**GIVEAWAY** The Darcy Monologues Blog Tour Interview with Sophia Rose Review Darcy Strikes Out

Welcome to my stop on The Darcy Monologues Blog Tour, I'm featuring the Austen inspired short story by Sophia Rose including an interview with Sophia Rose, some praise from another contributor and my review of Sophia Rose's, Darcy Strikes Out. Read all about the anthology then enter to win a great selection of Austen inspired prizes located in the Rafflecopter widget at the end of the post.
Enjoy!!

Book Title: The Darcy Monologues

Editor: Christina Boyd

Authors: Susan Adriani * Sara Angelini * J. Marie Croft * Karen M Cox * Jan Hahn * Jenetta James * Lory Lilian * KaraLynne Mackrory * Beau North * Ruth Phillips Oakland * Natalie Richards * Sophia Rose * Joana Starnes * Melanie Stanford * Caitlin Williams

Tour Dates: April 3 – July 3, 2017

Genre: Anthologies & Literature Classics, Romance Classics, Historical Classics,

Pre-Order Link: AmazonUS

Overview:

“You must allow me to tell you...”

For over two hundred years, Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy has captivated readers’ imaginations as the ultimate catch. Rich. Powerful. Noble. Handsome. And yet, as Miss Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is established through Elizabeth Bennet’s fine eyes, how are we to know what his tortured soul is indeed thinking? How does Darcy progress from “She is tolerable: but not handsome enough to tempt me” to “I thought only of you”?

In this romance anthology, fifteen Austen-inspired authors assemble to sketch Darcy’s character through a series of re-imaginings, set in the Regency through contemporary times—from faithful narratives to the fanciful. Herein “The Darcy Monologues”, the man himself reveals his intimate thoughts, his passionate dreams, and his journey to love—all told with a previously concealed wit and enduring charm.

Melanie Stanford Anticipates a Home Run from Sophia Rose in Darcy Strikes Out

I had the great honour of being part of the Austenesque anthology THEN COMES WINTER and loved Sophia Rose’s Northanger Abbey story NORTH FOR THE NEW YEAR. After that, I eagerly picked up SUN-KISSED: EFFUSIONS OF SUMMER to read her Persuasion story SECOND CHANCE AT SUNSET BEACH.

Now, I can’t wait to read DARCY STRIKES OUT! I love a modern retelling, but best of all: baseball! Growing up as the last of seven kids and a girl to boot, baseball was the one sport my dad took me to, the first sport I fell in love with. Some of my favorite movies growing up were baseball movies. So Mr. Darcy playing baseball? *swoons* I can already imagine Darcy in a baseball cap and uniform, stepping up to the plate, his lean muscles rippling as he hits a homer. And I have so many questions about Sophia Rose’s Elizabeth. Is she a fan? A manager or assistant coach or physical therapist? Where does she fit in and how does baseball-playing Darcy win her over? Does she mess with his game? (Man, I hope she messes with his game.)

Sophia Rose knows her romance so I already know there will be laughs, love, and best of all: sexual tension. I’ve never read a sports-themed Pride and Prejudice variation before, so I’m super excited for this one! Can’t wait to read! 

Meet Sophia Rose

Howdy, Everybody!

I’m so tickled to visit with Debbie and her Reading Frenzy crowd.  Debbie is such a fantastic supporter of authors and readers that I am humbled and grateful that she is hosting me today as one of that number.

 

Thank you for dropping by Sophia to spend some time with my readers. It’s a pleasure to have you at The Reading Frenzy!

To give my readers some background about your interest in Jane Austen, can you describe for us how Austen has inspired you both a woman and as a writer?

Inspired… well okay, I’ll try to go with that thought in a roundabout way…First, I’ve been acquainted with Jane Austen’s works since I was an eight year old.  I had already read and re-read her novels by the time I was a teen.  I was that ‘special’ type who associated with book heroines more than real life people so I was definitely of the persuasion who would tackle life issues with a ‘what would Anne, Lizzy, Elinor, Marianne, or Fanny do?’

As I grew to understand the significance of Jane Austen’s own choices to reject a secure marriage and press forward with her writing, (I didn’t necessarily follow literally in her footsteps- never had the chance to reject a rich guy, for one) I was struck by the observation that she held to her convictions even if it was the tougher life road to travel.

I think her writing most influenced my own in that she wrote about people in a familiar setting to her- people she might encounter in her own circle of acquaintance.  I gravitate that way in each of the published pieces I wrote and even the ones waiting to be brought to public light.

Your story, Darcy Strikes Out, and Jane Austen; what do you think makes them work together? What do they have to say to each other?

In Darcy Strikes Out, I was taken with the way Miss Austen’s character, Fitzwilliam Darcy, responded to rejection.  He was angry, hurt, but then he deliberately set out to change to be worthy of a lady.

I really try not to think much about what Miss Austen might think of my take on her story and characters or I’d probably have a freak out moment and not be able to write a line.  Then I recall the author’s personality and imagine her appreciating modern sports.  Personally, I can easily see Miss Austen up in a broadcast booth enthusiastically calling a ball game with all her characters taking the field and pausing for a bit of ‘color story’ about that Dandy Darcy who stirred up a certain lady journalist so that the fireworks were visible from space.

The modern-day woman appears as besotted as ever by Mr. Darcy. What were the attributes that you felt you needed to include in the Mr. Darcy character in your story?

It’s as I was saying earlier.  It’s in how the gentleman responds to being called out and found in error.  That’s one of the biggest attractions Fitzwilliam Darcy holds even two centuries later.  Flaws and mistakes are inevitable, but it’s what happens when the error is pointed out that can be the real game changer.  Darcy was attracted to a woman of average circumstances who was just being real when she captured his eye.  Who doesn’t want to be loved for themselves, right?  And hey, she judged poorly, got all snarly about it, and it still didn’t put the guy off.  Le sigh…

 

Why do you believe Austen’s stories still speak to modern-day readers?

Miss Austen wrote using themes that are universal time out of mind.

I have the suspicion that if her novels had been transported backwards in time, we would see Queen Guinevere glance up from her copy of Pride & Prejudice and spy Arthur’s knights out practicing their jousting and she’d be able to pick out a Darcy, Bingley, Collins, and, urgh, even a Wickham in the bunch. A side-eye at her mother and she’d see Lady Catherine.  And doesn’t her second lady in waiting have a bit of Caro Bingley in her?

See, we could all play this game because those stories and characters speak to all of us.

Throughout this book tour, the authors from The Darcy Monologues have been sharing six-word memoirs based on themselves. Would you share one with my readers about yourself?

Quiet in person; whimsical in print.

What can readers look forward to reading from you in the future and how can readers stay in touch with you?

I’m as superstitious as some baseball players and don’t like to talk much about current works in progress.  Let’s just say that the writing cave is seeing activity and there are days where the muse is sizzling and other days she is stone cold.  Wish me luck!

You can find me hanging about a few places. 

Feel free to friend or follow me so we can chat up Jane Austen, books, chocolate, cats, gardens, cooking, or what have you at the following places:

Facebook

GoodReads

Twitter

Sophia, I understand you also have a beloved recipe to share with my readers, which found its way into your story.

This is the French Toast I was envisioning when I wrote the scene between Darcy and Lizzy at Daily Bread in Darcy Strikes Out  during the scene when she orders their French Toast.  The recipe is one of a long acquaintance with the family that gave it to us because we loved it so much when we stayed at their B&B up in the Sierra Mountains of California every year in the autumn.

GRANDMERE’S INN STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

1 loaf of Sourdough bread                             8 oz cream cheese

2 ½ c milk                                                         8 eggs

1 c pure maple syrup                                      ½ c butter, melted

Cube 1 loaf of sourdough bread.  Spray 9” casserole dish with cooking spray.  Layer as follows:  bread, sliced 8 oz block of cream cheese in ¼” slices, bread.  Mix 2 ½ c milk, 8 eggs, and ½ c pure maple syrup (you can get away with regular maple syrup).  Pour over casserole, making sure that bread is saturated.  Bake for 2 hours at 350`.  Pour mixture of ½ c syrup and ½ c melted butter over all.  Optional:  Add cinnamon to the milk and egg mixture or sprinkle on afterward.

Thanks for the opportunity to visit, Debbie!

My Review of Darcy Strikes Out

Darcy Strikes Out by Sophia Rose

Peanuts, popcorn, Cold Beer Here! These are not the words you would normally associate with an Austen retelling but they fit like a outfielder’s glove in Sophia Rose’s portion of The Darcy Monologues. With an economy of words she weaves a fantastic mix of Austen inspired and crime drama staring a wonderful Darcy, Liz duo and a fantastic stable of Austen-name-dropping costars.
Be sure to check out all the fabulous Austen inspired short stories in The Darcy Monologues.

SUMMARY:
Three months after he spectacularly struck out with a beautiful sports writer, NY Lancers baseball star Will (Dandy) Darcy still can’t get her and her hurtful words out of his head – then a chance meeting puts them together and he wants a do over.
Lizzie Bennet may have gotten it all wrong about a certain sexy ball player and she’s not wasting this second chance to make a first impression.

Author Bios:

Formally trained as a fine artist and illustrator, Susan Adriani discovered her passion for storytelling over a decade after she graduated from a local art college near her childhood home in New England. Susan is the author of The Truth about Mr. Darcy and Darkness Falls upon Pemberley.

Sara Angelini is a lawyer living in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband, three kids, two dogs, a frog, some fish, and a few hundred stick bugs. She never went to veterinary school but if she had, she would have been a true proficient. She enjoys writing from Darcy’s point of view in a way that shows his humor and vulnerability. Her first book, The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy, was published in 2008. She is the co-founder of www.austenunderground.com, where her other Pride and Prejudice-inspired works can be read.

Karen M Cox is an award-winning author of four novels accented with romance and history: 1932, Find Wonder in All Things, At the Edge of the Sea, and Undeceived. She also wrote “Northanger Revisited 2015”, which appeared in the anthology Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer. Originally from Everett, Washington, Karen now lives in Central Kentucky with her husband, works as a pediatric speech pathologist, encourages her children, and spoils her granddaughter. Like Austen’s Emma, Karen has many hobbies and projects she doesn’t quite finish, but like Elizabeth Bennet, she aspires to be a great reader and an excellent walker.

J. Marie Croft is a self-proclaimed word nerd and adherent of Jane Austen’s quote “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.’ Bearing witness to her fondness for Pride and Prejudice, wordplay, and laughter are Joanne’s light-hearted novel, Love at First Slight, a Babblings of a Bookworm Favourite Read of 2014, her humorous short story, “Spyglasses and Sunburns,” in the Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer anthology, and a playful novella, A Little Whimsical in His Civilities, Just Jane 1813’s Favorite JAFF Novella of 2016.

Award-winning writer Jan Hahn is the author of four Austen-inspired novels. She studied music at the University of Texas but discovered her true love was a combination of journalism and literature. Her first book, An Arranged Marriage, was published in 2011, followed by The Journey, The Secret Betrothal, and A Peculiar Connection. She agrees with Mr. Darcy’s words in Pride and Prejudice: “A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.” She is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, lives in Texas, has five children and a gaggle of gorgeous grandchildren.

Jenetta James is a mother, lawyer, writer, and taker-on of too much. She grew up in Cambridge and read history at Oxford University where she was a scholar and president of the Oxford University History Society. After graduating, she took to the law and now practices full time as a barrister. Over the years, she has lived in France, Hungary and Trinidad as well as her native England. Jenetta currently lives in London with her husband and children where she enjoys reading, laughing and playing with Lego. She is the author of Suddenly Mrs. Darcy and The Elizabeth Papers.

Lory Lilian fell in love with Pride and Prejudice thirty-three years ago and discovered the charm of Jane Austen fanfiction exactly twenty years later. She lives in Bucharest, Romania, is a proud mother of an amazing daughter, and addicted to anything Austen. After a career in business, she dedicates her time to reading and writing. Lory is the author of six bestselling books: Rainy Days, Remembrances of the Past, His Uncle’s Favorite, The Perfect Match, Sketching Mr. Darcy, The Rainbow Promise, and A Man with Faults. JAFF readers call her the “Queen of Hot Mush” and she loves it.

KaraLynne Mackrory is no newbie to the writing world. She made her debut as an author at the tender age of 13 when she wrote her first set of bad poetry. As a young adult, she steered clear of bad prose and achieved a degree in social work. Years later, she has published four Austen inspired novels so full of romantic sensibilities as to give you a swoon and hopefully a few laughs. Her books turned out better than her poetry and are: Falling for Mr. Darcy, Bluebells in the Mourning, the IPPY award-winning Haunting Mr. Darcy, and Yours Forevermore, Darcy.

Beau North is the author of Longbourn’s Songbird, The Many Lives of Fitzwilliam Darcy, and a contributor to the anthology Then Comes Winter. Beau is a native southerner who now calls Portland, Oregon home with her husband and two cats. She attended the University of South Carolina where she began a lifelong obsession with literature. In her spare time, Beau is the co-host of the podcast Excessively Diverted: Modern Austen Onscreen.

Mild-mannered business woman by day, hopeless romantic by night, Ruth Phillips Oakland was always a fan of the fictional gentleman from Derbyshire, but it was her discovery of Jane Austen fanfiction in 2006 that inspired Ruth to become a writer. Ruth has written dozens of short stories posted online and the published novel entitled, My BFF. Ruth lives in New England with her favorite husband of over thirty years and is thrilled to be included in this anthology with so many of her favorite authors and friends.

Natalie Richards is a writer, blogger, and singer. She started her book review blog, Songs & Stories, in late 2010 after falling in love with Jane Austen fanfiction. Her writing can also be found on Figment, the Darcy & Lizzy Forum, TeenInk Magazine, and in the Austenesque anthologies Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer and Then Comes Winter. She resides with her family in the Oregon countryside and currently works as a waitress and babysitter.

Sophia Rose is a native Californian currently residing in Michigan. A long-time Jane Austen fan, she is a contributing author to Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer and Then Comes Winter anthologies. Sophia’s love for writing began as a teen writing humorous stories submitted for creative writing class and high school writing club. Writing was set aside while Sophia pursued degrees and certificates in education, special education, family history, and social work leading to a rewarding career. Health issues led her to a greater opportunity to read, beta, and review books, and return to writing stories that lean toward the humorous side and always end with a happily ever after.

Melanie Stanford reads too much, plays music too loud, is sometimes dancing, and always daydreaming. She would also like her very own TARDIS, but only to travel to the past. She lives in Canada with her husband and four kids. She is the author of SWAY, a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, shortlisted for the Kobo Emerging Writer Prize, and the short story “Becoming Fanny” featured in the anthology Then Comes Winter. Her second novel, Collide, inspired by Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South, is coming soon. You can find her at melaniestanfordbooks.com, on Twitter @MelMStanford, and on Facebook  @MelanieStanfordauthor.

Joana Starnes lives in the south of England with her family. Over the years, she has swapped several hats—physician, lecturer, clinical data analyst—but feels most comfortable in a bonnet. She has been living in Georgian England for decades in her imagination and plans to continue in that vein till she lays hands on a time machine. She is the author of seven Austen-inspired novels: From This Day Forward ~ The Darcys of Pemberley, The Subsequent Proposal, The Second Chance, The Falmouth Connection, The Unthinkable Triangle, Miss Darcy’s Companion, and Mr Bennet’s Dutiful Daughter. You can connect with Joana through her website http://www.joanastarnes.co.uk/ and on Facebook via All Roads Lead to Pemberley.

Caitlin Williams is an award-winning author of two novels, Ardently and the best-selling The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet, both of which spin the plot of Pride and Prejudice around but keep the characters just the same. Originally from South London, Caitlin spent thirteen years as a detective in the Metropolitan Police but is currently on a break from Scotland Yard so she can spend more time at home with her two children and write. She now lives in Kent, where she spends a lot of time daydreaming about Mr. Darcy, playing with dinosaurs, and trying not to look at the laundry pile.

Christina Boyd wears many hats as she is an editor under her own banner The Quill Ink, a contributor to Austenprose, and a ceramicist and proprietor of Stir Crazy Mama’s Artworks. A life member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Christina lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her dear Mr. B, two busy teenagers, and a retriever named BiBi. Visiting Jane Austen's England was made possible by her book boyfriend and star crush Henry Cavill when she won a trip to meet him on the London Eye in the spring of 2017. True story.

The Darcy Monologues Spotify Playlist

 Each author has contributed a song based on her story for this Spotify playlist. 
"The Darcy Monologues" Playlist

The Darcy Monologues Pinterest Board

 https://www.pinterest.com/stircrazyartwor/the-darcy-monologues/

 The Darcy Monologues Blog Tour Schedule

April 3 / My Jane Austen Book Club / Launch Post & Giveaway

April 10 / Babblings of a Bookworm/ Book Review & Giveaway

April 17 / The Reading Frenzy / Guest Post & Giveaway

April 20 / My Love for Jane Austen / Guest Post & Giveaway

April 24 / Margie’s Must Reads / Book Review & Giveaway

May 1 / From Pemberley to Milton / Book Review & Giveaway

May 8 / Just Jane 1813 / Excerpt Post & Giveaway

May 15 / Austenesque Reviews / Book Review & Giveaway

May 22 / Austenesque Reviews / Guest Post & Giveaway

May 25 / Of Pens and Pages / Book Review & Giveaway

May 29 / More Agreeably Engaged / Book Review & Giveaway

June 5 / So Little Time / Book Review & Giveaway

June 12 / Diary of an Eccentric/ Book Review & Giveaway

June 19 / Book Lover in Florida / Book Excerpt & Giveaway

June 26 / My Vices and Weaknesses / Book Review & Giveaway

July 3 / Savvy Verse & Wit / Book Review & Giveaway

Giveaway Details

One winner will win the grand prize of 24 paperback books, each one autographed by the author, and mailed to the winner’s home. 

Grand Prize

The second winner will win their choice of either a Pride and Prejudice pocketbook or a Pride and Prejudice Kindle Fire Case with stand - Pride and Prejudice Book Cover Case for Amazon Kindle Fire 7" and 6" - Kindle Fire / Fire HD / Fire HDX tablet. 

Second Place Winner

: a Rafflecopter giveaway