Sweet Regency Romance – Page 39

Music Monday: Silent Worship (Emma 1996)

I’m flip-flopping this post just a tiny bit today, as I am starting with just a few lines from something I wrote last week and will end with an excerpt from an already published book.

The following lines are part of a chapter of His Darling Friend, which will post in a couple of weeks. However, since this story does contain touches of Jane Austen’s Emma it seemed to match quite well with the musical video clip below. (I have been watching a few Emma clips to get some inspiration lately. 🙂 )

“Then, it shall be perfect. Do you think we might try it now?” He motioned to the piano.

Victoria tamped down her irritation about having to play anything at all, handed the remaining sheets of music to Diana, and took her place at the instrument. The things one had to endure to please one’s mother!

Thirty minutes later, once Mr. Carlyle, who was as exacting as she had imaged him to be, was satisfied with both his performance and hers, Victoria was allowed to quit her spot at the piano.

“Of all the frustrating, arrogant men!” she complained in a whisper to Diana. “Did you hear him instructing me on how best to play?”

Published to YouTube by Movieclips on October 2, 2011.

A note about the song from Wikipedia:

“Silent Worship” is featured in the 1996 film adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma, where it is sung by Gwyneth Paltrow (as Emma) and Ewan McGregor (as Frank Churchill). Although Somervell’s 1928 English adaptation of the 1728 Handel aria was done more than a century after Austen’s 1815 novel, the original Italian aria was recorded in Jane Austen’s own handwritten songbooks. In the film, Somervell’s piano introduction to the song is shortened.

So, as you can tell, there is to be some sort of musical performance at the Abernathy House party. This week, I wrote the practice session chapter of His Darling Friend, and that is all I wrote on any story! It was a heavy editing week as far as stories go. Tom: To Secure His Legacy should be in the hands of my first reader before you read this on Monday morning. So, that moves one pressing project off my list of things to do for a while, which means I can hopefully start thinking and working on my other projects more — including deciding what new story is going to step into the lineup.

The only other item which I wrote this week was an Austen Authors blog post about His Darling Friend, which will post tomorrow, February 12, 2019. I wrote it to announce the beginning of a new, free-to-read, weekly story to those who might not always read my blog or who do not even know about my blog.

And that was it for my writing work this week. 🙂

Since I do not have a current work in progress story to share a longer excerpt from at present, I thought I would share an excerpt from an already published book. This scene is from Chapter 5 of Discovering Mr. Darcy where Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Catherine are “up to no good” (aka arranging a compromise 😉 ) and was chosen because it involves practicing the piano, which I think goes well with the excerpt from His Darling Friend and with the video.

AN EXCERPT FROM Discovering Mr. Darcy: Continue reading Music Monday: Silent Worship (Emma 1996)

Music Monday: Allan Walker “Sing Me to Sleep” Piano Cover (David Solis)

Graeme’s brows furrowed, and he shook his head in disbelief. “Of course, I love her. She’s Bea.” He moved to rise, but Shelton’s hand on his arm stopped him.

“No, not as a friend. She’s the one you spoke about when you visited, is she not?”

Graeme blew out a breath and turned to face his friend. “Bea loves my brother, and I only wish to see her happy.” No matter how the idea of his brother marrying Bea irritated him! She deserved better than a dolt who had to be convinced of her worth rather than recognizing it of his own volition.

Shelton nodded his head slowly as if he were considering what Graeme was saying, but Graeme knew better. Shelton was reasoning things out, piecing things together, and drawing conclusions. A gentleman did not survive as a rake and be generally well-liked as Shelton had without a keen mind.

“She loves my brother,” Graeme repeated. It had been foolish of him to speak to Shelton about a lady whom he found enchanting but was unavailable. However, his tongue had been loosened by alcohol that night after they had ridden out to purchase Shelton’s new hunter, and the things that Graeme had been pondering since the evening he had nearly kissed Bea during that blasted card game had come spilling out. He had been wise enough to leave out names, but still, he knew Shelton was no fool.

“You truly wish to see her happy?”

Graeme looked at Shelton warily. “Yes.”

Shelton smiled. “Then, capture her heart before your brother can break it.”

The hairs on the back of Graeme’s neck bristled. The smile Shelton was wearing was calculating. He had seen it before — often right before some poor chap was about to be fleeced or lose his lady.

“I consider myself the charitable sort,” Shelton continued, “and I am approaching that age where a wife will be expected. I could save her heart from harm.”

Graeme’s eyes narrowed. “You will stay away from her,” he growled.

Shelton chuckled, clearly enjoying taunting his friend. “Will you call me out if I do not?”

Graeme folded his arms and smirked in return. Shelton knew that Graeme would never call anyone out. It was, for one thing, illegal, and for another, Graeme was not the best shot nor all that adept with a sword. So to use a duel as a threat would be of no effect. However, there was a threat that Graeme knew would shake Shelton. “No, I will shoot your horse.”

[from His Beautiful Bea, A Touches of Austen Novella]

Published to YouTube by Solis Music on March 5, 2017.

Mr. Shelton in the above excerpt is getting his own story! His story will have some definite nods to Jane Austen’s Emma just like His Beautiful Bea had nods to Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. And I am working on fleshing out an idea for a story for Bea’s brother Max that will have nods to Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. That book will be released in the fall as part of a multi-author project which I cannot yet tell you about but am nervously excited about being part of. However, you can start reading Mr. Shelton’s story tomorrow right here on my blog. I have chapters 1-3 scheduled and should have chapters 4 and 5 written before the end of the week. (I missed writing a chapter last week — but more on that later.) The name of Mr. Shelton’s story will be His Darling Friend, and even the title has a bit of a nod to Emma in it. In Emma, Mr. Knightley calls Emma dearest and most beloved. I wanted something similar but did not want to use those words, and darling has the idea of being dear and beloved, so that is why I chose that word for the title.

Needless to say, I am a bit excited to begin sharing this story with you tomorrow. 🙂

His Beautiful Bea is going through a little bit of a makeover. I have given it another reading and cleaned up yet more typos and such (although no matter how often you proof, there always seems to be something that gets missed.) I have updated the file for the ebook and given the book a new cover! The print book will hopefully be ready before next Monday. There are a few more hoops to jump through to get that done than to do an ebook. For those who read in Kindle Unlimited, His Beautiful Bea is in that program and can be read using your subscription.

Now, for the reason I did not get a chapter of His Darling Friend written this past week:

I finished writing Tom: To Secure His Legacy!

Yes, I am excited about that as well! This week, I might be a bit less excited as I reread it before sending it off to my first reader to check for story issues. 😀

The bad part of this news is that I will not have any new story excerpts to share here on Mondays for probably two or three weeks as I need to pick a story to work on then start writing. 🙂

I have no idea what that next story will be at this point. Hopefully, I will have that figured out by next Monday as well. It seems I have a lot of things to do this week! 🙂

So, here, for the last time as a Music Monday work-in-progress, is…

AN EXCERPT FROM Tom: To Secure His Legacy:

[note: Do not read if you do not like spoilers or excerpts that end on a bit of a teasing, tempting cliffhanger. 🙂 There is a limit to the amount and type of spoilers I am willing to share. 🙂 ] Continue reading

Music Monday: You Are (Aaron Goodvin)

Lucy’s hand flew to her heart and her eyes grew wide. “So much? Surely, that was not necessary.”

Philip took the items from her and placed them on the desk before taking her hands and drawing her to her feet and into his embrace. “For you, Mrs. Dobney, there is no price too high.”

“But…”

He placed a finger on her lips to stop her protest. “I have already had this argument with Darcy, and I assure you that neither he nor you will convince me that the money was spent in vain, for it has bought back your things and, I hope, something far more valuable, your peace. From this day forward, there is nothing left of what your uncle did which can harm you.”

She squeezed him tightly. “How can I ever thank you for such a thoughtful gift?”

He looked down into her eyes, which were peering up at him. “Love me, always, just as you do now.”

She shook her head and smiled at him. “I cannot promise not to love you more with every passing day, but I will always, always love you.”

[from And Then Love, book 1 in the Willow Hall Romance Series]

Published to YouTube by Aaron Goodvin on October 4, 2018.

This song was an earworm for me last week, and so I decided to share it with you. So thoughtful of me, I know. LOL It’s a sweet song with a catchy tune that I heard played a couple of times on the radio as I was making supper last week, and it stuck.

Above the video is an excerpt from one of my already published books, And Then Love. The excerpt is from the ending but had the right feel to go with the song today. If you have read that story, you might remember that Lucy approaches Phillip to ask him to marry her so she will not have to go live with a horrible uncle. He decides to help her, and over the course of the book comes to realize that marrying her is the best decision he has ever made.

[A little side note: When I say horrible uncle here, I mean nearly as bad as they come. I tapped into my dark side for a couple of characters in the Willow Hall Romance series, and Lucy’s uncle was one of them. As bad as they come is reserved for another despicable character in this series.]

Along with humming or singing the above song throughout last week, I also managed to get a good bit of writing done.

Tom: To Secure His Legacy is not quite finished, but it is so close to being done. I’m hopeful that three more chapters will complete it. Therefore, it should be done by the end of Friday. I hope to get three chapters of this story posted at Patreon this week instead of the two chapters I have been doing.

(Oh! You might be interested in the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, as well as Mrs. Darcy’s sister Kitty, showed up in one chapter of what I wrote for Tom’s story this week. The Mr. and Mrs. Darcy here are the ones from Two Days Before Christmas. I figured I should clarify that since I have several stories which end with a Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.)

Roger’s story now has three chapters, and if I get one more written this week (which is the plan), then that story will begin posting on Tuesdays here on my blog. If you look at the menu options, you will see that Sweet Tuesdays has been added as a choice. However, there are no posts there yet. I just needed to set up the link so I could tag it at the beginning of each chapter for those who might need to go back and read previous chapters.

I have a title for the story, and if you are on my mailing list, you will receive a January update from me that will share that title with you. Everyone else will have to wait until next Monday when I share it here. 🙂 [hint but not a very good one: The title is three words long and is a reference to something that is said in Emma.]

Those are the stories in progress with the most news. The other writing I did was…

I wrote another chapter of Loving Lydia, and a few hundred words of Apple Blossoms got dictated this week. Nothing very interesting or new is happening with those stories right now. (Well, news-wise. Story-wise there is interesting stuff happening with both. But I can’t tell you about that just yet. 😉 )

On quick reminder that the Kobo 40% off boxset sale ends on February 3 at 11:59 PM EST. The promo code to enter at check out is 40JAN. The two box sets which I have in this promotion are

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

And now for…

AN EXCERPT FROM Tom: To Secure His Legacy:

(This is from near the end of the story, so read at your own risk as it could contain some spoilers.) Continue reading Music Monday: You Are (Aaron Goodvin)

Music Monday: Period Drama Couples, Breathe Again (Sara Bareilles)

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.”

[from A Very Mary Christmas]

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.

Click the image to find the book at your favourite retailer.

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

You will need to use the following promo code at checkout in order to take advantage of the 40% discount.

Promo Code: 40JAN
Expiry: Feb 3^rd, 11:59pm EST

Ok, now that the sales info is out of the way. Let me update you on what I have been doing in my writing life and then, share an excerpt from this past week’s writing.

First of all, let me say that a lot of writing got done. I was able to stick pretty close to the new schedule. It was not easy, but I was determined which meant that I was able to:

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)

Music Monday: A Love Story (Brian Crain)

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.

[From “Reclaiming Her Heart”, a Short Story Sequel to Enticing Miss Darcy]

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)