Admittedly, while I loved many of Jane Austen’s books, I wasn’t too sure about the idea of beloved Darcy as a vampire. I was intrigued with the concept because I could see how the original story could lend itself to the notion. There is much mystery surrounding Darcy and since Pride and Prejudice is told from Elizabeth Bennett’s point of view we had little insight into his mind or his emotions. We had only his actions to judge him by so the mystery still remains. However I loved the way Amanda handled the premise and her skill as a writer apparent in her story. I also loved how she was able to make Darcy more three-dimensional and yet remain true to the original character in Pride and Prejudice. Best of all, it’s not the typical clichéd vampire story.I had the opportunity to chat with best selling author, Amanda Grange, which was cool because I could ask some questions.
Why Darcy as a Vampire?
- I wanted to write a different kind of sequel to Pride and Prejudice, something that would test Lizzy and Darcy’s love for one another and leave the outcome in doubt, and as I was reading a lot of Regency Gothics at the time, the idea of a Gothic sequel came to me. I’d had the idea of Darcy as a vampyre at the back of my mind for some time and it all seemed to fit very well. He’s wealthy, aloof and very attractive to women. I also liked the idea of making him a vampyre because Darcy as a character refuses to die. He’s 200 years old and yet he still enthralls women!
Did you read the original Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice to keep your story in sync with original?
- Yes, I’ve read Pride and Prejudice many times, as it’s my favourite book. I’ve even written another book based on it called Mr Darcy’s Diary, which is a retelling from Darcy’s point of view! So I know the original very well and every now and again I went back to it to check a detail and make sure I was still on track.
What part of writing this book did you enjoy the most?
- That’s hard, because I enjoyed writing different parts for different reasons, but if I had to pick one part of the book I think I would pick the scenes in Venice because it’s a beautiful city and I loved sending Lizzy there. I also loved writing about Darcy’s reaction to seeing her so happy.
What was the hardest part of writing this story?
- I think it was making it all tie in with Pride and Prejudice. For example, in Pride and Prejudice we learn that Mr Darcy’s housekeeper has known him from his early childhood, so I had to think of a way to work that into my sequel and make it fit in with the alternate reality I was creating.
Are you a 'seat of your pants' writer or do you write from outline?
- A bit of both. I had a strong outline for Mr Darcy’s Diary but I filled in the details as I started to write and all sorts of extra things kept happening. They made the story a lot deeper and a lot more interesting and they kept me absorbed because I didn’t know every twist and turn before it happened.
What's a typical writing day for you like?
- I don’t really have a typical writing day. My writing ebbs and flows. Sometimes I will go straight to the computer when I get up in the morning and I will sit and write all day, at other times I won’t start writing until the evening and I will then write into the night.
Who is a source of encouragement to you?
- Other authors. I know quite a lot of them through my writers’ groups, and their creativity and hard work is always an inspiration. It motivates me and keeps me going.
What's next on the agenda for you?
- I’m working on a Darcy story for a Christmas anthology and then I’m writing a prequel to Mr Darcy, Vampyre, so I’m going to be pretty busy!
Amanda, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I'd be very interested in seeing the prequel to Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. To be honest, I found the section where he explains how he became a vampire fascinating and wished there had been more than you showed in this book.
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Amanda Grange is the international bestselling author of Mr. Darcy’s Diary, as well as four more Diaries featuring the points of view of the heroes of Jane Austen’s literature and her own historical fiction. She specializes in creative interpretations of classic novels and historic events. Ms. Grange lives in England. Find out more about Amanda and Mr. Darcy, Vampyre on her website: www.amandagrange.com, her blog: http://mrdarcyvampyre.blogspot.com/; and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/MrDarcyVampyre
I want to share with you Mr. Darcy, Vampyre Book Trailer! YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAGv8jnPQJ8.
Two copies of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre—US and Canada only, given to two commenters on today’s Blog. I will need a way to contact the winners, so be sure to leave a way to do that. I will contact the two winners to get your mailing address so the books can be sent to you.
