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Guest Post with Nina Benneton, author of Compulsively Mr. Darcy & Giveaway

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Good morning everyone.  I’m pleased to welcome Nina Benneton, author of Compulsively Mr. Darcy, here to Peeking Between the Pages today.  I put up my review of her debut novel yesterday (my review) and it was a really good read for me.  It was funny and entertaining and just perfect for a light read!  Nina is going to chat with us today on her inspiration for writing Austen sequels…

 

“The ugly fact is books are made out of books. The novel depends for its life on the novels that have been written.”

The iconic writer Cormac McCarthy said the above once in an interview (April 19th, 1992, The New York Times).

I admire McCarthy’s sparse yet precise, descriptive writing. I read him for ‘the extensive improvement of my mind’, and to give my irreverent bent some needed gravity, but I’m not a fan of McCarthy’s apocalyptic viewpoint. His novels often leave me quite depressed. He’s my husband’s favorite novelist.

“Let other pens dwell on misery and guilt. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can…” (Chapter 17, Mansfield Park, Jane Austen).

My debut novel would depend for its life on the novels of Jane Austen, I decided when I picked up a pen. She’s my favorite novelist. Jane Austen’s witty, panoptic illustration of human foibles and follies appealed to me as a writer to emulate.

But, I did more than emulate. I was shameless. I borrowed her iconic characters from Pride and Prejudice. I borrowed elements of her plot. I even borrowed her happily ever after ending.

Why?

Because of readers like myself. Jane Austen devotees, addicts, fanatics—Janeites or Austenites—whatever you call us, we’re voracious readers of all things Jane.

We cannot have enough. There are Jane Austen forums. There are blogs. There are social media sites. There are shelves full of Jane Austen genre books in libraries and bookstores. (Perhaps in another two hundred years, McCarthy will have his own genre and rabid Cormac forums, I tell my husband.)

Fellow Janeites from all over the world discourse and debate every minutia involving Jane Austen and her works. The mind boggles. We can give Star Trek fans a run for their phasers.

I’ll leave it to more astute and witty social commentators to explain and pontificate why the unabated cult of Jane.

For me, I was inspired to write my first novel to feed my fellow Janeites’ appetite. With great generosity, they read my mistakes-laden drafts, provided insightful comments, laughed when I needed them to, critiqued and held me accountable when I needed them to, and, most graciously, corrected and taught me the intricacies of the English grammar, which I desperately needed. All this effort to educate a fellow Janeite for the love of Jane.

Jane Austen would have been proud.

Yet, I did not want to write a pastiche of Jane’s most popular novel, Pride and Prejudice.

I wanted to give my fellow Janeites something same, but different. I changed the time period to contemporary. I changed the settings: Vietnam replaced Hertfordshire because I wanted to a dose of cultural flavor, Berkeley was Pemberley because that’s where my heart always is. And I changed the tone to an irreverent romantic comedy because that’s my novice writer’s voice.

I afflicted my Mr. Darcy with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Then I treated him with my quixotic Elizabeth Bennet, an infectious disease doctor.

My inspiration was Jane Austen’s beloved novel, but, above all, I wanted readers to laugh. My fellow Janeites laughed so much they harassed me to pursue publication, show the world that we Jane Austen fanatics are funnier than the Star Trek fanatics.

My novel depended for its life on Jane Austen’s novel, but I’ve managed to birth something that’s my own.

_________________________

Thanks so much Nina!  I always love to hear what inspires the stories that make the books that I enjoy so much.  I look forward to reading more from you in the future.

_________________________

 

About Compulsively Mr. Darcy by Nina Benneton

For anyone obsessed with Pride & Prejudice, it’s Darcy and Elizabeth like you’ve never see them before!

This modern take introduces us to the wealthy philanthropist Fitzwilliam Darcy, a handsome and brooding bachelor who yearns for love but doubts any woman could handle his obsessive tendencies. Meanwhile, Dr. Elizabeth Bennet has her own intimacy issues that ensure her terrible luck with men.

When the two meet up in the emergency room after Darcy’s best friend, Charles Bingley, gets into an accident, Elizabeth thinks the two men are a couple. As Darcy and Elizabeth unravel their misconceptions about each other, they have to decide just how far they’re willing to go to accept each other’s quirky ways…

Buy at:

Sourcebooks
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
B&N

Find Compulsively Mr. Darcy on Goodreads

 

About Nina Benneton

Author Bio: As a child, Nina Benneton promised the French Catholic nuns who taught her in Asia that she would grow up and find the cure for cancer, effect world peace, and win a Nobel Prize for something, anything. Alas, her own Mr. Darcy and the requisite number of beautiful children interrupted her plans. Tired of alphabetizing her spices and searching for stray Barbie shoes, she turned to writing.

Her debut novel, Compulsively Mr. Darcy, earned a Best Book review from Long and Short Review, ‘Hands down…a must read for lovers and fans of classic romance.’ Fresh Fiction Review called it a ‘tenderly written novel.’ Publishers Weekly wrote, ‘Die-hard fans of everything Austen will enjoy this update of her classic tale.’

Find her on her website/blog: www.NinaBenneton.com
Find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nina-Benneton/273543669356518
Find her on her groupblog: www.AustenAuthors.com

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of Compulsively Mr. Darcy by Nina Benneton to share with my readers.  To enter…

  • For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, February 25/12.  Good luck everyone!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Kathy,

      That’s exactly what they tell new writers to do: write what you know. But, truly, it’s not until I started writing that I realized how little I knew about…well, about everything in life to write a novel.

      I had to do lots of research–I talked to infectious disease doctors, I talked to an OCD psychologist expert, I talked to adoption expert, I talked to computer expert, a few lawyers, an OB-gyn doc, a behind-the-scene Hollywood expert, and even someone who prosecute bad guys like my Wickham.

      Now, aren’t you impressed? For such a light read, I had to do all that research because I knew nothing!

      Don’t be too impressed. I talked to financial planner and an acquisition and merger guy–and business terms tend to make me stab my eyes with a dull pen, so I simply make my heroine Elizabeth as clueless as I was.

      Thank you for commenting and good luck.

    • Ellie,

      Thank you for such kind words. I’m going to brag to my mother that you said it sounds ‘special and enjoyable.’

      She’s still waiting for that Nobel Prize, you see.

      Thanks for commenting and good luck.

    • Anne,

      Thank you for the ‘lovely giveaway.’ [You wouldn’t say that if it was just TP paper,right?)

      If it were up to me, everyone would get a book…

      Unfortunately, hand sanitizer costs quite a bit, and I need the royalty to keep me well supplied.

      Thanks for commenting and I hope you win.

    • Colette,

      I’m not sure if you’re asking me or Darlene. If it’s me, I’d be honored.

      Wait, unless it’s one of those naughty websites that will get me a visit from the FBI, then, no.

      You know I’m kidding, right? I always worry that those nuns were right, someday my class clown act is going to land me in jail.

      • LOL! I will take permission from either of you! I added a link; and I think overall the website is a tasteful, especially my homage to Stalin. 😉

    • Serena,

      So glad you like that quote. McCarthy was responding to a comment that he writes like William Faulkner.

      Now, aren’t you impressed I can drop iconic literary names like McCarthy and Faulkner?

      Got to do that, you know, in case those nuns are lurking. They’re still waiting for me to make something of myself.

      Thanks for commenting.

    • Emily,

      Though this is going to cost me a few hand sanitizer wipes, you can always check it out at your library if you don’t win.

      I received an excellent review from a librarian who told me she’s going to order it for her library. I tell you, that’s better than a good review from a nun. (Though, one of my trusted reader was a nun! I was cringing about the spicy parts. You can take a girl out of Catholic school, but you can’t take the guilt out of her).

      Thanks for commenting.

      • I may well do that. As a recent Master of Library Science graduate I definitely support libraries. But there’s just something to be said about actually owning a book and creating your own library of sorts. 🙂

    • Mary,

      That’s what I like to deliver. A nice, light read.

      Quite honestly, I don’t think it’s going to be an Oprah book (though she’s mentioned in it). You got to have lots of gravity, deep heavy gravity to be on Oprah’s book list.

      But Oprah’s very rich, you know. Rich people can afford to be mired in deep gravity in their reading choices.

      Me, I let other pens dwell in misery and guilt. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can.

      Thank you for commenting and good luck.

      • I think there is a play for those deep Oprah books but quite honestly, I find myself getting very depressed when I read many of them. They all seem to have the same dysfunctional themes. I like pure escapism!

        • Amen, sista!

          What’s up with that? That woman likes to scare people into seriousness. I once watched so much Oprah that I was considering nanny-webcaming myself…and I didn’t even have a kid in the house.

    • Mammabunny13,

      From your handle, I could tell you’d want a fun read. 13 bunny children?

      Honey, you need a FUN read!

      Thanks for commenting and I think you really need to win if you have 13 children.

    • Margaret,

      How witty of you!

      There’s no shame in this compulsion about Mr. Darcy. I have to tell you this story, I used to belong to this ‘serious’ writers-group. We wear black turtlenecks and go to coffee shops and we talk writing and poetry and all that. We’d do a prompt writing on a serious subject for five minutes and then share our writing.

      I usually share some DEEP navel-contemplating writing–a childhood in Asia comes in very handy, you know. And they’d nod and approve of my sharing some fictionalized raw wounds I’d suffered for having grown up without hand sanitizer that comes in cute little bottles.

      I’d go home, and I secretly write about OCD Mr. Darcy…

      Hehehehe…I’m the first one in the group who got an agent and a debut book for my Mr. Darcy compulsion. They’re throwing me a book party later this month. I told them I don’t care if they read the book or not, just buy the book so my agent makes enough of me and doesn’t regret signing me.

      Thank you for commenting and I’m sorry you had to read this long reply.

  26. Nina, like Mary, I am going to follow you around (as much as I remember to do)! I am LOVING this book. Devouring it! 🙂
    Thanks so much for the giveaway! I found myself with pen in hand getting ready to underline the library’s book several times! So many good parts!

    • Jakki,

      Thank you for the support! Don’t you dare deface a library book.

      I hope you win, too, just for telling me that.

      I didn’t know library get their copies on release day, too?

      • Nina, don’t worry, I would never intentionally deface a library book. There are just so many good parts I want to highlight! 🙂
        I was surprised my library got copies this soon. They usually don’t lend them until a few weeks after they are released. I am one happy reader though!
        Thanks! 🙂

  28. I find her comments about Cormac McCarthy really interesting, as I have a few of his books on my shelves, and have not yet tried them. As I mentioned before, I think this book is a really interesting melding of a classic, and one that is truly representative of our times. A Darcy that suffers from OCD is something that I am sure a lot of us can relate to, even if only tangentially. I loved this guest post, and would love a chance to read this book, so please do enter me in your giveaway, and thanks, Nina and Dar, for hosting it!

    • zibilee,

      Did you know there’s a Cormac McCarthy society? Who knew? They’ve just increased their dues. Dues? Somehow, I think Cormac would find this whole thing amusing.

      I do think you’re right, the OCD part many readers can relate to (my whole dentist’s office staff, for example). Though, I wanted my portrayal of Darcy as an OCD to be more than making him a poster child for it. I wanted readers to laugh at him, at the same time, commiserate with him.

      There was an OCD convention in San Diego last year, and I wanted to go, if only so I could see what kind of companies would set up booths there? Soap? Hand Sanitizer people? I was really curious.

      Thanks for commenting and good luck.

    • Muzette,

      I’m bias, but it is a good book. Besides, it has a nice, eye-catching cover and it shows people in the subway or buses that you’re a happy, cheerful person.

      Thank you for commenting and good luck.

      • Nina,

        I can’t tell you how many books I’ve bought strictly because of the cover art! I’m a sucker for ’em! 🙂

        Thanks again!

        Muzette

        • Oooh, Muzette,

          I recently met Jimmy Thomas, a cover model for like 2000 romance novels (Ok, I admit I didn’t know who he was until I met him at some author event), so I’m wondering if you bought the covers for the likes of him?

          He’s not cardboard Fabio at all! He’s a sweet HUNK who was gracious enough to hold my book up on his chest (clothed) for a photo.

          • Nina,

            Honestly, I’ve never been a huge fan of romance novels, although I’m probably in the minority there, but I did look up his pictures after I got your reply, and you’re right, he is a hunk for sure! 🙂

  32. Ha! I love your comments about why you chose to write your book. As a Jane Austen cultist, I thank you and look forward to your book. I can’t wait to see familiar characters in a modern and different setting.

    GFC: Sophia Rose
    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

  39. Nina, your comments are so much fun. It makes me want to read your book that much more. Sorry I missed the OCD convention in San Diego. I live with two OCDers. Gets a bit crazy around here.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

    • Linda,

      Two OCDers? My gosh, Linda, you need this book so you can laugh!

      About the OCD convention, I was also curious if they shook hands? Was there a sign that said ‘no double dip?’ I bet they wouldn’t even have a common bowl. I never, never, ever take candy from those public bowls.

      Let’s meet up at the next convention. We’ll just air kiss, okay? No shaking hands.

      Thank you for commenting.

    • Kimba,

      Okay, I confess I got distracted by your tweetername so I clicked on that link and saw all those coffee beans… I love a woman who’s a caffeine addict and an Austenite!

      Thank you for commenting.

  42. Nina, I’m devouring this book an I love it!
    I’m also following you around this wonderful tour of blogs. Don’t put me in the list for the giveaway as I’d like other readers to have the wonderful opportunity to enjoy this book.

    • Lydia,

      How sweet you are, even if you have that Lydia’s name. I was just at some other blogs, and someone hated Lydia with a passion.

      Me, it’s that Kitty I don’t like. That chronic cough? No way I’m getting close to her!

    • Karen,

      I think you’ll enjoy it… It’s not the great American novel at all, but, really, how many of us have finished ‘War and Peace’?

      Good luck and thanks for commenting.

    • Hey Vicky B,

      Thanks for that. I checked your tweet out. That’s a pretty background on the tweet.

      A friend sit me down and show me how to use Twitter just a week ago. Sad, eh? I’d been resisting ’cause I have this fear I’ll be like Ashton, shooting my mouth off uselessly…

      Wait, I’m doing that here.

  46. I like your attitude towards borrowing from Austen. I can respect that. Great post and funny bio too 🙂
    Thanks for the contest

    jennygirl73[at]gmail[dot]com

    • Jennygirl,

      Now that’s a name with an attitude! Jennygirl! I love it.

      Neither a borrower nor a lender be,
      For loan oft loses both itself and friend…

      Okay, that had nothing to do with the topic of my borrowing from Jane Austen, but it’s the two lines that came up in my brain this moment.

      I’m so glad you like the bio. I didn’t think anyone would want to read what I majored in college (molecular biology) or how writing saved my soul…blah blah blah.

      Good luck.

    • Dear, dear Holly with 2 kids and tired,

      LOVE, LOVE that siggie.

      Honey, I so much want you to win. I understand fatigue and kids! I had 3 kids in diapers at one time (NO, I did not have triplets!) and by the time 6PM came, I counted I’d changed 22 diapers since before the sun came up.

      I wrote a little scene about OCD Darcy changing babies’ diapers, but I had to delete it in the final manuscript. It had nothing to do with the plot…I just wanted to torture him.

      Thanks for the enthusiasm there!

    • bn100,

      Okay, I have no idea how you picked that name! I can’t mess with it.

      I’m very happy you enjoyed the post. I was worried about leading in with Cormac there… he’s not a barrel of laughs, you know.

      Thanks for commenting and good luck. PS: the book is good, I promise you’d get a chuckle or two.

  52. Pride and Prejudice is a favorite story of mine so this looks like an interesting twist on it.
    I follow on GFC

    • Maureen,

      My apologies. I thought I’d replied two days ago to your comment, but I must have not hit submit.

      P & P is a favorite of mine also, as you can tell. My second favorite JA novel is Mansfield Park. Kinda hard to think of a twist on MP, though. Edmund Bertram doesn’t do anything for me.

      Thanks for commenting.

    • Patricia,

      For that triple ‘love,’ I wish you live close and I can lend you my copy. After I squirt some hand sanitizer on your hands, of course.

      Thanks for commenting.

    • Shannon,

      A fellow lover of Mr. Darcy!

      Gosh, where were you when I was sitting behind a stack of my books at a book signing and all these men told me they’ve never heard of Mr. Darcy. I was trying to tell them to buy it for their wife, but the shoes on the cover intimidated them…