Charlotte SHALL go to the ball (one day)

As has happened to many authors I know, the COVID-19 pandemic has eaten my book. This week was supposed to be one of the most exciting of my life: we were going to launch my first novel, Charlotte, with flourish and fanfare at the Book Lounge, an indie bookshop that has consistently supported me. A generous friend had offered her exquisite home as a venue for the after-party. I was going to get up at sparrows the next day and race off with my spanking-new book to the Franschhoek Literary Festival, then double back to pack and head off to the UK, where I was due to appear at the Bath Literature Festival with Janice Hadlow to talk about writing feminist responses to Jane Austen. Then a round of UK launches and signings, followed by a dream trip with my friend and co-conspirator, the thriller writer Sarah Lotz, to do location research for the follow-up novel to Charlotte. We had planned to visit every beauty spot and William Morris site (the book is set in PreRaphaelite times) that might be handy, hitting the road in the frothing glory of a late English spring.

All this was swept away in a puff of air. The new global reality is one of death, fear of death, suffering, economic devastation and political bungling; and it doesn’t feel right — “seemly”, to use a Charlotte word, to fret and complain. I’m luckier than many other authors: because my novel is set mostly in 1817, it is (ironically) timeless. Characters can clasp hands or press into crowded ballrooms without disconcerting the reader.

But I did want Charlotte — the character and the book — to have their moment in the spotlight, and it is typical of way that fate treats Charlotte Lucas that she is once again consigned to the wings, patiently waiting to be noticed. But also typical of Charlotte is that she is making her presence felt, quietly, as she rustles her way onto the Kindles of those wonderful folk who pre-ordered the e-book.

So Thursday 14 May remains the official launch date for the e-book, and there is great good news: a beautifully rendered audio book launches the same day! This has been one bright spot in the last few months: when I first heard a sample, I was thrilled — the narrator’s voice is PERFECT.

So (although she is no stranger to many of you), let me announce British actress Isabella Inchbald as the reader of Charlotte. She has impeccable Austen form, giving voice to Austen’s Emma on Audible, where she worked with none other than Emma Thompson.

She’s known for her roles in China Towns and Chance Encounters, along with her extensive and excellent audio work, and I’m delighted she did us the honour of recording Charlotte. And by some strange quirk, she could be the twin sister of my English god-daughter, Imogen. So she feels right in every way possible.

I’ll post the link to the audio book as soon as it goes live on Thursday, as well as a teaser audio clip if I can work out how to do so.

PS: I have just spotted something even more weirdly coincidental: the fabric of Emma Thompson’s blouse in the pic? A few years ago, I visited Lacock Village where the Meryton scenes for the BBC series of Pride and Prejudice were filmed, and bought a handbag from the National Trust shop — IN THE SAME FABRIC. No, really. You couldn’t make this up.