Why I couldn't put down Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

Why I couldn't put down Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

Lisa

Like many writers, I am a fan of Jane Austen. I am not, however, a fan of stories involving time travel.  The idea always seemed too goofy to me.

But last year, a publicist sent me a book called Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler-- the story of Courtney Stone, a Jane Austen-addicted woman from modern-day Los Angeles who finds herself transported to Regency England, to Jane Austen's time.  Courtney wakes up one morning and finds she has taken the place of a woman called Jane Mansfield.

The book had a lovely cover, and I was going to the beach with nothing more interesting to read.  Besides, it had been edited by Trena Keating, my former editor, and I always liked her taste.  That was enough for me to at least read a few pages.

So I planted my beach umbrella, coated myself in sunscreen, and cracked open the book.

Five or six hours later, I was nearly finished.  Unfortunately for me, it was time to go pick my daughter up from preschool. 

It was so good I was almost late for pickup.

It was so good that I was reading at stoplights just to get a few more paragraphs in.

It was so good that I plopped my daughter in front of Dora the Explorer on a continuous loop the second we got home so that I could finish the book.

It was so good.

Imagine my delight a few weeks ago when the sequel, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict  arrived at my doorstep.

This time, Jane Austen -era's Jane Mansfield finds herself transported to modern day L.A.  What could be more fun?

After I read the book (Fabulous!), I had a few questions for author Laurie Viera Rigler, a Jane Austen addict herself.  (Lisa confession: I occasionally semi-stalk my favorite authors via interview questions.  Like, er, the first time I read Sarah Strohmeyer.)

Lisa: What gave you the idea to send a modern woman to Regency England, and in RUDE AWAKENINGS, to send poor Jane to modern LA?

Laurie: The opening scene of the first book, CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, was a surprise gift that just popped into my head. I was puttering around my kitchen one day and suddenly I saw, in my mind's eye, this twenty-first-century Austen fan named Courtney awakening in Regency England in another woman's body. Though I wasn't trying to think of an idea for a novel, let alone an Austen-inspired novel, I'm such an Austen addict myself that if any character were going to show up in my mind, this was the perfect one to make an appearance.

As for my new book, I knew that if Courtney was taking over the nineteenth-century woman's life, the nineteenth-century woman would be taking over Courtney's life. But hers was a very different journey, and it just had to be its own book. Which is how RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT came to be. And I had so much fun writing this book.

 Lisa: If you were sent back to Jane Austen's time, what is the modern convenience you'd miss most?

Laurie:  Freedom. Coming from a place and time where I have a lot of choices, I would find it challenging to be told I couldn't live alone, travel alone, or have my choice of career. Self-determination would be a lot harder to live without than my computer or my iPhone!

Lisa: RUDE AWAKENINGS felt like a great stopping point - will we see these characters again?

 Laurie: That is such a great question! I'm inclined to agree with you; their stories feel complete now, but the truth is, I don't know what the future will bring. I never expected the first scene of the first book to pop into my head, so anything is possible.

Lisa: Why do you think Jane Austen is so appealing, even so many years after her death?

Laurie:  Austen's stories are about self-discovery and self-mastery and love as the great reward for both. She makes witty and insightful comments on human nature in all its folly and majesty while weaving plots that are complex and deeply satisfying. Human nature hasn't changed at all since the days of horse-drawn carriages--we still crave a page-turning tale that takes us outside of ourselves while leaving us with the feeling that perhaps we know ourselves and our fellow humans a little better by the time we close the book. And we still want to believe that love will be our reward. All of that is what makes Austen timeless.

Lisa:  How tough was it to keep Jane's inner dialogue century-appropriate?

Laurie:  It was great fun, and at the same time it required constant questioning of usage, even of the most commonplace words. It helped that I've read Austen's texts many times and immersed myself in her language over the years. But writing in an authentic first-person voice of someone from that time required a deeper and broader level of familiarity with the lexicon. Which is why my online subscription to the Oxford English Dictionary became my constant friend. The first two places I'd consult for any language question were the OED and Mollands.net for its searchable e-texts of Austen's works. I would check to see if a particular word was used during Austen's time or earlier and if that word had the same meaning then as it does today. If I wasn't satisfied with the answer, I'd turn to Google Book Search for e-texts of other works from the period. I even created my own mini-glossary for the book.

Another thing I had to keep in mind was a language arc, because as my protagonist spends more time in her borrowed body and her borrowed life, she begins to access more of the modern lexicon from within as well as without.

Lisa: How many times have you read Pride & Prejudice?

Laurie:  At least twenty times.

Lisa:  Who is your favorite onscreen Mr. Darcy?

Laurie:  That would be the inimitable Colin Firth, though I have to say that Matthew MacFadyen also inspires me to break out my fan and reach for my smelling salts.

Lisa:   I'm a MacFadyen fan myself.  At the end of the film when he confesses his feelings to Elizabeth -- that little stutter on "I lu... I lu... I love you"  -- makes my heart skip a beat every time.  Any plans for a CONFESSIONS/RUDE AWAKENINGS movie? 

Laurie:  No plans yet, but I believe it will happen for both RUDE AWAKENINGS and CONFESSIONS. And I can't wait to see your novel, FIFTEEN MINUTES OF SHAME, as a movie!

Lisa:  Thanks so much, fingers crossed!

Thank you to Laurie Viera Rigler for her time, and more importantly, for offering one lucky Lipstick Chronicles reader a signed copy of her brand new book RUDE AWAKENINGS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT, in stores next week.

To win, leave a comment on today's blog.  One winner will randomly be selected on Monday morning.  (Which makes today It's a terrible day to lurk. :-)

Lisa

Comments

[Josh]

Get the Marvel Comics Pride and Prejudice series. Currently on newstands, issue 3 of 5.

I bought my wife all three, and I have heard that she loves them.

[Kerri Spennicchia]

Thank you for sharing your interview with Laurie (and for INTERVIEWING HER) -- it was such fun to read. I had enjoyed reading CONFESSIONS and am looking forward to the release of RUDE AWAKENINGS!

[Laura (in PA)]

Wow - how cool to see this here. I picked up the audiobook of "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" at the library, purely by accident, just because it looked interesting. I loved it! I'm thrilled to see there will be another, showing Jane's experiences in LA.

I loved the part where Courtney, in Jane's body, actually stalked the real Jane Austen, lol.

[Sobaka]

Thanks for doing this interview. I love time travel books, and Rude Awakenings especially sounds like a lot of fun. Even though the scientific details of the time travel might not be explained in a believable way in a lot of books, or even ignored altogether, what I like is following the characters as they confront one strange situation after another, and try to adjust and understand the world they've suddenly ended up in. Traveling to the future would definitely be more challenging than traveling to the past, since at least the past is familiar. Thanks again to you both for doing the interview and the giveaway!

[Karen in Ohio]

This blog is costing me money! First I had to read all the Tarts' books, then I have been plowing through Dusty's, looking for Lisa's, and now Alex's. Not to mention that someone here got me started reading Charlaine Harris, and she has three different series. Now here are two more books I HAVE to read. And of course I'm not going to get these at the library, because, hey! I've talked to these authors online, right?

Laurie, the premise of your books is so fresh and original, and of course I love Jane Austen! Will most definitely add your titles to my "must read" list. Best of luck with them.

[Karen in Ohio]

Happy Father's Day, men of the blog.

[hollygee]

I'm heading over to the library tab right now. Sounds like some wonderful reads, thank you.

[judy merrill larsen]

Let me just second Lisa's recommendations (and take myself out of the running since I'm already in possession of both books)--these are great, fun reads! My book club loved "Confessions" and are so excited there's a new on out.

[Nancy Martin]

Great idea for books to buy for my vacation! They sound fabulous.

Laurie, I re-read P&P every summer. I think of it as cleansing my writerly palate.

Kerri, I clicked over to your website. I love it! Thanks for posting it here. I think you'll gain some members from this crowd.

[Lisa Daily]

Hi all!

First, I want to say Happy Father's Day to the guys :-)

Second, great comments everybody!!

Karen,

We all appreciate it :-)

Josh,

How interesting!

XO,

Lisa

[Karen in Ohio]

And *I* appreciate all the talent and hard work that go into the various books you guys write. You're all amazingly talented and inventive. Thanks for sharing your gifts with the rest of us!

[Laurie Moore]

Oh, Lisa, thanks so much for doing this interview. Makes me want to stop what I'm doing and pull out the Jane Austen novels and re-read them before following up with Laurie's books.

Time-travel stories fascinate me, but I know better than to try writing those myself. Isn't it wonderful, though, when an idea that's so intriguing just pops into your head? I've had that happen to me and when it does, the books just seem to write themselves.

[Ramona]

My mother, at age mumblemumble, is re-reading Jane Austen for the first time in mumblemumble years, and says it's like the first time all over again.

She has a big crush on Mr. Darcy. I'm more of a Captain Wentworth swooner myself.

[Adriana Zardini]

I am looking forward to read this book!!

Adriana

[Verna]

When I first read the book "Confessions Of A Jane Austen Addict" I was touched by the fact that it's not merely a story about time travel, but about an inner journey this woman has within herself.She is in a place where everything is strange but vaguely familiar.She comes to terms with the restrictions of the times and finds something lasting and enduring to take back with her.I can't wait to read the next book where we get Miss Mansfield point of view.

[storyteller Mary]

I just finished watching The Jane Austen Book Club, and reading the first scenes of _Twilight_ from Edward's point of view (with a strong tie to Austen). Obviously, the universe is pushing me toward rereading Jane Austen (with more effect than my attempts to move the universe toward the sale of my condo . . .) Maybe if I read Laurie's books also, the universe will be more inclined to listen? If not, at least I'll be having fun.

[Lisa Daily]

Storyteller Mary -

I read Edward's version online as well, and really enjoyed it. It's always interesting to see how two different characters perceive the same events, given their own agendas and insecurities. :-)

Fantastic comments, everybody!

Lisa

[kris]

Heading over to the library website RIGHT THIS MINUTE to request Confessions. This sounds so cool!!!

[Lisa White]

Thanks for the information, it sounds like a great book to read and I am looking forward to reading it

Lisa

[Laraine]

Such fun! I'm so glad for the continuing pleasure of Austen's work, and the creative approach contemporary writers are taking to explore our love for P&P, etc. Thanks, Lisa, for bringing Laurie and her books to our attention . . . and Laurie, for writing these! Toss my name in the hat for the drawing, if you will.
Happy Father's Day, dads and surrogate dads and coaches and dad-like mentors out there: the world is richer because of ye!

[Laurie Viera Rigler]

A Marvel Comics version of P&P, Josh? I love it. Does this mean we'll see Elizabeth Bennet in her own Fortress of Solitude? Is someone going to write a mash-up of Superman and P&P? Hey, they did it with zombies and aliens, right? :))

Thanks for all the fabulous comments and kind words, everyone. And thank you, Lisa, for inviting me here and for asking such fascinating questions.

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!

[SusanB]

Oh, I must read these books.

But first I'll finish P&P! Just started it a week ago (haven't read it since high school - and I just didn't get it then, all I remember is the title). But it was a Kindle freebie and I thought, hey it's a classic, I should try it again.

While I'm here, I may as well admit: I just got my Kindle and I really do like it. There are some books that I'll still buy in paper - but the lite romances, for example, are great Kindle reads. Plus I've got Asimov's subscription on it, too. And it's way more accessible / injury-friendly than manipulating a regular book (had pretty substantial back surgery recently).

[Lynn]

BBC did a version of P&P in which a woman from modern day London went through a door in her attic and took Lizzie's place and Lizzie went to London and ended up staying in London. I forget the name of the show, but my daughters started watching and had trouble stopping so they could go to work.
Have to go to the comic store to find those comics.

[storyteller Mary]

That would be Lost in Austen.
Thanks to my free month of Netflix, I just watched that quite excellent movie (and many others), drowning my sorrows in movies . . . ;-)

[Luce]

Thanks Josh - I'll have to go to my comic store to get copies.

I'll be adding Laurie's books to the top of my 2BRead pile.

Anybody read P&P and Zombies yet? :-) Appalled? Amused?

[Luce]

For those of you who interested, Marvel has made P&P issue #1 available online for free. Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/pf3gh4

[Laraine]

Enjoyed Lost in Austen much more than I expected to (figured it couldn't stand against Colin Ferrel . . . but, actually very engaging); thinking that travelling with Jane Mansfield will be fascinating! Thanks for the alert on the free Marvel edition, Luce.

[peach]

Have tried to post all day, hope this works. I guess it's mad at me because I haven't had time to post in a few months. Love the idea of time travel and Jane Austen. Dr. Who, Torchwood, Quantum Leap, Diana Galbadon's Outlander series are favorites. Now need to go find these books.

[Sue Houghton]

Great interview. Thanks for posting it!

[Carol Courtney]

Did I misunderstand? No movie of Confessions? I recorded a 4-part British production from Ovation Channel with EXACTLY that plot. Was that not hers? It was "Lost in Austen", just a few years old. Something is amiss!