Sophia Rose's Blog - Posts Tagged "sofa-chat"

*consults list then looks down at the vendor’s stall* Farm fresh goodness locally grown. Love it! It is a wonderful thing to finally have our own weekly farmer’s market right in town though it won’t be open for much longer.
I’ve been on a roll dragging my Sofa Chat guests around to some of my favorite Hang-Outs for our chats so I thought that I’d keep it up. Besides, now I have an extra set of arms to carry one of my sacks of vegetables. Haha! Just kidding. I’d never abuse my guests that way. *silence*
Okay maybe I would, but I’d make sure they didn’t have a bad back first. Haha!

attrition to The Grower's Daughter blog b/c I forgot to get a picture from our local Farmer's Market

I do hope my latest guest doesn’t have trouble finding me in the crowd. Do you think this bright orange Detroit Tiger’s shirt will be easy to spot? Hope so! I bought a special sweet for my guest today, maple fudge, in honor of the fact that she is visiting from Canada.

Suzan is a fun surprise. I read one of her books and was impressed by her creative mind. I enjoy our encounters on-line through GoodReads here, Facebook, and of course around the blogosphere. She’s engaging and insightful with her blog posts at the Meryton Press blog. She shares her helpful ideas. I know I learned plenty from her on the book release campaign last year as a couple of the co-authors for Then Comes Winter.

“Howdy Suzan! So glad you could visit today. It’s a little nippy and clouded over, but aren’t the colors great on this lovely Autumn day? What’s it like back home in British Columbia this time of year?

In Victoria, our summers are sunny but not super-hot, but the warmish weather continues into October. Our winters are mild with a few days of moderate rain a week, but we can have some huge windstorms. The roses disappear in December and the crocuses bloom in January.

Although, now that I think on it, you’re on the move to Mexico, right? What part of Mexico are you settling in? And how is the move going?

We’ll head to Mexico in mid-November when their rainy season is over. We have a tiny little Spanish colonial house in the Centro Historico area of Mazatlán.
Last year we stayed three months and this year it’ll be longer. We bring our cats. The cost of living is very low and the people are warm, friendly, and hard working. It sounds rather cozy and nice.

You have many exciting things going on at the moment.
I saw that you are starting a new series of blog posts at Meryton Press about the writing craft. What are some of the topics you plan to write on?

The series is about my own problems in writing, so I can use humour to help others learn how to be better writers. I plan to write on Regency language, deep Point of View, over-used words and alternatives for them, a few common punctuation problems, and the word pairs that have caused me difficulty. I definitely would benefit from those posts.

Meryton Press blog link: http://merytonpress.com/reader-knows-...



I understand you have a big book release, too. Congrats on Letter fom Ramsgate! What’s the 411 on it (or maybe Canadians reference a different set of digits to dial Information)? Can you share something cool and behinds the scenes about it?

411 is correct! The basic premise is that Elizabeth Bennet goes to Ramsgate with her Aunt Gardiner to stay with a friend of her aunt’s from the Lambton area, Lady Edwina. Lady Edwina introduces them to her friend Georgiana Darcy, who becomes close friends with Elizabeth. Georgiana tells Elizabeth all about her wonderful brother and his “best friend” Mr. Wickham. Dastardly things happen before the story heads to the start of Pride and Prejudice canon, then there’s a monster misunderstanding that causes the story to veer off canon. That results in six chapters of angst before Darcy and Elizabeth’s “Happily Ever After!” Oho! Dastardly deeds! Can't wait to read about that.


I had a good time being a part of the winter short story anthology, Then Comes Winter, with you and seeing your stop for our awesome Road Trip adventure. You chose to write a modern Pride & Prejudice retelling for this one. Now I’m curious after reading your modern and your Regency retellings…

How do the two compare? Do you prefer writing historical or modern?

I prefer to write Regency romances because I love the clothing, the balls, and the politics of the era, the challenge of the stricter society rules, the social hierarchy, and so forth. Parallels with Jane Austen canon plot points are more difficult with a modern story, and my modern in Then Comes Winter only paid a brief nod to Pride and Prejudice as a result. Once I have a good plot in my head, I find modern far easier to write, though. It’s hard to switch between them because of the cadence of the language and the contractions!

JASNA 2015 Author Signing. Doesn't Suzan look great as a Regency lady?

Now, let’s switch things up and talk about Suzan the reader. If you were browsing at the library, what shelves would you gravitate toward? Do you have any authors on insta-buy?

Most of my reading is Jane Austen Fan Fiction and Regency Romance. I like novels where tasteful passion is incorporated into the novel to move the plot forward. Tessa Dare, Grace Burrowes, Sarah MacLean, and Julie Anne Long are some favourite Regency Romance authors. Mature novels have become rare in JAFF lately, but I liked the early Abigail Reynolds books. She’s still a go-to author, as are Karen M. Cox, Leslie Diamond, and Jan Hahn. I’ve added some newer names like Caitlin Williams and Melanie Stanford, and I’m a huge fan of the unpublished work of Amy George and Amy d’Orazio, as well as several others at A Happy Assembly and the Meryton Reading Room.

Outside of those genres, in literary fiction I love the work of Canadian poet and author Michael Ondaatje.

I read your bio and noticed you had a different, refreshing take on reviewing books. As a reviewer, what elements are you looking for in a story? And do you write up your reviews in a certain format?

Every review is unique, just as every book is unique, but I always include certain elements, like how well it accomplished some basic aspects that make a novel good: plot, flow, characterization, POV, editing, anachronisms, conflict, and so on.
If a novel is fantastic, I make sure to mention its flaws, and if it’s terrible, its strengths.
I adore a novel with a fresh premise or scenes that are memorable. A book that’s good but not memorable pales next to one that’s got flaws but sticks with you. I like that you show both strengths and flaws. So helpful for the potential reader and, really, the author, too.

Before I forget, I got you something special here at one of the stalls. That lady makes and sells all sorts of fudge. I got you some of her maple fudge shaped like leaves in honor of you being Canadian. Hope you like fudge. ;)

I usually would prefer chocolate, but maple is great. The better maple trees for fudge are in eastern Canada and northeastern US, so you make locally what we import in my city! The tourists don’t know any better, though! But I understand that Michigan is known for its fudge. It is indeed. Fudge was one of the best discoveries I had when moving here from California. :)


Sofa Starters:
Koala Bear or Otter? That’s a tough one. I had an Aussie pen pal in high school and cherished a rabbit fur Koala she gave me until it burst its seams some 30 years later. There are river otters in the area where I walk in the mornings in Victoria, and I have some funny stories!
Super strength or Invisibility? Invisibility. Fly on the wall!
Orange or Yellow? Orange!
Sir Thomas Bertram or Sir John Middleton? Ew.
Chinese or Italian food? Italian. I make a mean sausage linguine and amazing classic Tiramisu.
Winter or Summer Olympics? Don’t get me going on my rant about the waste of tax dollars on elitism in sport!

I am tickled pink that you were able to walk the farmer’s market with me today, Suzan (and help me haul around my purchases). Did you pick out anything you could take home with you?

Pistachios! Another Michigan specialty!
I remember this picture. It is Suzan posing with Then Comes Winter for our Road Trip several months ago. Love the fall color and just how I'd imagine her dressing for our farmer's market excursion.


Thanks so much for the visit and again, congrats on the release of Letter from Ramsgate.

If Suzan isn’t hanging out here on GoodReads, you can find her at:
@SuzanLauder
www.facebook.com/SuzanLauder/
www.SuzanLauder.MerytonPress.com

It’s Animal Adoption Day at our city’s shelter. I’m curious about one sweet little kitty girl because the webpage says she doesn’t like other animals. This reminds me of a certain curmudgeonly guy who used to let us humans share his home before he died. And she’s got tiger fur just like my old Simon so I’ve decided to drag my latest Sofa Chat visitor along with me to Shelter day.

This is Smitten, the shelter baby I want to see

Unfortunately, we have to walk down to the river, across the covered bridge, through the park to the old WWII Tank Assembly building that now houses the animal shelter. That’s not rude, right? People like to be invited over only to be dragged back outside in the crisp fall air for a long walk. I’ll ply him with a hot coffee, tea or cocoa and some treats that were donated by some of the city’s best bakers for the occasion. Promise! Haha!

So bet you’re wondering who my victim- erm, guest will be today. All the way from Boston and a fellow book lover, I do believe I first encountered Kirk here on GoodReads. Full of wit and zeal, his thoughts on books have been fun to read. I’ve enjoyed expanding our acquaintance into Facebook where it’s a highlight of my day to view the art and music and natural beauty Kirk posts.

And, here is my guest. Right on time.
Howdy, Kirk! Glad you could visit today and isn’t that splendid? You’re already dressed for outside because we’re going to take our chat on the road today. Hope you don’t mind a little walk with some adorable animals at the end of it.

I love walking in the fall. Thanks for having me on a mobile Sofa Chat!!! And thanks for the kind words
about FB posts!

I understand you enjoy being out of doors through cycling. Do you have a favorite fall cycling path?

Anytime of the year I love Concord’s Strawberry Hill Road...I get a thrill...riding down Strawberry Hill...Eastham’s National Seashore bike/walk path from Salt Pond Visitor Center to Coast Guard Beach...and riding from, to, and near Rockport’s Halibut State Park.
Okay, you just made me nearly lose it with your thrills on Strawberry Hill bit of wit. Maybe you need to Debbie (from one of my earlier chats) for some Doo Wop.

I’ll bet the area around Boston is just gorgeous this time of the year. What are some of your favorite activities for fall?

So hard to say one single thing ‘must be done’ to appreciate Boston!!! But….Faneuil Hall might be a good choice to start. The Hub of the Hub. For book lovers, the Boston Public Library and the Boston Athenaeum are ‘must be done’. Yep, good call! I’m a library fan.

Is there an activity or place that just ‘must be done’ to appreciate Boston and its environs?

Walking in dead leaves (Team Marianne!!!!!) is one of my favorite fall activities. Pumpkin everything...Apple everything too...Fall cycling can be great too...
We have fall color tours and they can be partnered with the ‘Mystery’ train so one can be part of an interactive murder mystery play while getting off at a few stops to walk around and appreciate the glories of nature.
And that reminds me of one of my favorite scenes in Jane Austen’s Persuasion where Anne Elliot extols on the fall. But Team Marianne works just as well!

Now, you have a partiality for Jane Austen’s works, too. Are any of her novels your absolute favorite?

Lol, it’s cliché but it’s P&P by a very small margin over S&S, Persuasion, Emma and then a little gap to NA and a little further back is MP(sorry! Your favorite, I believe).
My second favorite, but my skin is thick so you’re safe from any book rivalry ire.

What do you love about them?

Perhaps it’s the twin love stories….Jane Bennet is my 2nd favorite and Elizabeth Bennet is my 3rd favorite Austen heroine. Lol...while Mr Darcy isn’t my favorite Austen hero (ducks!....Mr. Knightley far and away #1)….I respect him and his personal journey to becoming a better person...which more than I can say about the 2 Austen males last on my list. And I enjoy rooting for good guy Bingley to get a clue about Jane (and Rosamund Pike is my favorite Jane Austen actress...followed very closely by Felicity Jones).
I, too, would put Knightley over Darcy on my list. But look at that, love seeing sweet Jane Bennet getting a shout out.

How did you first find Jane Austen’s works and grow to love it?

I joke about being part of the Austen Class of ‘95. I highly enjoyed the films first(P&P ‘95...one of my cousins played snippets at family holiday gatherings, S&S ‘95 (saw three times in the theater) and Emma ’96 (although now Emma ‘09 is my favorite Austen adaption). Then read all of the big six. Then, went on to what limited JAFF I could find in my library network. For example, “The 3rd Sister” about Margaret Dashwood and one about the 1st year of the Darcy marriage.

Do you have any favorite Austenesque/JAFF books to recommend?


The Man who loved Pride and Prejudice by Abigail Reynolds. Set mostly in Cape Cod!!!

Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken.

The Family Fortune by Laurie Horowitz...Persuasion set in Boston!

Mary Jane Hathaway’s “Jane Austen takes the South” series...especially with the Civil War echoes. I wasn’t aware of one of the battles she mentions in the Persuasion version. Then, the battle came up in a book that the Civil War book club was reading. What a fun coincidence about the battle showing up like that in two separate mentions.

Any that you haven’t read, but you are oh so curious to try?

The soon to be three part Jane Austen marriage series by Collins Hemingway. I love JAFF books about “the author” and minor characters too. Has anyone taken JAFF to Africa or South America? (I know there’s a non-fiction South America book that I enjoyed, “All Roads Lead to Austen” by Amy Elizabeth Smith). The poles???(Austen in a very very cold climate!).
Not that I know of. I know Austenesque and JAFF has made it as far as India and Egypt and Australia, but haven’t seen any in Africa or the South Pole. But you know, I could definitely see an African village retelling. I’m sure they have their Miss Bates, Mrs. Jennings, and Miss Bingleys as much as the next place.

I understand that you enjoy Civil War history. Ha, you fooled me. I would have thought a Bostonian would love Colonial and Revolutionary War History the best. I visited once a few years back in January for a quick pass through on my way to a conference in Maine, but had to see the Old North Church, Bunker Hill, and Old Ironsides (yep, it was a tad brisk, but worth it). I love Old North!!!! As I’m writing this, I’m a hop, skip, and jump away from it. Oneth by Longfellow’s poem….
So how did you come to enjoy the Civil War era and what do you like best about it?

Ms Blazer assigned me Rutherford B Hayes in the third grade President’s unit. Hayes was wounded multiple times in the Civil War. About the same time, one of my Dad’s friends had a big “Timelife” Civil War book with great battle maps. I was fascinated. I think that the Civil War was the last war when one individual person could make a difference in battle…not just the overall commanders...Hayes while a minor league Colonel most of the war(he wanted to be remembered as a “good Colonel”)...he was a hero at a few minor battles. And my other big Civil War hero is Maine’s Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain...Gettysburg… 2nd day...Little Round Top...‘Nuff said.
Me too! Me too! But erhmm, sorry to interrupt.
In both cases...they were nearly 40, had growing families and were on the move in their chosen professions (law, academia) They didn’t have to go fight but they went not knowing anything really about war...and both performed so very well.
Your comment at the Revolutionary War certainly had me thinking...for me...being so very parochial….The high point of the Revolution for me was fight at Old North Bridge in Concord!! I grew up 13 miles by bike from the Bridge! (sorry Lexington, I don’t count you!). After Concord….my interest in the Revolution kinda fades. Whereas, the Civil War has so many avenues to explore...many big questions to argue about and that (sadly!) are relevant today ...although I avoid the gory stuff as much as I can.

Any favorite books on the Civil War? I’ve read both Shaaras and Shelby Foote so I’m always on the spy for more to like.
My Civil War book club is reading the “The Killer Angels” this month!!! Loved the movie and it was my introduction to Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.-

Favorite books about Civil War…..
Lincoln and His Admirals by Craig L Symonds (I love Lincoln’s cracky Sec of Navy Gideon Wells...kinda reminds me of John Knightley! Sadly...I’d like to be more like George Knightley but actually more like cracky John Knightley)…. anything by James B McPherson.
Another book….”The Cause of All Nations: An International History of the American Civil War” by Don Doyle.


It’s amazing what stats can tell one and GoodReads helps with stats by allowing for members to create dedicated shelves. Since we were just chatting about Kirk’s reading habits, Wanna know what his shelves show about his reading habits in regard to America’s Revolutionary War, Civil War, and Austenesque reading that we discussed? How about it Kirk, what do the numbers say?

Since 2012 (with some from prior years too):

91 Civil War books
19 Revolutionary War books

Lol....and Jane Austen books.....222!

And for comparison, here’s mine:
14 Civil War books
9 Revolutionary War books
Aaaand 278 Jane Austen books.


Back to Austen. Sorry for the whiplash, there. I understand you are part of a reading group (book club!) called Austen in Boston. Would you share a bit about that?


Austen in Boston: A Jane Austen Book Club was started by someone else in Spring ‘09. They met three or four times and then stopped meeting. I joined in Jan ‘10...I suggested we read a book and the prior organizer left! I and another person co-lead it for the 1st year and then she didn’t want to organize any more (she wanted us to read all of Dickens...YIKES!!! No, no, no!!!!). AiB meets once a month in public spaces/outdoors. All books are allowed...except for the three very twisted English Sisters!!!!

I (and too infrequently others) post 3 items a day on Facebook. Once a week I post a recap of the posts on Austen in Boston website: https://janeausteninboston.wordpress...., FB, and Twitter too.

I’ve never participated in a book club or reading group so I’m curious. What’s it like being involved in a real life reading group?

One of the benefits of “book clubbing” is that my reading list has been expanded (I have a very very narrow range of things I like...sadly true in music and art too). Several books that I would never read...were chosen and some I really enjoyed much more that I thought I would. Naturally, the flip side is that there are some books I try to get through because they are being discussed but would have abandoned very early in the reading.

In both Austen groups I’m in (AiB and the JASNA MA reading group), I’ve been involved for six plus years. So, you get to know other’s likes and dislikes fairly well. AiB, as organizer, I can keep us on topic at least most of the time. JASNA MA….not so much, which can be frustrating at times. Most of us get along well too...but there are a few exceptions. AiB meets outdoors when the weather allows! For “Gone with the Wind” (I didn’t actually want to read it but….), we met on a spooky Boston harbor island (Georges Island...home of Civil War prison Fort Warren).

And here we are at the shelter. How is your cat buddy back home doing? Any fun anecdotes to relate?

Handsome Wilbur P Force poses well for the camera

Wilbur P Force is a ton of fun. He got a clean bill of health recently!!! Time for more photos! I walk with him in the building hallways...where occasionally he runs into other Apartments (he has an open door policy)!!!!

They have complimentary Kuerig variety pods to do up a cup if you would like something to warm you up. Oh, and those glazed oatmeal raisin cookies are to die for, but pretty much all the goodies laid out are a safe bet. I’ll just be looking over this little lady here who is giving me the evil eye which in cat language could mean anything as you well know.

Ah, healthy oatmeal raisin cookies! Lol, I prefer slightly sweeter cookies...especially cookies with chocolate something although I’m slightly allergic to chocolate.
You’ve come to the right place, enjoy the spread of goodies they have.

Sofa Starters:
Africa or Asia? Africa….I wonder if anyone has set Jane Austen’s stories in Africa?
Splinter or blister? OUCH!!!! Having had problems with both….no comment! Interesting...in Persuasion it is key for Anne Elliot that Mrs. Croft is unable to walk with Admiral Croft do to a nightmarishly large blister.
Colonel Fitzwilliam or Admiral Croft? I love love love Admiral Croft...2nd favorite male Austen character (only behind Mr. Knightley)....between giving up the “wheel” driving….the not telling the Musgrove sisters apart...the mirror comment. And sadly I have gout like Adm Croft(and Mr. Allen and Jane’s brother Edward).
Mexican or Italian? I’m half Italian!
Mozart or Tchaikovsky? Ralph Vaughan Williams #1 especially his The Lark Ascending. I listened to it on the way driving from Somerset (friend’s house) to CHAWTON!!! Took the train to Box Hill on a later trip and only after found out that the poet who wrote the poem Lark Ascending, George Meredith, resided on Box Hill. RVW lived in his middle years in Dorking and grow up about 6 miles from Box Hill!
RVW is followed by Sibelius and then Beethoven. I don’t care much for the two listed (me not answering the question)...but at least Peter T has the 1812 Overture.
Green or Yellow? Yellow! I was actually wearing yellow just before I came to visit you….for fallen cyclists and for safer streets. I also love Yellow in July for the leader of the Tour de France. Orange is my favorite color. I sometimes type “favourite colour”!
Soccer or Baseball? Baseball is my favorite major sport. GO SOX! I like Soccer and have recently been watching the English Premier League. It was great to get on the Leicester City bandwagon last Nov. after my girlfriend went there for a conference. And there’s the whole Richard the Third angle to Leicester. And I love Alex Morgan and have read her books.
Star Trek or Harry Potter? I hate Star Trek having been called “Capt Kirk” growing up. I got into Harry Potter 3yrs ago (GF recommendation!) and I love love love Ginny Weasley. Channeled her recently when some kids were yelling and screaming outside in the wee years…..”Shut it” I yelled!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, Kirk.
Thanks for all you do, Sophia!!!

If Kirk isn’t hanging out here on GoodReads, you can find him at:
Austen in Boston (AiB) FB(three somewhat dull posts a day) and Twitter(mostly retweets from around the Austen world and beyond) @AusteninBoston
Mr Mason and Fans FB (mostly daily pictures of Yorkshire), @MrMasonFBAbbey(live tweeting Poldark and Mercy Street) on twitter
Lol, I’m personally also on Twitter (much more random) @irktown00

Now what did I do with my grandmother’s recipe for Pistachio Pie? I just had it. Argh! Every year, I swear it, every year, I will put it where I won’t lose it. I could have sworn I tucked it into my old recipe keeper, but nooooo, not here. Oh wait! It stuck to the back of my Thanksgiving Fruit Salad recipe. Oops, little cranberry sticky stuff will do that. Whew, crisis averted! *looks around sheepishly to make sure nobody witnessed the crazy lady wailing and gnashing teeth over the recipe box*

Oh, but I need to clear all this list writing and recipes out of the way because I have a guest coming today. Engaging and fun-loving, (oh if you only knew… okay those who visit Mr. Darcy’s library know what I mean.) Sheila is coming all the way from Pennsylvania to visit and chat with me.
And my little corner of Michigan is not playing nice today for her visit with all that blustery wind and rain.

Sheila is a fellow book lover and what’s more she adores Jane Austen and Austenesque stories. We first met here on GoodReads in the Austenesque Lovers Group. I’ve come to appreciate her thoughts on books and seeing her whole-hearted support of authors and bloggers through her well-thought reviews, comments, and book discussions in the group.
But shh, enough talking about her, here she is.

Howdy, Sheila!
Oh, quick! Get in here out of that weather. I’ve got the fireplace going and a candy cane hot cocoa ready to go on the stove to warm your insides.

How are things back home in Pennsylvania? Getting reading for Thanksgiving?

First, let me say, “Thank you” for inviting me into your drawing room. I have visited the state of Washington many times over the past 7 years as my daughter, Nicole, lived there with her husband, Anthony, until August of this year when they moved in with us in order to find housing and jobs on the east coast. They got married over the water in Hatley Castle, Victoria, in 2011.

As for Thanksgiving, my other daughter, Heather, has again invited the family to her home in Wayne, PA and we all bring something to help out. This year there will be a separate “kids’ table” as some of her children and nieces and nephews are old enough to sit alone and feed themselves. I always take pies (pecan, pumpkin and apple) and sometimes my homemade Finnish Viipiri Twist bread, which has been a family favorite for special meals for a long time.



Sheila has graciously provided the recipe for her Viipiri Twist Bread. If you need a larger font, message me or Sheila for the recipe

I know you’re a grandmother and enjoy getting the grandkids for babysitting opportunities. Do you have any special grandma things you do for the holidays with them/for them?

I like to read to my grandchildren and I have a special memory that reinforces that practice. I used to babysit 2 grandchildren an hour and a half away in NJ regularly. One day Mae (1 year old granddaughter) was told to go and get a book to read and who does she bring it to? “Moi”….letting us know that she is aware of who reads to her the most. My grandchildren live too far away (an hour for one family and 1.5 hours for the other and it is all busy Interstate highways) so I only see them for special days but as they are getting older I am hoping soon to have them overnight and thus we can bake cookies and visit holidays exhibits locally.


Crayola Crayon Factory of Eaton, PA Can I crash that grandma/granchild date, Sheila?

There is a zoo and the Crayola Factory nearby, which I have been waiting to take them to visit. The oldest grandchild, Jackson, only turned 4 in August so you can see he is only getting to the age to go out without his parents. I did take him to the Turtle Back Zoo http://turtlebackzoo.com/ in NJ alone last Spring.

Do you do reading aloud with them? If so, what’s a favorite children’s book you read together?

I saved not only toys, i.e., Fisher/Price, Legos, Brio wooden railroads and Little Tyke, etc. but also hundreds of books. I was a Kindergarten teacher at a Lutheran School in Emmaus, PA for two years so collected more books while teaching. And during my education courses at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA in my late 40’s I was introduced to many new-to-me authors. One of my favorites is Mem Fox from Australia. I wrote to her (She and I was the same age.) and she wrote back 3 times, saying that was the limit for “fan correspondence”. If you and/or your readers have not read her books, please treat yourselves. This time of year (Halloween in the USA) her book, Guess What?, is a special seasonal treat. Pay attention to the graffiti in the “walls” of the pages.

There are so many wonderful children’s authors out there. I used to read the Newbury Award and the Caldecott winners every year while teaching so as to keep up with the best so that is a good place to search for titles on the Internet PLUS our library prints lists of recommendations for age levels if parents are looking for such. Even when my children were middle school age (12, 13, & 14) I remember their enjoyment while I read An Indian in the Cupboard (A movie was made from this book.) when I learned of its existence in my Elementary Education courses.

My oldest then took the sequel books out of the library to read them. I and my son enjoyed Hatchet and others by Gary Paulsen and I got him the rest of that series. (The author began writing for his sons as they had no interest in other books.)


With retirement, that has given more time for hobbies. What are some of your hobbies (besides reading of course)?

I have always been a reader but with retirement I not only have more time for reading but I have now made a promise to myself to write reviews of the stories I read. And, I have now narrowed my interests mainly to JAFF books, although I am reading the last of the 8 Outlander books and want to then start the long series of Poldark books.
I go to Bible Study weekly. I take my 95-year-old father-in-law (who lives near us) to his podiatrist appointments. I also do some activities with the Women’s group and with the Seniors’ group at my church. I correspond with my sister and my brother, who don’t live nearby. We do get together once a year for Christmas Dinner at the Greenfield Inn in Lancaster PA and I have lunch with my sister there once a year in the summer. I do some walking but not enough. I keep in touch with several past co-workers from the Children, Youth and Families and the Office of Developmental Programs (both under the Human Services Division in our county) and have lunch with those friends occasionally.


US Nat'l Women's Soccer League Seattle Reign and Chicago Red Stars photo


One person and I used to travel to Women’s Professional Soccer regularly until the local teams disbanded and even traveled to Cincinnati Ohio one year to watch the USA play Germany. I also have a hobby of making Polish Star ornaments. I learned to do this while a Girl Scout leader. http://www.instructables.com/id/Polis... The star has 96 points all of which are hand rolled. I usually do this while watching TV.

I follow a lot of Marvel comic heroes on TV, i.e., Arrow, The Flash, S.H.I.E.L.D. but, of course, also follow Masterpiece Theater and some series on STARZ and HBO. I don’t watch any daytime TV but have one or two shows each night I like to watch. I do like to bake but don’t do as much now that my children have grown. And I love keeping in touch (mostly through e-mails) with authors and others readers in this community. I have now met Claudine in NYC three times and met Debbie B. locally once while she was visiting friends with her husband here in PA. Ironically, I have made several friends who commented on my reviews on Amazon and we talked back and forth and then I referred them to Goodreads for a wider audience and more information about JAFF.
I love seeing that you're making the most of retirement and engaging with so many life opportunities.

Have you always been a reader? What are some of your all-time favorite books?

I have always been a reader. My interests have changed over the years. While in Junior High School our one summer reading assignment was Jane Eyre and I reread that about 8 times. While in High School our one English teacher was “big” on Thomas Hardy and Shakespeare. During college, at Ursinus College, the little time I had for outside reading was spent with James Bond, among others. Then in my 20’s a coworker lent me a historical romance novel. I forget the author but have very fond memories of certain authors, i.e., Kathleen E. Woodiwiss (Her Shanna is #1 on my list.) who is credited on the Internet as being the first author to take us into the bedroom. bookcover:Shanna|896621] Judith McNaught is another favorite author from those days (Too many great books to pick one). But I also read and shared with my children the love of Terry Brooks’ books and can recommend his The Shannara Chronicles which have been made into a TV series.

I love mystery novels and watch or read Sherlock Holmes, Poirot, and all those British TV series, i.e., Inspector Morse. I have read most of John Grisham’s and many of Nicholas Sparks but don’t like the endings of the latter’s books so don’t read him anymore. Love seeing your reading journey from the past until now.

You adore Jane Austen, Austenesque, and Jane Austen Fan-Fiction (JAFF), this I know. Ha! How and when did you first encounter Jane Austen’s novels?

I didn’t learn of her books until….drum roll….the 1995 P&P movie hit PBS on TV. Big surprise, right? Then I had to read the book. I didn’t learn of JASNA until I read that a local chapter had attended the play form of P&P at DeSales College near us and then made inquires to the newspaper as to how to contact them.

What was your first JAFF story and how did you discover it?

I think, but can’t swear to it, that I found the first of Pamela Aiden’s trilogy (2003) Fitzwilliam Darcy Gentleman on Amazon.
You know how that site makes recommendations to you based on your browsing history and I was probably looking at Jane Austen’s books there. It wasn’t long after that when I found Abigail Reynolds.
I found Meredith’s blog as I keep reading her book reviews on Amazon and clicked on the link to her blog under one review. That opened up the JAFF world to me as she introduced authors, readers and books on her Austenesque Reviews Blog. Yes, love all those and Meredith's blog is great.

I consider you quite the connoisseur, Sheila, so I’d like to shamelessly beg for some recommendations. What are a few JAFF books that you feel haven’t gotten enough notice, but that you think are quite amazing?

That is a very tough question. I have expanded those I now find enjoyable from what I read maybe 2 or so years ago. I used to stick to Regency era and, those who know me also will realize that I also concentrate on P&P variations. BUT Anji convinced me to read modern take-offs and told me to read The Muse, Boots and Backpacks and Lucky 13.
I now have also accepted paranormal books onto my list after Mary Lydon Simonsen persuaded me that her Mr. Darcy’s Bite (werewolf) was more a romance than throats being ripped out.
I love all of Cat Gardiner’s books.

You ask about overlooked books: I think that there are many unpublished ones that readers would enjoy. Debbie B., I and others have reviewed many of those on Goodreads and one author was convinced to publish…her book used to entitled Bruises and was published as Side by Side: Apart – lovely book but get out your tissues. There is another unpublished author who is to be releasing a book soon and I am waiting but won’t name names in case something doesn’t pan out.
Some which had not gotten notice in the past are Laura Hile and a newer one along the same line, Cass Grix. Both are Freaky Friday type of books.
I have read 240 books this year so you and others could just go to my reviews and look for 4 or 5 star reviews. Yep, see, I knew you'd be good for several good recommendations and I will definitely spy out what's on your 'read' shelves.

Shifting gears here, I’m curious about your little corner of Pennsylvania. Do you have any Jane Austen or Regency events? Or have you traveled to a Jane Austen event?

I attended the New York City Annual General Meeting in fall of 2012 plus a number of events in Philadelphia and some closer to home with speakers, luncheons or dinners and the play I mentioned. I also was a member of a JASNA reading group in our area but it fell apart as lives got busy or people moved. I went to see the Sense and Sensibility Play at the Bedlam theater in NYC with Claudine (of the JustJane1813 blog) and also watched the Amazon prescreening of Love and Friendship with her in NYC and just this past Sunday we had the pleasure of sitting in on a Q&A with Whit Stillman, the writer and director of said movie.

Okay, and what about other fun activities and sites would you suggest if I came for a visit to your area of Pennsylvania?

Well, you must know that Pennsylvania is the State of Independence and if you have not visited Valley Forge, the Betsy Ross House and/or Independence Hall then do so but there is also the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky Balboa climbed its stairs.) and we are within an hour or an hour and a half of NYC and Hershey, Pennsylvania so the list of cultural and sports events are endless.

BUT we live next to Bethlehem PA and it is a national attraction with its fame as The Christmas City http://www.christmascity.org/ . Now it also has top rated musical acts at http://www.steelstacks.org/ plus in August we have a Musikfest http://www.musikfest.org/ with many musical groups and ethnic foods to taste. It was formed to imitate an October Fest atmosphere and is very popular. The shows are mostly nationally recognized groups but we also have some polka bands and local Irish step dancers in their colorful costumes. In September we have a Celtic Fest with their bagpipes and men in kilts vying against each other in the most beautiful legs contest. Moravian Church has a “Putz” program with hand carved figurines passed down over the centuries to tell the Christmas story http://www.centralmoravianchurch.org/... and we have two BIG sports attractions with The Lehigh Valley Phantoms, a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League who play at the PP& L Center which also hosts musical and other acts year round and with baseball, The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs who are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Oh wow, sounds like I could spend days of wonder there.


And here is the Pumpkin Muffin recipe Sheila mentions. Let me know if you need a larger print and/or wish for the Great Pumpkin cookie recipe, too

Now, last question, might I tempt you with a slice of pumpkin bread? What’s your favorite fall snack?


Caramel and nut covered apples on a stick….but I also have recipes for pumpkin muffins and pumpkin cookies that my past co-workers and my family love. I always look for pumpkin flavored coffee, breads and baked goods in the fall.
AND from my husband’s ethnic background (Wendish = Hungarian/Austrian) there is a type of cookie called a Kiffle. My favorite bakery where I obtain those is just ending their pumpkin/cream cheese variety for this year. My siblings look for me to gift them with several dozen of those at Christmas, although by then the flavors are different. They are a lot of hard work and although I learned how to make them with my husband’s Tica (aunt) I buy them from a local nationally famous bakery. http://www.kifflekitchen.com/

Sofa Starters:
Snoopy or Scooby Doo? Snoopy – Although I have watched Scoopy Doo on TV, I have followed Snoopy/Charlie Brown comics from my childhood in the comic section of the newspaper plus watched all his holiday movies on TV…even The Great Pumpkin Patch.
Stuck in traffic or grocery store line? Probably the latter as I love to watch people and there is such a variety as you may turn your head and observe many people, even babies and toddlers, waiting in line and then there are all those gossip rags on which you can read how Angelina is mistreating Brad…LOL
Elinor Dashwood or Fanny Price? I have to say Elinor here. Although Fanny is an observer of a small group of people both in her uncle’s house and when she visited back home, her experiences seem more limited in scope. Elinor grew up in one location where her family probably had many more visitors due to their standing in society. Then even with her reduced circumstances she and her family were invited to Sir John Middleton’s house and then to London with Mrs. Jennings so there they mixed in society (for better or worse) and Elinor had in her abilities a much broader range of topics to discuss or observations to make about society. Both women had high moral standards but one was more exposed to general society.
Apple or Pumpkin? Apple – I make an apple pie which one of the girls on my old caseload described as “slammin’”! More apples and a very thin crust and not too much sugar.
Egypt or Greece? Greece: the seat of civilization with all its artwork, ancient buildings, sites of historic value, etc. just seems to have more of interest for me.
Parakeet or Gerbil? I own two parakeets and have owned many over the years: one of which I taught to talk: “Hello, Baby, want a kiss?”, “What’s up, Boss?”, “Cool down, Frank, Frank.”, “I love Sheb” (couldn’t pronounce “Sheila”) and other phrases.

Thanks so much for dropping by, Sheila. You and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving. And be safe out there going home.

And Happy Thanksgiving to all from me and thank you for this opportunity to sit and chat. You have been a gracious hostess to share time with me. Signing off, Sheila

If Sheila’s not hanging out on Goodreads, you can find her at: I share my e-mail address through personal messages on Goodreads but I am not on Facebook although I was on the latter in the past. I am on Twitter (However I don’t pay much attention to that) and have a number of boards on Pinterest. My book reviews are posted both on Goodreads and on Amazon.

Claudine and yours truly, October 30, 2016

February really came fast for me. I've been slacking off on my resolutions a little hard at work trying to fulfill many of my January resolutions and discovered something.
If I want a new, better habit to form, I can't get all drastic about it. I've learned to taper into big changes. Like, let's take eating right. I can do this and do it well if I can also have moments of eating entirely wrong (yep, still had some Christmas chocolate calling my name and whew boy, stressed is Rootbeer spelled forward).

But seriously, I've made strides in the right direction and I'm content because I've made progress and actually still have my list of goals in sight and on my mind. I've hit more goals than not and I'll take that as a win.

Speaking of working on goals, one of my goals was connecting more with folks here on GoodReads in a positive way. One of those ways is my Sofa Chats.




I want to continue on with these so if you don't mind chatting with me here on the blog in the form of a series of casual interview questions, drop me a comment or send me a message to sign up or inquire further.

And another of my goals was reading challenges. I tried the COYER (Clean Off Your E-Reader) Challenge (clever name by the by) for the first time last summer and did the winter challenge and I really made a dent in my older TBR pile books. There is the challenge of course, but also a fun and lively Facebook Group with daily activities that are optional, but oh so encouraging and fun. The three bloggers, Stormi, Berls, and Michelle, who host this challenge do an abso-fab job. So I am giving them a shout out, but also plugging it shamelessly to you all to join. :)

February really is a LOVEly month for me in that I get to celebrate my folks' anniversary, several family birthdays, and it was also the month years ago that I went on a blind date and later married the charmer who is still a charmer (he enables my reading and writing habits).

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

As I stand here prepping dinner with a new style of chicken and rice one-pan recipe I’ve been playing with involving my recently picked hot peppers and onions (more cumin and garlic, yep, too bland…. Ouchiwawa, juices from the pepper got into a cut on my finger…) and attempt to listen to Lady Susan on my phone with the volume turned up as loud as it will go (oh for sound cancelling headphones), the city guys are working on the sidewalk across the street by breaking up the old concrete first.
Man, there is a cacophony going on between jackhammer, earthmover, and trucks.
How will I ever conduct a chat with my latest guest? Is it polite to offer a visitor to your home earplugs and use semaphore flags to communicate? Haha! Good thing she has already visited once before and her first impression has already been made.

I’m tickled to death to welcome back author Karen Cox for a Sofa Chat in honor of her latest release, I Could Write a Book, an other-era modern Emma retelling.
See, guys, I Could Write a Book was an ongoing future release project when I last chatted with Karen and she got me all jazzed to read it with her hints and descriptions. Now, it’s here! I want to warble on like Miss Bates, but I guess I should finish up this food and welcome Karen to the chaos.

Hey, Karen! *shouts to the lovely lady at the front door* Come on in and let me close out the noise if I can. Sorry about all that. *quieter now with the door closed*
I work with preschoolers, a little noise won’t bother me! (Unless I’m writing, of course :) )

How have you been?
Great! Thrilled, excited, swamped, overwhelmed, nervous…you know, everything an author is when she has a new book coming out!

Four book releases this year, right? A short story for The Darcy Monologues antho (I, Darcy), a novella (The Journey Home), a novel (I Could Write a Book), and now another short story for the Dangerous to Know anthology. Whew, way to go, Karen!
Uh-huh…I think I went a little bit crazy this year- lol

How are you holding up through all that? Any great tips you can pass along now about keeping up with such a writing/release schedule?

I didn’t plan it this way. Both The Journey Home and I Could Write a Book were projects I started some years ago and hadn’t finished. I stopped working on them to put together Undeceived and the “Northanger Revisited short story” in the Sun-kissed anthology. Undeceived, a 1980s Cold War spy novel based on Pride and Prejudice, was pretty intense, research-wise. It took a lot of time, and there wasn’t a lot left over for the other half-finished stories, but I never forgot about them. It’s just been in the last year or so that I’ve had the time and energy to revisit those projects. The Journey Home novella was an experiment of sorts. I didn’t expect people to respond to it the way they have. It’s been a wonderful surprise. Thank you, readers!
If I had to give advice on schedule, I’d say keep the end goal in sight, and then think to the end of the week. Don’t get mired down in the tasks to do in between, or you’ll go crazy. Make lists but don’t obsess over them. Use Scrivener. Keep plugging away. In the end, though, remember to do what works for you. The end in sight... now that is a helpful hint. Lists! My favorite thing. No prob, there!

I was just telling the folks that I was all a twitter over your latest release of I Could Write a Book because we discussed it a tad during your last Sofa Chat visit. What made you decided on an Emma retelling? And why the ‘70’s?
Oh man, now I’m wondering what I said last time! Heh, heh, heh, okay you didn't say anything shocking- just messin' with you.
I’ve always loved Emma, both as a novel and as a character. A lot of readers don’t care for her, but I think she’s marvelous. And the whole novel is brilliant: the unreliable point of view, the dialog, the double-speak of characters like Frank Churchill—it’s just genius—the novel that reads like it’s about nothing, until all of a sudden the whole fabric of Emma’s life unravels.

The title of the 1995 Emma adaptation “Clueless” really sums up the whole novel in one word—it’s the story of how Emma gets a clue. What I love about Austen’s Emma is once she sees her mistakes, she faces them, accepts them, and deals with the fallout. I made it my writing mission for others to see in Emma what I saw in her: strength, independence, vulnerability, and empathy. She loves her friends and family; she just wants them to do what she wants. Who can’t relate to that? Okay, I've not always been an Emma fan, but yes, you are selling her well here....

As for the 70s, it was a time of change in the US culture, of shifting social mores, all against the backdrop of political turmoil from the Vietnam War, and from Watergate.
Austen’s Emma takes its story into an English village, and keeps the big, bad happenings of the outside world off stage, for the most part, but you can see how those changes are infiltrating little Highbury—the Coles aren’t respecting the class boundaries, yet Emma has befriended a girl who is “below” her, all while dissing the man who wants to marry poor Harriet because he is “as much above her notice as below it.” (21st Century reader says “Whaaat?”)
Small, Southern towns in the 70s were a lot like Austen’s Highbury, so they were made for this tale—made for it, I tell you! Preach it, sister!

Oh, before we get much further, may I offer you some bread bowl spinach dip or I have some queso cheese and tortilla chips?
I’m a spinach dip and bread bowl fan, especially if it’s warm. Yep, it was bubbling nicely before I turned off the warming pot so easy does it.

Got a favorite dip?
Smoked gouda dip from the Kroger deli, next county over. I can’t resist it! Oh yeah!

So, the 70’s eh? I remember being stuffed into polyester, scratchy knee-high socks, pretending to be one of Charlie’s Angels, and thinking the roller rink playing Queen and BeeGees was where it was at. What are your memories of the 70’s?

I was born in 1965, so I remember quite a lot: Watergate, avocado green and harvest gold appliances, the US bicentennial, Star Wars, Dorothy Hamill haircuts, gas shortages, Jimmy Carter, John Denver, Watergate hearings on TV, etc., etc. I lived in western New York State from 1970 -1977, and then we moved to Kentucky when I was in sixth grade—a horrific experience to move in middle school, let me tell you. So, take the 70s changes, and add in the culture shock of moving from North to South, and my social growth was stunted for a year trying to figure it all out!

Aside from Emma or Mr. Knightley, who ended up being your favorite character to write for the story?

Miss Bates—she is hilarious! And if you read Austen’s Emma closely, you’ll see how Miss Bates lets the cat out of the bag, or turns a plot point. True that! Mr. Woodhouse was another favorite to write, and surprisingly, Frank Churchill. o_0 Frank? Um alright.... In fact, Frank (his name is Weston in my story) was probably my favorite secondary character. I’ll bet he has an interesting back story.

What scene(s) from Jane Austen’s Emma did you know from the beginning just had to be included in your retelling?

The ball, where Knightley asks Emma, “whom are you going to dance with?” So much happens at that ball; there would be no way to leave it out. A close second would be the set-down at Box Hill. The ball, le sigh...

When translating Austen’s story into a modern era, what elements were difficult because of the nearly 200 years of historical change?

By far the most difficult task—as with resetting any of Austen’s novels—was writing the heroine’s life experiences so they would be relevant in a 20th Century adaptation.
Women’s roles in society have changed so much (thank goodness, for the most part), and an author must take a little artistic license in order to show how a “modern woman” might find herself in an analogous position to Emma’s.
Like I did in Find Wonder in All Things, I used Emma’s own personality and family dynamics to guide her into a place of sheltered privilege that, hopefully, mirrors Austen’s Emma.
To be honest, no matter how an author tries to bridge that 200 years, there will be readers who say “That’s not believable now. A woman wouldn’t be restricted like that now.” I’m just not sure I agree.
People always have constraints—well, let’s call them challenges—based on the time and place they were born, how they were raised, and their own personalities. What matters in life is what people do with those challenges. Austen’s heroines always learn something about themselves, see their mistakes, and THEN they get the happy ending. (Except for maybe Fanny, not sure about her. Or Lady Susan- ha) I think that “hero’s journey” is why Austen’s stories endure, and why we can still learn from them. ha ha, yeah that HEA for those gals is up for debate.

Another real difficulty was the Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax scenario. A secret engagement isn’t going to be scandalous in the 1970s, so what would make sense? What would they have to hide? And why would the folks in Highbury care? I had to really wrap my head around that puzzle for a while, but I think I came up with a pretty nifty solution!

Which ones seemed to translate easily for you?
Emma is perhaps the easiest Austen novel to translate to modern-day stories, because Emma herself is so atypical for her time. She’s financially independent, an unmarried woman who runs her own life—we can relate to that quite readily. The gentlemanly charm of Mr. Knightley slips into any time frame. And the bond between Mrs. Weston and Miss Woodhouse translated easily too. *nods*

And, now that you’ve got I Could Write A Book into the wild, what is something fun and relaxing you have planned for the fall?

I’m taking a weekend trip with a girlfriend to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Waters house and go to the spa. I’m going to spend some time on my house (it REALLY needs some work!) And I’m going to catch up on my reading. I haven’t had nearly enough time for reading lately. Swell ideas, there!


Sofa Starters:
Red or Yellow? Yellow (sunny, golden yellow is my favorite color ever!)
Ice-Cream or Frozen Custard? Ice Cream-something with caramel in it
Washing the car or washing windows? Washing the car – lots of opportunities to play with the water hose
Miss Bates or Mrs. Bennet? Miss Bates – hands down
Skiing or hiking? Hiking. Have never been on snow skis, and have never been able to get up on water skis. I’ll just walk, thanks…like Elizabeth Bennet.
Jungle or Desert? Hmm…there are snakes both places. I hate snakes! Desert, I think? No mosquitos?
Regency ball or Sixties Sock Hop? Regency Ball – for the attire, and the fun formality of it.

Well, I should let Karen head on back south where I’m sure she has a lot going on as usual. Thanks so much for stopping by and I do apologize once again for the racket out there. We’ll all love the smoother sidewalks, I’m sure.

Oh say… before you head out, would you take a taste and give your opinion on this chicken and rice dish?
Mmm-spicy! Pass the ice water! And hand me another helping.

When Karen’s not hanging around GoodReads, you can find her at:
Website: www.karenmcox.com
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/karenmcox
Visit with Karen on several of the usual social media haunts such as Facebook, (karenmcox1932), Twitter (@karenmcox1932), Pinterest (karenmc1932), Instagram (karenmcox1932), and Tumblr (karenmcox).

If you would like bits of authorly goodness in your inbox once a month (updates, sales, book recommendations, etc.) go here to get Karen’s News & Muse Letter.

Thanks so much for the chat, Sophia! I always have a great time here! You betcha! Return guests are always a treat. So glad you could come today.

Drop by and visit the other stops on Karen's I Could Write a Book Blog Tour:


Laughing with Lizzie ~ September 6 ~ Launch Post & Giveaway

So little time… ~ September 7 ~ Book Excerpt & Giveaway

Book Lover in Florida ~ September 8 ~ Guest Post & Giveaway

~ Austenesque Reviews ~ September 15 ~ Book Review & Giveaway ~

My Love for Jane Austen ~ September 16 ~ Guest Post & Giveaway

Granny Loves to Read ~ September 17 ~ Book Review & Giveaway

My Jane Austen Book Club ~ September 18 ~ Guest Post & Giveaway

Just Jane 1813 ~ September 19 ~ Video Interview with Karen M Cox & Giveaway

Sophia’s Sofa Chat ~ September 21 ~ An Interview with Karen M Cox on Goodreads

Babblings of a Bookworm ~ September 22 ~ Book Review & Giveaway

Silver Petticoat Review ~ September 23 ~ Guest Post & Giveaway

From Pemberley to Milton ~ September 25 ~ Book Excerpt & Giveaway

Margie’s Must Reads ~ September 27 ~ Book Review & Giveaway

Obsessed with Mr Darcy ~ September 28 ~ Book Review

My Vices and Weaknesses ~ September 30 ~ Book Review & Giveaway

Diary of an Eccentric ~ October 2 ~ Book Review & Giveaway

More Agreeably Engaged ~ October 4 ~ Book Excerpt & Giveaway

Today, instead of my usual 'chatting' with a guest, I have invited author, Victoria Kincaid to come do a takeover of my couch and share with you about her latest book release, President Darcy.

Victoria is no stranger and was a Sofa Chat guest about a year and a half ago.
Here's the link if you'd like to check our our previous chat: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Without further introduction, I'll let Victoria give you the low-down on her latest book...

Thank you for having me for a visit, Sophia!

President Darcy is my first modern Pride and Prejudice variation and I’ve been very nervous about whether readers will like it, although so far most of them have (whew!).

One of the things that was very striking to me between President Darcy and the original Regency era Mr. Darcy was the degree to which presidents’ lives are constrained. While Mr. Darcy in P & P is a model of rectitude and responsibility, he didn’t have to be. He could have lived the idle life of Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility or Mr. Crawford or Tom Bertram in Mansfield Park or even Walter Elliott in Persuasion. Since Mr. Darcy didn’t have to work for a living, he could have chosen to amuse himself all day every day.

But President Darcy has to behave. Presidents’ lives are under constant scrutiny from the press, the public, and everyone around them. Even the White House staff leaks uncomplimentary things sometimes. If the president says—or tweets—something inappropriate, it’s instantly headline news on newspaper websites and cable news stations. If a president cares about his reputation, he must be very careful about what he says and does. There’s probably nobody else in the country who is under the same degree of scrutiny; certainly Regency-era Mr. Darcy isn’t subject to that constant examination and judgment of his behavior.
This means that when President Darcy insults Elizabeth upon their first meeting, it’s big news (which Lydia tweets to the world). It means that he needs to hide his growing attraction to Elizabeth from everyone lest someone notice and leak to the press. And, ultimately, media scrutiny plays a big role in what happens to Darcy and Elizabeth as a couple.

Presidents also aren’t free to go where they want to. Not only does a president—unlike Mr. Darcy—have a very serious job with specific and unrelenting duties, but his movements are severely constrained by security concerns. The president can’t stop by a 7-Eleven for a cup of coffee or decide at the last minute to visit a friend for the weekend. Every movement must be planned in advance, and every step of the journey needs to be secured by the Secret Service. When the president goes anywhere, approximately one hundred staffers must travel with him.
These constraints made it much harder for my Darcy and Elizabeth to meet up more or less by chance as they do at Rosings Park, so I had to find a new and plausible way to have them encounter each other at the point in the story when Elizabeth is blaming Darcy for ruining Wickham’s life and breaking Jane and Bingley apart. It also meant that it was impossible for Elizabeth and the Gardiners to drop by Pemberley (now a house in the Hamptons) for a visit or to be unaware of when Darcy would be visiting the house.

I didn’t fully anticipate these difficulties when I started writing a modern P&P, and working around these constraints sometimes left me tearing my figurative authorial hair out. However, a strange truism about writing is that sometimes being boxed in forces the writer to be more creative. What I found was that when I resolved these dilemmas, the story was usually stronger because of it. In other words, President Darcy’s problems became my solutions.

Oh my, yes, I did enjoy this piece of insight into how an author works and particularly on this particular novel. I'm keen to read it now. Thank goodness its already released.



On Goodreads: President Darcy: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Variation
On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/President-Darc...
On B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pres...
On Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pres...

Victoria's website: https://victoriakincaid.com/
Victoria's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kincaidvictoria

And before she goes, Victoria left us a treat, an excerpt from President Darcy to whet your appetite! Thanks for this and for the visit, Victoria!

As the woman—Elizabeth Bennet— stepped out of the closet, brooms and mops went crashing to the floor. She flinched, and Darcy tightened his grip on her hand, drawing her closer to him as if the cleaning implements represented a serious threat to her safety. It was ridiculous and inappropriate, and Darcy had no idea why he did it.
The woman seemed to provoke unexpected reactions from him. How else could he explain his unwarrantedly casual reaction the potential danger she might represent?
As he double-checked to ensure she was unharmed, Darcy was struck by her eyes—a deep, mossy green he had never seen before on another human being. With such a uniform color…they really were quite fine. He couldn’t look away. No, it would be more accurate to say he didn’t want to look away.
She was about average height for a woman, which meant that she peered up at Darcy, who came in at around six feet. A sweet, heart-shaped face accentuated those marvelous eyes. Lustrous, wavy dark hair tumbled over her shoulders and down her back. And that dress—a floor-length black silk sheath that skimmed all her curves without revealing too much. In fact, it revealed just the right amount of her creamy skin…
Rather pointedly, she cast her eyes down at her hand. Which he was still holding. He noticed her fingers, delicate and tapered and so small, nestled in his grasp.
The touch of her hand was the single most wonderful sensation he had ever felt.
His fingers caressed her fingers.
Her hand trembled in his.
He had no desire to release her.
The rest of his body also responded to her proximity. Leaning toward her, he scented a vaguely floral fragrance…perfume or shampoo perhaps. He flushed with a warmth that had nothing to do with the temperature in the hallway, moisture collecting on his forehead and the back of his neck. His mouth was suddenly parched, and his tongue licked dry lips. Her eyes followed the movement. She is staring at my mouth.
If only I could touch more than her hand. Darcy’s hand rose, needing to learn if her hair was as soft as it appeared. But then the (apparently very small) part of his brain that was still sane reminded him that the woman was a stranger, and he aborted the movement.
I should probably say something. His lips were parted, ready to speak, but all his thoughts appeared to have melted away at her touch.
Bing cleared his throat. “We should get to the dinner.”
The words worked their way through Darcy’s sluggish brain. He understood their import, but the thought of releasing Elizabeth Bennet’s hand horrified him. He desperately needed to touch more of her, not less.
“Just a second, Bing,” he snapped.
Elizabeth blinked, her eyelashes fluttering. Is she as affected by the touch as I am? “I-It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. President,” she said with a note of finality that suggested she preferred he return her hand. Damn. Could she guess he’d been thinking improper thoughts—when he knew literally nothing about her except her name? It seriously had been too long since he’d had a date.
Dropping her hand as if it had burned him, he stepped backward, putting more distance between them and trying to collect thoughts that seemed to have been scattered by a powerful wind.
Why was he reacting this way to this woman? She was pretty—well, more than pretty. Beautiful. And that dress displayed a body he would certainly describe as “hot.” But he saw beautiful, well-dressed women every day.
And she’d been hiding in a closet, he reminded himself. It wasn’t normal behavior. She also didn’t appear capable of assembling coherent sentences. It truly was a shame she wasn’t more …eloquent. Lack of intelligence was always a deal-breaker for Darcy.
Although it was probably a good thing. If she were smart, too, she’d be irresistible.
Bing cleared his throat loudly.
Finally, Darcy tore his eyes from her vivid, dark green ones, but he was still rubbed raw by her proximity. He didn’t know why she affected him like this, but Darcy couldn’t let her—or anyone else—notice the results.
Taking out his handkerchief, he blotted his brow and mopped the back of his neck before discreetly wiping his sweaty hands and returning the handkerchief to his pocket. Elizabeth stared, likely marveling at how profusely the President of the United States could sweat. Bing regarded Darcy warily; he knew how out-of-character this behavior was.
He had embarrassed himself sufficiently; remaining any longer would only produce more shame and more perspiration. It was past time to appear at the dinner and get away from the spacey woman with the lovely eyes.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode down the hallway. Behind him, he heard Bing ask, “Will you join us at the dinner, Ms. Bennet?”
Damn! I should have asked that. She had me too flustered.
“Um…sure,” she said uncertainly.
No regrets, he told himself sternly. The woman couldn’t string two sentences together. Her beauty was nothing but a momentary distraction.
Darcy tugged his cuffs into place and straightened his bow tie. Taking the service hallway was intended to help him make up time after his last meeting ran late, but the encounter with Ms. Bennet had further delayed his schedule. Time to focus on the dinner and his political priorities for the evening.