Interview with Linda Corbett - Author of What Would Jane Austen Do?
Interview with Linda Corbett - Author of ‘What Would Jane Austen Do'?
Novel Release: June 16th, 2023
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The title of your new novel provides a hint of the story’s inspiration. Can you tell us a bit about What Would Jane Austen Do? and how you came to write it?
Unusually, the title came first! After the edits for book 1 were complete, my editor and I were discussing ideas for book 2 and she thought it would make a great title for a story, and did I feel inspired? I already had Maddy in my head as my journalist heroine, so she easily became the Jane Austen fan. Around the same time my friend was telling me about her trip to West Horsley Place – a rather dilapidated country house in Surrey that was inherited by Bamber Gascoigne from his great-aunt, the Duchess of Roxburghe. The inheritance idea sounded like a fun premise. I knew I wanted to write an enemies to lovers story with a grumpy/sunshine trope, so Luke became the romance-sceptic, snarky, crime writer. I have no idea where the literary festival came from – possibly wish-fulfillment?!
Although this is not a historical novel, it would have required a fair bit of literary research and knowledge of Jane Austen’s novels. Did you find this task difficult?
It wasn’t too difficult to be honest, as I’m familiar with the themes and plots of the books, and like most people, can recite a few of the more well-known quotes. However, I did read “Jane Austen’s Guide to Romance” by Lauren Henderson, before starting to write. This was very informative, and gave me lots of background as to how my heroine Maddy might look at relationships through a Jane Austen filter. I also collated a lot of Jane Austen quotations from various sources, discovering in the process that there are a number of quotes floating around on the internet that are not taken from any of Ms Austen’s books. Most of these “misquotes” come from the screenplays or television adaptations, but there are one or two that have no connection to Jane Austen. I’m sure Ms Austen would be highly amused to know that there are tote bags and mugs out there with quotes attributed to her that she never penned!
Describe Maddy and Luke in three words each.
Ooh, great question!
I would describe Maddy as empathetic, positive and friendly. Luke I would describe as sceptical, private, and caring (he hides it very well!)
Which scene was your favourite to write in the novel and why?
Oh gosh, that’s a tough one! However I think I’d have to pick the evening of the ghost hunt as it was such fun to write. I came up with the ghost idea as a nod to the theme in Northanger Abbey, but wanted to give it an updated vibe. By this point I’d got to know all the characters and so it felt like a great ensemble piece that I could clearly visualise in my head.
How difficult was it to interweave lines and opinions of Jane Austen into a modern day story and what techniques/methods/resources helped achieve this?
I started with a Word document into which I added every Jane Austen quote I could remember, then went hunting for others. (I couldn’t possibly review all the books in time so found using online resources was the easiest way). As I was writing, some of the quotes naturally fell into place; others slotted in after the first draft. The quotes at the start of each chapter were added last, as until I’d finished editing the text, the events of each chapter could have changed. I then printed out my spreadsheet storyboard which details what happens in each chapter, and my quotations list. I literally cut up the pieces of paper so I could match quotes to chapters – the rug in the lounge was covered with slips of paper for several days!
This novel would be a great movie. What actors could you see as Maddy & Luke?
That would be such fun! For Maddy, I think Karen Gillan would be great – she has Maddy’s copper coloured hair too! For Luke, it would have to be Henry Cavill.
Is there a special story behind the dog in the novel? Is he modelled after any canines you know or love?
I knew from the outset that this would be an enemies to lovers tale, but in making Luke and his alter ego Cameron so grumpy, there is a danger of putting people off before they get to see the kinder, more private side of his character. I thought having a dog in the story would be a fun way to show readers that he’s not all bad. I then did some research online and found this adorable picture of a dog, so that was Buster sorted. I love animals in books – I had guinea pigs in the first one!
What is your favourite Jane Austen novel and what makes it special to you?
Hard choice! I know Pride & Prejudice is many people’s favourite and I love that too, but would have to pick Sense & Sensibility as it was the first of Ms Austen’s books I read, and I remember that feeling of being drawn into her world. Years later I remember seeing Emma Thompson’s screen adaptation and thinking how brilliant it was.
Have you visited any Jane Austen events/locations that helped in the writing of your novel? If so, please share a few highlights of the experience(s).
I didn’t do any visits specifically for the writing of the novel, but I have been to Jane Austen’s house a few times and it’s always such an inspiring place to just wander round. During lockdown, Chawton ran a number of online talks and experiences which I remember being glued to over the course of a weekend. Bath is the other side of the country to where I live, but I have spent a weekend there and it’s fascinating to think that there are many parts that are virtually unchanged since Jane Austen’s time. In writing the novel, I drew more on the characters in her books rather than locations, but it all contributes to that mysterious brain alchemy that throws all these things together.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? Did a certain book, author or event spark your interest?
I had always loved books and always fancied the idea of writing one, but for a long time had no clue how to go about it. I spent my working life in the finance and pensions industry, although for ten years I wrote a regular column for a disability magazine. It was when the magazine folded in 2010 that I got this bonkers idea to try writing a full-length novel. Looking back, I can see why my first attempt was not very good, but it did prove I could go the distance and write 90,000 words!
Please share your writing journey to publication. Any advice for new writers?
This would fill up a book on its own! After finishing my first novel attempt, I read a lot of advice online about how to construct agent queries, but after sending out a few queries, I just received rejections. I decided to write another book, but this time I paid for a manuscript critique. This is where I learnt something important: you don’t know what you don’t know. The amended version got a request for full manuscript, in amongst all the rejections, so that felt very encouraging. I went on to write another three books and each time I got more agent interest and more full requests, but never quite made it to the finish line. It was when I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Asoociation’s New Writers’ Scheme in 2018 that things started happening. As part of my membership I received a detailed critique each year from experienced authors on my submitted manuscript. I learnt a lot about how to improve my writing from these. In 2020 I was awarded the Katie Fforde bursary, and then finally in 2021 got that magic yes from One More Chapter! My first published novel was actually my sixth book, and followed 221 rejections over eight years, so I guess my advice to new writers is: hold on to your dreams and never give up!
What four books would you recommend that you have read this year?
The Moment I Met You by Debbie Johnson (amazing location, gripping story)
Yours Cheerfully by A J Pearce (huge fun and a fabulous sequel to Dear Mrs Bird)
Together, Again by Milly Johnson (family lies and secrets unravel…)
The Secrets of Hawthorn Place by Jenni Keer (a fascinating dual timeline novel)
Name one fun activity you like to do when you need a break from writing?
There are so many to choose from! I do love my cardmaking and cross stitching and tapestry. Can I bundle those all together as “crafting”?
Are you working on a new project and can you share a little about it?
I am currently out of contract now, but am editing a novel I wrote during lockdown that I’d love to see published one day. It’s an ‘opposites attract’ tale about a woman whose husband has died, and she is searching for a new challenge. The hero is a disgraced media celebrity. They don’t know it yet, but they will both need each other in order to put aside the past…
Thanks Linda for being my guest author today! We wish you much success on the release of your new novel.
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About the author:
Linda Corbett lives in Surrey with her husband and three permanently hungry guinea pigs. She is proud to be a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and was the recipient of the Katie Fforde Bursary in 2020.
In her spare time, Linda is treasurer for Shine Surrey – a volunteer-led charity that supports individuals and families living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus. For many years she also wrote a regular column for Link, a disability magazine, illustrating the humorous aspects of life with a complex disability, and she is a passionate advocate of disability representation in fiction.
When not writing, Linda can be found papercrafting, cross stitching, or cuddling guinea pigs. ‘Love You From A-Z ‘is her first published novel and now ‘What Would Jane Austen Do?’
