Hi friends! It is a special day – author J. Dawn King is here visiting Austenesque Reviews!

Joy is here to share about her new release which came out a few days ago – A Gentleman’s Treasure!

 And this Pride and Prejudice variation sounds like an epic adventure – the type with exotic locations, perilous situations, and romantic developments.

Joy brings with her a Q&A sharing why this book is so important to her. 

We hope you enjoy!

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Thank you, Meredith. I am delighted to be here.

Why is this a special story to you?

John and I were married seven months when he was offered a job on an ocean-going towboat. For 20 years, he sailed to exotic locations in the Pacific Ocean. Several times, Jennifer and I sailed with him, or we would fly to meet him in port.

It’s been 25 years since John sailed the ocean blue. Although he left the sea, it never left him. Or me. We are still drawn to the ocean. In fact, when I am stuck in the middle of a story, we often rent a room with an ocean view that inspires me.

Also, the sea has many moods, as do Darcy and Elizabeth. It soothes and stirs. What better place to put them?

Why the Mediterranean?

I traveled to Italy in 1978. It was love at first sight. (Or love at my first bite of pasta!) I always wanted to go back. We never did since there were so many other places to visit.

Another reason is the rich history of the British Empire in the Mediterranean during the Regency period. England’s diplomatic presence blended cultures to the point that it would have been an easier time of it for our beloved characters to travel.

And in my dreams, I’m sitting on a rooftop deck in Santorini with a cool glass of water, eating olives and fresh fruit with the breeze blowing through my long, gray hair. Or sitting next to one of Rome’s beautiful fountains with water spraying my face typing like crazy.

In A Gentleman’s Treasure, Colonel Fitzwilliam has a love interest. How did that work out?

Poor Richard! At the beginning of the story, he was merciless when teasing Darcy for being in love. I believe he even stated, with complete confidence, that he would never be twitterpated by a woman. Well, I decided to accept this challenge. Prudence Bell was his match in every way possible. Sparks flew! And when Richard fell, he fell hard, much to Darcy’s delight. The colonel is usually Darcy’s perfect wingman. In this book, he insisted on his own story.

Was this an easy story to write?

The first draft was a piece of cake. I think I was done from start to finish in two months. 120,000 words. Then I reread it, instantly chopping 20,000 words of ridiculously boring content. Rewrites were horrid. They took almost ten months. I’ve never had a story that fought me this hard. In the end, I pulled out Colonel Fitzwilliam’s, Mrs. Bennet’s, and Lydia’s stories and tucked them at the end of the book. I also cut the Nile River scene where Darcy and Elizabeth tour the Pyramids and Sphinx. Rather than post it on my website as an additional chapter, I placed it right before “The End”.

What is your favorite part of A Gentleman’s Treasure?

Hands down it is the romance between Darcy and Elizabeth. Darcy is already in love with her on page one. Before they reach Gibraltar, Elizabeth is beginning to see him in a much friendlier light. She is charmed by Darcy’s constancy, his dignity, his bravery, and his devotion. Early in the tale, we understand why Elizabeth is the one for him.

What was your biggest surprise?

Mr. Bennet. In Pride & Prejudice, he’s not my favorite character. In fact, I don’t like him at all. In A Gentleman’s Treasure, he blossoms, becoming his absolute best self. By the end, I wanted to hug him when he finally stepped back on England’s shores.

Changing subjects, at the end of your latest Christie Capps novella, you mentioned you were out of ideas for these shorter stories. Does this mean you will not write them anymore?

No, it means that the next several books that I have plots for are all longer stories. There may be more novellas in the future. However, I’ll be 70 years old soon. How much longer I plan to write, I have no idea. We shall see.

I hope the words continue to flow as freely as the seven seas that surround the earth! ⚓️

I loved learning about your own special connection to this story! 📖

Thank you so much for sharing, Joy! 🫶🏼

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~ Book Description ~

From the drawing rooms of Hertfordshire to the ancient sands of Egypt — some treasures are worth crossing the world to claim.

Elizabeth Bennet is certain the invitation her father received from a Cambridge professor is a jest. A treasure hunt. Across the Mediterranean. In pursuit of the Lost Library of Alexandria. Yet, she knows her father requires a practical companion to accompany him on this journey—and she has always yearned for a life beyond Hertfordshire’s gentle hills. This is her moment of discovery.

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy rejects the same invitation until he learns Elizabeth will be there. Bound by a secret vow to protect her, Darcy casts aside his pride to follow her into the unknown. Accompanied by Colonel Fitzwilliam—who misses nothing, least of all his cousin’s fumbling attempts at courtship—they embark on a voyage where the stakes are life and death.

Set against the sweeping backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, this thrilling reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice carries them from the fountains of Rome to the Grand Bazaar of Constantinople and the silent majesty of the Egyptian pyramids. As their ship battles stormy seas and French warships, Elizabeth and Darcy must unravel centuries-old clues while navigating the tempestuous currents of their own hearts.

In a race against the treacherous George Wickham and a shadowy traitor known as The Shadow, they will discover that the greatest treasure of all is the love they were never meant to find.

This epic variation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice is a slow-burn Regency romance with a protective Mr. Darcy, an intelligent heroine, Colonel Fitzwilliam, forced proximity (on a ship), second first impression, high seas adventure that takes our travelers to Italy, Greece, Constantinople, and Alexandria while searching for the lost Library of Alexandria.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Joy has put together a lovely gift package based on Darcy and Elizabeth’s Mediterranean travels. Colorful scarves, journals, and a cameo are an important part of the tale. The giveaway is open wherever mail is delivered safely.

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment, question, or some love for Joy below. 

She wants to know where you would like to travel if you could go anywhere in the world.

• This giveaway is open worldwide.  Thank you, Caroline!
• This giveaway ends July 15th.