Jessica Dotta is midway through her first trilogy, and she
has made a stellar entrance into the world of Christian Fiction! Mark of
Distinction takes the reader deeper into the intricacies of England’s
Regency society. Julia enters a world
quite foreign to anything she’s ever known, and it is there she discovers an
eternal truth she wasn’t looking for.
Join me as I discuss this series, and Julia’s journey into the depths of
a society rife with deception, intrigue and danger!
There is a vast
difference between societal standards in England’s Regency era and the 21st
century. (or is there?) Tell us about your fascination with this era
and the constraints of the higher end of society – especially on women.
It wasn't my original intent to write a story that
highlights the lack of woman's rights in this era. Born of Persuasion was the
first novel I ever wrote and towards the end of writing my first draft, I
started to research at how precarious of a position my heroine was facing. It
radically changed what I planned to do with the story. The more I researched
the more awful and fascinating the story became.
The value system that the Regency, Victorian and Edwardian
era operated with required a lot of trust and faith in the men one was
marrying. Jane Austen was aware of this; the more you understand the legal
ramifications, the more you see how truly harrowing her villains are.
Taking what I know can be true in human nature today and
combining it with the legal ramifications of that era, I did my very best to
keep The Price of Privilege accurate to what likely would have happened to
Julia.
Julia Elliston’s tale
is particularly difficult in the second book of your trilogy as she is forced
to submit to train for her perceived role in society. Her training seems particularly difficult
because of the conflict that exists between her father and her “sponsor”. What research was required to create such
elaborate character dynamics?
Julia's sponsor is Lady Beatrice, the mother of Lord
Pierson's deceased wife. Our choices ripple out and affect others, whether for
good or bad. What happened years ago between the pair is now coming around
again to haunt Roy, just when he's now in the position of desperately needing
her help.
The tension between the pair arose naturally when I realized
Julia needed a sponsor. I keep true to my character's history once they're
"born." I knew immediately that Roy had burnt most of his bridges and
that only woman of status in his life qualified to oversee Julia was someone
he'd had a lifelong war with. Life naturally unfolds the law that we reap what
we sow. We don't often discuss it, but so do our children and often times their
children.
One of the themes I'm drawn to again and attain is how
important our decisions are; that our lives are intricately woven together and
the choices made today continue to bear weight on others for years to come.
Were there real-life
examples of these difficult financial alliances to draw upon? Or is all of this straight from your vivid
imagination?
The dynamics of their relationship didn't come about as much
from research as it did from my understanding of human nature. What does it
look like when two people who've nursed bitterness against each other are
forced into an alliance—where the weaker one now has the upper hand.
What insight do you
hope readers will glean from this look into a decidedly patriarchal societal
structure and its impact on the role of women?
I don't know if I have an agenda for the reader as much as
I've allowed the story to take the paths that seem most realistic to me. The
horrifying stories I've read of what it was like for some women to live in this
society makes me far more sympathetic to their plight than I formerly had been.
In Disney's Mary Poppins movie there's a
song that
exemplifies the subconscious attitude that I've run across in research (and
occasionally in modern times). In the scene, Mrs. Banks, the children's mother,
comes home elated and singing about woman's suffrage while the nanny is trying
to get a word in because she's quitting due to Mrs. Bank's children's naughty
behavior.
I grew up hearing the message that woman suffragists ruined
society—that they (especially when combined with the sixties) destroyed the
traditional home and our society along with it. That argument seemed reasonable,
at least until I wrote this series and followed the natural course of Julia's
story. Then I understood and saw better
what an amazing gift women from the past gave us. One look at the way women are
treated in other places in the world is enough to make their incredible gift
clear.
I realize that God
ordained men to be the head of the household, but truly believe this glimpse
into Julia’s world is a very twisted example of God’s intent. How did you develop such a strong father-figure,
and what inspired his obsessive compulsive behavior when it came to being on
time for everything?
I'm glad you set up the question this way. Yes, it is a
twisted example of God's intent. I'm passionate about not setting up simplistic
situations about God in story. Simple situations tend to have simple
answers—such as, just trust and give it to God and all will be well. Ultimately,
though, I believe it opens doors of doubt in people later because it lends to
the idea that there's a formula to follow.
But life is so much more complicated than that, and the
things that erode faith are so much more complicated. Our relationship with God
is unique and our circumstances are unique. What if someone finally trusted and
gave their whole life over to God and became utterly ruined? Then what does one
think, then? Or feel? How would it look
to remain in trust, even when all truly is lost? Those are the stories I'm
passionate about.
So, yes. Lord Pierson is not an ideal father. God set Adam
over Eve in order to give humanity a picture of the relationship of Jesus to
the church—but those like Lord Pierson destroy the picture. What do we do with
that? When should Julia obey or disobey to protect herself? How much do we need
to protect ourselves, verses how much in life doesn't really matter and can be
relinquished anyway? Those are the truth-life struggles that I want to
spotlight and fuel courage and faith to.
As far as developing my characters, they tend to walk onto
the page without my help. I write them, and as I do so, I learn about them. I'll
fill out character charts once I finish a m/s in order to know them a bit
better.
Isaac is another
intriguing male role that seems to be a bit of a rebel – as is Julia. Where was this character inspired? Why is his presence in Julia’s life so
necessary? (other than he keeps her sane!)
The way Isaac entered the story on his own. I never planned
on him in the series, but he just stepped onto the page with authority and
calmness, which surprised even me. (I'm a seat-of-the-pants writer.) He does,
however, represent an allegorical role in the novel, so he has certain rules
his character must abide by. I'm working on the author letter for the last book
where I go into detail on Isaac.
I realize this is the
second in a trilogy – so you already know how the story ends. What stage are you currently in with the
final book?
I’m very excited about the last book in this series! It's
handed in and has been accepted. Its word count was high and I'm still
expecting editorial work back, but I'm nearly finished with this series. It's
been a decade-long effort, so I'm excited.
Your first book
contract was to complete a trilogy. Are
there any single books in the works for future publication?
Yes, I have several stories growing in my mind. Some have
waited years to be written.
Do you plan to write
any fiction in modern day, or do you think you will continue in the historical
genre for a while?
If I write a story in the modern-day setting, it most likely
would be for a children's story I've had in mind. But even that would likely be
set in the 1950's. I do plan on continuing in historical context for adults,
and historical with a touch of speculative for YA books I have in mind.
Can you describe your
writing schedule for us? You work as a
publicist as well, so what does a day in your life look like in regard to
writing?
It's a tough schedule. Right now I’m not actively taking on
any PR jobs, though I do advise a bit. It's hard having two creative jobs. One
sort of creativity zaps the other. While I finished the third book of this
series, I worked overnight, caring for the elderly. It allowed me large spaces
of time to work during the day. I've recently taken a retail job that has
benefits, something I'm looking forward to having again.
During this season, I'm also prayerfully considering
starting a non-profit organization with my best friends that would minister to the
isolated, hurt and lonely in my local community.
.jpg)
