FROM THE AUTHOR…Thanks for asking me to the blog, and by the way, I love the spelling of faery! I’ve always liked reading fantasy of all kinds, I love reading about worlds which are different from our own. Sometimes the worlds are in the past and sometimes they’re in a completely different kind of universe altogether.
I think that’s why I came up with the idea of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. I wanted to write a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, but I wanted to make it different from everything else. I wanted to give Elizabeth and Darcy a real challenge so their love would be tested as it’s tested in Pride and Prejudice, and the ordinary problems of everyday life just didn’t seem large enough for the book I wanted to write. After all, Elizabeth and Darcy are one of the world’s most famous romantic couples, I wanted to give them an epic story. I thought it would be cool for readers, too, to see Elizabeth and Darcy in an entirely new setting.
I decided to send them out of England on their honeymoon so that I could create a variety of different backgrounds and experiences for them, and then I thought of the places they might go. The idea of Europe conjured up lots of images of things like castles and mountains – I was reading a lot of Gothic novels at the time, which also set my thoughts running down those directions – and with the idea of castles in the Alps came the idea of vampyres.
I liked the idea straight away, in fact I really loved it. It chimed in with an idea I’d had many years ago whilst watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, that Angel and Darcy have a lot in common.. They’re both brooding and compelling, they’re both very attractive to women, and they both stand on the sidelines. When Angel goes to the Bronze he stands in the shadows and watches, and when Darcy goes to the assembly ball, he stands at the side of the room and looks on, instead of joining in.
It seemed to fit very well with Darcy’s temperament in other ways, too. He’s aloof and detached, and I thought, If I give him this terrible secret, then that would explain why he’s so withdrawn and reserved. It would explain why he never lets anyone close, at least in the What If? kind of world I was creating, and it would make it difficult for him to relate to Elizabeth when he starts to fall in love with her, because he knows he has this huge secret hanging over him.
It would also give Elizabeth and Darcy a real problem to overcome. I liked the idea that the problem would come from inside themselves, from their feelings, not just from events.
I knew that I was creating something new with Mr. Darcy, Vampyre and so as well as giving Mr. Darcy a lot of traditional elements, the kind of things found in Dracula such as garlic, I created some new elements as well. The book is part Jane Austen and part vampyre fiction, it straddles both worlds in a new kind of fiction, one full of the brilliance of balls and Regency society, but with darker currents churning just beneath the surface.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Amanda Grange is a bestselling author specializing in creative interpretations of classic novels and historic events, including Jane Austen’s novels and the Titanic shipwreck. Her Jane Austen sequel Mr. Darcy’s Diary is a bestseller in the US and the UK. She lives in England. For more information on Amanda and her books, please visit http://amandagrange.com/. For more information on Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, please visit Amanda’s blog and the Sourcebooks Spotlight Page. Interested in reading an excerpt? Follow us on Twitter
FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…To find out more about the book and what this book faery thought, click here: http://tbfreviews.net/2009/09/07/mr-darcy-vampyre-amanda-grange-review/.
Now on to the giveaway…Thanks to SourceBooks, The Book Faery Reviews is giving away ONE copy of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre to one lucky commenter of this post. Commenter’s must have a US/Canada address and no PO Boxes. Leave us a comment on who your favorite classic hero/heroine is for your first entry.
For additional entries you can do the following:
- Tweet (make sure you add in “@farrah1230 #tbfr” so I can find the tweet easily)
- Technorati The Book Faery Reviews MAIN page (http://tbfreviews.net)
- Stumble The Book Faery Reviews MAIN page (http://tbfreviews.net)
- Post about this giveaway on your blog or other social networking site and leave me the link
- Be an e-mail subscriber
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This giveaway will run til Friday, November 13th and The Book Faery Reviews will be announcing the winner November 14th.
via Reader
I tweeted @haleymathiot
I’m an rss subscriber
my favorite hero is Kitty from Paris Underground. she was amazing.
thanks! haleymathiot at yahoo dot com
Clark Gable as Rhett Butler was my hero. I loved that guy.
clenna at aol dot com
I’m an email subscriber
clenna at aol dot com
I’m an RSS Reader subscriber.
clenna at aol dot com
In Kramer vs. Kramer, Mr. Kramer was my hero. That guy really took care of his kid and excused his wife’s inadequacies. Kudos to him!
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Email subscriber.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi! Just blogged about this on Win A Book. No need to enter me in the contest.
My favorite heroine is Emma.
jennsicurella at verizon dot net
Jennifer @ Reading with Tequila
Jennifer´s last blog ..One Lovely Blog!
I’m an RSS reader subscriber
jennsicurella at verizon dot net
Jennifer @ Reading with Tequila
Jennifer´s last blog ..One Lovely Blog!
My favourite hero is Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre.
I’m a RSS subscriber.
jen4777[at]hotmail.com
tweeted: @Jullysay
I would go with Edmond Dantes from The Count of Monte Cristo
thank you
Pricilla´s last blog ..AbbyDay – Abby in the Garden
tweetted
http://twitter.com/BrokenTeepee/status/5294749570
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Pricilla´s last blog ..AbbyDay – Abby in the Garden
I subscribed in my google reader
thank you
Pricilla´s last blog ..AbbyDay – Abby in the Garden
I subscribe by email
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Pricilla´s last blog ..AbbyDay – Abby in the Garden
One of my all time favorites is Pride and Prejudice and my favorite heroine would be Elizabeth. I know its the same type of story as this novel but I love her. She is a strong woman believed that she wouldn’t settle for anything less than love and had a great sense of humor. She was amazing especially for her time.
ljschleif at yahoo.com
Thanks to everyone for coming along to my guest blog, it’s great to find out about everyone’s favourite heroes and heroines, and thanks for inviting me, it’s been fun!
My favorite hero is Charlie Gordon in Flowers for Algernon. I’ve read so many great reviews of Mr. Darcy Vampyre and I would love to win. Thank you for hosting.
MonieG´s last blog ..Giveaway: The Gate House by Nelson DeMille
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/monie_g/status/5351111572
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Please enter me!!
I think my favorite hero is Captain Blood from the book by Rafael Sabatini of the same name. I have a weakness for pirates.
thanks
rebecca.bradeen(at)verizon(dot)net
Becca´s last blog ..Mr. Darcy, Vampyre
I blogged about it here:
http://completepoppycock.blogspot.com/2009/11/mr-darcy-vampyre.html
thanks
Becca´s last blog ..Mr. Darcy, Vampyre
I tweeted (Beckster000)
http://twitter.com/Beckster000/status/5370875629
thanks
Becca´s last blog ..Mr. Darcy, Vampyre
My adored classic heroine???…that award would have to be given to Elizabeth Bennett!
mabelilly28 at yahoo dot com
I am an e-mail subscriber!
mabelilly28 at yahoo dot com
Hi
My classic hero is Jason from Jason & the Argonauts.
I am technologically illiterate I think. I don’t understand #2 & #3 on the list for extra entries.
Thank you for the chance to win,
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
RKCharron´s last blog ..Update
I had to skip everyone else’s entries, lest my mind draw a total blank and I could repeat only what came before. I think my favorite classical hero is Gatsby. I know that might not be a popular choice, but he loves so passionately and completely, if ultimately fruitlessly, that you just have to admire him
I tweeted.
I posted on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120752909025#/profile.php?id=100000106635073&ref=profile).
I am an e-mail subscriber
I am an RSS Reader subscriber
Thanks for the giveaway!
I would choose Colonel Brandon
Marie´s last blog ..Aloha Friday
I’d have to say Elizabeth. Pride and Prejudice is first heroine coming to mind right now.
Mr. Darcy, Vampyre sounds great.
Thanks for having the contest…
Mitz´s last blog ..Book Bound
Forgot to mention I subscribe by email.
Mitz´s last blog ..Book Bound
I just adore Elizabeth Bennett.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
Favorite hero would have to be Col. Brandon from Sense and Sensibility. He lost his first love, learned from his past, then sacrificed everything including his pride for Marianne.
I love Jane Austen ( who doesn’t?) Looking forward to reading this twist on it. My two favorite genres together could make for an interesting read.
Lauren S (mabelilly28 at yahoo dot com) is the randomly selected giveaway winner of MR.DARCY, VAMPYRE by Amanda Grange!
Thanks to all who participated in this book giveaway. I’ve enjoyed reading about your favorite heros/heroines throughout time. Come back again because you never know what book may be discussed and/or given away!
The Book Faery´s last blog ..Wild Blue Under, Judi Fennell – Review