I thought today I would share a recent addition to my Music Meets Movies YouTube playlist. I had never heard this song before coming across this video, but I like it. It’s the sort of song that sparks the imagination, and we all know how I love a song that can do that. Even better is when that sort of song is accompanied by images from various period dramas as it is in this video. 🙂 There’s story inspiration all through this video, I think. I hope you enjoy it and then read on to hear my writing news and to take a peek at what I was writing this week. There are actually a couple of items I would like to have your opinion on if you are willing to give it.
In writing news…
I have begun edits on Confounding Caroline, and the further into it I go, the more assured I am that my instinct to end where I did was a good one. I have also done a bit of brainstorming for the sequel to that story which will probably be called Delighting Mrs. Bennet. My mind is currently working on a couple of questions that arose during my brainstorming, and I hope to find a bit of time this week to start writing that story as my brain continues to work on the questions. For me, sometimes (or is that often 😉 ) the answers are found as the story begins to take shape.
I am also still working on Mr. Darcy’s Comfort and beginning to wonder if it is indeed going to be a Dash of Darcy story or something longer.
I try not to set word count limits for my stories. I like them to go where they naturally want to go. They end where they end. I don’t fluff them up to hit a particular number nor do I cut out scenes to make them fit in a lower range of words.
Here’s my dilemma, and you can tell me what you think. My Dash of Darcy stories, to this point, have been about 25,000 words (some have been just over 26,000) or less. The concept of A Dash of Darcy stories is for them to be quick reads that fit into busy lives and for people like me who absolutely love novellas. If I wish to put Mr. Darcy’s Comfort in that collection, I may have to extend that upper limit. But that wouldn’t be such a bad thing though, right? Five or ten thousand more words would not make them too long to be a quick read that fits into a busy life, right? I’d love to hear your opinion on this.
Speaking of books in the Dash of Darcy series, they often have companion books and one of those sorts of books just released this past Thursday!
Enticing Miss Darcy is now published! And the first few reviews have been great! Thank you for that. After reading one review that listed Unravelling Mr. Darcy, Becoming Entangled, and Enticing Miss Darcy in order for other readers, I did make a change to the “series” title on these books. Normally, I just list them as either A Dash of Darcy or A Dash of Darcy Companion Story on the retail sites. However, I had worried about readers being able to easily find all three books, and that review let me know that that worry was probably founded in a real need. So, they are now listed as Unravelled, Entangled, and Enticed: A Dash of Darcy and Companions Trilogy and each book is numbered.
Another reader on Facebook asked if I was going to do A Dash of Darcy Companion Duos like I do with the Dash of Darcy stories.
I’d like to hear how you feel about book bundles. Do you think a book should only be “packaged” in a bundle once or would you be fine with the book being in a number of bundles as long as the bundle clearly states which books are contained in that bundle? The reason I ask is because I am thinking of doing some various collections just to offer a greater selection of purchasing options to readers. Frankly, I love a bargain and think book bundles are awesome since I can usually save a few dollars, and I like having options. However, I would like to hear other thoughts on it as well.
Ok, now, for…
AN EXCERPT FROM Mr. Darcy’s Comfort:
As luck would have it, the following day was dotted with intermittent sputterings of rain and a walk to Oakham Mount was not possible. Elizabeth rose from her chair in the sitting room and paced to the window for the fourth time in the last half hour.
“Go walk in the garden,” her mother chided. “I will not confine you to the house when all you are going to do is cause my nerves to flutter each time you pace across the room. I do not know why you are so eager to have callers. It is not as if any are calling to see you.”
Mary peeked up from her book and smiled quickly at Elizabeth.
“I should have thought you could have snared Mr. Wickham,” said Mrs. Bennet, “if you had been more pleasant. He seemed to have taken to you quite nicely, and he seems to have promise. I should imagine he will not remain a lieutenant for long.”
“She shall not have him,” said Lydia, “for I shall. I do so admire a man in a red coat.”
Elizabeth sighed and returned to her chair. She was not entirely certain that Lydia should be so eager to snare a man like Mr. Wickham but to protest would only deepen Lydia’s determination. Therefore, she only said, “A uniform is very becoming, but I do not think I would make a good wife for a soldier. All that moving about!” She shook her head. “It is not for me. I prefer to settle into a neighbourhood and surround myself with friends.”
“I should very much enjoy meeting new friends everywhere!” Lydia cried.
Elizabeth shook her head at Lydia’s stubbornness and tried to turn her focus back to the needlework she had been doing. However, creating rosettes was not as satisfying as watching to see if Mr. Darcy would keep his promise and call on her even though they could not walk to Oakham Mount. And more frustrating than keeping her stitches neat and the thread from knotting was the thought that she very much wanted him to keep his promise. She longed to see him. She blew out a frustrated breath.
“Do go take a turn of the garden,” her mother snapped.
“Come,” Jane whispered. “We will see if anyone calls.”
“Do not go far, Jane. I would not have Mr. Bingley kept waiting,” her mother chided as she saw Jane rise to leave with Elizabeth. “Do not damage your sister’s chances, Elizabeth.”
“I would not dream of doing so, Mama. We will keep a close eye on the drive.”
“See that you do,” Mrs. Bennet replied.
“Your attendance to your daughter’s marital prospects does you great credit,” Mr. Collins said.
“I have five. I must be vigilant.” She turned a cunning smile on the man. “We may expect a happy announcement for Jane at any time, but she has four sisters, Mr. Collins, and you are in need of a wife. Mary, why do you not read to us from the Psalms. It will help us pass the time so agreeably, and Mr. Collins can expound upon them if he wishes.”
“I do not wish to read,” Mary replied.
“You are reading now,” her mother retorted.
“But not the Psalms, and I do not wish to read aloud or hear Mr. Collins expound on anything.”
Mrs. Bennet huffed. “When did you become so incorrigible?”
“About the time Mama began pushing her in front of Mr. Collins,” Jane whispered as she closed the door to the sitting room behind them.
Elizabeth laughed softly. “Mary has her eye on someone else entirely,” she whispered as she took Jane’s arm to go up and get their outerwear.
“Does she indeed?” Jane asked curiously.
“I am allowed to tell you and only you. No one else is allowed to know.” They climbed the stairs slowly, heads bent together. How she would miss these moments of sharing secrets when Jane married and moved from Longbourn. Her heart pinched at the thought of losing one so dear. She knew that Jane would not be lost forever, but she would be so removed, and her attention would naturally shift to her husband and children.
“I will not tell a soul,” Jane assured her.
“She has been corresponding with Mr. Lucas. Maria sends and delivers the letters.”
Jane gasped. “Our Mary?”
Elizabeth nodded. “Shocking, is it not?”
“It most certainly is!” Jane agreed.
They had reached their room, and each sought her own coat and bonnet.
“Why did Mary tell you such a secret?”
Elizabeth applied herself to her fastenings. “We were just talking on our walk yesterday.”
Jane stilled Elizabeth’s hands. “I will not believe that! Mary would not share such a secret without reason.”
Elizabeth blew out a breath and pulled her hands away from Jane. It was nearly impossible to keep a secret from Jane unless one simply did not say anything.
~*~*~
KOBO AMAZON NOOK IBOOKS MAILING LIST PATREON SOCIETY6
A frustrated Elizabeth is a fearsome sight to behold!
She should give up on trying to knock some sense into Lydia as there is no hope of success.
I say go for longer stories. I mostly prefer one long story rather than many short ones although occasionally a quick read is necessary.
Oh, I like attempting to knock some sense into Lydia. 😉 Not sure I am going to in this one or not, however.
My preference is for shorter stories as long as they have a complete story arc because I am a “once I start, I’m not stopping” sort of reader. 🙂 I’ve always been that way. So many nights spent reading under the blankets and then pretending not to be tired the next day because Mom had said don’t stay up reading, and I wanted to avoid trouble 😉
Loved that video… I’ve watched it half a dozen times already. Swoon worthy…
I agree with numbering the trilogy. That will help other readers find them easily.
You can make you stories as short or as long as you like… I trust your judgment. I love reading them regardless of the length. When I am entranced with a story… it can be frustrating when it is rushed due to trying to meet an arbitrary word length. The muse dictates the story length. If the story calls for it… it has the final say. I’ve read too many authors that forced a story to end abruptly or crammed too much in the final chapter just so they could end the story. It was a disaster, frustrated the readers… and that frustration was reflected in their reviews. Follow your instincts. They will guide you.
As to offering collections… some people love having everything together. Many already have the individual books… so this would not interest them. However, for those who might not have your books… or want a set [ex: trilogy], this would be a great opportunity for them to have the set.
Thank you for this delightful post. I am so looking forward to these new works. I like a good Mary story; she is always a surprise. Blessings on the completion and launch of these stories.
Another one to listen to is Ivory Tower by the same band.
Thanks. I enjoy Mary as well. I think that side story needs to be thought about a bit. (I also like to make her a bit surprising — the girl that looks like a good girl but might not be as shiny as her facade appears.)
I’m glad to know my reasoning regarding the sets is not just me 🙂 It’s always to have at least one second opinion. There are some readers who prefer to purchase in bundles, or so I have heard on several author/marketing shows and blogs from authors with more experience than I have. I’d just hate to confuse people.
I have also read shorter works that have rushed to the conclusion. I think writing a well-crafted shorter story is a slightly different skill set than writing the longer ones. They have the same story structure sort of elements, but you have to be so “tight” in your writing. In a longer book, you can be a bit more free in that area. I don’t know if I have it in me to write anything super long or even sort of long. 🙂 However, when I began, I thought a short story was my limit and now, well…. 🙂 On the reverse side of the coin is the long book that could use some trimming, which is just as bothersome, if not more so for me, as the short rushed story.
I really believe in writing until something is done. You should have seen the consternation on my student’s faces when they would ask how long an assignment had to be, and I would answer “How long do you think you need to do a thorough job? I want it that long. Not a word longer, not a word shorter.” 🙂
Love that song!!! Who would have thought Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple would veer towards Renaissance inspired music. His wife helps him bring it together. They have become one of my favorite bands. Highly recommend others check them out.
Anywho, can’t wait to read more on Lizzy and now Mary. Never would have put her with Charlotte’s brother. He isn’t a developed character so it would be good to see him become more prominent.
I’ve put on Ivory Tower right now to listen to it. She’s got such a lovely voice.
I like trying to find different and somewhat surprising things for Mary to do. 🙂 She’s a fun character to develop. I’ve never really tried much with any of Charlotte’s siblings yet. So, he could be fun.
Liking the song, btw. 🙂 Thanks.
I am okay with a longer word count for the Dash of Darcy books.
Creating various book bundles are fine. I look to see if I already own the book. If I do, I do not purchase it. It would be a great marketing tool to get new readers.
I think the longer word count still fits into the concept of quick reads well. I just did not want to “ruin the branding” so to speak and confuse readers or upset them unnecessarily. 🙂 And I agree, it would be a great marketing tool…more products on the shelf to appeal to more or different readers.
This song pops up a lot on my Pandora and I really enjoy it. The length of the book doesn’t bother me. I say go until you feel that the story has been told. Even if it’s a bit longer than the others, it can still be devoured in one sitting. Depends on how hungry the reader I guess. LOL. I still need to post my review *facepalm* I just need to come up for air.
Well, please, take time to breath 🙂 I hear it’s a rather important thing to do for good health. 🙂 I figure I can usually get through a book of about 30,000 or so words in one sitting, and I am not always a fast reader (I tend to dissect things as I go). So, if I can do it, others must be able to as well, I hope. 🙂 It’s great to hear all these opinions.