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

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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

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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

Blog Tour: Yours Forevermore, Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory Guest Post + Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be participating in the tour for Yours Forevermore, Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory. As anyone who has followed my blog for long knows, I love Ms. Mackrory's stories and take every opportunity to share them. Today, we have a lovely letter from the authoress herself to you, her readers, and a chance to win an e-copy of her latest literary accomplishment. Enjoy!

My dear Readers, 

I cannot contain my feelings anymore and must put them forth to paper.  I do not know what it is about the written word that makes it easier to express myself but its true.  When I am able to put words to paper I can share the thoughts in my head more easily than I might if we were face to face.  

    You are my inspiration, Readers.  You are the reason for this letter.  When I think about plots and stories they are always with you in mind.  What would Reader think?  Would Reader find this amusing and romantic?  Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet may be my outlet through which my creative mind works, but it is with you in mind, Readers, that they act as they do.  

    I will confess that when I write I like to put myself your shoes, Reader.  Imagine I were reading this story.  What would I want to read, to have happen?  This happens so frequently and so completely that often times I am caught up in the story as well and forget that I know what will happen.  I become less like an author and more like you, Reader.  My books make me laugh, cry and smile like you because you are who they were written for and you were who I imagined myself to be when I wrote them.

    Just like Darcy wrote letters in Yours Forevermore, Darcy to express the emotions that were in his heart, I too write this epistle to express my feelings; gratitude being foremost among them. Thank you Readers for being there.  For your enthusiasm and interest. And finally, for your encouragement.  

    With my deepest respect,

    KaraLynne Mackrory

    YOUR Number One Fan

PS- Enter to win a copy of this book, Reader.  And then we can get lost in the story together.

About the Book:
 

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy has a secret.

The letter he presents to Miss Elizabeth Bennet after his ghastly proposal is not the only epistle he has written her. In this tale of longing, misadventure, and love—readapted from Jane Austen’s dearly loved Pride & Prejudice—our hero finds a powerful way of coping with his attraction to Miss Bennet. He writes her unsent letters.

The misguided suitor has declared himself, and Elizabeth Bennet has refused him, most painfully. Without intending for these letters to become known to another soul, Mr. Darcy relies on
his secret for coping once again. However, these letters, should they fall into the wrong hands, could create untold scandal, embarrassment, and possibly heartbreak. But what happens if they fall into the right hands?

About the Author:

KaraLynne is an amazing mother who never makes mistakes, never gets upset with her children and never ever has a dirty house. Ever. She always has her dishes done and the floors spotless and dinner is always prepared and ready on time. Her kids are always clean, polite, respectful and loving, especially to each other. She never gets irritated with her husband when he doesn’t turn his socks right side out for the laundry and they always agree on everything. She delights in nothing else but to serve her family and never wants or needs time for herself. She takes great care to shower every day and put make up on so that she is always beautiful and presentable. She never wears her pajamas all day or for days in a row and she is the epitome of womanhood. Most of all, she has a great sense of humor and loves to write.

Okay, in all honesty –  KaraLynne Mackrory is no newbie to the writing world.  She made her debut as an author at the tender age of 13 when she wrote her first set of bad poetry. Angsty and emotional – teenage-drama filled – they were unbelievable disasters.  Such contributions to the literary world were deemed so terrible that today they are kept behind lock and key to protect others from their awfulness.  As a young adult she steered clear of soap opera drama inspired works and achieved a degree in Social Work.  It was not until her late twenties that she returned to her roots in writing.  Since then she has published three Austen inspired novels so full of romantic sensibilities as to give you a toothache and a grin and hopefully a few contented sighs.  She is thrilled to report that Falling For Mr. Darcy, Bluebells in the Mourning and Haunting Mr. Darcy: A Spirited Courtship are a mite better than the bad poetry.

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*****

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Blog Tour: Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer Excerpt + Giveaway!

Good morning, all! Welcome to the Sun-Kissed blog tour! Sun-Kissed is a wonderful anthology of Austenesque romances (though I may, admittedly, be a bit biased as it includes one of my own stories). One of its many excellent tales is Second Chance on Sunset Beach, written by the lovely and talented Sophia Rose. It is this story that you will be getting a glimpse of today. Please join in the conversation and give Sophia some love in the comments! Enjoy. :)

*****

Hello Songs & Stories Readers! 

I am so happy to be with you today.  It has been a tremendous experience participating in the Meryton Press short story contest and having my story, a modern-day Persuasion retelling chosen to be a part of Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer anthology.

Natalie has graciously allowed me to share an excerpt from my story, Second Chance on Sunset Beach with her readers.  It is a second-chance romance at heart as well as a tribute to my favorite author. 

Second Chance on Sunset Beach

Sophia Rose

“Meet me at the pier…

Eight years ago, a summer romance beginning on a beach had the makings of forever love for a budding artist and a Navy SEAL.

"If you don’t show, I’ll know to move on.”

But then inexplicably they went their separate ways.  Now, the wedding of mutual friends brings them back - older and with bitter regrets and maybe a wistful longing- to Sunset Beach.

Excerpt:

Now, Callie’s heart twisted on seeing Cameron. She wished she could be as indifferent to Lt. Commander Cameron Fforbes as he seemed to be towards her. She took her time putting her supplies away and giving the others the opportunity to settle. To her chagrin, Callie watched in fascination as Cameron smiled at the statuesque woman beside him and then tucked a blond tendril loosened by the breeze back behind her ear. Callie recognized Sarah from pictures on Kristy’s dresser and remembered Sarah was a veterinarian. Callie hoped to slip onto the edge of the blanket unnoticed. However, Evan, ever the gentleman, guided her over with a wave and cheery smile.

“Hey, Cal! Glad you’re enjoying the beautiful day instead of slogging over our wedding. You know my brother Dante, of course, but this is Max, my younger troublemaking brother, and over there is Cam. You remember, Cam? That’s Kristy’s bestie, Sarah. This is her other bestie, Britney, and well, of course you know your own cousins.”

She smiled as the rest laughed. Callie avoided eye contact with Cameron as Dante made room for her on the blanket.

Dante swept his arm out over the spread of food and people. . “We already started, but I’ll get you a plate. Any preferences?”

Callie looked over the containers and shook her head. “Surprise me!”

Evan’s older brother grinned and went to work piling on food. Kristy stopped him. “Smaller portions. Callie doesn’t eat like a guy. She won’t eat half of that.”

“Finicky, huh?” Cameron’s voice spoke to her even though he was looking at his plate. There was the hint of annoyance.

Sarah laughed. “Well, I’m not. I’ll try anything.” Sarah tossed her silky blond hair over her shoulder drawing Cameron and Max’s eyes to her.

Dante moved back to sit with Callie. Callie took what he offered. “Thanks! I’m actually pretty hungry after being out in the fresh air and sunshine. It’s not that I eat like a bird. I just get busy and forget to stop and eat.”

Dante nodded. “I’m that way at the office, and my assistant has to remind me to eat when I get like a bear.”

Callie kept up a friendly conversation with Dante, valiantly ignoring the people at the other end of the blanket. “I imagine your cases can be fascinating, and they distract you.”

“Like your painting distracts you? I saw you. Kristy said your name three times, and you didn’t notice until she was right beside you.” Callie smiled. She did get lost in her work.

Kristy said, “She was always like that when she painted or sketched. Callie is so talented and dedicated to her work.”

“Well, that’s surprising,” Cameron muttered.

Kristy flashed him a confused glance but finished her thought. “But she doesn’t get to paint anymore since my uncle keeps her busy as his assistant. It’s all paperwork, phones, and computers for her these days.”

Callie glanced at Evan, and he gave her a slight shake of the head. He hadn’t told Kristy about Callie and Cam’s secret past.

*****

Thanks for reading!  Are you a Jane Austen fan?  What’s your take of the second-chance romance trope?

About the Book:

“So each had a private little sun for her soul to bask in…” —Thomas Hardy

If you desire a little heat, a summer flirtation, or an escape to bask in your own private sun, this whimsical collection of original short stories is inspired by all things summer. In collaboration with some of Meryton Press’s most popular and award-winning authors, this anthology debuts other promising and emerging talent.

 In KaraLynne Mackrory’s “Shades of Pemberley,” Mr. Darcy, with some fantastic assistance, discovers Elizabeth Bennet in a most unlikely place.

 Karen M. Cox’s “Northanger Revisited” modernizes Northanger Abbey at a fictionalized Georgia seaside.

 Linda Beutler takes us to Paris as a young gentleman is schooled in the ways of amour in “The Incomplete Education of Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

 In “Spyglasses and Sunburns,” J. Marie Croft takes the Miss Bennets to the seaside where they chance upon handsome acquaintances.

 In Abigail Bok’s “A Summer in Sanditon,” a little sea bathing seems just the thing to cure what ails Anne de Bourgh.

 In Natalie Richards’ “Midsummer Madness,” an honest confession and a promise between strangers at a masque ball mend a misunderstanding.

 Sophia Rose reimagines a modern-day Persuasion in “Second Chance at Sunset Beach.”

 In Morgan K Wyatt’s “Dream Spinner,” a near-death car accident and an unlikely trucker bring new perspective to a young co-ed’s life and love.

Contemporary and Regency alike, each romance was dreamt as a perfect summer refreshment to bring a smile to your own sun-kissed face.

About the Authors: 


Karen M Cox writes stories with romantic and historic elements. Her novels have garnered awards from the independent publishing industry, including two IPPY awards: a Bronze in Romance for 1932 (2010) and a Gold in Romance for Find Wonder in All Things (2012), which was also a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2013. Her third novel, At the Edge of the Sea (2013), won the Romance and Chick Lit categories in the 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Her favorite part of writing is readers saying her stories made them smile, or think, or remember.

KaraLynne Mackrory is better known for her hilarious and ready wit than for her books, though they aren't too bad either.  She has published three books with Meryton Press: Falling For Mr. Darcy (2012), Bluebells in the Mourning (2013) and the 2015 Romance Bronze medal IPPY winner, Haunting Mr. Darcy (2014). In her spare time she likes to pretend she does not have chip crumbs down her shirt from when her kids ate their snack on her.

Linda Beutler has published three novels of Austenesque romance through Meryton Press: A Will of Iron (June 2015), Longbourn to London (July 2014), and the Silver IPPY Award-winning The Red Chrysanthemum (September 2013). She is also a garden writer, publishing through Timber Press, including the forthcoming Plant Lover's Guide to Clematis (March 2016), Garden to Vase (2007), and Gardening with Clematis (2004).

J. Marie Croft is a self-proclaimed word nerd and adherent of Jane Austen’s quote “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.” Her lighthearted novel, Love at First Slight (Meryton Press, 2013), bears witness to Joanne’s fondness for Pride and Prejudice, wordplay, and laughter.

Sophia Rose, a northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes region of the U.S., is a quiet yet curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening, and is encouraged in her pursuits by an incredible man and loving family. Writing has been a compelling need of Sophia’s since childhood, and being a published author is a dream come

Morgan K Wyatt is an author, mother, former special needs teacher, and avid gardener. She’s published seventeen books with four more coming out this summer 2015. She’s active on the blogosphere at Writer Wonderland, Lowcarb Believer, and Dating After Fortyeight--the last she started writing when dating her husband. While mainly a romance writer, she’s also working on a new cozy mystery series with her beloved husband.

Natalie Richards is a blogger, singer and writer. She started her book review blog, Songs & Stories, in late 2010 after falling in love with Jane Austen fanfiction. Her writing can also be found on Figment, the Darcy & Lizzy Forum and in TeenInk magazine. Midsummer Madness is her first published short story. She resides with her family in the Oregon countryside and currently works as a professional babysitter.

Abigail Bok is the author of a contemporary Austenesque novel, An Obstinate, Headstrong Girl, and of "A Dictionary of Jane Austen's Life and Works," published as part of The Jane Austen Companion. She is currently at work on a series, called Darking Hundred, set in England in the year 1800.

Christina Boyd wears many hats as she is an editor at Meryton Press, a contributor to Austenprose, and a ceramicist for the Made in Washington stores under her own banner, Stir Crazy Mama’s Artworks. A life member of Jane Austen Society of North America, Christina lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her dear Mr. B, two busy teenagers, and a retriever named BiBi. Visiting Jane Austen's England remains on her bucket list.

*****

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I'm Published! Check out Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer!

 

Check it out! This lovely anthology of Austenesque short stories includes stories by some of my favorite authors in the genre as well as several new ones I am very excited to read for the first time, and, da-da-da-daaa, a story by me!

Description:

If you desire a little heat, a summer flirtation, or an escape to bask in your own private sun, this whimsical collection of original short stories is inspired by all things summer. In collaboration with some of Meryton Press’s most popular and award-winning authors, this anthology debuts other promising and emerging talent.

• In KaraLynne Mackrory’s Shades of Pemberley, Mr. Darcy, with some fantastic assistance, discovers Elizabeth Bennet in a most unlikely place. 

• Karen M. Cox’s Northanger Revisited 2015 modernizes Northanger Abbey at a fictionalized seaside in Georgia.

• Linda Beutler takes us to Paris as a young gentleman is schooled in the ways of amour in The Incomplete Education of Fitzwilliam Darcy.

• In Spyglasses and Sunburns, J. Marie Croft takes the Miss Bennets to the seaside where they chance upon handsome acquaintances.

• In Abigail Bok’s A Summer in Sanditon, a little sea bathing seems just the thing to cure what ails Anne de Bourgh.

• In Natalie Richards’ Midsummer Madness, an honest confession and a promise between strangers at a masque ball mend a misunderstanding.

• Sophia Rose re-imagines a modern-day Persuasion in Second Chance at Sunset Beach.

• In Morgan K Wyatt’s Dream Spinner, a near-death car accident and an unlikely trucker bring new perspective to a young co-ed’s life and love.

Contemporary and Regency alike, each romance was dreamt as a perfect summer refreshment to bring a smile to your own sun-kissed face.

Sun-Kissed is available on Amazon.

There is a launch party tomorrow on Facebook and everyone is invited! There will be music, games, Q&A and lots and lots of giveaways! Each author gets an hour slot, starting at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time (mine is at 6:00) and running until 8:00 p.m., so you can stay all day or just pop in and say hi. Check it out here! I hope to see you there!

                              Natalie, aka Lieder Madchen