Today I am bringing you a post that I'm really excited about for a few reasons. One, the
Austen Variations authors have brought out a joint work (woohoo!). Two, it's based on
Persuasion! Much as I love P&P, I also love Austen's other works, so I am so pleased to see a new book based on another of her novels. Thirdly, I am welcoming
Kara Louise back to the blog, which is always lovely.
Let's have a look at the blurb of
Persuasion - Behind the Scenes, and then hand over to Kara Louise for a guest post, including an excerpt. If you read right until the end, you will find that there's a giveaway too!
Book Description
You pierce my soul.
Before Jane Austen wrote that romantic letter from Captain Frederick Wentworth to Anne Elliot, she crafted a masterful story of heartbreak and longing that still resonates with readers today.
But what of those scenes that Jane Austen never wrote? What Persuasion fan doesn't want to listen in on Anne and Wentworth's first courtship, laugh at the follies and foibles of the Elliot family, sail along on Captain Wentworth's harrowing adventures at sea or attend Wentworth and Anne's wedding.
Twelve authors of Austen-inspired fiction: Diana Birchall,
Marilyn Brant,
Jack Caldwell,
L.L. Diamond,
Maria Grace,
Cassandra Grafton,
Kara Louise,
Susan Mason-Milks,
Jane Odiwe, C. Allyn Pierson,
Mary Lydon Simonsen, and Shannon Winslow collaborated to put this unique collection that fills in "missing" scenes from Austen's classic work, sure to delight any true Persuasion fan.
Guest Post from Kara Louise
I want to thank
Ceri for allowing me to visit her blog today to talk share with you about a
newly released book, Persuasion ~ Behind the Scenes. This is an
anthology of missing scenes from Jane Austen’s novel written by 12 different
authors.
As I pondered
what to write about for this post, I began looking
closely at Persuasion and realized how conducive it is for writing
missing scenes. Why is that? Well, there is a lot of backstory. In fact, the
whole initial romance between Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth takes place
before the novel begins. How did they meet? What was their love like? What were
they like? What was his proposal like? What about when he applied to Sir Walter
Elliot for her hand? How was it that Lady Russell was able to persuade Anne to
give him up?
There are other
backstories, as well. Their cousin, William Elliot, has a backstory that
affected his relationship with Anne’s family. What happened? Wentworth’s time
at sea has a backstory. There was Charles Musgrove’s proposal to Anne, and Mrs.
Smith has a backstory.
In addition to
backstories, there are many scenes that are only briefly alluded to, or barely
mentioned at all. How did Wentworth hear about his sister and the admiral
letting Kellynch? What were his feelings when he went to visit his sister and
her husband at Anne’s home? Can we have more details on Anne and Wentworth’s
first encounter? How did the engagement come about between Benwick and Louisa?
And finally, what about the wedding - and after - for Wentworth and Anne?
As you can see,
Persuasion is the perfect novel to be expanded upon.
Now, here is a
little teaser of a post I wrote on Wentworth’s reflections as he rode to visit
his sister and the admiral at Kellynch.
“Whoa!” Captain Frederick Wentworth gave a slight tug
on the reins, bringing his horse to a stop. He took in a deep breath and his
heart began to pound as looked at the crossroads before him.
Taking the road to the left would lead to Taunton,
where his brother had served as cleric. How often he took this road when he was
visiting Edward. His mouth grew dry as he slowly turned to the right. The road
to the right led to Kellynch Hall.
He gave the horse a slight kick and pulled the reins
to the right. He did not wish to gallop to Kellynch; he would take it slowly,
for the feelings that had resurfaced since discovering his sister and her
husband were letting Anne’s home, or at least her former home, had assaulted
him with great force.
Has
it really been eight years? Wentworth felt
as though it was just yesterday that he travelled this road. He knew it well,
almost by heart.
As the horse moved slowly along, Wentworth took in the
landmarks that were familiar, yet not. There was the gnarly old tree with the
large hole in it. He and Anne often commented about the birds or animals that
might seek refuge in it. He believed the wise owl would have claimed it as its
domain, while Anne thought it would be a perfect respite for a peaceful pair of
nesting doves.
The road crossed a dried stream bed, and he
recollected how it had flowed with water when he had been here last, after
several days of rain. Up ahead and around the curve would be the large tree
under which he and Anne sat, shaded by the canopy of leaves.
At the turn in the road he came to abrupt halt. The
tree had broken off along the trunk and fallen. Its tangled, lifeless branches
were strewn across the meadow, void of any greenery. A few small twigs were
sprouting from the trunk where it had split, attempting, so it seemed, to bring
life back into it. He surmised it was a useless case.
Will
I see her? He shook his head, wondering
which he feared more: encountering her again or not seeing her. The family was
apparently going to reside in Bath, so most likely he would be spared having to
face her. A very familiar sense of regret flooded him, causing an ache that was
as fresh as when she first broke off their engagement. In recent years those
feelings had gradually diminished as he resolutely pushed them down when they
chanced to surface. Until, that is, he received the letter from his sister,
informing him about their letting of Kellynch.
Another bend in the road and a slight incline were all
that was left before he would have his first view of the manor since leaving
these parts in great anguish of soul. He
nudged the horse along, knowing exactly what he would see. The place was etched
in his mind, and it held such tender memories as well as heartrending ones.
He shook his head and kicked the horse soundly. Enough of this sentimentality! Miss Anne
Elliot has no hold over my heart any longer!
The horse took off in a fierce gallop, as if sensing
its rider’s mood, leaving a trail of kicked up dust behind them.
Author Bio
Kara Louise began writing Austen inspired stories in 2001 and began publishing them in 2006. She has written sequels, variations, different POV retellings, and modern versions of “Pride and Prejudice.”
She grew up in the San Fernando Valley, just north of Los Angeles. She and her family moved to Kansas from Los Angeles in 1991, and in September, 2013, she and her husband moved to 5 wooded acres in the St. Louis area to be near their son and his wife. They now have two granddaughters they enjoy spending time with. They also love animals, and have an ever changing number of cats and dogs.
Buy Links
You may have made the decision that you must buy this book immediately. If you have made this decision I will try and help you as best I can. Here are some buy links:
Giveaway Time!
There is a wonderful giveaway accompanying the blog tour. Take a nosey at these prizes!
To enter, please use the rafflecopter.
Blog Tour Schedule
Check out the other stops on the blog tour!
