My Inspiration
Over Thanksgiving weekend of 2005 I entered a movie theater with my best girlfriend and teenaged daughter to watch Pride & Prejudice starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. My only expectation was to enjoy a sappy chick flick with two of my dearest women friends. To say that my life would take a radical turn is an understatement!
Confession! At that time I had never read the classic novel by Jane Austen, nor had I seen any of the previous adaptations. Thinking back, I am not sure why. I have always been an avid readers of all genres, went to college (although science was my primary emphasis), and had certainly heard of Jane Austen. I had seen Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet as well as Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow. I even had the 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries on my Blockbuster Online queue! Yet, beyond knowing a vague sketch of the story, I knew none of the particulars.
To my stunned amazement I walked out of that theater not only sporting a heart swelling with romantic sentiment and warm fuzzy feelings running amok, but I would soon embark on a pathway that would change my life.
It is difficult to articulate why this movie and this story so touched me. At heart I am a huge romantic, so it is not at all unusual for me to be filled with gushy tears at some sentimental schmaltziness! I do believe in happily-ever-after. Perhaps not in the total fairy tale sense, but certainly in the sense of true love and matrimonial contentment. Call me a starry-eyed sap. Call me a moronic dreamer. Call me an overly optimistic fool. I will beamingly nod to all! My inner musings and mental imaginings after reading loved books or watching inspiring movies was a common occurrence. All my life I have daydreamed of what would happen after the screen fades to black, often in very vivid detail. The difference is that I never remotely considered writing any of them down!
Enter the fantastic world of fan fiction! I spent two months reading everything by or about Jane Austen (including Pride & Prejudice), and perusing the scribblings found on the plethora of Austen related websites. Always I was searching for the tale of Lizzy and Darcy’s subsequent life as I imagined it. I never found it. Finally, almost as an epiphany, but with a heavy dose of self-amusement and doubt, I deliberated writing down what I saw flashing endlessly through my brain. Thus, on a lark and with nary a shred of future consideration, "The Wedding Night" was written as a short story. The positive response was enormous, so I continued on. Before I fully understood what I was embarking on, I was wholly immersed. Like Mr. Darcy and his love for Elizabeth, I was smack in the middle of it before I recognized what I had started!
I had joined the rank of fan fiction writers from all over the world who have adored this timeless tale of true love. I have since read the novel and seen a few of the previous adaptations, but my heart remains squarely enamored with the movie and the incredible actors and actresses who brought these delightful characters to life.
My personal quest was to delve realistically and historically into the Regency world of England in the early 1800s while exploring the future of the Darcys. To this end I have applied my love of history, research and study skills, intellect, and an inordinate amount of time to learn everything possible about the era, England, Austen, societal mores of the day, and so on. It has become my passion, my obsession, and my committment to present the beloved Austen characters and the backdrop of their life as deemed logical and true to the source material. Built upon that firm foundation, I then create my own vision.
What I have striven to recount is a marriage in its purest embodiment. A union based on commitment, equality, passion, friendship, honesty, love, and all the rest. I wanted to answer the timeless questions regarding happily ever after and how two individual people meld into one soul. Along the way I have incorporated humor, drama, friends, family, and life events to experience with the lovers.
What about Jane Austen? Should I attempt to emulate her style of writing? Am I in some way defaming her brilliance or assaulting her memory in being initially inspired by the movie rather than her novel? Is it unethical or disgraceful to write a sequel in the first place? Are her characters sacrosanct? Is it only the life-long devotee who is deserving of her literature? Or can a new inductee of any age embrace her work with fresh zeal? Opinions vary greatly, and I can only answer with personal rationale and my heart.
My humble opinion is that NO ONE can fully capture the style of another author, especially someone who lived 200 years ago. Even the premiere Austen expert in the world, whomever that may be, could not do it perfectly, so little old me will not even try! Nor do I believe one should. Jane Austen was a unique voice. That is not to say I do not attempt to capture the essence, the language, and the time period as much as I possibly can. I think I succeed for the most part, but I also do not lose sleep over it. For me the most important goal is to present a fun, romantic, sensible story that is accessible to everyone and enjoyable to read. I have sought and found my own style and voice.
This is my vision of life for the Darcys and their friends. I do not know how Miss Austen may have written them if she had chosen to do so, and neither does anyone else. There is no ONE way of presenting the aftermath; there is no ONE agreement on characterization and canon; there is no ONE way to rightly conceptualize; there is no ONE way! The joy of writing this tale is in expressing my ideas of how these beloved characters will evolve. Through that process they become mine.
I loved the movie. Period. I make no apology for this. I fully comprehend that not everyone feels the same; that some exalt the 1995 miniseries as the quintessential P&P adaptation, while others think her books are sacred tomes never to be disturbed. I simply do not ascribe to either philosophy. Can we not respectfully agree to disagree without the acrimony?
Sequels of all ilk seem to be a natural human yearning. We hunger to know what happens next. Therefore, I do not think it shocking or censurable for me or anyone else to fulfill the wish. How Miss Austen would have written her characters in their future is an interesting academic discussion, but should not overly influence how a modern author chooses to present them as a result of their love. We are all inspired by her wonderful words. Furthermore, new adaptations, sequels, and movies like Becoming Jane and Lost In Austen encourage Austen novices from around the globe to seek out her novels - just as I did. How can that possibly be a bad thing?
I discovered the brilliance of Jane Austen when well into my forties. Rather than cry over the lost years, I prefer to thank Joe Wright and the fate that sent me into that theater. I am a mature woman, highly educated, intelligent, and passionate. For three years I have lived and breathed Jane Austen. Frankly, I challenge anyone to deny my love isn't as severe as theirs just because my time is shorter.
Jane Austen’s stunning literary genius cannot be matched. I comprehend this. I merely offer a sincere form of flattery via my novels by expressing my joy in discovering her world. Beyond that, I present a love story, a marriage, and a life as I honestly believe it can be and should be. If, at the end of my literary career I have filled other hearts with happiness and hope, then my goal has been met, and I will be content.
