Music Monday: The Woodshed is Full (Dean Brody)

Elizabeth could not agree more. Darcy’s love was the best Christmas gift she could have ever received, and every year, from that one forward, in addition to gifts being exchanged on Christmas morning in the Darcy home, gifts of the heart would be given as well. But these gifts, these special gifts of love, would neither be given nor received on Christmas morning but would always be shared, just as Georgiana’s had been — two days before Christmas.

[The final lines from Two Days Before Christmas]

Published to YouTube by Dean Brody, November 28, 2014.

Traditions. They are often a big part of the end of the year holiday season.

A tradition for me in my writing life, which is going on three years this week, is writing and giving a story to my readers on my email list. The process starts in the early fall as I decide on the story to be written. Then, I usually spend October writing and November editing, so that the book is ready to distribute in December.

This year, I started writing the first of the three novelettes in the book I am giving away in August. I wanted to learn how to write using dictation, so I knew the process would not be fast — and I was right. I wrote in small sections (while getting ready in the mornings). It was interesting how my brain was trying to get used to speaking a story rather than sending it through my fingers to the computer. (I am not sure that it is completely familiar with that process yet) The software also had to get used to my style of writing. (It’s getting better but still needs work.) Needless to say, these three stories needed a LOT of editing for typos and punctuation. 😀 However, it was a great learning experience, and I am going to do it again — after New Year’s.

Anyway… These three stories will be both given away to my mailing list and published to Amazon and on whichever of the other vendors are open and not on holiday hours. 🙂  (Thursday is the planned day if all goes well.)

If you wish to join my mailing list and pick up these stories for free, you can do that from now until the end of 2018.

I will be talking about this book and sharing an excerpt from each of the stories tomorrow, December 18, 2018, on Austen Authors.

Of course, I will also be posting a chapter of Frosted Windowpanes, which is one of the three stories in this collection. I will post the final chapter next week. Just because the book is being distributed this week does NOT mean I will not finish posting that story.

As you can probably guess, I was busy getting last edits done on Nature’s Fury and Delight’s: Thunder, Mist, and Frost this past week, but it was not all I was working on. I also…

sent off Delighting Mrs. Bennet to my final editor and have a tentative publication date set for January 10, 2019.

wrote the second chapter of Loving Lydia and scheduled the first chapter to post on January 3, 2019. 🙂

wrote chapter 3 of Tom: To Secure His Legacy — which means I think I am ready to start sharing a few snippets of that here. However, I cannot promise that I will have something to share each Monday during the holiday season. I think I will, but you know how busy it can be at this time of year. Therefore, I don’t want to make a promise I might not be able to keep. But anyway… Shall we take a peek at a few hundred words from Tom’s story?

AN EXCERPT FROM Tom: To Secure His Legacy: (this is from chapter one)

Today promised to be one of great interest, for Gabe had promised to share the harrowing tale of his ordeal, and then – Tom chuckled to himself as his man tied his cravat.

“Mr. Durward is planning to give up his bachelor state,” Tom said to his man.

“My congratulations,” his man replied.

“He is hoping to tie himself to Miss Crawford.”

“Miss Crawford?” The man before him blinked. “The lady that was at Mansfield?”

Tom nodded. “The very one. Will not Edmund be shocked when I invite Mr. and Mrs. Durward for a visit someday?”

“Indeed!”

“She has changed,” Tom added. “Fanny will be pleased to see the transformation. I am not certain how my brother will receive it. He is more reticent in things than his wife.” He gave himself a looking over in the mirror. He did cut a dashing figure even when he was being respectable. “Has there been any letters from Mansfield?”

“No, sir, none yesterday and so far, none today. There were some invitations, but they have been placed in your study.”

Tom’s least favourite room in his entire life had been the study. He still had to remind himself not to shudder at the word. The study here in town was his, and his alone. His father had given him the control of this town house after Tom had recovered from his illness ready to take on a new life – one that was not given over to pleasure. Therefore, this study did not have to be one of criticism and scolding. This study could be an agreeable even friendly place. He loved his father, but theirs was not a close relationship. He would not be as his father was. He would attempt to encourage children to do well, of course, but not in the same way his father had. He would smile and praise his children from the beginning rather than waiting until one of them had been lost to her willful ways and another had nearly killed himself trying to be as unlike his father as was humanly possible.

“Would you see that some breakfast is sent to me in my study?”

“Of course, sir.”

“And the paper,” he called after his man.

He blew out a breath. It was time to begin in earnest his work of recouping his losses, although he had to admit that he was not entirely certain he understood all the working of investing. Gabe would likely be able to help him find places to put his money that would earn him a healthy – but secure – return.

Gambling was not new to Tom. He had lost plenty of money at a card table. However, speculating on shares and such was different. There was still the possibility of gain or loss, but the money he was using seemed to be somehow more valuable. It was not, of course. The money had not changed one wit. It was Tom who had changed. He saw things in such a different way now since his angel had saved his life those many long months ago. Perhaps if he were very fortunate, one day, he would get to see her face. But for now, he would have to satisfy himself with his memories of her care and her songs.

~*~*~

KOBO    AMAZON     NOOK     IBOOKS     MAILING LIST    PATREON    SOCIETY6