LAG: Are you as obsessed with Austen as the characters in your novel?VC: I am, indeed, as obsessed with Jane Austen as the characters in A Weekend with Mr Darcy. There are fewer greater pleasure for me than sitting down with a Jane Austen novel or enjoying one of the many beautiful film adaptations of her books. I also had the great pleasure of visiting many 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. I also have many books about Jane Austen from her novels to collections of her letters and biographies, and some very cute trinkets like my ‘I heart Darcy’ keychain, bookmarks and an ‘I Love Darcy’ T-shirt!
LAG: When did you first discover Austen?
VC: 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 which I watched when I was about 13. I fell in love with it immediately even though the costumes were more Gone with the Wind than Regency England! I didn't read Pride and Prejudice until I was 17 but I was hooked for life, and I went on to study Sense and Sensibility at university and then read the other books too.
LAG: How did you apply what you loved about her novels in your novel?
VC: I hope that some of my enthusiasm for Austen comes through in my Austen addicts trilogy. I think many of the characters in A Weekend with Mr Darcy are very like me. Robyn uses Austen as an escape. Katherine’s love is through her work as an academic, and Warwick has been inspired by Austen to write his own books. I can relate closely to all three of these characters and maybe my readers will recognize something of themselves in them too.
Thank-you Victoria for being a guest on my blog today. Anyone who owns an "I Love Darcy" t-shirt, is definitely an author that I would like to read! Stay tuned for a review of A Weekend with Mr. Darcy on Laura's Reviews.
Giveaway Details
Beth from Sourcebooks has been kind enough to offer one copy of A Weekend with Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly for a giveaway.
If you would like to win a copy of A Weekend with Mr. Darcy please leave a comment about what intrigues you about the novel or this interview.
As part of your comment, you must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner.
For an additional entry, blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar. Provide a link to this post in your comment.
I will be using random.org (or a monte carlo simulation in excel) to pick the winners from the comments.
This contest is only open to US and Canadian residents (Sorry!).
No P.O. Boxes.
The deadline for entry is midnight, Friday July 22nd.
Good luck!
i am always fascinated how authors/writers can come up w/more tales to tell on JaneAusten's body of work!!!!
ReplyDeletethank you for this giveaway!!!
i will share this giveaway on my FB page; does that count towards extra entries???
www.facebook.com/cyn209
thank you again!!!
cyn209(AT)juno(DOT)com
I am obsessed with Jane Austen. I watched the movie "The Jane Austen Bookclub" and became intrigue. I bought all of her books and started my own Jane Austen bookclub. I cannot wait to read this book.
ReplyDeleteDonna
dkmtheriot@yahoo.com
Mr. Darcy is my favorite character from a Jane novel and when I see a book with him in it I must have it! Thanks for this giveaway!!!!
ReplyDeleteMargaret
singitm@hotmail.com
I have read many classics, Jane Eyre being among my favourites and there is something about the past that fascinates me. They society, the laws, the limitations, the way of life. Classic-inspired always intrigue me and like seeing the constant and the differences. That is why A Weekend with Mr. Darcy sounds great.
ReplyDeleteCambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
I think any of us Janeites would love a Jane Austen conference! In face, one of my best friends and I have already planned to try out a Jane Austen trip someday.
ReplyDeleteThis book looks great and I'd love a chance to read it. Thanks for the giveaway!
mjmbecky(at)gmail(dot)com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCan we ever get enough of Mr. Darcy? I don't think so!! Looks like a fun read!
ReplyDeleteamelialoveskat(at)yahoo(dot)come
This is a great interview--I think I'd enjoy this book. The title makes me chuckle.
ReplyDeletesuko95(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for hosting this giveaway, Laura.
absolutely would LUV to win this story ")
ReplyDeleteinfuse at live dot ca
i'm intrigued by Victoria's own luv for JA that she so willingly translates not only into her books but into this interview! how FuN to be able to visit all JA haunts and personally experience them. so glad she shares those experiences through her writing!
what intrigues me about this book is the disclosure [early on so not a spoiler!] of the author thought to be female who is actually male and what will occur on that JA Weekend retreat! hmmmm... curiosity aroused here "))
thx for the interview & the giveaway!
I would love to win this book, because I, too, am obsessed with Austen, especially Pride and Prejudice. thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeletemarlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love that Victoria's introduction to Jane was the 1940 P&P - that movie is amazing, haha...I too discovered Jane through film: the 1995 miniseries with Colin Firth. I was then but sixteen years old ;o) And swooned hard, never to recover!
ReplyDeleteWould love to win a copy of this! Oh Darcy... hehe
quarterback.girl[at]gmail[dot]com
I love reading 'Pride & Prejudice' inspired novels. I would love to win this book. What intrigues me most is the Jane Austen Addicts weekend. Please enter me in this giveaway!
ReplyDeletelovetoread205 [at] gmail [dot] com
I have not read any of Jane Austen's books so I guess what intrigues me the most is what are these books like? How good are they really? Makes me want to read this book for sure!
ReplyDeletenancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
This giveaway has now ended and a winner has been posted.
ReplyDelete