Book Blurb & Info
Inspired by Actual Events
Fifteen-year-old Jane Austen dreams of three things: doing something useful, writing something worthy, and falling madly in love. When she visits her brother in Kent to celebrate his engagement, she meets wealthy, devilishly handsome Edward Taylor—a fascinating young man who is truly worthy of her affections. Jane knows a match between her and Edward is unlikely, but every moment she spends with him makes her heart race—and he seems to return her interest. Much to her displeasure, however, there is another seeking his attention
Unsure of her budding relationship, Jane seeks distraction by attempting to correct the pairings of three other prospective couples. But when her matchmaking aspirations do not all turn out as anticipated, Jane discovers the danger of relying on first impressions. The human heart cannot be easily deciphered, nor can it be directed or managed. And if others must be left to their own devices in matters of love and matrimony, can Jane even hope to satisfy her own heart?
Buy Links
Goodreads / Amazon
Interview
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Hi Syrie,
Thank you so much for sitting down with
Toot's for an interview. If you don't mind, I have some questions for you
about your new book, Jane Austen’s First Love, and your process for our
budding authors as well as fans.
So first off, Jane Austen’s First Love
Questions.......
In your own words, what is Jane Austen’s
First Love about?
Jane Austen’s First Love is the story of the summer of 1791 when
fifteen-year-old Jane Austen met Edward Taylor, the remarkable young man who
first stole her heart.
How did you come up with the title of the
book and can you tell us its significance?
The
title was easy and I think it’s self-explanatory! J
Is Jane Austen’s First Love a standalone
book or will it be part of a series?
It’s a
standalone book.
What genre would you say Jane Austen’s
First Love is and what sets your book apart for fans of the genre?
Jane Austen’s First Love fits within several genres: Historical Fiction, Romance,
and also Y.A. What sets it apart? Well, it’s the only novel that I know of
about Jane Austen as a teenager (which was great fun to explore.) The
magnificent locations are all real, and nearly every single character in the
book is a real person who Jane Austen knew. The novel is based on actual events
and the exciting result of some groundbreaking research. For two hundred years,
scholars have called Edward Taylor “Jane Austen’s shadowiest suitor” because
they didn’t know much about him…but I uncovered a trove of new information
about him, which helped explain exactly why Jane Austen fell head over heels in
love him—and my book brings him out of the shadows at last!
What are some of the elements of the world
you created?
Jane Austen’s First Love takes place primarily at Goodnestone Park, a gorgeous
ancestral estate in Kent which still exists today and is owned by descendants
of the Bridges family, who Jane Austen knew and visited. Since so many elements
of the novel—the era, the place, and the people—were real, one of my biggest
inventions was the notion to bring all these people together in the summer of
1791 to celebrate the double-engagement of the two Bridges sisters.
If you had to pick one thing, what is your
favorite thing about the world you’ve created?
Having
the opportunity to bring to life the extraordinary Edward Taylor and a
vivacious, young Jane Austen, as they fall in love over one glorious summer.
What was your favorite scene to write for
either your hero or heroine in Jane Austen’s First Love?
One
standout is the ball at Goodnestone Park, when Jane and Edward Taylor steal
away and talk for hours and hours. He opens her eyes to seeing the world a bit
differently, and afterwards she is forever changed.
What was the hardest scene to write?
When
Jane first arrives at Goodnestone Park and meets the Bridges family. It’s a
challenge to introduce a lot of new characters at the same time, because it’s
very important to me to keep each one distinct, consistent, and interesting.
What's your favorite line or quote from
Jane Austen’s First Love?
“I learned
so much that summer about the human mind and heart—about what motivates people
to marry—about what really matters when two people are falling in love.”
Writing.......
Do you recall how your interest in writing
originated and what made you decide to pursue it as a career?
I think
my interest in writing at an early age was sparked by my love of reading. From
early childhood on, I loved nothing better than to curl up with a good novel. I
wrote short stories for the fun of it in elementary school. One of my sixth
grade class projects was to adapt the award-winning book Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry into a stage play, which we
then performed for the rest of the school. It was so exciting to work on that
adaptation, to see a book come to life! It was at that moment, at age ten, that
I knew I wanted to be a writer.
What inspires you to put the pen to paper
or fingers to the keyboard?
My
novel in progress is always calling to me. Even when I’m not at the keyboard,
the characters keep talking in my head, and I can’t wait to get back to the
moment where I left off, to continue their story.
What are some of the elements in/of your
writing process?
I write
a detailed outline that follows basic screenplay story structure, making sure it
has character arcs and plot points in all the right places. I sketch out an
in-depth history of every major character. I research the subject as thoroughly
as possible. When I understand exactly what I’ve got and where I’m going, I
dive in and write the book in chronological order. I almost always get new
ideas along the way that take me to interesting places, but I try to stay on
track with the original plan.
What's next for you?
I’m
currently working on the sequel to Forbidden
with my son Ryan, with whom I co-wrote
the first book.
Are there any of your stories or characters
that hold a special place in your heart?
All of
them. I give so much of myself every time I write a book—I spend so much time
in the heads and hearts of my characters, and I become so involved and invested
in their lives, that they truly take over my
life—and they become a special part of me forever.
Is there anything you’d like to add or say
to your fans?
Thank
you so much for your support of my work! Your emails and messages on my
website, telling me how much you enjoy my novels, mean everything to me. I’m so
excited to share Jane Austen’s First Love
with you. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it. Please
find me on facebook, follow me on twitter (@SyrieJames), and visit me at
www.syriejamescom!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for taking
time to answer some questions. Congratulations on the book and I can't wait for
everyone to read it! – Toot’s
Author Info
Syrie was named after a character in a radio show that her mother listened to as a girl. Today, Syrie is thrilled that her name is pronounced exactly the same as Siri, the iPhone personal assistant--even if they spell the name incorrectly. :)
Syrie has long been a fan of British literature of the 19th century. She also enjoys reading in a variety of other genres, including historical fiction, paranormal fiction, women's fiction, biography, memoir, romance, mystery, and the classics.
Two of Syrie's favorite authors are Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë. Syrie's husband Bill, who has joined her in watching all the film versions of Miss Austen's novels several times over and every film version of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights ever made, has come to share her enthusiasm, if not her obsession. Syrie also enjoys writing about brilliant, sympathetic, charismatic vampires ... and the paranormal. It was a truly wonderful experience to co-author the novel Forbidden with her son Ryan.
Syrie lived in Paris when she was seven years old, and had visited more than two dozen countries by age eight, which instilled in her a lifelong love of traveling. Her other favorite pursuits include movies, theater, great food, playing games with family and friends, Scrabble, photography, sewing, and the out of doors. Syrie designed and maintains her website, syriejames.com, and she welcomes visitor and messages! Like Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë, Syrie is very fond of the countryside, and loves taking long walks.
Syrie lives with her family in Los Angeles, California. She is a member of the WGA, RWA, and a life member of JASNA (the Jane Austen Society of North America). She spent many years as a screenwriter and enjoys writing both novels and screenplays.
Syrie writes practically every weekday from 10 - 6. She says, "Many people can't wait for the weekend to arrive. It's the opposite for me. I truly love my jam-packed weekends, but from the time I turn off the computer on Friday evening to the moment I'm back in my chair on Monday morning, I'm anxious to get back to the characters I left in limbo, who are just waiting for me to continue their story."
Author Link
Wonderful interview. Goodnestone is such a beautiful home.
ReplyDeleteNice interview
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