Friday, January 20, 2017

Announcement: "The Darcy Monologues" edited by Christina Boyd #Giveaway!

Hello, Friends! Today I'm happy to be part of this exciting announcement about a project Christina Boyd has been working on; The Darcy Monologues

Details for some lovely prizes are at the bottom of the page! 




Interview with Christina Boyd

There are many well-known names behind today’s exciting announcement in the JAFF community and the one person at the center of it all is here today to share this news with us; the lovely Austenesque editor, Christina Boyd.

Christina, there’s a buzz going around the JAFF community that you are heading a new project and it’s a pleasure to have you visit so many Austenesque blogs today to share your big news!

Can you share with us what you’ve been working on behind-the-scenes?

Thank you for hosting and shining your light on this project. I am excited and not a little proud to announce The Darcy Monologues—a short story anthology with sixteen of my very favorite Austenesque writers. I doubt anyone will be surprised by my list—authors I’ve either enjoyed working with and admire their work or authors I have simply fan-girl’d over for years: Susan Adriani, Sara Angelini, Karen M. Cox, J. Marie Croft, Jan Hahn, Jenetta James, Lory Lilian, Judy-Lynne, KaraLynne Mackrory, Beau North, Ruth Phillips Oakland, Natalie Richards, Sophia Rose, Melanie Stanford, Joana Starnes, and Caitlin Williams.

Wow, that is an exciting line-up of talent! 

The Darcy Monologues sounds like such a fitting title for this anthology. Would you share with us how it was selected as the title, especially with so many authors involved in this project? 

This project is collection of stories all told from Fitzwilliam’s point-of-view—set in Regency, contemporary, as well as other eras. Because the stories are strictly from his eyes, I felt it imperative we find a title that clearly illustrated the book would be more than one tale but all from his point-of-view. In an e-mail from “The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy” author, Sara Angelini, she mentioned how she had long wanted to write a story titled “The Darcy Monologues” or something like… So, in presenting the idea to the group, other ideas were thrown about. After a quick Google search, we learned there was a short story on Derbyshire Writer’s Guild by Judy-Lynne with the same title. She had written a short story described as six “extemporaneous rants” expressed by Fitzwilliam Darcy. Not one to be a copycat, we moved on to other names. But as time passed, nothing resonated with me as much so I felt incumbent to ask Judy-Lynne if she would be offended if we used the same title. Unfortunately, she is rarely on the fanfiction sites anymore and everyone I asked claimed they did not know how to get in touch with her. Finally! Finally, I connected with her through “A Happy Assembly” and asked her about the title use, she accepted, and I asked her if she was still writing and would she be interested in writing a short for the anthology. She said she wasn’t writing but agreed to the challenge. And that’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

How does this project differ from anything you’ve worked on before? 

I’ve worked on two other anthologies, published in 2015 by Meryton Press: Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer and Then Comes Winter. Both were set-up as writing contests with a panel of judges reading and selecting the submissions. This project, I am self-publishing and have assembled my own dream team. 

At this point, what can you share about your experiences working with so many talented Austenesque writers?

I feel lucky! Blessed. Not only that these talented writers have all graciously committed to this project—some having not written anything Austenesque in years—but have over a short period of time become so dear to me on a personal level.

What can readers expect from this anthology?

The authors have all committed to write a short piece from Darcy’s point-of-view, between 5000-15,000 words, and must have romance—but no scenes that I wouldn’t be able to share with my teenage daughter or eighty-year-old mother-in-law. Even with that last tenet, I am amazed how these writers can turn up the heat in a room. Have your fans handy—and even a few tissues!

It seems like we just can’t get enough of Mr. Darcy! What’s his appeal, Christina, 200 years later?

Pride and Prejudice is told in the third-person narrative, limited omniscient, from Elizabeth Bennet’s point-of-view. In my fiction, I have always had a weakness for the rich, powerful, noble, and handsome man who changes his ways for love, and a woman worthy of his efforts. I’ve long dreamt of putting together a collection of stories all from my favorite Austen hero’s eyes. Yes, Pride and Prejudice has been told before from Darcy’s point-of-view by the talented Pamela Aidan, Stanley Hurd, Amanda Grange, Janet Aylmer, and Mary Street, to name a few—but with all the amazing Pride and Prejudice re-imaginings out there, I wanted to read alternate stories in his own words.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us today about The Darcy Monologues

The anthology is scheduled for release May 22, 2017 and we have a few promotions planned in the coming weeks as we finish the editing process to spit and polish the collection.

Before we part, Christina, I hear you have some rather thrilling news to share with us on a personal level, which was just announced early this week. Care to divulge the details here too? 

Well… I can barely believe it myself but…I won—I WON, the Omaze “Champagne Toast with Henry Cavill on the London Eye" experience! (Fundraiser to benefit the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.) You read that right. I won. I’m flying to London to meet my all-time favorite book boyfriend, the very talented British actor, Henry Cavill. I have never been to England, except layovers in Heathrow—which doesn’t count—so I feel like the French teacher who has never been to France. And here I get to go, stay in a luxury hotel, explore London, and have a champagne toast with Henry Cavill. Pinch me! And yes, if he is willing, I do hope to have him sign some swag for The Darcy Monologue giveaways—after all, he is my book boyfriend.

You can see the Omaze winner reveal and video of Christina here!


Biography



Christina Boyd wears many hats as she is an editor, a contributor to Austenprose, and a ceramicist under her own banner, Stir Crazy Mama’s Artworks. A life member of the 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.


Connect with Christina Boyd



* * * GIVEAWAY * * * 


We are giving away some really fun prizes to three lucky winners! One winner will receive a stash of gifts to enjoy with his/her own significant other. These treats include assorted British food and beverage snacks and a Mr. Darcy quote mug. 
(This prize is open to a winner with a U.S. mailing address only)


Another winner will receive two stories from the anthology; a Regency story and a contemporary or alternate era short story. The winner will choose his/her prize stories based on the authors in this anthology. These stories will be distributed to the winner on March 15, 2017. 

 Our third prize winner will receive a walk-on role in one of the stories in this anthology. That’s right…This winner will have a piece of the action in one of our stories, which means having a character in one of these stories in the anthology named after her/him.
 This is something every JAFF reader dreams about, isn’t it?

These giveaways are open for entries from Friday, January 20 until midnight, ET, on Saturday, January 28, 2017. 

The winners will be announced on Sunday, January 29, 2017.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Congratulations to Christina Boyd for winning the Omaze “Champagne Toast with Henry Cavill on the London Eye"! That's amazing! I hope you have so much fun in London while sipping champagne with Henry Cavill!!!

Also, congrats to Christina and all the wonderful authors who are working so hard on this anthology! I see many of my favorite authors in this list! I am looking forward to reading The Darcy Monologues

Many thanks to Claudine Pepe @ JustJane1813 for including me in this Announcement.

Good luck to all who enter the giveaway!

Please, feel free to leave a comment! We'd love to hear from you! 

23 comments:

  1. Thank you for supporting the project Candy - exciting times!

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    1. Hi, Jenetta! It was my pleasure! It is an exciting project!

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  2. Thank you for sharing about the project - this really is a JAFF dream team and the anthology will be amazing!

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    1. Anytime, KaraLynne! Yes, lots of my favorite authors! Exciting!

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  3. Thanks for the announcement! And what a great prize!

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  4. Thanks for spreading the news, Candy! So excited to be part of this!

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  5. Candy, thanks so much for getting the word out! The authors contributing to this anthology are some of my favorites, and I'm really pleased to have my name appear with theirs. Christina's doing a fabulous job coordinating it all - this will be a wonderful anthology!

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  6. Thank you so much for participating in the big announcement! I'm so looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on these wonderful stories!

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  7. You're a peach, Candy, for hosting our Darcy Monologue announcement. Yay for lots of Darcy. :)

    Fun to get some extra tidbits about how it all came together and share in Christina's big dream come true excitement, too.

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  8. Thanks, Candy! Looking forward to getting this brick of a book into your hands!

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    1. Thank you, Christina! Congratulations on "The Darcy Monologue" and winning the Omaze! Have a fantastic time in London!! Lucky girl!

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  9. This is really exciting! What a great line-up of authors. And congrats on winning a date with Henry Cavill! Omg I would not know how to act. My inner Lydia might take over my inner Jane and then we'd have to run off to Gretna Green and get married right away! Lol

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  10. Isn't it great about Christina's trip? I know London is on her bucket list - and meeting Henry will be fantastic! Thanks for playing hostess for the anthology announcement, Candy . I'm thrilled to be part of this project :)

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  11. Thank you, Candy, for your support with this announcement. I hope you're ready for lots of Darcy! Who am I kidding? if I know you, there's no doubt about that, right?

    I hope you and your readers enjoy this anthology! I promise you that it's one you'll find filled with great, swoon-worthy, and original stories.

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    1. Hi, Claudine! Thank you for including me in the announcement! There's no such thing as too much Darcy. So, yes, lots of Darcy sounds great to me!

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  12. Hi, Candy. Thanks for letting your readers know about The Darcy Monologues.

    I’m tickled pink to be part of this anthology and green with envy that Christina gets to meet her book beau. I guess that makes me … what? … light brown?

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  13. KaraLynne, Melanie, Joana, Susan, Beau, Sophia Rose, Karen, J. Marie, you are all so welcome! I'm always happy to help. And congratulations for being part of this exciting anthology! It sounds like it's going to be an amazing collection of stories! XOXO

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  14. Thank you for spreading the word, Candy! I am so excited to be a part of this project alongside such a wonderful group of authors. Thanks for the opportunity, Christina! :)

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  15. This release is really exciting! So many great authors! I can't wait. Congratulations, ladies!! :)

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  16. Btw. My mistake. Must excuse me as the details were a bit jumbled in all my excitement. Judy-Lynne's stories are at http://pemberley.com

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  17. To be in Darcy's head in both modern and Regency stories for a whole book with such a talented line-up of authors... so exciting, sign me up! Double congrats on this project and winning the Omaze challenge! I love the picture you posted, especially with a bookshelf full of JAFF books behind you!

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