Author: Leenie Brown

Leenie Brown fell in love with Jane Austen's works when she first read Sense and Sensibility followed immediately by Pride and Prejudice in her early teens. As the second of five daughters and an avid reader, she has always loved to see where her imagination takes her and to play with and write about the characters she meets along the way. In 2013, these two loves collided when she stumbled upon the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction. A year later, in 2014, she began writing her own Austen-inspired stories and began publishing them in 2015. Leenie lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her two teenage boys and her very own Mr. Brown (a wonderful mix of all the best of Darcy, Bingley and Edmund with healthy dose of the teasing Mr. Tillney and just a dash of the scolding Mr. Knightley).

Mr. Darcy’s Punch-Stained Stockings

I made this graphic some time ago. Probably right around when this book was a new release. Maybe a bit later. I’m not sure exactly when it got made, but I like it, and when I was thinking of finding a image of punch to share for today, it popped into my mind so I dug it out of storage.

In Matching Mr. Darcy, Darcy’s evening at the Meryton assembly goes from determined to not be introduced to or dance with Elizabeth to being able to think of little else than dancing with her — even if his stockings are doused in punch.

Below is the scene from chapter two when the punch mishap happens.

Enjoy!

The June 2024 Saturday Broadsheet

June 8, 2024

Summer.

For some, it has started.

For us, it is just around the corner. Next month, when school is no longer in session, it will be officially summer here. Of course, for some of you, summer is a couple seasons away. 🙂

Whether it is summer where you are or not, we have reach the middle of the year.

My older sister and I were talking about that this week when she called and neither of us could believe that nearly half a year had passed so quickly. That either means, I’ve been busy, or I’m just “old.” I remember time dragging when I was a kid, waiting for school to end. Ah! That’s it! I’m not teaching anymore so time seems to go faster — phew! It’s not because of age. 🙂 Haha!

I think having been under the weather for two weeks has also helped with the “time is flying without my noticing it” feeling. I’m almost all the way better now. However, my brain is feeling the effects, so catching up on work has been slower than I’d expected.

That being said, I have managed to get up through chapter seven of How to Marry an Accomplished Lady (without losing one’s mind) written. So, that’ good progress, and puts me at about the halfway point on that story.

Oxford Cottage is still awaiting attention. I’ve redone one chapter and have the document set up to do the second, but I haven’t gotten to it yet.

I’ve also got a few other writing and non-writing projects on the go, so really, it’s been a good, productive month since I last shared a Saturday Broadsheet with you. (Even with having to take time off to convalesce.)

So, now, let’s get on to the book news and then, a throwback story vignette (that goes with Oxford Cottage) to conclude this broadsheet.

What is the most important element of good writing to me?

How would you answer this question?

Today, I’m going to share what is at the top of my list of important elements of good writing as I continue to to answer some of the questions on that list of interview questions that I mentioned in the last video.

Enjoy!

(The video is just under 7 minutes long)

Story Setting Collage: Bath, England

Her Secret Beau is the first of two stories in my Touches of Austen series that are set in Bath. So, I thought it’d be fun to gather a bunch of images from Deposit Photos (since I’ve never been to Bath, sadly) and make a setting collage.

I like having a few images in my mind when I am writing or reading a story, and these do relate to different scenes in the story as there are a few in gardens, one at the hero’s town home, and of course, the Assembly Rooms. There’s also a scene where the Abbey is mentioned. So, these all seemed to fit the theme.

I’ve selected to share chapter 10 in which you will find the scene where the Abbey is mentioned. We are about halfway through the story by this chapter, and the scheme that Grace is perpetrating is full swing. Here are the basics just so you’re not confused when you read the excerpt below.

Grace Love is secretly courting Mr. Blakesley (Walter). She is pretending to love Mr. Norman (of whom her mother does not really approve, though he’s a lovely fellow). the Claytons (Graeme and Bea) and the Sheltons (Roger and Victoria) know all about Grace’s scheme and why she deems it necessary. The reason behind the subterfuge: Felicity Love, Grace’s sister. I think that’s probably enough details to set you up to read what follows.

Enjoy!

What does “writer’s block” mean to me?

In this What’s Up Wednesday video, I’ve started on my list of random interview questions for authors that I found on the internet. I’ve also included a few news-y items at the start, but then I do answer the question in the title of this post.

You might notice that my voice sounds a little different in this video. That’s because I’ve got a bit of a scratchy throat and a cough thing I’ve been trying to fight off and not get. When I woke up this morning, I was very glad I recorded this yesterday, because today, I think whatever this is has finally caught me fully and my voice is quite low, right along with my energy. Because of the lack of energy, I’ve also spent the morning in bed, sleeping mostly, which is why this is getting uploaded and sent out later than intended. (And then, I might go back to bed. 🙂 )

I hope you’re week is going well.

Enjoy!

(The video is about 8 1/2 minutes long.)