Pride and Prejudice Variation – Page 31

Music Monday: Beautiful Romantic Music (101), Peder B. Helland

Soothing Relaxation. “Beautiful Romantic Music: Relaxing Music, Piano Music, Violin Music, Guitar Music, Cello Music ★101.” YouTube. YouTube, 07 Nov. 2016. Web. 03 Dec. 2016.

It is that time of year when I start to re-evaluate everything and decide if I wish to keep doing things as I have or make changes. I am in the process of contemplating my posts here on this website, starting with the first post of the week — Music Monday. In the past, I have often had a song that connected directly to a story because I often find inspiration in music — be it the lyrics or the emotions the melody evokes. That has not changed. I still find music very inspiring, and when I write, there is almost always some sort of music playing in the background. So, I am still planning to share music on Mondays for now, but these posts will not always have a direct connection to the story on which I am working. They will rather be pieces that I have found inspiring and have had playing as I work — which is exactly what this week’s selection is. This week, I have been listening to this particular piece of music (in a shorter version, which I purchased on bandcamp.com) along with several other tracks by this composer.

And what have I been working on as this music plays? Well, I am attempting to get a good portion of the new Thursday’s Three Hundred story sorted out. Another week of writing, and I think I should have it well underway and be able to tell if everything is working together as it should for the story. So, do I post a small excerpt from that story here on Monday as I have all the other times when doing a music/story connection post? Sure. Why not?

Remember, this story is under construction and an excerpt here may or may not show up in the version that gets posted later…although I am working very diligently to make sure that I am only writing useable material. 🙂

This small piece is from a section where Bingley has had a rough day and is drowning his sorrows. It is also the beginning of a planning session by a rather sloshed Bingley and a slightly tipsy Colonel Fitzwilliam about what might be the best tactic to use if Bingley wishes to get Jane to accept him. 🙂

A Story Excerpt from Willow Hall, Book 4 (I’m still working on choosing a title 😉 ):

“What has you looking as if you ate a piece of bad fish?” asked Richard, taking a seat in Pemberley’s game room next to Bingley.

Bingley shrugged and gulped the last of his drink. “You did not stay at Matlock?”

Richard sighed and scrubbed his face with his hands. “My sister is the center of a house party, and although her friends seem to enjoy my company, I do not enjoy theirs. The last of the guest should leave by week’s end. I shall visit for a longer period of time after that. As it was, yesterday and this morning was long enough for my mother to begin speaking of my marrying.”

“It is a sad lot for us men,” muttered Bingley.

“Marriage?” Richard unbuttoned his waistcoat. Continue reading Music Monday: Beautiful Romantic Music (101), Peder B. Helland

Music Monday: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Josh Groban)

Joshgroban. “Josh Groban – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas [Official Lyric Video].” YouTube. YouTube, 21 Nov. 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.

It has been a while since I posted a Music Monday. 🙂 I have been busy. This year, I have given up my position as a traditional classroom teacher and have taken on the privileged position of teacher at home to my high school son. We have been learning together and working on figuring out how this change in life is going to work. We still do not have it down, but we’re getting there! (And we are both enjoying it….most of the time 😉 ). I have also been busy getting So Very Unexpected‘s first draft finished and then diving into writing, editing, and otherwise preparing A Very Mary Christmas for release next month (December 20 is the expected day!)

So, knowing what I have coming out next month, can you guess why I picked this song for today? Yep, it goes well not only with the title of my soon-to-be released novella, but the lyrics kind of apply as well. Friends do gather. My main characters will be together if the fates allow…and if that happens, this interesting cast of characters will be gathering together for many, many Christmases to come.

So, let me share the book description with you and then a small excerpt. You may also be interested to know that I have started posting the story on darcyandlizzy.com. Continue reading Music Monday: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Josh Groban)

Music Monday: Kiss Me – Period Dramas

CONNECTION BETWEEN STORY AND SONG:

I have been busy editing for the last couple of weeks, but The Tenant’s Guest is finally off to the first reader. Yay! The story has some additions to it that were not part of the original posts here on Thursday’s Three Hundred. One of those additions can be found in this scene…which begins with a kiss.

Just a note: This has not gone to my proofreader, so there are bound to be mistakes. This stage of the editing process is working on story elements. All the mechanics come next. 🙂

EXCERPT FROM The Tenant’s Guest by Leenie Brown:

“You truly wish this? You would have me, arrogant man that I am?”

“I would.”

He tossed his hat on the ground and, taking her face in his hands, bent to kiss her.

The sensation of his lips pressed against hers took Elizabeth by surprise, and without her willing it to do so, her body leaned into him and her arms wound around his waist as if they knew exactly what to do. It was no wonder some ladies found themselves in compromising positions when their senses were so attacked as to be wholly outside their own power, Elizabeth thought as she stood some moments later, wrapped in Darcy’s arms, her head on his chest. Her mind even now knew that standing here, embracing and being embraced, was not proper, but her body was not willing to listen to anything but the beating of his heart, which matched her own rapid pulse. It was with regret that she followed his lead and slowly stepped away from the embrace when finally both hearts had returned to a more normal rhythm.

“I must go on,” said Darcy, “and you must return to Willow Hall.” His hand caressed her cheek, and his smile looked almost sad. “I will call later at a proper time if you are agreeable.”

She nodded. “I would be happy to receive your call, Mr. Darcy.”

“Fitzwilliam.” His voice was soft. “You must call me Fitzwilliam for I intend to call you Elizabeth.” There was a stubbornness to the set of his mouth and eyes as if he were prepared to defend his decision.

She raised an impertinent brow and attempted to keep from smiling but could not. “Will it not seem strange to the Abbots if we address each other so informally?”

He chuckled. “Indeed it would, but I do not intend to call you Elizabeth save when we are alone as we are now. I have referred to you as such in my thoughts for some months now.” He shook his head. “Nay, nearly a year.”

“A year?” She looked at him in question, not only because of the length of time that he had considered her, but because in contradiction to his words of needing to leave, he had tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and was walking with her back toward Willow Hall.

“I do not know exactly when I began to think of you in such familiar terms, but I am fairly certain that it was after your stay at Netherfield.” He smiled sheepishly at her. “You were charming.”

“I was not,” she disagreed. “I was disagreeable.”

He shrugged. “It was most charming.”

She laughed and held his arm more tightly as she stepped towards him as if there was something about his person that drew her to him. “So I have not only promised myself to an arrogant man but one who finds argument and debate to be charming?”

He nodded. “So it would seem.”

She heard him sigh.

“Do you regret your answer?” he asked.

Elizabeth shook her head and then lay it against his shoulder. “Not this time.” The letter in her pocket reminded her of just how fortunate she was to have been given this opportunity to correct her mistake. “I shall never regret it,” she added softly.

~*~*~

The Willow Hall Romance Series

A Pride and Prejudice Prequel ~ Willow Hall Romance, Book 1

Events from the past combined with threats in the present threaten to tear Lucy and Philip apart unless Darcy can help his friends save their blossoming love and rid Lucy of her uncle once and for all.

PREVIEW

KOBO AMAZON NOOK IBOOKS 24SYMBOLS INKTERA

Available to be read in its rough draft, Thursday’s Three Hundred, form here:

PART ONE, PART TWO, PART THREE, PART FOUR, PART FIVE, PART SIX, PART SEVEN, PART EIGHT, PART NINE,PART TEN, PART ELEVEN, PART TWELVE,PART THIRTEEN, PART FOURTEEN, PART FIFTEEN, PART SIXTEEN, PART SEVENTEEN, PART EIGHTEEN, PART NINETEEN, PART TWENTY, PART TWENTY-ONE

Publication Fall 2016

Now posting in Thursday’s Three Hundred

PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6,

PART 7, PART 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12,

Part 13…

Publication Winter 2017

Music Monday: Finding You, Gareth J. Rubery + 3 Excerpts

“Gareth J. Rubery ✪ Finding You ✪ Piano, String Quartet, Brass and Choir ✪ Garethjrubery.com.” YouTube. YouTube, 31 Dec. 2015.

CONNECTION BETWEEN STORY AND SONG:

On this Music Monday, I am replaying a song that I have used previously on a Music Monday. Why? Because the title is just so perfect for the books I am highlighting this week in my sale and the one that is now posting at darcyandlizzy.com. All three books have to do with people who are known to each other but who do not find each other until circumstances force each of them to view the other person differently.

Let’s take a look at an excerpt from each book that shows a small bit of that moment of realization.

EXCERPT FROM Her Father’s Choice:

~ Available for a reduced price beginning tomorrow ~

[This is the part where Elizabeth finally realizes that she not only finds Mr. Darcy to be a different man than she imagined him to be…she realized that several pages ago…but he is also the man that she loves.]

“Who are your fine feathered friends?” Mary asked Elizabeth.

A small burst of laughter escaped Lady Sophia. “They do rather look like a couple of preening parrots, do they not?” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “Miss Ivison is in the green, and Miss Pearce is in the blue. They are two of the ton’s best gossips.”

“And apparently friends of Miss Bingley,” said Elizabeth. “They have had news from her.”

Mary rolled her eyes.

“You do not like Miss Bingley?” asked Georgiana.

“I do not like her behaviour,” Mary said very primly. “She is always trying to elevate herself by lowering others. It is not right. ”

“No,” agreed Lady Sophia, “putting another down to raise yourself up is not right and often ends in embarrassment and disappointment. But, it is, unfortunately, a common trait within the ton, and a disappointed lady with such a fault in character can be very cunning and cruel.”

Georgiana smiled at Elizabeth. “I imagine Miss Bingley is very disappointed since she can no longer claim my brother for herself.” Continue reading Music Monday: Finding You, Gareth J. Rubery + 3 Excerpts

Music Monday: The Choices Series

Today, I am resharing this video that I made for my series of Pride and Prejudice Novellas called Choices. This series is now available on Kindle, iBooks, and Nook as a bundle at a very good price. It will be available on Kobo as soon as I hear back on a technical issue I had during the publishing process.

Tag: Pride and Prejudice Variation