Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Guest Post and Giveaway: Victoria Connelly

Please join me in welcoming Victoria Connelly to Debbie's Book Bag today. Victoria is here to promote her book, A Weekend With Mr. Darcy. Sourcebooks has been gracious enough to offer a giveaway for two lucky winners, see details at the end of the post.

I asked Victoria to talk about how she became interested in Austen inspired fiction and this was her response:

It was when I was about 13 that I first became aware of Jane Austen through the 1940 black and white film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson. I adored it but I didn't read Pride and Prejudice until I was 17 and it was many years later that I decided to write a trilogy about Jane Austen addicts. I’d been visiting many of the Jane Austen locations: her beautiful home at Chawton in Hampshire, the little church at Steventon, Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast and the magnificent Georgian city of Bath, and I couldn’t help thinking how much fun it would be to write a series of books each set in a different Austen location. I also wanted to explore what it would be like to live with a Jane Austen addict. What did my husband think every time he walked through the living room to find his wife watching yet another version of Persuasion? Did he worry about my obsession with the Austen hero?

I also asked Victoria how her version of Jane Austen's characters differ and compare to the originals and this was her response:

My characters aren’t directly inspired by Jane Austen’s characters – it wasn’t my intention to update her books. I wanted to write about modern characters who are besotted by Austen’s books and to look at how they might see Austen as a wonderful escape from the stresses and strains of modern-day life. But, thinking about my characters, they do share similarities to some of Austen’s characters. Two of my favourite Austen heroines are Marianne Dashwood and Catherine Morland. I love Marianne’s passion for life and Catherine’s tendency to daydream and I think Robyn in A Weekend with Mr Darcy shares some of these traits as does Kay in the second book in the trilogy, Dreaming of Mr Darcy. Kay is also a hopeless match-maker so she has something in common with Emma Woodhouse!

I like to think that my heroes are as dashing as Austen’s own. Warwick Lawton in A Weekend with Mr Darcy rather reminds me of Willoughby because he’s not altogether honest with my heroine, Katherine. He’s not as badly behaved as Willoughby, though! That would never do!

Check out my review of A Weekend With Mr. Darcy in tomorrow's posts!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Sourcebooks is sponsoring a giveaway for two copies of Victoria Connelly's book, A Weekend with Mr. Darcy. These copies will go to two lucky winners from Debbie's Book Bag!

~ You must be a Google Friend Connect follower to participate.
~ US and Canadian Addresses only (Publisher Request)
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST August 2nd.

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18 comments:

holdenj said...

What great comments from Victoria, I bet this is a charming trilogy. Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

This sounds like a very interesting story. One that I would love to read.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

cyn209 said...

thank you for visiting, Victoria!!
good luck & congrats!!!
thank you for the giveaway!! definitely a MUST READ!!!

cyn209(AT)juno(DOT)com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I can't wait to read the book. Tore923@aol.com

lag123 said...

I love the description and explanation of your characters Victoria. Thanks for the giveaway!

lag110 at mchsi dot com

In Julie's Opinion said...

Thanks for a great interview! I like the idea of Jane Austen fans having similarities to Jane Austen's characters, but with a modern twist also. I am definitely going to read this book because I am a huge Jane Austen fan myself :)
jwitt33 at live dot com

ChristyJan said...

I've been hearing wonderful things about this book and I'm looking forward to reading it.

hawkes(at)citlink.net

mamabunny13 said...

Victoria, I enjoyed your interview and I'mlooking forward to reading your books.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

Carol N Wong said...

Thank you for writing this book, if you hadn't we would have never know about the fire monks or the lessons that the book has to teach.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Becky said...

I enjoyed reading the interview and look forward to reading the books.
~Becky

LorettaLynn//Temprance said...

The interview was wonderful:)
I have never read any of your writing before,But it looks great:)

Gwendolyn B. said...

Nice interview! I think this book and the trilogy sound delightful! Thanks so much for the giveaway and the chance to win a copy.

Jennifer L. said...

I love the idea of characters who are Austen addicts! I'd love to read this book.
jentam777 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Interesting interview, thanks for sharing! I'm intrigued by this book and would love to read it.

chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

Leslie said...

Great analysis of a classic done in modern times. I hope to read the book soon!

Pam S (pams00) said...

Great interview, I'm a Jane addict too, especially P&P. This looks like an interesting modern twist.

Anonymous said...

Victoria,
This sounds like a delightful "take" on the Austen books and characters. The stories don't need retelling in the traditional way, but taking the essence of both to give your characters their personalities is a delightful idea. They sound like interesting books that are fun to read.
Best of luck with the release of A WEEKEND WITH MR. DARCEY.

librarypat AT comcast DOT net

Nancye said...

Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net