Thursday, March 29, 2018

The Child Blog Tour ~ Guest Post with Jan Hahn & #Giveaway!

Hello, friends! I'm absolutely delighted to have Jan Hahn visiting with us! Jan is one of my favorite Austenesque writers! I was thrilled to hear of her new book, The Child. I can't wait to read it! Today, she is posting about writer's block and how she overcomes it. 

 Also, as part of The Child Blog Tour, Meryton Press is giving away 8 e-copies of the book! Details are at the bottom of the post! 





Thank you, Candy, for hosting me today at So Little Time..., another one of my favorite Austen blogs.

Like many writers, occasionally I suffer from writer’s block. I’ve tried various methods to overcome the malady, but only two truly help me. The first is a return to the words of the original―Jane Austen herself. Re-reading Pride and Prejudice or her other books often sparks a new idea. The second is either watching an Austen movie adaptation or finding a music video on YouTube. 

Today, I thought it would be fun to discuss a couple of my favorite Pride and Prejudice videos. They’re both from the 1995 mini-series, but I’ve also included a video of the 2005 movie for those who claim it as their favorite. I love both versions. The 2005 movie is truly beautiful and romantic. The 1995 series has Colin Firth―enough said. Also, I love that it uses more of Austen’s language and it includes more details of the story, plus it adds that irresistible scene of Mr. Darcy in a wet shirt. I confess that the 1995 actors―or my own composite of them―reside in my imagination when I’m writing.

One of my favorite videos uses a 1984 song written by the poet/singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen. Dance Me to the End of Love may seem like a strange choice for scenes of Darcy and Elizabeth at the Netherfield ball since neither has declared their love for each other, but I find it extremely romantic. When speaking of the song’s meaning, I choose to overlook Cohen’s morbid Holocaust inspiration and prefer this quote: “It is the same language that we use for surrender to the beloved. It’s not important that anybody knows the genesis of it, because if the language comes from that passionate resource, it will be able to embrace all passionate activity.”

In The Child, a second ball is held at Netherfield some three years after the first one. Darcy believes any chance of a life with Elizabeth has been ruined; yet, he cannot refrain from asking her to dance. I can imagine Cohen’s verses running through Darcy’s mind during all the twirling, swaying, gazing into each other’s eyes, and touching hands taking place to the hypnotic rhythm of the music. 

“Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on. Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long,” reveals Darcy’s yearning for a life with Elizabeth. “Oh, let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone. Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon,” beautifully describes his desire for intimacy with this woman he has loved so long. “Dance me to the children who are asking to be born,” expresses his hopeless longing for Elizabeth to be the mother of his son or daughter. Darcy knows with certainty he will love Elizabeth until death parts them. Thus, Dance Me to the End of Love seems to fit. 



"Dance Me to the End of Love" by Leonard CohenTheGlitzieGirl1

Pictures are linked to YouTube
                                         
"Dance Me to the End of Love" Jordan6488
                                                                                              


The second video I like is She, written and performed by Charles Aznavour with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. It’s an oldie released by Aznavour in 1974. You may be more familiar with the Elvis Costello version done in 1999 and played in the movie, Notting Hill. I prefer Aznavour’s original. I find his European accent hard to resist.

Phrases like “She may be the face I can’t forget, the trace of pleasure or regret, may be my treasure or the price I have to pay,” perfectly reflect Darcy’s thoughts as he weighs important decisions in The Child. “She may be the reason I survive, the why and wherefore I’m alive,” expresses Darcy’s acceptance when he reaches that all-important decision. And “Me, I’ll take her laughter and her tears and make them all my souvenirs, and where she goes I’ve got to be. The meaning of my life is she,” is a lovely summation of Darcy’s truth. He cannot live without Elizabeth. 



"She" written and sung by Charles Aznavour, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer TheGlitzieGirl1

How about you? Do you have a favorite Austen video you’d like to share? I’d love to hear what you have to say.




Book Title: The Child 
Authors: Jan Hahn 
Blog Tour Dates: March 21 – April 2, 2018 
Publisher: Meryton Press 

Book Description: 

Will Darcy ever grow to love a child he never wanted? 

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Fitzwilliam Darcy’s proposal to Elizabeth Bennet at Hunsford is disastrous. In Jan Hahn’s The Child, Darcy flees England soon afterward, striving to overcome his longing for her. Upon his return two years later―while standing on the steps of St. George’s Church in Hanover Square―he spies the very woman he has vowed to forget. But who is the child holding her hand? 

Darcy soon discovers that Elizabeth and her family are suffering the effects of a devastating scandal. His efforts to help the woman he still loves only worsen her family’s plight. His misguided pride entangles him in a web of falsehood, fateful alliances, and danger. 

Will Elizabeth be able to forgive Darcy for his good intentions gone awry? And what effect will the child have on Darcy’s hopes to win Elizabeth’s love?

Buy: Amazon USAmazon UK
Add to Goodreads.

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon US. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 


About the Author

Award-winning writer Jan Hahn is the author of five Austen-inspired novels. She studied music at the University of Texas, but discovered her true love was a combination of journalism and literature. Her first book, An Arranged Marriage, was published in 2011, followed by The Journey, The Secret Betrothal, A Peculiar Connection, and The Child. The anthology, The Darcy Monologues, contains her short story entitled Without Affection. She agrees with Mr. Darcy’s words in Pride and Prejudice: ‘A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.’ 

Jan is a member of JASNA, lives in Texas, has five children and a gaggle of grandchildren



Connect with Jan Hahn



The Child Tour Schedule

March 21 My Jane Austen Book Club/ Guest Post & Giveaway
March 22 From Pemberley to Milton / Book Review & Giveaway
March 23 More Agreeably Engaged / Excerpt Post & Giveaway 
March 24 My Vices and Weaknesses/ Book Review & Giveaway
March 25 My Love for Jane Austen / Vignette & Giveaway
March 26 Of Pens and Pages / Book Review & Giveaway
March 27 Just Jane 1813/ Author Interview & Giveaway
March 28 Austenesque Reviews / Character Interview & Giveaway
March 29 So Little Time... / Guest Post & Giveaway
March 30 Diary of an Eccentric / Excerpt Post & Giveaway
March 31 Babblings of a Bookworm / Book Review & Giveaway
April 1 Margie’s Must Reads / Book Review & Giveaway
April 2 Laughing with Lizzie / Vignette Post & Giveaway



* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time! Merton Press is giving away 8 eBooks of The Child to 8 lucky people! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below! 

  • Each entrant is eligible to win one eBook.
  • Readers may enter the drawing by tweeting once each day and by commenting daily on a blog post or review that has a giveaway attached to this tour. Entrants must provide the name of the blog where they commented.
  • Each winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecoper.
  • The giveaway is international.

Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Jan, thank you so much for stopping by today! I can see how the videos help to inspire you! Congratulations on The Child! I'm really looking forward to reading it!

Many thanks to Meryton Press for the giveaway and to Claudine @ JustJane1813 for organizing this tour!! 


Do you have a favorite Austen video to share with Jan? Or what are some of the techniques you use to get over your writer's block? 

17 comments:

  1. I used to like watching Jane Austen music videos some years ago but not so much nowadays as my priorities have changed. But I would definitely check the recommended videos when I'm free. The ones that I recall that I like is Raining Men and there are two versions of them. Have you seen them, Jan?

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    1. I love both versions of Raining Men, Sylvia! Thanks for reminding me.

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  2. I love it! I'm totally on board with the first method. In fact, I just did it and it sparked an idea. Another thing I do when I'm not moving forward with a story is just open a new document and start something else or go do something else while letting the first story simmer in the back of my mind. Inspiration usually comes. I know everyone has their own way to deal. :)

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    1. Great! You have a new idea! Hope it develops into a book, Sophia. I like your suggestions for writer's block.

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    2. Hey, Sophia Rose! Wow! That's fantastic that watching one of the video's Jan suggested sparked an ideal for you! :D

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  3. Thanks for sharing your favorite videos with us. I hadn't watched any of the ones you chose so it was nice be introduced to them. My favorite ones tend to be ones that feature all JA works. Two of my favorite YT ones are Hallelujah - Melancholia in Jane Austen stories; and, The Mind tells a story... | Jane Austen.

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    1. Glad you liked my favorites. I'm going to check out yours. They sound like they'd appeal to me, especially the Hallelujah one. Thanks!

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    2. I just watched the Hallelujah one! It's very good! Thanks, darcybennett! :)

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  4. I admit to not having any favourite Jane Austen music videos - I wonder if I could find any for my favourite version of P&P which is the 1980 one

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    1. I haven't seen any music videos for the 1980 version, Vesper, but who knows? It might be out there.

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  5. I too find music good for the muse, Jan. I choose mood music for videos, and have had a playlist for a few stories. If I want light or pensive, I'll listen to a different playlist. I can write like heck if the right music is playing! Your videos remind me of the period drama men video with "It's Raining Men." That should have been Jane Bennet's theme in my last book. Thanks for the blog post and music, and thanks to Candy for hosting!

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    1. Isn't it amazing how music can help us write? And, oh yes, Raining Men would fit your last book to a tee, Suzan! That reminds me - I need to go look at your cover again. All those gorgeous guys!

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  6. Great piece Jan! I love the song 'She'. I didn't realise that Elvis Costello's version wasn't the original. As you describe it, it fits perfectly with Darcy's feelings for Elizabeth. And congrats on your new release. How exciting!

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    1. Thank you, Elaine! I've always loved 'She' too. And I especially love the P&P video done to the song. I don't know the person who created the video, TheGlitzieGirl1, but she has a talent for linking the music to the slides in such a haunting, nuanced manner. Wish I knew how to make videos.

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  7. Nottingh Hill is my sister favorite movie so I know the soundtrack very well! I didn't know Aznavour version,thank you for sharing it!
    Another song from the same movie that can be used to show Mr Darcy's point of view is Ain't no sunshine,what do you think?

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    1. That's for sure, Loren! The words to Ain't No Sunshine When You're Gone would fit Darcy to a tee if Elizabeth's not around.

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  8. Those were all such lovely and haunting music videos. Someone has some talent for putting them together so well. Thank you for sharing them, Jan. Thank you, Candy, for hosting. This was an enjoyable post! Makes me want to go back and watch the movies again.

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