What Did Tom Hanks Have To Do With Kara Louise's Darcyholism?

Welcome Kara Louise to Darcyholic Diversions!

Hi, Darcyholics!  I have been reading Kara's stories since she had them on her website!  And I am very honored to have her visiting with us here today!  I told her recently that her book, Only Mr. Darcy Will Do, was the only book that has literally kept me up ALL night until I finished it in the last couple years!  I just could not put it down.  And, I read the story in its early version on her website long ago.  I hope you enjoy getting to know Kara as I have.

Upcoming Guest Posts Are As Follows:
June 3--Becky Thumann
June 5--Sharon Lathan
June 8--Gayle Mills
June 10--Jan Ashe
June 12--Shannon Winslow
June 15--Karen Wasylowski
June 19--Krista Bagley
June 22--Stephanie Hamm
June 26--Laurel Ann Nattress
June 29--Pam Dixon
July 3--Jennifer Petkus
July 6--Karen Aminada
July 10--Marilyn Brant
July 13--Meredith Esparanza
July 17--Lori Smith
July 20--Bernadette
July 24--Barbara Tiller Cole: Christmas in July
July 27--Amy Cecil
July 31--Maria Grace
August 3--Wendi S.
And Many more to come!

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Comments on Kara's post will be entered into a contest to win a 2 softcover copies of Only Mr. Darcy Will Do; open to winners in US and Canada, as well as being entered into the monthly drawings here at Darcyholic Diversions.  Winners will be selected along with other June winners, at the beginning to July.  Entries will be based on comments on blog posts; but additional chances will be given for joining this site, tweeting this post, Joining this site as a member via Google Friend Connect (GFC)!, sharing this on Facebook or your blog, Friend me on Facebook, clicking 'like’ on Barbara Tiller Cole, Author's Facebook page, Join Darcyholic Diversions Facebook Page or following BarbTCole on Twitter.

What Did Tom Hanks Have To Do with 

Kara Louise's Darcyholism?

 Thanks, Barbara, for inviting me here today to share how I became acquainted with the incomparable Mr. Darcy. It came rather late in life, and to own the truth, I first heard of Mr. Darcy not in “Pride and Prejudice,” but in the movie “You’ve Got Mail.” Their little references to P&P and Mr. Darcy got me just a little curious, and I filed it away to get a hold of the book someday and read it.

Jump ahead a year or two. I am at a wedding reception with a close friend. She and another friend were talking about a 6-hour movie she was watching, how much she was enjoying it, and how far along she was. I inquired what they were talking about, and when they said, “Pride and Prejudice,” I was intrigued. I had no idea that there was a magnificent 6 hour film adaptation of the novel.

My friend loaned me the new DVD she had just purchased of it. I took it home with me, not fully realizing how much this film would affect me, consume me, and literally change my life.

The next day I settled myself in front of the television and began watching it. (My husband was out of town for the whole week.) I will never forget how entranced I was with this story, the characters, and, of course, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. While I was anxious to see how it ended, I also didn’t want it to end!

The next day, Monday, was my day off, so I watched the whole thing again. For the remainder of the week, I left the DVD in and just clicked ‘play’ when I got home from work and watched it several more times. On Saturday I knew I should return the DVD to my friend, so I went to a nearby Best Buy store and found one copy. I promptly snatched it up so I would have my own.

After watching at least some of the movie every day for about a month, I was now eager to see how the book compared. As we all know, the book is always better than the movie, and sure enough, I loved the book. After that, I purchased a book that contained all her novels, and began reading them, along with viewing the films that had been made about each one.

So who is this Mr. Darcy? Who is your Mr. Darcy? I think everyone who has become fascinated with Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” has their own particular Mr. Darcy in mind. While she has given us some definite insights into his character, whether it’s by his own words (“My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost is lost forever.”) or things he does (keeping himself apart from the other guests at the Meryton Assembly), we all probably have a slightly different version of the idiosyncrasies of this man. And if write stories based on P&P, you most likely incorporate those traits you like about him into them.

My Mr. Darcy is pretty much based on Colin Firth’s portrayal of him in the ’95 film adaptation. He is reserved, but definitely not shy. He is a very private person and dislikes being the center of attention, especially when talk of his wealth is bandied about. He has also become a little cynical when it comes to women and their interest in him due to that wealth. And because of the responsibilities put on him at a rather young age when his father died, he has a somewhat solemn personality. He is not outgoing and bubbly, like his friend, Bingley, and therefore enjoys his friendship with him. Perhaps his friend helps bring a little of that out in Darcy. He is also a man of integrity, good principles, and outstanding character.

Those are a few of the traits that I have in mind of Mr. Darcy’s character and use in my stories. In my book, “Darcy’s Voyage,” where he and Elizabeth meet on a ship instead of the country village in Hertfordshire, Elizabeth is able to sketch a fairly accurate portrayal of him early on. (Of course, she has a few minor ‘first impressions’ that she must overcome and they do have their share of angst in finally getting together.) I also enjoy giving a little background in my stories as to how certain character traits came about when he was younger.

One reason I love Mr. Darcy so much, though, is that I relate to him. I am reserved, don’t particularly like being the center of attention, and used to have a much more melancholy demeanor. When I met my husband, he made me laugh, and I enjoyed that. He didn’t have a crass sense of humor, but a very engaging one. And whenever I see the sparkle in Mr. Darcy’s eyes when Elizabeth’s sharp wit brings a smile to his face, I really enjoy that. And who can forget the scene at Netherfield where he actually teases Elizabeth when she and Caroline take a turn about the room. I doubt he had ever teased Caroline like that before. Perhaps he had never teased any woman like that before! Elizabeth brought out a livelier side to his personality and he liked it! Add to that her complete disinterest in him, challenging his every word, and he is a completely besotted man! She had no idea the effect she has on him, and didn’t for quite some time.

My husband, my own Mr. Darcy, did something very special a while back. He wanted a personalized license plate and was debating what to get on his vanity tag. His first name is William (although he goes by his middle name, Dan), and he never did tell me what he finally decided on. In fact, I had completely forgotten about it. When it came in the mail, I was curious what he had selected and I opened it up. I about died and had a good laugh for about 15 minutes when I saw was it was. What had he chosen? FITZWM.  Now that’s my Mr. Darcy! And that’s what he has told a few ladies who have stopped and asked him about it! He says, “I am my wife’s Mr. Darcy.”

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About me: Kara Louise lives in Kansas out in the country on 10 acres with her husband. They have 3 horses, 4 goats, 6 cats, and a dog. They have a married son that lives in St. Louis. In addition to writing, she works at her church doing publications. She 7 books published based on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

I am offering a giveaway of 2 copies of my book, “Only Mr. Darcy Will Do” to US and Canada. OMDWD is a variation of P&P in which Mr. Bennet dies shortly after Elizabeth has turned down Mr. Darcy’s proposal. When Mr. and Mrs. Collins move into Longbourn, the Bennet ladies are forced to move out, and Elizabeth becomes a governess to a family in London. This family, it turns out, has an association with Mr. Darcy. As she is unwittingly thrown into his presence, she comes to see who the real Mr. Darcy is, but has no hope that he will ever renew his offer to her, especially now that she is so much more beneath him.

 Kara Louise's Books on Amazon