"Going back to the beginning, I wanted to write about a young woman coming into her own, going beyond her class, seeing a broader world, having an intellectual awakening -- and then having a relationship with a man who, although enlightened, is still a Victorian guy. In Tears of Pearl Colin and Emily were having tension because of her role in the investigation. If you're going to do investigative work, it's dangerous, even if you're not being reckless. [Corker of a climax, incidentally: resourceful deployment of petticoat.]For a chance to win this book (the winning name will be drawn on January 4th), tell us which mystery about Jane Austen's life you'd like to solve.
But if you're in love with someone who's doing something dangerous, you're going to worry, and want to keep that person safe. So Colin let her do her thing in Tears of Pearl, even though it was hard for him, but then in the next book [Dangerous to Know] I wanted him to stand back and say, "Hang on! I might be enlightened, but I'm also in charge!" This is the nineteenth century. And we, in the 21st century, think: "Outrageous! She can't put up with her husband saying this and stopping her!" But that's what would have happened in that time period. For the two of them, in the end of this novel, and subsequently in the rest of the series, to have a peace between them about this work thing, it's got to be that he's pushed, she's pushed, and they both see that there's no easy answer."
Sadly, once again, I can only ship the book to those who live in the U.S. or Canada.
