Willow Hall – Page 4 – Leenie Brown

Music Monday: Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas, Brett Eldredge

CMA Country Christmas. “Brett Eldredge Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas CMA Country Christmas 2016.” YouTube. YouTube, 28 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

On Friday night, my husband and I were watching CMA Country Christmas along with about three other shows since my husband had the remote 😉 when, as chance and commercials on other stations would have it, we landed back on this program in time to hear this song. As you can probably imagine, this song has been in my mind a lot over the last couple of months as I wrote and edited A Very Mary Christmas.

Since I loved this performance of the song, and A Very Mary Christmas will be available to read this Tuesday, I decided that this song must be the one I shared today. (Even if I did share another singer’s performance of this song a couple of weeks ago. 🙂 )So, as the song plays, or after you watch the video, let me share part of what has been going on in my writing life. (And yes, there is a story snippet.)

First, A Very Mary Christmas will be live on Tuesday. If you have not yet ordered a copy, you can do that at this link –> Get A Very Mary Christmas . Making certain that everything is ready for the release of this book has taken a good amount of my time this week because I was preparing a special giveaway to celebrate the launch. This giveaway will be hosted on AustenAuthors.net on Tuesday, December 20.

Next, along with getting that blog post ready for next Tuesday, I also started the discussion for the Austen Author’s Emma Read Along this past Wednesday. We only have two more weeks of reading and that novel will be done — which means we are at the “good part” IMO. This week, we read Frank Churchill’s letter of explanation and Mr. Knightley’s reaction.

Last, I did manage to squeeze in a little writing time yesterday (finally). I am still working on the Willow Hall Book 4 story with no title. 🙂 So, that is what I will share a little snippet of today. If you are following along with the Thursday’s Three Hundred posts, this one is from way down the road, so read at the risk of spoilers. 🙂 Continue reading Music Monday: Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas, Brett Eldredge

Music Monday: A Traditional Christmas, Brian Crain

So this week, in addition to writing (short excerpt below), I have been getting things ready for the publication of A Very Mary Christmas (info below). I figured that while working on a seasonal story, I should be listening to some lovely seasonal piano music, so this playlist has been playing repeatedly in my office. Continue reading Music Monday: A Traditional Christmas, Brian Crain

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: 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

Wordless Wednesday: Emile-Pierre Metzmacher – Crossing a Brook

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“If you turn around, I could take off my boots for a minute.”

He shook his head. “That would be a bad idea.”

She glared at him yet again and began to untie her right boot. She had only gotten it loosened and was beginning to remove it when his hands were on hers, halting her progress.

“If your foot is swollen, you might not get your boot back on.”

“You needn’t growl at me.”

[from So Very Unexpected, Willow Hall book 3]

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