Sophia Rose Guest Posts: RATIONAL CREATURES & Early Feminists in JAFF
40You’ve all met Sophia Rose here as my contributing guest poster; she is always reading and reviewing the most interesting mystery and Jane Austen-themed fiction. She writes as well; Read on and she can tell you all about this new Jane Austen based anthology in which she has a story.
Rational Creatures
by Christina Boyd (Editor ), Joana Starnes, Elizabeth Adams, Nicole Clarkston, Karen M. Cox, J. Marie Croft, Amy D’Orazio, Jenetta James, Jessie Lewis, KaraLynne Mackrory, Lona Manning, Christina Morland, Beau North, Sophia Rose, Anngela Schroeder, Brooke West, Caitlin Williams
Paperback, 450 pages
Expected publication: October 15th 2018
Publisher: The Quill Ink
Howdy, Fangs, Wands, and Fairydust blog regular visitors and new guests!
I am thrilled to come to you today with a special post in honor of our upcoming book release of Rational Creatures. Many know me as a regular guest reviewer here at FWaD. Today I’m trading caps from guest reviewer to guest author, to share about my small, but exciting part in making this book happen.
In the early part of this year, it was a privilege to be invited to participate in the latest The Quill Ink anthology project. For Rational Creatures, we were asked to direct our pens to the telling of why several of Jane Austen’s ladies were ahead of their time when it came to feminism.
My particular Rational Creature is the heroine of Northanger Abbey – a young lady emerging on the other end of her first venture away from home with a strong mind and her own ideas about many things. Without artifice or deceit – or a great dowry and family connections, I might add – Catherine gains the attention, attraction, and, eventually, love of Mr. Henry Tilney. I enjoyed giving this fresh, youthful Catherine Morland a follow-up adventure that would challenge her in ways even her imagination couldn’t have conjured up. Catherine has the opportunity to confront the mistaken notion that a young lady could not come to the rescue of a missing brother. In doing so, she is also brought up against a wall between herself and the all-male and upper class establishment of formal higher education.
You might wonder why I chose higher education as the inequality element that my particular Rational Creature would face. A few points factor into that. First of all, I confess that education is my first love and I made a career of it, so of course, my mind went there first. Also, in an effort to stay true to Austen’s spirit throughout my story, I chose a barrier that she herself would have faced from her earliest years. Young Jane would have seen brothers going off to school to study and would have observed firsthand the youth her father tutored in subjects denied her because she was female. The Jane Austen who wrote her stories, novels, and letters proved that her mind was just as capable of learning those subjects as well, if not better. She sprinkled her tales liberally with clever, well-informed women who were worthy and equal to their fictional gentlemen counterparts. Catherine was one of the youngest of Austen’s leading ladies, but I was pleased to give her the opportunity to storm the citadel of higher learning and see what she made of it, while at the same time, making this an interesting talking piece for her to discover if her own hero, Mr. Tilney, saw her as a rational creature.
It was more than an exercise in writing a story with an economy of words or an attempt to channel a beloved author’s style, but a chance to explore women’s history, appreciate what others have accomplished who came before us, and shine a light on one sample of a lady wordsmith’s work that continues to inspire her fellow rational female creatures hundreds of years later to stand beside and not behind, to choose, to persist, and joyfully pursue what she will.
I hope you enjoy Catherine’s further adventures in The Strength of Their Attachment along those of her fellow Rational Creatures.
Thank you, Stephanie, for the opportunity to stop by today. Always a pleasure!
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia Rose is a native Californian currently residing in Michigan. A long-time Jane Austen fan, she is a contributing author to Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes and Gentlemen Rogues, The Darcy Monologues, Sunkissed: Effusions of Summer, and Then Comes Winter anthologies, short stories based on Jane Austen’s works. Sophia’s love for writing began as a teen writing humorous stories. Writing was set aside for many years while Sophia enjoyed a rewarding career working with children and families. Reduced work hours offered an opportunity for a return to writing stories that continue to lean toward the lighter side of life and always end with a happily ever after.
Sophia’s Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816
Rational Creatures
by Christina Boyd (Editor ), Joana Starnes, Elizabeth Adams, Nicole Clarkston, Karen M. Cox, J. Marie Croft, Amy D’Orazio, Jenetta James, Jessie Lewis, KaraLynne Mackrory, Lona Manning, Christina Morland, Beau North, Sophia Rose, Anngela Schroeder, Brooke West, Caitlin Williams
Paperback, 450 pages
Expected publication: October 15th 2018
Publisher: The Quill Ink
Book Description“But I hate to hear you talking so, like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days.” —Persuasion
Jane Austen: True romantic or rational creature? Her novels transport us back to the Regency, a time when well-mannered gentlemen and finely-bred ladies fell in love as they danced at balls and rode in carriages. Yet her heroines, such as Elizabeth Bennet, Anne Elliot, and Elinor Dashwood, were no swooning, fainthearted damsels in distress. Austen’s novels have become timeless classics because of their biting wit, honest social commentary, and because she wrote of strong women who were ahead of their day. True to their principles and beliefs, they fought through hypocrisy and broke social boundaries to find their happily-ever-after.
In the third romance anthology of The Quill Collective series, sixteen celebrated Austenesque authors write the untold histories of Austen’s brave adventuresses, her shy maidens, her talkative spinsters, and her naughty matrons. Peek around the curtain and discover what made Lady Susan so wicked, Mary Crawford so capricious, and Hettie Bates so in need of Emma Woodhouse’s pity.
Rational Creatures is a collection of humorous, poignant, and engaging short stories set in Georgian England that complement and pay homage to Austen’s great works and great ladies who were, perhaps, the first feminists in an era that was not quite ready for feminism.
“Make women rational creatures, and free citizens, and they will become good wives; —that is, if men do not neglect the duties of husbands and fathers.” —Mary Wollstonecraft
Stories by: Elizabeth Adams * Nicole Clarkston * Karen M Cox * J. Marie Croft * Amy D’Orazio * Jenetta James * Jessie Lewis * KaraLynne Mackrory * Lona Manning * Christina Morland * Beau North * Sophia Rose * Anngela Schroeder * Joana Starnes * Caitlin Williams * Edited by Christina Boyd * Foreword by Devoney Looser
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39909769-rational-creatures?from_search=true
Giveaways:
Rational Creature SUPER Giveaway: The Random Name Picker winner review all blog comments and select one winner from these blog stop comments during the tour for all 21 prizes: Winner’s choice of one title from each authors’ backlist (that’s 16 books, ebooks, or audiobooks), our bespoke t-shirt/soap/candle; #20, a brick in winner’s name to benefit #BuyABrick for Chawton House; and #21, the Quill Collective anthologies in ebook or audiobook.
Rational Creatures Tour Schedule
September 18 / My Jane Austen Book Club / Guest Post
September 20 / Long and Short Reviews / Guest Post
September 25 / Books & Wine are Lovely Playlist
September 27 / Fangs, Wands and Fairydust / Guest Post
October 2 / Babblings of a Bookworm / Guest Post
October 4 / From Pemberley to Milton / Guest Post
October 9 / Austenesque Reviews / Guest Post
October 11 / Silver Petticoat / Guest Post
October 15 / Just Jane 1813 / Book Review
October 16 / My Love for Jane Austen / Guest Post
October 18 / Rosie’s Review Team / Book Review
October 23 / More Agreeably Engaged / Guest Post
October 25 / The Book Rat / Guest Post
October 30 / Margie’s Must Reads / Book Review
November 1 / My Vices and Weaknesses / Guest Post
November 6 / Diary of an Eccentric / Book Review
November 8 / Of Pens and Pages / Book Review
November 13 / Let Us Talk of Many Things / Guest Post
*Giveaweay is conducted by, administered by and fulfilled by THE QUILL INK and FW&FD has no part in it’s operation or fulfillment.
September 27, 2018 @ 3:37 AM
Thanks for a thought-provoking post, Sophia Rose. As the youngest of Jane Austen’s main female protagonists, Catherine has also seemed the least mature to me, certainly at the start of the book. I think her encounter with Isabella and John Thorpe in Bath is a kind of wakeup call to her and starts her down the path towards becoming a more Rational Creature. Of course, her tendency to interpret things wrongly doesn’t disappear overnight, hence all of her Gothic novel-induced imaginings when she reaches the Abbey! I wonder if my seventeen year old self would have reacted much differently? Of course, I had the advantage, not long after, of travelling along the path towards higher education; one of the things I’m grateful for in our modern world.
Looking forward to reading your story, as well as all of the others, very much.
September 27, 2018 @ 6:30 PM
Sure thing, Anji! I do appreciate you stopping by since I know your time is tight right now.
Yes, she is definitely on the newly maturing end of the Austen heroines and it was interesting to see just how far she had to come throughout her Bath and then Northanger Abbey adventures.
I was a quiet and shy 17, but I did have an imagination so its possible that Cath and I would be similar at that age. 🙂
Ah, yes, I can’t wait for you to read it and crossing my fingers you love it. 🙂
September 27, 2018 @ 10:22 PM
I think you are going to really enjoy Soohia’s Catherine Morland story.
September 27, 2018 @ 7:17 AM
Catherine is not my favorite character I admit, but I am rather curious if that will change after reading this book 😀
September 27, 2018 @ 6:32 PM
Ha! It’s funny you say that. If you’d ask me who my least favorite Austen heroine was even just five years ago, I’d tell you Catherine. But, for some reason, this all changed on me and now I think she’s a hoot.
So kind, I hope you do end up loving Cath. 🙂
September 27, 2018 @ 10:24 PM
I think reading all these stories, I gained a much different perspective on some of the less likely heroines. Am rather pleased with the finished work!
September 27, 2018 @ 8:54 AM
I am least familiar with the story of NA so I’m excited to see that your story focuses on Catherine. I look forward to reading.
September 27, 2018 @ 6:34 PM
I think that will be true of many who come to these stories. Northanger Abbey tends to be the ‘sleeper’ novel in Austen’s group alongside Mansfield Park. It will be fun to give everyone a little taste of both of these and the others in our book. Oh yes, I do hope that my Cath makes you love her a little. 🙂
September 27, 2018 @ 10:25 PM
Oh, you should def read it.
September 27, 2018 @ 11:04 AM
Well this should be interesting. I read Northanger Abbey once and have seen the film twice so I’m not an expert. However Catherine seemed very young for her age and too much given to daydreaming. I can’t wait to see her with a bit of backbone being a ‘Rational Creature’ 🙂
September 27, 2018 @ 6:37 PM
Oh yes, those films were… interesting adaptions. LOL I think Austen’s point of view was somewhat different from the films. She was definitely asking us to laugh and wink with her at some of the foibles of her characters. I loved seeing a naive Catherine grow through the course of the story and I tried to build on that with my sequel.
Hope you enjoy it, Glynis. 🙂
September 27, 2018 @ 11:07 AM
Dare I say this out loud, I’m sorry but Northanger Abbey is my least favorite story of dear Jane. Mainly because I struggle to identify with Catherine… Perhaps if I had read it when I was younger myself ot would be different. Great to hear that this story gives her more dimention!
September 27, 2018 @ 6:41 PM
No sweat, Charlotte! I can actually offer a bigger shocker (*says in whisper- P&P isn’t my first or second or third favorite Austen). Buahaha! Did I cause you to faint?
In all seriousness, I do get what you’re saying. Catherine is generally claimed by the youngest crowd of Austen fans if they find her then. Until a few years ago, I wasn’t fond of her either, but then a switch was flipped in me and a re-read of NA led me to laughing my head off and loving it better than others.
Crossing my fingers you enjoy my Cath story, Charlotte. 🙂
September 27, 2018 @ 11:14 AM
Thank you, Sophia for such a thoughtful and clever story. It’s always such a pleasure to work with you in these stories. And I daresay that “Catherine Morland” would enjoy reading this!
September 27, 2018 @ 6:43 PM
Likewise. You take my lump of clay and make it a lovely piece. 🙂
September 27, 2018 @ 11:42 AM
Great post, Sophia, and thank you Stephanie for taking part in the Rational Creatures launch!
September 27, 2018 @ 6:46 PM
Yay! Glad you could drop by, Jessie. 🙂 Stephanie did a lovely job formatting the post and I love that she could host me.
September 27, 2018 @ 2:04 PM
Lovely post. I enjoyed knowing something more about Sophia’s story.
September 27, 2018 @ 6:47 PM
So glad you could drop by, Maria. Appreciate you enjoyed the post and hope you end up loving on our Rational Creatures ladies when you get the chance. 🙂
September 27, 2018 @ 7:35 PM
Thanks for the great post – check out the response! Can’t wait for the book!
September 27, 2018 @ 8:34 PM
And, thank you for the fantastic job of formatting and hostessing. 🙂
I am excited to see what you think. 🙂
September 27, 2018 @ 7:40 PM
Great post, Sophia Rose! I especially loved this: “Young Jane would have seen brothers going off to school to study and would have observed firsthand the youth her father tutored in subjects denied her because she was female.” What a great observation!
September 27, 2018 @ 8:32 PM
How kind, Christina! I kept thinking about Austen as much as Catherine when I sat down to write this one. She definitely made the most of the intellect, skills, and education she did have. 🙂
September 27, 2018 @ 8:52 PM
I’m new to Fangs, Wands, and Fairydust but not to your work, Sophia Rose. Your stories are always delightful and insightful. The Strength of Their Attachment is no exception.
September 27, 2018 @ 9:23 PM
You just gave we lovely chills for your words of praise, lady. I’m a not so secret admirer of your work. 🙂
And, so cool, that you could be introduced to Stephanie’s blog. I swear she’ll have you piling on books to your reading pile if you start following her reviews. LOL
September 28, 2018 @ 9:59 PM
Thanks for coming by FW&FD!
September 29, 2018 @ 1:43 PM
looking forward to it 🙂
September 29, 2018 @ 8:13 PM
Crossing my fingers you’ll love it. 🙂
October 3, 2018 @ 9:59 AM
Catherine has never been a favorite of mine but I am interested to read your tale on her.
October 3, 2018 @ 5:52 PM
Yay! Glad you’re willing to go out on a limb to try my Cath. 🙂
October 5, 2018 @ 5:54 AM
Loved this interview 🙂 We are all indebted to the women that came before us and their ideas about how this world should be.
October 8, 2018 @ 8:56 AM
We are, and that’s why we should all vote! Thanks for commenting – I know I made it political but recent events,….
October 9, 2018 @ 4:09 AM
Agreed, Karen! It was a privilege to echo one of those authors with our stories. 🙂
October 5, 2018 @ 11:02 AM
Wonderful read! Sophia’s story captures so well Catherine’s eagerness and open character, as well as her zest for understanding. I know I read it with wide eyes and bated breath. Well done, you!
October 8, 2018 @ 8:55 AM
Thanks for commenting Nicole. Sophia Rose always does a great job!
October 9, 2018 @ 4:10 AM
Ah, you make me blush, Nicole. I’m glad you saw my heroine like that. 🙂
October 11, 2018 @ 12:18 PM
Northanger is not my favorite Austen book, however I have read it and have probably acted as Catherine did at some time in my life. Fortunately I’m old enough there’s probably no video evidence lurking!
October 12, 2018 @ 1:01 AM
Haha, yes, we all have those memories that it is a good thing it can’t be brought out as Exhibit A. Thanks for stopping, LynnChar!
October 12, 2018 @ 9:07 AM
We are all Catherine at some time. Thanks for commenting.
October 17, 2018 @ 2:11 PM
Because of her age and being such a hopefull dreamer, I find Catherine to be the heroine I least relate to. So I’m looking forward to seeing her in a new light! Jane’s story is not my favorite as I said but this book is one I’d love to read, please considder me a part if this giveaway, thank you!