I hope you are staying safe and well. Below you will find information about what I accomplished in my writing life this week and a link to a book (which is actually three books in one) that is on sale from now until next Wednesday (April 22).
Writing News
Here’s an update on my writing I have with a short excerpt from two of them. Her Convenient Forever: I scheduled the first chapter of this story to post on May 12, 2020, and then I wrote the second chapter this week. I admit to feeling trepidation about writing a story for Felicity as she’s been horrid in the other stories, but I’m actually liking it so far. Here is a snippet from that chapter:
“Papa!” Matthias, who was in the garden with his nursemaid, ran towards him.
Papa was one of the few words that Matthias ever uttered. Boyd smiled at him and squatting down, held out his arms so that his son could run into them, but the smile was only an expression to let his son know how happy he was to see him. Inside, the weight on Boyd’s heart grew heavier as he remembered the sweet babbling boy Matthias used to be when he was three, before Anna had died.
He squeezed Matthias tight. “Did you have a good morning?”
Matthias nodded.
“And did you have any biscuits yet?”
Matthias shook his head.
“Then, I think we should find some because my stomach is beginning to rumble.”
Matthias wiggled out of his father’s embrace. Gone were the days of him wishing to be carried everywhere. Boyd knew it happened eventually with all children, but he had hoped that it might last a bit longer. He would just have to content himself with the fact that Matthias still greeted him with a hug and allowed him to hold his hand.
PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY RONANKEATINGOFFICIAL ON JULY 29, 2018.
Today’s music video is not a video at all but just an audio version of this song. However, please listen to the lyrics, and if you have read So Very Unexpected, imagine Marcus singing this to Lydia. Is it not the most perfect song for them?
I think the chapter below highlights how Marcus feels about Lydia even though he has just met her and literally brought her “home” to her family. He’s not going to let her fall into a desperate situation. He will be there to help her. Of course, he (and Lydia) just think he’s being a friend, but hey, this is a romance story, so you know it’s going to develop into something more. However, that willingness to see that Lydia is well is not going to change, in fact, he will add to it a determination to see her become all that she can be, and along the way, he will become not just her friend but also her safe place and her champion.
“Lydia, do be serious,” Elizabeth chided before anyone else could say a word.
“I can replace it.” Ignoring her sister, Lydia continued with her explanation. Of course, Elizabeth would not understand. Elizabeth never did anything foolish enough to be punished by their father. In fact, he had never once called Elizabeth dull or silly. No, to their father, Elizabeth was quick and clever. “I will go without most of my pin money, and I am not without skills. I could take in some sewing.”
Lydia saw the look of disbelief on Elizabeth’s face and could not ignore the stinging of her sister’s words any longer. “Mr. Wickham is not what you think, Lizzy. If you knew what he was like, you would not wish him upon me. I was not taken in by him as you were.” She smiled inwardly at the stricken look on Elizabeth’s face. “I may look like I am not paying attention at times, but I assure you, I am listening. I have heard plenty of tales about Mr. Wickham.”
“Then why did you choose him to accompany you?” demanded Elizabeth.
Lydia sighed. “Because he knows where Derbyshire is, and he is weak enough to be led. I should think you would be able to piece that together.” She knew there was a cutting edge to her voice, but she did not care. Lizzy was Papa’s favourite. “I am not so stupid as you think.” A hand took hers.
“I do not think Lydia’s plan is completely without merit,” said Marcus, squeezing Lydia’s hand tightly. “Wickham has been bought off before. I am sure he could be once again.” He returned the small smile Lydia gave him.
I hope you are all safe and well. Below you will find information about what I got done in my writing life this week and a link to a book that is on sale from now until next Wednesday (April 15). I have finished reducing the prices of my novels and novellas. I’ll mention that below as well.
Writing Life
Here’s an update on my writing I have with a short excerpt from two of them. Her Convenient Forever: Guess what? I started the next Touches of Austen book. Here is the very first peek at how that story starts.
Waves lapped at the sand below her. A group of gulls dipped and soared before landing just out of reach of the rolling waves. A breeze steady, but gentle, pulled at her skirts and tugged at her bonnet. The sun peeked out from behind a light grey cloud. If only her heart felt as perfectly lovely as the weather.
Felicity Love opened the small box she held but quickly closed it again. This must be done, but… she turned away from the edge of where the land dropped from where she stood to the beach far below. Perhaps tomorrow she would feel more prepared.
Turning around, she walked in the direction of the road which would take her to the small cottage her father had rented.
This place and this time away from home was her reprieve – her place to grieve and her place of solace where her heart was supposed to mend enough to face the future. But how could a heart, which had been shattered as hers was, repair itself in just two months?
Matching Mr. Darcy: I’m up to chapter 11. Here is how chapter 11 begins:
PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY THE PIANO GUYS ON OCTOBER 29, 2015
I love, love, love this song — the piano, the cello, the drums, and even the bagpipes. (Bagpipes sound like home to me. 🙂 They are a familiar sound here in Nova Scotia.) And then, how the two songs are merged together so neatly! It’s simply wonderful.
Today, I am choosing to pair this today with a chapter from Becoming Entangled because 1) Anne is on her way to Scotland and 2) she’s on her way to Scotland because she’s taking control of her life. If you’ve ever heard the lyrics to “Fight Song” (by Rachel Platten) they include these lines:
This is my fight song,
Take back my life song,
I think that fits very well with Miss de Bourgh’s attitude in her story. Unfortunately, her plans do not go as she thinks they will.
Becoming Entangled, Chapter 4
The next day as Alistair was dozing off while reading poetry shortly after they had stopped to change horses, Clifton Conrad was approaching the village of Westerham. His horse was fresh. He had changed mounts at Bromley and was determined to make an appearance in Hunsford. With any luck, he would find out something about what he needed to know.
Last evening, after Alistair had left White’s, Conrad and his friends had set to finding out all they could about one Miss de Bourgh. It had required them to spend an extraordinary amount of time at the home of one of his friends instead of playing cards as they had intended. However, it had been well worth the effort, for they had discovered that the young lady was likely of no small fortune, being the only heir to her late father. The estate, it seemed, had not been entailed away from the females in the family, and as such, she was to come into ownership of it either when she came of age or married. In addition to her sizable fortune, she was also well connected, being the niece of Lord Matlock and cousin to Fitzwilliam Darcy, who, though not titled, was among the most respected gentlemen of the ton.
Conrad chuckled. It was amazing what information was held by some of the wags of the ton. A simple — “Pratt mentioned a Miss de Bourgh, who is friends with his mother, Lady Metcalfe. I cannot say I recall the name de Bourgh.” — had been enough to unveil all he needed to know.
According to his friend’s mother, Conrad had discovered that Miss de Bourgh was a novice when it came to social matters in town, for she had never had a proper come out. However, his friend’s mother was almost completely certain that Miss de Bourgh, who was nearly twenty, would make her debut on the arm of her cousin, Mr. Darcy, next season. After all, theirs was a long-standing arrangement, and since everyone knew that Darcy was not the sort to shirk his duty, Miss de Bourgh would soon be wed. To prove her point, she had pointed out how Darcy had been in town for several seasons and had not once singled out any lady in particular.
Conrad patted the side of his mount’s neck. “To think Pratt was going to step between Darcy and duty.” He chuckled again. “Pratt! Of all people! I should very much like to see that. He’d not have stood a chance.” He chuckled again at the thought of the much smaller Pratt being called out and handily dispatched by the larger and more capable Darcy. “Perhaps that is how I should have allowed him to find his fate,” he said as he patted his horse again. “Ah, but Pratt is no fool. He would not set himself up against such odds even if this Miss de Bourgh was Venus herself. Therefore, my four-legged friend, there must be some scheme afoot, and I intend to discover it.”
And discover it he did by happy chance as he entered Hunsford.
I hope you are safe and well. Below you will find information about what I got done in my writing life this week and links to a book that is on sale from now until next Wednesday (April 8). I also have news about a set of books that will be leaving other sales platforms and moving to Kindle Unlimited soon.
Writing News
Here’s an update on my writing projects with a short excerpt from a couple of them.
His Irreplaceable Belle: I wrote the final chapter (chapter 15) this week! Yes, this one is done, and now, I must begin thinking about Felicity’s story. (Or, at least, I think I’m doing hers next. However, there is a character in these final chapters who might need his story told as well.)
Matching Mr. Darcy: I just finished chapter 10 of this story a few minutes ago. It’s beginning to feel as if the story is picking up pace as it moves towards its conclusion. Here is how chapter 10 begins:
