What a Piece of Work is a Man...or Woman with Gail McEwen

Today I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for Gail McEwen's new book Stronger Even Than Pride. Gail is here to tell us something about her book, about reading and writing JAFF and a little about the characters we love and those we love to hate! Thanks so much for being my guest, Gail. Best wishes with your new release, and readers...there is a giveaway! YAY!

Thank you so much Janet, for the opportunity to share a little bit about my new book.

What a Piece of Work is a Man… or Woman

I’m sure most of us are familiar with Jane Austen’s famous line: “Pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked.” It is my favorite Austen quote and the moment I heard it, it made me love her even more. She said this in response to a reader’s opinion that the young ladies in her books ought to be better behaved. And to me, that brings up a surprising paradox in regards to the modern reader and JAFF fan.

Jane hated perfection. Her novels were peopled with decidedly flawed and imperfect beings. Yet, she wrote them so well, we sometimes forget that they are not, nor were they meant to be, without fault. Elizabeth Bennet is impulsive, quick to judge and a little too pleased with her own opinions. Fitzwilliam Darcy does not hesitate to look down upon, ridicule and think meanly of those he feels are beneath him. I think because we are so in love with Jane Austen’s world, her wit, the stories she weaves, and her very real and identifiable characters, we tend to idealize them. In the process, I’m afraid we simplify them and, in doing so, maybe do the author an injustice.

But He / She / They Would Never Do That…

I think that’s the statement I have heard most often from those who have taken exception to the premise of Stronger Even Than Pride and it has always taken me by surprise because when writing it, I was sure that Elizabeth/Darcy/Wickham/Mr Bennet/Jane and Bingley would do exactly that… whatever that was.

The JAFF world has built up its own lore: Colonel Fitzwilliam as the devilishly handsome rake; Carolyn Bingley as the orange wearing harpy; and Darcy, the painfully shy 28-year old who has consciously been saving himself for Elizabeth, the only woman he could ever love, though he has not met her yet. And I knew this… but it didn’t really hit home until I started posting (then subsequently published) Stronger Even Than Pride – a book that denies the main characters their “Hunsford Awakening” and therefore leaves them to continue in their folly and imperfection.

I wanted to explore what could happen if I removed the original impetus for change for both Elizabeth and Darcy. How would these two, who are destined to be together, find their way to each other through circumstances vastly more difficult than mistaken first impressions? What would that journey look like?

Some readers take delight in the angst, loving the trials I have taken these ‘un-Hunsfordised’ characters through. Other readers are appalled, viewing my unconventional ‘what if’ as something bordering on sacrilege.

And that’s okay because it’s all rooted in love for Jane Austen. It’s the reason we are here on these blogs, websites and Facebook pages. The reason why we read and write these books. I hope you love my book, but it’s okay if you don’t. I hope if you’re on the fence about trying it, you’ll give it a chance. But wherever you fall, I invite you to ask any question that might be on your mind about why I had one of the characters do “this” or “that.” Like you, I love to dig in, dig around, dissect and discuss everything to do with Miss Austen’s very real creations!

So true, Gail. It is all rooted in love for Jane Austen and why we are all here doing what we do, whether reading, writing, drawing, creating or reviewing. We cannot seem to get enough of Jane Austen and her characters. Dear Readers, please take Gail up on her invitation and feel free to ask any questions on your mind about her book and/or why she had her characters do what they did. What a wonderful opportunity for a great discussion! Thank you, Gail McEwen.

Michele Reed at Meryton Press is generously offering two books for the giveaway. One trade paperback and an eBook for your eReader. Both are international. Good luck to all. Be sure and leave a comment to be entered. We want to hear your say in the conversation. Be sure to include your email address in the comment. To prevent unwanted spam, put your email address with an (at) instead of @. Winners will be chosen in a random drawing. Giveaway ends at midnight of Midsummer's Day, June 24, 2014. 

Stronger Even Than Pride may be purchased at Amazon and B&N.