INTERVIEW: Jo Abbott Says Her Character Arcs and Plots Develop Together

Welcome to the Tuesday Author Interview with Christina Boyd for the Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

CHRISTINA: I’m thrilled to welcome British writer and editor Jo Abbott. Jo and I first connected through social media, where her love for language, Jane Austen, and Austen re-imaginings stood out. Recently, she put out a call offering to test-drive a new editorial service: helping writers British-ize, rather "British-ise," their work. Intrigued, I sent her a short story I’d been working on—and I was thoroughly impressed. Her quick turnaround and her command of British phrasing and tone brought polish to my piece. It’s a real pleasure to feature her on the blog today.

When did you first think you had a book to write, and how did you start?

JO: I think I’ve always had a desire to write a book. I just didn’t know what it might be about! Then about fifteen years ago, when my children were small, I discovered Jane Austen Fan Fiction. I re-read Pride and Prejudice and didn’t want it to end, so I thought I’d see if anyone had written a sequel. I wasn’t expecting to find hundreds! I began devouring them. First continuations, then variations. And little plot, dialogue, or character ideas of my own kept popping into my head, so I wrote them down. I’ve got about ten stories that have some shape to them—some nearly complete, some just loose threads.

Author Jo Abbott with her debut book, DISARMED. Photo courtesy of the author.

CHRISTINA: Ah, yes. Seems much like how I came to the editing side.

What is your current project or latest release?

JO: My first book, Disarmed, was launched in August. It’s a light-hearted tale where Lydia takes a more central role, and I absolutely loved writing her character, particularly her dialogue. I’m currently working on a story set mainly in London in the autumn of 1812. Jane is engaged to Mr. Bingley, but Mr. Darcy never returned to Hertfordshire. There’s a rival for Mr. Darcy’s affections, but it’s low angst with a happily-ever-after and some funny moments.

CHRISTINA: Sounds delish! Congratulations!

What comes first: plot or characters?

JO: I’m going to be awkward and say a bit of both! Sometimes my story inspiration stems from a plot idea, sometimes from a new character idea or twist on one of Jane Austen’s secondary characters. The idea for Disarmed actually came from a line in one of Shakespeare’s Sonnets [Sonnet 147. "For I had sworn thee fair and thought thee bright, who art as black as hell, as dark as night." ] I read it several years ago and thought how wonderfully it applied to Wickham. Then I set about crafting a story around it. The character arcs and plot somehow developed together, at the same time. 

The stone house is Lanhydrock in Cornwall. Part of it dates from around 1620, but following a devastating fire in 1881, it was largely rebuilt in the Victorian style. Photo courtesy of Jo Abbott.

CHRISTINA: Ooh, I love that.

What do you think makes a good story?

JO: For me, strong characters. Those of us who write Pride and Prejudice Fan Fiction are lucky enough to already have great characters to work with that our readers know and love, but I really enjoy variations that further develop Jane Austen’s secondary characters or introduce new ones. I also like a bit of humor in my stories, and even though my own writing so far is angst-free, I really enjoy some tension and mystery in my reading.

CHRISTINA: Absolutely—developing secondary characters or adding new ones can bring a fresh twist to familiar stories. A bit of humor and mystery always makes for a more engaging read, even without the angst!

What are you reading now? Who’s your favorite contemporary author?

JO: My tastes are wide, and I read from pretty much every genre except horror! Recently, I’ve read a couple of titles from the Booker longlist, a translation of an Italian modern classic, an uplifting, cozy tale by an Irish writer, and the latest murder mystery in the "Strike" series by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling). I’ve also read Grace Gibson’s and Heather Moll’s most recent Pride and Prejudice variations, which were both wonderful! My current read is non-fiction: Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton.

I am a knitter, and in knitting circles, there’s a joke about how collecting beautiful yarn is a separate (and just as fulfilling) hobby from actually using it. I think the same can be said of reading—choosing what to read is a separate hobby from actually reading. I have multiple lists of books I’d like to read, and I spend hours looking at reviews and browsing bookshops.

The red-brick house is The Vyne in Hampshire. It was originally a vast Tudor palace, built between 1500 and 1520, but two-thirds of it were demolished in 1653. Photo courtesy of Jo Abbott.

CHRISTINA: You are great reader! And I love knowing you have two hobbies in knitting. Haha.

Have you gone on an author pilgrimage or research trip?

JO: Not to make other Austenesque authors jealous, but I’m lucky enough to live two hours from Bath and an hour from Winchester, so I’m surrounded by Jane Austen country, and you could say that I’m on a research trip every day. I love history, and visiting old houses is my idea of a great outing, so I do it often, usually with my mum, and we spend hours touring stately homes and asking the volunteer guides a million questions. I always take lots of notes and photographs in case something might be useful for a story one day.

CHRISTINA: Nope, not jealous at all. Le sigh! I love England.

What makes you get up in the morning? What do you love?

The English Channel, near Bournemouth. Photo courtesy Jo Abbott.

JO: My alarm and my guilty conscience are the only things that get me up in the morning. I am very much not a morning person. I work best late at night, and often I’m on a roll with writing or editing, but it’s after 11 p.m. and I need to get to bed so I can get the kids up for school the next day. It’s often frustrating living in a world that has been designed around early risers!

When I’ve shaken off the morning fug, I love walking and swimming in the sea. From my house, I can walk to the beach in fifteen minutes, and I go there every day, even if there’s only time to glimpse the sea. I’m not brave enough to swim through the winter, but in the warmer months, I go as often as I can. It’s both energizing and relaxing at the same time. There’s nothing else like it.

CHRISTINA: Energizing and relaxing at the same time. You are blessed, indeed. Thank you for sharing your writing journey with me. If I ever make it back to England, I hope we meet. Best wishes on your next writing project. And I do hope you create a subscription or book to "British-ise Your Writing."

Jo Abbott, editor and author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jo Abbott is an editor and proofreader specializing in Austenesque literature. After years of reading other people’s stories, she finally published her own, Disarmed, in 2025. Jo can mostly be found reading, but when she needs a change, she loves walking and swimming in the sea near her home on the south coast of England. You can connect with Jo via her Linktree.