Laraba Kendig

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a scientist by training, but a writer at heart. I have always loved reading with a passion and turned my hand to fanfiction a few years ago. I write stories similar to the ones I enjoy reading. They are interesting but light, romantic but not steamy. I am a super fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and have been having a wonderful time writing P&P variations, exploring how new circumstances affect the beloved characters. So far I have published two novel-length Pride and Prejudice variations plus one short story via Amazon. My books include ‘I am Jael’ and ‘The Blind Will See’.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “The Blind Will See” and it is a Pride and Prejudice Variation, Regency Romance in which George Wickham, the antagonist, is badly injured and disfigured in a military training accident. Wickham is an interesting character in the original Jane Austen masterpiece; he is extremely charming and handsome and easily wins over gullible young ladies, but underneath he is a selfish snake. I was inspired to take away Wickham’s good looks, to force him to come to grips with the reality that he is not actually the center of the universe.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Guilty habits? Yes … chocolate and more chocolate! I don’t think I really have any strange writing habits. I write very quickly because I have children. I spend more time thinking than I do writing. I often find myself thinking about upcoming scenes while I am watching kids in the pool or lying in bed. I have a wonderful editor (my dear husband) and I can trust him to find most of my grammatical errors.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Too many to count! I adore reading and have since I was seven years old. I especially appreciate authors who can paint pictures with their words, like Dorothy Sayers, James Herriot, and Gerald Durrell. The latter is probably unknown to most people but wow, he is just amazing. I don’t pretend to write nearly as well as these folks but I have definitely learned from them. I have also read almost all of Georgette Heyer’s books; she is also an excellent author and most of her books are set in the Regency period, so I have learned much about that time and place in history through her. Oddly enough, the only Jane Austen I absolutely love is Pride and Prejudice, but I love it dearly.

What are you working on now?
I am writing a Pride and Prejudice variation called The Banished Uncle. It is about a long lost Bennet uncle (the elder brother of Mrs. Bennet) who comes back to England after more than 20 years in India. He was originally banished from his home for falling in love with the daughter of a local viscount. He is a diligent, intelligent man and he promptly begins interfering with the lives of the Bennets, Bingleys, and Darcys in positive ways. He also has a family of his own; his stepson is heir to an estate in England. The book’s main themes are class distinctions, communication struggles, personal responsibility for one’s actions, and of course, happily ever afters. And I it’s nearly done. Hooray!

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am a new author trying to cultivate an audience, so this is both a good question and a hard question. I have been writing and posting fanfiction for years, and I suspect my fans on those sites have been key to the success I have had so far. Currently, I am searching for new answers to this question; check back in 6 months!

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My biggest advice is write. Just write. If you feel like you have no ideas, or that what you are writing is lousy, write anyway. My favorite phrase is “You can’t fix nothing.” I have found it far easier to alter existing prose than to make it perfect on the first try. I guess I would add that if you are writing some form of fanfiction (like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings or yes, Pride and Prejudice) the online boards are a great way to get feedback from mostly sympathetic readers. There are some vicious turkeys out there, but I’ve gotten mostly love online. I cut my writing teeth in the Star Wars universe and I know I improved as a writer in that fanfiction kingdom.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
If you mean advice about writing, then I would say, as I said in the previous question, just write and then get some honest feedback. Do not try to get it perfect on the first draft.

What are you reading now?
Oh, hmmm, a lot. I am reading a Pride and Prejudice variation with a Groundhog Day theme, Madness in Meryton which is tons of fun. Double Armor by Richard Evans, which is a Christian devotional book. Like many a rabid reader, I have a bunch of stuff floating around on my Kindle that I have not read yet. I am reading an oddball cozy mystery about a woman who is electrocuted by a coffeepot but not killed, and when she wakes up she can talk to animals — it is called Kitty Confidential. I recently finished a long book about atomic accidents by Jim Mahaffey. I have an eclectic range of interests but I do not like dark thrillers or dark anything, really.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I expect to continue to write Pride and Prejudice variations. I may branch into science fiction too. I have so many idea, but I’m working hard to not get distracted until I have my latest one finished. 🙂

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Honestly, I would probably go on Amazon and buy a couple of books about surviving on a desert island! Ha! 🙂

Maybe the complete works of Sherlock Holmes? Lots of good reading there! A Dorothy Sayers book, perhaps?

Author Websites and Profiles
Laraba Kendig Website
Laraba Kendig Amazon Profile

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