Music Monday: Woman, Amen, Dierks Bentley

It’s Monday — again. Time for some music, a story excerpt (but not from my current work in progress), and some writing news which includes news of a limited time price reduction on one of my books. (No, I’m not going to tell you which book here. I am going to make you scroll down. 🙂 But today’s song choice and story excerpt go with that book.)

Bentley, Dierks. “Dierks Bentley – Woman, Amen (Audio).” YouTube, Dierks Bentley, 17 Jan. 2018, youtu.be/mXOTJ-tluUU.

Let’s start with some writing news. It might not be a lot of news, but, it’s kind of exciting. 🙂

First, Master of Longbourn is in the formatting stage of production. That means it will be on pre-order by the end of the week and advance reader copies will have been sent out. I’ll have all the ordering details for you next Monday.

Second, I have added an item to the menu here on the blog. There is a “Varied Thoughts on Writing” option there now. This link will take you to a journal where I am gathering together some of my Austen Authors posts that I have written about writing in general as well as specific to various books. I have only gotten last Tuesday’s post added to that journal so far. That post was about Master of Longbourn and how I developed my Mr. Collins.

Third, I have made a decision about which story is getting written next. It has no title yet, nor does it have any beginning story notes. It is, at this moment, just a decision. 🙂 Here it is:

~ I have decided that I am going to be writing Mr. Edwards’s story. ~

I hear some of you saying, “Who is Mr. Edwards?”

I am glad you asked.  Here is a story excerpt to help you know who he is: 

“Have you settled on the next scandal?” Charles Edwards drew up beside Henry and lifting his quizzing glass, looked down his nose as he surveyed the room. “It is an excellent crop with many beauties.”

“Aye, it is that,” Henry agreed with a half smile.

“Which shall it be?” Edwards cast a quick glance at his friend of many years.

“I do not know. I see their beauty, but…” He turned toward Edwards so that his lips could not be read by anyone.

“I do not think I am ready for this,” he admitted in a low whisper. “I should not have allowed you and Linton to talk me into attending.”

“Do not be foolish, my man, you are exactly where you must be to assuage a disappointment.” Edwards’ smile had a wolfish quality to it as it usually did when he was speaking of ladies. “A broken heart does a lady good. It hurries her on to consider matrimony at a faster pace. In reality, their guardians should be thankful for those of us who provide such a service.”

Henry chuckled. If there was one thing at which Edwards was good, besides seducing a lady, it was twisting logic into some rational explanation about why his actions were not so reprehensible as most might consider them. The truth was that Edwards was a rogue through and through, but he had enough charm and good looks to make him not only acceptable to many young ladies but also desirable. Likely one of them fancied herself as capable of ensnaring the man’s heart and reforming him into all that was proper. Henry wished her well, for the task would not be an easy one.

Mr. Charles Edwards, a character of my creation, is a friend of Henry Crawford. He is the sort of gentleman most mothers would tell their daughters to avoid if they wished to keep a good reputation. But he is also a handsome fellow and not all bad. He does, after all, play a very important part in helping Henry find his happily ever after in Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy. [That’s why I have chosen the song I did for today because Henry definitely feels this way at the end of the book!]

I am looking forward to taking on the challenge of reforming this rakish fellow.

And that brings us to the limited time price reduction news.

Last week, I gave away 5 copies of Henry’s story here on my blog. This week, I have reduced the price of Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy to $0.99 USD in the Kindle store (with other currencies reduced based on that price). This price will be available for this week only.  Next Sunday night when I sit down to do a few work-related things, resetting the price will be on my to-do list.

I will have a Friday Feature post this week with an excerpt from Henry to bookend the sales week, so be watching for that.

I am currently re-reading Henry as part of my writing prep. As of the time I am typing this post (about 11: 21 pm on Sunday night), I have gotten as far as chapter 3. I expect I will have at least one or two more chapters read before this post shows up for you to read, but I must do my work first and read later. (Being adult about things is hard when there’s an interesting story just waiting for me. 🙂 )

I would love to have you join me this week in rereading Henry (or reading it for the first time). I hope to post about the story in my Other Pens Readers Group on Facebook about the story as the week goes on, and I would love it if you would post any comments or questions you have as you read there as well. If you’re not on Facebook, you can share you thoughts and questions on the Friday Feature post later this week. 🙂

While I am rereading I will still be working on Delighting Mrs. Bennet. However, once I am ready to put words to paper on Mr. Edwards’s story, I will be moving that story to the backburner and giving it less time as I begin writing this new story.

And now, I will leave you with one more small excerpt featuring Mr. Edwards.

AN EXCERPT FROM Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy: 

As they neared their destination, they were intercepted by Mr. Edwards. “Linton,” he said, “you must come sit with me, or I shall be bored to tears.”

“Why are you here?” Henry asked. He suspected he knew the reason for Edwards’ attendance, but that reason and his asking Linton to sit with him did not match.

“To see and be seen,” Edwards said as he fiddled with his quizzing glass. “Although so far, I have not seen what I had hoped.”

“We were going to see if Marsh would allow us to sit with him,” Linton said.

“That toad?” Edwards asked in surprise. “Surely, ladies of such beauty as your sister and Miss Barrett could do better than a balding gentleman fifteen years their senior.”

“It is not ours to decide who is or who is not an acceptable choice,” Henry said quietly. “That is up to the ladies and their guardians.” He kept his eyes fixed on Edwards, whose brows had flown to his hairline.

“That is quite right,” agreed Mrs. Barrett.

“And the ladies chose to sit with a toad?” Edwards asked.

“He is not a toad,” Miss Barrett replied. “He is a gentleman. A kind, considerate gentleman.”

Edwards sketched a bow. “My apologies. It appears I have spoken out of turn.” He gave one more bow and took a quizzical look at Henry before moving on.

Constance watched him go and then turned to Henry. “That was well done, but does he truly need someone to sit with him?”

Henry shook his head. “No, he will find someone to join him either in his seat or a secluded corner.”

“Likely both,” Aunt Gwladys murmured.

Henry inclined his head in acceptance of the truth of her statement. He and Edwards had attended several musicales together over the years. They were ideal places for certain activities if one could convince a lady to slip away from the crowd during a performance.

Now, remember, we are only seeing Edwards’s actions through the eyes of others at present. We don’t know his inner thoughts and motivations — yet. We’ll see those when I finally get to writing. However, at present, he seems to be posing quite a challenge.

Now, what might induce a man such as Charles Edwards into the married state? Hmm…I wonder…

~*~*~

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