One horse cleared the hedge, followed closely by the second just as Nicholas, who as attempting to turn his horse, reached that very spot.

“Let me out. Please, let me out.” Tears streamed down Mary’s face as she helped push open the door and jumped down. “Oh, please, do not let him be dead,” she cried as she gathered her skirts and raced across the field, the sounds of men shouting and horses screaming were drowned out by the hammering of her heart. He had to be alive. He just had to be, or her heart was going to die with him.

Gasping for breath, she pushed her way through the crowd that had gathered around the injured men and beasts. “Fred,” she said, clutching the shoulder of the man bent over the still form of Nicholas. “Fred, is he alive? Please, tell me he is alive.”

Published to YouTube by pinkperel on October 10, 2012

ETA: Apparently,  the above video only plays on YouTube. Sorry about that. I think it is worth a watch, but if you’d rather just stay on this Web page, there is also this video by KatSw3 from December 12, 2010. Let’s see if this one will play here, shall we? ☺ Thank you for alerting me to the viewing issue J.W.Garrett. 

I thought that little scene from A Very Mary Christmas went well with today’s song, and since it is just one of the stories included in the two book bundles of mine that have been included in a Kobo sale, which is part of my writing news, it seemed like a good day to share it.

I have two sales going on today.

One is just ending. That one I told you about in last week’s Friday Feature. The price has been marked down worldwide and across various vendors. The price will be going up at some point later today depending on the timezone of the vendor. So, if you want to grab this book at this price, don’t wait.

The second sale does not end until February 3 and is only on Kobo. Of the three box sets I submitted to the January 40% off Box Set Sale, two were accepted. 🙂

The Choices Series which includes all four novellas in that series: Her Father’s Choice, No Other Choice, His Inconvenient Choice, and Her Heart’s Choice

A Dash of Darcy and Companions Cottage Collection (1) which includes five novellas: Finally Mrs. Darcy, Waking to Mr. Darcy, A Very Mary Christmas, Discovering Mr. Darcy, and Not an Heiress

Write one more chapter of Loving Lydia. I now have seven chapters written. Chapter 4 will post this Thursday

I have dictated the first chapter of Apple Blossoms, the Nature’s Fury and Delights story I am working on. I know that this week’s dictation time will also get interrupted by appointments and such, but the story is progressing at a snails pace. 🙂

I have tentatively scheduled the first chapter of Roger’s story to post here on the blog on February 5. I also wrote chapter two of that story this week. If I can write chapters 3 and 4 this week and next, that tentatively scheduled post will become definitely scheduled. I like to stay at least 4 weeks ahead of what I am posting as works in progress here.

OH! I also have a title for Roger’s story. But… I’m not telling what it is just yet. When we get closer to the first post day here, I will tell you the title to be watching for.

And lastly, which is actually the bulk of what I wrote last week, I wrote three chapters of Tom: To Secure His Legacy and discovered that my planning and plotting had to be adjusted as the story just did not want to follow my path. But honestly, this path is better. I think it was the path the story needed all along and when I look back at the first chapter I can see the hints of it there. I just had not gotten far enough into the foggy trail to see that this is where it was going. I love it when a story says, “Great idea. That’s part of it, but here’s what you really want to do” and then drags me along for the ride. [Yes, I talk to and listen to my imaginary friends 🙂 ]

That’s it. That’s all I wrote. My writing news is over for the week, which means it is time to read a little of the writing I did. Here’s an…

EXCERPT FROM Tom: To Secure His Legacy:  Continue reading Music Monday: Period Drama Couples, Breathe Again (Sara Bareilles)

As the last note faded, the room remained solemnly silent for three heartbeats before Edward stood and began applauding. Others soon followed his example.

Hazel graced him with a dazzling smile and made her way back to her seat.

“Magnificent,” Edward said as Hazel once again took her seat. “You were correct, Parkes,” he said to Harold. “I enjoyed that thoroughly.”

“There is not another with her talent,” boasted Harold.

“I would readily agree.” Edward enjoyed how Hazel’s cheeks grew rosy and how she attempted to hide a pleased smile.

There were yet three unfortunate ladies to sing. They were unfortunate because they had to follow Hazel’s performance, and Edward was certain there was not another lady in all of England, whether on stage or beside a hearth, who could have followed Hazel and not suffered for it.

He attempted to pay attention to each performance and greet its ending with enthusiasm, but he could not.

He had been to many such soirees as this at his grandmother’s request. At each one, he would smile and bow as required. He would congratulate and commend young ladies to earn a giggle or a blush. And each time he would return home to give a report to his grandmother about the number in attendance and which lady had piqued his interest. It was normally some young debutante that had seemed the prettiest and most amusing, but never had one of them caused him to feel so distracted as the lady beside him. It was a most unusual but not wholly unpleasant feeling – unsettling, perhaps, disquieting, most assuredly, but not distressing. In fact, it was in a way, extremely alluring.

Uploaded to YouTube by Brian Crain on October 15, 2013.

The above excerpt follows a few paragraphs that speak of how Hazel Parkes is singing a sad song that relates to her love story up to this point in her life. If you’re wondering who Edward is, he is Lord Matlock’s third son and the cousin who told Anne about ladies being allowed at Angelo’s (that was in Becoming Entangled). Hazel’s happy ending is included at the end of Enticing Miss Darcy.

I’m sure you can see the connection between the excerpt from “Reclaiming Her Heart” and the video, but the actual reason why I chose this piece of music to share today is that I have listened to it often.

Music, such as the piece above, is what I use to switch my brain from busy and stressed by so many things to a calmer state conducive to writing. 🙂 (This will not be new news to those who have read my Monday posts.) Brian Crain’s music is among my favourites for this switch over during very busy, stressful times — such as a week when I have a book release, I’m just settling into homeschooling, and I’m struggling to complete all the challenges I have laid out for myself in my new writing schedule for 2019. In other words, I turned to Brian Crain’s music many times this week. (I also listened to another favourite for this Peder B Helland a lot this week.)

So, what was I working on this past week?

Apple Blossoms (A Nature’s Fury and Delights Short Story/Novelette): This is an original sweet Regency romance which should be somewhere around 10,000 words when I am done.  This week I dictated about 1500 words and several planning notes. I am amazed at how well dictation works for helping me figure out plot things. I could walk around my house talking or type out notes or cover sticky notes with ideas and it would not get me to where I want to be as quickly as talking to my computer and watching those words flow onto the page does. It’s strange but in an awesome way.

Roger’s Story (A Touches of Austen Story): I’ve managed to complete the first chapter. This week, I plan on scheduling that chapter to post on the blog in February. Then, I will attempt to get the second chapter written. Maybe I will even come up with a title so I can put that on the post I hope to schedule. Finger’s crossed on that – maybe I just need to talk it out with my computer. 🙂

Loving Lydia (The current Thursday’s Three Hundred Story): Another chapter has been scheduled on the blog, and one was written to be scheduled when I work on that story this Thursday. I reread/edit the previous week’s words before writing the new section of words. I’m certain I am biased, but the chapter I wrote this past Thursday was the cutest Lady Catherine puts up a stink scene! (Thanks, of course, to Dash.) It will be February before you get to read it. I am attempting to keep a few weeks ahead.

Tom: To Protect His Legacy (Other Pens, Mansfield Park, book 4): I started posting this one on Patreon this week. There are two chapters there for my patrons to read. I have made the first chapter of that story free to read by anyone who wants to read it over there. Writing wise, I only managed to write two chapters for that story this week. My goal was three so that’s why I say only two chapters. 🙂 I’m still hopeful that I will get this book done and published by the end of February, but I’m also thinking that, realistically, it might end up being early March.

Other things that got written: I have an Austen Author’s post tomorrow, January 15, 2019, and there will be a Friday Feature here on the blog this week. I dusted off an Austen Author’s post for that, and the book featured will be on sale everywhere for the weekend.

I think that’s it. 😀 Yes, I was exhausted by the end of the week, but it was a good “I feel accomplished” exhausted (even if it did sound a bit cranky around here by Saturday LOL). Of course, part of that tiredness on Saturday was due to staying up too late to reread a book I found when attempting to organize the Kindle app on my tablet.

And here is a peek at a few of the words I wrote this past week. This excerpt is from Tom: To Secure His Legacy: Continue reading Music Monday: A Love Story (Brian Crain)