Dreams of Pemberley...Joana Starnes

It is with great pleasure that I welcome my online friend, the lovely Joana Starnes, to More Agreeably Engaged. I always love having this sweet lady visit and today she is sharing a virtual holiday with us. I think you will love it! I certainly did. I loved looking at the photographs and imagining I was there with everyone mentioned, looking on as the scene unfolded. :) sigh

Joana has a fabulous giveaway. You will want to be sure you take a look at it. She asks you to answer one question to be entered. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? 

Take us away, Joana.

*****

Dreams of Pemberley

Thanks ever so much for the lovely welcome at More Agreeably Engaged today, Janet! You’re so kind, and I always love being your guest. As it’s the beginning of July and the holidays are fast approaching I thought this might be a good time for a trip, even if it’s just a virtual one, and I hope you and your readers will enjoy it.

Ever since I discovered the wonderful world of JAFF, dreams of Pemberley take over wherever I go. And, needless to say, I try to go to places where I can dream of Pemberley. I already mentioned in other posts how I used to drag my ever-so-compliant family to one grand country-house after another, until we all saw sense and came to a more convenient arrangement. These days, rather than grumbling as I advance at a snail’s pace because I’m taking hundreds of photos from every angle, for a day or two of our time away they drop me off to a National Trust house and go hiking to the top of the nearest hill or go cycling while I wander hither and tither and see glimpses of Pemberley in everything. Not only in the usual locations, Lyme Park, Sudbury Hall, Chatsworth. Just as Pemberley 1995 is in effect a collage of two beautiful properties, the Pemberley of my dreams is a collage too, as are all the other places our favourite couple walk though in my books, on their journey to their happily ever after.

Today I thought I’d share a little bit of the collage. This might be the secret cove where Elizabeth and Mr Darcy finally reach their understanding in The Falmouth Connection.

And this, the secluded spot where they share their midnight kiss (you’ll have to picture it in darkness, I drew the line at breaking into the property in the middle of the night to take a photo ;) ). 

This inspired the ancient great hall where Darcy duels Wickham, gives him his dues (and then some), and wipes the slate clean in the most satisfying manner 

This may be the breakfast parlour at Netherfield, where Elizabeth sits with her new husband in Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter as she seeks to reconcile herself with a marriage she entered into with so little forethought. Or in The Unthinkable Triangle it might be the ‘smaller dining room’ in the Darcy townhouse, where Elizabeth dines with her father, Georgiana, Mr Darcy and Mr Annesley when she comes to nurse Colonel Fitzwilliam back to health and unknowingly torments Darcy with images of what might have been, had he proposed before his cousin. 

This might be the theatre box where Darcy leans back into the shadows and spends the entire time watching ‘every play of emotion on Elizabeth’s countenance’, and thus betrays his feelings to ‘the very worst of men’, who doesn’t hesitate to take advantage and taunt him. 

This beautiful spot in Chatsworth’s extensive grounds inspired the scene where the star-crossed lovers finally manage to redirect their lives onto the proper path (because of course Elizabeth and Mr Darcy are meant to be together, regardless of wrong turns along the way). The temple/garden folly that stands there in real-life was not exactly right for the part (small and from another era). But this is why we have Photoshop, so hey presto, a larger temple is moved from Buckinghamshire to Derbyshire, just like that. 

This might be the spot where Elizabeth lashes out at her mother in Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter and they both make very unwise disclosures while, unbeknownst to them, Darcy happens to be on the other side of the wall and hears an awful lot more than he should.

And this might be the music room where Elizabeth comes to play pieces ‘as stormy as her heart’ after her disagreement with her husband who, having pleasantly surprised her with proof after proof of loving kindness, outrages her with glimpses into his proud and intolerant side when he objects to her calling upon her tradesman uncle. 

This might be the drawing room where everything is revealed and Darcy has the good sense to believe that his wife has actually grown to love him, regardless of how their marriage might have started. 

And in all seasons we can easily imagine our favourite couple losing themselves into the garden or on woodland paths, just for the sheer joy of spending time together and basking in each other’s love – or if they’re not quite there yet, to find some privacy, clear the air, exchange opinions and with any luck maybe a kiss or two.

It’s not essential to go to fancy places for inspiration. As many if not all of you know, the location of this image is the very opposite of fancy. But who knows, one day I might write something about lakes, wet shirts and Elizabeth and Darcy going boating. 

Until then I wish you a very happy summer. And if you go on long journeys and you’d like something to make them seem shorter I hope you’ll try one of Stevie Zimmerman’s narrations. She has kindly produced three of my books, and the depth of emotion in her performance is beyond exquisite. The Falmouth Connection, The Unthinkable Triangle and Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter are now available in audio format at Amazon and Audible, and I hope you’ll like them.

Which brings us to GIVEAWAY time. The giveaway is international and includes 5 audio codes so that you could listen to one of my audio-books for free, or you could win a bag of goodies collected on my travels. 

For a chance to win a code or the goodie-bag please leave a comment to let me know which one of my books you’d like to see produced in Audio next. Thanks for stopping by and many thanks again, Janet, for having me as your guest today, it’s been wonderful as always!

Joana Starnes is the author of:

* 'From This Day Forward ~ The Darcys of Pemberley', a 'Pride & Prejudice' sequel
* 'The Subsequent Proposal ~ A Tale of Pride, Prejudice & Persuasion'
* 'The Second Chance', a 'Pride & Prejudice' ~ 'Sense & Sensibility' variation
* 'The Falmouth Connection', a 'Pride & Prejudice' variation where Jane Austen's beloved characters are compelled to leave their tame and reasonably peaceful lives in the south of England and travel to the far reaches of Cornwall, into a world of deceit and peril, where few - if any! - are what they seem to be...
* 'The Unthinkable Triangle', a 'Pride & Prejudice' variation that dwells on the most uncomfortable love-triangle of them all. What if Mr. Darcy's rival for Miss Bennet's hand and heart is none other than his dearest, closest friend? And how can they all find their 'happily-ever-after'?
*'Miss Darcy's Companion' - a variation that explores what might have happened if the warm-hearted Miss Elizabeth Bennet were employed instead of the scheming Mrs Younge.
* ‘Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter’ – where distressing news from Longbourn compel Elizabeth to accept Mr Darcy’s first proposal, long before they both learn to understand each other – and themselves.

Joana’s books are available on all Amazon sites.

Books by Joana Starnes at Amazon.com

Books by Joana Starnes at Amazon.co.uk

You can connect with Joana Starnes on

http://www.facebook.com/joana.a.starnes

http://www.joanastarnes.co.uk

http://www.twitter.com/Joana_Starnes

Or visit ‘All Roads Lead to Pemberley’ on Facebook, for places, events and titbits that have inspired her novels.

*****

This was such a wonderful virtual holiday. The pictures are stunning and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Hope each of you did too. I particularly liked imagining the characters in your books playing out scenes is these lovely places. That was fun and I want to thank you for making it seem real, Joana. You always have the most beautiful photographs of your visits and I enjoy seeing them. Being able to view them as a stage for scenes in your books made them even better!

Now for the fab giveaway that I mentioned earlier. Ms. Starnes has codes for 5 audio books! Isn't that wonderful! That means five winners get an audio book. But wait! That's not all. She also has a travel goodie bag. That means there will be another winner...six in all! Wow! Thank you, Joana Starnes. I know my readers are pleased. 

Remember Readers, to be entered, tell us which of Joana's books you would like to see as an audio book next. When you refer to her titles above, note the ones highlighted in deep red. Those are the three that have recently been produced in Audio. Peruse the others and make your decision. I will need to think on this before I choose. I adore all the books by Joana and would enjoy listening to any one of them. Tell us what you think and let me know how to reach you should your name be one of the lucky randomly selected winners. Giveaway is international and will end at 11:59 PM on the 13th of July. Good luck!