At the request of Barnes & Noble, the release of “Secrets of a Lady” was moved up to coincide with the opening of the movie “Becoming Jane” (and can I say what a thrill it is to me as an author to be in any way associated with anything to do with Jane Austen? 
. As “Becoming Jane” just opened today, this seemed a good time to post a video clip on my love of Jane Austen’s novels and their influence on my writing.
It’s so much fun this week seeing “Secrets of a Lady” on a bookstore shelves. I’ll be back Monday with a new Dear Reader Blog and a new Fraser Corrspondence.
Cheers,
Tracy
August 12, 2007 at 4:41 am
Hi Tracy!
I saw “Becoming Jane” last weekend, too, and enjoyed it for pretty much the same reasons you did (the scenery and acting). I think you really captured the crucial point of the film (and much of Austen’s work)–money and marriage went hand-in-hand.
It’s interesting, isn’t it, that so much of the Regency fiction (especially romantic fiction) we read nowadays doesn’t include this aspect at all. I think your allusions to the difficulties of Melanie’s past in “Secrets of a Lady” are among the few I’ve ever seen.
I want to close by telling you how thrilled I am that “Secrets of a Lady” is out in paperback. I purchased “Daughter of the Game” and “Beneath a Silent Moon” a long time ago, and I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment in Charles and Melanie’s story.
Cheers!
Kristian Mercer
August 12, 2007 at 7:19 am
Hi Kristian,
Thanks so much for posting! I think the marriage-money nexus in Regency society is fascinating to explore. I’m so glad if a bi† of that came through with the discussion of Mélanie’s past. I was thinking about it more this past week, as I reread “Beneath a Silent Moon” (which will be reissued in trade paperback next summer) and thought about the couples in it and the letters I’ll write for the “A+” extras section.
Cheers,
Tracy