Jennifer Kloester and Jane Austen's Ghost

Anne here, and today I'm interviewing a guest, Dr. Jennifer Kloester, who many of you will know as the authorized biographer of Georgette Heyer. She's been on Word Wenches before, here and here and here, but this time she's visiting as the author of a  new novel, Jane Austen's Ghost. It's been described thus "Magic and adventure abound in this genre-bending contemporary-historical paranormal romance with a Regency twist." 

Here's the blurb:

With her life a mess, Cassandra Austin seeks refuge in Winchester with her eccentric great-aunt – but Aunty B has problems of her own. Ghost problems.

Cassie doesn’t believe in ghosts but she’ll do anything to help the only person who’s ever loved her. Besides, a simple spell in the cathedral crypt couldn’t do any harm, could it? Well, except for the two-hundred-year-old curse on Jane Austen, that is. 

Overnight, life is suddenly a whole lot weirder and it’s up to Cassie to save the day with the help of a dour Bishop, two literary geniuses, a couple of wise-cracking geriatrics and the enigmatic Oliver Carling.

Anne: Welcome to the WordWenches, Jen. What inspired you to write a story about Jane Austen's ghost?

Jen: Actually, Anne, in a way it was you! You might remember the Jane Austen conference we went to in Canberra a few years ago. I was sitting beside you when an internal door behind the podium opened for no apparent reason and I leaned over to you and whispered "Jane Austen's Ghost"! You smiled at me and nodded. That night I dreamed about Jane Austen and the following morning I wrote the first half dozen sentences of what is now the first chapter of the book. Of course, it also helps that I love Jane Austen's novels as well as Georgette Heyer's AND so many of the Regency novels that have followed. I think that over the years I've absorbed a lot of Regency storytelling so perhaps it was inevitable that I write a novel with its own special Regency element.

Anne: Tell us about Jane Austen's Ghost.

Jen:  Such a surprising book in so many ways. For starters it's a contemporary story (set in 2019) only it has a strong historical element and an original Regency twist. Through all these years of reading Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer and loving that feeling of actually being in that Regency world I've often wondered what a Regency woman would make of our time? I've particularly wondered about Jane Austen. She had such an incisive mind and I think it's her understanding of human nature that makes her novels so enduring. They're timeless. And so I wanted to bring her into our world and let her cast her witty and observant eye over it.

That's how the novel evolved but there's a lot more to it than that. My hapless heroine, Cassie, for instance. Her heart's been broken (again) and she's taken refuge with her Great-Aunt Butters who is one of my favourite characters. But there's also Oliver Carling who seems attracted to Cassie but who may have ulterior motives and then there are my wise-cracking nonagerians, the Froyle twins. This eclectic group of people become embroiled in a quest to free Jane Austen's ghost and are led on a twisting, turning, race against time. It's a romp really, but one with lots of invisible historical research underpinning it.

Anne: Though not the actual heroine of the novel, Aunt Butters is certainly angling for star billing. Tell us about Aunt Butters.

Jen: I adore Aunt Butters or Aunty B as Cassie often calls her. She's a hoot! Clever, adventurous, feisty, curious, loving and kind and she's also eight-seven years old. Aunty B's had an amazing life and she's always open to new ideas. Nothing seems to faze her. She's a straight-shooter and a good judge of character. I grew up with nine great-aunts and have always enjoyed the company of older people. There's a lot to learn from the elderly and many of them have done extraordinary things.

My great-aunt Winifred was in the Congo in the 1950s and actually smuggled home a huge crate of souvenirs by playing the grande dame in the customs hall - the family used to refer to her as 'The Duchess". I think Aunty B has elements of my wonderful strong-minded grandmother and her eight remarkable sisters, with a bit of my great-grandmother thrown in for good measure but most of all she's Aunty B - a woman who fell into my head fully formed and who tried to take over the novel and had to be firmly encouraged to make way for Jane and Cassie!

Anne: Oh yes, I know all about imperious old lady characters who want to take over. LOL. I know how much you love research. What were some of the sources you used for this novel?

Jen: You're right, Anne, I do love research - especially about the Regency era and Jane Austen. I had a wonderful time researching Jane Austen's Ghost and drew a lot of material from Austen's letters and novels. I wanted to make sure that Jane had a distinctly Regency voice in the novel and so I was very careful to make sure her words are always authentic and of her era. I also wanted her world and ours to collide and to see what she made of modern life. There are huge differences between our twenty-first century life and the life she led in early nineteenth-century England. I wanted to make the most of that and depict some of those differences it in a really fun and engaging way (think cars and carriages, clothes, language, women and marriage, among other things). I've also visited many of the places Jane Austen knew well and have (I hope) brought them to life in the novel. It was such fun weaving the two worlds together and I'm really proud of the Regency twist which begins with the Prologue and continues between the chapters in the first half of the book. I had an amazing time writing those bits - so often the words just seemed to appear on the page. For me it was like magic only I'm pretty sure it was my years of reading Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen and Regency romances that made it feel so effortless!

Anne: Sounds wonderful. Can you give us a little taste of Jane Austen's Ghost please?

Jen:  This is from Chapter 21 - about a third of the way through the book. 

 ‘James Stanier Clarke.’ Miss Austen’s voice was bitter. ‘Oh, that wretched, wretched, man! If I had but known—I should never have gone to Carlton House again—but how could I have suspected—oh, the wickedness!’ She cast the drawstring bag from her and shot agitatedly up the street. ‘Such a fool as I have been.’ Little bits of scarlet ghostly aura went flying off in all directions.

‘What do you mean?’

She paused in her restless circling. ‘Was there ever a more designing, cold-blooded being than Mr Clarke? How dared he do such a thing? Of all the odious, insufferable, arrogant men! How could he have thought for one moment that I should wish to be connected to a person of his nature? A man guilty of such cruelty, such treachery, who had tricked himself into believing he was in love with me. Why, he actually had the audacity to ask me to marry him.’

‘He did? When?’

‘In 1816, on the occasion of my second visit to Carlton House. Mr Clarke was librarian to that vulgar profligate, the Prince Regent. And a more conceited, presumptuous man I have never met.’

‘The Prince Regent or Mr Clarke?’

To my surprise she laughed, a clear, shining sound like the peal of a silver bell, and instantly her angry colour began to recede. ‘An excellent question, Miss Austin. But on this occasion I refer to the servant not the master.’ She compressed her lips. ‘Do you know that Mr Clarke had the impudence to send me several suggestions for my future novels?’

‘So I gathered. Were they any good?’

‘No, they were not. Although, they did inspire me to write a short parody on novel-writing.

Anne: Thanks for joining us on Word Wenches, Jen. Jen will be giving away a copy of Jane Austen's Ghost to someone who leaves a comment or who answers the following question: Where is Jane Austen buried? (one of the key settings for Jane Austen's Ghost)

 

Comments

[Judith T Cozart]

Winchester Cathedral in Winchester UK

[Jeanette Dilts]

Jane is buried at Winchester Cathedral, but I looked it up just to check. :) This sounds like an interesting book. While the description of the book is a mouthful, I love the chance to read Jane's take on the modern world.

[Pamela DG]

I had to look it up. Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, England. This looks to be a fascinating book. I'm putting it on my "To Read" List.

[Amy Pressley]

Winchester Cathedral in Winchester UK

[Quantum]

A few years ago I visited Jane Austen's house at Chawton, but alas did not sense any ghostly presence! It was however fascinating to see the table at which she wrote the novels and the other memorabilia. There is a nice video of Austen at Chawton online:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHN1WxY-bSI

I have also seen the grave in Winchester Cathedral, one of my favorite towns, not least because Freeman Dyson the eminent physicist studied there as a lad. Will be fascinated to learn how the ghost got to Winchester.😊

Any possibility of an audio version?

[Katharine E Kimbriel]

Don't try to preview--the site ate my post!

Jane resides at Winchester Cathedral when she is not doing wonderful spirit things elsewhere. :)

I look forward to this adventure, and especially to meeting Aunt Butters. I require interesting woman of all ages in my novels, and can't wait to meet her and Cassie. (I know about encroaching elders--I have an older werewolf crowding my current heroine. She may end up sharing this tale equally.)

This will go on the holiday hopeful list!

[Pat]

Jane is buried in Winchester Cathedral. I’ve been there!

[Beverly Abney]

I love contemporary stories that feature Jane Austen. I have read a few. One when she is a vampire still living today. I am sure I will like this book since Heyer is my favorite Regency author and I have read the Kloester biography so I know she writes well.

[Julia Gasper]

Yes, Winchester Cathedral.

[Jen Kloester]

Winchester Cathedral it is Jeanette and I do hope you enjoy reading about Jane's adventures. I loved imagining Jane Austen in our modern world and letting her discover her incredible popularity (among other things!).

[Janice M]

Herself is buried at Winchester Cathedral but she lives on as long as Janeites celebrate her magic. As the current Regional Coordinator of the MN JASNA I am planning our annual Birthday Party for Jane where we will offer her a toast and remembrances of why we adore her writings. This novel sounds intriguing. I will mention it tomorrow at our November meeting. Thank you for the tease.

[Jen Kloester]

You're correct PAmela. Thanks for playing :D and I really hope you enjoy reading Jane's story! I had a lovely time writing it.

[Jen Kloester]

Correct! Such a magnificent cathedral and I've always loved going there and seeing Jane Austen's grave. It was such an inspiration in writing Jane Austen's Ghost. I hope you enjoy the story.

[Jen Kloester]

Hi Quantum I'm so glad you loved seeing those things at Chawton. I love the museum there and there's a chapter set there in the book which I had the best time writing. It all seemed so real to me (there's definitely a ghostly presence there now - at least in the book!). There's a whole Regency backstory about how Jane Austen ends up a ghost in the cathedral which I loved writing. Hope you enjoy it too.

[Jen Kloester]

Your older werewolf sounds fascinating Katharine and I've just added your Night Calls series to my TBR fort he Christmas holidays. I love writing older people and my nongenarian twins Melford and Mordaunt are among my favourite people! Jane has a lovely time with them and I had the best time with her! Thanks for posting Katharine.

[Jen Kloester]

You're correct Pat and isn't it an amazing place? I was so inspired by it and by so many of the things inside the cathedral, especially the crypt and Jane Austen's grave and memorial plaque. It was so inspiring I had to write a book which included those things! :D

[Jen Kloester]

Thank you so much for those kind words Beverly. I'm so glad you like modern Jane Austen stories and the Regency too because Jane Austen's Ghost has both! I hope you like this story about Jane in our world. Thanks for posting a comment.

[Jen Kloester]

Spot on Julia. And what a magnificent building it is. A fitting resting place for a great writer. I hope my book does her justice while being great fun to read.

[Jen Kloester]

Hi Janice
Thank you so much for posting Janice. I wish I could be in Minnesota for Jane's birthday party and join in your toast to the Great Jane Herself. We who love Jane know she will go on forever and I hope my book is just another small tribute to her genius. It was such fun to have her discover her iconic status and vast popularity - I hope you enjoy the book.

[Mary Jo Putney]

How lovely to have you here again, Jen. The book sounds like an absolute hoot, and of course you and Anne are bonding over feisty older ladies.

Off to buy a copy now--

[Sally Fortney]

I love Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen's books. Yours sounds interesting.

[Patricia Franzino]

I enjoy any story that features Jane Austen. I saw a documentary about her. She is buried in Winchester Cathedral.

[Jen Kloester]

Absolutely correct, Judith. Good luck with the prize draw.

[Jen Kloester]

Thank you Mary Jo and I really hope you like it. It's definitely a fun, fast-paced romp and I had such fun writing it - especially the Regency bits!

[Jen Kloester]

Thanks Sally. I'm a huge Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer fan myself and hope you enjoy my genre-bending take on the Regency and on the great Miss Austen herself. The knowing reader will also find moments of homage to our Georgette!

[Jen Kloester]

I really hope you like my novel Patricia which brings Jane Austen into our world and let's her discover a great many surprising things. The documentary sounds good and of course you are right about Winchester Cathedral being where she is buried.

[June Hart]

Winchester Cathedral.
I hope to visit there while in England next year. Plot sounds intriguing and a book I would enjoy.

[Lilmissmolly]

Sounds like a wonderful novel. Jane is buried at Winchester Cathedral.

[Annette N]

Winchester Cathedral - and I have loved this post.

If by some rare chance of fate, Jane Austen's ghost showed up at my house, I would have to figure a way to keep her.

Right off the top of my head, I have not come up with a method.

Maybe, begging would work. I think she would be one of the most wonderful people to talk with, share a cup of tea and simply laugh together.

[Glenda M]

I'm thinking she is buried in Winchester Cathedral. This sounds like a wonderful book, there aren't a lot of books that manage to be historical paranormals or paranormals with a historical twist that aren't time travel ones.

[Teresa Broderick]

I was so lucky to visit Winchester Cathedral and stand at her grave a few years ago. I'd been to the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, thanks to my wonderful daughter and on our way back to Southampton Airport she took a detour and surprised me with the visit to Winchester. I'll never, never forget that holiday. I don't travel much (I'm terrified of flying) but this was a dream come through for me.
I wish Jennifer the best with the book. I know her writing from the Heyer biography and her Regency World book. She's a brilliant writer.

[Jane]

I cannot wait to read this book! It sounds like an absolute hoot. Jane Austen in buried in Winchester Cathedral. I'm not sure I've been there, though I know we visited Bath, but I was only twelve at the time and had not yet "met" Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer. I would love to go back.

[Jen Kloester]

You'll love Winchester Cathedral, June, and I do hope you can also get to Chawton (not far from there) and the Jane Austen's House Museum. It's such a lovely viallge and Chawton House is another drawcard. I do hope you enjoy the book. Thanks for posting.

[Jen Kloester]

Thank you so much and of course you are correct about Winchester Cathedral. Such a beautiful place and so inspiring when I was writing the novel. I do hope you enjoy it and all of the Jane Austen- related places in it.

[Jen Kloester]

I so agree with you Annette! It would be amazing to be able to talk to her over a cup of tea or lunch only there's be so much to ask her like you I wouldn't want to ket her go! I had such fun writing the book because in it I was able to do all those things! Thanks for your lovely reply.

[Jen Kloester]

Thanks, Glenda. I'm delighted you like the sound of the book and it's definitely not a time travel book. I had a lovely time creating a completely different kind of story in order to bring Jane Austen into our word. And you're 100% right - she is buried in Winchester Cathedral.

[Jen Kloester]

Thank you for those very kind and generous words Teresa and I'm so glad you got to visit Winchester and Jane Austen's grave. What a lovely daughter to give you such an amazing surprise. I'd love to go to the Jane Austen Festival in Bath - I love Bath and have been several times but never when the festival was on. It's on my list though. I do hope you like the novel. Thanks for posting.

[Jen Kloester]

I really hope you like Jane Austen's Ghost as much as I enjoyed writing it Jane. Such fun! IF you can get to Winchester Cathedral then do. Such a special place. I love England and all of the places I've visited for this book and for my Georgette Heyer research. Thanks for posting.

[Lynn Folliott]

I've visited Winchester Cathedral where Jane Austen is buried, a special place... And your book, Jennifer, looks like a very good read.

[Larisa]

Winchester Cathedral! And I'm going to ask my local public library to purchase this delicious book.
Thank you for a fun interview!

[Jen Kloester]

Thank you Lynn. Yes, a very special place and a strong inspiration for the novel, along with Chawton and the other places Jane Austen knew and loved. I do hope you enjoy the book.

[Jen Kloester]

You are of course correct, Larisa. Thank you so much for posting and I hope your library gets the book in so that you can read it and (I hope) enjoy it.