The December 2024 Saturday Broadsheet

December 14, 2024

Happy Holidays! It’s only 11 days until Christmas (for those who celebrate it like I do) and 12 days from Boxing Day … which this year, is also RELEASE DAY for How to Marry An Accomplished Lady!

Finally!

If I get it uploaded in time. (Yikes!)

Currently as I write this, I need to have the final document uploaded to one of my vendor sites in four days. I’m still doing a last read through with Christopher (my Elevenlabs narrator) so that I can see if there are things that need some rewording to make the audio as good as it can and to help me catch any of those last little things that slip through the editing process.

(Such as I’ve found a few missing words and at least one place where two words were repeated. It’s really helpful to hear the story instead of just reading it for things like this.)

This means that next week…

• I’ll be distributing Patron copies of the book. (Those who are $2 or above members always get the books first.)
• I’ll be making advance reader copies and review copies available. (Join my Booksprout Review Team if you’re interested in reading and reviewing.)
• And I’ll be emailing with an announcement of where the book can be preordered as soon as those links are all live — which can’t happen until after I’ve got that manuscript done!
• And then, I’ll need to work on the sequel and get the paperback and audio versions all ready to go as well. (I’m still figuring out how to go about the audio release since that’s all new.)

So, that’s what I’m up to in my writing life. That and getting a few more stories and short vignettes ready to share on YouTube. Currently, I have two Leenie story playlist going on on YouTube. They are

1. Tales from Pemberley and Other Sweet Story Vignettes (These are short vignettes.)
2. Dash of Darcy and Companion Collection (So far, I have Finally Mrs. Darcy and Waking to Mr. Darcy uploaded. A Very Mary Christmas is in production.)

If you’re a Kobo Plus subscriber with audiobooks included in your subscription, both Finally Mrs. Darcy and Waking to Mr. Darcy are now available as part of your subscription. (I have set up an audibooks page on my website with a sample of each book and links to find them on Kobo and YouTube. You can find that page here.)

Now, these are digitally narrated by a cloned voice, which means the voice actor offers his voice to be used via a digital voice library and he is remunerated for its use. And that means that currently, I’m limited in how I can distribute the audiobooks, which if fine, since making them freely available on YouTube was my main goal.

That being said, I will need to hit the monetization goals set out by YouTube so that I can start earning some revenue from them in order to keep providing this free audiobook service. Why? Well, because the mortgage company and grocer prefer to be paid in cash and not good-will and warm feelings. 🙂

To reach that goal which requires me to have a minimum of 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours.

(There is a lower level that gives me some monetization options like super thanks and super chats and maybe something else which requires 500 subscribers and 3000 watch hours. But, to reach the full monetization level, I need those larger numbers.)

As of this very moment that I am writing this on Thursday, December 12, I still need 777 more subscribers and 504 watch hours. Then, I can apply to have my channel fully monetized. So, if you’re interested in helping me reach that goal, click here and subscribe.

Let me tell you, this new audiobook venture has been fun for the most part, but it is not easy. There’s lots to learn, and each of the books take hours and hours for me to produce to a level that I feel is acceptable to make available. (How long? Well, I’m averaging between one and two hours per chapter. And then, I have to relisten and do any tweaking after that and so on and so on.)

In my personal life…

• The weather has been cold and grey and mostly rainy but will an occasional bout of snow.
• I turned fifty-six just last week.
• I am making steady process in my recovery from long covid, and I’m truly amazed at how much more brain work and physical activity I can do now compared to not that long ago.
• The mail service here is on strike so there are no packages or Christmas cards to be sent or received unless one is using a different courier or something like Amazon, which has their own fleet of vans that they use around here.
• I’ve been experimenting and adapting my usual rotation of dinner recipes to be made using my slow cooker. (Which has made cooking rather fun — even when the results are not as expected LOL)
• Other than that, as soon as this book is set for preorder, I need to do some decorating and focus on getting our small Christmas ready.

That’s a lot. I know. I got wordy. I’ll now get on with the other things you’ll want to know about (book sales and the next installment of Harriet and the Colonel).

<3 Leenie

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IN THE TEAROOM

It was my turn to post in The Sigh-worthy Romance Tearoom this month. I shared an update and a video about how to make flip, which is a beverage that Darcy drinks in my upcoming release.

THIS MONTH’S PATREON FREE READ

BOOK DEALS

Links for where to purchase these deals can be found on the Current Book Promotions page by clicking here.

No Other Choice is only available on Amazon, but For Peace of Mind is on sale everywhere with all currencies reduced.

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SOMETHING NEW TO READ

Our story about Harriet and the Colonel continues. Remember that you can read previous parts of this story under the menu item Harriet and the Colonel.

Chapter 3, Part 2

“What other reason is there?” Edmund repeated as he took a seat behind his desk.

She held his gaze and tipped her head to the side, waiting purposefully for a minute before saying, “I want to know the truth.”

He shook his head as his brow furrowed. “I am afraid I do not know what you mean.”

She rolled her eyes. “I am not stupid! You know precisely what I mean, but since you will likely continue to pretend that you do not, let me elucidate for you. Our brother did not die by accident. (former maid’s name) did not throw herself into the Thames. The colonel is not just visiting his relations in Hertfordshire. There are men who visit here but not at calling hours. Our cook and a few others such as Jimmy are men you worked with on the continent. I know it is all connected in some way, and I want to know what that is.”

“You cannot.” His expression was as stone-like as she had ever seen it.

She folded her arms and glared back at him. “I will find out.”

He flinched and his head shook just a bit.

“I found Andrew’s watch. It was stolen, which proves he did not just stumble and die.”

“It proves nothing of the sort,” he retorted. “Andrew could have fallen, died, and then, had his things stolen from him.”

She shook her head. “He was not in a normal location.” She uncrossed her arms so that she could count off the clues pointing to her conclusion on her fingers as she said them. “That was the first clue.” She held up a finger. “The theft of his watch and money was never mentioned.” She held up a second finger.

“That means you needed to be able to find the watch, and then, decipher who it was that had it.” She held up a third finger.

“That is not a clue,” he grumbled. “It is a supposition.”

Again, she shook her head. “It is a clue, which is why the store at which I purchased the watch is written on the paper in the bag with it. And, I am certain that is why you have already talked to Jimmy to confirm that bit of information and extracted from him what it looked like and the proprietor and all those sorts of things.”

She rested her hands in her lap. “If you have not, then, you are far less astute than I thought you were, and I will have you know that you are nearly the most intelligent gentleman of my acquaintance.” Here, she let herself smile teasingly.

He did not return her smile. “Nearly the most intelligent, you say? Those are dangerous words when you could be in severe trouble for all that you have done in the past twenty-four hours.”

He could glower all he wanted. She would not be intimidated. Her heart would beat loudly, and she would wish to fidget under his glare, but she would not show an ounce of trepidation. “Why is the colonel your best man?”

He blinked. “He is very good at what he does.”

“And he outwitted you often when we were younger.”

His head bobbed up and down very slowly. “So, you are saying that I am second to the colonel?”

“Yes.”

“Again.” He blew out a breath and shook his head. “So I am both no longer your favorite, nor am I the most intelligent fellow you know.” There was a note of sad resignation in his tone.

“It is very close,” she assured him softly. “In fact, you may be tied for most intelligent if you were to finally realize that I am capable of supporting Richard in his role as his wife rather than being some bit of feathers for brains that will always be an inconvenience and a liability.”

Edmund scrubbed his face with his hands. “Harry, there are things that you do not know, nor should you.”

“But I will know them, Edmund.” She held up a finger. “Wait. Richard is watching a maid. My maid ended up dead. Our brother was in an area where many vices can be had for a price.” She gave her brother a pointed look. “I think we both know what I mean by that without my having to elaborate.” She sighed. “Please, tell me that neither you nor Andrew have visited the females who ply their trade in that area.”

Edmund squeezed his eyes shut. “Harriet, you are treading on my last nerve.”

“These things are all related, and it has something to do with ladies of the night, shall we say?”

He shook his head as he jaw clenched. “There are things you must not know.” He pulled the blue pouch containing the watch from his desk drawer. “And it is not I who has determined that you are not to know them.”

“It is not you?” she repeated softly. “Then who?” She tapped her finger on her lip.

“I cannot tell you that, so please stop trying to figure it out.” He took the watch from the bag. “I am happy that this was found.” He held it up and turned it this way and that. “I was going to lecture you about sneaking around behind my back. I still should.”

“I know,” she admitted. “But it would do no good at all. Oh!” she said as a thought came to her. “Have all your men spent time on the continent?”

“If I promise to tell Richard that he can present an offer for you once what we are doing is done, will you cease and desist?”

“So they have,” she said triumphantly.

“Harriet, answer my question.”

“I cannot promise that curiosity will not overwhelm my good sense.”

He snorted in derision at that.

“However,” she continued, “it would remove one reason for my being so obstinate, and the crown will never need to know that I know you are working on some sort of sensitive assignment.”

His mouth popped open and then closed before his lips made that thin line expression from earlier. “I am not even going to ask,” he muttered after he had given his head a good shake. “You have convinced me. The next time I see your colonel, I will inform him that he is free to offer for you. For I would hate to have you entrusted to any other man, and frankly, at this moment, I would be more than delighted to have Richard deal with you rather than me.”