Hi Stephanie! Thank you so much for stopping by Austenesque Reviews for a little tête-à-tête! I’m a big fan of your new novel, Jane and Austen, and I am so happy to have the opportunity to discuss it with you now!

Hi Meredith, thanks for having me. First off, I just want to let you know how happy I am that you read my book AND enjoyed it. That’s what every author loves to hear.

How about we begin by talking about what was the inspiration behind your new release, Jane and Austen?

Sure. I became fully aware of Jane Austen’s writing in my early twenties. My younger sister introduced me to the six-hour Pride and Prejudice. I sat there and lived vicariously through Lizzy. I was outraged on her behalf at the arrogant Darcy, and I cheered when Lizzy went for Wickham. My sister tried to convince me that I’d feel differently in the end, but I didn’t believe her. Then after I found out what a scoundrel Wickham was and how I misjudged poor Darcy…I realized I was going through the same change of heart that Lizzy did. After that I was hooked and watched every “bonnet” movie that I could get my hands on. That literature inspired my writing ever since.

That’s lovely that you followed the same course as Lizzy, what a powerful way to relate to the character.  In Jane and Austen we explore differing views on romance – Jane, our head in the clouds romantic, believes the romance that we see in movies and read in books could be a reality, whereas Austen, who is very practical and unromantic, does not. Like Elinor and Marianne they are polar opposites on a subject where it would best to be balanced in the middle. What side of spectrum do you fall on? Which Jane Austen characters do you feel are perhaps too romantic? Not romantic enough? And strike the balance just right?

I am WAY too romantic. That’s why I write romance books with very practical men because I’m trying to undo years of training that regency books have drilled into me. I would say that in life, I have a very “foolish” heart but a very “jaded” mind, which is why I can have so many arguments with myself while writing fiction. Jane Austen has a lot of characters who are too romantic—Harriet, Emma, Catherine, Marianne, to name a few. But Jane writes them this way on purpose because she’s trying to prove that being too romantic can actually hurt you. Fanny, Elinor, and Anne weren’t romantic enough, which ALSO got them into trouble because they didn’t listen to their hearts. I don’t think any of Jane’s characters were the perfect balance between sensible and sensibility until the end of her books. If they had been, she wouldn’t have had a story. Perfect people are hard to write about, haha.

We are of the same mind, Stephanie!  I love everything romantic. 🙂  I loved how you played with some of Jane Austen’s couples in this novel and enjoyed seeing your clever and perceptive pairings. If you were given the task of matchmaker with Jane Austen’s characters and had full freedom to do as you desire, which couples (could be main characters or minor characters) would you definitely want to pair up differently? And which couples would you never dream of separating?

Thanks! Well, I’d never separate Liz and Darcy…unless I could date him instead, haha. But you’re right, it is fun to imagine what it would be like to mix Jane’s novels together and make new couples. If I could take it even further than what I did in my book, I’d make some firework romances. I always liked Willoughby—devilish rogue that he was. Edmund’s brother, Thomas Bertram was also fun. Oh dear, this says a lot about me, doesn’t it? Jane wrote great rascals. I’d love to throw a couple of girls at them that would give them a run for their money (and maybe they’d reform each other, right?). Perhaps Lydia and Kitty from P&P, Julia Bertram from Mansfield Park and a young Lady Catherine de Bourgh could get together with these rascals. Other than those characters, I’ve always worried about Lizzy’s admirer, Colonel Fitzwilliam in P&P. He was so sweet and didn’t get the girl. I would’ve been happy if Charlotte had waited for him. Oh, oh! And I ALWAYS wanted Mary and Mr. Collins to get together. They always seemed like they would make a great couple.

Ooh, you do have a thing for the rogues, don’t you!  I can sympathize, my favorite bad boy is Henry Crawford – my romantic heart likes to think he would have changed for Fanny.  Speaking of romantic hearts, Jane, your main character, seems to be an ardent admirer of chick-flicks and romantic comedies, how about we play a game of Desert Island? If you were stranded on a desert island…and the desert island had a working TV and DVD player…and you knew this was about to happen…what 5 chick-flicks or bonnet films would you pack with you?

Hmmm, okay, I’m going to exclude Jane Austen movies because that would take all my choices. I’m also going to pretend that I didn’t have time to think about this beforehand (or I’d think too hard about it and never be able to make up my mind).

I LOVE Scarlet Pimpernel (Jane Seymour version), Lorna Doone (the year 2000 one), You Again, Ever After, and Return to Me.

I think that would keep me entertained for a good ten hours…and then I’d have to start making my own movies—I’d also have to take a laptop and camera with me…

I have actually only seen 1 of those!  I must check the others out, especially since we are kindred spirits with our romantic hearts!  What is next for you? Will there be any more Austenesque novels by Stephanie Fowers for us to enjoy?

I’m going to write more in my line of clean romances; they’re called Hopeless Romantics. I have sooo many ideas that are just ready to burst out of my head—maybe a modern day Tink and Pan, a “Highland” romance that breaks all the rules, and a story where an unlikely couple inherits a family. I might even try a few “fantasy” regencies where I mix up the two genres. Whether or not I base any more novels on Jane Austen’s remains to be seen, but I will ALWAYS be inspired by her work.

That is lovely to hear!  How about we switch it up with some Quickfire Questions:

• Which Jane Austen character do you best identify with?

  Emma. She was kind of rash, she had a heart of gold, but wasn’t always the wisest.

• Which Jane Austen character do you intensely dislike?

  Colonel Brandon. I know. I know! I’m awful, but maybe if they cast a younger one for Marianne, I’d be happier!

• What is one of your favorite quotes from Jane Austen’s novels?

  “Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit ” (I don’t know if it’s my favorite one, but I use it all the time at home)

• What is one of your favorite quotes from your novel?

  “There are two kinds of people in this world. Jane fans and Jane haters. I’m a fan. You’re a hater. I get it.”

• What do you love most about Jane Austen novels?

  Jane Austen’s characters—they hold so much depth and have so many layers, just like real people.

• If the people in your life started acting like characters from a Jane Austen novel, what would you do?

  I’d enjoy it for a while and then…keep enjoying it!

Thank you so much for participating in this interview, Stephanie! It has been a real treat to have you answer my questions!! Best of luck with the release of Jane and Austen!

Thank you, Meredith. I enjoyed being on here and loved your questions. Thanks for helping me exercise my brain today 🙂

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Stephanie brings with her a $10 amazon gift card for me to randomly give away to ONE lucky reader.

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment, a question of your own, or some love for Stephanie!!

• This giveaway is open for US and UK residents.  Thank you, Stephanie!
• This giveaway ends October 3rd!