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Friday, September 28, 2012

Discovering Darcy with Juliet Archer

Darcyholic Diversions is Honored to Welcome Juliet Archer
Darcyholic Diversions has given me the extreme pleasure of getting a chance to know some of my favorite authors.  Today I am very happy to be able to have Juliet Archer doing a guest post with us.  I hope you enjoy getting to know her! 

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I am also announcing initial plans for a Darcyholic Holiday eBook Festival
More Information to come, but send me an email at barbaratillercole@gmail.com if you are an author and would like to participate!!
Upcoming Guest Posts Are As Follows:
September 21--Moira B.
September 23--Barbara Tiller Cole and the DBF
September 25--C. Allyn Pierson
September 28--Juliet Archer
October 2--Rebecca Young
October 5--Jan Hahn and Janet Taylor's Jane Austenland Adventure
October 9--Karen W.
November 2--Amy Patterson
November 13--Karen Doornebos
And Many more to come!

Juliet is giving away a signed copy of Persuade Me and a signed copy of The Importance of Being Emma to two Darcyholic Diversions readers. To enter, just leave a comment below the post, with your email address and your book preference – The Importance of Being Emma or Persuade Me. Juliet has been gracious to open this drawing world wide. Winners will be selected as part of the September give aways in October. Chances will be given for joining this site, tweeting this post, joining this site as a member via Google Friend Connect (GFC) (See the left hand column on the blog to join!), sharing this on Facebook or your blog, Friend Barbara Tiller Cole on Facebook,  clicking 'like’ on Barbara Tiller Cole, Author's Facebook Page.

Discovering Darcy with Juliet Archer

Hello from Hertfordshire, England – Pride & Prejudice country!

I’m delighted to be at Darcyholic Diversions talking about two of my favourite subjects, Jane Austen and Darcy. Thank you, Barbara, for inviting me!

I’d also like to give away a signed copy of Persuade Me and a signed copy of The Importance of Being Emma to two Darcyholic Diversions readers. To enter, just leave a comment below the post, with your email address and your book preference – The Importance of Being Emma or Persuade Me.

For this post, in a moment of madness, I have decided to interview myself. It’s not that confusing for me – as a writer, I’m always hearing voices! Here goes:

Q: What does ‘discovering Darcy’ mean to you?
A: Something special that’s been happening for most of my life. Every time I read Pride & Prejudice, or watch one of the screen adaptations, I learn more about Jane Austen’s most successful hero. And Discovering Darcy is also the title of my next novel, the third in my series of Jane Austen modernisations, ‘Darcy & Friends’. Because, in parallel to Elizabeth’s voyage of discovery about herself and about Darcy, we see Darcy growing in self-awareness too. 

Q: How did you discover Jane Austen?
A: My mum passed on her love of Austen to me – perhaps it’s in my genes! I remember discussing the Elizabeth Garvie/David Rintoul adaptation with her, shortly before she died. Many years later I started writing fan fiction on C19, inspired by the BBC’s adaptation of North & South – and particularly Richard Armitage as John Thornton. But I very soon returned to Jane Austen for inspiration. For me, her wit and comic genius set her apart from most other classic authors.
  
Q: What do you like best about Austen’s works? 
A: She portrays human nature in all its splendour and silliness, leaving me with either tears in my eyes or a big grin on my face – or both. And there’s a richness and elegance about her writing that means I never tire of reading her. 

Q: Who is your favourite Austen hero? And if it’s Darcy, which one?
A: It feels like my favourite is always the one I’m updating at the moment, but then I haven’t reached Edmund Bertram or Edward Ferrars yet … So it has to be Darcy. My favourite portrayal of him? Austen’s original, although Colin Firth comes very, very close to perfection and Matthew Macfadyen is pretty good too. If only Richard Armitage could be tempted by the role …

Q: And second favourite?
A: Captain Wentworth. There’s something so romantic about him and his struggles to avoid falling in love with Anne second time round. And perhaps, like Mrs Bennet, I can’t resist a man in uniform! 
www.julietarcher.com

'Persuade Me' on Amazon 
Shortlisted for the 2011 Festival of Romance Best Romantic Read Award
'A stand-alone story of remarkable strength, humor, emotion, suspense, and depth-of-feeling.' Austenprose
‘Archer achieves a fine balance between sharp humour and the keenly felt pain of long-lost love.' Jane Austen's Regency World
 


'The Importance of Being Emma' on Amazon
 

Winner of the Big Red Read Book of the Year 2011 Fiction Award and shortlisted for the 2009 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance
'An ingenious, often effective and very affectionate tribute to a great predecessor, with some witty contemporary versions of characters that I think Jane Austen herself would have loved.' Joanna Trollope
'Lively, funny and inventive retelling of Emma for a 21st-century audience ... I devoured it at one sitting. Scrumptious!' Jane Austen's Regency World

23 comments:

  1. "as a writer, I’m always hearing voices!" - heh-heh! Totally....

    And I agree that Richard Armitage would be a fabulous Darcy, although Hugh Jackman would do well too especially if he gets to sing. Did you like Elizabeth Garvie as Lizzy? I thought she was very bright and Lizzy-like.

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  2. Juliet, I loved both your books and I'm looking forward to "Discovering Darcy"! You do an excellent job bring these classics to the modern age.

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  3. Hugh Jackman singing, June? I have obviously missed out! Yes, I loved Elizabeth Garvie as Lizzy - each actress (as well as the script) brings something different to the role. I think physically she's the most like the original - her eyes are particularly striking.

    Candy, you are very kind - I'm so glad you enjoyed both books. I know other authors update Austen, especially Pride & Prejudice, but I like to stay as close as possible to the original. So my Darcy is very much the (modern) owner of a stately home in Derbyshire ...

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    Replies
    1. Hugh will be singing in Les Miserable coming out this December. He's very talented. :)

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  4. I have Persuade Me on my Kindle, just waiting for a free weekend (what's that laughter I hear?)

    I, too, love Darcy and Wentworth; Darcy because he doesn't know how to really love someone, and Wentworth because he's experienced the painful side of love and doesn't want to go there again.

    Good luck with your new novel.

    Gayle

    scmema at yahoo dot com

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  5. I can't wait to read Discovering Darcy. I used to visit C19 too after I watched the wonderful North and South mini-series but these few years I didn't visit that site. One of these days I would like to visit again.

    evangelinece2020(at)yahoo(dot)com
    The Importance of Being Emma, please

    GFC follower: Lúthien84
    Share on blog: http://forloveofausten.blogspot.com/2012/09/austenesque-book-giveaways-for-24-30.html
    Friend Barbara on FB: Sylvia Claire Chan
    Like Barbara's FB page: Sylvia Claire Chan

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  6. I have to agree, I would LOVE if Richard Armitage played Darcy! I think he would be WONDERFUL!! My favorite Austen hero is between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightley. They both have something I find so appealing! I am very excited to read Discovering Darcy! Thanks for the giveaway!!:)

    kellik115(at)yahoo(dot)com
    Persuade Me...please!!=)

    * I am a GFC follower, a friend with Barbara on FB, and I "like" Barbara's Author FB page

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  7. I love to see Richard Armitage, period! But as a Darcy would be heaven! I love Darcy, Wentworth and Knightley (not always in that order...) Wonderful interview! Thank you for the giveaway. I already have Importance of Being Emma (loved it!) so I would love to win Persuade Me!
    cherringtonmb at sbcglobal dot

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  8. Great interview-I especially liked the English countryside photo to get us all in the mood! I have your books on my TBR list, and am looking forward to reading them!!

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  9. Mmmm...Richard Armitage as Darcy....very intriguing and promising:) Earlier I was strongly against any other P&P TV/movie adaptations, believing no other actors/actresses could play as wonderfully as those in 1995 P&P. But recently I have discovered so many great and talented British actors/actresses that now I would eagerly watch new adaptation of P&P:). And if it were with Richard Armitage, that would be fabulous!
    Thank for the interview and giveaway!
    I would love to win Persuade me.
    oloore (at) gmail (dot) com
    GFC follower: Oksana Melnyk

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  10. I love Persuasion and Capt. Wentworth!

    Richard Armitage as Mr. Darcy would be a good choice, though I like all the Mr. Darcys to date :)

    I would be interested in winning Persuade Me.

    Thanks!
    Whitby1734@aol.com

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  11. Thank you for your comments, ladies!

    Gayle, you have described the appeal of Darcy and Wentworth in a nutshell.

    Luthien, there are so many sites worth a visit these days - how do we fit it all in?

    Kelli, I must admit I enjoyed giving Mr Knightley a makeover in The Importance of Being Emma, although Darcy doesn't need much tampering with at all!

    LOL, Becky - 'not always in that order' - I suppose it depends on which adaptation you're watching?

    June, thank you for buying my books - I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

    Oksana, 1995 P&P is hard to beat but let's hope TV and film companies keep on trying!

    Susie, I think the last two Mr Darcys would be a tough act to follow, but I'm sure RA could manage it ...

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  12. Oh my, Juliet, Richard Armitage is an EXCELLENT CHOICE!!! Have you seen him in "North & South?!" His John Thornton has quite a few Darcy qualities.

    As much as I love Persuasion (it's my favorite Austen), I also love Oscar Wilde, so I'm putting my name in for The Importance of Being Emma. Thank you!!!

    flyawayfaye22@yahoo.com

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  13. Richard Armitage would be amazing! I absolutely love your books!

    bitemeleechlover [at]gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Oops, forgot to say which one! I would like either one :)

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    2. If I needed to pick one, I would choose Persuade Me. :)

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  14. I would be interested in winning either book, although Persuade Me would be my first choice. I saw a picture of Richard Armitage on an Austen web site. It was a funny story that Jane Odiwe wrote about Mr. Collins. I agree he would make a great Darcy. I've probably seen him in movies but can't remember which ones.

    catbooks(at)rocketmail(dot)com
    GFC -- Michelle Fidler


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  15. Hope I'm not too late for this one. I would love to read these! shared on fb and did all the extras. Thanks!

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  16. I, too, would love to see Richard Armitage as Darcy. The Colin Firth version is by far my favorite but I do also like Rintoul & Garvie.

    Thank you for the giveaway. I already have Persuade Me, so I would love to win TIOBE. Also, I'm looking forward to Discovering Darcy!

    monicaperry00 at gmail dot com

    - tweeted
    - Twitter follower

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  17. Covers alone capture me! add your content and i'm sure i'd be in reading heaven :) TY! Juliet - for sharing your writing gift w/ avid readers..

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    Replies
    1. going to choose Persuade Me - ty for the generous offer!
      an insatiable Persuasion fan.. :)
      faithhopecherrytea at[gmail.]com

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  18. I agree about Mr. Darcy being my favorite Austen hero & Colin Firth does do a great portrayal of the character.
    My book preference is "The Importance of Being Emma"

    crystal_dark[at]att[dot]net

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  19. Colin Firth is my favorite Mr. Darcy!
    My book preference is "Persuade Me"

    castlefan[at]att[dot]net

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