MJ Stratton: Guest Post & Giveaway

Welcome, Debut Author MJ Stratton!

Hello dear Janeites! It’s been a while since I have had the pleasure of welcoming another JAFF author to my blog, but today I am delighted to spotlight debut author MJ Stratton. 

Her first novel, The Redemption of Lydia Wickham, will be coming to Kindle on September 1st. I have had the good fortune to take a sneak peek at the novel, and I must say I loved the titular character’s growth. I always enjoy angst, and I thought this tale had just the right amount - a blend of heart-wrenching woe that can’t help but make you fall a little bit in love with the woman Lydia becomes, and an amazing journey for her that has you cheering her on along the way. 

As anyone who has read my novels is aware, I’m a big fan of side characters getting their fair share of attention. MJ Stratton and I both share a soft spot for the underrated characters like Lydia, which brings us to….

Snog/Marry/Snub

Jayne: Okay so let me just say, I would probably snog any Austen character just for the chance to meet one…

MJ: Oh? A little liberal with spreading kisses, are we? I honestly can’t say I would snog any Austen character, but I think a chance to steal a kiss from, let’s say, Colonel Brandon would leave me weak at the knees! I always loved Alan Rickman’s portrayal, but I’m a huge fan of the miniseries, too! What can I say? I’m rather picky with who I kiss.

Jayne: So if I were to tell you I would snog Caroline Bingley just for a ticket to Austen’s world, would that be too much?

MJ: Yeah, maybe! I don’t think I’m that desperate. I like my bathroom and painkillers too much! I’m rather fond of my toothbrush and underclothes, too!

Jayne: I will say this - if I were to snog Caroline Bingley, I would not pay her the consideration of using a toothbrush first, she deserves no such consideration!

MJ: Ugh. I think I’d make her use a toothbrush first. I can’t imagine breath was very fresh then.

Jayne: Especially not with such a poisonous tongue!

***

First up, the good guys….

Mr. Knightley, Henry Tilney, Captain Wentworth

Jayne: Snog Mr. Knightley for sure, especially the JLM portrayal. And Jeremy Northam, also a regency snack! Johnny Flynn, too! All so yummy! Speaking of yummy… I’d marry Mr. Tilney because he knows about muslin, obvs. Snub Captain Wentworth, he kinda trifled with Louisa Musgrove and that’s always bugged me.

MJ: Um, I think I’d have to snog Henry Tilney and then marry Mr. Knightly FOR SURE. Knightley deserved SO much better than Emma. I like his character best, too. Then again, maybe I’d snog Wentworth… I’m with you, though. He definitely trifled with Louisa, and I flat out believe he was revenging himself on Anne. Don’t you just love my indecision?

Jayne: I do, but Wentworth won’t! 

MJ: Haha nope! He most definitely wouldn’t!

Colonel Brandon, Edward Ferrars, Sidney Parker

MJ: Marry Colonel Brandon FOR SURE (see above). I mean, he’s loyal, devoted, handsome… Forget about him being a little older. Totally marrying that. Maybe snog Sidney Parker. SO many people are going to disagree with snubbing Edward Ferrars, but he makes me nuts. He plays with Elinor. Sure, he may have loved her, but what gives, you know? He was engaged!

Jayne: I’d marry Sidney Parker and live in Sanditon in a fabulous beach house obvs., Snog Colonel Brandon ALL DAY, and probably also snog Edward Ferrars, right in front of Lucy Steele before snubbing them both

MJ: Okay, snogging Edward Ferrars in front of Lucy Steele sounds like an excellent idea. I hate that she married Robert and got all the money. Proof that the bad guys don’t always get squished. Ugh. Maybe I need to write a story where she doesn’t get it all.

Jayne: It was fun making her suffer in Outmatched, so I say go for it! I could see her with John Thorpe, or maybe William Elliot?

MJ: Yes! Outmatched was such a fun one! Who would make her life the most miserable, do you think? I kind of want all her ambitions to come to naught, honestly.

Jayne: Outmatched was lucky to have you for an editor! Lucy deserves the absolute worst! Maybe Fred Tilney? I bet all the ghosts in the Abbey would see how haunt-able she is!

MJ: Yeah, that might be a good fit. I almost want to have her pursue someone thinking they are rich, only to find out after she’s compromised him that he’s poor… What do you think?

Jayne: I think I see a plot bunny in the making! William Elliot marries Lucy Steele, Mary Musgrove has apoplexy over it, Anne Elliot and Her matchmaking friend Emma Woodhouse team up to find Sir Walter a wife to bear him a son before it’s too late!
MJ: Oh my word that would be insane. Except I think I’d want Mrs. Jennings involved somehow. And who would Marry Sir Walter. Caroline Bingley?

Jayne: Sir Walter would probably find them both horrifically vulgar, so I love it!

If you can’t have the hero, at least he has a brother, right?

Tom Bertram, Fred Tilney, James Morland 

Jayne: Marry Tom Bertram for the money, snog James Morland, snub Fred Tilney

MJ: I think I agree with your decisions there!

Jayne: I mean, being mistress of Northanger Abbey is tempting, and probably comes with better in-laws, except for the General, but Fred Tilney 100% has some sort of… pox…..

Or perhaps you fancy a vicar?

Mr. Elton, Mr. Collins, Edmund Bertram

MJ: Wow. That’s tough. After due consideration, I would snub Edmund because he’s just kinda lamesauce. And I think I would marry either Mr. Collins or Mr. Elton. Probably Mr. Collins because he’s easily led. Any strong willed woman would completely rule the roost in that house; wear the trousers, so to speak, as long as they can supplant the great Lady of Rosings Park in his affections. And make excellent boiled potatoes. Mr. Elton sort of drives me nuts. I think maybe I’d snog him but then have him marry someone he can’t stand. I guess Mrs. Elton fits the bill, right?

Jayne: Girl, same. I would snub Edmund because he is my least favorite Austen hero, snog Mr. Elton since he is at least good looking and vain enough that he would want me to enjoy it, and marry Mr. Collins because he has shelves in his closet, and enjoys the patronage and condescension of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Also, I’d pretty much *have to* marry him, as he would not likely accept a refusal.

MJ: Of course he wouldn’t accept no for an answer. Didn’t you know that it is the practice of elegant females to at first refuse the man they mean to accept, therefore increasing his love by suspense? 

Jayne: Not to mention, it is highly unlikely any other offer may ever be made to me!

What about the rakes and rogues?

Henry Crawford, Frank Churchill, Willoughby

Jayne: Totally marrying Willoughby so he can read me Shakespeare in his brooding mansion, which I guess leaves me snogging Frank Churchill (on the down-low, away from his terrifying aunt) so that I can snub Henry Crawford 

MJ: Ugh. Okay I think I’d marry Henry Crawford. I have a thing for the underdogs and I’d like to think I could reform him. I mean, he was on that path before Fanny said ‘no,’ so maybe, right? Definitely snogging Willoughby. Frank Churchill gets the snub. His treatment of Jane Fairfax makes me livid.

Jayne: You have a point about Frank Churchill! Jane Fairfax is a character I’ve always wanted to give a Happier HEA to in an adaptation, though I’m not sure who could ever deserve her.

MJ: That’s a tough call. I think Col. Brandon would appreciate her far more than Frank ever could. Jane Fairfax was supposed to be the Mary Poppins of the Austen-verse, right? Practically perfect in every way? I always laughed at Emma being so envious of her. Emma supposedly had it all, yet she was SO jealous of Jane.

Jayne: I want an adaptation where Jane Fairfax’s marriage with Colonel Brandon brings Mrs. Jennings and Miss Bates together, and then in the sequel it’s just the two of them being absurd besties.

MJ: Oh my word, that would be hilarious. And then Mrs. Jennings finds a guy for Miss Bates! I always felt sorry for Miss Bates, honestly. I think part of why she rambles is due to anxiety, you know?

Jayne: That’s how we know she’s met her match, he renders her speechless with his dashing good looks….

This might be the toughest choice you make all day…

John Thorpe, Mr. Rushworth, George Wickham

MJ: Rushworth is definitely the one I’m marrying. He’s rich and connected, even if he’s a little dull. I can work with that. George Wickham might be good for a snog, since I have to choose. John Thorpe, though. Cut direct with my nose in the air, lemme tell you.

Jayne: Ha! Truly vile, I agree, but if I have to choose, I guess I would do the same. Marry Rushworth, snog Wickham, and snub John Thorpe and his horrid sister. Ewww. 

MJ: I just love how aligned we are. I guess that’s why we get along so well!

Jayne: Great minds think alike!

Saved the best for (almost) last…..

Darcy, Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam

Jayne: piece of cake. Snog them all, marry Bingley and exceed our income lol, and snub Mr. Darcy because, let’s face it, he would probably find me “barely tolerable” anyway

MJ: Okay, literally didn’t think you’d pick marry Bingley. I legit married a Mr. Bingley, so I’d go for him for sure. Darcy’s hot, so a snog could be enjoyable, if you could get him to warm up a bit first! Colonel Fitzwilliam would definitely be a snog for me, so I guess I’m snubbing Darcy. I sure hope my connections are better than his, otherwise I just committed social suicide.

Jayne: But if we marry Bingley, Darcy will have to forgive our snub… eventually….

MJ: I mean, maybe? If we lost his good opinion, maybe not….

Okay, last one - in honor of Lydia Bennet-Wickham, who would you like to see her snog, marry, and snub (aside from who she is paired with in Redemption)?

MJ: Maybe snog Henry Crawford. He’s good looking and all that. I think Colonel Brandon would like the person Lydia became, so maybe she can marry him. She’s definitely snubbing Willoughby. He’s a cad!

Jayne: I think she deserves a good snog from Wentworth, since she likes a man in uniform. I’d see her married to Sidney Parker; he can take her to Sanditon, which would delight Mrs. Bennet, you know. And I think I would like to see her snub Willoughby, really tell him off for his treatment of Eliza Williams.

MJ: Mrs. Bennet would be absolutely tickled if Lydia lived by the sea. I can picture it now. “A little sea bathing would set me up forever!” Mr. Bennet would never hear the end of it.

Thanks for joining us dear readers! Do you agree with our choices? Did I leave anyone out? We’d love to hear from you! And for those of you who would love to hear more from MJ Stratton, follow the rest of her blog tour for more chances to enter the giveaway!