(from September 23, 2010)
Interview with
J. Marie Croft
Author of
Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge
Interview with
J. Marie Croft
Author of
Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge
by Mary Simonsen
Hi Joanne. Welcome to my first interview on Austen Authors. Please give us a brief summary of your book, Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge.
Impeccable comportment is mandatory in Regency England, a society governed by strict rules of conduct. Perfectionist Fitzwilliam Darcy, heir to an august ancestral estate, is the epitome of an unimpeachable gentleman, at least until…
Our hero’s immaculate image is somewhat tarnished when he and his handsome traveling companions arrive, hot and sweaty, at Pemberley and decide to take a fateful plunge into a scummy pond. An embarrassing encounter on the estate’s lawn leaves a long-lasting impression on Jane and Elizabeth Bennet, who are new acquaintances of Georgiana and Anna Darcy. With both families in London for the Little Season, Darcy finds himself thrown again into the path of perky Elizabeth Bennet; but a handsome army officer just might blockade further advances.
This romantic comedy is a lighthearted adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and features a softer, sweeter, sillier side of Austen’s beloved characters.
Your interpretation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is truly unique. Classifying it as “humorous” does not do it justice. Would you please describe it for us?
Hey, I was quite content with your calling it ‘unique’ and ‘humorous’, Mary. But I’d also describe Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge as being full of pretentious puns, artful alliterations, a child who says the darndest things, a Candel-lit Christmas (not a typo), Regency slang, corny clichés, a drunk Mr. Darcy, as well as healthy, wealthy, and wise-cracking characters. It’s sweet, light, and fluffy, sort of like angel-food cake ... without the angel ... or the food ... or the cake. No, wait. I forgot about Jane Bennet (although she’s not quite so angelic as usual), and there are a few dinner parties, and, huh, there’s even a wedding cake. Hmm, so yeah, I suppose it’s exactly like angel-food cake.
You have more puns per square inch of writing paper than any other author I have ever read. Do the puns just flow from your pen or do you write a sentence and then insert the puns?
A reader at the Derbyshire Writers Guild had a similar question for me last year. I believe her exact words were, “May I ask whether these pleasing puns proceed from the impulse of the moment or are the result of previous study?” Sound familiar? Perish the thought, but I may have more in common with Mr. Collins than I care to admit. The puns arise chiefly from what is passing at the time; and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such wordplay as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible. Seriously, Mary, I wish I could channel Jane Austen; but, instead, it appears it’s none other than Mr. Collins who inspires me.
How disciplined are you in plotting your story? Do you work with outlines or just start typing?
Well, I tried working with an outline and mapping out how to get from point A to point B; but the characters in Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge threw away my map and hijacked the vehicle I was using. I was then disciplined, forced to perform stenography, and instructed to just type whatever they dictated. The dictators changed my plotted course, and it veered wildly from my original destination. I thank them for steering me away from that insipid place.
Why did you choose Jane Austen? Does her work lend itself to pun-filled re-imaginings?
If Austen’s Pride and Prejudice could lend itself to zombies, there can be no objection to lighthearted, pun-filled re-imaginings; but I must not decide on my own performance. I’ll let readers do so and hope they’ll not be offended that I took such liberties with Austen’s characters. Gah! First Mr. Collins, and now, by taking liberties, I also have something in common with Mr. Wickham. Sheesh!
You have indicated that you are a fan of A&E’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. So I shall assume that you had Colin Firth in mind for Mr. Darcy, but who did you picture for Colonel Fitzwilliam?
I’m so glad you asked that question. It behooves me to answer with the assistance of a few visual aids. So, without further ado, allow me to present to you the four handsome gentlemen of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge:
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam
Charles Bingley
Ellis Fleming
These gents bear a remarkable resemblance to (respectively) Colin Firth, James Purefoy, Rupert Penry-Jones, and Richard Armitage. Uncanny, isn’t it?
Now, Mary, I know you only asked about Colonel Fitzwilliam; but, but ... just look how pretty they are! To further transform these fine fellows into characters from Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge, you must picture them in Regency attire ... but without hats, gloves, cravats, waistcoats, and coats ... just damp, clinging white shirts, snug breeches, and tall boots. Er, no further comment.
Is there anything you would like to tell your readers?
Um. Let me think. Hmm ... something to tell them ... Ooh, ooh, ooh! I know! Can I tell them to buy my book?
Joanne, I agree with you. Those are four gorgeous guys. Thanks for sharing your love of Austen with us. It is love, right?
Now, Mary, I know you only asked about Colonel Fitzwilliam; but, but ... just look how pretty they are! To further transform these fine fellows into characters from Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge, you must picture them in Regency attire ... but without hats, gloves, cravats, waistcoats, and coats ... just damp, clinging white shirts, snug breeches, and tall boots. Er, no further comment.
Is there anything you would like to tell your readers?
Um. Let me think. Hmm ... something to tell them ... Ooh, ooh, ooh! I know! Can I tell them to buy my book?
Joanne, I agree with you. Those are four gorgeous guys. Thanks for sharing your love of Austen with us. It is love, right?
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