Author Jenni James and PRIDE & POPULARITY giveaway!

I'm so stoked to have Jenni James here today. She is the author of The Jane Austen Diaries, the first book being PRIDE & POPULARITY.

First of all, what a great idea.  The Jane Austen Diaries consist of a contemporary retelling of each of Jane Austin's famous books.

PRIDE & POPULARITY: Taylor always gets what he wants --until now.

Chloe Elizabeth Hart despises the conceited antics of the popular crowd, or more importantly, one very annoying self-possessed guy, Taylor Anderson, who seems determined to make her the president of his fan club! As if! Every girl in the whole city of Farmington, New Mexico, is in love with him, but he seems to be only interested in Chloe.

This modern high school adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” is a battle of wits as Chloe desperately tries to remain the only girl who can avoid the inevitable—falling for Taylor. (from Goodreads)


PRIDE & PREJUDICE is my all time favorite fiction book. Love it! So of course I was eager to read Jenni's take.I enjoyed this book.  It's a light, fun read with classic Austin social twists and misinterpretations. Suitable for any aged reader.


I had a chance to ask Jenni a few questions.

1) Writing a modern day Jane Austen series is a terrific idea. What inspired you to write the Jane Austen Diaries series?  Actually, I didn't realize I was rewriting Jane Austen, until I was talking to my mom about Pride & Popularity and telling her it seemed a lot like Pride and Prejudice.  When she said, "Well then, call it Pride & Popularity" everything else clicked into place and I realized I already had several of the other characters that I could do spinoffs with and write their stories too. 

2) Which Jane Austen book is your favorite and why?  I personally LOVE Persuasion.  But I'm a huge sucker for Cinderella-type stories and Persuasion is really like that.  Plus it delves a bit deeper, it's one of those books that grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go until you finish the book. 

3) Who is your favorite heroine and why?  I do love Lizzie Bennet.  She's no nonsense and true to herself and her beliefs, even if they're wrong!  Lol!  As for the Jane Austen Diaries, my favorite heroine so far has to be Lily from Mansfield Ranch, when I went to rewrite Mansfield Park, I made Lily a bit more forthright and outspoken than Jane's Fanny was.  She's quite the cowgirl in mine.  I love her. :)

4) I feel a theme coming on--who is you're favorite love interest and why?  In Jane's I love Persuasion.  Captain Wentworth's undeniable love for Anne is just so amazing I can't help but fall in love with him myself.  As to mine, I really do like Gregory Wentworth... eep.  But I love Taylor too from Pride & Popularity.  Oh! And Tony Russo in Northanger Alibi is amazing!  And of course, I love Sean Benally so much I used him twice in Persuaded AND in Mansfield Ranch.  Oh goodness, and Chase Anderson in Emmalee *sigh*  I love him! Yikes.  I really don't know... do I have to choose?  How about I just say it's whoever I'm reading at the time.  Lol!

5) Can you tell us a little bit about the next book in the series and when it's launching?  Northanger Alibi is so much fun!  It is the funniest book in my series, by far.  I took the theme of Northanger Abbey, about a girl so addicted to the Gothic novels of the time, that she believes she's actually walked into her own Gothic novel,  and wove it into a modern day setting.  I made this girl completely obsessed with the Twilight Saga to the point when she goes to Seattle for her first time away from home, she's positive she's met her very own Edward.  What Claire finds out though, is that reality is WAY better than anything she'd ever find in a book! :)  Hehe!  It's so funny!  That one releases in January.

And now, what you've all been waiting for--I have a signed copy of PRIDE & POPULARITY to give away. All you have to do to enter is comment and tell me which Jane Austin book is your favorite.