Sophia Rose's Blog - Posts Tagged "new-release"

Wow! It has been several months since I sat down with a guest for a chat. I was tickled to death when my invitation to visit was accepted by author Alexa Adams while she’s out on tour this month. Alexa’s been a shining star in the Jane Austen community for some time. I know I’ve been loving on her books for hmm, seven years… something like that. Whew! Time flies. She has a friendly on-line presence both on social media and through her blog, happily connecting with readers and fans.
For this occasion, Alexa is dropping by to chat, but also to share about her latest release, Darcy in Wonderland, which comes out this month. Woohoo!

Howdy, Alexa!
Hi, Sophia! It’s a pleasure to be here.

Thanks for dropping by. Have a seat on my comfy couch that tends to swallow people up and won’t let them go. Can I get you iced tea or lemonade to help cool you off after your trip?
A lemonade sounds perfect, thank you.
I got this fantastic peach tart recipe from a friend and peaches in season out at the local orchard so I had to make up some mini tarts to share. Help yourself!
I will. They look delicious.

How has your summer been going? Do any fun trips, festivals, family outings?
My family and I recently returned from two weeks visiting with friends and family in the United States. Since we moved to Switzerland two years ago, these summer trips across the Atlantic are not exactly relaxing, but they are great fun. It’s wonderful to catch up with everyone and indulge in all the foods we miss. Now we’re back to schnitzel and sausages.
Now isn't that how it is- we do seem to need a vacation after our vacations. Haha!

Did you read any great ‘summer-beach reads’?
I haven’t had as much reading time as I like with the book release, but I did find time to finish A Quest for Mr. Darcy by Cassandra Grafton, which was excellent.

It's on my pile and glad to know it got your seal of excellence.

Speaking of reads… Happy Release for Darcy in Wonderland…
I understand it’s a mash-up of Pride & Prejudice and Alice in Wonderland. I am hopping with curiosity and love the idea.
How did that idea come about?
My inspiration was my daughter. She’s quite Alice-like. I’ve always loved the story and have long wanted to blend Pride and Prejudice with a different writer’s work. Also, I was looking for something fun to write. My last book, The Madness of Mr. Darcy, emotionally drained me. This is much more lighthearted.

Ahhh, now how can one not find this inspiration adorable.

These are both fantastic stories, of course. What’s a favorite scene from both stories?
That’s a tough question. I think, as it is for so many other fans, that the mad tea party is my favorite part of Alice in Wonderland.
I adore every minute of Pride and Prejudice, but if I have to choose a favorite, I’d better go with when Lady Catherine barges in on the Bennets at Longbourn, if for no other reason than it manages to creep into almost all my books. I adore writing for Lady Catherine. She’s a major plot mover in the new book.

Did you lean more toward one book more than the other in the mash-up or is it even-Steven?
The story is more Carroll’s than Austen. I stay pretty close to his original tale, but it is encapsulated within a Pride and Prejudice sequel (many years on), with Darcy tagging along on his daughter’s adventure. As is so often true, he’s the real star of the show: a proper foil for his whimsical little girl.
Now, that does captivate my attention.

What was the most difficult thing about writing such a mash-up?
Trying to balance the tones of my two muses, which are very different. Austen is far more formal than Carroll. I tried to keep the characters from the former’s world true to her stylings, while allowing the latter’s to run amuck, as they are so prone to do. This was rather tough on my editor, I think, as she really wanted to limit my contraction use in the manner of a typical Austenesque novel, but Carroll uses them constantly. It was a tricky negotiation.

Was there a character that really surprised you once you started writing?
Alice. As I said, she’s based on my own six-year-old daughter. What I didn’t expect was that she would also prove the perfect little Lizzy.

Is there a particular non-spoiler scene that really hit you emotionally?
Throughout the adventure in Wonderland, Darcy tries so hard to impose reason on all the impossible things happening around him. Finally, when he meets the Mock-Turtle, he cracks from the effort, losing himself in hysterics and really relishing the absurdity. I had a blast writing that scene.
Sounds like a really insightful read on his character.

Are you busy with another work in progress or maybe plotting out a future work in progress now?
I am on my fourth round of edits on a very long-term project, Being Mrs. Bennet. It’s the story a modern woman who, following a car accident, finds herself inhabiting the body of Mrs. Bennet. It’s a very challenging piece that I’ve been working on for years, but I hope to publish it early next year.
And, I know I will not be the only one perked up with interest for this news.

Sofa Starters:
Orange or Yellow?
I guess yellow, as it is the color of madness, but I’m really not a huge fan of either. More of a blue or green girl.
Italian or Mexican food?
Mexican because they don’t really have it in Switzerland.
Beach or Mountains?
Must I choose? I’d be lost without both.
Traffic Jam or Long Line?
Long line. Better people watching.
Music or Sports?
Music.
Mini-Tool Kit or Mini-Sewing Kit?
Mini-sewing kit.
Sci-Fi or Steampunk?
Sci-Fi.
Mrs. Norris or Lady Catherine?
Definitely Lady Catherine, who really is one of my favorite of Austen’s characters. However, I did write a novella a few years ago entitled Becoming Mrs. Norris. It’s a Mansfield Park prequel told from her perspective. I’ve never done a purely Lady Catherine story. Maybe it’s time.


Well, I should let Alexa get going. Let me package up some of these tarts for the road. Thanks so much for dropping by, Alexa.
Thank you, Sophia! It’s been a lot of fun (though I think I might have overindulged on the tarts).

If she’s not visiting here on GoodReads, you can find Alexa at:
alexaadams.blogspot.com
austenauthors.net
www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaAdams
www.facebook.com/ElegantExtracts
twitter.com/ElegantExtracts


Now, isn't this cover adorable? Love how it suits the story inside so well.


Feel free to leave your calling cards at the stops along the way for Alexa's blog tour:
August 5th - Laughing with Lizzie
August 7th - Austenesque Reviews
VVB32 Reads
August 8th - Just Jane 1813
August 9th & 10th - From Pemberley to Milton
August 11th - Austen Authors
August 12th - Sophia Rose's Blog (Goodreads)
August 13th - Musings from the Yellow Kitchen
August 14th - Diary of an Eccentric
August 15th - More Agreeably Engaged
August 16th - My Jane Austen Book Club
VVB32 Reads
August 17th - Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
August 18th - Babblings of a Bookworm
August 19th - Savvy Verse & Wit

Darcy in Wonderland is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Darcy-Wonderla...

A few years back, I was generously offered the opportunity to read a story- a variation on Pride and Prejudice called Dearest Friends that captivated me. The author behind the story was equally personable and I was glad to know her a little through the venue of social media.

It was a joy to discover that she is venturing into a style of historical romantic suspense that draws me in and leaves me wanting more. The first book of her The Granville Legacy, Surrendering the Past is released and I invited her to stop by for a chat.
So, who am I having by for a visit during our local back to school week? None other than the peerless Pamela Lynne.

Welcome, Pamela! Glad you could stop by.

Hi Sophia! I’m so happy to be here. My husband is giving me tons of grief over that peerless comment. There’s no chance of getting a big head with him around to tease me!
Yeah, they are good for that, aren't they? Haha!

This is the tail end of the frenzied rush of Back to School here in Michigan. How did Back to School go in your household?

Back to school for me was much simpler. All I ever needed was a pencil box, writing utensils, and paper. I have two in school right now and their supply lists are long and specific. Every year we have trouble finding at least one thing and this year was no exception. We moved this summer and as I packed, I organized all the left over school supplies and went through them before we started shopping.
The one thing we could not find this year was a yellow book cover. I had several left over from previous years but none of them yellow. We live in a large suburb of Nashville with four Walmarts, three office supply stores, and countless dollar and drug stores. None of them had a solid yellow book cover! We finally gave up and I ordered one online, paying extra in shipping so it would get here in time. The other day I finally started unpacking all my desk stuff and guess what I found! LOL. The extra yellow book cover is now stored in an easy to remember place to hopefully be used next year. But seriously, every year it’s something. No kidding! I just had a charger turn up after a fruitless frenzy to find it three months ago and after I replaced it, of course.

Thought it would be a good call to offer some sugary restoratives and some hot comfort, all things considered. Care for some fresh baked jam thumbprint cookies, lemon bars, or Rocky Road layer cookies made fresh yesterday? I have some fresh brewed tea with a variety of flavored creamers…
I’m off sugar for the time being but I would love some tea. Ok, maybe just one lemon bar.

Speaking of restoratives and comfort, you just released the first book in a series and are become a veteran at the whole process of seeing a book from an idea all the way to the reader’s hands. What did you first find challenging as a writer? Has that changed now?

What was most challenging was finding the time to write and that has not changed. With three kids and another on the way, it’s almost impossible to find big chunks of time (and energy) in which to write. What I have had to do is adapt my writing style a bit and write more intensely during those times I get to disappear from real life. I write the big scenes and conversations when I’m alone and leave the movement and descriptions (what I call the necessary filler) for when I’m home and surrounded by noise. I give authors who are rearing small children big props for managing it all through the writing process since I know I could not do that.

What do you find helpful to work your way through the challenges of writing and publishing?
Three things: My husband, my fellow authors, and the professionals who polish everything.
I could not do this if my husband did not take over much of the household responsibilities while I’m writing. It gets especially hard toward the end when I pushing hard to finish, but he does it because he knows how much this has come to mean to me.
I learn a lot from other authors both in and outside of my genre. It helps when you are struggling to know that others have, too, and it also helps to see how people have succeeded.
Two very successful authors I look to are Stephen King and Julie Garwood. I read King’s On Writing last year and learned some valuable lessons about writing and publishing, like this is a long haul kind of business. Even the master of terror had to pay his dues. Julie Garwood is one of those authors who has had much success writing across sub-genres—under the same name! I see her and I know it can be done. It might take years and a lot of hard work, but it is not impossible.

Early on I learned that if you want to be a professional you must work with professionals.

I don’t just mean people who have business credentials, but people who behave professionally. It’s not about gossip, in-fighting, or choosing this person or this group or whatever. It’s about the work. I am very fortunate to have people around me who believe that same thing.





Congrats on the recent release. I had the opportunity to read and love Surrendering the Past which introduced the Granvilles and the cast of characters and their story. What led you to write this series?

Oh Sophia! We might need more tea. You’ve probably heard me say before that this started out as JAFF. It was to be my Colonel Fitzwilliam book. I went back and forth several times wondering if it was actually JAFF. I had finally decided that it was only to be confronted by two characters who did not want to be Darcy and Elizabeth. I could make Richard anybody. I could make Jane anybody. But Darcy and Elizabeth are Darcy and Elizabeth and there are places I refuse to take them. And might I insert- wise writer move. Once I let go of them it all fell together. That was the first thing that told me I was going in the right direction. The other was finding out that I am pregnant. We talked earlier about how hard it is to find time to write and my work tends to be long. It is such a blessing that this series came to me when it did. It is one saga, but three separate stories are told within it. Three shorter books work much better with my current situation than one long one. Serendipity, true!

And, out of my own curious musings post-reading, did you deliberately infuse it with gothic tones or was that just me, old-style gothic romance lover that I am, sensing something that isn’t there?

You’re not off, but what you call gothic I call dark. I did not consider it gothic until I read your review but it fits! I think gothic might even be a better fit than suspense, at least with Surrendering the Past. Woohoo, so glad I could help!

Do you like gothic-style stories? If so, do you have a favorite?
I do! I grew up with the southern gothic works and that style has stayed with me, I think. The problem with those books is that there is no romance! So if I had to pick a favorite gothic novel it would have to be Jane Eyre. Bronte manages to get both in there.

But ahem, I got off track there. Back to your book and series. I love a good dastardly villain who has depth and is a worthy antagonist. Did you have a good time bringing Lord Litchfield to life?

I was pretty terrified of writing this guy. I had never written a proper villain before. All my previous antagonists, except for maybe Caroline in Family Portraits, had reasons for doing what they did and were not beyond redemption. Litchfield is just pure evil. I worried that he would come off as a caricature instead of the truly nasty man I needed him to be.

Do you have a favorite literary villain?

Until recently I would have said no. I prefer stories where the characters fight inner struggles and so they are both hero and villain. However, as I expand my scope of reading I have found that antagonists outside of one’s own character can be interesting, too. I really like James Dennis in the Captain Lacey series by Ashley Gardner. He reminds me a little of my own Mr. Gardiner from Dearest Friends—a Regency era gangster who is likely more than he seems.

So many characters in the story face challenges both internal and external. My own favorite was the brooding and conflicted older brother of the hero, Richard Granville. Did any of the characters surprise you and demand something different or more?

Ah Wesley. I just finished a scene with him and I’m feeling a little swoony over him at the moment. That doesn’t surprise me, though. The two who did are Julian and Amy. They were supposed to be my Darcy and Elizabeth but then Julian made a very un-Darcy like confession and that was the end of that. Also, Amy has a certain immaturity that I do not like to see in Elizabeth. I am glad they have developed the way they have, though. They are more charming as original characters I think, and I can explore all the aspects of their personalities rather than being confined to my vision of D&E.

With this being a series, do you know at this point how many books we can expect? Any future release dates yet?

As of now, this will be a three book series. I have an idea for a fourth but it would likely be a companion piece because it does not fit the “past” theme. Book two, Redeeming the Past, will be out early next year with the third book following in early fall.

And I have a cover for that which I filched off Pamela's Facebook page.



Sofa Starters
Stapler or Tape? Stapler because I can never find the tape!
Museum or Park? Both. 😊
Cake or Pie? Cake
Morning Person or Night Owl? Night Owl
Drama or Comedy? Dramedy
Stitches or Shots? Shots are over faster.
Catherine Morland or Anne Elliot? Catherine Morland, though Anne is quite capable.
Science or History? History


I appreciate you dropping by for a chat, Pamela. I know things must be pretty busy for you back home so I’ll let you get on the road with plenty of time to spare. More tea or cookies before you go?
I’m good, thanks. I had a lovely time chatting you, Sophia! Thanks so much for having me over.

You bet, Pamela! And I'll lead our readers with a link to your book trailer on YouTube to whet their appetites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6F2s...

Aaannnd, just before she leaves, Pamela would like our guests to know that she has a giveaway running at her own blog. Drop by, enter, and get cozy. Follow her blog for more time with Pamela: https://pamelalynnewrites.com/blog/

If Pamela is not hanging out here on Goodreads you can find her at:
Twitter: @pamelalynne1
Instagram: pamelalynnewrites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pamela-Lynne...
vanityandpridepress.com
pamelalynnewrites.com

I am thrilled to announce that our Rational Creatures has gone live in electronic version at Amazon with paperback edition to follow tomorrow.

Here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JFJ1HSZ/...

Hoping you have the chance to clear your schedule for the evening and prepare to enjoy several of Jane Austen's strong and intriguing women.

For those who get the chance to pick it up, reviews here at GoodReads and over at Amazon are lovely early Christmas pressies....