Friday 27 January 2012

Interview and Contest: Victoria Connelly - Dreaming of Mr.Darcy

Today I have Victoria Connelly over for an interview and there is a chance to win her book, Dreaming of Mr. Darcy.


1. Could you tell me a little bit about yourself?
- I’ve written all my life and I’m so happy when at my desk thinking about characters falling in love!  My favourite books and films are all romantic comedies and I grew up on a diet of Doris Day and Marilyn Monroe films.  I also adore animals and have a rescue spaniel and several ex-battery hens.  I love spending time with them.

2. Your new book is called Dreaming of Mr.Darcy, could you tell my readers a bit about it?
- Dreaming of Mr Darcy is the second book in my Jane Austen addicts’ trilogy.  It’s set in beautiful Lyme Regis where a new adaptation of Persuasion is being filmed and my heroine falls in love with the actor playing Captain Wentworth.  But is he really the hero for her?

3. From where do you get your inspiration for these modern Jane Austen stories?
- I’d been visiting lots of Jane Austen locations including her home in Chawton, Hampshire and I kept thinking how beautiful these places were and how much fun it would be to write about them and the idea for a trilogy happened very quickly.  It would be three separate books about three sets of Austen addicts and each would be set in a different Austen location: Hampshire, Lyme Regis and Bath.

I also wanted to explore what it was like to be an Austen fan in the twenty-first century and how so many of us use Austen to escape from the stresses and strains of the modern world.  


4. Considering what you write, which is your favorite Jane Austen book and couple?
- It has to be Elizabeth and Darcy from Pride and Prejudice because they just spark against each other and it’s so much fun to watch their mistrust turn to love.  But I also have a soft spot for Catherine and Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey.  I love the way he teases her!


5. I kept seeing a certain actor when reading the character Oli Wade Owen, but now I am more interested in knowing who you might see as Adam Craig?
It has to be said that I rather fell in love with Mr Rupert Penry Jones as Captain Wentworth in the recent adaptation of Persuasion and I was highly inspired by him when writing my own hero, Oli Wade Owen.  Who would I like to play Adam?  I adore Henry Cavill and can just imagine him wearing Adam’s cute little glasses!


6. What’s next up from you?
The third book in my Austen addicts’ trilogy – Mr Darcy Forever – is out in April in the US.  This is about two estranged sisters who meet once again during the Jane Austen festival in Bath.  
I’m also just finishing a new romantic comedy called The Runaway Actress about a film star who swaps Hollywood for the Highlands of Scotland.  It’s due out in the UK in April 2012 and I hope US publication will follow.

And watch out for Christmas with Mr Darcy – a novella sequel to my Austen addicts’ trilogy which will be released on Kindle in time for Christmas!

Thanks!

Giveaway
1 copy of Dreaming of Mr.Darcy

1. Open to US and Canada
2.Ends Feb 3
3. Go ahead and enter, that is all :) 
Or comment, ask something or tell me if you like Persuasion...





Dreaming of Mr.Darcy -OUT NOW
Fledgling illustrator and Darcy fanatic Kay Ashton settles in the seaside town of Lyme to finish her book, The Illustrated Mr. Darcy, when a film company arrives to make a new adaptation of Persuasion. Kay is soon falling for the handsome bad boy actor playing Captain Wentworth, but it's the quiet screenwriter Adam Craig who has more in common with her beloved Mr. Darcy. Though still healing from a broken heart, Adam finds himself unexpectedly in love with Kay, but it will take more than good intentions to convince her that her real happy ending is with him.




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My flash fic for this week

27 comments:

  1. No need to enter me in the giveaway, but Anna was right about Mr Rupert Penry Jones being her model for Oil Wade Owen! Lovely. Great interview.

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  2. No need to enter me, as I've already enjoyed the book. I just knew that Oli was inspired by Rupert Penry Jones! It was so easy to fall for him as Captain Wentworth. ;)

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  3. Draming of Mr Darcy sounds great! I am a fan of Austen and do enjoy these spin-offs. I enjoyed reading this interview with the author. Nice that she visits Jane Austen locations for inspiration.
    Captain Wentworth has one of my favorite lines in all of literature, 'you pierce my soul'

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  4. Don't gasp---I have never read Persuasion! I know that seems odd since I read P&P and S&S every year. I may have to tackle that this year :)

    thehistorychic@gmail.com

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  5. Like Felicia, I've never read Persuasion. I have it on my Kindle though - and hope to get to it this year. :)

    Please enter me in the contest. This sounds like a charming book. I love the cover as well.

    nicnac63 AT hotmail DOT com

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  6. Great interview. Big fan of Jane Austen books. Loved Pride & prejudiced. Loved both the movies and the books. Read in high school and again quite a few times after that. I love the new take on the old classics. I love the character of Mr Darcy. Best Mr Darcy from the movies is Colin Firth. I have read a couple other author version of these books and have loved them. This book looks great and would love to win and read.
    Thanks for the chance to win.
    christinebails@yahoo.com

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  7. Oh Henry Cavill! He's always one of my go-to guys when picturing fictional boyfriends. He can be so cute and adorable looking and but so very hot as well:) I've never read Persuasion, in fact the only Austen I've read is Pride and Prejudice. I know. I suck:(

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  8. I loved Persuasion! This one looks to be a great afternoon read too!

    freda.mans[at]gmail.com

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  9. Great interview! I just love the cover on this book too. With all the reviews I've been seeing I really want to read the whole trilogy. Please enter me!

    darreads (at) gmail (dot) com

    Thanks!

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  10. Oh, I spent a week in Bath and I LOVED it. And since Captain Wentworth is my favorite Austen hero, it was fun to imagine myself there with him. LOL

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  11. I'd love to enter the contest! I loved her first book and have been looking forward to this one. I plan on reading Persuasion this month!

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  12. *waves to all* Thank you all for stopping by and thank you Victoria for the interview. I am sorry I got it to you so late!

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  13. I am a huge Austen fan ...so enter me!!! kimbacaffeinated@gmail,com

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  14. I like the description of the book which seems to be a unique mix of Persuasion and P&P.

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  15. This sounds great! And anytime I hear the words 'Mr Darcy' I totally picture Collin Firth in a wet shirt - I've been programmed by the BBC! LOL - which is very nice indeed! :) Love romances...

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  16. Oh I had a dream about a Caribbean hottie. Darn dog woke me so I don't know if he was like Darcy at all. :( LOL

    I love Austen and I'm so curious about your trilogy. I love contemps based on her work. Plus, yay! on the animal rescue!

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  17. Loved this interview! I have the next two so don't enter me...but I can't wait to read them!

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  18. this sounds so good! i really liked weekend with mr darcy. her covers are the best!!

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  19. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds really good. Tore923@aol.com

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  20. Dreaming of Mr Darcy sounds like a delightful story and I'm looking forward to reading it.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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  21. Not entering the contest, not an American. I liked the interview, good luck on the new releases!

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  22. Persuasion is my favorite. "Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you." Wonderful words. Dreaming of Mr. Darcy sounds great. Looking forward to adding to my collection.

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  23. Thanks for the interview! Sounds like an fantastic read. Persuasion was my favorite Jane Austen book. I'm simply in love with Captain Wenworth. He's what I look for in a guy (I haven't found a guy like him yet). It's a lost cause, but I girl can dream, right?

    Well, count me in!

    carolerae4488@yahoo.com

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  24. What a great interview! You worded it perfectly when you talked about how so many of us use Austen to escape from the stresses and strains of the modern world. How true! I loved Persuasion, and every other Jane Austen book, and I can't wait to read Dreaming of Mr. Darcy! Thanks for the interview and giveaway:)

    jwitt33 at live dot com

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  25. No need to enter me-- I'm hosting a giveaway and mentioned yours on my site as well.

    Thanks for the interview! I pictured Rupert Penry Jones as Oli as well. Very easy to fill in that face!

    And I'm excited to hear about the Christmas story coming out-- a must-get for sure.

    Laura Hartness
    The Calico Critic

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  26. Twitted about your giveaway at: https://twitter.com/#!/cherrymischivus/status/163557300919992320

    Goodluck to everybody entering!! :)

    Cherry Mischievous
    (not an entry | non-US/Can)

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