An Interview With Melanie Schertz

My guest, Melanie Schertz, is making her first appearance on my blog today. I am thrilled she agreed to visit me and answer some of my questions. She has been in the JAFF community for some time and is the author of several PnP variations. She also has an intriguing 'other life' but I guess that will have to be saved for another visit. (It is mentioned in her bio.)  Now, dear readers, please join me in welcoming the fascinating Melanie Schertz. 

How and when did your interest in Jane Austen and Pride & Prejudice take root?

            After seeing the 2005 movie.  I was a late bloomer to becoming an Austen Addict.  After the movie, I read the book.  Then I started reaching out to the JAFF community.  I think my first book from the JAFF world was Linda Berdoll’s Mr Darcy Takes a Wife.  After that, I could not get enough.

What drove you to start writing your own books? Did you write other things before writing PnP variations?

            I have played around with writing all my life, though I kept it hidden, as my skills were not that great.  My mother and brothers did not know until after I published my first books, and Mom was shocked, to say the least.  My daughter, Caitlin, had read the rough of Storm Clouds when she was in high school.  She encouraged me to share the story and the others I had written.  Cate’s view on that book was that it was great until she read the sex scenes and realized “My mom wrote those sex scenes, uck”.  I have written other fan fiction (Harry Potter, Twilight), but they will not be posted anywhere.

Your daughter's reaction is too funny. I can just imagine as I am sure my son would have reacted in a similar manner. 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?

            A muse…well, I would call it more of an imp who is mischievous. I don’t use an outline and I allow my stories to follow whatever road they wish to travel.  I tried making an outline once, but the story went so far off on its own, when I looked at the outline, I began to wonder if it was even for the same story.  It is like the line from the movie “Divergent”, when Tris asks her mother what was wrong with her. Her mother said nothing, but her mind goes in so many different directs.  Mine is definitely divergent.  As to a routine, I write when the story is calling out to me to pull it from my mind and put it on paper.  And it is done while sitting on top of my bed, with TV or music playing in the background, and the animals trying to get my attention.  Chaos, and I love it.  At this moment, my grandpuppy, Chewie, thinks she needs to help me type. Darcy, my service dog, is infamous for thinking I should be loving him while I am working.  And my oldest cat, Smoo comes over to walk across the keys, “writing” what she thinks should be in the story.

Is there any setting that is more inspirational to you when writing?

            As before, I sit on top of my bed.  Has to be sounds going on, cannot work in peace and silence.  I will “watch” the same movie over and over, because the noise of it works well for background noise.  And my feline daughters, Darcy, and my grandpuppies attempt to assist me (and if you read what they wrote…).

I love it! (and I would be very interested in what your feline daughters, Darcy and the grandpuppies wrote too! Sounds like my kind of home) I digress, so...now back to your interview, what about the Regency era is appealing to you?

            I grew up with my grandparents, surrounded by antiques which my grandma would allow us to play with (as long as we were careful).  It was a different time, which was not as simple as we have things today.  You have an express rider rushing off to deliver news that is critical in the Regency period, where today, we would pick up the phone and call long distances to relay messages. I am also a born country girl, so I love the sort life which was enjoyed by Elizabeth Bennet taking her long walks about Longbourn. 

I am a country girl, too, Melanie, and I would not have it any other way. I understand you have a new book almost ready to release. Tell us something about it that you love most. (if you can without giving anything away)

            The book I am working on at the moment is The Bennet and Darcy Arrangement.  It starts with some lineage of the Darcy family which splinters off to have the Bennets being one of the branches on the Darcy family tree.  The first name given is Sir John Darcy.  Sir John Darcy was a real life baron, and I am actually a descendant of his.  So the intertwining of the families was what I wanted to play with this time.  And it is the first time I have kept Fitzwilliam Darcy’s father alive in the story. 

That sounds exciting...to be an actual descendant of Sir John Darcy. Wow! I would love to know more about that. This book sounds interesting and I will be looking forward to its release. Is there anything you have learned from writing that has helped you in your daily life?

            It has given me the courage to push myself further.  I am an introvert (many would find that strange, but I really am).  Writing, being involved with others through the writing, learning from others in the field, all have aided me in growing further than I would have ever believed possible.  I am so grateful for everyone who has entered my life due to this amazing field of JAFF.  You have all taken me on the ride of a lifetime.

Isn't it great! I have also met so many neat people through JAFF, including you! I am also very thankful. Is there anything special about yourself (besides what you just shared) or your writing that you would be willing to share with us?

            I am dyslexic, and self-taught to read (what they taught me in school was for “normal” kids, as dyslexia was not really known back then).  It was funny, the first time I really felt strong being a dyslexic was when I went to an advanced fingerprint identification class.  The instructor said at the beginning of the class that anyone who was dyslexic could not identify fingerprints.  I didn’t say anything, and accepted the packet of latent prints and inked print cards. It was one of the advanced packets, because I said I had done comparisons for years.  After finishing the packet, I took them to the instructor to grade. Had a perfect score on the group.  I looked at him and said, “Now you have met someone who is dyslexic who can do fingerprint comparisons.”  I do not like allowing “handicaps” stand in the way.

I would love to have been a fly on a wall and been witness to that. I bet his expression was priceless. Good for you! Do you have a modern day author that has inspired you? If yes, what was it about their writing that was an inspiration?

            I would have to say JK Rowlings.  I didn’t get into her books until about the time the 5^th book of the Harry Potter series was released.  Her writing style is the sort I am able to read with no problems (some styles are very difficult for me to make my way through).  Once I began reading her books, I was an addict.  

Sadly, I have not read her books but have watched every movie that was made in the Harry Potter series. We anxiously waited for each new movie to be released. Ok, now for a very important question, we all have our special reasons for loving Mr. Darcy, what are your reasons?

            I have had 2 men I was involved with over the years, both of them bad, and have finally learned the difficult lesson of waiting for what is best for me, rather than settling just to have someone in my life.  I want a relationship where I am loved and cherished, as Darcy does Elizabeth.  I also love the character, because in many ways, I am like him.  I am misunderstood, as I keep myself pulled back in many ways.  And I have difficulties in large groups, fumbling about with my tongue trying to remember how to speak. 

I can identify with most of what you said above as I have had similar experiences. I am also very uncomfortable in a crowd.  If I know someone I have no trouble talking but otherwise I get all tongue tied and stumble on my words. I have always hated that about myself. It makes me more nervous and I do worse. On the opposite end of that, when I worked for Southwest Airlines, I could talk to anybody on the plane with no trouble at all. Weird, huh! (most I would never see again and that made some difference) Well, this was supposed to be about you, wasn't it! lol  

I am so glad that you visited today. It has been a pleasure getting to know you better. I hope you have much success with all your works and I hope you find you own Mr. Darcy someday. Wouldn't that be wonderful!

Here is the link to Melanie's author page on Amazon where you can find all of her books. 

Available on Amazon

Author Bio:

A retired crime scene/lab technician, Melanie now spends time reading Pride and Prejudice variations, making jewelry, and most importantly, spending time with her children and grandchildren. Her children include a daughter by birth, two daughters and a son by choice, and one canine & four feline daughters. She also has 3 grandchildren by choice. Has lived in the Salt Lake area of Utah for nearly 30 years, after being born and raised in central Illinois.

Adopted a handsome dog and cute little kitty in September of 2012, 2 days after receiving my first ever royalties check. Of course, the handsome puppy is Mr Darcy, and the kitty is Lizzy. Darcy is being trained as her service dog, as a mobility assistance dog.

Melanie has a Bachelor's degree in Criminalistics with a minor in Photography. 


Melanie was invited to post on DarcyandLizzy.com, and is now an author there. She is also a member of Austen Authors and can be found on Good reads as an author. Her blog is http://melschertz.com

Thank you again for being my guest. I hope you will come back soon for another visit. Melanie Schertz is generously giving away one eBook of her latest release, The Bennet and Darcy Arrangement, due out this week. It is international so please leave a comment with your contact info to be entered in the giveaway. Giveaway ends at midnight April 27th. Thank you, Melanie, for the giveaway for my readers and best wishes on this new release. By the way, I love the photo of you with your furry baby! :)

How much of the author is reflected in her work

I am very pleased to be a part of the blog tour for A Peculiar Connection by Jan Hahn. Thanks to Jakki Leatherberry for setting up the tour and gathering all the media information for us and making it so easy. I appreciate your hard work, Jakki.

Dear readers, you are in for a treat with this post. As many of you know, Jan Hahn is a personal friend and as she mentions in her post, she is a private person.  Jan, I for one, enjoyed your post and was touched by your honesty in how much of you may be revealed in your books. I appreciate that you were willing to share those thoughts with us.  Thank you for being my guest today. It is  always a pleasure to have you visit.

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How much of the author is reflected in her work?

Available at Amazon

Thank you, Janet, for participating in my blog tour and for inviting me to visit today.  I’m always happy to be your guest and to interact with your readers.  I also want to thank you publicly for the beautiful cover you designed for A Peculiar Connection.  It’s one of my favorites!

The title of this post has intrigued me for some time.  In this genre, writers use characters created by Jane Austen. I often wonder how much of Austen is reflected in her characterizations.  There have been some excellent books on the subject, and I will not address that topic today, but a similar question nags at me.  Can an author write a story without revealing some of him or herself?  Even though I make a conscious effort to remain true to Austen’s portrayals, how much of me seeps into my work?

I fear that I am quite unobservant if and when this happens.  A reader made this comment about my body of work: ‘I admire the consistency of a particular world view in your stories which always includes redemption and forgiveness.’  Until I read her remark, I had failed to even notice that pattern in my work.

Available at Amazon

My oldest daughter says I wrote The Secret Betrothal with a desire to “fix” Wickham because for a long time I attempted to “fix” my first love, which, incidentally, should never be attempted.  I’ve also been told that the strong protective nature I give to Mr. Darcy mirrors that of my darling husband.  Perhaps that’s why I always thought of him as my Mr. Darcy. 

Now, lest you wonder if the idea for A Peculiar Connection came about because I fell in love with my brother, let me relieve your minds at once.  Absolutely not!  The truth is I have no idea where the notion came from.  One day, it was just there.  That’s all I can say.  The struggle of Catholics in Regency England and Ireland plays a part in the story, but I am not Catholic.  I did have the benefit of a Catholic beta reader, and that was a definite advantage.  I consciously incorporated names of characters into the story from a BBC television series set in Ireland called Ballykissangel.  It was my own little love letter to the show.

A reader warned that one must read A Peculiar Connection with a box of tissues nearby.  I did not set out to write a sad novel, but I did write the book the year before my husband died.  Because of the wide difference in our ages, ours was a bittersweet love. It was fair to assume that I would most likely outlive him.  That knowledge made our time together much more precious, and the year I wrote this book I was aware of how quickly our love story was drawing to a close.  Among the blessings of our marriage―and there were many―was the fact that we did not take each other for granted.

So, to sum up this post, I fear I do not know the answer to my own question.  I’m a rather private person.  One thing I love about writing is the belief that I can hide behind my characters, but now…I’m not so sure. 

If you’re a writer, how would you answer this question?  Or if you’re a reader who knows certain writers well, have you been able to detect parts of them in their work?  

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Book Blurb:

Will a mysterious note from the past doom the love of Jane Austen’s most beloved couple?

A Peculiar Connection begins near the close of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Bent on preventing the engagement of her nephew to Elizabeth Bennet, Lady Catherine de Bourgh declares that any union between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth would be “a sin against Heaven itself!”  Her shocking revelation, along with a cryptic message written over twenty years earlier, thrusts the couple into a whirlwind of heartbreak and disbelief.

Could a deserted mansion in Derbyshire or a small church hidden in the wood hold the key to solving the puzzle?  And why is Elizabeth inexplicably drawn to the portrait of three young boys in Pemberley’s gallery?  

Determined to confirm or refute Lady Catherine’s accusation, Darcy and Elizabeth are forced to embark upon a twisted trail into bygone days and family secrets.  All the while, they must endure the exquisite torture of denying the indisputable desire that still hovers between them. 

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Author Bio:

Jan Hahn is fascinated by Jane Austen, 19th Century England, and true love. A storyteller since childhood, she's written skits and plays for local organizations and owned a business recording, writing and publishing oral histories. Jan is a member of JASNA and began writing novels based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in 2002.

Jan's first novel, An Arranged Marriage, won the award for Best Indie book of 2011 from Austen Prose. The Journey, published in 2012, was selected by Austenprose as one of the Top Five Austen Inspired Historical Novels of 2012, and it won the Favorite Pride and Prejudice Variation/Alternate Path of 2012 award from Austenesque. Her latest book, The Secret Betrothal, was published in 2014.  Jan is currently working on Stolen Past.

Jan has five children, seven grandchildren, and is a native Texan. In her dream world, she lives in England in a place called Pemberley.

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Author Links:

Facebook

Blog

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Page

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3/30: Review at Savvy Verse and Wit

3/31: Excerpt at Songs and Stories 

4/1: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Jane Austen Book Club 

4:2: Review at Babblings of a Bookworm

4/3: Author Interview at  The Little Munchkin Reader 

4/4: Review at Margie's Must Reads

4/5: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Love for Jane Austen 

4/6: Review at My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice

4/7: Guest Post & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged 

4/8: Excerpt at Laughing with Lizzie 

4/9: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time…

4/10: Review at Diary of an Eccentric

4/12: Review at The Delighted Reader 

4/13: Excerpt & Giveaway at Austenesque Reviews 

4/14: Guest Post & Giveaway at Babblings of a Bookworm

4/15: Review at Warmisunqu's Austen

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What do you think, readers? Wasn't this an interesting look into how much of an author is reflected in her/his work? This was a rare glimpse into some of Jan Hahn's personal feelings and how those feelings may have influenced her writings. I found it to be both poignant and fascinating. Thank you again, Jan, for opening up to my readers. I wish you much success with A Peculiar Connection. On another note, I'm thrilled that you like the cover. It is one of my favorites but that it is also one of yours, makes it all the better!

Meryton Press is giving away one Trade Paperback of A Peculiar Connection and it is an international giveaway. Thank you Michele Reed. Please leave a comment below to be entered in the giveaway. Thank you for commenting and don't forget to include your email address for contact purposes should you be the winner. Giveaway ends at midnight April 13, 2015. 

                                                             

Jan Hahn and I are hosting a giveaway for some very special soaps made just for A Peculiar Connection. Evie Cotton of Shirley's Handicrafts on Etsy created a Celtic duo of soaps in honor of Jan's book. I hope you will love them as much as we do. They have the nice clean scent of Irish Sea Fragrance. Each bar is made with olive oil and shea butter soap bases, activated charcoal, cocoa powder, liquid glycerin and gold dust. A Celtic cross of 22 karat gold plated pewter is attached to the ribbon of the brown and gold bar. We are giving away two sets of the duo and this giveaway is for US addresses only. In your comments, please leave US in the comment to be entered in the soap giveaway. Giveaway ending date is the same as the book giveaway. Good luck in all the giveaways.

So Far Away...P.O. Dixon

Available at Amazon

P.O. Dixon has recently released So Far Away, Book Two of her series, Everything Will Change. She visited on January 26 after the release of Book One, Lady Elizabeth, and you can read that post by clicking on the title. Everyone was very excited about the book and it generated much interest. Most of you could hardly wait for this one and now it is here. I hope you will enjoy this short introduction and excerpt from Chapter One. There is also a giveaway so be sure to check out the details.

Please welcome P. O. Dixon

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“Painful recollections will intrude which cannot, which ought not, to be repelled.”

Available at Amazon

That is the Jane Austen quote cited at the beginning of Lady Elizabeth: Everything Will Change Book One. The quote is part of Darcy’s heartfelt explanation to Elizabeth of the principals that had guided his behavior. I chose it for Lady Elizabeth because of the recurring feelings Elizabeth suffers throughout the story that something is missing from her life, although she is unable to discern what it is.

I had in mind the following quote as the premise of So Far Away: Everything Will Change Book Two.

“Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.”

Indeed. Having one’s child snatched from the bosom of one’s family is surely the most horrific experience ever for a parent. Such is the fate of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. How could the two of them think of anything having to do with that aspect of their past with feelings other than displeasure?

But what of the child? Reared as the granddaughter of a duke by a loving mother, almost everything that Elizabeth could recall of her past was pleasurable.

What a dilemma she faces in reconciling her past and present as she embraces her chance to reconnect with her Bennet family.

What’s more, there is Mr. Darcy. Just as in canon, he has no use for the Bennets when he first meets them. Here’s how he describes them to Elizabeth when she asks him to tell her about her Bennet relations in Book One:

“The fact is that I found the Bennets wholly lacking in terms of decorum and good taste. Mrs. Bennet is a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. Mr. Bennet comes across as being so odd a mixture of sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice as to render him wholly detached from the rest of his family, and the daughters are silly, wild, and uncouth.”

Darcy’s feelings are but one obstacle on the path to happily ever after with Elizabeth. Wait until you find out what else is in store for the young lovers.

Here’s an excerpt:

Chapter 1 ~ Home Again

In this, the first chapter of the next part of Elizabeth’s life, it must be said that some things were just meant to be. Others simply were not. Were she asked if she had the power of turning back the hands of time, Elizabeth would be hard pressed to fashion a fitting response with certitude. Returning to the bosom of the Bennet family was meant to be a happy occasion. Pray she would soon realize what a blessing it was—for the Bennets as well as herself. However, it was hardly a blessing to have her whole world turned upside down. Frightening is what it was.

Would that she never knew what it was like to grow up surrounded by such a loving family. Then the separation might not hurt so much. Even if Avery, Lady Sophia, and she remained a part of one another’s lives, things would never be the same.

The hardest part of it all was that she had no one she could speak with to sort out the confusing emotions without the risk of giving offense to someone or another. The one person who might understand a modicum of what she was suffering was far away in Derbyshire.

Tearing her eyes away from the carriage window, Elizabeth looked at her sister Jane. Catching each other’s eyes, a happy smile spread over both young ladies’ faces. Their reunion was a blessing indeed. What a joy it was to have her Jane back after all those years. From the time she learned of her true life, Elizabeth had endeavored to recall what she could of her early childhood. Glimpses of the times Jane and she had spent together as small children, though fleeting, sometimes made the briefest of returns over the past week.

Jane had been a true angel, as well as a source of prodigious information that Elizabeth duly needed to puzzle over in order to piece together what she was to expect of her new life. Then again, Jane would only provide the most flattering accounts of everything and everybody, and Elizabeth soon began to suspect her sister had a view of the world that did not completely meet with realistic sensibilities. Surely there was something of less than perfection in the world Elizabeth was set to embrace.

Elizabeth wondered about her parents, Mr. Thomas Bennet of Longbourn, and her mother, Mrs. Francine Bennet, whom she sometimes heard her aunt Mrs. Gardiner refer to as Fanny.

Fanny. What a whimsical name, Elizabeth considered upon first hearing it mentioned, which led her to suspect her mother, Mrs. Bennet, might be a bit fanciful, with hardly a care in the world about the sort of weighty concerns that often pressed upon her mother Lady Sophia.

She quietly sighed. How am I to make sense of this newfound knowledge that I have not one but two mothers? Elizabeth asked herself any number of such questions designed to give herself a modicum of assurance over what would be a rather unclear next few days, weeks, and months as she navigated the uncharted sea of uncertainty that stretched before her.

Elizabeth could hardly think about the future without her thoughts drifting once again to the past. Her mind balked at the notion of leaving everything behind. Everything she thought she knew about herself had changed, and this was only the beginning.

She stared longingly out the window.

“Pray what is the matter, my dear? You have grown rather quiet in the past ten minutes.”

Elizabeth knew not what to say in the wake of her fluctuating emotions, and thus she remained silent. She reached out her hand in welcome of Mrs. Gardner’s outstretched hand. Squeezing it, she gave her aunt a tentative smile.

Mrs. Gardiner said, “No doubt this is a great deal to comprehend and in such a short amount of time. I dare say there is no cause for unnecessary worry. Or are your thoughts in Derbyshire still, along with your heart?”

Elizabeth did not feel it was best to dwell on the matter of her heart at that moment. Saying goodbye to Mr. Darcy was far harder than she would have imagined it would be. With Avery and Lady Sophia, there was hope for a family reunion. However, in the absence of an engagement with Mr. Darcy, there was no telling when they might see each other again or even if they would see each other.

Would he wait for her? If yes, how long a wait might she consider reasonable?

How long is too long?

Then, too, there was the more weighty matter that had to do with his feelings about her true connections. Mr. Darcy had all but confessed that he did not particularly like the Bennets of Longbourn. That was but one of the reasons she had done all she could to hold at bay any proposal of marriage she suspected he was on the verge of making just before they parted at Pemberley.

How might I possibly accept a life with him when my future with my Bennet family is so uncertain?

As much as she had appreciated his comforting presence and his reassurance during those last days at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy’s magnificent Derbyshire estate, she had to wonder if his sentiments would stand the test of what she was now embarking upon.

Her life was no longer defined by excellent breeding, untold wealth, status, and privilege by virtue of noble birth. The thing that had once bonded Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy – both their mothers being the daughters of peers – was no more. On the other hand, a future between them was not entirely out of the question in light of what she suspected would be her wholly reduced circumstances.

Though I am not truly the granddaughter of a peer, I am indeed a gentleman’s daughter. This alone makes Mr. Darcy and me equals.

Elizabeth could not deny that Mr. Darcy’s finding her Bennet family entirely objectionable when he met them last year might indeed prove insurmountable. She now knew enough of the story of how Mr. Darcy had come to Netherfield with his friend Mr. Charles Bingley at Michaelmas. During that time, he had been made aware of life-changing information, and he simply would not rest until he knew it all.

Contact Details

Newsletter:     Such Happy News

Blog:               http://podixon.blogspot.com

Twitter:           @podixon

Facebook:       http://www.facebook.com/podixon

Pinterest:        http://pinterest.com/podixon

Website:         http://podixon.com

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Ms. Dixon, what a great start to Book Two. I am excited to read more and look forward to it with much anticipation. Thank you for visiting my blog and giving my readers a glimpse into this second book. I know they will be as thrilled as I am. 

P.O. Dixon is having a giveaway and I know you will all be happy to hear about it. She is giving away one eBook edition of Everything Will Change: Book Two, So Far Away, internationally, and one paperback edition, US mailing address required. Please leave a comment below to be entered in the giveaway. Also please let me know if you will be entering for the eBook or the paperback. Thank you for commenting and don't forget to include your email address for contact purposes should you be the winner. Giveaway ends at midnight April 6, 2015. Good luck to all and again, thank you, Ms. Dixon, for being my guest. It is always such a pleasure to have you visit. Thank you also, for hosting such a generous giveaway. It is much appreciated. 

And the winners are...

I think it is past time for me to announce some winners! All have been notified by email but I have not posted in a while so here goes, from the most recent back.

Aerendgast: The Lost History of Jane Austen

by Rachel Berman

JC561 eBook winner

Quarter Note Pad of 2013 pics

by JT Originals

comment on the review of Haunting Mr. Darcy by KaraLynn Mackrory

Deborah Ann

Quarter Note Pad of 2014 pics

by JT Originals

comment on the review of The Falmouth Connection by Joana Starnes

Tina Carter

eBook of The Falmouth Connection Joana Starnes

anonymous (Jurga_kaya at yahoo dot co dot uk)

Theo Darcy soap by Evie Cotton

comment for review The Darcy Brothers 

Wendy Norris Roberts

The Plains of Chalmette by Jack Caldwell

Melanie Schertz

Lady Elizabeth: Everything Will Change, Book One 

by P.O. Dixon

Paperback - cyn209

eBook - BookLuver88

Pride, Prejudice & Secrets  by C.P. Odom

eBook -  BeckyC

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for your patience in my late announcing of the winners. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment.

8 Life Lessons from Jane Austen...Aerendgast Blog Tour Stop

More Agreeably Engaged is privileged to be a part of the Aerendgast Blog Tour. Author Rachel Berman, a new to Meryton Press author, is sharing 8 Life Lessons from Jane Austen on her stopover. I think you will be fascinated with these lessons mentioned by Ms. Berman. I am always amazed at the astute observations of life and people by dear Jane and liked reading the ones discussed below. Rachel Berman asks a question at the end of her post. Give your answer in the comments and be entered to win the eBook that is up for giveaway. 

8 Life Lessons from Jane Austen

To paraphrase one of the most paraphrased quotes in the history of literature, it’s a truth universally acknowledged that we can learn a lot about life from the novels of Jane Austen. Though her six completed works were written two hundred years ago, her careful study of the nature of relationships rings true. In my book Aerendgast: The Lost History of Jane Austen, Violet Desmond has made a career out of teaching Austen’s works until one day Jane herself starts invading Violet’s dreams. But Jane tells Violet a new story; one about her own hidden loves and losses that could change the way the public studies Austen forever. So what can the real Jane Austen teach us, you might ask? Well, these things:

1. Listen to Your Heart – If there’s one thing I wish I could tell Anne Eliot it would be that no matter what guilt and responsibility her father and friends are putting on her, only she knows what’s best for herself.
2. Money Can’t Buy Happiness – Poor Willoughby, what a cautionary tale his life turned out to be. Sure, he married money but that money came with a wife whom he despised. Is it worth living in lavish splendor if all you do is sit around in said splendor and regret your past decisions? I think not.
3. Be Yourself – Fanny Prince spends too much time down on herself, when she’s a pretty stand-up person. Elizabeth Bennet might enjoy scandalous walks in the rain, but that singularity of character is part of what endears her to Darcy. In Austen’s works, things that could be perceived as flaws are celebrated and that’s great.
4. …But Consider Others – While I think Emma is a wonderful character, we can all agree that when she insults Miss Bates on Box Hill she deserves the lecture she’s swiftly given by Knightley. And man, if there’s anything to learn from the Steele sisters’ behavior it’s to think before you speak.
5. Real Life Isn’t a Book – This one is an especially hard lesson to swallow, as I spend a lot of my time pining after fictional characters. But consider the textual evidence: Marianne’s romantic theatrics are fun when one is trying to pass the time on a rainy day, but they’re also dangerous when they blind her to reality. Similarly, Catherine Morland makes up some horror story about Northanger because she’s let all those gothic novels get to her head.
6. Don’t Exceed Your Income – While I would love to eat out nightly, buy every item of clothing I see, and have homes on every continent, I read what living outside their means did to the mental health and financial stability of the Bennet’s, so, instead, I have a savings account.
7. Open Yourself Up to Love –Love can blossom from unexpected places and with unexpected people. Be open to all the possibilities even if they’re not what you might expect (hint hint: Marianne, Emma, and Elizabeth).
8. Enjoy the Little Things – Life is short and everyday is another opportunity to try something new, take some time to do something for yourself, and grow as a person. Whether reading poetry to whomever is within earshot, walking, or singing at a pianoforte, take stock of every happy moment.

What life lessons have you learned from reading Jane Austen? 

Book Blurb:

Violet Desmond has just learned from her dying grandmother that the life she’s been living is a lie.

Left with only a locket, a newspaper clipping, and a name–Atherton–Violet sets off to discover her hidden personal history.  Simultaneously, the London academic begins to have vivid dreams in which a woman from the past narrates her life story involving the same locket, a secret marriage, and a child. A story intimately connected to Jane Austen.

Violet reluctantly agrees to receive help from cavalier treasure hunter, Peter Knighton. Blacklisted from his profession, Knighton can almost taste the money and accolades he’d receive for digging up something good on Austen; the locket alone is unique enough to be worth plenty to the right collector. It would be enough to get his foot back in the door.

The unlikely pair begin a quest for answers that leads them to Aerendgast Hallows. Knee-deep in hidden crypts, perilous pursuits, and centuries-old riddles, Violet must put her literary expertise to the test as she battles to uncover the secret that her loved ones died trying to reveal, before an unknown enemy silences her as well.

Author Bio:

Rachel was born and raised in Los Angeles, which naturally resulted in a deep love of the UK from

an early age. Reading and writing have been favorite pastimes for as long as she can remember. Rachel has a BA in English Literature from Scripps College and an MA in London Studies from Queen Mary, University of London. Her focus is 19th century British Literature. She enjoys hiking, musical theatre, fancy water, pilates, vegan baking, good tv and movies, and researching new book ideas!

Jane Austen has always been an author near and dear to Rachel's heart for her ability to tell a story so compelling, it remains relevant hundreds of years later. And for creating Henry Tilney.

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Buy Links:

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Blog Tour Schedule:

3/2: Guest Post at Austenprose 

3/3: Excerpt & Giveaway at My Jane Austen Book Club 

3/4: Author Interview at The Little Munchkin Reader

3/5: Excerpt & Giveaway at BestSellers & BestStellars

3/6: Review at Babblings of a Bookworm 

3/7: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Love for Jane Austen 

3/8: Review at The Delighted Reader

3/9: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time… 

3/10: Guest Post & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged 

3/11: Review at Austenprose 

3/12: Excerpt & Giveaway at My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice 

3/13: Review at Diary of an Eccentric

3/14: Review at Margie's Must Reads

3/15: Review at Warmisunqu’s Austen

3/16: Guest Post & Giveaway at Austenesque Reviews

3:17: Guest Post & Giveaway at Babblings of a Bookworm

3/18: Guest Post at Laughing With Lizzie

Thank you, Rachel Berman, for visiting my blog. It was such a great pleasure to have you visit during your busy blog tour schedule. I hope you are having fun and I look forward to seeing the rest of your posts. Thanks again and best wishes with your book.

A special thanks to Michele Reed at Meryton Press who is giving away one eBook of Aerendgast: The Lost History of Jane Austen. The giveaway is international. I always like for you, dear readers, to have your share in the conversation so leave a comment with your email address to be entered. We would love to have you answer the author's question about a life lesson you have learned from reading Jane Austen. Giveaway ends at midnight, March 16. Good luck to all.