The Secret Betrothal with Jan Hahn

It is with much excitement and pleasure that I introduce today's guest,
my dear friend Jan Hahn.  Today Jan has agreed to talk to us about her newest release, The Secret Betrothal. I have been so excited about this book and its release. Ever since I first read it at DWG, I had hoped that Jan would publish it someday. For all of us readers, that day is almost here! Following are Jan's answers to some questions that have intrigued me since that first reading. So without further delay, please join me in welcoming Jan Hahn.

Your latest book is a reworked, enlarged version of a story you wrote in 2003 called The Engagement.  I’m interested in your writing process.  Before you began writing, what ideas or inspiration sparked this story?

Since my first idea for the story occurred way back in 2003, I’m not sure I can remember it; however, I do know that I was intrigued by Jane Austen’s treatment of secret engagements in her books.  Money always seemed to play a major part in the need for secrecy. I was also interested in what happened to women who transgressed the moral or social code of those times.  I’m thinking of Maria Bertram who came to a sad ending in Mansfield Park.  I certainly didn’t plan for Elizabeth Bennet to repeat Maria’s mistake, but I wondered what wrong she might commit that would dare to destroy Darcy’s love for her.  I wanted to watch Darcy truly search his soul and determine exactly how much he loved Elizabeth.  If his pride caused him to propose to her in such an insulting manner simply because she had low connections and a less than perfect family, what might happen if Elizabeth actually erred in a manner that caused gossip and scandal?

It’s funny how you worded the sentence, “I wanted to watch Darcy.”  It sounds as though you don’t know what he will do even though you are the author.  Other writers talk of characters taking over a story and veering off into something the author never planned.  Does this happen to you?

All the time!  Those pesky characters think they are in charge!  I never intended for Wickham to do some of what he does in this story, but all of a sudden, off he went, and I felt like I was following him down the path just to see what he would do (and he’s not the type of man I like to follow).

That is amazing to me when I hear of authors talking of their characters leading them. I don’t think I would want to follow Wickham too far either! Now let’s talk about the setting.  The story begins in Hertfordshire, moves to Kent, and eventually to Brighton.  Why Brighton?

That’s easy to answer: because I love the sea.  Like many, I consider it highly romantic, and I wanted to place Elizabeth and Darcy on the beach.  I just had to devise a plan to get them there.

I like how you put Darcy and Lizzy on the beach. Those were some very memorable and romantic moments. What about research?  Did you have to do much research on Brighton?

Russsell House 1786

Sea-bathing machines on the beach in Brighton

In the beginning, I knew nothing about Brighton other than what Jane tells us in P&P.  I did read as much as I could about the place.  Brighton is famous for a well-known doctor named Richard Russell who treated people with seawater.  I found that fascinating and decided I needed a medical reason for going to Brighton.  Although Dr. Russell died before my story took place, I decided to create a physician who followed Dr. Russell’s methods.  I briefly mentioned Martha Gunn in the book who was an actual person considered an expert at taking people into the ocean and “dipping” them by vigorously plunging the visitor in and out of the sea.  Since Dr. Russell advocated the healthy effects of bathing in the sea, Martha Gunn had plenty of patients.  I’ve always loved Mrs. Bennet and her younger daughters’ desire to go sea-bathing, but I wonder whether they would have enjoyed Gunn’s expertise.  Of course, it’s common knowledge that the Prince Regent liked Brighton and built a palace there.  My story takes place before his pavilion is built, but I was able to refer to him.

Prince Regent's Pavilion

One part of my setting in Brighton that is pure imagination is the large rocks I place on the beach.  The portion of the shore upon which Elizabeth walks is some distance from the main beach, so I used creative license to place some rocks there because I wanted them to be a necessary part of the story. 

I am glad that you took that license with the rocks. The scenes there are some of my favorite parts of the story. Are there other instances where you employed creative license instead of abiding by your research?

Well, from what I’ve read about the waltz, even though it was known on the Continent, England did not embrace it with open arms (pardon my pun).  When it was introduced at the Prince Regent’s ball in London in 1816, The Times termed it “an indecent foreign dance.” I chose to include it at a significant ball in Brighton.

Charades was a rhyming riddle, such as the verse used in Emma that made poor Harriet Smith think Mr. Elton was in love with her.  Today, it’s a miming game, and I had Colonel Fitzwilliam introduce it to Elizabeth and Darcy because it reveals some important facts.  On a personal note, Charades is a favorite game of my family.  When all 18 of us get together during the holidays, we always play several rounds of Charades. 

Having the waltz at the ball in Brighton was a swoon-worthy moment! (sighs here) Moving on─at Pemberley, you have some scenes take place at a folly on the property.  What brought this about?

In 2012, I was fortunate to visit Lyme Park in Derbyshire, the setting for the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. Some distance from the house up on a rise, there’s a tall tower that some people referred to as a folly.  It’s called “The Cage.”  In the past, it had actually been a gamekeeper’s lodge and even a jail.  In the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice, I fell in love with the folly where Darcy’s first proposal took place.  I wanted a prettier, more graceful building for Pemberley.  I found pictures of Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire and decided that a smaller version of those ruins would be the perfect folly for my story.  

Fountain's Abbey

Ooh, the folly of the first proposal in the 2005 movie is so beautiful and creates an extremely romantic setting. Too bad the proposal did not end as romantic as it started.  Wanting the folly for part of your story leads me 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?

I write strictly by the seat of my pants other than I always know the ending before I begin.  Outlines seem to take the fun out of writing for me.  I sometimes write a short synopsis before I begin but nothing like a detailed outline.  I tend to make outlines in the middle of writing the story if I need to keep track of ages or time that has elapsed. 

I wish I had a writing routine!  I’ve always admired people who get up early and write at least four hours, but I’m not an early morning person.  I write slowly, and after two hours I feel as though I’ve been digging ditches!  I love rewriting, though.  I can edit my work forever. Publisher’s deadlines were made for people like me, or else I’d never stop changing things. 

I can certainly relate to your last four words above, ‘never stop changing things’. It can be hard to find that place of being able to live with one’s work. Tell us something about your newest book that you love most. (if you can without giving anything away)

I probably answered this question earlier when I said I wanted to write a story wherein Darcy has to search his soul to see whether he truly loves Elizabeth.  My favorite scene is the confrontation between Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam when the colonel points out some hard truths that Darcy does not want to face.  I also had fun with the Mistletoe ball.

Oh yes, both of those scenes are emotional and touching. Since both involve Darcy I have a very important question for you. We all have our special reasons for loving Mr. Darcy, what are your reasons?

You mean aside from his looks, his fortune, and Pemberley?  All kidding aside, I love Darcy because he is a good man, he’s honest, and when he’s wrong he’s willing to change.  I can’t ask for much more than that. 

Thank you, Janet, for allowing me to introduce The Secret Betrothal on your lovely blog.  I also want to thank you again for the beautiful artwork you did for the front and back covers of my book.

Back Cover Blurb:

Why would a gentleman ask a lady to conceal their betrothal?

Jane Austen writes of secret engagements in more than one of her novels, and in The Secret Betrothal, author Jan Hahn explores the question of what would happen if Austen’s most famous heroine from Pride and Prejudice reluctantly agrees to accept such a proposal.

When Fitzwilliam Darcy learns that Elizabeth Bennet has committed herself to such an arrangement, his hopes of winning her hand are shattered.  After circumstances continue to bring the two together—from Hertfordshire to Rosings Park to the seaside town of Brighton―he finds he is unable to tame his desire for the woman who has stolen his heart.

Do Darcy’s efforts to win Elizabeth succeed, or does his sworn enemy lead her to the altar?

Jan, I am so thrilled that you agreed to stop by and talk with us about this new release. Your answers were informative and intriguing. As for the cover art, it was my privilege to be asked to do it for you and Meryton Press. 

You may contact Jan via her website, Jan Hahn's Books

or her author page on Facebook, Jan Hahn

Jan Hahn's other books may be found at Amazon Author Page 

and at B&N for An Arranged Marriage and The Journey

Several years ago Jan reintroduced me to Pride and Prejudice. She even loaned me her DVD of the 1995 miniseries. (not sure I would have done that) The first PnP alternate path that I ever read was Jan's An Arranged Marriage and I haven't stopped reading since! Later she told me, "Oh, I forgot to mention that JAFF can be addicting!" Her warning came a little too late. I guess I can truthfully say that all of this is because of you, my friend. Thank you for introducing me to the wonderful world of JAFF.

Michele Reed and Meryton Press are having a giveaway of The Secret Betrothal by Jan Hahn. There is one trade paperback and one eBook generously being offered. Two winners will be randomly selected from the comments. Please have your share in the conversation so that you may be entered to win either the trade paperback or the eBook. Please note that the book has not yet been released but should be by the end of the giveaway and it ends at midnight, February 17.