It is a truth universally acknowledged that I have an obsession with Jane Austen and have read more than my fair share of Austen variations and fanfic. This week we’re joined by one of my favorite JAV authors, Abigail Reynolds.

Abigail Reynolds is the author of the bestselling The Pemberley Variations Series (a series of Regency romances exploring the “what if’s” and “after the wedding’s” of Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship) and The Woods Hole Quartet (a contemporary romance series with an Austenesque twist). As someone who’s read all of Abigail’s novels I can say each and every one is a gem but if you’re new to her work, might I suggest Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World? It’s my favorite! But before you run off to read, check out our Q&A:

Ten Questions vol. 2 #9 Abigail Reynolds

 

Bookish Devices: What is your favorite word?

Abigail Reynolds: Anachronism.  I don’t like anachronisms, just the word!

BD: What is your least favorite word?

AR: ’Alright.’ There’s just something about it that feels fake to me. ☺

BD: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

AR: Lots of things! Perhaps the most powerful thing for me as a writer is when I’m writing and a character does something unexpected that I hadn’t planned on at all. When a character takes on a life of its own, it’s incredibly exciting. I find inspiration in lots of things, from walking in gardens to watching the sea. There are lots of little things, too, like the windows in the church I attend. They’re plain glass, but are almost 200 years old and have lots of irregularities because they were hand made. I spend lots of time noticing how the swirls in the glass distort the view outside and thinking about what it would be like in the Regency or earlier when you could see out of windows, but everything was distorted and blurry. Little things like that really excite me.

BD: What turns you off?

AR: Conflict, cruelty, crowds.

BD: What sound or noise do you love?

AR: The sound of waves

BD: What sound or noise do you hate?

AR: Heavy machinery

BD: If you could have drinks with any author or literary figure, who would you invite?

AR: Well, this is a tough one…not! Jane Austen, of course!

BD: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

AR: I’d love to be a marine biologist.

BD: What profession would you not like to do?

AR: There’s a very long list, but probably something like being a collections agent would make me totally miserable. I hate making people feel bad.

BD: What would you choose for your last meal?

AR: Tough one! Probably a comfort food like a good BLT and then an array of amazing chocolate desserts.

BD: What is your favorite curse word?

AR: In my books, Darcy often says, “Devil take it!,” and that’s been known to slip out of my mouth from time to time.

BD: If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and could only bring one book, which would you bring?

AR: Pride & Prejudice, of course! I think I know it inside out, but I’m always discovering something new in it.

Thank you for joining us, Abigail!

If you’d like to learn more about Abigail’s novels, check out her website.

Have you missed any of our Ten Questions series? You can catch up on all of our author interviews here.

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