• Home
  • Audio/Podcasts
  • Austensites
  • AV/E-Texts
  • History
  • JA Novels & Bio
  • Links
  • Original Sources/19th C. Texts
  • Social Customs During the Regency
  • Teacher/Student
  • Writer/Literature Resources

Jane Austen's World

This Jane Austen blog brings Jane Austen, her novels, and the Regency Period alive through food, dress, social customs, and other 19th C. historical details related to this topic.

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Inspector Lewis Returns to PBS Mystery!
Upper Seymour Street and Portman Square in Regency London »

Murder at Longbourn: An Interview With Author Tracy Kiely

August 31, 2009 by Vic

Murder at LongbournGentle Reader, Tracy Kiely’s first book, Murder at Longbourn, is set to be released tomorrow, September 1st. I had the pleasure of interviewing Tracy, who was kind enough to provide these fascinating insights in response to my questions. Her murder mystery is a rollicking fun read in the style of a modern Agatha Christie with Austenesque overtones. I think that Tracy summarizes her book best on her website:

If you are a fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and love classic English mysteries, then you just might enjoy Murder at Longbourn. Set in a picturesque Cape Cod B&B on New Year’s Eve, the story follows Elizabeth Parker, a young woman on the mend from a bad breakup. Instead of a peaceful retreat, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and in the company of the nemesis of her youth, Peter McGowan – a man she suspects has matured in chronological years only. As she investigates her fellow guests, some bearing more than a striking resemblance to characters in Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth fights to keep her inner poise while she hunts down a killer who keeps killing.

1) Hi Tracy, thank you for agreeing to chat with me. I can’t tell you how much I am enjoying reading your book. Murder at Longbourn, while echoing Jane Austen (and I suspect the cottage industry that has grown up around it) is refreshingly not an Austen sequel, but an original story with Austenesque overtones. How did you conceive of the plot? Can you share with the reader one of your “inside” Jane Austen references? I simply laughed out loud as I encountered them.

The plot for Murder at Longbourn, is something of a mishmash of my favorite forms of entertainment. I grew up reading Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, and watching Alfred Hitchcock movies (I am something of an Anglophile, much to the consternation of my Irish Catholic family). I love the twisty, deviously clever plots of Christie, the sublime wit of Austen, and the “average man caught in extraordinary circumstances” themes of Hitchcock. When I began to think of writing my own mystery, I realized it would have to have those elements. Then one day I was watching the news and – I kid you not – there was a story about a woman who killed her husband at a B&B after they attended a Host-A-Murder Dinner. I was off to the races! However, while there are many references to Pride and Prejudice throughout the book, I didn’t want it to be a retelling of Austen’s classic. Instead, it’s a gentle wink at the reader who is familiar with Pride and Prejudice, but one doesn’t necessarily need to be a fan to “get” the book. That said, I had such fun weaving in the Austenesque aspects. I think my favorites are Henry Anderson’s pride in securing a rare first edition of Fordyce’s Sermons for his client and the ill-mannered white Persian cat, aptly named Lady Catherine.

2) This is your debut novel in print. Due to the maturity of your writing style, I suspect this is not your very first attempt at writing. How long have you been writing? How many first attempts lie upon dusty shelves? And has your work been published in other forms before, such as a magazine?

I have wanted to be a mystery writer since I was a kid. I did briefly entertain a dream of being a cartoonist for The New Yorker but even the early cave dwellers would have rejected my sketches. Several years ago, I wrote a mystery titled An Ostentation of Peacocks. It never really went anywhere (a fact I refuse to attribute to its title) and I put it aside. But it was a bit like taking a SAT prep class; you get an idea of what you’re in for. When I felt ready to write again, I decided to start fresh. However, I was able to use some of the research I did for Ostentation in Murder on the Bride’s Side (the second in the series).

3) The book is funny at times. It is so nice to read an Austenesque novel that echoes Jane Austen’s wit. When did you become a Jane Austen fan, and would you describe yourself as an acerbic wit in real life?

I became a fan of Jane Austen in high school when I first picked up Pride and Prejudice and one of the many aspects of it that I loved was the wit. I would categorize my humor as “acerbicous tardious” which, I believe, is the Latin for thinking of zingers ten minutes too late. I think the French have a term for it too, but I prefer the Latin because it is a dead language and no one can make fun of my pronunciation. However, the beauty of writing is that my characters don’t need to respond in real time.

4) I did you a disservice by calling your book Austenesque, for it is a stand alone novel that even non-Jane Austen fans will like. What are your plans for a second novel? Will it be another mystery?

If calling my book Austenesque is a disservice, then hit me again, dear sir! Luckily, St. Martin’s signed me for the first two in the series. The second, Murder on the Bride’s Side, is due out September 2010 and continues Elizabeth’s sleuthing adventures. My goal for each book is to parallel a different work of Austen’s. The first, obviously, was Pride and Prejudice. The second weaves in elements of Sense and Sensibility. Should the gods smile on me, I will be asked for the third, which is tentatively titled Spirit of Murder and parallels Northanger Abbey. In it certain events occur while Elizabeth is staying in a historic house on Nantucket, which lead her to wonder if her imagination is getting the best of her due to a recent re-reading of The Mysteries of Udolpho or if there is a more sinister explanation.

5) Tell us a little about yourself and your family. How do you fit writing into your schedule when you are raising three children who, I presume, are young?

My husband and I have three kids aged 13, 9 and 6. Throw in a puppy, an uppity cat, and a few fish and there’s precious little time for sanity, let alone a set writing schedule. So I do it when I can: while the kids are brushing their teeth, while the dog is chasing the cat through the dining room, while my youngest is painting his room with crayon. For me, writing is something I can’t not do. Jasper Fforde put it best when he said “Writers write because they can’t stop. They scribble notes in books, write poetry, jot down good snippets of dialogue and generally exist in their own little world.”

Thank you for your wonderful insights, Tracy. I wish you the best of luck as your book hits the stores. You can read my review at this link.  Readers may order copies here,  and enter Tracy’s website at this link.

Tracy KielyAbout the Author: Tracy Kiely graduated from Trinity College in 1990 with a degree in English. This accomplishment, however, merely seemed to prompt most job interviewers to ask “how fast can you type?” Her standard answer of “not so fast” usually put an end to futher questions.

She was eventually hired by the American Urological Association (AUA), who were kind enough to overlook the whole typing thing, mainly because they knew just what kind of stuff she’d be typing. Beggars can’t be choosers, you know. After several years, Tracy left the AUA taking with her a trove of anecdotal stories that would eventually result in her banishment from polite society.

Share with others:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in Austenesque novels, Book review, jane austen, Jane Austen's World, Popular culture | Tagged Austenesque murder mystery, Murder at Longbourn, Tracy Kiely | 12 Comments

12 Responses

  1. on August 31, 2009 at 15:46 Sue Kean

    What a great interview! Thanks so much for bringing this author to my attention, I enjoyed Ms. Kiely’s responses to your questions very much, I love a witty reply, and I very much identify with the condition of “acerbicous tardious” as I suffer from it myself! I also grew up with Christie, Hitchcock and numerous others, and I will definitely read Murder at Longbourn-looking forward to it immensely!


  2. on August 31, 2009 at 15:50 Megan

    How fun! The novel sounds great, and I really enjoyed the interview. I can’t ever have enough Austenesque reading in my library! :)


  3. on August 31, 2009 at 20:09 Mum-me

    Great interview, and now I am interested in reading this book. If I hadn’t seen this interview, though, I would have just written it off as another Austen wannabe.


  4. on August 31, 2009 at 22:02 Icha

    An unrelated matter, MsPlace, but I just want you to know that I’ve nominated your site for the Zombie Chicken Award, which despite of its strange name, is rather a unique concept.

    See it here:
    http://becomingjane.blogspot.com/2009/09/zombie-chicken-awards.html

    cheers!
    Icha


  5. on September 1, 2009 at 00:25 Vic

    Thank you, Icha! How wonderful! Vic


  6. on September 1, 2009 at 10:41 Meredith R.

    You experience Tracy’s humor in her answers. If the book’s humor is similar, this should be a fun read. Thank you for the interview and the introduction to a new author.


  7. on September 7, 2009 at 22:36 Murder at Longbourn by Tracy Kiely: A Review « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Read my interview with Tracy at this link. […]


  8. on January 16, 2010 at 03:36 Nikki

    hi tracy!
    i love ur book and i was wondering if u have any other books out that are mysterys because i loved ur book(murder at longbourn)
    -Nikki:)


  9. on May 10, 2010 at 16:05 Isabella McNally-Sezer

    Just finished reading Murder At Longbourn and I do believe that I found an author to replace Dicey Deere who I missed terribly. Different writings but both thoroughly entertaining writers. I would love to see a book written by Tracey Kiely that takes place in Ireland. (just a thought)
    I eagerly await the release of Murder on The Brides Side.
    Loved your first book!!!


  10. on September 6, 2010 at 13:43 Murder on the Bride’s Side by Tracy Kiely: A Review « Jane Austen's World

    […] 2009 interview with Tracy Kiely Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Murder at Longbourn by Tracy Kiely: A ReviewIn my […]


  11. on September 5, 2011 at 17:47 Murder Most Persuasive by Tracy Kiely: A Review and Book Giveaway « Jane Austen's World

    […] Interview with Tracy Kiely […]


  12. on October 9, 2011 at 01:18 Sara DeWitt

    I just discovered your books and LOVE them!!! I read Murder most persuasive first, and just finished Murder at Longbourn. I am also a huge fan of Jane Austin and read them over and over. It was so fun to see all of her quotes in the book. I do have to say that I figured the mystery out really quickly and it was because of the names you chose. Linnet and Jackie were antagonists in an Agatha Christie novel. Did you do that on purpose? I still need to buy your third book and am hoping there will be another soon! Thanks for the fun!



Comments are closed.

  • Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Join 7,049 other followers
  • Item of Interest

    Black London by Gretchen Gerzina

    Free E-Book: Gerzina has written a fascinating account of London blacks, focusing on the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Because of a paucity of sources from blacks themselves, Gerzina had to rely primarily on glimpses through white eyes, especially those of antislavery advocate Granville Sharp. Gerzina is quite adept at culling evidence of a rich, complex black life, with significant interaction (and intermarriage) with the white community. Although subjected to much discrimination, London blacks never suffered as much as their American counterparts. The author rightly concludes that blacks have played an important role in the life of London for much of its history.

    Click on this link to Dartmouth.edu.

    Book cover of Black London

  • Follow Jane Austen's World on WordPress.com
  • Blog Stats

    • 16,200,089 hits
  • Highly Recommended a New Book! Bath -An Adumbration in Rhyme

  • Edited by Ben Wiebracht. Read the review of the book at this link. Click to order the book on Amazon US or Amazon UK

  • Book cover of Bath: An Adumbration in Rhyme by John Matthews
  • In Sri Lanka lies the grave of Rear Admiral Charles Austen CB, Jane Austen’s Brother

    The neglected tombstone found in an overgrown burial ground.

    Rear Admiral Charles Austen CB

    Died off Prome, the 7th October 1852, while in command of the Naval Expedition on the river Irrawady against the Burmese Forces, aged 73 years.”

    The grave after restoration

    Read the full article in The Sunday Times. June 27, 2021.

  • The Obituary of Charlotte Collins by Andrew Capes

    Click on image to read the story.

  • Comments

    “My idea of good company…is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation.” – Jane Austen, Persuasion

     

    Gentle readers: Please feel free to post your comments and continue the conversation! Due to SPAM, we will no longer accept comments on posts after 30 days of publication. In some instances, links will be removed from comments as well.

  • Administrators and Contributors

    Vic Sanborn, founder of this blog, is supported by a team of talented and knowledgeable writers about Jane Austen and the Regency era. They are:

    • Brenda Cox
    • Rachel Dodge and
    • Tony Grant, who now contributes his photos from London and England

    Click on their names to enter their own blogs.

    In addition, we thank the many experts and authors who frequently contribute their posts and opinions, and who continue to do so freely or at our request.

  • Pin It!

    Follow Me on Pinterest
  • Top Posts

    • Jane Austen’s Tips on Moving House
      Jane Austen’s Tips on Moving House
    • Persuasion-lite: An Annotated Recipe of the 2022 Netflix film version
      Persuasion-lite: An Annotated Recipe of the 2022 Netflix film version
    • You can watch Persuasion 2007 online
      You can watch Persuasion 2007 online
    • Awkward! The Regency Court Gown: Regency Fashion
      Awkward! The Regency Court Gown: Regency Fashion
    • Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey
      Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey
    • The Servant's Quarters in 19th Century Country Houses Like Downton Abbey
      The Servant's Quarters in 19th Century Country Houses Like Downton Abbey
    • Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century
      Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century
    • Pride and Prejudice Economics: Or Why a Single Man with a Fortune of £4,000 Per Year is a Desirable Husband
      Pride and Prejudice Economics: Or Why a Single Man with a Fortune of £4,000 Per Year is a Desirable Husband
    • Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers
      Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers
    • Jane and Friends: A Talk with Jane ... Porter
      Jane and Friends: A Talk with Jane ... Porter
  • Recent Posts

    • Jane Austen’s Tips on Moving House
    • Jane and Friends: A Talk with Jane … Porter
    • Persuasion-lite: An Annotated Recipe of the 2022 Netflix film version
    • Colonel Brandon in His Own Words, by Shannon Winslow
    • Jane Austen’s Final Writing: A Remembrance
  • Links to Jane Austen Blogs

    Click here to enter the page. Topics include Regency fashion, historic foods, Jane Austen societies, British sites, related topics. Click on image.

  • Find Jane Austen on Google

  • May we suggest?

    Regent’s Canal Walk (Little Venice to Kings Cross): Tony Grant

    Canal opposite Masefield House-TonyGrant

    Take a walk along a portion of Regent’s Canal with Tony Grant and friend. His superb photos and commentary make you feel as if you’ve tagged along.

    John Masefield House

    Click on this link to stroll along with Tony & Guy. (Images: Barges along Regent’s Canal; John Masefield’s House. Copyright: Tony Grant)

  • Hello, my name is Vic and I live in Maryland, USA. I have adored Jane Austen almost all of my life. I am a proud lifetime member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me and my team. We do not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, we do accept and keep books and CDs to review.

    If you would like to share a new site, or point out an error, please email us. (Yes, we are fallible. We'll own up to our mistakes and will make the corrections with a polite smile on our faces.) Write us at

    gmailbw

    Thank you for visiting this blog. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome.

  • Project Gutenberg: eBook of Stage-coach and Mail in Days of Yore, Volume 2 (of 2), by Charles G. Harper

    STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE: A PICTURESQUE HISTORY
    OF THE COACHING AGE, VOL. II, By CHARLES G. HARPER. 1903. Click on this link.

     

  • Top Posts & Pages

    • Jane Austen’s Tips on Moving House
    • Persuasion-lite: An Annotated Recipe of the 2022 Netflix film version
    • You can watch Persuasion 2007 online
    • Awkward! The Regency Court Gown: Regency Fashion
    • Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey
    • The Servant's Quarters in 19th Century Country Houses Like Downton Abbey
    • Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century
    • Pride and Prejudice Economics: Or Why a Single Man with a Fortune of £4,000 Per Year is a Desirable Husband
    • Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers
    • Jane and Friends: A Talk with Jane ... Porter
  • Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape
  • Disclaimer: Our team makes no profit from this blog. We may receive books (physical or digitized) and DVDs for review purposes.

  • Copyright Statement: © Jane Austen's World blog, 2009-2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jane Austen's World with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


  • Follow Following
    • Jane Austen's World
    • Join 7,049 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Jane Austen's World
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: