hours, otherwise another name will be drawn.


Thanks to everyone who entered. I'll have another contest soon.

Book Giveaway

One copy of The Jane Austen Handbook (see photo below) will be given away, by drawing, on July 27th. The rules are as follows:

*1 entry-Leave a comment telling which Jane Austen book is your favorite.
*2 entries- If you are now, or if you become a follower of this blog (Everything Victorian). Please let me know if you are already a follower.

The Jane Austen Handbook

Author: Margaret C. Sullivan

Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Quirk Books (April 19, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1594741719

Have you ever dreamed about living in Jane Austen's world and wondered what she might do under certain circumstances? How to dress? How to pay a morning call? How to attend a ball? How to run a house? How to throw a dinner party?

Well, now there's a darling little book called,"The Jane Austen Handbook, A Sensible Yet Elegant Guide to Her World" by Margaret C. Sullivan. It is absolutely the cutest little thing and just full of Victorian information, all 224 pages.

I can't even begin to tell you all the information that's in this very sweet and pretty book. There's just too much to mention. But I do highly recommend it to all Austen fans. It's a book you should not be without if you want to really understand her works and life.

On a scale from one to ten, I would give this little jewel a 10+. If you are thinking about buying it, don't hesitate! You will be thrilled!