Please join us today in welcoming Austenesque author Belinda Roberts for the official launch of her book blog tour of Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard: A Tale of Tide & Prejudice, a new Pride and Prejudice contemporary retelling that was released on June 1, 2011 by Sourcebooks.
GUEST BLOG
Salcombe is a lively, fashionable seaside town on the south west coast of England – the sort of busy place where you turn a corner and whoops! Excuse me! Sorry! After you! You have had an encounter with a young Mr. Darcy. They are everywhere, mixed in with young Mr. Bingleys, anxious Mrs. Bennets and shrieking Kittys and Lydias making themselves heard from one end of Fore Street to the other. So, having spent many happy family holidays ourselves in Salcombe, I suppose it wasn’t so much an inspiration rather, as Mr. Gradgrind in Hard Times would say ‘FACT’ that drew me to write a modern day version of Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen’s characters are there, in Salcombe, alive and kicking – or splashing about at any rate! In my mind the ball gowns of Pride and Prejudice started to be replaced by bikinis, ‘Pemberley’ became a magnificent sixty-two foot yacht, the militia took on the role of lifeguards – it was a book waiting to be written!
What is more, Salcombe has a wonderful Town Regatta each year – a week of events that bring the whole of Salcombe society together. Assemblies, balls, dances are all there still – but in a slightly different guise. The famous Netherfield Ball, for instance, could become the equally famous Salcombe Estuary Swim. At both, society comes together: there is the chance to mingle, to avoid certain people and to search out others – Darcy and Elizabeth could hold their conversation whilst swimming the choppy waters. The Greasy Pole and Sandcastle Competition, along with the beautiful cliff walks, golden beaches and plenty of opportunities for frolicking about in the sparkling seas offered further wonderful opportunities. The links seemed perfect and I couldn’t wait to start.
My opportunity came when I went down to Salcombe to accompany my eldest daughter, Sophie, who needed some peace and quiet to write her dissertation on Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande. This was a serious endeavour. We both sat at the little kitchen table of our terraced house in Island Street Salcombe, set up our beloved MacBooks and started to write. I was keen that my book should follow Jane Austen’s original chapter for chapter in plot and characterization as best I could. The combination of reading Pride and Prejudice, translating it into a modern seaside setting and trying to keep quiet was too much and I kept bursting out laughing – which was not helpful to poor Sophie! The hardest part was ‘modernizing’ Lydia’s disgraceful behavior, which of course, would hardly be noticed these days. I hope I came up with a suitably sensational solution!
Book done, we decided to make a film … you can see a trailer at www.beetleheart.co.uk. which hopefully will give you a taste of the delights of Salcombe and Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard!
AUTHOR BIO
Belinda Roberts has written twelve plays for children’s theatre which have been performed by groups throughout the world. Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard (previously self-published as Prawn & Prejudice) is her debut novel. She has also worked as a graphic designer and she lives in Cotswold’s in England.
GIVEAWAY
Enter a chance to win one of three copies of Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard: A Tale of Tide & Prejudice by leaving a comment answering what intrigues you most about reading a Pride and Prejudice retelling, or which of Austen’s novels or characters you would like to see Belinda write about next, by midnight PT, Wednesday, June 15, 2011. Winners to be announced on Thursday, June 16, 2010. Shipment to US and Canadian addresses only. Good luck!
Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard: A Tale of Tide & Prejudice, by Belinda Roberts
Sourcebooks (2011)
Trade paperback (224) pages
ISBN: 978-1402246937
© 2007 – 2011 Belinda Roberts, Austenprose
Austenprose 
The thing that intrigues me the most about reading Pride and Prejudice retellings is another point of view. Nothing will ever be able to touch Pride and Prejudice but I love imagining what “could have beens” and “what ifs” and what other characters thought. Its the extra stuff I love to read about.
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I just love visiting old friends and exploring other people’s interpretations. Persuasion is pretty much tied with Pride and Prejudice as my favorite Jane Austen book, so I would love to see Belinda write a story about that, or Northanger Abbey is fun, too. :)
Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard sounds like so much fun! Thank you for sharing!
liedermadchen(at)hotmail(dot)com
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I love reading about all the new “retellings” of JA. This one sounds like it would be a fun beach read this summer (if only I was at the beach). In any event, I’d be happy on my deck reading about my favorite characters in this new book. As for which novel could be next? I’d vote for Sense & Sensibility to get a modern twist by Belinda. Thanks.
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This modern take on he beloved Pride and Prejudice looks great. I look forward to reading it. I’d love to read a modern take on Persuasion, something I’ve not heard of yet.
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I’ve always been the type of person who wondered what happened after the end of the book – after the hero conquered all, after the heroine married her crush – so that is why Austen variations are fascinating for me. It’s fun to read what others imagined happened after “the end.”
Margay1122ATaolDOTcom
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I love Austen retellings because I love retellings in general. I think it’s fascinating to see other people’s takes on classic lit, especially if I’ve read the originals myself.
susanna DOT pyatt AT student DOT rcsnc DOT org
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This book sounds like so much fun! A perfect read for the summer. I would love a modern retelling of Emma. Emma is one of my favorite Austen novels and I love to read anything that relates to her story!!
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There are never enough modern-day “Persuasion” books! That should be the next one!
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I’m glad to see that others are interested in a Persuasion book, too! I like the idea of a Northanger Abbey retelling, too, because the young, innocent heroine actually has much more good sense than she knows and is able to avoid the less-than-moral connivings of the people around her by using that good sense. How many young people would do well to follow her lead, rather than, say, Snooki’s!
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I can hardly wait to read this book! It sounds like such fun. I’d love to see how the author updates Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, and especially Lydia. And I’ll throw my hat in the ring with the others to request a modern take on Persuasion, my other favorite Austen novel (although I adore them all.)
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In like reading about how someone else would write the story. It’s always nice to read what happened after the story ended also. JA’s characters are just so interesting and fun you just don’t ever want it to end.
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I would love for Belinda to tackle Northanger Abbey, it would be fun and light. Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard sound like a perfect novel for a summer trip.
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I would love to see Belinda tackle Mansfield Park only because I’ve never heard of modern retelling of it.
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I am intrigued to read about Lydia’s disgraceful behaviour. Wondering what can be comparably scandalous these days. Agreeing with everyone else that she should tackle Persuasion next.
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It might sound naughty but I am always eager to see how far or how close to the mark the characters, plot and essence of the novels are in the re-tellings….what has been changed? What is true to the original? Does the author know their Austen?
Courtney
Stiletto Storytime
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A yacht named Pemberley? Interesting. There’s another novel that has a ship named Pemberly but it i situated during the original time period. I have read Prawn and Prejudice because I ordered it from The Jane Austen Centre in Bath. It was a fun book!
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Thanks for sharing, Belinda! Your book sounds fabulous!
What interests me is getting to read more about these wonderful characters!
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Having been a “beach bum” who lived in a seaside town (in Rhode Island) for more than 20 years, the setting of this updated P&P appeals to me. I’m intrigued to know what sort of modern predicament replaces the scandal of Lydia’s “elopememt.”
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I’d want her to write about Catherine (from Northanger Abbey) next. Nobody ever writes about her!!!
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I would want to read about Emma–because she’s so spunky and funny.
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I’m most interested in seeing what the author sees as the “bones” of the story–in other words, what is essential? What questions does the author of the Austen-inspired (or, frankly, any spinoff novel–The Hours is another which I find intriguing) bring up?
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I love seeing the new ways people interpret classic, well-known storylines, so I am always curious about Pride & Prejudice variations :) I’d love to see her write a modern Emma or Sense & Sensibility!
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I think it would be fun to give Wickham his own novel – I can see him as a surf bum in the beach setting, wooing the ladies over surfing lessons and beach campfires before moving on to the next town.
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I am so excited to read this version of P&P. Thanks for the review!
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