brian crain. “Brian Crain – Kindred Spirits.” YouTube. YouTube, 22 Mar. 2016.
THE LINK BETWEEN MUSIC AND STORY:
Brian Crain’s music often plays while I am writing. This week it was on nearly every day. There are so many of his songs that I absolutely love, and when it comes time to make a little video trailer for a book, I go to his collection to choice the background music. It has, after all, been the background music while I have written and edited. This week, I decided to make a quick video for my Choices series, and since each hero and heroine finds a true love and a kindred spirit, I had to use this song. So above, it the full song and below is the trailer I made which uses part of this song. I hope you enjoy it!
ABOUT THE SERIES:
This series is a re-imagining of Jane Austen’s classic tale, Pride and Prejudice. When Mr. Bennet makes a choice to help his eldest daughters find happiness, he sets off a chain of events that will affect the lives of all his daughters and many of Darcy’s relatives. Enjoy the stories as a Fitzwilliam family secret unfolds, new loves are formed in the face of opposition, and an old love is rekindled.
Music: Kindred Spirits by Brian Crain. Used with permission.
Hope you are having a . . .
For the month of February, my book, Teatime Tales, a collection of six short and sweet Austen-inspired stories, is on sale for $0.99!
Click to purchase on Amazon
Below is a love letter which is part of the Teatime Tales collection and is inspired by one of my favourite Austen books, Mansfield Park.
Mansfield Park
Thursday, 14 February 1811
My dearest Fanny,
You’ll think me strange when I tell you from where I am writing this. Indeed, the servants have given me some odd expressions as they have squeezed their way past me. I am in the stairwell at Mansfield, on the very step where you sat weeping all those years ago.
It is difficult to imagine the sorrows you must have endured being removed from all you had ever known and loved to be thrown into the midst of a family that you were to be part of but not fully, to be cared for, but never treasured as you ought to have been. Had I been aware to a greater extent of your miseries, perhaps I could have done more to shield you, but I was more apt to see what I wanted than to see what was.
No, do not excuse me because of my youth. You, my dear Fanny, have always outshone all in your ability to perceive the right in a situation. How oft did I see you display such a skill as you refused to be drawn along in one scheme or another? Had I been more discerning, I would have learned from you instead of attempting to sway your resolve. And, I blush to admit, I felt justified in so doing, for I deemed myself wiser. I feel the shame of these words exceedingly for had you listened to all my persuasions, had you laid by your good sense to accept my poor advice, how might you now suffer? How might I?
But what might have been is not what is, and I must not dwell on it for long, for if I do, I shall become melancholy considering all my faults and failures. Instead, I shall dwell on my good fortune, my blessing, my love, my Fanny. I shall praise you, and you must bear it. I know praises are not what you wish for yourself though you are most eager to bestow them on others!
Shall I tell you of your beauty? I believe I shall. But it shall not be a recitation of the loveliness of your hair, the sparkle of your eyes, the fairness of your complexion, or the pleasantness of your figure ─ though you possess all of these. No, these I shall tell you in person. These I shall whisper in your ear. I will trail them along your neck and across your breast. I will press them against your lips. I will whisper them at midnight and repeat them in the morning, for your loveliness enchants me.
Here I will tell you of your true beauty. A beauty that far surpasses the excellence of your figure and outshines the light in your eyes. A beauty that will remain when all other charms have faded and passed away. A beauty which touches the lives of others and leaves its traces there, multiplying and growing until all you have met share in its splendour.
Do not duck your head and blush. Do not chide me for my words of adoration for it is right that I should praise you. I have found the treasure spoken of in the Holy Scriptures, for your noble character, my dear Fanny, is more precious than rubies. As your husband, I have nothing to fear; I know you shall bring me good and not ill all the days of my life. I safely rest in your counsel. Your wisdom and integrity are my constant companions. I rejoice in the thought of your hand guiding our little one down a true path–a path that will lead him to become a man of sound principles, a man who is not pulled astray by every pretty word.
I could go on for pages speaking of your diligence, your compassion, your discernment, your patience . . . but I must stop before I do indeed fill too many pages. With these few simple lines, I have taxed your ability to hear such lovely things spoken of you, have I not? Rest easy my love, I shall save further praise for another day and will close with this. My dearest Fanny, you are the heart of my heart, the soul of my soul. I am truly honoured and blessed to call you my wife, and I will ever be yours.
Edmund
~*~*~*~*~*~
Scripture passage referenced is Proverbs 31:10-31
Other stories included in this collection are
From Oxford Cottage by Leenie Brown
A Music Room Meeting
A look at the beginning of Richard and Harriet’s relationship
From Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Mr. Bingley Plans a Ball
Mr. Bingley returns to Netherfield
From Tolerable to Lovely
A ballroom blunder stops Mr. Darcy’s famous disparagement
A Battle of Wills and Words
Elizabeth engages in a verbal joust with Colonel Fitzwilliam
Two Days in November
Darcy and Elizabeth embark on a plan to bring happiness to Jane
This song was playing on the car radio the other day as I was driving out to a camp where my school was holding a beginning of the year retreat. The scenery on this drive is beautiful and is really just the perfect sort to “prime the imagination pumps”. Well, my brain was thinking Jane Austen thoughts (as it often does 😉 ) as this song began to play. Immediately, I thought the lyrics fit Darcy quite nicely, especially this phrase
“and my heart won’t tell my mind to tell my mouth what it should say”
I also thought of the 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I love how the role of Darcy is played in this version because the portrayal, in my opinion, shows the struggle that Darcy has in trying to overcome his feelings for Miss Elizabeth. So, I thought I would share a clip of the movie below the song. This clip is one of my favourites and features Lizzy walking away from a Darcy who looks as if he wants to say something. (And yes, I know this scene is not in the book. 🙂 )
“Zac Brown Band – As She’s Walking Away.” YouTube. Uploaded to YouTube by Zac Brown Band September 13, 2010.
“Pride and Prejudice – Encourage Affection.” YouTube. Uploaded to YouTube by Christa McKinney on August 5, 2008.
Sometimes a short story begs for a sequel. Well, at least in my writing world it does. A while ago now I wrote “A Change of Heart,” a story which takes place just after Darcy’s disastrous first proposal, but before he leaves the parsonage.
This story takes place shortly after that one, when Elizabeth arrives in London.
“Please, Brother? If I am to spent the whole of tomorrow afternoon sitting with Great-Aunt Margaret, might I not have a bit of new ribbon or lace in my work basket.” Georgiana peered out the window of the carriage as they traveled the streets of London. “It would make the task ever so much more enjoyable.”
Darcy chuckled. “Spending time with Lady Margaret is hardly a thing to be endured.” He noted the small pout that formed instinctively on her lips. It was not an attempt to procure his favour, but rather a small twinge of disappointment which would soon be replaced by a smile and accompanied by a ‘very well.’
Here is a throw back to last year. This story was written when I was feeling nostalgic about my eldest son’s birthday. I find I am feeling that way again and to perhaps a greater degree, since today, he is reaching that magical age of eighteen–the gateway between youth and adult.
This mucky, muddy little boy was the inspiration for this story. You see, when this picture was taken, he and his cousin had just captured a frog.
This story can also be found under the Tales from Pemberley tab in the menu.
Percival the Frog
Bennet scampered into the room. “Mama, Mama. Look at the frog, Mama!” He shoved a muddy, wiggling creature under his mother’s nose. “I found him near the pond. He was hard to catch.” His small face shone with triumph. Globs of mud dripped from his hands unto the floor. His feet were shoeless and a trail of muddy prints formed a trail from the door to the sitting room.
“Marie, there appears to be no need for the search party; the young master has found us. Please, instruct someone to draw a bath.” Elizabeth spoke to the nurse maid who stood at her side, mouth agape. “Bennet, do not move.” She gave him a stern stare. “Roger, a container with a lid, please.” The footman quickly fetched a small lidded crock. She pointed to the frog. “I believe, Bennet’s new friend would much rather be back at the pond with his family instead of in my house.” The footman carefully placed the crock under Bennet’s hands and the lid above. With a pout, Bennet released the frog, and Roger secured the lid before the frog could make an escape.
