I am very excited to welcome Anngela Schroeder, author of a recently released Jane Austen inspired novel, A Lie Universally Hidden, to Austenesque Reviews today!
Hi Anngela! Thank you so much for stopping by Austenesque Reviews for a little tête-à-tête! I greatly enjoyed following your writing this past year with Affections and Wishes and your story in the Meryton Press anthology, Then Comes Winter. I am so happy you are here celebrating another new release! How about we begin by talking about what was the inspiration behind your new release, A Lie Universally Hidden? How did the idea come to you?
Meredith, I’m so happy to be here. Thank you for having me. My inspiration for A Lie 
Universally Hidden? That’s easy. Lady Anne Darcy. I was reading P&P with my AP classes, explaining the importance of honor, and we were at the part where Lady Catherine accosts Lizzy at Longbourn. As I was lecturing, I thought, “What kind of mother would Lady Anne be if she truly wanted Darcy to marry his cousin Anne? I’m sure it was all made up by Lady C,” and there you have it! 🙂
Brilliant! I love when authors write about Lady Anne and her relationship with her family! And I love that the idea for this novel came while you were teaching! 😉 Your first Austenesque story was a contemporary romance and more of an Austen-inspired original tale, how did writing a Regency era Pride and Prejudice variation compare with that writing experience? Were some aspects easier or more challenging?
It was much more challenging. I love the propriety of the Regency Era, but I had to guard myself from sliding into modern day vernacular or socially acceptable circumstances. I’m also a big stickler on historical accuracy, and I had a hard time rewriting paragraphs where phrases or references were made to things which weren’t widely used until maybe the 1840’s. However, I also took some creative license. “She Walks In Beauty” wasn’t published until a few years after the book takes place.
Good for you for wanting to maintain accuracy in speech and manners! In A Lie Universally Hidden you explore one of restrictions on courtship/engagement etiquette of the time period. A restriction I’m sure many people of that time had a difficult time with as the results could be a scandal or a lifetime of unhappiness. If you were to live in Jane Austen’s time what restrictions of her world would you have the most difficult time with? And what aspects of her world would you most enjoy?
That is a REALLY good question, as I lecture on it with my AP students every year. Although I wouldn’t know any different if I was living in that time, the most difficult challenge to me would be my ability to steer my own destiny; the choices which would be made for me, might not be what I wanted. I would have felt the need to be useful and active, and would be stifled by some of the social restraints placed on women.
The part I would most enjoy (assuming I was in the same social circles as the Darcy’s and not a scullery maid) would be the grandness of things homes, clothes, balls, libraries, etc. I think of common everyday events, and how much more it would have dazzled me.
Excellent answers! It always strikes me as funny to hear characters talk of 4 bedroom homes as cottages…Our modern-day house sizes really don’t compare with the likes of Netherfield, Kellynch, and Pemberley! Speaking of your AP class, I think it is so awesome that you teach Pride and Prejudice to your students! I wish they taught Jane Austen at my high school, I would’ve loved it! (Oh well, they did teach Jane Eyre, which was also wonderful!) What are some of the reactions your students have to their introduction to Jane Austen and Mr. Darcy? Do any of their reactions surprise you?
The students are ALWAYS surprised that Elizabeth doesn’t more openly shout down Caroline Bingley and put her in her place. They are also shocked by the idea of how easily one could be compromised; that a kiss, public display of affection, or even being alone in a room with someone would merit a marriage. I also have to really stress to them the significance of the shame brought to the family by an elopement. When I teach it, I really delve into the culture of the society, and not just the reading of the book, because otherwise it would be ‘just another novel.’ And WE ALL KNOW, that is not the case with P&P.
My greatest moment teaching, was years ago, when we got to the Hunsford proposal and refusal. One of the boys who had moaned and complained the WHOLE time we read the book, shouted, “Oh man! Her mom is going to be mad at her!” It was validation that Jane Austen is not only relevant to romantic men and women, but 17 year old high school basketball players.
Oh! I love it! That is such a perfect reaction! What is next for you, Anngela? I know you mentioned in your interview on Good Day, Sacramento that you have some projects in the pipes…are they Austenesque?!? Is there anything you can share with us today? (yes, we are nosy!)
It’s not nosy, Meredith. It’s inquisitive! 🙂 Yes, I do. I actually have two books I’m working on right now, and I’m having difficulty deciding which one to devote the most time to! One minute I imagine I love the story where Mr. Wickham plays a prominent role, and the next I love the story where Darcy’s world as he knows it, no longer exists. It’s definitely a conundrum!
Ooh! It definitely seems like your muse is treating you well if you have two stories going at once! Yay! 🙂 Can’t wait to learn more! Meanwhile, how about we switch it up with some Quickfire Questions:
- What is one of your favorite scenes in Pride and Prejudice? I love it when Darcy asks Elizabeth for permission to introduce Georgianna to her. He has been truly humbled we can tell because he alters his request, mid sentence, and gives her the power of accepting or denying it. Elizabeth realizes not only the honor of the request, but how much he trusts her she could by all accounts reject meeting Georgie since she knows about the would be scandal. He is so vulnerable, and I love it!
- From your own novels what is one of your favorite scenes? That is so difficult! In ALUH, I love all of ODC’s interactions. I truly do! But, if I had to pick just one, EEEK! Don’t make me pick just one! Okay, here it goes. I love the scene in Pemberley’s library where Darcy is quietly observing Elizabeth’s “talking to” his books. To me, this shows another layer of why he falls in love with her. She is not just a beauty; he values her intellect and her mind. It is a rich part of who she is, and he appreciates that in her. Ok. I’m gong to cheat. I also love their interaction at Ashby Park. It’s our first real window into their feelings. There, I’m done!
- What do you love most about Pride and Prejudice? I love the propriety; the honor; the moral compass which sets Darcy and Elizabeth apart from the others. I have always been impressed by Darcy’s honor and how he will only do what is right; he would never go back on his word. That is commendable, and so lacking in certain aspects of our modern society.
- If you were to invite 5 Jane Austen characters over for tea, who would they be? Darcy, Lizzy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Elinor Dashwood, and Mr. Woodhouse
- Which Jane Austen character do you feel you have the most in common with? Elizabeth Bennet
- Which Jane Austen character do find it awfully hard to tolerate? Mary Musgrove from Persuasion
- What is your “truth universally acknowledged?” That a mother with 3 sons and a husband, must find time for herself when everyone else is asleep.
- If you were to meet Jane Austen, what would you like to hear her say? That she loved the worlds we’ve all created for Darcy and Lizzy, that there is a finished manuscript hidden in the floorboards at Chawton house, and that she’d love to divulge all the editorial ideas she would have made to Persuasion before she died.
Wow, terrific answers to the Quickfire Questions! I adore your choice for favorite scene and P&P – what a unique and telling moment. And your responses for the last one are brilliant! I think you’ve given that one some thought before! Thank you so much for participating in this interview, Anngela! It has been a real treat to have you answer my questions!! Best of luck with the release of A Lie Universally Hidden! <3 🙂
Thank you so much, Meredith! It’s always fun to visit with you! Give my regards to Mr. Bingley!
I will! Thank you for thinking of him! 🙂
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Connect with Anngela
Twitter ❧ Facebook ❧ Goodreads
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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Anngela is giving away two autographed hard copies (US mailing addresses only) 2 kindle versions (Open to international winners), an autographed copy of Then Comes Winter (US mailing address only) and an autographed 5×7 print of the A Lie Universally Hidden book cover.
Commenting and entering through the rafflecopter widget on this blog enters you in a chance to win!
- This giveaway is open worldwide (with some shipping restrictions).
- This giveaway ends January 29th.
Thank you to Claudine Pepe and Anngela Schroeder for making this blog tour possible!
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January 16/ My Jane Austen Book Club
January 17/ From Pemberley to Milton
January 18/ A Covent Garden Madame Gilflurt’s Guide to Life
January 19/ So Little Time…
January 20/ My Vices and Weaknesses
January 21/ Babblings of a Bookworm
January 22/ Just Jane 1813
**January 23/Austenesque Reviews**
January 24/ Obsessed with Mr. Darcy
January 25/ Every Savage Can Dance
January 26 / Diary of an Eccentric
**January 27 / Austenesque Reviews**
January 28/ My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice
January 29/ Savvy Verse & Wit
Can’t imagine Mr Woodhouse would be very congenial company at a tea
Wonderful interview! I’m in agreement with you about Mary Musgrove. Awful, awful woman!
Thanks for the lovely giveaway! Crossing my fingers that I’ll be one of the lucky winners…
Wonderful feature and giveaway. Thanks for this interesting interview.
Thanks for checking out our interview, Ruth! 🙂
Wonderful interview. I love finding out more about our JAFF authors and what inspires them. Looking forward to reading your new book. Best Wishes. Jen Red
What an interesting interview!! It’s so nice to learn something personal about the author and see the face behind the name.
I appreciate you stopping by and reading our interview, Mary! 🙂 I love learning more about the lovely authors of this genre!
Great interview Meredith. And great answers. I am loving this book more and more. I really like the idea of Darcy watching Elizabeth talking to his books. I think I have an entry in this competition somewhere but I don’t have much luck with Rafflecopter especially on my phone. But I will hold out until the closing date before I buy it just in case. Although from an excerpt I have read I may just want someone to strangle Lady Catherine. Thanks again
Thank you, Glynis! 🙂 That scene is just adorable…Elizabeth talks to herself a lot in this story! Best of luck in the giveaway!
Ooo, this sounds like a fun read. I always like a story to explore the underlying reasons of what we see in Austen’s characters.
Wonderful interview! Yes, I too wondered about Mr. Woodhouse! Do you think he would travel to your house for tea? I agree, Mary Musgrove just complains too much for me! Caroline Bingley is at least diverting with her snide comments. Here’s hoping that muse works overtime on both books! LOL! Thank you for the giveaways!
LOL! I’m sure he would be entertaining though he may not let anyone eat anything!
What a wonderful giveaway! Thanks for the interview!!
Great interview as always. I love getting to know things about the author that I thought I knew the answer but didn’t! So refreshing.
Thank you, Christina! I’m glad this interview had a surprise or two for you!
I’ve been enjoying the blog tour and getting little snips of the book. Congrats on the new release. Thanks for the giveaway chance!
Great interview, Meredith and Anngela. Like others, I love finding out what makes authors tick and how they got into writing. I wish someone like Anngela had been teaching English Lit at my school (she’s far too young, anyway!), and that we’d have studied Jane Austen in the first place (like you, we didn’t Meredith). Personally, I’d go for Mary Musgrove’s father Sir Walter Elliot as the hardest to tolerate, though Mary definitely runs him a close second.
Keep up with the good work on the new books, Anngela.
Thank you, Anji! I always have fun making up questions for my interview, hopefully Anngela didn’t think they were too arduous! Her answers are terrific! How fun would it be to have read P&P in school and with a teacher who is so passionate about it!
Neat to learn how Anngela came up with her story and some background on her, her love for Austen, and her book.
Love the interview! Congrats on your release, I’m looking forward to reading it!
Wonderful guest interview. I always look forward to these, but I especially liked this one. I think your questions were great, Meredith. Knowing Anngela is a teacher opens up a lot of questions I’d love to pose to her if I ever got to host her for tea. I think the book sounds really good, and from just one blurb on Amazon I think it is going to have some major angst. ??? I’m eager to read it. Best of luck to Anngela with this book and the two books in progress.
BTW, some day when you’re bored with nothing else to do, :/ ask your dear blog followers THEY’RE favorites and most unfavorites. And who would they most like to sit down and talk to.
Thank you so much for your visit and kind words, Michelle! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the interview! 🙂 I loved hearing Anngela talk about her teaching experiences!
That is such a terrific idea, Michelle! I could hug you! I will definitely do something like that in the future! 🙂
I’m intruiged, this story promisses to be really good 🙂
Lovely interview, ladies! The Quickfire Questions were awesome!
Thanks, Maria! I appreciate you checking it out! 🙂 Anngela gave some brilliant answers, didn’t she?
Great interview, ladies. Please don’t interview me.
My particular favorite was the theme of honoring parents. Darcy’s was obvious, but even Elizabeth had a hard time going against her parents. It bothered her. Anngela wrote the characters in such a way that we saw their deepest emotions. Sigh!
Mary Musgrove? Mine is Mrs. John Dashwood. Pure EVIL!!!
Best wishes for some uninterrupted writing time. Get busy!
How did that get “Please don’t interview me?” It should have been please don’t enter me. Silly typing fingers.
Thanks so much for sharing, Joy! Very true about the theme. 🙂
LOL! Are you trying to inadvertently tell me something?
Ha Ha! What a terrible mistake to make. As soon as I finish typing my Bingley story we have chat about the differences and similarities between my Bingley and yours. Won’t that be fun.
Sounds great to me! I love discussing Mr. Bingley! 😉
Thanks for a wonderful post, Anngela and Meredith! Loved what you shared about your inspiration, your teaching and your favourites. Can’t wait to read ‘A Lie…’ I heard so many wonderful things about it!!
Hi Joana! Thank you so much for reading our interview and for sharing it on FB! 🙂 I loved reading Anngela’s answers! Hope you get the chance to read ALUH soon!
Great interview Meredith. The more I read about this book on the blog tour, the more intriguing it looks.
Thanks for the giveaway. 🙂
Thanks, Kate! I appreciate your visit!
Thank you, Meredith for having me and all your followers for their kind responses. To answer a question, I chose Mr. Woodhouse because I’d love to see Mr. Darcy interact with such a well-intentioned but opinionated character. Mr. Woodhouse isn’t like Lady Catherine who seems put out if someone disagrees with her. Instead, he seems almost dumbfounded by the fact that his logic isn’t universally acknowledged as correct. I’m sure Darcy would be just as wonderful as Knightley, though. 🙂
(Interestingly-I almost said Miss Bates and Mr. Bennet instead of Elinor and Mr. Woodhouse! THAT would have been a sight to behold!)
Good luck in the giveaway, everyone!
It was such a pleasure having you visit, Anngela! 🙂 I love that you picked Mr. Woodhouse as one of your tea guests! 🙂 He is adorable in his single-mindedness about everything! LOL! What a hilarious combo!
Best of luck with your wonderful new release!
You had me at “stickler on historical accuracy”! I’ve been seeing wonderful reviews of this book and look forward to reading it!
Love the interview and Anngela’s favorite scene from P&P; it’s always been one of my favorites, too–a revealing glimpse into the heart of Darcy.
The Austen character whom I truly cannot tolerate is Emma. I can’t stand her; she drives me up the wall. And I feel that I have the greatest connection with Fanny Price.
Thank you for the wonderful interview and giveaway!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
Thank you for checking out our interview, Susanne! 🙂
I am sorry I am late to respond, especially when Meredith has graciously supported this blog tour with two visits!! This interview is just a terrific read, ladies, from start to finish! Great questions, Meredith. I love reading your interviews!
Thank you for sharing and for divulging your future writing plans, Anngela. I think both stories sound intriguing!!
Meredith, thanks for being an amazing host! I know you’ve worked hard to support this tour and I can’t thank you enough!!
Hi Claudine! Thank you so much for your lovely visit. 🙂 I’m very excited to feature Anngela’s new release twice here at AR! Thank you for the opportunity!
Interesting post, especially concerning your students’ reactions. Hadn’t heard of this author before.