I am very excited to welcome Tess Quinn, author of a newly released collection of Pride and Prejudiceshort stories titled, Pride Revisited, to Austenesque Reviews today! Tess has graciously agreed to answer my burning questions about Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudiceand her lovely anthology!

Since you may be a relatively new author to some of my readers, how about we start off with you telling us a little bit about yourself, Tess. I understand that you’ve been writing for several years and sharing your stories on online/fanfiction sites. In fact, I believe several of the stories from your anthology came from writing prompts or were inspired by friends you made online, correct? How has being a member of these sites influenced your writing? Do you still continue to post your stories online?

I always wanted to be a writer, but it remained a wish for many years except for a few dabbles along the way. I never applied myself to it until serendipity brought me to a website for the 2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice. I met some lovely people through that which led me to a couple small websites featuring fanfiction; I credit that good fortune as the catalyst for finally jumping in to the writing pool! I tried my hand, got encouraging feedback and that fed my confidence level. So I’d have to say that, but for those two sites (no longer active) and those wonderful people, I might still be wending my way through life only wishingI were a writer. The fact that they had relatively small, intimate regular membership was comfortable to this introvert, and I made some lasting friends from it too, a bonus for a lifetime.

Occasionally, challenges would be thrown out to write a certain viewpoint or scenario – “A Dose of Sardines” is one example. And the wonderful, often detailed, comments that readers provided after reading a story also could inspire other story ideas. Particularly when posting a WIP a chapter at a time, reader comments could unwittingly influence some aspect of where I took the next chapters by offering different nuanced interpretations of what I’d already written. Or through forum discussion threads, ideas would be sparked: a collective admiration for bunnies was the impetus for a central figure in “April Fools.” I don’t still post stories online, as my free time has eroded considerably and I’m focusing on finishing a few writing projects for publication, but I confess I miss it. I loved the free exchange with readers and fellow writers, even if at times I ended up having to write myself out of corners as a result. Writing – especially a major project – can be a lonely proposition, no matter how much you enjoy the process overall. I’m hoping, as time starts to free up a bit, to post some writing on my blog and perhaps get back some of that interaction.

How nice that you were able to begin your writing in an atmosphere that was comfortable and welcoming! Speaking of…let’s talk a little more about your anthology. Which story is your favorite and which story is the favorite of your readers? Were any of the stories particularly challenging to write?

Yikes! Trying to get me to name favorites for anything is always a challenge – often I can more easily tell you the ‘leasts’ than the ‘mosts’! Plus, of course, how do you choose between your children? But with that disclaimer, if I have to choose one from this collection, I’d say “Pemberley Break: Gee’s Day Out” because I am so drawn to exploring the relationship between Darcy and his sister Georgiana. Reader feedback suggests that one is a favorite, too; along with the two “April Fools” stories and “Anniversary Song.”

Which were a challenge to write?—that’s easy: all of them! No, that’s not true. Some seemed to flow from my pen (I often write large parts out longhand before moving to the laptop) like “Lizzy Gets a Lesson” or “April Fools”; or “A Good Vintage Whine” that was published in a mixed-author anthology in 2011. Usually the ones that test me are either the writing challenges where the original premise is not my own; or – oh, this is definitely it! – when I write for a contest that has a word limit. Those are torturous for me. You can see from my replies, brevity is not my talent. So when a contest limit is 2000 words and my characters want to take 4000 to tell their side of things, that’s a killer. “Worst Impressions” was one such contest entry – in fact, it made the shortlist of finalists in the Chawton House Short Story Contest in 2011. I have fleshed it out some since that original entry; and wonder if, had there not been a word limit at the time, it might have fared even better. (Though perhaps not, as it is not especially kind to Jane Eyre, and the final judge was an academic whose specialty was the Brontes. Oops.)

Wonderful answer, Tess! I know it is hard to choose a favorite between your “children!” Now I want to ask some questions about myfavorite stories from your anthology. One of my favorites was “Pemberley Break: Gee’s Day Out.” I loved traveling with Darcy and Georgiana to the town of Castleton! Your descriptions were so vivid, have you ever travelled there yourself? In addition, I loved the relationship between Darcy and Georgiana, would you ever consider fleshing out this story into a full-length novel?

I have not only considered fleshing out the story of Darcy and Georgiana’s relationship – I am currently writing it! (Thanks so much for the perfect lead-in!) For whatever reason, I feel compelled to explore these siblings and, by extension, Colonel Fitzwilliam too. Based on their age difference, “Gee” and Darcy would have spent much of their lives separated preceding the opening of the Pride and Prejudice. Either he would have been in school or on his Grand Tour when she was in a governess’s care, or she was in school after their father died. So when P&P opens, or more precisely during the summer before in Ramsgate, they would just be getting to know one another in anything resembling an adult, intimate sibling relationship. That notion inspired me to write a version of the storyline of P&P but from a Darcy perspective, as narrated some years later by Gee. And, interwoven with the arc of Elizabeth and Darcy is an exploration of the emerging brother-sister connection. I’ve been working on this novel for several years now on and off, but plan to finish it soon and publish it sometime early in 2014.

In addition, I have a two-volume novel coming out in a few months (August if all goes well).

A Fitzwilliam Legacy (Volume I: Seasonal Disorder; Volume II: New Year Resolutions) is an outgrowth of the short story “Seasonal Disorder” which forms its prologue. The setting is a Christmastide house party at Pemberley a year after Lizzy and Darcy marry, and it features intrigues and romances for several characters from P&P. Prominently featured are storylines for both Gee and Colonel Fitzwilliam, so there is plenty of opportunity to explore the Darcy-Gee-Fitzwilliam relationship there as well. In fact, in this novel you will also meet again with both Mr Henry Wentworth (of Castleton) and handsome young Mr Nathaniel Hewitt from the short story “Pemberley Break: Gee’s Day Out.”

Ohhh! So happy to hear this! And I’m glad we will be seeing more of Mr. Nathaniel Hewitt! Another story I greatly enjoyed was “Worst Impressions,” a Pride and Prejudicemodern-day retelling with military officers! What inspired you to take these beloved characters in the direction of military academies and uniforms? Would you ever consider fleshing out this story into a full-length novel?

In general, I prefer period P&P adaptations to modern ones. But for a Chawton House Short Story Contest I wanted to try something different. There is a cozy neighborhood restaurant in my village where I spend a lot of time—I know all the staff, always sit in the same booth, and often write while I eat and afterwards with a cup of tea, sometimes for hours. The staff there teases me about writing them into my stories (to which I retaliate that when they start wearing breeches, cravats and Hessians, I’ll include them!)

Boy! I know how to pick’em, don’t I? Very much looking forward to your future projects! That’s so interesting that you work at the Military Academy! How about we switch it up with some Quickfire Questions:

– Who is your favorite Pride and Prejudicecharacter (besides Darcy and Elizabeth)?

Here we go with favorites again—but if I can’t choose Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam (though they are) I admit I am quite fond of Charles Bingley and his amiable temperament. I would confess that I picture my brother whenever I read that character, except that I’m not quite sure I like who that makes me!

– Who is your least favorite Pride and Prejudice character?

Mr Collins. No question. Necessary, I accept; but so annoying.

– What is one of your favorite scenes in Pride and Prejudice?

Wow. Only one? One that I just reread is a scene in Netherfield’s parlour where Caroline cajoles Elizabeth into taking a turn about the room. The dialogue between Lizzy and Darcy as they (and we) size each other up is brilliant; revealing much of their characters. Lizzy avows she dearly loves to laugh; Mr Darcy admits to an implacable temper. But he also smiles!… and (in the last lines) it is here that Darcy “began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.” I posit that, though she is not able yet to recognize it in her determination to dislike him, the same is true for Elizabeth.

– What is one of your favorite quotes from Pride and Prejudice?

– What is one of your favorite quotes from your own novels?

– What do you love most about Pride and Prejudice?

Its wit (which is thehardest thing to try to emulate in my Austen-based stories) – its humour – its realistic characters (come on, we all know a Caroline Bingley or a Mr Collins in the end) – and its implicit (in all nuance of meaning) romance. All these elements come together to spawn a perfect storm of civility and passion!

– What do you love most about Mr. Darcy?

My thirteen-year old self, my first introduction, would have said ‘tall, dark, handsome,’ loyal and mysterious. Forty-some years later? His consummate integrity – and he’s a fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien”— loyal and enigmatic. He’s a good man to start who is willing, even when it’s painful, to become a better man – that’s pretty sexy, in my book. And having ten thousand a year doesn’t hurt.

– What is your “truth universally acknowledged?”

That’s a toss-up. I’d have to quote two different sages. The first is Heraclitus – “Nothing is, Everything is becoming.” As a naturally introverted self-actualizer, I’d say that one fits me. But then one of Jane Austen’s otherobservations also fits, though this one is couched as a question: “Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?” (Sense and Sensibility)

– If you were to meet Jane Austen, what would you like to hear her say?

Ha! Since I doubt I would hear her laud my effrontery to continue writing hercharacters that sprang from her own imagination – I suppose I’d like to hear her say that she’d written several additional, previously undiscovered manuscripts and letters, and then direct me to where they are stashed away.

And I don’t know about Jane Austen, but I would like to say to you: thank you, Meredith, for your impressions of Pride Revisitedin your review – and also for this interview. I have to say you ask really tough questions!—challenging—but intriguing ones; and I really enjoyed contemplating them to share here with your readers.

Thank you, Tess!! I hope my questions weren’t too tough!!!! 😉

 

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!

Today Tess brings with her TWO lovely copies of her book (one paperback and one digital copy) for me to give away to TWO lucky readers!!!

To enter this giveaway, leave some love for Tess.  Authors love love!

• To save your inbox from unwanted spam, please leave your email address with an [at] instead of @.
  • (You could also leave a Twitter handle or Facebook username instead).
• This giveaway for the paperback is open to US residents, the ebook is open worldwide.  Thank you, Tess!
• This giveaway ends June 19th!