I am so excited - this is my first guest blogger, and I absolutely love her books! The sixth book, My Cousin Caroline comes out in stores tomorrow, I can't wait to post my review on it tomorrow as well as tell you how you can win the first book in the series sent to you! I hope you all enjoy reading!
Welcome Rebecca:
Q: Out of the entire series, who is your favourite character?
A: When I first started writing, and creating my own characters, as opposed to Jane Austen’s – it used to be Cassy Darcy. However, as the series progressed and certainly after completing My Cousin Caroline, I find myself drawn to Caroline. I still love Cassy, as I do many of the others, including Jonathan Bingley, who is my favourite male character- bar none, but Caroline has the edge over the rest.
Q: When I first read about the accident of Willaim Darcy and Edward in The Pemberley Chronicles, I was devastated. I knew it was coming in My Cousin Caroline, but it was still hard. Was this accident just as hard for you to revisit and write about in My Cousin Caroline?
A: You are quite right, it was hard, especially because the accident that takes the life of William and Edward is based on a very similar event that devastated our family some years ago and it was very painful to revisit it , but it also helped me both personally and in writing the books.
Personally, to share the deep sorrow of such an experience by expressing it and in the books, it helps to ground the characters in reality. Pemberley is not some Camelot like place where everyone lived happily ever after- it is real and the characters must endure the same sorts of things that afflicted many other families in that era– children died through disease and accidents, as did many adults. Elizabeth and Darcy and the other characters, could not lead some kind of charmed life filled only with love and romance.- it would not have been credible.
Q. After reading My Cousin Caroline, I think it could be read as part of the series, but also stand alone. Was it fun to go back and revisit some of the characters from the beginning of the series?
A: Yes it was great fun, particularly to bring back Mr Bennet and Mr Collins. There was also a practical side to it. We had completed five volumes- with Mr. Darcy’s Daughter, we had reached a particular mid- point in the series and it was a convenient and appropriate point at which to pull the threads together and look at the picture before going on again. Caroline’s story afforded me the opportunity to reprise some of the characters and events from the earlier volumes, but to do it while developing more fully two of the minor players from the original novel—Colonel Fitzwilliam and Caroline Gardiner.
I enjoyed very much the chance to track the development of Caroline from almost childhood to maturity, to contrast her character as a romantic young girl, with the shallow silliness of Lydia or the meanness of Caroline Bingley. To watch her become a personable and intelligent woman with a good eye for business and a warm, compassionate heart was a very special pleasure.
Also, I had long felt that Colonel Fitzwilliam deserved better than his fate in Pride and Prejudice—a very promising young gentleman, with excellent qualities, but very little means. It was clear that he would never be able to marry for love.
With a little manipulation of his circumstances—he could be given that chance. I thought Caroline and the Colonel would make a very good couple—and if you will pardon my saying so- I think they do.
Q: Besides Jane Austen, who is your favourite author?
A: In the same period, Charles Dickens and George Elliot. Both know how to tell a good story and Dickens creates so many wonderful characters. They also deal with several of the “difficult issues” that troubled 19th century England.
Q: If you could meet Jane Austen and ask her anything, what would you ask her?
A: I’ve always wondered at her capacity for creating such interesting characters and situations, while sitting in the front room of her father’s country parsonage. I’d love to ask her what set off that creative imagination and energy?
Q: P&P is obviously your favourite Jane Austen novel; besides P&P, which is your next favourite? Would you consider writing a sequel to any other of Jane Austen’s books?
A: Persuasion is the my next favourite. I think it is one of her best; it’s a really deep love story. in which Jane questions the very nature of love and what it involves for us.
I have considered writing a sequel to Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen’s first novel. There are three sisters- all completely different in character and the way story ends suggests some fascinating possibilities.
Q. The next book in the series is Postscript from Pemberley, to be released in the United States in December. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
A: Postscript from Pemberley is mainly the story of four young, attractive characters: Darcy Gardiner, Julian Darcy, Jessica Courtney and a fascinating new comer to the district, Kate O’Hare. Darcy, Julian and Jessica are all of the next generation of characters, each quite different in their attitudes to live, love and family loyalty. Yet they live within the circle of families that have strong links with Pemberley and its great traditions. As such they have certain responsibilities and when they face challenges in life, they are expected to deal with them with strength and courage, as their forebears have done… Whether they are all capable of fulfilling these expectations is explored in the novel. They are interesting and passionate young men and women and have their own secrets; they must come to terms with them as they make their way in the world, fall in and out of love and play their parts in the community in which they live.
Q. Last but not least- do you snack while writing? If so what is your favourite snack?
A: I don’t “snack” as such—not while writing (I am forbidden to have food and drink anywhere near my computer!) but, I usually work for a couple of hours straight and then break for half an hour when I like to have a coffee and ginger biscuits or tea and a slice of cheese toast—away from my desk—preferably sitting out in the garden. It re-energises one and helps to re-focus on the task at hand, although sometimes, it is difficult to return to the computer.
There are times, when I am really absorbed in developing a chapter or a character, when I don’t break at all; then I find when it over, that I am very hungry indeed. And have to put everything aside and cook a special meal.
Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog, Debbi!
Rebecca Ann Collins
The Forgotten Carols 
The Christmas Shoes 
Postscript from Pemberley 
Breaking Dawn
Eclipse 
New Moon
I am looking forward to the movie later this month. No, unfortunately I am not going to be standing in line at midnight..instead I get to leave my kiddos and go on a residency retreat with my husband that weekend! However, I am opting for the good company of going with one of my sisters a week later. I can't wait, the trailers look promising.
Twilight
Forest Born
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, Fablehaven Book 4
Catching Fire
In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms
Grip of the Shadow Plague, Fablehaven 3
Leonardo is a terrible monster and he just wants to scare the tuna-salad out of someone. He might not have been able to scare us, but we have fallen in love with him.
My Cousin Caroline
Teaching Your Children Joy 
Teaching Your Children Values
The Actor and the Housewife
Rise of the Evening Star, Fablehaven Book 2 
When you go to kindergarten, by James Howe is one of my favorites. The pictures are a little dated, and totally take me back, but they are actual pictures, not illustrations, which I think are helpful. It discusses great topics and allows me to have great discussions with my 5 year old about some of the things he is scared of or excited about.
This last book I am on the lookout for. Kindergarten Rocks. I want to find it at the library because it looks like such a fun book.
One last book we really love, and isn't necessary about kindergarten, Hey! I'm Reading, by Betty Miles. It's a fun introduction to sounds, processes and reading. I love it because it teaches but doesn't seem like work. We love to look at it and read parts of it and at the end of the book it has a few pages kids can learn to read all on their own. 
We've read a lot of different chapter books to the kids at bedtime but one of our favorites are The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne. 
How can we talk about food books and not talk about Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs? This is one of my childhood favorites and now is one of my boys favorite books as well. We laugh and laugh when the giant pancakes land on the school and love finding the noodle-head man in the pictures. My two year old loves to walk around saying "tomato tornado" after each time we read this book. Sine it typically rains a lot where we live I love to joke with the kids and randomly yell, "WATCH OUT for the noodles(pancakes/broccoli/beans, etc.)" when we run to our car or are outside. They love it. The sequel, Pickles to Pittsburgh, is not one of my favorites, but worth a check out at the library.
Each time we talk about food this book, Take Me Out of the Bathtub, is going to get quoted. The book is full of fun silly songs and one of our favorites is Food Fight. Seriously, one of the lines in the song says, "got carrots in my underwear!" Talk about full of giggles! We love it!
I am so excited, because between the last year of my husbands med-school crazy schedule and adding a new baby to our family I wasn't able to participate or hold any swaps, but not that we've settled I am ready to roll!
I'm Not Cute
Mr. Darcy's Daughter
The Choice,
Fablehaven
Each Little Bird That Sings
That's Faith
The Hunger Games
Winds of Hope
A Distant Thunder
Introducing my little distractions. I love to read. I love getting lost in a good book. I've loved reading and being able to share that love on my blog. However, I'm first and foremost a wife and mother. I typically keep my family on my family blog, but here they are! On February 12, my little Avery Ann joined our family. It's been so much fun having a girl to dress up. Newborns take a lot of time and energy, and 3 busy kids 5 and under take a lot more work. We've also been on the move with medical rotations, and in less than 5 weeks my husband will have reached his goal and graduate from medical school! YAY! 
The Sound of Rain
I Am a Mother
Promises to Keep: Diane's Story
The Christmas Sweater