Shocking! How did Lady Catherine manage to inspire my writing?
Meredith, first I want to thank you for hosting my post on your blog and to congratulate you for the wonderful event you have created this month. It has been such a joy to follow it and to be part of it!
My name is Lory Lilian, I am 43 — today — Romanian, and have been in love with Pride and Prejudice since I was 13. The day I discovered JAFF was one of the happiest of my life as I realized there were other people like me out there — people who simply could not have enough of Darcy and Elizabeth!
I have two books published by Meryton Press — and that was another happy moment of my life, as I never imagined my passion would come out in print form — LOL! I still am surprised, flattered, and grateful to see so many people interested in buying my books, especially since they are available on line for free in the Meryton Reading Room. As I got many messages asking about this, I would like to take this opportunity to say that both Remembrance and Rainy Days are in the process of being edited for e-book versions (Kindle, Nook, etc.) — together with second editions of the paperbacks.
So, dear readers — back to today’s post!
Those of you who haven’t read my books yet most likely never will after reading these confessions.
Those of you who have read my books — and especially those who know me by the name I was given by JAFF readers: “Queen of Mush” — will certainly raise their eyebrows in disbelief, saying
“Yeah, right… What part exactly was influenced by Lady Catherine? Not the very detailed wedding nights, I hope!”
Yet, it is the truth: I have just realized that Lady C had a pretty important influence in my creation of the original (i.e., non-canon) characters in both books.
Rainy Days is a sweet, romantic love story with little angst, which tried to answer some questions, like: What if Darcy and Elizabeth had the chance to actually talk and listen to each other earlier than in the original story? What if Elizabeth’s eyes had been opened earlier to the impropriety of Wickham’s behavior and she had looked beyond his pleasant appearance? What if Darcy knew Elizabeth’s real opinion of him before the disastrous marriage proposal? What if Mr. Bennet had the chance to exchange a few words with him?
So, I put Darcy and Elizabeth together in forced circumstances two days before the Netherfield ball and forced them to talk. Of course, not all things are said in the open during that short encounter and not all the problems are solved, but the relationships among all the characters starts to change, and the Netherfield ball is an entirely different event.
I tried to introduce and develop a few characters with real impact in the story: Lord and Lady Matlock —strong personalities with different opinions and different reactions, engaged in battles of will during the story — and a small character (in size and importance!) named Rebecca Gardiner, a little girl of four and a half years, who was much loved by the readers and me.
Lady Matlock — like Lady C — is rich, stubborn, proud, a little selfish, preoccupied only with her family, and convinced that Elizabeth is a fortune hunter who trapped Darcy with her charms. However, I gave Lady Matlock many qualities that Lady C does not possess: beauty, wisdom, charm, tenderness, openness of mind, fairness — and many others.
Lord Matlock — well, he is Lady Catherine’s brother and much like her, but he is also Lady Matlock’s husband and never has a real chance to impose his will over his wife’s.
As for Becky — no, she has no resemblance to Lady Catherine at all! 🙂
Remembrance of the Past is an entirely different story. It begins in London — just before Elizabeth and the Gardiners’ departure for the Lakes — while Elizabeth is still overwhelmed by Darcy’s disastrous proposal at Hunsford and by her own unfair, hasty reaction to it. One day the fates bring her face to face with Darcy, Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and from that moment, there is turmoil as she fights to understand her heart, her feelings and her desires as they become stronger and stronger. Also, a new character, who is a stunningly beautiful and rich heiress — and a close friend of Darcy —only increases Elizabeth’s struggle. There is a fair amount of angst in this story.
Half of the readers loved Lady Cassandra from the beginning, while the other half hated her, especially as she seemed to be Elizabeth’s rival. She was a character who brought me great satisfaction while writing her, and the readers’ responses to her proved to me that she had captured everybody’s attention in one way or another. She is a strong character with lots of impact over the other characters and also has a hidden, emotional story from the past. And yes, she also has many similarities to Lady Catherine. I even took words that originally belonged to Lady C and put them in Cassandra’s mouth.
In fact, as some of my readers have noticed, she is a sort of Lady C, but much younger, more beautiful, more witty, more charming, and more fair and honest. Oh yes – and much more sexy!
In the end, Cassandra turns from a hateful character like Lady C into a very useful character for the storyline to show Elizabeth’s growth from a young girl full of uncertainties to a young woman, happily married, and trusting her own strengths as well as her husband’s love and devotion and the strength of their bond.
Last but not least, I just started a new story called “His Uncle’s Favorite” — which is being posted as a WIP at AHA — where the original character of Lord Matlock, Darcy’s uncle and Lady C’s brother, again appears and plays an important part in the story. And guess what? Once more, there are not only lots of Lady C’s words and behaviors in Lord Matlock’s interactions but also many likable qualities — and I dare say my readers will come to enjoy him much more than Lady Catherine!
So, thinking of all these and considering I do seem to allow Lady Catherine to influence my writing, do you, dear readers, think I should be worried?!
And — if you read my stories — please let me know your opinion: Do my characters really resemble Lady Catherine?
I plan to look into your books and read them. Thanks for sharing how Lady C “influenced” your work. She always likes to be useful and has influence! Jennifer G.
Happiest Birthday wishes Lory!! so pleased to be celebrating with you and Congratulations too on your wonderful writing successes! looking fwd to those ebook versions “)
i appreciate the tip about the reading room at Meryton and will be able to respond to your questions once i have taken advantage of that opp!
Uh-oh, now Lady C will make sure you’re indebted to her forever! Your Noble Muse. Lol She did it well, because RD and ROTP are both great; I really enjoyed them both.
In ROTP I liked Cassandra right away even though she was a potential rival for Darcy’s affections, made angstier by the fact that they would make a great couple. I have several good guy friends and she was doing what I have often done woth them – making sure Darcy was not being scammed by a nasty wench. I liked Cassandra’s backstory and how she finally comes to terms with it. I’m happy you’re writing something new. I’ll have to skip on over to AHA.
Happy birthday! Uh-oh, now Lady C will make sure you’re indebted to her forever! Your Noble Muse. Lol She did it well, because RD and ROTP are both great; I really enjoyed them both.
In ROTP I liked Cassandra right away even though she was a potential rival for Darcy’s affections, made angstier by the fact that they would make a great couple. I have several good guy friends and she was doing what I have often done woth them – making sure Darcy was not being scammed by a nasty wench. I liked Cassandra’s backstory and how she finally comes to terms with it. I’m happy you’re writing something new. I’ll have to skip on over to AHA.
Happy birthday!
Sorry about my last comment being duplicated. My cellphone has a tendency to do that when I comment…it’s an ordeal. Technology…
Happy Birthday! I have your books on my wish list on Amazon, I’m glad to hear they will be available soon on Kindle. Can’t wait to download them!
I enjoyed your post. I have not read your books as I have, only recently, been re-intoduced to Jane Austen and Austenesque or “what- if” novels. I do look forward to adding them to my list of books to read. Thank you for the interesting post.
Happy Birthday Lory!! Let me just tell you I love Rainy Days! I have read it several times now! I did enjoy ROTP too! Not too much angst but enough to keep me very interested!!
I cannot wait to read His Uncle’s Favorite! I think I will go over to AHA and start reading it! 🙂
Lol, since I have not read the books I can’t really say how much of Lady Catherine is in them 😉
Lory,
So good to see you represented here! You are still one of my absolute favorite Austen authors, and probably the only person I know who has read P&P as many times as I. Keep that mush coming! Can’t wait to read your next.
Rainy Days is one my favorite variatons! Great post! Happy Bithday!
Lory – Happy Birthday!
I do love your stories – RotP was the first JAFF print I ever bought, and is still a big fav of mine.
As far as Lady C – well, she likes to have her share of the conversation, so I’m sure that’s how she got into your stories – lol. Cassandra is a nicer LadyC – I hadn’t thought about it before. Makes me wonder what the young LadyC was like.
Thanks for a great post.
I would love to read your stories! I actually love Lady Catherine. Where would we be without all the drama if we were without her! I don’t think you need to be worried lol! Actually she reminds me of my Mother-in-law. Yeah I know scary!
Saying that Lady Catherine influences your writing is indeed different.
That isn’t the first thing most authors would say, I think.
I really enjoyed your post and I can’t wait to read your books!!=)
Happy birthday Lory! I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed both of your books. I’ve read so many that they tend to run together, but yours stand out. I look forward to your next–I don’t have the patience to read WIP so I’ll pick it up when it shows complete at AHA. Have a wonderful day and best of luck for the coming year 😉
I own both your books and enjoyed then immensely! I had not made the connection, but now that you mention it, I see it! Lady Catherine everywhere!
Happy Birthday! :oD
I haven’t read your books (yet), but I think Lady Catherine offers a lot to the story of P&P – and so, of course, can also offer a lot in any other version. She’s a little crazy, yeah, but she’s also so…”Jane” as well as “real”. There really are Lady C’s out there, haha…So *I* don’t think it’s a bad thing to have Lady C’s influence be in your characters — so long as she doesn’t get too much power ;o)
Dear all,
I was out of town for the last 3 days, with no internet connection, and as soon as I got home I hurried to check this page :).
Thank you everyone for your lovely comments and for your warm birthday whishes and please forgive me for not being able to respond you immediately. I am happy to notice, however, that most of you seemed to recognize Lady C’s important and impact. Shoocking, indeed :).
Many hugs and thanks from Romania !
Happy belated birthday Lory! Great post, reminding me why both novels are due for rereads. I will have to revisit Remembrance of the Past before checking out “His Uncle’s Favorite”. Can’t wait!
Happy belated birthday, Lory. I have not read any of your books yet but I plan to. Thank you for sharing synopsis for both books. I think I will love it.
Don’t worry whether you channel Lady C’s spirit into your own characters. You are fulfilling her dream cos she always want to be of use to everyone.
Lori, I’m so happy for you! Your writing deserves another edition. Remembrance of The Past was one of the very first JAFF stories I’d ever read years ago, and I fell in love with it and Lady Cassandra. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read it since that first time. You deserve every bit of success you have! Congratulations!
Best,
Susan
Happy birthday!! I need to check your books out ASAP!!
Thanks for this post. It introduced me to the Meryton Reading Room! I have been hooked for a week now. I loved your books and Rebecca “Becky” is my favorite new character. There were moments where I literally laughed out loud.
Jennifer W (google)
I can’t believe I missed this post! These books look great–I haven’t read any, so no idea if the characters resemble Lady Catherine…but I would definitely love to read them. 🙂
Lori- Rainy Day’s is one of my all time favorites. I love to re-read it often and will always recommend it to someone looking for some Austen inspired fiction. Keep up the good work!