The lovely Elizabeth Adams is back for a visit and she kindly consented to answering some questions. Ms. Adams even tells us a couple of things that she loves most about her newest novel, Unwilling. I find that I also agree with her 'loves' as I found them delightful. (as well as the rest of the book) Learning more about Elizabeth Adams was much fun and I hope you will enjoy her answers as much as I did.
(If you would like to read Elizabeth Adams's guest post for her first book, The Houseguest, click the title. The book may be purchased at Amazon and I highly recommend it.)
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Thank you for your willingness to answer my questions. It is such a pleasure to have you hear. Now let's get started. How and when did your interest in
Jane Austen and Pride & Prejudice take
root?
My interest
in Austen started when I was 12 and my grandfather gave me a collector’s
edition of Emma. A lot of it was over
my head in terms of satire, but I liked the story and I could appreciate Emma’s
silliness as a busybody and poor Harriet’s lack of agency.
Pride and Prejudice I don’t know about. I was in the
middle before I knew I had begun! I read the book as a teenager, but I suspect
I saw the movie first. I borrowed the Laurence Olivier version from the library
and didn’t like it. I think I read the book after that. I also borrowed the
1995 version and got a much better feel for the story. Once I had started
reading Austen, I got all the books and powered through them, as well as some
of the early spin-offs and variations like Later
Days at Highbury by Joan Austen-Leigh, though I never really thought of
that as fanfiction.
What drove you to start writing your
own books? Did you write other things before writing PnP variations?
I have
always written; short stories, essays, and some very emo poetry that is better
left forgotten. I started my first book, The
Houseguest, because I couldn’t find the story I wanted to read. Of course,
I then learned that even when you set out to write a specific story, the
characters don’t always cooperate.
Ah, that 'leads' to my next question. Do you have a muse that causes your
story to lead you at times or do you use an outline and follow it religiously?
What is your writing routine?
Wow. I
usually start with a muse, which leads to a loose, broad outline. I follow
nothing religiously! Sometimes it feels like a story is just sort of downloaded
to me and I write from there, and often just parts of it feel that way. The Houseguest was like that at first,
and especially the character of Georgiana. One day (after several days of
trying) I just got her. I instantly understood her thoughts, feelings,
motivations.
I had
courted the muse for a while and it finally granted me its favor.
With Unwilling, I had an idea, that
originally turned into something completely different, and then I had more of
an outline. I spent several weeks completely stuck and wondering if it was
going to work after all and nearly abandoning. Then one Friday afternoon, BAM!
I sat down at the computer and my husband took the kids and I got through
almost every scene at Rosings and mapped out D&E’s relationship. It was a
more thoughtful approach than I’d done before. Overall I would say that Unwilling was written and The Houseguest was born.
Is there any setting that is more
inspirational to you when writing?
Yes! I love
a beautiful garden and would write everything there if I could. I visit the
Biltmore a few times a year and usually get several chapters knocked out on each
trip. Beauty inspires me.
The idea of a beautiful garden sounds very inspiring. As we know, the estates in the Regency era often had magnificent gardens and would have inspired much. What else about the Regency era is
appealing to you?
Hmm. The
clothes. The carriages and horses. The romanticism of a time gone by. I’m sure
it was hot and smelly and uncomfortable, but in my imagination, it’s lovely.
I like to think of the romanticism of the Regency era too. Now, if you will, tell us something about your newest book
that you love most. (if you can without giving anything away)
I love the
banter between Darcy and Elizabeth. Especially after they’re engaged and he
feels freer to flirt. It was fun to write and is still fun to read. And the letters!
I LOVE the letters between them. Crazy fun.
I also
really like how Darcy is real in this story. He isn’t a paragon of manhood that
never makes mistakes and is always thoughtful and kind. He screws up. He can be
resentful. He can be petty and then feel stupid about it an hour later. He’s
very human and I like that about it.
As I mentioned earlier, these are some of my favorite parts too. I also liked reading about Mr. Bennet's unusual actions. Moving on, what have you learned from writing
that has helped you in your daily life?
When
procrastinating, do something useful. Like cleaning or errands or putting
dinner in a crock pot. That way, when the muse is finally with you at 6 o’clock
that evening, you don’t have anything else on your plate and can sit down and
write.
That's something I need to employ. Thank you for imparting this info. Is there anything special about
yourself or your writing that you would be willing to share with us?
Oh, such a
loaded question! Um, I don’t know. I think my writing is real, and that, in
particular, is relatable for people. That’s what I have in mind while I’m
writing it and often the feedback I get from readers. I don’t know how special
that is.
Personally,
I’ve lead a rather different life from most and I feel that has given me a
unique perspective. But I’m sure a lot of people feel that way. I don’t know
that’s it’s particularly special.
Your writing is real and that is special. Now I'm curious about this different live you've led. You may have to give us some hints in another post. What about modern day authors? Do you have one that
has inspired you? If yes, what was it about his/her writing that was an
inspiration?
I love Kate
Atkinson. She’s just so good it’s scary. I also love Sophie Kinsella. She makes
me laugh like nobody’s business. When writing comedy, you’ve got to get the
timing right, and she is a master at that.
I am not familiar with either of these but willhave to check into them. Now, for a very important question, we
all have our special reasons for loving Mr. Darcy, what are your reasons?
I think what I like most about him is that he’s mysterious.
He has layers, like an onion. As soon as you pull one back – and you’re proud
of yourself for that accomplishment – there’s more underneath. I like that he
is honorable, and though he calls himself resentful, I think he is actually
quite hopeful, in a quiet, private sort of way, and I love that.
He reminds me a bit of my husband: reserved, intelligent,
handsome, no patience for idiocy. And I am rather like Elizabeth in that I’m
bubbly and witty and have curly brown hair. Ha! So I’ve always found the story
relatable. I also hated my husband when we first met and didn’t say yes the
first time he asked me out or proposed, so there’s that.
I do like your reasons. I find it quite interesting that you are somewhat like Elizabeth and that your husband is a bit like Darcy. Might there be a story there? Hmmm...
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Book Blurb:
Mr. Bennet discovers his days are numbered, so he immediately begins to set his affairs — and his five unmarried daughters — in order. Knowing they will fare best should at least one of them find a suitable husband, he cannot refuse any respectable suitors.
The high-spirited Elizabeth suspects something isn’t right in the halls of Longbourn, but nothing prepares her for a certain haughty gentleman from Derbyshire. While Mr. Darcy is exceedingly wealthy and handsome, in Elizabeth’s eyes, he is also proud, high-handed, and insulting. And unfortunately, desperately in love with her.
Suddenly, Elizabeth is forced to rethink her previous opinions. And accept a choice she never had the chance to make.
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Thank you, Elizabeth Adams, for visiting More Agreeably Engaged again. It has been a long time since your last visit and I am thrilled to have you back. (Link to first visit above at opening comments.) I enjoyed reading your answers to my questions and feel like I know you a bit better. It is always neat to learn what inspires a writer, if their muse leads them and where. That fascinates me much. Unwilling is a very good book and I enjoyed it immensely. I hope you have much success with it. Congratulations.
Now it is giveaway time! YAY! Elizabeth Adams is offering one electronic copy, internationally, to one lucky person. Be sure you leave some way for me to reach you should you be the winner! Please leave a comment to be entered. Giveaway will end at 11:59 PM on the 9th of May. Good luck to all!
