ELAINE JEREMIAH. Well funnily enough it was my husband who suggested I write Jane Austen fan fiction. TBH the sales of my romance books weren’t amazing. My husband pointed out that to be successful as an indie author, it can be a good idea to target a sub-genre to gain a bigger, more loyal readership. It can be easier to be more successful within a sub-genre. Romance is of course a huge genre, with loads of sub-genres to it. I’d read a bit of Jane Austen fan fiction, so thought I’d write a story about a girl who’s a huge Jane Austen fan (like me!) who accidentally time travels to Regency England. I then decided to turn it into a trilogy and having taken a break from writing it to write my ‘Pride and Prejudice’ variation, I’m now working on book 3.But being honest again, the first two books in my trilogy didn’t make waves. I hadn’t read that widely in Jane Austen fan fiction and as I read more and more JAFF,
I realised over time that what is most popular is ‘Pride and Prejudice’ variations, particularly those about Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, set in the Regency era. Basically retellings of the Darcy/Elizabeth story which people love. The time travel story I’d written, while I’d enjoyed writing it very much, wasn’t quite what people wanted to read within the genre.So having written and published book 2 of my trilogy, I decided to turn my attention to writing a ‘Pride and Prejudice’ variation. I thoroughly enjoyed writing it, though it took me a lot longer in the end to write than I’d planned. I got bogged down with the plotting of the story and then the editing stage took a long time. I changed quite a lot, with the help of my beta readers and then my editor, which was absolutely right, but it did take quite a lot longer.
I’m very happy with the result though. The story is much stronger and better for all my hard work and I’m really pleased and proud to finally be able to share it with the world.
ELAINE JEREMIAH. Hahaha! I wish! But no, I don’t live in South Korea, I haven’t even been there yet, but it’s on my bucket list. I’m definitely going to go there one day, for sure. I kind of fell into a love of all things Korean by accident – a friend of mine recommended Korean dramas – or Kdramas as they’re known – and I started watching them and was hooked. They’re all on Netflix. I would highly recommend them!
Most of them are romances and a lot of them follow the Darcy/Elizabeth trope of rich arrogant man falls in love with feisty, poorer girl. I just love them – I’ve watched more than 25 series now. The settings and the people are beautiful. It’s so interesting to learn about another culture this way. South Korea is a first world country, but of course it’s Eastern so they have a very different society to ours. There are good and bad sides to that and it’s fascinating to me to learn about their culture.
I was inspired by watching so many Kdramas to start learning the language and more about the country in general. I’ve got this Korean language audio course I’m listening to, mostly while I do housework! It’s so much fun. I also have an app on my phone I use. So I’m in love with all things Korean!
ELAINE JEREMIAH . Of course (not) But you see I live in Bristol, South West England, which isn’t far from the Regency city of Bath, the setting for 2 of Jane Austen’s novels. Di you know has some beautiful Regency buildings and is also generally a great city to live in? There’s loads to see and do, like visiting the Clifton Suspension Bridge or the SS Great Britain, which was one of the first passenger steamships crossing the Atlantic in the mid-nineteenth century. It’s now a permanent museum in Bristol’s docks. Well worth a visit if you ever come to Bristol.
If you’re into street art, Bristol is also the home of Banksy and if you have a sharp eye and know where to look, you can spot some of his murals on certain buildings. Bristol also has loads of great shops, restaurants, museums, cinemas, art galleries – you name it, Bristol has pretty much got it.
ELAINE JEREMIAH. RE Jane? Loads of reasons. Partly because the characters she creates feel so real, they’re so well developed. Characters like Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy stay with you in your mind long after you’ve finished reading her novels. And there’s always something new to spot in them, even if you’ve read them loads of times before.
For example, I’m realising the more I read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ just why exactly Mrs Bennet is so keen to get her 5 daughters married off and how in some respects she’s actually quite wise. It was very difficult for women in Austen’s day who weren’t working class to get work and support themselves except as a governess. Which wasn’t a great job. If they weren’t married and couldn’t get work, they’d have to rely on their male relatives to support them. So a young woman in the Regency era, especially if her family weren’t rich, would need to marry well. Mrs Bennet is very aware of this, particularly because being girls her daughters can’t inherit the family home when their father dies and it will go to his distant cousin Mr Collins instead.
Jane Austen is also very funny – I laugh out loud at some of the scenes in her books when I’m reading them. She also doesn’t hold back at subtly criticising the social conventions of the era she lived in. Like how Elizabeth Bennet, a woman who’s not very well off, turns down not one but two marriage proposals, defiantly refusing to marry without love. That’s very subversive for the era it was written in.
As for the writing just now? Actually I would say it’s been easier than usual. It’s really given me something to focus on and take my mind off the dire news that we’re bombarded with day after day.
And because what with the internet and me self-publishing digitally via Amazon, it can all be done remotely anyway. So you don’t need to physically be in the same room with someone to share your work with them, to use beta readers or an editor. I can also promote my writing entirely online. What with this new release and how well it’s going, I feel more motivated than ever now to crack on with my writing!
ELAINE JEREMIAH. Uhmmmmmm. Well…uhm…as I mentioned, I’m writing book 3 in my Jane Austen-inspired time travel romance trilogy. And that would be hard to do in hamster cage. It’s called ‘Captivated in Time’. So maybe one day I might be very willing to…might even enjoy..living in hamster cage. What’s more, I’ve more or less plotted it out, so I pretty much know what’s going to happen. I know the ending! So this could be sooner rather than later. I’m trying to keep the momentum going – I tend to write quite slowly, so I want to try and make more time for writing and get this one finished as soon as I can. After that, I plan to write more Darcy/Elizabeth Regency era ‘Pride and Prejudice’ variations. That’s what’s most popular within JAFF and actually I feel that writing in Regency-esque language is what I’m most comfortable doing. I feel like I’ve finally found my niche. Just maybe not in a hamster cage. …. But look on the bright side of keeping all that voddie to yourselves.
Little does Elizabeth Bennet think the journey across muddy fields from her home at Longbourn to Netherfield Park will change her life forever.
But an unexpected encounter with the proud and haughty Mr Darcy leaves her injured and vulnerable. Worse still, she is left alone with him for a significant amount of time. Her reputation at risk, she is forced to make a decision about her future. Now her life will never be the same again. Can Elizabeth ever be happy? Or will she always loathe Mr Darcy
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3s7xr6dAmazon UK: https://amzn.to/2LiP3LH
Elaine lives in Bristol, South West England with her husband and their golden retriever, Dug. But she was privileged enough to grow up in Jane Austen country, in Hampshire.
She’s always loved writing, but it’s only been in recent years that she’s been able to devote more time to it. She decided to self-publish with the help of her wonderful husband who’s very tech-savvy! In 2013 she self-published her first novel, but it was only with her fourth, her novel ‘Love Without Time’, that she felt she finally found her niche: Jane Austen Fan Fiction!
She’s always loved Jane Austen’s writing and the Regency era, so this felt like a natural thing for her to do. ‘Elizabeth and Darcy: Beginning Again’ is the first ‘Pride and Prejudice’ variation she’s written.
If you want to connect with Elaine online, her Facebook page can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/elainejeremiahauthor/
Her Twitter handle is: @ElaineJeremiah
Her website is here: https://elainejeremiah.co.uk/
My best wishes to both you, Ms S and Ms Jeremiah. May your books sell plenty. Regards, The Old Fool
Ah, anything but that Mike. Great to see you. xxxxx
Thanks so much Mike!
Maybe the Others (fairies) could send her back?
We won’t give the dudes ideas here….. LOL Lovely to see you Michael, Really enjoying your hiking pics and Irish pics right now.
Hahaha thanks for checking this out Michael!
There is something deeply moving about Jane Austen’s writing. Just feels timeless.
I know. I always that tongue in cheek bit in P and P where the rumour runs round about Darcy’s dosh. And just acceptable that makes him. Good to see you Gary
I agree. She’s such a wonderful writer. 🙂
It’s amazing how the great Jane Austen lives on in so many ways. Sounds like Elaine Jeremiah is doing excellent work in the JAFF realm, and the hamstuhs continue to do excellent work in the LAFF realm.
AWWWW . Thank you Dave. Jane does live on in ways she never would have imagined.
Yes, Shehanne! I imagine Jane Austen would be absolutely shocked to see how famous and relevant she is more than 200 years later.
I know but she is.
Aw thanks so much Dave. And yes, I agree that Jane would be amazed, I think she’d be gobsmacked to see how popular she is now. 🙂
You’re very welcome, Elaine, and I totally agree!
The best of luck with your latest book!
That was a fun interview.
The dudes would behave behave better if you photographed them…
I don’t kow about that. I like the guitar player a lot.
Oh that’s Donovan.
Glad you liked it. Always fun answering questions from the hamster dudes. 😉
They are highly entertaining.
They get a bit out of hand, or should I say paw?
That sounds like such fun, Elaine. I adore the wit and wiles of Jane Austen and wish you great success. Your love of her work shines through. Not love of the dudes though! You’re lucky you escaped the cage! Thanks, Shey, great post. xx
I am sure Elaine would give them a run for their little hamster wheels xxx (oops I never said that, I never said a word, not even to leave their voddie alone..) Nice to see you Kate xx
Hahaha thanks so much Kate! I too am very glad I escaped the cage!!! 😉 And yes, thanks for Shey for a great post. 😀
Thanks to Jane Austen I learned so much about the English society of the time! Many thanks Shehanne:) Very best regards
The best to you Martina xx
:):)
Jane Austen is great for learning about the Regency era in a fun way. Thanks for checking this out Martina. 🙂
Many thanks, Elaine, for your work and I wish you much success.:) Martina
I love the Dudes – their interviewing skills are excellent. !!!! This was a brilliant interview Shehanne and Elaine. This is the first time that I have heard of writing variations. I watched “Death Comes to Pemberley on Masterpiece/PBS. And I waded through the movie (I think it’s based on a book) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but I didn’t connect these to variations. So thank you Elaine, for your candid discussion about writing and publishing. You gave me a great deal to think about. And Shehanne – thank you again for another great introduction to a remarkable writer. You are simply the best!
Now for me, YOU are the best. Elaine is a writer buddy, we were meant to meet finally for her birthday last year. She was coming to Edinburgh. We had it all arranged. But then there was Covid. So it is nice to have her here. I think I’ve watched Death Comes to Pemberley. I watch that much sometimes I forget I saw things. I’ve not read the zombie version but I have heard of it. xxxxxxxx Rebecca.
Thanks so much! So glad you appreciated my interview. The hamster dudes weren’t half bad either. 😉 And yes Shey and I were going to meet for my 40th birthday last year, special trip to Edinburgh. Then Covid happened. Sigh. But, Shehanne, we WILL meet soon. You can’t escape me that easily! Mwah hahaha!
LOl… I will hold you this now xxxxxxxx MWAHHHHHHH
Fascinating interview with Elaine. I can only imagine what a challenge it must have been to write following in Austen’s footsteps and how satisfying to have reached the end of the novel and thought you know what I think Jane would have approved. I must admit I like the idea of putting a time travelling spin back to Regency England for a romance novel. That sounds like a lot of fun.
Thanks so much Paul! Glad you found it interesting. This writing business is a real journey, for sure. But (mostly!) a lot of fun. Thanks for checking this out. 🙂
You are spot on Elaine- the writing business is a real journey. But as you say when you have created something you are proud of you quickly forget the frustration and heartache.
Paul, good to see you, Elaine is indeed brave for following the footsteps of Jane. Brave to take on the dudes too. Now, if only there was a variation featuring hamsters…..
Paul, the other thing is. I find that like you , suddenly I don’t seem to be getting all the notifications re blogs, despite it saying I follow them. Then I get ones from blogs that say follow…when i am . I also notice that I get notifications going so and so is following your blog. I knew that. They knew it, so plainly they are also seeing the follow button and clicking it. Wp is ashambles right now. It wasn’t broke but they fixed it… No-one I speak to likes it and everyone has the same probs with it including the notifications.
I guess we will have to learn to live with it until they improve it next time- which means a worse shambles!
Ha. Ha. How true. But gotta laugh at all the new additions. Like you click the add button and the only wonder really is that the kitchen sink is not a possibility.
Wonderful interview, Shey!
Elaine, your JAFF sounds fascinating, although I’ve only vaguely ever heard of that genre.
The main thing is that you have lived in a Hamster Cage. Was it the La Cage aux Hamster Folles?
OH, my bad! I see now you have NOT lived in a hamster cage.
I truly wish you the best of fortunes. Cheers! Resa
PS> You are very pretty!
Resa!! LOL!! We must hope Elaine NEVER lives in a hamster cage. Obvi she is too pretty and a day on a wheel, listening to them rattle on one rhater and eating their food would finish anyone. Great to see you. The dudes are now away raking for the Hamstah Splendor gown you designed for them. xxxx
Luv it! xoxo
Aw thank you so much! As Shehanne would say, cheque in the post!!! I did spend the other night in the hamster cage with the dudes. It was a bit of a squish but I survived to tell the tale. Won’t be doing that again though! 😉
You are welcome!
Did you get to go on the wheel? 😀 😀
ELAINE, you devil you. We want the whole story.
Hmm well yes, I did go on the wheel. The dudes told me they have to take turns on it because it generates electricity for them. If one of them stops running on it, the electricity stops and they have no light or power!!! So they cajoled me into running on it for a while as they grilled me about Jane Austen and Korea. I was exhausted after that!
They will be strung up for that, by the tail. (Oops they don’t have tails.) )
I love Pride and Prejudice and all Jane’s stories and my favourite outing recently ( twice ), pre Covid, was to Jane Austen’s House at Chawton. Walking up to the big house is a reminder that two single sisters, their single friend and their mother, four ladies who did not own the house, were dependent on the benevolence of the brother up at the Big House!
well.. as Elaine says (taking many deep breaths here being a Dundee woman.) it was quite difficult for women in these days in terms of location and class.AND nowadays, actually writing books set then is not that easy either, espesh when sometimes you get told off for having some fiery woman ultimately dependant on finding a decent man. And the women in Austen’s world were a lot ‘richer’ than many others. … ! Thank you for reading and commenting. Long admired your pst btw, so xxxxxxxxxx to you. And let’s hope for having outings post Covid soon.
Thanks Shehanne, glad you enjoy my posts. Outings seem so long ago now except when Facebook brings up memories.
Oh god you have said it all. It brings up mine and I want to take a hammer to the screen!!!!. Seriously, you look and weep copious buckets!! It is like facebook is doing it on purpose. SOB. SOB, to quote the dudes. Last year we got two trips to Glencoe. that was it . And they were utterly dystopian. Not once we were out on the hills but in the hotel itself. We then looked at the walks and hills locally but even that is not on cos of the travel restrictions. (Not that we do all we’re told) But equally there’s been folks got in to bother while out and ended up getting fined. AND alas sometimes on hills, the simplest ones can still lead to bother. (I am not going to talk of the fact we nearly got killed on the simple Lundie Craigs.) Anyway, we must all hope we get back out soon. And yest I do enjoy your posts. Great to speak to you. xxx
Oh I love Jane Austen’s house and Chawton! It’s so peaceful there. Hope you get to read my book sometime. 🙂
You and your furry friends are the best Shey, You make me smile so big! I love the cover of your book Elaine. The book sounds delightful. and I think it would be right I’m up my street ! xx
If the dudes and me made you smile big, my special friend, then we are so happy I might even go doa round on the wheel to keep them happy x
I wouldn’t mind doing a round on the wheel! xxxx
We should all have a go!! Now they will want a ‘living like hamsters’ day.
Thank you! I’m glad you love the cover. Hope you get to read my book sometime. 🙂
I will add it to my stack I’m slowing working my way through. I can barely see over them now. Congratulations again!
I have a stack like that… It is beginning to teeter.
It’s unbelievable how repressed women were for so much of our existence on the planet and lucky we have writers such as yourself and Ms. Austin to chronicle the experience. Best of luck with the new release, Elaine, and thanks to Lady Shey for bringing another wonderful writer to our attention!
You are so right re women and their place. I remember reading how shocked the Romans were at the power Celtic women had. Georgian/ Regency times so much depended on finding a decent man. The heroine I’m working on right now, didn’t and I’ve based her experience on a true case. Interestingly while I was researching for a law court scene, I came across another case, where it may have been the only time a member of the aristocracy got strung up for killing a servant. Interestingly his marriage was also one of the only times a divorce was granted to a woman on the rounds of cruelty. It must have been a humdinger of a marriage because divorce was unheard of when it was a woman wanting to divorce. You’re a darling Pam, thank you for the wonderful comment. Nice to see you. x
Honestly, it’s amazing our species has survived given the terrible odds we women had to face! You’re new book sounds intriguing, Shey. 🥳
And there were wonderful women who flew in the face of so much. xxxxxxxx Pam. I’ve based the idea for the heroine’s backstory on the true tale of the unhappy countess an ancestor of Elizabeth 2nd, who I first heard about when I interviewed the author of a book about her life for an article, although I then learned that the book and film Barry Lyndon were based on her. She struck me as a very interesting and intelligent lady who alas did not think with her brain when it came to men. As with any inspiration you pick the bits that fit, that is industrial ‘heiress’ whose aristocratic hubby can only inherit the money if she dies because of what we would call a pre nuptial. . The rest? No. But the Earl Ferrar’s murder case is also very interesting in terms of how trials were conducted in these days IF you were one of the ‘hoi-poloi.’ .
Sorry I missed your comment Pam but thank you! Appreciate your kind wishes. 🙂
😘
What an interesting interview! I appreciated reading about your views on Jane Austen, Elaine.
And the hammies were adorable, as usual. Great post, Shey! ❤
Great to see you Carol. We won’t tell the dudes or they will be unbearable xxx
Hmmm nice to have read from you lol 🙄
I think it will be credibly awesome to tell all the dudes lol… That’ll be fun
Lovely to speak to you. Lol, the dudes will be all, ‘we are the best.’ Then they will fight about which one of them is the best. But maybe we should let them do that. Enjoy your day.
Thanks very much Carol! 😀
Well done Dudes, on providing another fascinating and entertaining interview. I’ve heard of JAFF, but not really looked into it, so thanks for setting the questions so neatly.
And good luck to Elaine with this third novel. I love the premise for your plot.
Dir Cath, we thought we shid explin cos we knew Shey widn’t.
Love
The dudes, x
Love to you Cath. Good to see you. it was nice hosting Elaine. She’s a writer pal xxx
Thank you so much Cath! Hope you get to read it sometime. 🙂
Hey Shehanne how are you doing?
I am doing good. How great to see you. I went over and saw you new site. It is amazing. You have certainly put your time to good use. The biggest congratulations!!! I love it. And that is also good to hear you have joined idieitpress too. I am going to check that now xxxxxxxxxx
Long time n I was trying to understand how things can go…..so in between I have taken a few steps, small ones but yes, steps like built my website, https://www.writersnehashree.com/ and joined a wonderful bunch of people, at indieitpress.com. I think you can make valuable contributions here in indieitpress.com.