I am very excited to welcome Rose Fairbanks, author of several Pride and Prejudice variations including No Cause to Repine, A Sense of Obligation, and her latest – Sufficient Encouragement to Austenesque Reviews today! For the last couple of years I’ve enjoyed reading Rose’s stories, having her appear as a guest on my blog, and being Facebook friends with her. Thank you to Rose for so kindly agreeing to this interview!
Thanks so much for having me again! It’s always a pleasure being on your blog!
How about we start by talking about your stories. You’ve written many Pride and Prejudice variations both in short and long works. What inspires you to write Pride and Prejudice variations? How do you come up with so many unique ideas?
I’ve loved Pride and Prejudice since my very first reading of it in high school. In college I constantly bemoaned Austen’s early death and always wondered what a sequel for her characters would be like. My favorite professor actually suggested JAFF to me, but at the time I turned my nose up at it. It took a few more years for me to try it and discover there were some amazing stories written by people who needed more of Austen, just like me! Curiously enough, although I started asking for sequels, I love reading and writing variations. I get most of my ideas simply from the original. I think “what would happen if I changed this?”
It seems Jane Austen has set authors up with endless possibilities! Having read two of your novels and one of your novellas, I’ve noticed you have a penchant for placing Darcy and Elizabeth in awkward/unexpected/mortifyingly uncomfortable positions. Do you take a fiendish delight in torturing this beloved couple? What do you like most about placing Darcy and Elizabeth in these situations?
I think Austen’s original version is absolutely perfect and so my re-imaginings tend to begin with a startlingly different situation for the opening. Something has to jar Darcy and Elizabeth off the course Austen set them on if I want to alter the story. I love to hit the ground running. When I read I want to be immediately drawn in and try to do that when I write as well. I actually don’t like stories with a lot of angst between Darcy and Elizabeth, and yet, I think some of the ones I have written lately have more angst than I would like to read!
I quite agree with you, I love stories that hook you in right away! One thing I love about your stories is the humor you write with – whether it is cringeworthy situations, witty banter, or hilarious misunderstandings. I can tell that you are very much like Elizabeth Bennet and dearly love to laugh. What kinds of things make you laugh, Rose? Do you ever find writing with humor challenging?
I do love to laugh! It is mostly over silly, every day things— a lot of times I laugh at myself! I often lack a filter. I never set out with the purpose of writing humor, it just happens as I try to write life. I’ve always found that it’s better to laugh in most situations than give into feelings of fear or doubt. Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet certainly had the right of it with desiring to laugh at the follies and foibles of life.
They did indeed! I think Jane Austen must have felt the same way. 😉 I understand Sufficient Encouragement is part of a series? One that will focus on several minor characters? Yay! Can you tell us a little about what we can expect in the next installment of this series?
I’m pretty surprised that Sufficient Encouragement has turned into a series. There are many wonderful minor characters that show up and their stories really help round out Darcy and Elizabeth’s. It was just impossible to highlight them while keeping on point for Sufficient Encouragement so I’ve decided to give them a companion story. It will occur during the same time line as SE but instead focus on the romances of Darcy’s cousins: James, the Viscount Arlington, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam and Anne de Bourgh, as well as Caroline Bingley. There were some original characters that sprang up that I just love: Lady Belinda and Mr. Truman, a descendant of a freed slave. Each of them have given up on love and Renewed Hope is the story of their second chance at love.
Sounds wonderful! I love stories that focus on minor characters and original characters! Now…I couldn’t help but notice that on your website there are two other titles that look very intriguing in the “Coming Soon” section on your blog – Never Until This Day and The Bennet Brother. Can you share with us a little about your upcoming projects and when we might see them released?
Oh! I’ve actually been working on making a new blog and website, which should be live now or soon after this post. Both stories have been renamed. I’m so terrible with names!
Never Until This Day is now named Mr. Darcy’s Bluestocking Bride. Before leaving Hertfordshire for Kent, Elizabeth overhears Wickham plotting to destroy her family’s reputation. She begrudgingly accepts Mr. Darcy’s help. I’m leaving the Regency era for this story and setting it in the 1790s instead. My stories always have to have some historical bit in it and in this case it’s about the real life Bluestocking Circle, a popular group of intellectual women (and some men) from a generation earlier. (Released Date: August 2016)
The Bennet Brother is also getting a new name. It’s now called Loving Elizabeth. I’ve always wondered what the Bennet family would be like if there had been an heir. This story opens five years before Bingley and Darcy come to Netherfield. Elizabeth’s elder brother, Sam, is best friends with Darcy, Bingley and Richard. On a visit to London, Elizabeth and Darcy meet but are then separated by catastrophic events for several years.(Release Date: Early 2017)
That’s fantastic, Rose! Lots to look forward to! How about we switch it up with some Quickfire Questions:
- What is one of your favorite scenes in Pride and Prejudice?I think my favorite scene is when Elizabeth plays the piano at Rosings and talks with Darcy.
- From your own novels what is one of your favorite scenes? This is tough! Maybe the scene in A Sense of Obligation where Darcy and Elizabeth compare their attributes to Greek gods and goddesses.
- What Jane Austen character do you feel you have the most in common with? I think I’ve been all of her more flawed heroines at one point in my life. I think I hover somewhere between Elizabeth and Emma right now.
- What do you love most about Mr. Darcy? I think his integrity is his guiding principle in the book. It’s what makes him re-evaluate himself and present himself differently to others after Elizabeth’s refusal, and what compels him to face people he hates and situations which discomfort him, including returning to Longbourn.
- What do you love most about Jane Austen’s novels? Jane just gets people so well and I feel like I can always see some new nugget in her books.
- What is your “truth universally acknowledged?” As a mother, I have a lot of them. Perhaps more on point to your readers, is that it’s a truth universally acknowledged that there are not enough hours in the day to read as much as you want!
- If you were to meet Jane Austen, what would you like to hear her say? How much time do I have? I might need to prepare some kind of off the grid bunker just in case she ever returns and I can kidnap her. Kidding! 😀 Well, my question for any writer I love is “What’s next?” Surely she had more ideas! Can you imagine what she could produce now with all of our technology?
- How much of an Austen addict are you? I read exclusively Austen for about ten years before finding JAFF, aside from required reading for college. Some would say I’m not enough of an addict since I just read Mansfield Park last month and haven’t read her unfinished works, juvenilia or letters yet. However, I think I know Jane pretty well. Many times a day I think of things that relate to her works. My Austen obsession is a lifestyle, not just a hobby or career.
Thank you so much for participating in this interview, Rose! It has been a real treat to have you answer my questions!! Best of luck with the release of Sufficient Encouragement!
~ Connect with Rose ~
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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Rose kindly brings with her 1 LOVELY ebook and 1 paperback copy of Sufficient Encouragement for me to randomly give away to TWO lucky readers. Woot Woot!!!
To enter this giveaway, leave a comment, a question, or some love for Rose!!
- This giveaway is open worldwide (for the ebook) and to US residents (for the paperback). Thank you, Rose!
- This giveaway ends April 27th!
What a lovely interview. I have read Rose’s other books and absolutely loved them so thank you for this give away.
Thanks for your kind words! Good luck!
Great interview. I agree. . there are not enough hours in the day to read. I would love to win a book or an E-book.
I wish I could just ignore people and read like I could when I was younger! Too bad the kids require food and supervision. 🙂 Good luck!
Oh, I love variations. Just changing a bit of what we already know can create a whole new layer to characters we love. You still know ‘the story so far’ so you immediately have characters people love and relate to; then you just put them in a completely different situation. “At that moment the maid walked in,” or “That day the gardener forgot to put away his tools (poor guy, his daughter, come to find, had got herself into some difficulty) and Lydia, running through to the road as was her wont, tripped in her excitement over the impediment and found she could not get up. Her ankle had twisted. She could not go to Brighton.” How would things have gone at Pemberley had Elizabeth not had to leave in a mad rush? Shorter story to the same end, or possibility for new and intriguing plot lines?… I ramble. Yes, interesting notions these variations. I look forward to reading these from Ms. Fairbanks.
I think you hit on exactly why I like variations so much! Yes, sometimes it does lead to a shorter story, other times new plot lines merge. Good luck in the giveaway!
I agree, Amanda! It is fun to see how some small changes can impact the story’s plot. Also, I never get tired of seeing the many different ways Darcy and Elizabeth fall in love with each other!
Lovely interview. Have enjoyed Rose’s previous books, especially Sense of Obligation. Looking forward to more!
Thanks! Good luck in the giveaway!
Have Rose’s previous books so looking forward to reading this one and the others mentiones
Thank you! Good luck!
Lovely interview for your fans. Naturally another wonderful giveaway and story by Rose. Love Ross’s books so this will be another delightful story.
Thanks! Good luck!
What a stunning book cover! I, too, love P&P variations and the way you open with a startling change for Elizabeth and Darcy is a great way to start. Thank you for the giveaway.
Thank you! Each book in this series will have a flowery image like that. Some of the loves grow through adversity and some get to enjoy the sunshine from the start. We’ll see a variety of ways for love to flourish. Good luck!
Ohh! I love the flower motif!
I love the Pride and Prejudice variations!
I also love getting to know all about the JAFF authors and enjoyed reading this
interview! Good luck, Rose.
Thanks! Good luck in the giveaway!
What an interesting and delightful interview. The cover is beautiful. Congratulations. Thanks for this special feature and giveaway.
Thank you! I really love the cover. Good luck!
Hey Rose and Meredith, this was such a fun interview! I agree the cover is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale. Best wishes with the blog tour and your new publication. If my name is chosen, please feel free to pass along the prize to another commenter. Jen Red
Thanks Jen Red!
Thank you, Jennifer! I appreciate you stopping by and reading our interview! Glad to hear you enjoyed Sufficient Encouragement!
Delightful interview! I have read two of Rose’s books so far. Have several others on my wishlist! I agree, not enough hours in a day to read…especially with the nice weather and the outdoor work to be done! Thank you for the opportunity to win in the giveaway!
Thanks! I’ve never had to keep up much of a yard but always say I’d be interested in gardening. But if it cuts into reading…I just don’t know. 🙂 Good luck and I hope you get a reading break in there somewhere! I always love to read outside.
I have several of Rose’s books and would love to add this to my collection. Lovely interview thank you.
Thanks! Good luck!
Lots of love to you, Rose! I loved No Cause to Repine. 🙂
Thanks so much! If you enjoyed No Cause to Repine you should also enjoy Sufficient Encouragement. There is quite a historical component to it as well!
What a charming interview! Having only recently discovered Austenesque authors, and even more recently having discovered Rose Fairbanks, I haven’t read any of your stories yet but several are on my “Must Read” list (which I happily share with anyone who wants to gift me with a kindle book! ;-)). Looking forward to getting to know you and your books.
There are so many Austeneseque writers and flavors out there now, it’s hard to keep up! Best of luck to you in this giveaway and if you do read one of mine, I’d love to know what you think.
Rose is an amazing writer and I love all her work
Wow. Thank you! Good luck in the giveaway!
I’ve also enjoyed Ross’s other books and have this one on my (huge) TBR pile. Great interview, Meredith!
I do have a question. As someone who loves to read fiction but doesn’t have the creativity to come up with stories on my own, I’m curious to know how much of Rose’s plots are in her head before she sits down to write. Is everything outlined beforehand, or does it flow naturally in a certain direction as she’s doing the actual writing?
That’s a great question and I’m struggling to write a short answer! For it to actually get to a story I have to have a scene painted in my head. I might toss around an idea or story prompt for months or years before it gets to something I can describe on paper. By that point I tend to have a fairly good idea of some highlights in the story and can have a rough outline. I do a lot of thinking before writing. The words might be inspiration of the moment, but I tend to know what the characters will talk about in a conversation or what they’re feeling. It’s layered though. Subplots and details occur more while writing. The outline is always getting a fine tuning. There are always surprises, however, and I have learned to let the story lead me. When I demand it stick to the outline I formed in chapter one while ten new things have emerged I get writer’s block!
Oh, and good luck in the giveaway!
Thanks, Debbie! I had fun coming up with questions for Rose! 😉
I enjoy Rose Fairbanks’ books a lot! Can’t wait to dive into another! Thanks for the interview!
Thank you! Good luck!
I love how you tweaked it to the 1790s.
Denise
Sufficient Encouragement is actually set in 1811-1812 as it involves Luddite revolts, but Mr. Darcy’s Bluestocking Bride will be set in the 1790s. I’m having fun researching that era. Good luck in the giveaway!
I agree! I bet it was fun to change it up a bit!
What a fun interview. It should come as no surprise that Ms. Fairbank’s books are all highly rated on Amazon.
Thanks! Good luck!
I love Rose’s books. I am looking forward to both Sufficient Encouragement and her other upcoming books. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you! Good luck in the giveaway!
I love the interview, Meredith. Rose, I agree that there are not enough hours in the day to read. I love your stories. Thank you for the generous give away.
Thanks! I don’t know that I wish for more hours in the day, because that would probably not get filled with reading. How about a socially acceptable time to stop life and read? Like siesta but reading? Well, I’d probably want the nap too. The world needs both!
Thanks, Debbie! 😀 I enjoyed asking Rose some questions!
Wonderful interview. I have enjoyed all I have read from Rose and look forward to more!
Thanks! Good luck!
Looking forward to reading this one. I enjoy reading your stories.
Thank you! Good luck!
Lovely interview! Rose, I am a big fan of your work! Looking forward to this one!!
Wow, great interview and really enjoyed the incite into the writing. Thanks for the giveaway as well.
Thanks! Good luck!
Ditto on the words of praise for this interview. I would love to win a book and thank you for the chance.
Thank you! Good luck!
Loved the interview! Thanks so much for posting and sharing a bit of yourself!
Great interview ladies! Rose, I agree with you… There isn’t enough hours in a day set aside for reading! Looking forward to reading your latest release & upcoming projects.
Thanks! I mentioned in an earlier comment that I don’t want more hours in the day, but I think we need to have uninterrupted reading time. It needs to become a global norm. Good luck!
Wonderful interview! Thanks, Rose and Meredith, it was such a pleasure to read it!
Congrats on the new release and LOVED the cover for Mr D’s Bluestocking Bride!
Thanks! I really love that cover. I think I might work on making her stockings a bit more blue but it was as good as I could make it months ago. My graphic skills are ever improving!
Thanks, Joana! It was a lot of fun! 😉
Rose, kudos to you for your graphic skills! It does not seem easy! Love the dress in MDBB!
Definitely a Rose fan. I think loving to laugh is a real positive in today’s life. There’s just too much drama/trauma to not take every chance to feel joy! I love your truth acknowledged too, I just want more time to read books that don’t relate to school. That’s all I’m asking for. *sigh* I’m realllllyyyyy looking forward to “Bluestocking”!
Aw! “a Rose fan!” Makes it sound so official! Is it crazy that I don’t always feel like a “real” writer and yet have 10 books out? I hear ya! We need to stage a read in! And I’m so happy to hear that you’re looking forward to Bluestocking Bride! It’s been bouncing around in my head for almost 3 years. I’m excited to spend more time on it in a few weeks! Good luck!
Another delightful interview. Love meeting new authors and adding books to my TBR list. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Thanks! Doesn’t Meredith ask great questions? I hope you’ll give me a try and good luck in the giveaway!
Thanks, it’s been awhile since I did one! I’m glad Rose was game for answering my questions – I loved learning more about her!
Thanks for the interview. I always like to read about the authors and how they came to JAFF.
It was fun and I so agree with you! I always am curious to learn more about authors. Best of luck in the giveaway!
Lovely interview ladies. I have just about all of Rose’s other books so a new one is welcome news. Good to hear that it’s part of a series too.
I agree with the truth universally acknowledged 100%. Not enough hours in the day to read all of the JAFF I’d like, not to mention all of the wonderful blogs around.
Thanks for all your support Anji! It’s a new world writing a series that will not exclusively focus on D&E but so far I’m hearing a lot of love for the other characters too. We really need to stage a JAFF read-in day! Good luck in the giveaway!
I’m always up for a Pride and Prejudice variation! I haven’t read anything by Rose Fairbanks yet, but I’m looking forward to “Sufficient Encouragement.” Thanks for the giveaway!
I am reading it and loving it! But I want the paperback!! So here’s to hoping I get lucky!!