Author Interview: Jean Burnett

Today it's our stop on the The Bad Miss Bennet Abroad blog tour so it's my pleasure to welcome Jean Burnett for a chat about her new book which Louise will be reviewing soon.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing journey? 
I think I’ve always been a writer. I scribbled stories in primary school and went from there. I worked as a journalist and also as an advertising copywriter for a while and also in PR. I started writing books rather late – at least I started submitting them rather late.

What inspired you to writing first Who Needs Mr Darcy and now the follow-on story The Bad Miss Bennet Abroad? 
I was looking for a heroine in literature to write about and someone suggested Pride and Prejudice. It had to be Lydia Bennet because she was obviously the black sheep of the family and very young; plenty of scope there for further adventures.

What made you write about Lydia Bennet in particular?
Because she’s bad! Good girls aren’t much fun to write about.

Guest Book Review: Jean Burnett - Who Needs Mr Darcy?

Reviewed by Lisa Bentley

Mr Wickham turned out to be a disappointing husband in many ways, the most notable being his early demise on the battlefields of Waterloo. And so Lydia Wickham, nee Bennet, must make her fortune independently.

A lesser woman, without Lydia's natural ability to flirt uproariously on the dance floor and cheat seamlessly at the card table, would swoon in the wake of a dashing highwayman, a corrupt banker and even an amorous Royal or two. But on the hunt for a marriage that will make her rich, there's nothing that Lydia won't turn her hand to.

Taking in London, Paris and Brighton, The Bad Miss Bennet details the charming, lively and somewhat dastardly exploits of the youngest Bennet sister. Pride and Prejudice this isn't and Mr Darcy certainly won't be rescuing her this time.