Since some years ago, Grace has been presenting us a different kind of variation for Pride and Prejudice, she combines in a unique way the dragons and their traditions with Jane Austen’s characters, because it is not only with Darcy and Elizabeth, but with the other novels. She has published 13 novels of Jane Austen´s Dragons and I can´t wait to read all of them.
Last year we were finally able to publish a book we have been talking about for some time: the Spanish translation of Pemberley, Mr. Darcy´s Dragon, the first book of the series.
Grace, welcome. Could you share a little bit about you to our audience?
I’m a mild-mannered grandmother whose vacations usually require helmets and waivers or historical costumes, generally not both at the same time. I’ve finally decided what I want to be when I grow up–a writer, which is what I thought when I was in 3rd grade. Somehow, though, I managed to have three sons and teach university for 16 years to get here.
What is it that you love so much about Jane?
Hands down, it is here characters. I feel I’ve met each one of her characters through someone in my real life.
What was it that made you to start writing JAFF novels?
I was going through a difficult period where I wished that someone was acting in accordance with the principles they claimed to believe. That got me thinking about Darcy’s line in Pride and Prejudice: I was given good principles as a child, but left to follow them in vanity and conceit…
That got me asking ‘What if…” and not here I am.
Which has been the most complicated to write?
Every book has its own challenges, but as the Jane Austen Dragon series gets longer, it gets more complicated. There is both the Regency period research that must be done, and I have to keep track of what has happened in a series that now has reached over 1 million words long!
What was the start of your dragon series? What inspired you?
When my sons were still teens, I took them to the local pizza buffet–the only way to fill up a teenage boys, much less three! We were talking about book ideas and one of them said, “What if there were dragons?”
I think he might have been kidding, but as we explored the concept, it became crystal clear, I had to write it!
Which kind of dragon is your favorite? Which dragon character is the more fun to write?
I love the little dragons best, the tiny fairy dragons who persuade the majority of the world that they are hummingbirds, and the tatzelwurms who convince the world they are cats. It is such fun to explore the personality and concerns of tiny tiny dragons who are often not taken seriously in their world.
What is it that you enjoy about writing these books?
I love the creative freedom of the series. The dragons give me license to explore so many plots and characters I would be able to work with otherwise. What fun is that!
Why did you decide to have “Pemberley” translated into Spanish?
I have many Spanish speaking family members and I wanted to share my worlds with them.
I know that your books are also available as audiobooks. Which is the best of having Benjamin Fife as your narrator?
He puts so much extra work into the dragon characters. I had so many auditions of the project and no one came close to bringing the dragons to life like he does.
Anything that you would like to share with our readers?
I know the premise sounds pretty wild, but trust me, Pride and Prejudice needed more dragons!
You are so right, we need more dragons! Thank you so much Maria Grace. I can´t wait to work on our next book.
Remember that you can get Pemberley, Mr. Darcy´s Dragon both in English and Spanish through these links: English / Spanish
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a dragon.
Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley has the good fortune to be in possession of the first English firedrake egg laid in a century. Or, at least, he was until some miscreant stole it. Mr. Darcy tracks the thief to Hertfordshire. Catching the thief, however, proves to be an entirely different kettle of brimstone, especially when he encounters fellow Dragon Keeper, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn.
Elizabeth Bennet’s deep connection to dragons and remarkable grasp of their lore make her the ideal companion for finding the egg. It’s too bad that from their introduction she finds Darcy arrogant, conceited, and selfishly disdainful of the feelings of others.
Time is running out for Darcy to win Elizabeth’s trust and recover the precious egg before it hatches, and the fragile peace between humans and dragons is lost forever.
You can follow her through her social media:
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And she has an awesome blog https://randombitsoffascination.com/ where you can read so many details about the Regency like about Christmas traditions, To be an accomplished lady, Courtship in Jane Austen’s world, and many more.
Cris Translates 