The Darcy Monologues Blog Tour makes it stop at More Agreeably Engaged today. My post is a review of the anthology and a surprise intro by J. Marie Croft of my dear friend, Jan Hahn. I think you will enjoy the short question and answer session with Jan. I know I did and I was thrilled that Claudine sent this special part to me. Thank you, Claudine.*****
For my review of The
Darcy Monologues, I do not intend to give a recap of each short story.
Instead I will stick to an overall assessment of the book, as a whole.
For anyone interested in having an anthology with plenty of
lovely short stories to read, then I highly recommend The Darcy Monologues. Not only will you be able to get a little
reading time worked into a busy schedule but the choice of authors is
outstanding. There are times when it is difficult to have much reading time and
a short story satisfies the need to read and gives that ‘feel good’ feeling I
so love from a well-written book. In this anthology, a reader will find plenty
to love.
If you are bent toward reading Regency, there are some
wonderful stories to gratify. For those that prefer modern retellings or
variations, the selection for those is awesome too. I generally prefer stories
to be set in Regency times, but I must say that the modern retellings in this
anthology are excellent.
The stories were well-written but I expected nothing less
from this A-list of authors. I found them to carry the plot of each story and
come to a good resolution. I would think that might be more difficult with less
pages to tell a story but each author carried it off remarkably well. Each felt
complete and left me feeling content.
From the last days of Darcy’s bachelorhood to a mature Darcy
reminiscing on a life well lived and well loved, the diversity of storylines
make sure there should be something extra special for every reader. These tales
made me laugh and made me cry. That they are all written from Darcy’s point of
view is the ‘icing on the cake’ This is a book that I will pick up again and
again. Well done to all of you!
*****
The “Hahn Hiatus” is over! by J. Marie Croft
Few writers in our genre are such true proficients as award-winning JAFF storyteller
Jan Hahn.
Hahn’s widely popular The Journey (the pièce de résistance of her oeuvre, in my opinion) is almost impossible to put down. All her novels beg to be devoured in one delicious sitting.
The lady knows how to take readers on a journey – a wild, breathtaking roller coaster ride filled with emotional ups and downs. And, oh, the places she’ll take you on those journeys! Her plots are imaginative (daring, even), yet characters remain faithful to those created by Austen. Best of all, Hahn’s riveting, angsty, heart-wrenching stories have believable and oh-so-tender happily-ever-afters.
But her last novel was published ages and ages ago … in 2014!
For three years I have waited!
Aargh!
Jan Hahn, why must you insist on torturing me?
Ah, but the Hahn hiatus will soon be over, for within the pages of The Darcy Monologues is her latest offering – a Regency short story titled Without Affection. Yeah, right. I bet there’s affection aplenty therein, and I can’t wait to read it!
I’d love to write romantic JAFF adventure like Jan Hahn does; but, alas, I have not her storytelling knack. What I do have is admiration of her skill and a healthy dose of envy.
To top it off, she seems like a very genteel kind of lady with a keen sense of humour … someone I’d like to meet.
What a lovely introduction, J. Marie Croft, for a truly lovely lady. You are correct in your assessment. Jan Hahn is a very genteel lady and she does have a keen sense of humour. She is also a kind and generous person. As many of you know, Jan and I are personal friends and have been for many years. She has stood with me through many ups and downs and never passed judgement. That is a true friend indeed. When Claudine sent me the extras for my post and I saw who and what I had the pleasure of including with my review, I was excited. (and J. Marie, I happen to have heard that Jan H. loves your writing style and your wit! 'smiling') Like you, I'm thrilled that the 'Hahn Hiatus' is over too. I look forward to more!
Okay, okay. I'll quit rambling and get on with the interview. I'm quite sure you would rather be reading it. Enjoy!
How did you come to be inspired
by Miss Austen as both a woman and then, as a writer?
Jane Austen did not take the easy way out. She had
opportunities to marry, but she refused to do so simply for security. She
endured poverty rather than marry without affection. I found her example both
modern and inspiring.
Austen’s writing is the ideal. From
Elizabeth Bennet to Emma Woodhouse, her characters sparkle with their own
particular attributes and flaws. She makes me laugh out loud in one
chapter and bite my fingernails with apprehension in the next. Her prose has a beauty
of its own. Her snarky wit is delightful. The only problem? I always want more
of Darcy and Elizabeth’s story. That’s why I borrow her timeless characters and
repeatedly write my own variations of their love story.
Can you offer readers a brief description
of your story and tell us why you chose to set your story in the Regency era?
My story takes place in the twilight years of Darcy and
Elizabeth’s long life together. Their love for each other remains paramount
even at their mature ages. Darcy muses over their journey together and recalls
a time when their marriage became troubled over an issue he had never imagined
would happen to them.
I set all my stories in the Regency
era because I have a difficult time thinking of Austen’s characters in any
other period. I love the civility, balls, dress, and graceful way of living
found in Austen’s Regency world. I acknowledge that war, poverty,
and misery existed, but Austen doesn’t dwell on it. Her stories take place in
cottages, mansions, and verdant woods. Wordsworth said it best: I find the world is too much with us, and I
long to escape to Pemberley’s drawing room. That’s not to say I do not have
great admiration for those clever authors who transport my favorite couple to
another time and place.
This year we're coming up on the
200th anniversary of the publications of “Persuasion,” and “Northanger Abbey.”
What were you trying to capture of Jane Austen in your story, Without Affection in The Darcy Monologues?
I attempted to capture Jane Austen’s affinity for a marriage
based on love, and in particular, Darcy’s enduring love for Elizabeth. His is
the deepest kind of love, and he not only is willing to support her, but to
sacrifice for her. Darcy’s tendency to rush in and fix things creates conflict
in the marriage, but it stems from his all-encompassing love for his wife. Of
all Austen’s heroes, I consider Darcy and Wentworth her best. Their love for
Elizabeth and Anne survives even when they’ve been rejected. I can’t help but
wish Jane Austen had found such a love of her own.
The reactions to this upcoming
release have been overwhelmingly positive from readers and I think that’s also
in response to Mr. Darcy’s tremendous popularity throughout the past two
centuries. Why do you believe that modern-day woman still find him so appealing?
In essentials, Mr. Darcy is a good man, and, in the words of
Flannery O’Connor, we all know a good man
is hard to find. We may date bad boys, but heaven
help us if we marry them. Darcy being rich and handsome
certainly makes him attractive, but I love Elizabeth for wanting more. His
character makes all the difference to her. And since he
bumbles about in the beginning, insulting people and hiding his good points, a
great story is born.
Did writing this story make you
appreciate something about Jane Austen all over again?
It reawakened my love for writing. I confess I’ve taken far
too long a leave of absence since my last book was published. Having a deadline
made me devote my time to my craft, and I fell in love with Austen and Darcy
all over again.
Jan, I just love ending this
interview by sharing your six-word memoir…
I married my own Mr. Darcy.
Now that the “Hahn Hiatus” is
over, what can readers look forward to reading from you in the future and how
can readers stay in touch with you?
Writing from Darcy’s viewpoint is a challenge, but several
years ago, I wrote a book in his words, and I’m in the process of re-writing
parts of it. I’m also suffering over my sequel to The Journey that has tormented me far too long. I’m determined to
finish it.
The book description reads as follows:
“You must allow me to tell you...”
For over two hundred years, Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy has captivated readers’ imaginations as the ultimate catch. Rich. Powerful. Noble. Handsome. And yet, as Miss Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is established through Elizabeth Bennet’s fine eyes, how are we to know what his tortured soul is indeed thinking? How does Darcy progress from “She is tolerable: but not handsome enough to tempt me” to “I thought only of you”?
In this romance anthology, fifteen Austen-inspired authors assemble to sketch Darcy’s character through a series of re-imaginings, set in the Regency through contemporary times—from faithful narratives to the fanciful. Herein “The Darcy Monologues”, the man himself reveals his intimate thoughts, his passionate dreams, and his journey to love—all told with a previously concealed wit and enduring charm.
Stories by: Susan Adriani * Sara Angelini * J. Marie Croft * Karen M Cox * Jan Hahn * Jenetta James * Lory Lilian * KaraLynne Mackrory * Beau North * Ruth Phillips Oakland * Natalie Richards * Sophia Rose * Joana Starnes * Melanie Stanford * Caitlin Williams
Blog
Tour Giveaways
There
are two special giveaways.
One
winner will win the grand prize of 24 paperback books, each one autographed by
the author, and mailed to the winner’s home. Please see the enclosed graphic
for the list of books included in this giveaway.
The
second winner will win their choice of either a Pride and Prejudice pocketbook or a Pride and Prejudice Kindle Fire Case with stand - Pride and Prejudice Book
Cover Case for Amazon Kindle Fire 7" and 6" - Kindle Fire / Fire HD /
Fire HDX tablet. Please see that attached graphic for these choices. All
giveaways are international.
Author
Biographies
Formally trained as a fine artist and
illustrator, Susan Adriani
discovered her passion for storytelling over a decade after she graduated from
a local art college near her childhood home in New England. Susan is the author
of The Truth about Mr. Darcy and Darkness Falls upon Pemberley.
Sara
Angelini is a lawyer living in the San Francisco Bay area with her
husband, three kids, two dogs, a frog, some fish, and a few hundred stick bugs.
She never went to veterinary school but if she had, she would have been a true
proficient. She enjoys writing from Darcy’s point of view in a way that shows
his humor and vulnerability. Her first book, The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy, was published in 2008. She is
the co-founder of www.austenunderground.com, where her other Pride and Prejudice-inspired works can
be read.
Karen
M Cox is an award-winning author of four novels accented with
romance and history: 1932, Find Wonder in
All Things, At the Edge of the Sea, and Undeceived.
She also wrote “Northanger Revisited 2015”, which appeared in the anthology Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer. Originally
from Everett, Washington, Karen now lives in Central Kentucky with her husband,
works as a pediatric speech pathologist, encourages her children, and spoils
her granddaughter. Like Austen’s Emma, Karen has many hobbies and projects she
doesn’t quite finish, but like Elizabeth Bennet, she aspires to be a great
reader and an excellent walker.
J.
Marie Croft is a self-proclaimed word nerd and adherent of Jane Austen’s
quote “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.’ Bearing witness to her fondness
for Pride and Prejudice, wordplay,
and laughter are Joanne’s light-hearted novel, Love at First Slight, a Babblings of a Bookworm Favourite Read of
2014, her humorous short story, “Spyglasses and Sunburns,” in the Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer anthology,
and a playful novella, A Little Whimsical
in His Civilities, Just Jane 1813’s Favorite JAFF Novella of 2016.
Award-winning writer Jan Hahn is the author of four Austen-inspired novels. She studied music at the University of Texas but discovered her true love was a combination of journalism and literature. Her first book, An Arranged Marriage, was published in 2011, followed by The Journey, The Secret Betrothal, and A Peculiar Connection. She agrees with Mr. Darcy’s words in Pride and Prejudice: “A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.” She is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, lives in Texas, has five children and a gaggle of gorgeous grandchildren.
Jenetta James is a mother, lawyer,
writer, and taker-on of too much. She grew up in Cambridge and read history at
Oxford University where she was a scholar and president of the Oxford
University History Society. After graduating, she took to the law and now
practices full time as a barrister. Over the years, she has lived in France,
Hungary and Trinidad as well as her native England. Jenetta currently lives in
London with her husband and children where she enjoys reading, laughing and
playing with Lego. She is the author of Suddenly
Mrs. Darcy and The Elizabeth Papers.
Lory Lilian fell in love with Pride and Prejudice thirty-three years
ago and discovered the charm of Jane Austen fanfiction exactly twenty years
later. She lives in Bucharest, Romania, is a proud mother of an amazing
daughter, and addicted to anything Austen. After a career in business, she
dedicates her time to reading and writing. Lory is the author of six
bestselling books: Rainy Days,
Remembrances of the Past, His Uncle’s Favorite, The Perfect Match, Sketching
Mr. Darcy, The Rainbow Promise, and A
Man with Faults. JAFF readers call her the “Queen of Hot Mush” and she
loves it.
KaraLynne Mackrory is no newbie to the writing world. She made her debut as an author at the tender age of 13 when she wrote her first set of bad poetry. As a young adult, she steered clear of bad prose and achieved a degree in social work. Years later, she has published four Austen inspired novels so full of romantic sensibilities as to give you a swoon and hopefully a few laughs. Her books turned out better than her poetry and are: Falling for Mr. Darcy, Bluebells in the Mourning, the IPPY award-winning Haunting Mr. Darcy, and Yours Forevermore, Darcy.
Beau
North is the author of Longbourn’s
Songbird, The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy, and a contributor to the
anthology Then Comes Winter. Beau is
a native southerner who now calls Portland, Oregon home with her husband and
two cats. She attended the University of South Carolina where she began a
lifelong obsession with literature. In her spare time, Beau is the co-host of
the podcast Excessively Diverted: Modern
Austen Onscreen.
Mild-mannered business woman by day,
hopeless romantic by night, Ruth
Phillips Oakland was always a fan of the fictional gentleman from
Derbyshire, but it was her discovery of Jane Austen fanfiction in 2006 that
inspired Ruth to become a writer. Ruth has written dozens of short stories
posted online and the published novel entitled, My BFF. Ruth lives in New England with her favorite husband of over
thirty years and is thrilled to be included in this anthology with so many of
her favorite authors and friends.
Natalie
Richards is a writer, blogger, and singer. She started her book review
blog, Songs & Stories, in late 2010 after falling in love with Jane Austen
fanfiction. Her writing can also be found on Figment, the Darcy & Lizzy
Forum, TeenInk Magazine, and in the Austenesque anthologies Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer and Then Comes Winter. She resides with her
family in the Oregon countryside and currently works as a waitress and
babysitter.
Sophia
Rose
is a native Californian currently residing in Michigan. A long-time Jane Austen
fan, she is a contributing author to Sun-Kissed:
Effusions of Summer and Then Comes
Winter anthologies. Sophia’s love for writing began as a teen writing
humorous stories submitted for creative writing class and high school writing
club. Writing was set aside while Sophia pursued degrees and certificates in
education, special education, family history, and social work leading to a
rewarding career. Health issues led her to a greater opportunity to read, beta,
and review books, and return to writing stories that lean toward the humorous
side and always end with a happily ever after.
Melanie
Stanford reads too much, plays music too loud, is sometimes dancing,
and always daydreaming. She would also like her very own TARDIS, but only to
travel to the past. She lives in Canada with her husband and four kids. She is
the author of SWAY, a retelling of
Jane Austen’s Persuasion, shortlisted
for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize, and the short story “Becoming Fanny”
featured in the anthology Then Comes
Winter. Her second novel, Collide,
inspired by Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and
South, is coming soon. You can find her at melaniestanfordbooks.com, on Twitter @MelMStanford, and on
Facebook @MelanieStanfordauthor.
Joana Starnes
lives in the south of England with her family. Over the years, she has swapped
several hats—physician, lecturer, clinical data analyst—but feels most
comfortable in a bonnet. She has been living in Georgian England for decades in
her imagination and plans to continue in that vein till she lays hands on a
time machine. She is the author of seven Austen-inspired novels: From This Day Forward ~ The Darcys of
Pemberley, The Subsequent Proposal,
The Second Chance, The Falmouth Connection, The Unthinkable Triangle, Miss Darcy’s Companion, and Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter. You can
connect with Joana through her website http://www.joanastarnes.co.uk/ and on Facebook via All
Roads Lead to Pemberley.
Caitlin Williams is an award-winning
author of two novels, Ardently and the best-selling The
Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet, both of which spin the plot of Pride and Prejudice around but keep the
characters just the same. Originally from South London, Caitlin spent thirteen
years as a detective in the Metropolitan Police but is currently on a break
from Scotland Yard so she can spend more time at home with her two children and
write. She now lives in Kent, where she spends a lot of time daydreaming about
Mr. Darcy, playing with dinosaurs, and trying not to look at the laundry pile.
Christina
Boyd wears many hats as she is an editor under her own banner The Quill Ink, a contributor to
Austenprose, and a ceramicist and proprietor of Stir Crazy Mama’s Artworks. A
life member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Christina lives in the
wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her dear Mr. B, two busy teenagers, and a
retriever named BiBi. Visiting Jane Austen's England was made possible by her
book boyfriend and star crush Henry Cavill when she won a trip to meet him on
the London Eye in the spring of 2017. True story.
Spotify Playlist
Each author has contributed a song based
on her story for this Spotify playlist. Click on the link below to listen to these songs.
PinterestBoard - check this out for lots of fun pictures
To follow The Darcy Monologues on Twitter, use the hashtag, #TheDarcyMonologues.
Blog
Tour Schedule
*****
There is much to see and read during the blog tour and many of you have been following its progress. I hope you are enjoying all the posts and will get a chance to read the book soon, if you have not already. Thank you, Claudine and Christina, for a such a well organized blog tour! Best Wishes, Christina, with the book.
