Downton Pre-Premiere Q&A and Giveaway!

Downton Pre-Premiere Q&A and Giveaway

     Lords and Ladies, the time is upon us.  Announcing the premier of Downton Abbey Season 3 on January 6, on PBS!  *Trumpets sound*  A group of authors have gathered to cheer on this event by means of Twitter during the premier.  Make sure that you join us by using the hashtag #DowntonGala.  We will also be taking turns recapping the episodes for you this season, and cannot WAIT for you to stop by to dish on all things Downton.

     To ready us for the festive mood, the lovely Laura Chapman and Tracie Banister crafted questions to get us in the mood for we lovers of the pen to answer for you.  Without further pomp and circumstance, may I present The Duchess of West Lafayette, Indiana, Jen Tucker, of the Purdue University Tucker’s.

You're planning a dinner party for the Downton crew - who would be No. 1 on your invite list?

Mrs. Patmore, the cook, would sit to my right.  Her sharp tongue and honesty are so refreshing to me.  She is very territorial of her kitchen, devoted to those she loves, and loves to stick her neck out from time to time.  Who wouldn’t want that kind of sass at their dinner party?  To see Mrs. Patmore served, rather than one who serves, would be a treat.

2) Whose closet will you raid before the party?

Lady Mary Crawley has some divine dresses that I’d love to snatch when her head was turned away.  She has a number of frocks that remind me so much of the beauty of “The Roaring 20’s.”  I would relish any of them, and their intricate beaded beauty.

Once your guests have arrived, who are you most likely to flirt with?

If my husband, Mike (also coined “LMT”), were to descend the staircase dressed in a tuxedo, I would hope it would be after the guests arrived.  If I saw him all decked out and handsome before then, I might just hang a sign on the locked, front door simply stating “Party Cancelled,” and have a little party of our own (hee-hee).  Flirting with LMT, dressed to the nines, would make my evening spectacular.  Plus, he’s a sure thing, so I’ve got that going for me too.

     
Who will you likely smack before the dessert course?

My smacking money is on Lady Edith.  I just want her to stop sniveling and get on with life.  No whiners allowed!    

5) Let's adjourn to the drawing room for some not-so-polite conversation: What's your theory on Patrick Gordon aka The Bandaged Man? Impostor or legitimate Crawley?

Oh, I love this question.  I’m convinced it is someone who knew Patrick Crawley well enough to know all the intimate details of his life.  Perhaps he’s a mate from his college years who decided to seize an opportunity.  What better way to reappear to family than in an unrecognizable state!

6) How about Bates? Did he do it? Could he do it? If not, who killed Vera?

I think that Vera was killed not by Bates, but perhaps by whomever Mr. Bates caught her tramping around with. 

7) Favorite quip from the Dowager Countess?

Here it comes.  Are you ready?  “What is a weekend?!”

8) Favorite Downton spoof? 

Enjoy this little bit by Jimmy Fallon, called Downton Sixby: Episode II 

9) Now you've done it! You've landed a guest spot on the show. What's your storyline?

The much younger, effervescent sister of Lady Grantham arrives unannounced to Downton Abbey.  She comes bearing secrets, and Purple Passion wine coolers, that will disrupt the lives of many residing in the manor if she so choses to spill either entity she possesses.  Camille Levinson, played by Grammy Award, Emmy Award, and 12 time Oscar winner Jen Tucker, has come to show more than sisterly love to Cora; she’s come to change the game. 

 
10) What would you like to see happen in series three?

I would love to see at least one of our couples in distress, find their way to love and happiness.  Whether Anna and Mr. Bates have conjugal visits more often, or Matthew and Mary finally exchange “I do’s,” yet there’s also Lady Edith and her bandaged up imposter cousin, or the other candidate in her life, the old dude with the bum arm.  Can we just find some happiness for someone?  Will O’Brien get smacked upside the head?  Will Daisy continue to experience paranormal Ouija activities (my least favorite storyline in the history of storylines)?  Find out, along with the rest of the world on January 6, 2013.

Be there, or be talked about!    

Well, no premier would be with its salt without a giveaway, right?  Up for grabs is this fabulous book!

To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace

From the Gilded Age until 1914, more than 100 American heiresses invaded Britannia and swapped dollars for titles–just like Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, the first of the Downton Abbey characters Julian Fellowes was inspired to create after reading To Marry An English Lord.  Filled with vivid personalities, gossipy anecdotes, grand houses, and a wealth of period details–plus photographs, illustrations, quotes, and the finer points of Victorian and Edwardian etiquette–To Marry An English Lord is social history at its liveliest and most accessible.

- You lucky readers can enter to win the giveaway by posting a comment on any of the author’s blogs (Earn up to 9 entries if you leave a comment on all 9 blogs.) The comment will need to be a reply to one of our blog blast questions.  The question for you to answer, here at Princess With a Pen, is naughty number 9!  Now you've done it! You've landed a guest spot on the show. What's your storyline? Answer this in the comment section for your chance to win!  PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO THE WINNER CAN BE CONTACTED!!!

- Contest is over on January 10 at Midnight!  And lucky me, that’s my birthday!

- Winner announced on January 11, which is my hubby's birthday!

- Providing me with birthday gifts will make me happy, yet do not help your chances of winning; sorry about that.

- Here are links to the other author’s blogs for more chances to win the book!

Tracie Banister:  http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/

Laura Chapman:  http://change-the-word.blogspot.com/ 

Jen Coffeen:  http://jenniferanncoffeen.com/

Jenny Gardiner:  http://jennygardiner.net/blog/ 

Cat Lavoie:  http://www.catlavoie.com/blog/   

Tracey Livesay:  http://traceylivesay.com/

Elizabeth Marx:  http://elizabethmarxbooks.blogspot.com/ 

Meredith Schorr:  http://meredithgschorr.wordpress.com/ 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Good luck to you all!

Bless and be blessed,

Jen

XOXO