Welcome to the weekend. I hope your week went well. We ended ours with some snow and ice. Here’s all that has been happening in my busy writing life this week.
Writing Life
A New Story: Remember how I was hoping to get some planning done on a third writing project? Well, I did — but just a tiny bit. However, it was enough for me to start exploring the idea by writing the first two chapters. Here is what I can tell you about it at present:
Courtship, Edmund Leighton (1903) [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
Do you remember how Persuading Miss Mary ended with Kitty and Lorcan being discovered kissing in the music room? Well, Kitty, who loves music, has not been able to enjoy playing nearly as much as she did before that fateful day and could not bring herself to play the piece of music she had been playing on that day — until now when there is a possible courtship on the horizon.
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Mary,
When you are sharing all that Jane has written with our sisters, would you be so kind as to share my eager anticipation of Georgiana’s arrival with her? There is so much I wish to discuss with her. Also, tell her that I have promised myself to practice our duet most faithfully until her arrival.
Give
my love to my sisters. It will be lovely for us all to be together again.
PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY HOME FREE ON OCTOBER 19, 2018.
By the end of the excerpt below, Richard is feeling as upbeat and free as today’s song choice — and it is all thanks to the lady standing with him. This is a proposal scene, and as you can see from the header below, it happens in chapter 5. That seems a bit soon, now doesn’t it? Let’s just say that by the scene right after this (as in the second half of this chapter) that happy, upbeat, free feeling is about to get burst in a most distressing fashion. But for now, let’s just focus on the happy, ok?
Sometime later that day, after the sun was gone and the darkness of night had fallen, Richard stood before the Gardiners’ home, waiting to be allowed entry. He did not wait long, for the door was opened nearly before the sound of his knock had faded. Giving his name along with his hat and coat to the servant, he again waited, this time in the hall, to be introduced. He took note of his surroundings with an eager eye. This was the home of a well-to-do merchant, and as such, it was the sort of living arrangements he might hope to one day have for himself.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, a pleasure to see you, sir. A pleasure.” Mr. Gardiner greeted him with a firm handshake and motioned for him to have a seat. “Dinner will be served shortly. Might I offer you a drink while you wait? A bit of wine perhaps?”
“My husband prides himself on his wine selections, Colonel,” said Mrs. Gardiner with a laugh. “It would do you well to enjoy it.”
“Then I shall,” said Richard, taking a seat near Kitty, who smiled and gave a brief greeting.
“My wife and niece tell me that you are thinking of stepping down from the first circles of society to join my realm.” Mr. Gardiner handed Richard a glass of wine. “I shall refill it for your supper. No need to sip like a lady, so to speak,” he said with a wink.
^^That’s not the most creative title, is it? 🙂 I was running low on creativity when it came time to create this blog post. The clock just rolled past midnight here — which means it is now Saturday in Nova Scotia as I write this. I’m pretty sure that has a lot to do with why my creativity is running low.
Writing News
This week, with the help of a friend, I managed to add another chapter to both His Irreplaceable Belle and Marrying Elizabethbook 5. These chapters were not easy ones for me to write — not because the content of them was challenging but because I felt stuck, which, I think, happens at least once with every story. There were a few questions I needed to answer before moving on. This is where my very patient friend, Zoe Burton, helped me by being a sounding board when I needed to talk through some details. She also helped me come up with a possible title out of a long list of options for Marrying Elizabethbook 5.
No, I have not yet started that third writing project. Maybe I’ll get some planning done this coming week? Maybe. 🙂
Publishing News
There’s nothing new here. Just a reminder that Her Secret Beau is now available in the Kindle store for purchase or to read with your Kindle Unlimited subscription if you have one of those.
Book Promotions
Listen to Your Heart (ebook edition) will be $0.99 from February 1-15, 2020. This sale is across all sales channels and in all regions of the world with all currencies being reduced. Continue reading The Saturday Broadsheet for February 1, 2020
Below is information about an ebook that I have on sale from now until February 15, 2020. Click the image below or one of the other links in this post to see all the stores were Listen to Your Heart can be purchased.
Listen to Your Heart will be $0.99 from February 1-15, 2020. This sale is across all sales channels and in all regions of the world with all currencies being reduced.
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About the Book:
Anne de Bourgh has never had a coming-out. She has never had a season. In fact, she has never had a suitor. But, according to her mother, she has always had a future husband. Although Anne desires to marry, she does not wish to marry her mother’s choice, and he does not wish to marry her.
With no other options and the prime of her youth slipping away, Anne’s view of her future is bleak. However, when she finds some papers hidden in her father’s study, that view, in the light of his wishes, changes. Her declaration to follow her heart and choose her own future causes discord and forces secrets to be revealed.
“Oh, thank heavens, you are here.” Anne stopped pacing as Richard entered her sitting room. “I was certain that Mother was going to get here before you. Whatever took you so long? Did Darcy not tell you I needed you? Did you not remember that you were to leave Darcy alone with Miss Bennet?”
Richard slowly poured himself a drink and sauntered to the window before replying. “I came as quickly as I was able. I needed to ensure our taciturn cousin and the lovely Miss Bennet had a topic for conversation.”
Anne groaned. “I would ask what the topic is, but I fear I do not have time to calm myself before my mother appears.”
“I do not know why you do not place more faith in my tactics. I am a trained colonel in His Majesty’s army. I have led many campaigns.”
Anne sighed. “And did all your men return ─ unharmed?”
“Of course not!” Richard scoffed as he took a seat. “The goal is to limit casualties, but it is nigh unto impossible to come away completely unscathed.” He stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles. “My numbers for casualties were always low ─ well within acceptable limits.”
“And what is the acceptable limit for the battle which might be playing out in my garden?”
