 A Jane Austen ChristmasbyLev Raphael
More heart-warmingly, Austen offers stories of families torn apart and brought together, unlikely couples finding love, and her novels abounds in themes that would make for a raft of Hallmark Holiday specials. That's certainly one side of her, a side that seems to loom larger each time there's a new BBC version of one of her novels. Bonnets ahoy! It's likely that if you aren't a Janeite yourself, you know one or more of them, and you're wondering about an appropriate holiday gift. I’d suggest the brand new anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It, a collection of almost two dozen original short stories inspired by Austen. There’s something for everyone here in terms of genre, but all the stories are well-crafted and share a love of Jane Austen. Regency novelist Monica Fairview’s written a lovely follow-up to Emma, speculating on the inevitable complications of a household shared by Emma, her father and her husband. Two other favorites of mine in this book are an update of Northanger Abbey by Myretta Robens and “What Would Jane Austen Do?”, an absolutely hilarious take on a family that lives and breathes Jane Austen. Written by Jane Rubino and her daughter Caitlin Rubino-Bradway, it makes nods to Glee and Twilight and is very knowing. The anthology has many other winners and will make great reading by the wood or gas fireplace, or even by the Yule log playing on your laptop or smart phone. Its editor Laurel Ann Nattress is a superstar in the Austen universe who told me that “Jane Austen and her indelible influence never cease to amuse and amaze me.” She runs the wildly popular Austenprose website and I managed to track her down during a whirlwind blog tour where she earned thousands of frequent blogger miles and never had to take her shoes off or put anything in a one-ounce plastic bag. Lucky editor! * * * Lev Raphael: Anthology editors have always told me they had at least a few authors who were difficult to work with. Was that your experience with this book? Laurel Ann Nattress: Being an anthology editor is a challenge that I was eager to embrace, even though I had been forewarned by friends and people in the book biz that it could be a difficult experience, you know, “There will be Prima Donnas.” Luckily for me, the authors kept all the drama for their stories! Lev: Was the process complicated? Laurel Ann: Like any project, orchestrating a large group of people takes creativity, flexibility, patience and a lot of organization. All of the authors except one were previously published and knew the drill. The authors had nine months to write and deliver their stories. Two authors asked for a longer delivery date because of other commitments. My editor at Ballantine was incredibly accommodating—up to the last possible day—and because of her experience and commitment to the book, we were able to insert the stories during the last editing process. Lev: What were you looking for? Laurel Ann: I gave my authors free reign, asking them only to take their inspiration from Jane Austen, her novels, characters, letters, philosophies of life and/or love. Their stories could be set in any era and could include romantic and suspenseful elements, but they had to stay within the realm of Jane Austen's sphere of social decorum. The week that they arrived in my e-mail in box was like a Jane Austen gift explosion! I was totally blown away by the diversity and creativity. From romantic to mystery to fantastical, it’s all there. Lev: How did you land such a terrific gig? Laurel Ann: I received the opportunity to edit Jane Austen Made Me Do It because of my expertise in the genre. I have read and reviewed a few Austenesque books in my day. I usually know by the end of the third chapter if it has wings: a fresh concept skillfully rendered, Austen allusions or her characters reverently portrayed, and humor in the form of wit and irony. I know. It’s a tall order. I’m fastidious. My editor and agent added some names to my list of twenty of my favorite authors that I had a working relationship with from my blog Austenprose, and others who I knew liked Austen, but hadn’t written for the genre yet. The day I sent out the e-mail inquiry was amazing. Within five minutes I had my first acceptance and the emails kept arriving all day with positive responses. It was such a rush. The authors liked the concept and loved the opportunity to write an Austen-inspired story. That says a lot for Jane Austen and her indelible influence on writers. Lev: In your introduction, you say you discovered Austen in college in 1980. Who were your most beloved authors before that? Laurel Ann: If I had never been introduced to Jane Austen, I would be blogging about James Fenimore Cooper. In 1972, I saw The Last of the Mohicans miniseries on Masterpiece Theatre PBS. I immediately read the novel. Albeit, it was an abridged edition, but I was a pre-teen at the time, and the copy was in the family library. I have since discovered all of Cooper’s Leatherstocking novels and love them. Before that, I must confess that I was not a “great reader” and took pleasure in other passions like horses, and horses. Did I mention I liked horses? Um, yes. Well, I can credit Cooper for inspiring me to read. Lev: Do you read other nineteenth century English women authors? The Brontës? Charlotte Gaskell? George Eliot? Elizabeth Braddon? Laurel Ann: Oh, gadzooks! Yes, I’ve read the Brontës. Heck if I can understand them! So much emotion and turmoil jumping off the page. No wonder Charlotte disliked Austen’s calm civility. I think she called Austen’s novels passionless. I have the opposite reaction to her novels. (Please, no flinging of rotten vegetables.) Mrs. Gaskell is delightful. I love North and South. Edith Wharton is considered a twentieth century writer, but she is on the cusp. I find her work penetrating and poignant. Lev: Can you picture ever getting tired of Austen or blogging or both? Laurel Ann: The day I am tired of Austen or blogging, it will be the end of the world. Lev: What do you see for the future of your blog? And for the world of Austen-inspired fiction? Laurel Ann: Jane Austen has been inspiring readers and writers for two hundred years. I think she’s good for another twenty, at least. Then I can retire and re-read Cooper. Austen-inspired fiction keeps evolving and recreating itself. For years it was Darcy, Darcy, Darcy. Now, who would have thought that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies would be a bestseller? Or, Jane Austen as a modern vampire would be a fun lark? Or Pride and Prejudice with a Jewish twist? Since Austen had such fun with her characters, skewering society, and reinventing the modern novel, it’s no surprise to me that she continues to inspire novel writers and movie screenwriters. Lev: Could you imagine a reality show called Real Janeites of Bath? Laurel Ann: Totally. Margaret Sullivan of AustenBlog, Vic Sanborn of Jane Austen’s World and me trolling the Pump Room for Austen character lookalikes, loitering at the Jane Austen Centre Giftshop, critiquing dancers at the Assembly Rooms, and debating the merits of Sally Lunn buns vs. Milsom Street marzipan. I could get into this. Sign me up. Lev: How has the blogosphere itself changed since you launched your blog? Laurel Ann: Social networking has exploded and changed the blogosphere. As a top blogger you need to do it all, or you’re lost in the crowd. It’s becoming more and more complicated and harder to keep abreast of all of the new technology. I write less on my blog now because of my commitments to other venues like Twitter and Facebook. To compensate, I just shifted gears and asked other writers to contribute to Austenprose. Blogging is a process of learning and growing. I try to stay flexible to change. If you don’t, you will be continually disappointed because you cannot meet your own (and your readers) expectations. Lev: How has blogging changed you? Laurel Ann: You might say that I am the poster girl for following your bliss. I started Austenprose to write about my favorite author and celebrate her brilliance with other Janeites. I had no grand plans for it. I just wrote daily blogs about quotes from the novels and her letters. Jane Austen fans and literature lovers found me and loved it. I must have filled a void online. “If you build it, they will come” I guess! Blogging helped me find my voice and confidence as a writer, and a Jane Austen enthusiast. I never dreamed that it would all culminate into a book deal, but it did. I still pinch myself every time I look at Jane Austen Made Me Do It. Lev: Where do you stand in terms of Austen as a "romantic" author? Laurel Ann: If you're asking me if Austen wrote romance novels, I would have to say no. Her plots do contain romantic elements, but since the romance genre, as we know it today, is a twentieth-century development, she can't be classified as a romance novelist. If you're asking if she thought that her romantic elements were her primary focus of her novels, I would have to say no again. Her stories are basically about young women seeking marriage in an upwardly conscience society, with underlying social commentary and comical second characters to fill out the triangle. Interestingly, readers can appreciate Austen for all three points separately, during different readings, and times of their lives. It's one of her enduring contributions to literature. Lev: Which Austen heroine or hero do you most identify with? Laurel Ann: I admire Elizabeth Bennet’s confidence, sass and witty observations, but I doubt anyone who knows me intimately would say I am like her. As I have evolved as an Austen reader, I have come to appreciate Sir John Middleton from Sense and Sensibility. He is not a hero or a heroine, but he is a good-hearted, generous, and sensitive soul who is always concerned about his family and friends. Of Austen’s heroes, I adore Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey. He is well read, witty and charming. His one flaw is that he married Catherine Morland. Lev: You spend so much of your waking life on Austen—has she entered your dreams? Laurel Ann: Interestingly, I have no memory of ever dreaming about Jane Austen. Though, I would like to. In Jane’s defense, I rarely remember a dream, so there you go. Lev: Are you planning your own Austen-inspired novel, screenplay, or video game? Laurel Ann: Never say never on the first three items, but I do believe that I have a few more books left in me as an editor. I am contemplating another Austen-inspired anthology and would like to annotate one her novels. Lev: What advice would you give someone inspired by Austen who wants to get launched in the world of Austen blogs or writing Austenesque fiction? Laurel Ann: Blogging is all about passion. If you are wild about Jane Austen, then write about what excites you about her life, her novels and her legacy. It will be inspiring and infectious to your readers. Don’t be afraid to show your enthusiasm—and your flaws. Like Austen’s foibled characters, it will be endearing. Be real, be sincere, and laugh at yourself and with others. If you’re inspired to write Austenesque fiction, please follow these three simple rules: 1.) Read the novels. 2.) Be respectful of Austen and her characters. 3.) Be funny. I know, it's a tall order, but in Jane Austen-inspired fiction, “Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies.” Books mentioned in this interview:
Lev Raphael grew up in New York but got over it and has lived half his life in Michigan where he found his partner of twenty-six years along with a certain small fame. He escaped academia in 1988 to write full-time and has never looked back. The author of twenty-one books in many genres, and hundreds of reviews, stories and articles, he's seen his work discussed in journals, books, conference papers, and assigned in college and university classrooms. Which means he’s become homework. Who knew? Lev’s books have been translated into close to a dozen languages, some of which he can't identify, and he's done hundreds of readings and talks across the U.S. and Canada, and in France, England, Scotland, Austria, Germany and Israel. His latest book Pride and Prejudice: The Jewess and the Gentile is his second e-book original. You can learn more about Lev and his work on his website. Lev has reviewed for the Washington Post, Boston Review, NPR, the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Jerusalem Report and the Detroit Free Press where he had a mystery column for almost a decade. He also hosted his own public radio book show where he interviewed Salman Rushdie, Erica Jong, and Julian Barnes among many other authors. Whatever the genre, he's always looked for books with a memorable voice and a compelling story to tell. Contact Lev.
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