Music Monday: All About Her, Paul Brandt

Today, I’m sharing a song that I listened to for the first time this past week. Yes, YouTube notified me that it had been uploaded the week before, but I didn’t actually take the time to listen to it until now. 🙂 Life. That wonderful thing that we get to live and struggle with each day just kept me from taking the few minutes needed to listen. And then life crowded out any mental memo to listen later. I’m sure that never happens to anyone but me, right? 🙂

I’m glad I finally just pushed a few things aside and listened. It’s a lovely song.

At first, when I decided to share this video, it was just because I liked it and not for any story connected reason. But as I listened to it over and over this week (that’s what I do for a while when I  find a song I like), I realized that this song really fits with what I try to write about in my stories — that love that turns your attention from your own wants and desires to the wants and desires of another, that makes you worry about the other person’s happiness even before your own. So, while I didn’t think this would have a story connection, it does — to all of my stories. 🙂

Now that you know all that about this song, let me update you on what I did this past week in my writing life. I finished my first round edits/read-through of Confounding Caroline and have sent that on to my first reader to have her check it over for story stuff. I am not sure at this time when I will be publishing that as Mr. Darcy’s Comfort is supposed to be published first according to my planner. I think I am closing in on the ending for that story, so soon, I will be doing first round edits/read-through of that.

[sidenote: I really appreciate all the comments you left on last week’s Monday post about length.]

So one “finished” story and one almost finished story means I must be starting some new things, right?

Right.

I have started Delighting Mrs. Bennet which will be the next Thursday’s Three Hundred story (beginning May 10), and I am beginning to brainstorm some details for the story that will follow Mr. Darcy’s Comfort. I haven’t settled on a title for that one, but I can tell you it will start a less loved character and shine some new light on him.

In the world of selling books, New Beginnings which is an anthology of Finally Mrs. Darcy, For Peace of Mind, and Through Every Storm, can still be purchased for 40% off at Kobo if you use the 40DEAL promo code at check out. However, that sale ends today.  You can read excerpts from those books in the last week’s Friday’s Feature.

There will be a Friday Feature this week as well. I have a book that will be included in a promotion on Kobo starting Thursday of this week. I am still waiting to get the promo code sent to me. I will, of course, send an email to my mailing list and post a graphic about it on social media as well as having an excerpt from the book here on the blog on Friday.

In the trying something new section of life, Zoe Burton, Rose Fairbanks, and I have been trying out doing live videos on our Longbourn Literary Society on Facebook, and I have figured out how to add those videos to my YouTube channel so I can share them with those who are not on Facebook. You can find the live video from Saturday HERE. [Zoe read a short excerpt from her upcoming release in this week’s live.]

I think that is all the writing/book news and that means it is time to share a bit of what I wrote last week. Remember, this is getting toward the end of the story, so there could be spoilers. Read at your own risk. 🙂

AN EXCERPT FROM Mr. Darcy’s Comfort: 

Darcy stretched and rubbed his eyes as he looked out the window of the guest room he had been given for his use for as long as he might wish to use it. He had thanked both Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins for the offer, but he knew that no matter how much he might wish to stay so close to Elizabeth, he should not. The house was unsettled enough as it was with the master being ill. It did not need to see to an extra guest, especially when that guest had accommodations just three miles away. He sighed. Even if Netherfield came equipped with a lady desperate to impress him with her skills, he should return to it rather than staying here.

“Come,” he called in response to the knock at his door. 

“I beg your pardon, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Hill said as he stood just inside the room. “But the master is no worse nor is he much improved. If…” The man shifted uneasily. “If…”

“I shall send for my physician straight away. It is not an imposition,” he assured the man.

The senior servant visibly relaxed and thanked him before ducking out of the room with instructions to send the man Darcy had told to be ready.  Darcy straightened his cravat as he checked his appearance one last time before exiting the room himself. 

“Good morning,” Kitty greeted him with a smile as she came up the stairs and proceeded on to her room. 

When she was not flitting about an assembly room or giggling over something with her younger sister, Miss Kitty seemed to be as sweet and longsuffering as her eldest sister Miss Bennet.  Darcy shook his head. He needed to do a more thorough assessment of people before making judgments about them. Had he not considered Collins a bit of a pompous fool at their first meeting? And yet, having observed him on his arrival at Longbourn and in the hallway yesterday, the man had not been arrogant but rather anxious to please and kind.

“Mr. Darcy, I trust you slept well.” Mr. Collins rose from his place at the table as Darcy entered, nearly spilling his tea in his haste to show deference.

“As well as one might in such circumstances as these.”

“Right, right. That was perhaps silly of me to say. I should have considered….” his voice trailed off.

“Did you sleep well?” Darcy asked, earning him a look of surprise that was soon replaced with a more relaxed expression.

“As well as might be expected.” A small smile played at the man’s lips. He returned to his tea, and the room fell silent for a moment before Mr. Collins cleared his throat and whispered. “I did not offend with my inquiry?”

Darcy shook his head. “I have been known to say things in a fashion or at a time when it is,” he tipped his head and smiled wryly, “well, when it is most inadvisable. I struggle in company,” he added simply. “Among friends or with my tenants and staff, I have little trouble, but…” he ended the thought with a shrug.

“But you are Mr. Darcy,” the man said in surprise.

“Yes, and that does make it worse I assure you. I am supposed to be at ease, always dignified, and all that.” He was not entirely certain why he was sharing so much of himself with this awkward man whom he had only known for a short time. 

“You are very candid,” Mr. Collins replied.

“I was thinking the same thing.” He lifted his cup. “I suspect the death of my cousin has had somewhat of an altering effect on me.”

“As it might,” Collins agreed. “One does not know how the changes death brings will affect one until he has passed through the trial and emerged on the other side. Some become bitter and resentful, taking out their displeasure on any poor creature who might come across their path.”

He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across his abdomen, looking very much like a particular professor Darcy had sat under during his years at school. That instructor always reclined backward and folded his hands when he was about to launch into a lengthy subject or make a point that he knew would make his students ponder and raise debate.  Darcy wondered which Collins was about to do, though he hoped it would not be a long sermon.

“Then others wallow in grief, dredging it up and wrapping it about their lives until all is consumed with melancholy and the light of a summer’s day with all its intensity cannot penetrate the gloomy fortress they have created.”

Darcy returned his cup to the table and turned his attention to his plate while Collins continued.

“The happy few are invigorated upon exiting their trial. The sanctity and blessing of life have been realized with new purpose, and they attack each day as if it were their last. For, when death has left its calling card, we all find ourselves reminded of the words of the apostle James, ‘For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.’ None of us are guaranteed a moment let alone a day.” 

Satisfied with his proclamation, the man leaned forward and took up his cup once again. “I think, the last response is the best,” he declared before taking a sip of his tea. “Good morning.” His teacup clattered as it was hastily returned to its saucer so that he could rise. 

Darcy followed suit though a bit less frantically.

~*~*~

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