Hi readers! I am very excited to welcome Julie Cooper, author of Tempt Me – a Pride and Prejudice variation which just released yesterday (woot woot!) – to Austenesque Reviews today. I am very happy to have this chance to chat with her about writing, her new release, and Jane Austen!
Welcome, Julie, and congratulations on your new release! After adoring your debut release, The Perfect Gentleman, earlier this year, I am so thrilled to see another book by you in print so soon! Since this is our first interview together, how about we start off with you telling us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been writing? When did you first encounter Jane Austen?
Hi Meredith—thank you so much for hosting! (Gushing now, the rest of you can skim.) I love your blog and the thoughtfulness and intentionality of your reviews. It makes you such a great resource for readers! I very much appreciate the time you take to read and report, giving us so many great new titles.
I began writing around 2008, when a lot of things in life were difficult and I wanted to try something 
new. I found a supportive community at A Happy Assembly and the Derbyshire Writer’s Guild, and made a lot of friends who encouraged me. Then, you know, *life again* brought other hard things, and I took quite a long break from it all. Jan Ashton from Quills & Quartos approached me a couple years ago about reviving a couple of my old stories, and I said that if she had the patience while I reworked them, I would go ahead and see if there was any interest. She did and there was, so now Tempt Me is finally finished.
Thank you so much for beautiful and kind words about my blog. It makes me so happy to hear that others can find it useful and enjoyable! I am so thrilled that Jan reached out to you about publishing your stories! How terrific for you (and for us!) Can you tell us a little bit about your new novel, Tempt Me. How did you come up with idea for this story? What inspired the premise?
Well, along with my love for Austen, I have a love for paranormal romance. Specifically (and in this order) Vampire (I spell it the ‘vampyre’ more medieval spelling in Tempt Me, to emphasize this is an ancient race), Werewolf, and Dragon. But I’m not big into world-building…I like familiar settings. So, if a paranormal romance begins with strange new worlds with strange new rules/political systems/etiquette, et cetera, I lose interest quickly. What I wanted to read (and I started this story in 2011, I am certain there are lots more choices now) was a vampire Darcy who lived in the Regency era and had to exist in that world. Vampires are the most “human” of all the paranormal, IMO—just stronger, faster, smarter, better looking, with a whole array of powers. (I am of the Frost genre, whose vampires change abilities according to their blood strength and heredity.) So finally, I stopped complaining about the paucity of material and wrote it!
I think that is an excellent way to solve that particular dilemma! And I agree with you about world-building and rules – sometimes you want to just dive in and be in the midst of the story and not have so much to learn and understand! Similar to The Perfect Gentleman, it sounds like Tempt Me takes place outside the Pride and Prejudice canon, which allows for you to explore some creative license. Does that make crafting your story easier, or does it become a concern that you might stray “too far” or take “too many” liberties with Jane Austen’s characters?
You know, I seldom worry about straying too far. I have enjoyed many stories which have zigged and zagged all over the place with Austen’s characterizations. On the other hand, I am sensitive to the complaint that a story bears no relation to Austen’s, simply taking original characters and rubber-stamping her names upon them. That’s not fair. But I guess everyone has their own personal tolerance for the “boundaries” and you gotta do you. With me, I think there should be familiarity when you meet my characters. Now, I might combine, for instance, the characters of Lady Catherine and Caroline Bingley into one awesomely self-absorbed, wealthy, tyrant who despises Lizzy. I also like to consider perceptions ‘outside the box’ of a Regency worldview. I think about motivations that are not Regency, even if my character still has to live within her Regency world and follow the rules. For instance, what if Lady Catherine had all the skills, talents, and personality to run a major world corporation, but was so limited in her scope and influence by early 19th century prejudice against women that she was confined to drive everyone crazy at Rosings Park? Would there not be some sympathy for her, if we could look at her life as a repressed woman? We don’t have to be strictly regulated in the case of motivation, sympathy, or even empathy for a particular character. In other words, we can look at a character living in 1800 and perceive them differently by shining a 21st century spotlight upon their challenges and belief systems. One of my older, as yet unpublished books has an evil Jane…although I did establish a circumstance that gave a believable reasoning (I felt) for her personality difference from canon. Darcy always needs a redemption arc, and I’m a ‘Darcy & Elizabeth only’ show. I guess that’s my boundary.
Excellent answer, Julie. I love seeing the freer exploration that comes with outside of canon Pride and Prejudice stories! It is fascinating to see all the ways authors can look at and portray these characters yet still have them related to Jane Austen’s creation. Was it challenging to write a Regency story with vampyres? What type of vampires and vampire stories are you a fan of? Did any help inspire the vampyres in your story?
My favorite part of writing Regency is the challenge of following the rules. And if rules are broken, there has to be a valid justification—that would make sense in those times. I love Jeaniene Frost’s vampires and certainly read everything Stephanie Meyers wrote, even if I am not completely in love with her characterizations—I was definitely inspired by them. However, nothing about their vampires works in a Regency setting, so I had to make adjustments! My vampires have all the powers but are constrained by a lot of rules—the biggest one being that they must never capture the attention of humans. They must exist within the society and worldview of humankind in 1800, even though they’re stronger, faster, more powerful. Also, there had to be reasonable conditions for hiding…if you’re a closet superhero, why are you still in the closet? Everything has to make sense!
Interesting! What is next for you, Julie? Do you have any other Austenesque stories you plan to publish?
I am almost finished writing my next book, a Regency, A Stronger Impulse (although Quills & Quartos editing process is intensive, so it will be next year sometime.) It will touch on the theme of mental illness. I am revising a few more of my old ones (The Best Light, Love Lessons, May It Never End, and maybe even Pounds) but they need a ton of work! So it will be awhile for those. I am also trying to get a short read out next summer, and there’s an interesting opportunity to do a joint authorship with a few other wonderful authors. I’m really looking forward to it!
Oh my word! That is so fantastic!! I am thrilled to hear the number of works we can look forward to from you!! So fantastic! How about we switch it up with some Quick-Fire Questions?
- What is one of your favorite scenes from Pride and Prejudice? Oh, Hunsford! I love watching Darcy put his foot in it. So amusing.
- What is one of your favorite scenes from Tempt Me? It would have to be D&E’s ‘Hunsford moment.’ It is not easy, as you might suppose, for a two-hundred-year-old vampyre to acknowledge that he doesn’t always know what’s best! That’s a lot of years to build up some pride.
- What do you think would be the hardest thing about being a vampyre? For Darcy, it is the difference in lifespans between human and vampyre. Also, Darcy has major trust issues due to his mother’s utter rejection of him (she was mortal, thought he was a demon, and spent most of his youth trying to kill him) and he looks upon the way he must feed with a sense of shame that he has difficulty overcoming. Especially because he doesn’t realize he’s ashamed.
- What do you think you would like most about being a vampyre? Oh, the ability to change people’s memories whenever I do something stupid or embarrassing. Me: “Nope, I didn’t blurt out the wrong answer, Boss. This is how I beautifully worded our conversation…”
- What do you admire most about Elizabeth Bennet? I love her courage and intelligence, her confidence, her ability to self-reflect and courageously admit her mistakes. There is an innate humility about her that finds the strength to review, to pivot, to redirect. It isn’t easy to be wrong; she doesn’t want to be wrong—and is wrong so seldom, she doesn’t have a lot of experience being wrong. But she subjects herself to an earnest examination and learns from it. I think we often equate humility with weakness, but it takes a lot of strength to hold one’s character up to the mirror for evaluation!
- What is your truth universally acknowledged? That change is possible, no matter how rooted the habit, how many times we have failed in the past, how impossible our circumstance. Admitting we need help changing is not a weakness but a strength. The core of what I love about Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is the fearlessness of her characters to embrace the need for change within themselves. It is so much easier to place blame!
- If you were to spend the whole pandemic quarantined with 4 Jane Austen characters, who would you hope to be stuck with? #1 is Elizabeth, of course, for excellent conversation. #2 is Jane, to sustain our positive attitude (I would choose Elinor Dashwood, but I think Elizabeth would be happier, and thus more talkative, if I keep Jane.) I know you expect me to choose Charlotte for my third, due to my running theme of keeping Elizabeth content. However, if Elizabeth has all her best friends there, would I get my share of the conversation? So I vote Charlotte off the island. Perhaps I ought to bring Mrs Gardiner, to keep us sensible (and, once again, to encourage Lizzy’s happiness) but instead, I choose the forever unnamed Cook of Longbourn. We all know it wasn’t Mrs Bennet slaving over a hot stove and providing the abundant table! I believe good cooking is an excellent antidote to quarantine, and I’m no better at it than Mrs B. Now for #4, a twisted part of me would choose Mr Collins because mocking him while all of our sallies sailed right over his head would be such fun. But he would eat too much of Cook’s good food, which no doubt I am paying for and besides, we shouldn’t encourage the scornful shades in my character. And so, #4 ought to be Darcy, but if he cannot handle boring Sunday evenings, he likely would be an unamusing companion for quarantine. Wait. Are we at Pemberley? If Darcy may practice prancing around Pemberley’s properties on his stallion, Pegasus, I will keep Darcy. If not, I’m bringing Elinor back. [Meredith: lol! This was brilliant!]
- If you were to meet Jane Austen, what would you like to hear her say? “I forgive you.”
Thank you so much for taking part in this interview, Julie! It has been so great to learn more about you and your new release (and the others I can look forward to!)! Thank you for all you shared and best of luck with your new release – Tempt Me! I cannot wait to read it in a few weeks! 🤗
~ GIVEAWAY TIME ~
Julie generously brings with her a most tempting treat with her today for me to give away to one lucky reader – chocolate-covered strawberries!! 🍓 Yum!!! My mouth is watering already!
To enter this giveaway leave a comment, a question, or some love for Julie!!
- This giveaway is open US residents. Thank you, Julie!
- This giveaway ends September 14th.
Brilliant interview, Meredith and Julie. Julie, I’m glad to know you are busy writing! Big (socially distanced) hugs to both of you.
And you as well, my friend! Keep those notebooks handy!
Wonderful interview! I look forward to reading this! Thanks for the yummy giveaway as well!
I’m so pleased to hear it Pam!
I’m currently finishing The Perfect Gentleman, and Tempt Me is “on deck.” Love your stories, Julie.
Aww Debbie, thank you so much for reading! This is so encouraging to hear.
I’m so looking forward to reading this book and am intrigued by all the other things you have coming up, (especially as you are a D&E lover like me!
I’m absolutely certain that I wouldn’t like to meet this Lady Catherine/Caroline Bingley mash up so I hope she doesn’t cause too much trouble for ODC.
I believe it’s quite angsty but I’ll struggle through (wink, wink)
Alas I’m in the U.K. so don’t enter me for the strawberries. 🙁
Oh, you’re right, Catherine is completely unlikable in this version. In Tempt Me, you will always know exactly who the villains are! (For the record, because I was unclear, in TM Catherine is not combined with Caroline. It’s just a possible character mix I’m capable of writing, lol.) D&E Forever!! Go us!!
Love reading your post here Julie and look forward to reading your latest book. Best Wishes!
Thank you so much Jen! Love hearing from you!
A very interesting interview which I enjoyed greatly. Thanks for your wonderful giveaway. Tempt Me sounds wonderful.
Thanks for reading and commenting Laini!
Tempt Me is a book which I could relax and soak up. An excellent interview and so fascinating. Beautiful post today.
Thanks so much Anne! Hope you get that ‘relax’ and chill reading time!!
It’s quite ridiculous how excited I am that this story is in print, Julie. SO HAPPY for you that it’s going to be read by so many more lucky readers now. BIG GRIN! Pleased to hear you’ve got another one coming. Good luck with the launch of Tempt Me. I expect to hear that the movie is coming soon…
Aww Jessie, how great are you to say so! *Can’t wait* to read what’s next from you!!!
…and wouldn’t that be heaven to have a D&E vampire movie? Come on, Hollywood. Stupid zombies.
Thanks for this fun and informative post! Meredith does have a brilliant way of getting to the answers, thoughts and descriptions I so want to know of authors and their work. I am now half way through Tempt Me, and so appreciative of Julie’s writing. I love that we are privy to the thoughts of various characters, at times knowing more of what is happening than even Darcy with his formidable gifts. It makes an engrossing read!
And this Darcy and Elizabeth…..wow.
I’m off to finish the second half!
Every success on Tempt Me’s release
Oh Deborah, I’m so pleased to hear you are enjoying it! It was fun, in this case, to let the reader know more than the characters. Thank you so much for reading, and I totally agree – Meredith is SUCH a huge asset to our community.
I am halfway through reading this and it is so good! Please don’t put me in the drawing for I can’t have sugar. “sigh” Congrats on another great story Julie.
Brenda, thank you soooo much for reading!! I’m sorry about the sugar…you must be too sweet all on your own!
Great interview, Meredith! This one is definitely on my TBR list. The cover is stunning, and the idea of a vampire Darcy is exciting! Looking forward to it. I enjoyed Julie’s immersive writing in The Perfect Gentleman last year.
So wonderful to hear you enjoyed TPG and have plans for Tempt Me! Your comment is very much appreciated.
I read and enjoyed this book. Great review, Meredith.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Sheila!! Best of luck in the drawings!
Thank you for the interview. I enjoyed your thoughts on what you like to read. I feel that a good book should allow you to get lost in the story not have to refer back several chapters to remember why something is happening. I love your choice of giveaway!
Right?? I know that world-building is a huge skill, and I admire the talents of those who do it well…but I’m super happy in the Regency world, with no burning desire to leave it! Good luck in the giveaway!
What a delightful interview. I just grabbed ‘Tempt Me’ as I was tempted by this discussion. I can’t wait to read it. I have a book in queue already and HAVE to finish it. Chocolate covered strawberries… oh my! Thanks Meredith for hosting [hello to your Mr. Bingley]. You did an excellent job with the questions. They were just the questions I would have asked. Blessings to our author Julie on the success of this work. I love that cover. I mean… that cover rocks. It is amazing. Best of luck to all in the drawing, stay safe, and healthy.
So so much appreciated! I, too, love that cover – it’s wonderful. Amy @Quills & Quartos knows all the right people. Thank you for reading, and blessings to you as well.
What a lovely interview. I, too, love a good vampyre story. Look forward to reading this one.
Thanks for hosting a giveaway.
Me too on the vamps, Stephanie, me too! Best of luck in the giveaway!
Enjoyed the interview. I am also a fan of paranormal romance so sure will enjoy this. Thanks for the giveaway, the strawberries look delicious and very tempting.
You are so very, very welcome. Thank you for reading & commenting!
wonderful Q&A for such an intriguing book.
denise
Thank you Denise! Much appreciated!
I’ve been looking forward to the release of “Tempt Me” since reading the blurb for it at the end of “A Perfect Gentleman” and I’m so excited that it’s now out. I started it yesterday afternoon and had to stop only because my eyes got too heavy to read on! I’ve loved all of Julie Coopers works so far and it seems that TM will be no different. Considering this, I’m excited by the number of works that are apparently in progress! Particularly the Evil Jane one (I love an evil Jane and/or Georgiana; being nasty gives them something more interesting to do than be sweet and wonderful all the time). I look forward to whatever comes up next on my Kindle; can’t wait!
This is my next read! Super excited.
I’m so pleased to hear it!! Thanks for commenting!
What a great interview and I love the Q&A. Excited to know that their are more wonderful stories in the works from Julie. Excited to read this vampyre story.
Thank you Shelley! Your interest is much appreciated!
Hi Julie,
I usually not a fan of the paranormal romance stories, but this one intrigues me. I have it on my list to read. Thank you for the Q&A
I understand completely. There are all different “shades” of paranormal, with elements ranging from sci-fi to horror that I do not much care for either. I have this specific niche I enjoy, with characters given additional gifts but still existing within a human mindset, and with romance threaded through it all. I hope you are amply entertained. Thanks for giving it a whirl!
Oh, do you mean like Nalini Singh stories? I lurve her! As far as the traditional, horror/Dracula type vampires, really mine are a different species. More like humans…but better. My influences are way more Jeaniene Frost than Anne Rice! Best of luck with the drawing, and thank you so much for commenting!
I am more into shifter stories traditionally but have read a vampire one or two. In any case, the whole idea of Darcy as vampyre makes sense if one believes Twilight is supposed to be based on P&P. So, what similarities do you see in Darcy and traditional vampires? Thank you for this opportunity of the strawberries, and congrats on the release.
(sorry, managed to put your reply on Maria’s comment first, whoops!) Oh, do you mean like Nalini Singh stories? I lurve her! As far as the traditional, horror/Dracula type vampires, really mine are a different species. More like humans…but better. My influences are way more Jeaniene Frost than Anne Rice! Best of luck with the drawing, and thank you so much for commenting!
Oh yes, before I discovered JA last year, I loved reading paranormal romances, especially Nalini Singh. I had a thing for feline (leopard, tiger, etc) shifters; my tastes have changed a bit since reading JA, but I still seem to project the strength and majesty of big cats upon Austen heroes and Mr Thornton in my head.
As well you should. I think you might like my werewolf Darcy, coming eventually. He’s my Regency ode shifter lore. High Five!
I was really looking forward to this interview, and it did not disappoint! Since I really really liked A Perfect Gentleman I was very happy to see a new Julie Cooper story available. So, I’l be reading this soon. I’m very excited there’s so much coming in the future, too. But let’s concentrate on this one now, so the very best luck on this book’s publication.
I’ll pass on the strawberries, with a smile. 😀 But good luck to everyone else. Great job Meredith. 🙂
Oh my goodness, love the interview ladies, especially your four Austen character you would be quarantine with… what a hoot!
Congrats on a successful launch. Looking forward to reading it and your upcoming projects!
Thank you for your kind words Michelle! I very much appreciate the time you took to stop by and comment. We are in agreement, Meredith is awesome!
I know what you mean by being inspired by Stephenie Meyer but not by her characterizations. For me, her plotting was problematic. My daughter had loved the series, and I read them. While I enjoyed the characters themselves (mostly), I didn’t care for the plot at all. So I rewrote basically the whole Twilight Saga in one book, with a very different plot and a lot of twists. I renamed it Pinned but Fluttering, and it’s available to read on fanfiction.net and Wattpad if anyone would like to do so. I wrote it back in 2010-2011, and I haven’t looked at it much since, but it’s still garnering a lot of hits on both sites, so I just leave it up. 😉
Thanks for sharing your journey here, Julie, and thank you, Meredith, for being such an amazing host and encourager!! 😀
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂