Dear readers, please join me in welcoming Austen author and my good friend, Mary Simonsen, to Leatherbound Reviews! Be sure to leave a comment answering Mary's question to be entered into the When They Fall in Love giveaway!
Thank you, Jakki, for the opportunity to visit with you to discuss my latest Jane Austen re-imagining, When They Fall in Love. Here is summary of the novel:
Thank you, Jakki, for the opportunity to visit with you to discuss my latest Jane Austen re-imagining, When They Fall in Love. Here is summary of the novel:
Spring of 1814 –
Fitzwilliam Darcy proposes to Elizabeth Bennet at the Hunsford Parsonage, but
his offer of marriage is rejected.
Spring of 1821 – A
recently widowed Fitzwilliam Darcy has taken up residence with his six-year-old
daughter, Alexandra, at a villa in the hills above Florence and invites Charles
and Jane Bingley and their daughter to come for a visit. Included in the
invitation is Elizabeth Bennet, who has taken on the responsibility of
governess for her niece.
In the intervening
years, Elizabeth’s opinion of the Master of Pemberley has altered greatly, but
has Darcy’s opinion of Elizabeth changed? Will they be able to put their
troubled history behind them?
When They Fall in Love
is set against the background of the greatest city of the Renaissance, a perfect
place to start over.
I first met Jakki through the world of Jane Austen. After
reading her reviews of Jane Austen re-imaginings on Amazon, I contacted Jakki
and asked if she would review some of my titles. Out of that request, a
friendship grew, and I was fortunate enough to visit with her when I was in
Atlanta last October. Jakki is bubbly, buoyant, a fast talker, and a woman with
a lot of ideas and the energy to execute them.
When I first started corresponding with Jakki, my books were
being traditionally published by Sourcebooks, but after publishing four books
with them, we parted company. Sourcebooks was withdrawing from the Jane Austen
market, and I wanted to self-publish my own work. I no longer had the patience
to wait the approximately eighteen to twenty-four months required for a novel
to go from manuscript to bookstore shelf. Besides, most people were buying
their fiction on-line through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other e-retailers.
But in leaving a traditional publisher, with its art department, story and copy
editors, and publicity department, I was on my own. I could do the covers, and
I had enough contacts on the internet to promote my books, but what I really
needed was a good story editor.
The first manuscript I sent
to Jakki was Captain Wentworth – Home
from the Sea. I was expecting some general comments and a few notes on
grammar and spelling. What I got was much more. Jakki is what I call an
emotional reader, and her many comments reflected her intense engagement in my
story. I was so pleased that I asked her to read Becoming Elizabeth Darcy. This was a much more complicated story as
it involved time travel. Not only did I receive her emotional reaction to the
story, but she insisted on clarification on some fuzzy scenes. If she thought anyone
was acting out of character, she let me know. After I cleaned up the
manuscript, I sent it back to her for a second reading, and she re-read the
manuscript as if reading it for the first time. I had found my story editor!
As with everything in life, some things come easy and some
things don’t. I wrote my best selling novella, A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park, in a week. When writing The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, A Wife for Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy’s Bite, it was as if I was
possessed. The words just poured out of me. That was not the case with my
latest effort, When They Fall in Love.
I had planned to write a story with Florence as the setting
for a very long time, but when I actually set about writing it, it was one long
hard slog. It took me months to pound out the first draft. After completing two
additional drafts, I was still not pleased with the results. I decided to send
it to Jakki, warts and all. Her comments reflected an emotional distance from
my story, and she made numerous suggestions as to where I needed to pump up the
emotions and back away from my emphasis on time and place. Because of her
comments, I saw When They Fall in Love with different eyes, and I knew what had
to be done. By the time I had finished, I was very pleased with my novel. I
truly had a love story about a more mature Elizabeth and Darcy, two people who
had had their share of heartache and who could only fully heal when they were
together.
What Jakki did for me is what a good story editor does for
her authors. She guides, nudges, and if necessary, yanks really hard to get the
writer to move her story in the right direction. I can’t imagine publishing a
Jane Austen story without having Jakki as my story editor. The good news is
that what Jakki did for me is now available for other writers. If anyone is in
need of an excellent copy and story editor, then you will want to contact
Jakki.
***Giveaway Time***
To help celebrate the launch of When They Fall in Love, I
am giving away one paperback copy of my novel to a US/Canada resident or one ebook for an international winner! All you have to do to enter is
to leave a comment by April 30 about your first introduction to the work of
Jane Austen or the JAFF world. The winner will be announced on May 1. Best of luck! =)
Connect with Mary Simonsen
Read It Now!
Wow! I never realized there was such a deep connection between the author and the editor. And to think Mary found one in an unlikely place. Congratulations Mary (and Jakki) for the release of this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I was introduced to JAFF when I spotted Amanda Grange's Mr. Darcy's Diary at Costco. I had no idea there was 'life after Jane Austen's published works' until then and that led me to searching for more of the same.
Hi Sophia Rose! Thanks for entering the giveaway and sharing when you were first introduced to JAFF. I never think to look at Costco for books. Will have to keep that in mind. Mr. Darcy's Diary was one of the first JAFF novels I read as well. :)
DeleteI really enjoyed that, Mary. Thank you so much for sharing your writing and editing experiences. Jakki, it sounds like you are an amazing editor. I definitely am going to need your services in the not too distant future!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds lovely. I think I have said before how much I loved Florence the one time I visited so to read a story of Darcy and Elizabeth set there is a real attraction.
I first met Mr Darcy (and therefore Jane Austen) in a school classroom in 1977 when P&P was set as a book for our Eng Lit exam. I love him in all his guises for different reasons. There is just something about that man! lol JAFF came to my attention after the 2005 film release, and I am delighted to have made its acquaintance!
Thank you for the giveaway opportunity, Mary, and thank you both for another really interesting Blog post!
Hi Cassie! You know it would be my pleasure to edit for you in the future. :)
DeleteOh, what an experience that must have been visiting Florence! I'm envious! ;) I hope you can relive a bit of that journey when you read When They Fall in Love! Good luck in the giveaway!
Wow, now I know why Sourcebooks is not publishing JAFF any longer. I think it's a blessing in disguise since you get to know people like Jakki who help you in your career. Congratulations to both of you. I hope there will be many more collaboration from Team Mary + Jakki.
ReplyDeleteI have probably mentioned it a few times on blogs but I guess it needs repeating. My mum introduced me to P&P when she brought home an abridged copy from her library when I was twelve. Then three years later I read the original novel and since then I'm hook to any good P&P story.
Thanks for the giveaway. I am international.
Hi Sylvia. I like your story of how you became introduced to P&P. I wish I would have been introduced to Jane early on, but then I wonder if I would have liked it then. Probably not.
DeleteLike you, I hope Mary writes several more Austen-inspired pieces. I have really enjoyed everything by her I have read. And I like that her plots and settings are always unique. Good luck in the giveaway! :)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about this special partnership and the benefits (beyond the personal friendship that you established) of a great editor. It has been a concern of mine among other things, in going the independent/self publishing route. So I may, on the basis of Mary's high recommendation, be contacting you as well, Jakki, when I finish initial edits on my current project.
ReplyDeleteBeyond that, I too have visited Florence -- but it was many years ago as a child so beyond fuzzy memories and fuzzier old 16mm black and white family reel-films, I would love to be reintroduced to it through the eyes of Elizabeth and Darcy. Particularly since I recently read Darcy on the Hudson, and found your historical research and detail to be spot on (as I know that area well) I expect your attention to Florence will be no less evocative and enjoyable as backdrop for my favorite couple.
As someone 'new' to entering this publishing and promotional realm, articles from established authors, editors and such who have been there are so helpful. So thank you for writing them and providing the forum for them --
A wonderful teacher introduced me to Pride and Prejudice at 13 -- and it took another 40 years before I read my first JAFF (and a few months more before I started writing it.) Now that is what I call 'anticipation'! LOL
Wow, Tess! So you began writing your own fan fiction just months after being re-introduced to P&P. I can imagine you sitting there, devouring Austen's words and characters and needing to explore more of their story. Thanks for sharing your story with us.
DeleteGood luck with your own releases! :)
Well, I think I misled there... I read P&P about 100 or more times in the interim between first introduction to it, as well as multiple readings of Austen's other works... but started writing a few months after I read my first fan fiction related to it. I had never before realized how active the whole world of fan fiction was, in a variety of genres. It has been quite an interesting -- and FUN -- education!
DeleteHello ladies! I first read P&P when I was about 14 and I immediately loved it. It remains my favourite book. A teacher in my school recommended an Emma Tennant book, perhaps called Pemberley or something similar and I wasn't much impressed with it as a teen. Fast forward many years to Christmas 2011 and my husband got me a kindle. So the first books I needed to download were some Austens. I searched on Amazon and found there was a whole new load of fiction based on Jane Austen's characters that I never knew existed. The reviews of this led me to fanfiction websites that I didn't know were there either. Then a foot injury about a year ago led to me being sofa-bound for a few weeks so I decided to find out what twitter was all about and that led me to you lovely people :-)
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall, isn't there a housekeeper called Mrs Leatherberry in Captain Wentworth Home from the Sea? Made me smile when I noticed it!
*waving* Hi Ceri! While I am sorry to hear you had a foot injury that had you sofa-bound, what a great time to simply devour some great books, given that you couldn't do much else. ;)
DeleteLol! Yes, you are correct. One of the servants is Mrs. Leatherberry in CWHFS. I didn't know that until after the book was published. I joked with Mary because Mrs. L was told to tend to the sheets and I hate doing laundry. It's a joke between DH and myself. Ha!
Good luck in the giveaway! :)
I dropped boiling water on my foot and had a nasty scald but I was so relieved it was just me and not the children that I was able to focus on the positives; knitted a cardie for my daughter, read lots and started using twitter which I love. Far outweighed the downside of having to wear flip flops instead of proper shoes for months! I wasn't able to dodge doing laundry unfortunately, my husband kindly brought it to me to fold :-)
DeleteThanks for the giveaway.
Ooh, yes! That is so fortunate it was only you and not the children who got burned. Mine are always underfoot when I am cooking and sometimes it makes me nervous that they could get hurt, but they love watching and helping. Glad you are healed.
DeleteWhat a gentleman your husband is. ;) For me it's not the washing and drying I dislike--it's the folding. Ugh!
I am glad your injury brought you to Twitter too! I bet your daughter enjoyed her new cardie you knitted her. I love making clothes my my children. And it's even better when they enjoy wearing them. Not too much longer I fear before my boy doesn't like wearing clothes I make him. ;)
Mary, I've always loved your novels, and I'm so happy to hear that Jakki is your editor. It can be very difficult if an author and editor don't mesh well, but it seems that you and Jakki are a perfect fit. (And it doesn't surprise me in the least!)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new novel. I'm looking forward to adding it to my collection! And, Jakki, congratulations on your beautiful blog. Wishing you both the best of luck!
Thank you so much for stopping by my humble blog, Susan! ;) It's always a pleasure! :) Thanks for the kind words too. You are always such a doll! :)
DeleteHello Jakki and fellow Janeites. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your first encounter with the world of Jane Austen. If I didn't make it clear in the post, I love having Jakki as my editor! Just from her comments, you know where you are getting your point across and where it needs work. She's just amazing. I did not get this feedback from Sourcebooks (at least not to this extent). I found gold when I found Jakki.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you two lovely ladies were able to form a successful writer/editor partnership as well as a friendship. Jakki, if I ever write anything, you'll be the first to see it! You'll be in high demand now.
ReplyDeleteMy path went something like this. Rewatch of P&P95 →Abigail Reynolds' s Impulse & Initiative (best find ever at my library - changed my life!)→read P&P → read more Abigail and stalked her website →launch of AustenAuthors →found even more JAFF sites & stories = bliss!
Monica, I found Abigail's Impulse and Initiative early on, too. I ordered it, devoured it, and then ordered all her other books (I think there were 4 at the time.) The rest is history!
DeleteYou must write something, Monica! Your wit and humor rival that of a good heroine! Maybe one of these fine authors needs to base their next heroine on you! :)
DeleteOnce I discovered Abigail's books, I devoured them all one right after another. Her stories stayed in my head that about a month later I picked them all up again from the library and read them!
Like Susan, I think there were only 4 at the time I read them too.
Thanks so much for the fun discussion, ladies! :)
I am interested in all Jane Austen, I did not know there were so many authors and followers. Look forward to reading your book. Continued Success!
ReplyDeleteCecilia A. Hook
angelbrimom@optonline.net
Thanks for commenting, Cecilia! The JAFF community is remarkable, isn't it? :)
DeleteBest of luck in the giveaway! :)
This is such a lovely story! I love how Jane Austen brings people together. Mary your commendations and praise for Jakki could not have been said better. She is wonderfully talented, a genuinely delightful person, and a terrific friend!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet, Meredith! I can honestly say those same exact things about you! :) I can't thank Austen enough for the wonderful friendships that have been forged from a shared love of her works. *hugs*
DeleteMy introduction to the JAFF world was through Pamela Aiden's AN ASSEMBLY SUCH AS THIS in 2006. Once I read it, I could not wait to read the next two in this series. I had not contemplated the incidents of P&P from Darcy's perspective and found the approach compelling. Since then I have read anything and everything I can get my hands on. Love your work Mary Lydon Simonsen and especially enjoy the variety of ways you approach Jane Austen's world and her characters.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Regina Silvia
rcmsilvia@gmail.com
I love An Assembly Such as This! As I was almost finished with the first one, I made sure I had books 2 & 3 in my hand from the library because I couldn't put it down.
DeleteI'm so glad you stopped by, Regina, and shared your story. It is always interesting to hear what initially drew a reader in to JAFF. Good luck in the giveaway! :)
I'm giving this a try. I've never won a giveaway and, sometimes, it's OK. But, this time I really wanted to receive this e-copy! The story line just really got to me! Well, for me to win a copy, I need to let you know how was my first encounter with Jane Austen. Easy. 15 years ago, when I first saw 1995 BBC's Pride and Prejudice TV show. It hooked me deep. So deep that I literally went out to get the book and then got the complete works. Years later I discovered, by chance, the sequels and the what-ifs and, I haven't stopped since! One thing led me to another and I ended up befriending all my favourite Jane Austen continuity authors, through all channels I can. It has been a trill. It's all Pride and Prejudice's fault. ;)
ReplyDeleteThese Austenesque novels are addicting, aren't they, Carolina? ;) Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. Isn't it great that the authors are so personable and interact with their readers? I never thought such a thing would happen. I remember the first time I contacted Mary telling her how much I just loved Searching for Pemberley. She actually responded to my email--and was nice! Wow! These authors, who are like stars to me, actually respond when you write them. It still amazes me.
DeleteI wish you the best of luck in the giveaway. :)
Addictive??? Yes, they are!!! And thank heavens for them! ;). I know what you mean: the first time I wrote to Abigail Reynolds, Heather Lynn Rigauda, Mary Simonsen (and a couple more) and got an answer... OH MY GOD! It was great and I'm just happy they keep write lovely stories and great plots. So, thank you! And, I hope I get lucky with the giveaway, too. ;)
Deletemy introduction to Jane Austen is Pride & Prejudice......the movie........w/Keira Knightley...........
ReplyDeleteis that acceptable????
i have since read the actual novel!!! LOL!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
Great way to become introduced to Austen, Cynthia. :) My hubby likes the Keira Knightley version. I appreciate that he will occasionally sit down with me and watch it...if no good games are on ESPN. ;)
DeleteThanks for entering the giveaway. Good luck! :)
Your story sounds lovely, Mary. Having been to Florence, I can imagine how romantic that setting would be! And I just used Jakki, too, in my book. I'm still going through her comments, but it's fun to read how she is responding (or not responding!) to the story. I was first introduced to Jane Austen in the 1995 Colin Firth version, still my favorite! Best of luck, Mary! Your books are delightful!
DeleteHi Kara! :) Wow! You, too, have been to Florence! I tell you, after reading WTFiL and also Marilyn Brant's A Summer in Europe, I must remedy my lack of travel to Italy. :)
DeleteThanks so much for sharing your first introduction to Jane Austen. I do enjoy the Colin Firth version. =)
Hi Mary and Jakki,
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I have made such wonderful friends through JAFF - both of you for example! Plus many more! Best wishes to both of you - Mary here's to many more books ahead! and Jakki to your editing career!
Aw, thanks, Candy! :) Yes, I think many of us need to thank Miss Austen for our new friendships. It is so neat how this common interest not only gives readers new acquaintances, but also some dear friends! =)
DeleteI was introduced to Jane Austen via Pride and Prejudice. This was a set book at school when I was about 13. I have been reading her books regularly since then
ReplyDeletemeikleblog at gmail dot com
Thanks for stopping by, Vesper! I'm so glad you were introduced to Austen in school and are still enjoying them! :)
DeleteI first got into Austen when they had a bunch of her movies on P.B.S. in '08. It was an Austenfest and part of Masterpiece. It's kind of an acquired taste because I'm more used to the Victorian era so it was hard to get used to the Regency style of dress and more formal language. Until you get used to it, you may not know what they're saying because it's not very plain spoken. I think it was the Keira Knightley P & P movie that really got me hooked. I started reading Austen sequels then. I did have some Jane Austen books that I had previously picked up at library book sales.
ReplyDeleteI have Mr. Darcy's Diary and it was one of the first Austen sequels I bought, although I never did get around to finishing it! So many books.
Sourcebooks isn't publishing Austen sequels anymore? Boo hoo. I have lots of theirs. That must be why Abigail Reynolds' books used to be from Sourcebooks but I see her newer ones have a different publisher. They used to have a British Babes Book Brigade page on Facebook but they've since abandoned it. I did win some Austen sequels on it.
catbooks(at)rocketmail(dot)com
Hi Michelle. I completely agree that there are way too many books. I think I could read all day, every day and still not scratch the surface of my TBR pile.
DeleteHope you find more time to read & good luck in the giveaway! :)
Hello everyone. Thanks for stopping by. Re: Sourcebooks - They only had 3 JA Austen titles released in 2012. Too much competition from independents. Abigail, Jack Caldwell, C. Allyn Pierson, to name a few, have decided to go independent.
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with Austen in HS and never looked back. I still pick up the classics every so often. I stumpled across JAFF a few months ago. Whet a pleasant surprise!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you discovered JAFF, BSM, There are so many lovely novels! Enjoy!
DeleteSince I have read all of Mary's books except this one - and enjoyed them immensely - I would love to win a copy!
ReplyDeleteAnd Mary I totally agree with everything you said about Jakki. While I am not an author, Jakki was a rock of support last year while we prepared for the Decatur Book Festival and always delightful company and an inspiration. I don't think I ever thanked her enough - so again, thank you Jakki!
And did you know she is also very crafty and sells her JA creations? I love the JA coasters I got from her and so do those I gave them to as gifts.
I think I have always been aware of Jane Austen. I grew up loving period pieces and consumed Elizabeth Gaskell and Dickens as well and all the period piece movies that came out. But I knew nothing about the 'continuation' world until I entered the library on one of my weekly trips for new books and saw "The Darcys & The Bingleys: A Tale Of Two Gentlemen's Marriages To Two Most Devoted Sisters" propped up on the New Releases shelf - I was gobsmacked! I beelined it to the book and couldn't get into it fast enough! And an unalterable addiction was born. I scoured their catalogue and read everything I could find. Then I found the online stories and I've never looked back. The JAFF index at meryton.com became my daily resource and I've now read more than 600 stories (yes, I keep a list) and I'm still enjoying new ones every day.
I too have found the authors to be warm, loving, humorous, humble, intellegent persons with great conversation and have delighted in the time shared with them at weekend retreats - very much looking forward to the one in Boston in August - and other get togethers.
my, my, how I do go on - like I said, I am obsessed! Thanks for your blog and this opportunity to win a MLS book.
Hi Jan! Thanks so much for your kind words. I loved the DBF last year. Is there going to be an Austen tent this year?
DeleteGood luck in the giveaway! :)
My parents gave me a copy of Pride and Prejudice when I was a little girl, and I loved it so much, I stayed up all night reading it! I have read it so many times since then, and I never seem to tire of it. I didn't venture on to the rest of her novels until I was an older teenager, and I couldn't believe how much I loved them. Especially P&P and Persuasion--they never fail to entertain me or cheer me up. I could watch countless adaptations, and look forward to reading this new spin off. You can never have enough in the world of Austen!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful it is that your parents introduced you to Austen. I wish I would have enjoyed any of the books my mom tried getting me to read when younger. What a great memory that would be.
DeleteI agree, Austen's works have a way of cheering up readers! :)
Hello Mary and Jakki,
ReplyDeletemy introduction to P&P was sometime in High School on a shoping trip to Vienna (well, on that shopping trip I found Emma which lead to P&P afterwards).
How I exactly discovered the first JAFF I´m not exactly sure, but what I definitly know is that I have found a lot of lovely people, great authors and wonderful book through AustenAuthors, Austenesque Reviews and Leatherbound Reviews.
Jakki, I´m sad I can´t send you the book I´ll (hopefully) one day write in german to edit :D. I´d love to have you as editor!
Well, I must learn German then, huh? ;)
DeleteI'm so glad you stumbled upon Austen and JAFF; otherwise, we may have never "met." :)
Ja, musst du ;)!
DeleteI´m very glad I "met" you!