Then Comes Winter Blog Tour: Interview with Erin Lopez!

Hello! Today I am very happy to have on of my fellow writers from the Then Comes Winter anthology visiting! Please welcome the lovely Erin Lopez, author of The Unexpected Gift!

Hello, Erin! Welcome to Songs & Stories! Please, take a seat and make yourself comfortable. Would you care for a drink?

    Thank you for having me! Normally I would ask for some herbal tea (Tazo Wild Sweet Orange with sugar, please). However, since this is virtual space and that means you have virtually everything, I'll have Crio Bru. It's cocoa beans that have been roasted, ground, and brewed in a french press, exactly like coffee beans. If you love dark chocolate, then you'll most likely love this drink. I take mine with stevia sweet drops (around six or seven please) and a splash of almond milk.

Mmm, that sounds lovely! I think I shall try one as well. To start, how about we get a couple of basic Austenesque questions out of the way, just to see where you stand on certain crucial matters:

Firth, Macfadyen, or both?

    Firth. Oh my goodness, Firth Forever! I discovered Pride and Prejudice through the BBC version in middle school. While my friends were fawning over The Backstreet Boys and N*SYNC, I was lamenting over how much older Firth was than me.

Do you prefer to travel by foot or on horseback?

    Well, I am an excellent walker and I've only ridden a horse a handful of times. The last time I rode a horse was in high school. While we were going down a hill, the horse tripped and slid a bit. The horse recovered, but I screamed because I seriously thought I was going to fall off. I'm pretty sure the horse did not trust me after that, and I was very glad to get off. I'll walk or ride a carriage, thank you very much.

What drew you to JAFF?

    You mean besides my love of all things Jane Austen?

    I was in college, actually, when the Kiera Knightly version came out and suddenly my interest and love for Austen's works started to renew. I had roommates who read Harry Potter fan fiction and I thought, “I wonder if anyone has written P&P fan fiction.” Well, I looked and was amazed at what I found. Shortly after that I was browsing a bookstore and ran across Pamela Aidan's Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman series and became extremely excited to see published fan fiction. Since then I've been hooked.

What was the most challenging part of writing The Unexpected Gift?

    Honestly, it was the fact that I was sending it out to be judged. Up till then, I'd only shared a handful of stories with a select few. Deciding to participate in Meryton Press's contest meant getting completely out of my comfort zone. I knew I needed to do it to advance myself as a writer, but that didn't make it any easier. I ended up writing The Unexpected Gift with this looming pressure that it would be critiqued, judged, and likely hated. That was the first time I wrote anything under that sort of pressure, so it was a whole new experience for me. It was good for me because I edited and polished that story like crazy.

    I probably rewrote the opening paragraphs ten times before I was satisfied. Also, the conversation between Darcy and Georgiana was reworked many times because I wanted to strike this balance for Georgiana and Darcy's relationship that I found difficult. Darcy is almost a father figure for Georgiana due to their age difference and his guardianship over her, yet she still gets to tease him like a sibling. Also, she's barely sixteen, so while she's mostly grown and mature she's also a bit childish and idealistic. In the end, I worried about that conversation the most.

Do you have any plans for future writing projects, or perhaps something you are currently working on?

    Right now I've been working a full length P&P variation novel. I have the first draft finished but it needs a lot of work. My goal for the next year is to clean it up enough to give to beta readers, clean it up some more, and then submit it to Meryton Press. I have my fingers crossed they'll like it enough to publish it.

    Other than that, I've been trying to pound out a short story a month just to work on my craft and experiment with different styles. Not all my stories are Austenesque romances. For example, my last short story I wrote was a children's story about a little girl defeating a monster who eats stories. The one before that takes place during a zombie apocalypse. I jump genres to whatever I find interesting or amusing. I do have an idea for a full length sci-fi novel that I want to write eventually.

I have heard a rumor or two that you could maybe possibly be considering writing a longer version of or sequel to The Unexpected Gift; is there any truth to these rumors? *makes hopeful puppy-dog eyes*

    Haha! The short answer to this is: YES!

    However, I'm sure you want the long the long answer, which is: it's complicated. You see, when I first wrote The Unexpected Gift it wasn't meant to be a P&P variation. In my mind it was a behind the scenes, untold snippet to Austen's original. I didn't see it as anything other than something easily sandwiched into Pride and Prejudice canon. We don't know much about what Austen's characters were up to during December and I thought of this as a fun missing scene. I figured a continuation of the story would be to hand someone the original novel.

    Since the biggest complaint about my story was it felt unfinished, I did try to add more scenes to make it feel wrapped up. However, it didn't come together as I imagined. The more I wrote, the more wrong it felt. I kept adding scenes and snippets, trying to find the missing piece, but I ended up feeling more lost. I'm a firm believer that if your writing doesn't feel right then you need to step back and find the problem. Eventually, with the help of my editor, Christina Boyd, I was able to add on the last few sentences to at least make it feel more wrapped up, even if it wasn't “finished.”

    Then something miraculous happened during Thanksgiving week. I'm in the middle of this huge move and trying to set up our new house when suddenly I get a very vivid line of dialogue from Darcy. He is extremely upset about something and the image was powerful enough that it startled me a bit. I was driving by myself at the time, so I stayed a few extra minutes in the car while this whole new scene fell into place. I almost couldn't believe it because this was so unexpected, but worked perfectly. It wasn't until a few weeks later, when life finally started to settle, that I was able to get it down on paper. I'm really excited about this turn of events because it means the story will continue. I'm not sure if this is just the other half of a short story or if it is the beginnings of a full length variation. Either way, I do plan on following it to the end.

Thank you so much for visiting, Erin!

About Erin:

Erin Lopez is a reader, writer, wife and mother—although not in any particular order. While she reads and writes in a variety of genres, she has a special place in her heart for Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice fan fiction. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where she met and married her own “Mr. Darcy,” and they lived in Colorado and Arizona for a time. During their stay in Arizona, they brought two delightful daughters into the world and adopted a small, fuzzy dog. They have since returned to the Bay Area.

Twitter: @writerlyerin

Instagram: @writer_erinlopez

Facebook

About the Book:

 

Then comes Winter with bluster and snow, that brings to our cheeks the ruddy glow... Gertrude Tooley Buckingham, The Four Seasons 

If you long for a toasty snuggle on a cold winter's night, this compilation of original short stories inspired by the magic of the holiday season-and more than a nod to Jane Austen-is fancied as a sublime wintertime treat. On the heels of the summer anthology, Sun-kissed: Effusions of Summer, and in concert with some of Meryton Press's most popular authors, this romantic anthology introduces several promising writers. With a robust mix of contemporary and Regency musings, Then Comes Winter rekindles passionate fires with equal wonder, wit, and admiration. 

 

Edited by Christina Boyd.

 

Stories by: Lory Lilian, Linda Gonschior, Suzan Lauder, Beau North & Brooke West, Sophia Rose, Natalie Richards, Anngela Schroeder, Melanie Stanford, Denise Stout, Erin Lopez, and Maureen Lee.

 

Buy Link: Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Then Comes Winter blog tour schedule

11/30: Guest Post & Giveaway at FLY HIGH

12/1: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time…

12/2: Character Interview & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged

12/3: Excerpt & Giveaway at Jennifer Vido

12/4: Guest Post & Giveaway at Liz’s Reading Life

12/5: Excerpt & Giveaway at Best Sellers and Best Stellars

12/6: Guest Post & Giveaway at Delighted Reader

12/7: Review at Just Jane 1813

12/8: Review at Babblings of a Bookworm

12/9: Review at My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice

12/10: Review at From Pemberley to Milton

12/11: Review at Diary of an Eccentric

12/12: Excerpt & Giveaway at The Calico Critic

12/13: Review at Margie’s Must Reads

12/14: Author/Character Interview & Giveaway at Austenesque Reviews

12/15: Author Feature at Songs and Stories

12/16: Author Feature & Giveaway at Tome Tender

12/16: Excerpt & Giveaway at Chick Lit Plus

12/17: Author Feature & Giveaway at Skipping Midnight

The Darcy Brothers Tour: Character Interview with Theo & Fitzwilliam + Giveaway!

 

 

Hello! Today it is my pleasure to host Messrs. Fitzwilliam and Theophilus Darcy, stars of the exciting new literary collaboration The Darcy Brothers. Please feel free to grab a cup of your favorite tea and join the conversation!

LM: Good Morning, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Darcy, welcome to Songs & Stories! Would you care for a cup of tea? 

Darcy: I would welcome some refreshments after our long journey here.

Theo: Nothing would give me greater pleasure then partaking of tea in such a pleasant setting, in such delightful company. 

LM: My, what a pleasure it is to have two such handsome gentlemen come to call!

Theo: The pleasure is all mine, Miss Lieder Madchen, I assure you. However, I hope you will allow me to satisfy my curiosity. It is the barrister in me – always seeking an answer. Your name suggests that you enjoy singing. Is that merely a name or is it something you are known for? I would love to hear you sing.

Monica Fairview

LM: *blushes* I would be delighted to sing for you, should the opportunity arise. I chose the name after joining a German choir. But we are not here to talk about me! Please, is your family in good health? 

Theo: Well, you will have to ask my brother about his health, but I believe my sister does well enough.

Darcy: Tolerably good health, thank you.

LM: I am glad to hear it. Mr. Theophilus, what made you choose to pursue the law?

Theo: Being the younger son has its pitfalls and one of them is that you cannot live an idle life as my older brother does. [Darcy looks outraged] I was not serious, Brother. [Shudders] I would not like to shoulder the responsibility of an estate like Pemberley for anything.

As to choosing the law, as you know, the choices of professions open to a gentleman are limited to soldiering, preaching or law-mongering. I have no particular interest in drawing blood unless forced to do so. Preaching would only send my whole congregation to sleep. Thus I was left with the only profession that suited my talents, being of an inquisitive and argumentative nature, as my brother would testify. Fortunately, those traits are of use in a court of law.  

Maria Grace

LM: Mr. Fitzwilliam, if you were by some twist of fate born the younger son, what profession would you choose?

Theo: [Snickering] Preaching, of course. 

Darcy: [Ignoring the interruption] It is rather difficult to imagine something one cannot do. I shouldered the responsibility of my siblings and an estate at a young age, and cannot imagine any other life. However, there are times when I envy my cousin Richard. I would have liked to be an officer fighting against Napoleon. These are such troubled times and I would have liked to do my duty to King and country. There is a certain ring to that ideal. [He gives a sudden grin that lightens up his face] I would have enjoyed the adventure as well.

Theo: [Gives him a quizzing glance] I would never have guessed you harbored such wayward thoughts, Darcy!

LM: Theophilus, what do you consider your brother’s best and worst qualities?

Theo: My brother is the truest of men. He is loyal and upright to a fault. His worst quality is that he expects perfection in others and is rather hard to pleases.

LM: Fitzwilliam, what do you think are Theo’s?

Theo: [scoffs] We will never have the opportunity to drink our tea now. The list of faults my brother finds in me is never-ending.

Cassandra Grafton

Fitzwilliam: You are witness to one of his worse faults – constant interruption. I shall say no more on that score. His best qualities are his horsemanship and his affectionate nature. 

Theo: [Snorts] Hardly stellar qualities.  

LM: Fitzwilliam, I hear that you were once known as ‘Prince William.’ Tell me, have you ever considered inventing an irritating nickname for Theo? It seems only fair.

Darcy: Yes, I do remember Theo’s fondness for that appalling appellation. I have often thought of nicknames for him though I have only applied them mentally. My favorite is Thwarting Theo, which can be conveniently shortened to Wart.

Theo: That is rather good. You are a constant source of surprises today, Darcy.

LM: Now that your elder brother is so happily wed, Theo, have you thought of taking a wife yourself?

Theo: I cannot imagine that I will ever meet a young lady that I would wish to be shackled to for a lifetime. I prefer to think of myself as free of confinement. I will leave marriage to those obliged to produce an heir. 

LM: What was it like growing up together at Pemberley, when the two of you and Georgiana and Sebastian were all together?

Susan Mason Milks

Theo: [Looking serious for the first time]: At the time Seb was alive my parents were alive, too. I was fortunate enough to have a happy childhood, and even more fortunate that I remember a great deal of it. Pemberley was a different place in those days. My father was rather strict, but my mother could be very charming and kind. She was such a contrast to her sister, Aunt Catherine. Georgiana was the youngest, so I did not appreciate her perhaps when she was younger and could not join in games, but now we are very close.

Darcy: I prefer to dwell on the present. The past has unpleasant memories of a rather private nature.

LM: Then we shall end there, as any further questions I can think of are likely to be even more personal. Thank you both very much for visiting! Please feel free to pop back in at any time.

Theo: A pleasure to meet such a charming young lady. Now it is time to listen to you sing.

LM: *bats eyelashes* You, Sir, are an incorrigible flirt. Fitzwilliam, you must keep a close eye on this brother of yours!

Darcy: [Bows] Delighted to be of assistance and we hope to be able to visit you again in the near future.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Theo Darcy is everything his disapproving elder brother, Fitzwilliam, is not – easy-going, charming, and full of fun. A tragic event as children severed their bond of friendship, but now they are together again. They are still at odds, though, this time over the love of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and the truth about George Wickham. Will Wickham manage to divide the brothers again? And more importantly, which Mr. Darcy will Elizabeth choose? 

Find out as the two brothers lock horns in this unique Pride & Prejudice variation collectively written by five respected authors.

Abigail Reynolds

AUTHOR BIOS:

In addition to their collaborative effort in The Darcy Brothers, Monica Fairview, Maria Grace, Cassandra Grafton, Susan Mason-Milks and Abigail Reynolds between them have published over two dozen Austen-inspired books, including national bestsellers.

Monica Fairview (Mr. Darcy’s Pledge) holds down the fort for the team in London while Abigail Reynolds (Alone with Mr. Darcy) supplies cute cat pictures from Cape Cod, Susan Mason-Milks (Mr. Darcy’s Proposal) inspires with views of the Seattle skyline, Maria Grace (Remember the Past) frolics in the Texas bluebells, and British expat Cassandra Grafton (A Fair Prospect) has the critical responsibility of keeping the team supplied with much-needed chocolate from her home in Switzerland.

Look for them at the Jane Austen Variations group blog where they are all founding members

Buy Links:  

The Darcy Brothers

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble 

Kobo

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

We are all at:

Austen Variations

White Soup Press

Theo is at:

The Darcy Brothers

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Two eBook copies of The Darcy Brothers.

To enter the giveaway contest, simply leave a comment or ask Theo or the authors a question.

Readers can increase their chances of winning by visiting multiple stops along the tour! Unique guest posts will be featured on a variety of subjects, along with fun interviews with Theo Darcy and, if he can be persuaded, his brother, excerpts, and supplementary material such as letters from Theo to his friends and family.

Good luck and enjoy the tour!