Welcome I now have a new web page. To transfer, click here. I'm Monica Fairview and I'm delighted you made it here to my website. I write Regency romance and Jane Austen "sequels", so if you're looking for something that will transport you to that by-gone era of elegance, you've come to the right place. I've loved Pride and Prejudice for many years, ever since I read it -- and loved it -- at school. It never occurred to me then that there would come a point in my life that I would draw such inspiration from Jane Austen that I would want to write a sequel. I have since read Pride and Prejudice so many times that the characters have branded themselves on my mind. Who could resist Eliza Bennet, intelligent, fearless, and very much Mr Darcy's equal? And isn't Mr Darcy the prototype of the rich powerful prince with the heart of gold? That he has to work to get Cinderella's attention is all the better, because as it turns out Cinderella isn't exactly a pushover. She resists him, to his utter disbelief, and he has to prove himself worthy of her affection. Such a wonderful story! But that isn't all. Austen manages to add to it the irrepressible Bennet family, the amazingly obtuse Mr Collins, the sneering Lady Catherine, plus a great deal of social commentary and a caustic tongue. It's a book that has it all. No one can accuse Austen of not wrapping up Pride and Prejudice well. Why, then do we feel it isn't enough? To me it was always about the characters. I couldn't quite get myself to say goodbye to them.   I would probably have left well alone if it wasn't for the fact that two adaptations of Pride and Prejudice piqued my interest so much that I kept wanting to revisit the novel. The 1995 adaptation with Colin Firth remains the one I prefer, because to me Firth remains the embodiment of repressed passion, his dark glances hinting at so much he practically burns up the screen. But the 1995 version brings to us a more haunted Mr Darcy, with Matthew Macfadyen providing a more angst-ridden hero whose appeal lies in his vulnerability.   Which is what is so amazing about Jane Austen. Each successive adaptation of Jane Austen brings her work to life in a new way, so it is hardly surprising that a number of writers have felt that they, too, want to express their own interpretations of Jane Austen's writings. In my case, I would certainly say that the many recent adaptations of Jane Austen's have kept my fascination with her novels alive, since they provided me with a variety of different perspectives on her works. Most recently, the new Emma apealed to me a great deal with its probing into the psychological background of Emma and her obsessive matchmaking. Before that I'd loved the Gweneth Paltraw version as well as that of Kate Beckinsale. It seemed as if ITV and BBC were competing to outdo each other as they vied for attention over two alternative screenings of Sense and Sensibility. Persuasion, too, took on a new life. And, lest we forget Pride and Prejudice for a moment, there was Bride and Prejudice, full of colour and sly humour, and Lost in Austen, with a new Mr Darcy in the figure of Elliott Cowan. Finally, it seemed, I had to do it. I had to write my own version of the 'happy ever after' that Austen hints at so well in Pride and Prejudice. But because I was as interested in all the characters as in the two main couples, I found mysef wondering about Miss Bingley's fate, and before long I was lost in the 'what if?' What if Miss Bingley were to encounter someone who would challenge the way she thought and behaved and threw her into confusion? The American Mr Darcy materialized, and The Other Mr Darcy took off as they came to loggerheads at once.
JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Original Stories Inspired by Literature's Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart, an anthology of stories put together by Laurel Ann Nattress, is now officially available on Amazon. The anthology is due to come out from Ballantine in October 2011. I can't wait for the launch since the anthology includes a lightly humorous story of mine called "Nothing More than Fairyland."  (Note: the story has nothing to do with fairies). I've just heard that Ballantine has just sold the Russian translation rights.
Sourcebooks THE DARCY COUSINS In this coming of age story, Georgiana Darcy joins forces with her lively American cousin Clarissa as she rebels against the stifling atmosphere at Rosings Park. But what starts as mere playful mischief soon turns serious when Miss Anne de Bourgh suddenly vanishes, and the consequences of Georgiana's rebellion become very real indeed... More trouble comes her way when she realizes that she and her more glamorous cousin are rivals for the same charming gentleman's affection. How is she to stand a chance in the game of love after her disastrous relationship with Wickham? We return once again to the world of Pride and Prejudice in this youthful dance through the London Season. To read a sample from Georgiana's and Clarissa's story, click here.

The Other Mr. Darcy

Supposing that Caroline Bingley really did love Mr. Darcy. Would she want anyone to discover it? What if someone knew her deepest darkest secret?

In The Other Mr. Darcy, wills and cultures clash as Miss Bingley encounters another Mr. Darcy, one who won't let her get away with anything.

The only question is, who is going to surrender first?

AUSTEN AUTHORS BLOG

The Austen Place to Be

AUSTEN AUTHORS It's almost one year since I joined Austen Authors Blog, and the year has sailed by. We're preparing for our one year anniversary (already!) starting August 6th, so please mark your calendars for the whole week to visit us, enjoy the celebrations, and enter for international prizes. Members of Austen Authors Juliet Archer Susan Adriani Marsha Altman Jennifer Becton Diana Birchall Marilyn Brant Jack Caldwell J. Marie Croft Carolyn Eberhart Monica Fairview (your humble servant) Regina Jeffers Cindy Jones Susan Kaye Sharon Lathan Kara Louise Vera Nazarian Jane Odiwe C. Allyn Pierson Abigail Reynolds Heather Lynn Rigaud Jane Rubino Caitlen Rubino-Bradway Lynn Shephard Mary Simonsen Karen Wasylowski