I think William Faulkner once said that in writing you have to murder your darlings. I wonder if you have to edit out any part of your book that you like? Can you tell us about it? Any deleted scenes or alternative endings from the book? I would love to hear about them.

What I cut out I didn't miss. (One minor scene and some fat here and there.) There were no alternate endings.

I have just finished CoaJAA and thoroughly enjoyed the book until the very end. Then I became confused, looking for another chapter to explain something I seemed to have missed. What happened to Courtney and her life in the 21st Century? Was the Jane Mansfield at the end "Jane" or "Courtney?" Please help clear this up. I would have loved to hear something more about Courtney and Wes.
SKY

Welcome to the forum, Sky. :)
Perhaps this may help. In response to your question, "Was the Jane Mansfield at the end 'Jane' or 'Courtney,' I'll quote from the scene with Courtney/Jane and the fortune teller:
"But why me? Why Jane?”
"You are linked, as we all are. The idea that I am actually separate from you is just an idea, not the whole truth."

Many people have interpreted the ending in various ways. I know what it means to me, but I do not want to dilute the individual experience of each reader. All I can say is this: It does end the way you want it to end.

As for Courtney and her life in the 21st century, that is the next book, the parallel story: While Courtney was taking over Jane's life, Jane is taking over Courtney's life.

"As for Courtney and her life in the 21st century, that is the next book, the parallel story: While Courtney was taking over Jane's life, Jane is taking over Courtney's life."

Jane in the 21th century, that's so cool. I can't wait to find out. Please write fast. :-)

Doin' the best I can, Maxi3D! Glad you like the concept. I've been getting a tremendously enthusiastic response every time I tell people about the sequel. I've got a longer description of it here on this site, if you're interested. Just click on "The Book" on the top menu, then "The Sequel" on the left-hand menu.

I loved your book, Laurie! I'm confused about the passage where Jane, before her accident and Courtney's invasion, knew about Abraham Lincoln and Rosa Parkes. Was Jane starting to become Courtney before Courtney started to become Jane? This ties in with the diary being filled with multiple Courtneys and Janes that Jane/Courtney does not remember writing...

Welcome to the forum, Colette! So happy you loved the book. If you want to put a label on Jane's visions, you could call it remote viewing, clairvoyance, or, if you were Jane's mother, a ticket to the nearest insane asylum ;-)

Laurie, How is the sequel coming along? What are your deadlines, pub;ication dates, etc; and isn't COAJAA coming out in paperback this summer? What is the name of your sequel?

Sequel is coming along reallly well. I'm having so much fun writing this book. Should be out sometime in 2009.

Paperback of COAJAA comes out April 29. Very exciting!

Glad you asked about the title: I really need one. If anyone has a suggestion, I would be very grateful.

To see a description of the sequel, click on "The Book" above and then "Sequel."

BTW, news and updates on what's going on with the book and this site are always on the homepage, http://janeaustenaddict.com

It seems my life of late (as it is a quiet season for me business/orders wise) is a "quick succession of busy nothings" and find myself indulging on the web and perusing my favorite sites and boards... I will check out the Sequel info... and then will probably be obsessed for a while with coming up with some hopefully useful ideas for your new book. That might actually make for a fun, new thread... However, you might regret what you have so innocently asked here from your fan base. BTW, my COAJAA audio book just arrived today and I have been happily listening to it in the car as I drive around the county running errands and picking up children from school. Just completed the 1st disc and can't wait to get back in the car again! Orlagh is a fabulous narrator and masterfully switches accents. There is something about someone reading a story to me that is so soothing, too! Anyway, just love it!

Trust me--I won't regret this request. I'd be very grateful for title suggestions. There may be a perfect one I can use, or the ideas may jumpstart my own ideas. Can only be helpful. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish.

I'm so happy you're enjoying your COAJAA audiobook. I agree about Orlagh Cassidy: her accents are flawless and I marvel at how she switches back and forth seamlessly. And I just found out the other day that Publishers Weekly gave this audiobook one of its 2007 Listen Up Awards.

Hello Laurie,

This isn't so much a question, more like a comment: I am so loving this book. I got it on Wednesday and I'm about half way thru and I'm loving. I'm reading it fairly fast, for me anyway, just so I can find out what happens. Then I will re-read so I can catch all the little details I'm sure I'm missing.

It's a great read for all us addicts and Courtney is handling this "sudden change" with great applaum. Did I spell that right? LOL.

Courtney seems like someone I would know or work with. My only problem with her is Frank! Granted, love is love and love is blind but what a freaking arsehole this guy was!! Wes seems like a gem.

I look forward to finishing this weekend and then starting it again.

Thanks for writing such a great book!

Stephanie

So happy you're having fun with it, Stephanie. Enjoy the ride!

Laurie

Hey Laurie,

So I finished the book about a week ago and then I had to step away and let it sink it.

First, let me start by saying how much I loved it. And I'm not just saying that because you have this awesome site and because you wrote it but because it really was great.

I'll admit, I have to go back and re-read because I went so fast because I had to see what would happen to Courtney.

I loved the ending. What I loved about it was that it wasn't scientifically explained. It just was. It was exactly how the fortune teller explain. Things would go right when they were supposed to. From what I understood, it looks like Jane (as Courtney) was making amends or coming to her own realization with Wes in the future. That was crazy. I loved it.

I wasn't sure about Edgeworth but he's a man. They all make stupid decisions and sometimes they get themselvs into sticky situations. In the end, Edgeworth proved his worth and it worked out in the end for Jane.

Umm, I don't have any good questions right now. But I am looking forward to the sequel. It will be interesting to see how Jane handles herself in modern day LA!

Thanks for writing a great book!
Steph

Hey Laurie, I saw the funniest thing at Borders. There is a paperback out called "An infamous Army" by Georgette Heyer and her cover has the same cover as yours, but with a little extras. When I glimpsed your character Jane Mansfield I thought it was your book on paperback. It was really funny. I tried to find it on Amazon so I can show you, but you may have to step in a Borders to see.

I heard about that, DK. Pretty funny. That's what happens when covers come from an existing work of art. My book will be out in paperback April 29, and then the fun will really begin. ;-)

Glad you enjoyed the book, Steph!

This is a bit off topic, but I didn't know where to post it or who to ask. Does anyone know where I can purchase Gill Tarvern's animated JA books in the USA? Amazon doesn't have them yet.

This is a sequel musing. As I had to be in the car yesterday for over 4 hours, I listened to the COAJAA audio book-- and was struck by how self-depracating Courtney is of her 21st century body-- describing herself as short, not proportioned for her size and with lank, blonde hair... I wonder how 19th c. Jane is going to deal with her 21st c. body and the whole clothing issue... And I don't recall, Laurie did you say when the Sequel is going to be available?

And if she is going to read any of Jane Austen's other novels... I'd think they along with any of the DVDs would be a source of comfort to her.

Great questions, Christina. Jane definitely appreciates Courtney's style of beauty more than Courtney herself does. And discovering that there are six, not two, Austen novels in the world is a major benefit of finding herself in the 21st century! The sequel should be out sometime in 2009.

Laurie, Just received my JASNA newsletter today and saw that you are a breakout speaker for the AGM'08 in Chicago. What are you going to be speaking about?? I am sure you have much to share given all the Regency research for your books. Inquiring mind wants to know.

Hi, Christina!

Here is a very brief description of my talk (may or may not appear in this form in the program):

Ever wonder what possesses an author to write an Austen-inspired novel? Laurie Viera Rigler provides a glimpse into the creation of her comic homage, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, a novel that explores the fantasy of living in Austen’s world and plays with questions of identity. As obsessed with Austen as her protagonist, Laurie deconstructs her own addiction to Austen and reveals how she discovered, resisted, and ultimately surrendered to the arts and allurements of JASNA while writing and researching her book.

Sounds like something that will be well attended. I hope to get the finances straight to get to go this year! Would love to combine the trip with an Oprah viewing too!!

Also, I'm surprised they didn't ask you to specifically speak on Regency life topics such as hygeine and all those interesting bits of nuggets you learned thru out your research.

The talk has to fit with the theme of the AGM, which is Austen's legacy. There is, however, room for what you're talking about. Part of my talk will deal with how writing and researching the novel was a way of living out, albeit vicariously, the ultimate Janeite fantasy: “What if I could travel back to Austen’s time and inhabit her world?” Part of what I will explore in this breakout session is whether the fulfillment of such a fantasy would be a dream come true, a case of be-careful-what-you-wish-for, or a little of both. And more!