I am thrilled today to be part of the blog tour for Leigh Dreyer's release, The Best Laid Flight Plans. Welcome to my blog, Leigh!
In this modern Pride and Prejudice
variation, Captain William “Fitz” Darcy has just received a new assignment as
an instructor pilot at Meryton Air Force Base. Soon he meets the intrepid 2nd
Lieutenant Elizabeth Bennet, a new student at the base that he cannot keep out
of his head. Elizabeth, on the other hand, finds Captain Darcy to be arrogant
and prideful and attempts to avoid him at every turn. Despite Darcy’s insulting
manners, Elizabeth soars her way through pilot training, but can she soar her
way into love as well?
Hello Readers!
During my blog tour, I’ve had a fantastic
time talking about different aspects of my book and introducing myself. Something
I love about Jane Austen’s collected works are how they feel so modern, despite
being set two hundred years ago. I always feel like I am sitting in the dinner
or dancing in the ball and feel like I can relate and empathize with Austen’s
heroines—something that many modern novels fail to achieve. I love reading JAFF
and learning more about the period and the history, but always appreciate how
fresh the stories feel to me no matter how many times I have devoured them.
After following Laughing with Lizzie for
several years now, I love her love for the Regency time period (her costumes and
posts are always an inspiration to me while reading JAFF). I wanted to share
how that inspiration translates into my novel. While The Best Laid Flight Plans is set in the modern era, it has many
similarities with its Regency predecessor.
1.
Men and Women follow strict
rules of conduct while in each other’s presence
Obviously, the millennium compared to the
Regency is incredibly progressive about the view of women, what they can do and
who they can do it with. I haven’t personally known anyone to walk through the
park with a date and a chaperone. However, in the United States military there
are still cultural codes of conduct that have been established. For example, an
officer in a leadership over another should not be in a romantic relationship
for risk of being accused of fraternization and sexual harassment. While men
and women can fly and speak privately, unlike their Regency counterparts, the
rules of fraternization make it things difficult for Captain Darcy and 2nd
Lieutenant Elizabeth Bennet.
2.
A Woman in a Man’s World
The Bennet sisters must marry well in order
to secure their family’s place in society both socially and economically. Women
during the Regency had very little power, except as a widow of a powerful man.
Elizabeth flouts the conventions of the time by refusing not one, but two suitors
who could provide for both herself and her family. In The Best Laid Flight Plans, Elizabeth Bennet is a female in pilot
training who desires to fly fighter jets. Of the 62,112 women in the Air Force
only 723 of them are pilots (about 1 percent of the women in the Air Force).
Female pilots generally make up about 5 percent of the total pilots in the Air
Force. In The Best Laid Flight Plans,
Elizabeth must not only navigate a male dominated military, but she has to wade
through the overconfident, proud opinions of Captain Darcy, who, like many men,
underestimates a woman’s ability to become an excellent pilot.
Likewise, Lady Catherine, who is able to
wield an impressive amount of power in Pride
and Prejudice makes her appearance as a female senator. Catherine has moved
forward with an advantageous marriage and an impressive amount of condescension
to rise in the ranks and find herself in a position of power.
3.
Officers!
In America, a war was fought partially over
the forced quartering of British soldiers as seen in Pride and Prejudice. America maintains more than 800 bases of
various sizes around the world where soldiers (officers and enlisted alike) are
housed, but their effect on the local economy is much the same. The influx of
significant numbers of mostly single men with money burning holes in their
pockets leads to an economy boost and the lending of significant amounts of
money.
Encompassing the Regency time period, the
Great French Wars lasted from 1792-1815, a period of 23 years. Likewise,
America has been at war since 2001, a period of 17 years. The soldiers who have
joined the military in both eras (voluntarily or through conscription) both
have been at war likely their entire careers and for many of them, their
countries have been actively involved in a war for their entire lives.
4.
“There were more Dancers than
the Room could conveniently hold, which is enough to constitute a good Ball at
any time.” –Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s novels contain multiple Balls
as a setting for her heroines to move about their world. In The Best Laid Flight Plans, our heroes
meet again at the Air Force Ball, the annual celebration of the air force’s
birthday. While Jane Austen’s times had more rules for etiquette and dancing,
but in modern balls like those in Austen’s day, “Man has the advantage of
choice, woman only the power of refusal.” (Henry Tilney). The excerpt below is
from the scene of the Air Force Ball. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I
enjoyed writing it.
Excerpt
from Chapter Twelve of The Best Laid
Flight Plans
The club was
decorated with air force blue and silver fabric, flowers, and confetti,
transforming the same room where Drop Night had been. Round tables of eight
were arranged around a large wooden dance floor. A local deejay played easy
jazz.
Elizabeth swiftly ditched Collins at
the reception line, while he toadied up to highranking officers, and strolled
around the tables looking for the place card bearing her name. Luckily, Collins
would be seated at the head table near the wing commander as his personal
guest, so she would not have to worry about listening to his blather throughout
the night. She grabbed a Manhattan from the bar and found her name next to Jane’s
and Bingley’s. She glanced at the card on the other side of her plate and
slumped. Captain William Darcy. Was
there never a way to escape that man? Now she was to be subjected to his
arrogant, know-it-all comments or his haughty silences. No. I will not let his disagreeableness affect my night. She was going
to have a good time, regardless of the company. She looked again and noted that
Caroline Bingley and her stares of displeasure would be seated at the other
side of Darcy. Lovely.
Elizabeth walked around the table
reading the name cards to see who else would be there. A pestering voice in the
back of her mind told her to look for Wickham, as she had secretly hoped to be
entertained by his quick wit. On her tiptoes, she peeked over the centerpiece at
the next table. A shadow passed over her and she found herself staring at a white
shirt and blue jacket tailored tightly over a broad chest. She dropped to her
heels and looked up to see William Darcy’s eyes boring down on her. His earthy cologne
enveloped her, and she felt her blood pressure race next to his impressive
physical presence.
“Looking for someone?” Darcy’s quiet
voice reverberated near Elizabeth’s ear.
She shook herself out of her fog. He probably gets in my personal space to
disconcert me—but she would not fall under his spell.
“No, uh… Just admiring the general
splendor.” She turned away and swallowed deeply from her glass, glimpsing Jane
leading Bingley to the table. He carried their drinks behind her and seemed
entranced by the cut of Jane’s dress and her exposed back. Jane smiled knowingly
as Elizabeth pressed her lips together and widened her eyes in attempts to convey
her irritation at the presence of Darcy.
A bell rang and the emcee, a nervous
major, clearly emceeing for the first time, called for everyone to be seated. The
head table, including the guest speaker and an already wilting Mr. Collins, was
herded into their seats by committee members. Five minutes later, following the
national anthem, Caroline, wearing a vivid burnt orange cocktail dress, arrived
and sat down next to Darcy. Her tardiness was noted by the surrounding tables
and more than one eye roll was hidden behind programs.
“Charles, you left me!”
“I told you when I had to leave, and
you said you needed another thirty minutes. It’s not my fault you didn’t want
to come with Darcy, besides you have a car.”
“Darcy didn’t tell me when he left.”
“Well, I imagine he thought you
would just come with me.”
Caroline’s grunt of frustration
overpowered the speaker’s lengthy introduction of the chaplain.
First, Collins, then
Darcy is next to me, and now Caroline. Super.
Elizabeth sighed thinking she would likely burn in Hell thinking such
uncharitable thoughts during the chaplain’s prayer over the proceedings. Immediately
following this bleak thought, Jane leaned over and touched Elizabeth’s knee
gently.
“Lizzy,
I’ve asked around”—in a hushed voice she continued—“I know you were hoping to
see Wickham tonight, but someone said they’ve got him working some special
duty. I don’t know that he is coming. I’m so, so sorry, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth’s
dreary demeanor had deflated further, and she decided to drown her sorrows in
her cocktail. Of course, she discovered her glass empty, so water would have to
do until she could get back to the bar. At this point, she expected rain to
come pouring through the ceiling and wondered if she should have brought her
umbrella.
The
wing commander then stood and began his introductory remarks of welcome.
“Per
tradition”—the wing commander rang out over the microphone in the room—“we will
start our proceedings by toasting persons who are prisoners of war, killed in
action, or missing in action. Please stand and raise your glasses.
‘We toast our hearty comrades who have fallen from
the skies,
And were gently caught by God’s own hands to be with
him on high,
To dwell among the soaring clouds, they have known
so well before,
From victory roll to tail chase, at heaven’s very
door.
And as we fly among them, we’re sure to hear their
plea,
Take care, my friend, watch your six, and do one
more roll for me.
To our comrades killed in action, missing in action,
or prisoners of war!’”
A
resounding, “Hear, hear!” was heard throughout the crowd.
The
wing commander then introduced the guest speaker who gave an inspiring speech
about his squadron during Vietnam and how they overcame their trials. During
the speech, Elizabeth heard a low buzz of whispers between Jane and Bingley, leaning
toward each other, foreheads almost touching. Elizabeth’s heart glowed to see the
romantic scene and she distracted herself through the rest of the speeches,
imagining Jane’s wedding. You are as bad
as Mom. She reached for her glass. Still
water.
“How
are the flights going, Elizabeth? Where is your class right now?” asked Bingley
as he accepted his plate from the waiter.
“Going
well. I had my Dollar Ride with Dashwood—”
“I
like him. Really knows his stuff.”
“And
did you do well?” Darcy asked.
“Well,
I didn’t hook, so I suppose that’s the best any student could hope for.”
“Lizzy
is just being modest,” interjected Jane. “She told me she had the best grade in
the flight.”
“I’m
sure Eliza just didn’t want the rest of the company to feel embarrassed about
their own performance in the plane. Of course, William has no reason to blush.
Always Distinguished Graduate.” Caroline’s voice purred as she reached out and
brushed Darcy’s arm from shoulder to elbow. Darcy maneuvered his chair closer
to Elizabeth.
“Trying
for 38s?”
“Of
course.” Elizabeth looked directly into Darcy’s dark eyes and remembered his
comments about women pilots and how they should leave the real work to the men.
“I know we lady pilots seem demure, but I plan on being the best pilot the air
force has to offer.”
“I’m
glad to hear that. I’m sure the WASPs would be proud.” His mouth crooked into a
half smile.
Elizabeth
smiled sweetly back at him. The WASPs
proud that a woman actually gets credit for her contribution for once?
Shocking! She received her plate and immediately dove into her food,
attempting to ward off more conversation with the man sitting next to her and
listened to Jane and Bingley discuss the shows they watched together and
whatever other trivial topics they discussed.
Eventually,
dinner plates were cleared, and dancing music commenced, encouraging Bingley to
sweep Jane to the dance floor for the first song. Caroline, Darcy, and
Elizabeth meanwhile remained at the table. Caroline silently watched Darcy who
stared straight ahead. Elizabeth yawned and fought the urge to lay her head on the
table and let the evening wash over her. Mr. Collins, who had moved from the
head table, had been following commanding officers around as they took flight
from his greasy prattle. He ultimately landed in Jane’s seat and began a
running commentary on the events of the ball so far.
“I’m
so glad you are here to witness what has been such a prestigious event. Never
before have I attended an evening of such beautiful military precision outside
of the purview of my wonderful manager, Senator de Bourgh. I find that that lady
not only has the exquisite taste that comes with someone of high society, but
she also graciously condescends to those who could never imagine the life of class
that she is able to create. Despite being an employee of hers, I find that I am
often grateful for what she has taught me regarding how to properly run an
event. I flatter the organizers here by thinking that Senator de Bourgh would
be very impressed how this ball has been run. My duties for the senator
obviously take precedence over any sort of joyous occasions of celebration, but
I flatter myself that I have been to one or two thus far in my employment.”
Elizabeth,
who had chosen to not pay attention to the former speech, nodded appropriately
and Mr. Collins continued, this time, to Elizabeth’s horror, speaking directly
to Darcy and Caroline.
“I
am William Collins. And who are you? Friends of the Bennets?” He looked at them
expectantly and Elizabeth nearly bolted from her seat. She had intentionally
not introduced him in hopes that he would not humiliate her.
“Caroline Bingley. How do you do?”
“Captain
William Darcy.”
“Oh,
Captain Darcy? Not the famous Pemberley Wines, William Darcy?”
Darcy
looked around as if to find another William Darcy had walked up and entered the
conversation.
“I
own Pemberley.”
“Captain
Darcy. I must tell you that your aunt, Senator de Bourgh, was well when I left
her one month ago.”
Darcy
twisted his lip but maintained his stoicism that had come to define him in
Elizabeth’s mind.
“Thank
you for that information.”
Darcy
turned away. Elizabeth pulled out her phone to check for messages while
planning a quiet exit. She could not exactly abandon Collins, but maybe she
could coordinate another ride through the wing commander’s assistant. As she put
her phone back in her purse, Darcy asked, “Are you having fun?”
Elizabeth
rolled her eyes. “Oh, you know, loads.”
“Would
you like to dance?”
Anything to get away
from Collins.
“Sure.”
Elizabeth was shocked to hear her voice and felt an overpowering urge to retract
her answer and run but reminded herself that every attempt to intimidate her must
be a reason for her courage to rise. Caroline scowled, and Elizabeth sensed the toady
Collins meant to say something. Smiling graciously, she stood up. Despite her
annoyance at Darcy’s pompous existence, the man made her pulse quicken.
Darcy
led Elizabeth to the dance floor without touching her, but still, she could
feel the electricity sparking between them. What song played Elizabeth would
never know because when he took her hand and placed his other hand on the small
of her back, the music seemed to fade away. And all she could hear was her
pulse in her ears and the pressure of his fingers on her spine.
“Well,
Captain Darcy, it seems like the committee has done an outstanding job this
year.” Looking up to his face, Elizabeth acknowledged that he was a very
handsome man. Beneath his dark jacket, she could feel lean muscle as he led her
smoothly around the dance floor.
“I
see you prefer to be unsociable and taciturn. But conversation makes this all so
much more enjoyable, don’t you think?”
“Well,
please, do continue.”
“I
talked about the committee and program, maybe you can start with the attendees
or the deejay?”
“In
that case...seems like a good crowd.”
Elizabeth
scrutinized his expression but he pointedly ignored her eyes. She began
searching the room again for Wickham to determine if maybe her night might not
be a total wash.
“Looking
for someone?”
“Yeah,
actually. I thought George Wickham would be here tonight.”
“Wickham?”
Darcy practically growled the name.
“Yeah,
he said you guys were once friends.”
“Yeah,
at one time. He certainly makes friends, but I wouldn’t say he has ever kept
any.”
“I
suppose he should be upset for losing your friendship?”
Darcy
frowned. “What is it you Southerners say? Bless his heart.” Sarcasm dripped off
of every word and Elizabeth was stunned that she had ever thought Captain
William Darcy handsome as he displayed his disgust.
The
pair had stopped moving, both with hands clenched at their sides.
“You
should stay away from him. He is nothing but bad news. He shouldn’t be trusted.”
Darcy then lefther fuming in the middle of the dance floor and stalked out of
the room.
Author Bio
Leigh Dreyer is a huge fan of Jane Austen
variations and the JAFF community. She is blessed to have multi-generational
military connections through herself and her husband, who she met in pilot
training. She often describes her formative years in this way, “You know the
Great Balls of Fire scene in Top Gun (“Goose you big stud!!!”), where Goose and
Meg Ryan have their kid on the piano? I was that kid.” Leigh lives with her
pilot husband, a plane-obsessed son and a daughter who is almost walking.
Links
UK link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CQXQ61M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524876907&sr=8-1&pi=CB1275522461_AC_SX118_SY170_QL70&keywords=the+best+laid+flight+plans
Contact Information
Author Name: Leigh Dreyer
Email: leighdreyerauthor@gmail.com
Facebook: Leigh Dreyer
Facebook Page: @leighdreyerauthor
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/leighdreyer
Website: http://www.leighdreyer.com/
Social Media Information
Hashtags:
#TheBestLaidFlightPlans
#LeighDreyer
#JAFF
#AustenInspired
My thanks again goes to Leigh for this great post and extract!
I wish Leigh all the best with this release as well as any stories in the future!
Thanks for letting me visit!
ReplyDeleteLovely modern take on the "Netherfield Ball", Leigh. Thanks for sharing it with us, as well the fascinating comparison between the military and Regency lives.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I thought the length of both wars wspecially interesting.
DeleteHello Sophie, how are you?
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving us the opportunity to read this guest post!
I didn't know Leigh Dreyer before but I think it should be a satisfaction for you to inspire one of your follower to write a JAFF!
I like the plot of this book, it reminds me of "Undeceived" by Karen M. Cox, and I want to thank Leigh for her guest post because I love books from which I can learn and she, in her little post, taught me something about the Air Force word.
Congratulations for your book and good luck Leigh!