Ok ... I admit it's more likea week late and a weak excuse short. Nevertheless, I'm very happy to announce the winner of my contest.
Congratulations to
Charlene/ChattyCharlene will receive a signed copy of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge plus a few other surprises.Here are the answers to my quiz How Well Do You Know Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice?
1.Westerham 2.Michaelmas 3.Kympton 4.Colonel 5.attics 6.Charles Bingley 7.Brighton 8.barouche box 9.St. Clements 10.hack chaise 11.Georgiana Darcy 12.Lucas 13.Elizabeth Bennet 14.stupid 15.War Office 16.Haye 17.attorney 18.six 19.Harriet 20.Pope>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<< Let's Do LaunchThe launch date for Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is almost here, and I’ve been reflecting on my decision to name this website/blog ‘Pride and Pre-jitters’. The months have certainly flown by since then and a lot has obviously happened. Yet, even now, on the eve of the book’s official release, proud and jittery are still apt descriptions of my state of mind. I cannot wait to actually see Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge on a bookstore shelf. Yet wait I must. Although it may appear in USA stores starting tomorrow, my book won’t be available in Canadian shops for a while yet due to a recent printer and distributor switchover. However, Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is available through various on-line sites, and you should also be able to order it as an ebook now.
Here’s a link to my publisher’s blog post regarding their first year, tomorrow’s launch, and their plans for 2011.
My sincere thanks to those who have already purchased Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge.
(from September 23, 2010)
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 DarcyColonel Richard FitzwilliamCharles BingleyEllis FlemingThese 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?
Author Mary Simonsen posted the following review of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge at both Amazon and Goodreads: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Guaranteed Laugh, October 2, 2010
By
Mary Lydon Simonsen "Author - The Perfect Bride... (Valley of the Sun, AZ) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (Paperback)
Picture Colin Firth in the A&E Pride and Prejudice adaptation emerging from the pond at Pemberley, his wet shirt clinging to his muscular chest and his glorious curls framing his damp brow. But when you read Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge, you will have to add to this scene Mr. Darcy covered in pond goo, and that is where the fun (or puns) begin. This is so unique a retelling of P&P that it is impossible to do it justice. There is, of course, Darcy and Elizabeth, who are perfectly suited to each other, especially since they often speak in alliteration, but there is also Col. Fitzwilliam and Charles Bingley competing for Jane's attention and a love interest for Georgiana as well. Darcy learning to waltz is worth the price of the book. There are smile-ready (and groan-worthy) puns on nearly every page and witticisms aplenty. This is a hugely entertaining book. I highly recommend it. Thanks, Mary!
In a previous blog post (‘Paper Scraps & Hen Scratch’), I mentioned little pieces of paper on which I had jotted notes for work-in-progress stories or ideas for future ones. “Then, when you’re ready, stitch them seamlessly together, embroider upon them, and weave those words into the tapestry of your story.” Right. Easier said than done.
Recently I was asked whether I’m disciplined in plotting a story, work with outlines, or just start typing. My flippant answer was about mapping out In a Perfect World only to have the map stolen by its characters. The truth is I went to pieces while writing that story.
Before I go any further, I need to tell you I’ve always enjoyed solving puzzles ... jigsaws, crosswords, mazes, logic, etc. You may ask what that particular pastime has to do with writing. According to Wikipedia: “A puzzle is a problem or enigma that tests the ingenuity of the solver. In a basic puzzle, one is intended to put together pieces in a logical way in order to come up with the desired solution.”
Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge was very similar to a jigsaw puzzle. Numerous hen-scratched paper scraps had to be assembled properly to reveal the complete picture. Some pieces snapped into place quickly and easily. It was futile to force ones that didn’t fit; those were put aside for potential use in another story. Piece by piece, paragraph by paragraph, page by page, the picture began to take shape and make sense. Similar to the satisfaction of snapping into place the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle, typing the words ‘The End‘ came with a feeling of accomplishment.
I now realize other kinds of puzzles might be involved:
MAZES - It amazes people how many puns there are in Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge.
CROSSWORDS - Yes, I had a few cross words when the characters hijacked my story; but there is another similarity. In a crossword puzzle, you fill white squares with words. Writing a story requires filling blank pages with words.
ANAGRAM - There’s an Anna Darcy in my book; and it’s possible one of the grandmothers, later in the story, might be called 'Gram'.
CIPHER - You may sigh for several reasons while reading Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE - It’s easy to spot the differences between Pride and Prejudice and Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge.
RIDDLE - My story is riddled with wordplay.
Quote from Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge:
“... Mama and Papa have never permitted us to have animals in our residence. Hmm, I wonder whether they are concerned about household pets taking over the world. Why the puzzled look, Mr. Darcy? Have you never heard of reigning cats and dogs?”
Top 10
Reasons to Read
Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge
10. Healthy, wealthy, and wise-cracking characters
9. Children who say the darndest things
8. Artful alliterations
7. Prestigious Pemberley
6. Precious pets
5. Pretentious puns
4. Regency slang
3. Fitzwilliam Darcy
2. Drunk Fitzwilliam Darcy
1. Wet Fitzwilliam Darcy
Pride & Prejudice Quiz
- Elizabeth Bennet receives, and rejects, her second offer of marriage at Hunsford, near __________, Kent.
- A young man from the north is to take possession of Netherfield Park before September 29th, which is the feast day known as __________.
- __________ is described as a most delightful village with an excellent parsonage house.
- The Earl of Matlock’s second son holds the military rank of __________.
- Purvis Lodge has dreadful __________.
- Who wore a blue coat and rode a black horse? __________
- From what bathing place does Lydia Bennet elope? __________
- According to Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s widow, Dawson does not object to what type of equipage? __________
- What is the name of the parish in which the Wickhams were wed? __________
- Mrs. Long went to the Meryton Assembly in a __________.
- Who plays and sings all day long? __________
- At the end of Volume I, the sight of Miss __________ was odious to Mrs. Bennet.
- Who said “Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing, after all”? __________
- At Rosings, Mrs. Jenkinson’s table was superlatively __________.
- Elizabeth hoped that by the following Christmas Kitty might be so tolerably reasonable as not to mention an officer above once a day, unless by some cruel and malicious arrangement at the ___________, another regiment should be quartered in Meryton.
- The Gouldings inhabit __________-Park.
- What was the position held by the late Mr. Wickham before he became Pemberley’s steward? __________
- Elizabeth Bennet’s petticoat was how many inches deep in mud when she arrived at Netherfield? __________
- What is Mrs. Forster’s first name? __________
- Lady Metcalfe finds Miss __________ a treasure.
Email your 20 answers to me (jmariecroft@gmail.com), and your name will be entered in a contest. The draw takes place on October 25th, one week before the official book launch of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge. Only one entry per email address will be accepted. The prize is a signed copy of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (plus a few surprises). The winner’s name and the correct answers will be revealed in my post on October 26th. Good Luck!
Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge
is a pun-filled tale featuring Jane Austen's
Pride and Prejudice characters
with some
added or addled,
missing or missish,
modified or mortified,
healthier, wealthier, or wiser
SUMMARY: It all started on a Summery day ...
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. 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, pretty Elizabeth Bennet; but a handsome army officer just might blockade further advances.
This Regency-era romantic comedy is a lighthearted adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, featuring a softer, sweeter, sillier side of Jane Austen’s beloved characters.
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