1st Blogoversary: Interview with Nancy Kelley & Giveaway!

Nancy, welcome to Hardcover Feedback! Thank you SO much for being a part of my 1st Blogoversary Celebration! What or who made the biggest influence on you wanting to become a writer?

My family, without a doubt. Both my parents love books. My mother is actually a librarian, which is good because my dad owns a library. That constant exposure to books, combined with a healthy imagination, made writing a natural choice for me.

What was the first book you ever wrote about and was it ever published? 

Oh dear. I started writing novels in middle school. They were all historical romance, so not much has changed there. Luckily for readers at large, they were never published.

Do you have any writing habits that people might find unusual?

I outline excessively, and I color-code my edits. The first revision is done in purple, with successive rounds done in pink, turquoise, and green. Neurotically organized? Me?

Do you have a favorite character or one that is especially close to your heart?

Well, obviously I love Mr. Darcy or I wouldn’t have spent three years with him talking in my head. I also developed a certain fondness for his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam; in fact, he is the subject of the book I’m writing currenly.

What is the best gift you have ever received and who gave it to you?

I have two, and both were given to me by my parents. First, about six years ago they called me out of the blue and said they had money to get me a new computer. Mine had died a few months previously, and it was putting a serious crimp in my writing style.

Then about two years ago, after they sold their house, they gave me a check for $500. The card said it was for my trip to England--a trip I'd talked about taking for three years but hadn't been able to afford. Thanks to their help, I spent two weeks there last spring and had a fabulous time.

What is something that you have always wanted to do, but just haven't gotten around to it yet?

I want to take a huge, cross-country road trip. I'll visit all my friends around the country, hit the states I haven't been to yet, and go to Disneyworld. I'm not sure this will happen before I move to England in two years (another thing I've always wanted to do), but it's fun to think about.

What is your all-time favorite book?

Obviously, my all-time favorite is Pride and Prejudice, or I wouldn't choose to spend so much time in that world. The best book I've read recently is Divergent by Veronica Roth. Yes, I'm aware that's a bit of a genre shift. ;)

Other than yourself, who is your favorite author?

Can I say, beside Jane? I love to read Shakespeare. I've set the task for myself of reading through all of his plays in reverse alphabetical order. The Winter's Tale was a great surprise; it's a fabulous story, and one I'd never read or watched before.

If a TV show was based on your life, what would the theme song be and why?

Oh wow. I am drawing a complete blank here--both on the idea of a show based on my life, and on a song that summarizes that. However, my co-worker suggested "God Save The Queen," which I'm taking to mean I'm queen of my own little world. She couldn't possibly mean I'm a little England-obsessed.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

As an author, I do a lot of reading. I also watch a few, select television shows--things with a good story. I like to cook and travel as well.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I used to be a night owl, but I've recently discovered that my best work hours are in the afternoon. I will never, never be an early bird.

What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?

Currently, I am in love with Doctor Who. A friend got me hooked on it last summer, and I've already watched almost everything in the new series. (I still have the David Tennant specials left.)

My favorite movie is The Princess Bride. What's not to love about ROUSes?

If you had the opportunity to go anywhere you wanted, at anytime in history, where would you go and why?

I think I'd visit Shakespeare's England so I could meet him. I'm a little in awe of Shakespeare, to be honest. It would be nice to put a face to the name.

You are given an unlimited budget to plan your ultimate party. Please describe it (i.e. Where would it take place? Who would be on the guest list? What would be on the menu? Would there be a theme? etc.).

Fun! I'd love to go to a murder mystery weekend at Portland's Pittock Mansion. The party would be hosted by Agatha Christie, and all the other guests would be famous fictional sleuths--Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Remington Steele... The list goes on.

What are you currently working on?

I wrote a sequel to His Good Opinion during National Novel Writing Month this last November. It follows Colonel Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy through the stages of their relationship. Since Fitzwilliam is a spy, there's a bit of a mystery involved as well.

Where can people connect with you online?

My blog (http://austenaspirations.blogspot.com), Indie Jane (http://indiejane.org), and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/nancy_kelley)

Thank you so much Nancy for being on Hardcover Feedback!

Author Bio:

Nancy Kelley is a Janeite, an Austenesque author, and a blogger. She will be self-publishing His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel later this year. During the writing of that novel, a version of Mr. Darcy took up residence in her brain; she fondly refers to him as the Darcy in My Head, or DIMH.

If Nancy could possess any fictional device, it would be a Time-Turner. Then perhaps she could juggle a full-time library job, writing, and blogging; and still find time for sleep and a life. Until then, she lives on high doses of tea, of which DIMH approves. Nancy also loves Remington Steele, as some may have gathered from the opening lines of her post. Sadly, she does not own a fedora.

His Good Opinion can be purchased in e-book format from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, Amazon FR, Amazon.IT, and Amazon.ES. The paperback is available from Amazon.

GIVEAWAY:

Nancy has graciously offered to give away a copy of her book His Good Opinion! If the winner is in the US they may choose a printed book or an e-book. If the winner is NOT in the US, then they would receive an e-book. 

To enter, all you have to do is follow this blog in at least one way, complete the mandatory entry and then complete whichever extra entries you want in the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open internationally!!!

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