Mansfield Park – Page 2

Meet the Characters: Henry and Constance

It will come as no surprise to those who have been readers of my stories for a while that I do not just write Austen-inspired stories that reimagine Austen characters in new places and situations. I do write those kinds of stories, but I also like to develop my own characters to insert into Austen-inspired stories and, of course, to populate my own original stories.

My Other Pens series is one that combines a few of Austen’s characters, as reimagined to some extent by me, and many original characters. This is a series where we step off of the last page of Mansfield Park and into Henry Crawford’s world as it continues past Austen’s novel.

Did you know?

The Other Pens series title comes from the first line of the final chapter of Mansfield Park:

Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody, not greatly in fault themselves, to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest.

Period Drama Montage: It’s Raining Men

After last month’s series of music lessons, I thought why not have a bit of a fun break this month and spend a few weeks focusing on some of the gentlemen in my stories.

The fellas in this month’s theme graphic are from four of my book covers that don’t have a couple on them, but rather feature only a gentleman. Before you scroll down and I tell you, do you know which books they are?

I’m not going to feature all of them in excerpts this month as I have already done one of these books just last month. However, I am sharing from one of them this week.

Ok, here are the answers of which face belongs to which book, moving from left to right: Persuading Miss Mary, Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy, Cherishing Kitty, and Tom: To Secure His Legacy. Did you get them all?

The excerpt below, which is from Tom: To Secure His Legacy, is part of the scene where Tom meets the heroine Faith.

Tom: To Secure His Legacy is book 4 in my Other Pens series.

Find Tom’s stor y and all the other books in this series here.

View of Piccadilly c. 1809

Rudolph Ackermann. View of Piccadilly from Hyde Park Corner Turnpike. The Repository of arts, literature, commerce, manufactures, fashions and politics, 1809.
Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

He (Henry) whistled a jolly tune as he mounted his horse and made his way toward the park. A bit of fresh air, a good breakfast, and then one call. He pulled in a deep breath. His happiness was very close; he could almost feel it now. Constance had smiled at his admission of wanting to marry her. His chances were very good if he could get her brother to agree with him.

“Crawford!”

Henry turned toward the barouche that was coming toward him. “St. James,” he greeted with a tip of his hat.

The rather portly gentleman waved Henry over.

“How can I be of service, my lord?”

“You can learn to be discreet,” the man answered, scooting to the side of the carriage closest to Henry…

from Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy

Henry’s story is available both as a single title and as part of the Other Pens, Vol. 1: Henry, Charles, and Mary compilation.

A Trip to the Islands (Keltische Harfe), Nadia Birkenstock

Here’s something a little different for today’s musical selection — a harp solo. 🙂 I have a couple of books where the harp is mentioned, but today, I’m going with a line from a book where the heroine actually plays the harp — because that’s how Jane Austen wrote her. 🙂 I’m talking, of course, about Mary Crawford.

The lines below are from the first time Mr. Durward calls on Mary at her sister’s home.

Mary: To Protect Her Heart is book 3 in my Other Pens series, and, as the title suggests, is where Mary Crawford finally finds her own happily ever after.

Not a fan of Mary Crawford in Mansfield Park? Neither am I. However, this Mary — well, she’s gotten the Leenie treatment and you might just find yourself rooting for her.

MAILING LIST PATREON

World Stand Still (The Tenors)

I love this song. It is truly one of my favourites. As I was listening to it and looking at a list of my books just last week, the one that seemed to match best with this song, especially the lyrics below, had to be…

I keep spinning around until you slow me down
You make me real, when you make the world stand still

and

I wouldn’t have believed it
‘Cause I never used to see it
You give this life meaning around me
When you make the world stand still

…Charles and Evelyn’s story. I think Charles is one of my most “spinning around” sorts of heroes until he meets Evelyn, and she shows him the life that is happening around him and that has more meaning than his current life does.

The few lines below are found in a scene where Charles admits (to his best friend, Henry Crawford) that he has fallen for Evelyn.

Charles: To Discover His Purpose is book 2 in my Other Pens series. This series is a sequel to Mansfield Park that follows Henry Crawford and his friends and relations as they find their happily ever afters. Charles Edwards is just one of the many original characters that are part of this series.

(And no, you don’t have to like Mansfield Park to like this series, although you may want to, at least, watch an adaptation or read a plot summary before beginning reading.)

For those following Charles’ story on Fridays, the quote above will show up in one of the chapters this Friday (Feb 12). 🙂

MAILING LIST PATREON