Austen Inspired Fan Fiction by Mary Simonsen

4.5 Stars for Captain Wentworth - Home from the Sea

2012-01-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so pleased with a review I received from Meredith at Austenesque Reviews for my novella, Captain Wentworth - Home from the Sea. Here is a part of her review:

My favorite aspect about this novella (and every novel I've read by Mary Simonsen) is her accurate renderings and illustrative augmentations of Jane Austen's characters. I adored Mrs. Simonsen's depiction of Anne; she was so patient and compassionate, and I enjoyed seeing her tender nature with Frederick.

To read the full review, please click here.

Physiognomy and Jane Austen

2012-01-27T00:05:00.000-07:00

While reading Patricia MeyerSpacks Annotated Pride and Prejudice,I read a footnote in reference to the following statement from Elizabeth (in speaking to Jane): “Ican much more easily believe Mr. Bingley’s being imposed on, than that Mr.Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave me last night;names, facts, every thing mentioned without ceremony. If it be not so, let Mr. Darcycontradict it. Besides there was truth in his looks.”

My take on that quote was thatElizabeth believed Wickham’s tale because he was an accomplished liar and gavenothing away by his facial expressions. But according to Spacks, there was moreto it than that:

“Interest in physiognomy, apseudo-science that purports to read character from facial expression, waswidespread in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries... Joseph Kaspar Lavater,a Swiss clergyman, wrote an extensive treatise on the subject (1778).Translated into English in 1793, it exercised considerable influence. Austen,however, is skeptical. A propensity to judge people on the basis of their looksturns up again in Emma, where Emma’s initial enthusiasm for Harriet Smith isbased mainly on the girl’s “soft blue eyes” and her “look of sweetness.” BothElizabeth and Jane have consistently cited Wickham’s looks as evidence of hisamiability and authenticity.”

According to Wikipedia, physiognomyis the assessment of a person's character orpersonality from his outer appearance, especially the face… The practice waswell-accepted by the ancient Greek philosophers, but fell into disrepute in theMiddle Ages…. The popularity of physiognomy grew throughout the 18th centuryand into the 19th century, and it was discussed seriously by academics, who sawa lot of potential in it.Many European novelists used physiognomy in thedescriptions of their characters, notably Balzac and Chaucer… A host of other19th century English authors were influenced by the idea, notably evident inthe detailed physiognomic descriptions of characters in the novels of Dickens, Thomas Hardy and Charlotte Bronte.”

My question is: In theabove quote, was Austen referencing physiognomy when Elizabeth spoke of Mr. Wickham’s “looks?”Spacks states that in regard to physiognomy, “Austen, however, is skeptical,”but then suggests that Austen was referencing this pseudo-science in Emma’s descriptionof Harriet Smith. Was she also referring to physiognomy in Lizzy and Jane's exchange? Personally, I think it’s a bit of a stretch OR I may be making too much out of it. What do youthink?

Review of Becoming Elizabeth Darcy

2012-01-26T10:18:00.003-07:00

May I brag? I received a wonderful review from Kimberly at Reflections of a Book Addict for Becoming Elizabeth Darcy. Here is part of it:

I feel that Simonsen has a great balance between these themes of humor and seriousness, and this makes the novel an exciting and fulfilling addition to the fan fiction world. Simonsen has once again shown that she can tackle any JAFF genre and is a force to be reckoned with. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you, Kimberly. I hope you will stop by and read the entire review.

Conspicuous By Its Absence

2012-01-23T00:05:00.000-07:00

Et Tu, Brute!

Do you every wonder where a particular phrase originated? I can actually hear you nodding. One of those phrases is "conspicuous by its absence." So I looked it up. According to Brush Up Your Classics by Michael Macrone (a book I picked up from a remainder table), it goes back to Imperial Rome. It has been attributed to the Roman Chronicler Tacitus in a description of the funeral of Junia Tertulla, the sister of Marcus Brutus, one of Julius Caesar's assassins, and the wife of Cassius, Brutus's co-conspirator.

"Though she died sixty-three years after Marc Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius at Philippi in 44 B.C., her relatives' crimes had not been forgotten. The emperor Tiberius, a rather touchy individual, might have been expected to bear a grudge because his stepfather was Caesar Augustus, Julius's nephew. But in rare show of restraint, Tiberius allowed Junia a ceremonial funeral." Among the statues lining the funeral route, conspicuous by their absence were monuments of her brother and husband.

British Prime Minister John Russell used the phrase in his 1859 address to the Electors of the City of London. He was referring to a provision lacking in a reform bill. O'Henry used it as well, and if you care, so have I.

So there you have it. Mystery solved!

Time Travel on Austen Authors

2012-01-21T12:26:00.001-07:00

Today, I have a post on Austen Authors talking about time travel. In my novel, Becoming Elizabeth Darcy, Beth Hannigan, a 26-year old American, wakes up in the body of Elizabeth Darcy in 1826. What would she have found in the late Regency Era. More importantly, if you could travel through time, where would you go and who would you meet? I hope you will join me.

Jakki's Review of Robin Helm's SoulFire

2012-01-19T00:05:00.088-07:00

In the second volume of The Guardian Trilogy, Fitzwilliam Darcy, powerful Chief of all guardian angels, adjusts to life with a dual nature. An angel/human, Darcy seeks to win the love of his beautiful partner in SoulFire Ministries, Elizabeth Bennet, as they travel together across the country. While keeping his true identity hidden, Darcy joins archangels Michael and Gabriel in defending and protecting Elizabeth from the schemes and trickery of Gregory, the Dark Prince, and Lucifer, his father. The question remains, will Elizabeth find the strength within herself to forgive Darcy for his secrecy after she discovers that he was her guardian angel, or will Gregory be ultimately successful in separating this match made in heaven? (From the Publisher)

Balance is an important component in any novel. In SoulFire, Robin Helm creates a perfect combination of wit, romance, and scripture, fused together to gain and maintain the reader's attention. Throughout the book, the balance between humor and angst moves the plot along nicely. Helm weaves them together so cleverly; there is a natural ebb and flow to the storyline. The banter between Gabriel, Michael, and Darcy is witty, while providing the comic relief needed to offset the angst-filled parts. Also helping to offset the tension created by Gregory and his minions are the affectionate scenes between Darcy and Elizabeth. After Elizabeth tells Darcy she loves him, he quotes the Song of Solomon, creating a tender scene. However, Gregory, Lucifer, and their demons will stop at nothing to break up the couple and the SoulFire tour. After being tested time and again, will Darcy and Elizabeth's love be strong enough to overcome deceit and betrayal?

The clever way Helm alludes to events and popular quotes from Austen's text only serves to draw the reader in. As Darcy is not one to easily converse with those with whom he is not intimate, he remarks how it was easier for him, as Daniel's guardian angel, to close the mouths of lions than it is to strike up a conversation with Elizabeth. On the other side, there is the charming Gregory who tells Elizabeth that Darcy cannot be trusted as he has known him for years. These parallels continue throughout the novel, and it was fun trying to pick these out and see Helm's spin on them.

Another area where Helm shows expertise is by incorporating scripture into the text. If the reader is open, she can hear God speak through the pages. It is truly amazing how many names God has and how each one is specific to one of His attributes. Though there are scriptures in the text, the reader does not have to be a Christian in order to enjoy this Pride and Prejudice variation.

While I enjoyed the novel, there were times when Helm's exposition seemed superfluous. While Elizabeth is performing a piano concert in Toronto, Helm expounds for several paragraphs about the concert. It seemed unnecessary as I could not see its purpose to the story.

I have said before in my reviews that I love it when an author evokes an array of emotions from me. That holds true with SoulFire. From the joy felt by the lighthearted banter to the agony felt from characters being hurt both physically and emotionally, the reader's emotions are fully engaged.

At he end of the novel, Helm leaves the characters and readers with many questions. I am anxiously awaiting Helm's third and final book in the Guardian Trilogy, Legacy.

SoulFire is available from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Review of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

2012-01-15T19:36:00.004-07:00

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is based on the true story of a mole buried deep inside the British Intelligence Services in the 1950s. In the film, the story is moved forward to the 1960s. In the purge following the capture of a British agent in Budapest and the subsequent debacle, Intelligence Officer George Smiley is sent packing from the Circus, the headquarters in London for British spies. But when evidence surfaces proving the existence of a mole, Smiley (Gary Oldham) is asked to investigate and ferret out the spy in their midst. Possible suspects include Bill Hayden (Colin Firth) and Roy Bland (Ciarnan Hinds).

Cumberbatch and Oldham

The story’s setting is the 1960s in an unscrubbed London: soot-stained buildings, dirty windows, and gloomy skies set the stage. It is a time of bad tailoring, bell bottoms, dress patterns you should only see on upholstered furniture, and bad haircuts. Colin Firth is either wearing a hair extension or he has the biggest head in England. Benedict Cumberbatch (George Smiley’s right-hand man, Peter Guilliam) gives us an idea of what Justin Bieber will look like when he grows up. As for my daughter’s crush, Tom Hardy, he looks like a poster boy for an STD-prevention campaign.

The rhythm is set with the opening credits: people walking, people looking out of windows, people riding in cars, even people using a Scotch tape dispenser. This is the pace of a John Le Carre novel, but it just doesn’t work in a feature film that needs to explain a lot in very little time.

The novel is complicated. Unlike the six-part 1979 Masterpiece Theatre series, the profiles of the four suspects are sliced thin—so thin that it seems as if they only have one side. If you are looking for a Colin Firth fix or a hint of why Anne Elliot fell in love with Ciarnan Hinds’ Captain Wentworth, you won’t find it here. Other than Oldham and Cumberbatch, the actors are not given enough to do. Even so, Mark Strong who plays the spy who was shot in Hungary and Cumberbatch do shine whenever they are on the screen.

Tinker, Tailor is in my Top Ten novels of all time. I consider it to be Le Carre’s masterpiece. The PBS series succeeded in unwinding the intricate web Le Carre had spun for his readers, but for those who haven’t read the novel or seen the 1979 adaptation, Tinker Tailor is a confusing, dark, and disappointing muddle.

Review of Caroline Bingley by Jakki Leatherberry

2012-01-11T00:05:00.022-07:00

From the back jacket of Jennifer Becton's Caroline Bingley: "When Charles Bingley and Mr. Darcy made proposals of marriage to the Bennet sisters at the end of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Caroline Bingley was both distressed by her brother's choice of bride and humiliated by Mr. Darcy's rejection of her... Now banished from her brother's household, Caroline must return to her mother's home in the north of England until she can make amends with both Bennet sisters... Instead, she seeks an alternative route back into society in the form of Mr. William Charlton, heir to a barony… However, she must also contend with her vexing emotions regarding Mr. Patrick Rushton... When all that Caroline has ever dreamed of attaining… is finally within her reach, will she grasp for it even if it means disregarding the workings of her own heart? Or will she cast off the trappings of society and give herself to true love?"

Maybe it’s the English teacher in me, but I love finding literary elements in literature. Caroline Bingley is flowing with imagery, similes, static and dynamic characters and much more. Without giving too much away, I loved how certain events and conversations at the beginning of the novel foreshadowed what was to come. I found this kept me in anticipation for these scenes to play out. For instance, Caroline’s paid companion, Mrs. Pickersgill, has all of the manners of a genteel lady, yet she is a mere employee. Is there more to Rosemary Pickersgill than she is letting on?

Upon arriving in Kendal, Caroline is soon faced with two suitors: Mr. Charlton, a future baron, and Mr. Rushton, confirmed fortune hunter.

There is one thing Becton does particularly well: She writes an amazing hero, and I’m not talking about some Fabio wannabe. While Mr. Charlton has a title and some well-chosen words to recommend him, Mr. Rushton’s wit, perception, and manners make me wish I would meet a real-life Rushton (if I weren’t happily married, that is). The banter between Rushton and Caroline is well-written, and at times, the heat between the two is palpable. Caroline’s father once told her that her piano playing will win her a gentleman of great worth. Not having succeeded in winning Mr. Darcy’s affection, will her accomplishments be enough to win either gentleman?

As much as I love when authors portray Caroline as the unrepentant, heartless and cold “bad girl,” Becton makes her readers actually like and empathize with Caro. (It is shocking, I know, to feel anything but the desire to strangle the chit!) I enjoyed reading all of the new and conflicting emotions Caroline experiences. Though she struggles with her feelings and her position in society, feeling caught somewhere between polite society and the middling class, Caroline manages to keep the impudent and independent spirit Austen created.

Throughout the novel, Caroline is not only trying to find herself and to attain a position in one of society’s finest circles, but she also faces another difficult decision: does she marry for title and money, forgetting happiness just like the majority of her peers, while at the same time securing her place in society, does she take the chance and marry for love and forsake her dream of becoming a titled lady, or does she resign to her fate as a spinster? You will have to read Caroline Bingley to find out which Caro chooses, but I will leave you with the knowledge that, “Caroline Bingley was finally her own mistress” (p. 248).

Available on Amazon in paperback

Available on Amazon Kindle

Jennifer Becton is also the author of Charlotte Collins and the Southern mystery, Absolute Liability.

Pride & Prejudice Trailer - Beauty and the Beast

2012-01-09T12:10:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Billie Barrett and Barbara Tiller Cole for finding this.

Daylesford House, Gloucestershire, Chimney-piece

2012-01-06T15:35:00.001-07:00

Daylesford House, Gloucestershire Chimneypiece*

A night of entertainment at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips:

When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr. Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much struck with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he might almost have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings; a comparison that did not at first convey much gratification; but when Mrs. Phillips understood from him what Rosings was, and who was its proprietor, when she listened to the description of only one of Lady Catherine's drawing-rooms, and found that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt all the force of the compliment, and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeeper's room.

I think even Lady Catherine would have been impressed by this chimney-piece. Jane Austen visited Daylesford in 1806. It was the home of Warren Hastings, the first Governor General of India.

Review of Mr. Darcy's Letter by Jakki Leatherberry

2012-01-04T00:05:00.035-07:00

I love books, but because I write books, I don't like to comment on the work of other authors. On the other hand, I know my readers would like to know when a good novel comes out, especially an Austen re-imaging. To that end, I have asked Jakki Leatherberry to help me out, and she has agreed to post her reviews on my blog. For her debut, she has chosen to review Abigail Reynolds' Mr. Darcy's Letter.

Abigail Reynolds writes another Darcylicious novel, Mr. Darcy's Letter. Reynolds's decision to have Elizabeth not read Darcy's letter after his disastrous proposal changes many of the events in the story. In this version, there are a few more misunderstandings between Darcy and Elizabeth; however, I feel they add to the storyline and the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth.

Reynolds creates a roller coaster of emotions within the reader. Between characters being caught in compromising positions, moving on in order to avoid being connected to scandal, facing familial obligations, as well as a character's unexpected redemption, the reader is sucked in, and I was unable to put down the book at times.

I rather like it when authors develop Austen's minor characters and give them more dimension. Reynolds does this with Lydia. I was shocked at how much I found myself enjoying Lydia and a "new" Wickham.

As much as I enjoyed this story, I felt Darcy and Elizabeth anticipated their vows a little too soon after their first kiss. Though I am sure it was the author's intentions, I felt the wedding scene was a bit rushed.

I would recommend Mr. Darcy's Letter to those who enjoy Reynolds's other variations or Pride and Prejudice variations.

Jakki Leatherberry, former high-school language arts teacher and lover of all things Austen, lives in Georgia where she and her husband moved after graduating from a liberal arts college in Ohio. One of her greatest pleasures is reading and analyzing literature. When she is not chasing around her two children, Jakki can be found under a quilt, cup of coffee in hand, reading. She also submits her reviews to Amazon and B&N.

Jakki would enjoy reading your comments, and I'm sure Abigail would appreciate it as well.

Available from Amazon
Available from Barnes & Noble

Vignette - The Marriage of Antony, Lord Fitzwilliam

2011-12-29T00:05:00.003-07:00

In Pride and Prejudice, we learn that Darcy's cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, is the younger son of an earl. But what about his brother, the heir? I have decided that the colonel’s brother has already succeeded to the title, and like so many titled gentlemen of the Regency Era, he is a rake, a gambler, and a seducer.Antony has appeared in my novels, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy and A Wife for Mr. Darcy. He is married to the Evil Eleanor and is thoroughly unhappy in his marriage, but he also has a heart of gold. My original character has become quite popular, and I have received many requests to write a story about Antony, the Earl of Stepton, and so here it is.

The Marriage of Antony, Lord Fitzwilliam, to Lady Eleanor Henley

As Lord Fitzwilliam climbed the stairs to the nursery of his London townhouse, he thought about the two little girls who were waiting for their dear Papa to tuck them in. He was always at his best when his children were on parole from their mother, the Evil Eleanor, Queen of Darkness, now residing at Briarwood in Kent. But as long as Lady Eleanor haunted the halls of the ancestral seat of the Earls of Stepton, he would call London home.

After dismissing his daughters’ nurse with a wave of his hand and a finger to his lips, he tiptoed to their shared bed. Looking at the lovely Sophia and Amelia, with their long, golden tresses cascading over their pillows, he noted how kind Nature had been to his children. They had inherited their father’s blond hair, cornflower blue eyes, and adorable dimples, and from their mother, they had inherited… He paused while gazing at his two lovelies. Surely, they have something from Eleanor, Antony thought as he continued to study his children. But when nothing came to mind, he decided to have a look at their feet after they had fallen asleep to see if they had any extra toes.

Looking at his darlings, Antony’s mind drifted back to the birth of his older daughter, Sophia. When the doctor had sent word that Eleanor had been safely delivered of a baby girl, he was thrilled, and when he saw the child was fully human, he was delighted beyond measure.

“Well done, Eleanor,” he said, congratulating his wife who, despite having been in labor for several hours, looked to be very much in the pink. But then the midwife had told him that Lady Eleanor “had dropped the child as easily as a heifer in a meadow.”

“But she’s a girl!” Eleanor shouted at the father of her child. “That does not help us. We must start again.”

“No, no, no,” Antony responded, vigorously shaking his head. “I’m not a bit old fashion in that regard. In my book, daughters are equal with sons.”

“Don’t be stupid. Daughters can’t inherit. We must have an heir.”

“But I do have an heir—two in fact. I am perfectly content to have my brother inherit the title, and if anything should happen to Richard, there’s always Darcy. My goodness! Is there anyone more capable of being the Earl of Stepton than my cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy?”

“You are always thinking about yourself.”

“I don’t understand the difficulty. When I am dead, you will be the dowager countess. No one can take that away from you.”

“But they can take away my home. Your brother will throw me out of the house.”

“I am sure Richard will allow you to stay at Briarwood,” Antony lied. “He doesn’t dislike you as much as you think, and Darcy doesn’t know you well enough to know better.”

“I can give you a dozen examples of widows who were put out of the house before their husbands’ bodies had even begun to rot in their graves.”

“Must you be quite so descriptive, Eleanor? After all, you are speaking of my body.”

“You won’t know the difference; you will be dead. But I shall be alive and well,” she answered, her voice escalating. “No, you must come to me as soon as I am able. I must have a son.”

“Well, if we must, we must,” Antony said resolved to his plight. “But do take your time. No rush here. Shall we say, same time next year?”

To continue reading the story, please visit The Writer's Block under "Notable Novellas."

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy - On Sale

2011-12-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy is on sale on Amazon in paperback for $6.00. That is 60% off the original price. It also qualifies for free supersaver shipping. Who could possibly resist?

Christmas Movies and Jane Austen

2011-12-19T11:24:00.005-07:00

While watching Love Actually, it looked very much like a reunion of actors who have appeared in Jane Austen adaptations: Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman. I really enjoyed most of this movie. (I could skip the creep who goes to Wisconsin to find hot women and the porn couple.) But there's so much good chemistry in this film that it has now become a holiday favorite. Another new favorite is The Holiday with Kate Winslet (Sense and Sensibility) and Jude Law. If you include period pieces in my JA/classic connection, I can mention Rufus Sewell, who plays a cad in this movie and Will Ladislaw in Middlemarch (another favorite). Happy Holidays!

I know you are dying to know what my favorite movie is: While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman.

Happy Birthday, Jane Austen

2011-12-16T14:44:00.002-07:00

Join Abigail Reynolds in cele-brating Jane Austen's birthday. She has a post on the Kindle Daily Post where she talks about her books and her new release, Mr. Darcy's Letter.

Becoming Elizabeth Darcy in Paperback

2011-12-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

Finally, Becoming Elizabeth Darcy is now available in paperback. When self-publishing, it is necessary to jump through various hoops, which I understand. It's the extra hoops that give me heartburn. To read my tale of woe, click here. Anyway, the book has worked its way through Amazon's labyrinth, and is now available. Yippee!

The Newark Star Ledger, Mr. Darcy's Bite and Me

2011-12-07T20:57:00.002-07:00

When I was growing up in North Jersey, ten miles off the George Washington Bridge, I was surrounded by newspapers. Every morning, my father bought two newspapers: The New York Times (he loved the puzzles and the brain food) and The Daily News (he followed the races at Monmouth and Aqueduct Racetracks). On the way home from school, I picked up The New York World Telegraph for an invalid spinster who lived in our apartment complex. There was also the Journal American, The Post, Herald Tribune, The Sun, and various ethnic newspapers as well.

My mom worked the night shift at a bank, and when she got home from work around midnight, she would read The Paterson Evening News—every darn article in the paper—even though she had to get up at 6:00 in the morning to get her six kids off to school.

At that time, New Jersey had “the blue laws,” that is, no stores were allowed to be open on the Sabbath. For Christians, that was Sunday; for Jews, it was Saturday, which meant that the only store open on Sunday was the Jewish candy store. That was where, every Sunday after Mass, we bought The Newark Star Ledger. Before we had a car, we had to carry this ten-pound paper home. As soon as we got in the door, the paper would be dismembered as everyone went for their favorite section. (Mine was the Parade insert.) The Star Ledger was a part of my childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. So you can imagine how pleased I was when Mr. Darcy’s Bite was reviewed by The Ledger. Without further ado, here is the review:

This book is written with enough originality, whimsy and respect for Jane Austen’s style to make it stand out in the crowded field of Austen genre mash-ups. Simonsen revisits Darcy and Elizabeth’s tempestuous courtship and provides an explanation for Darcy’s erratic behavior: He’s a werewolf. Bitten on a childhood sojourn in Europe, Darcy has guarded his secret: He transforms at the full moon.

Because Simonsen carefully imagines how a werewolf nobleman would adapt to society and how that would play out with Austen’s characters, the story works as earnest rather than camp. After Darcy reveals his nature to Elizabeth, she must decide whether she still loves him. Simonsen’s characterizations are faithful to Austen, but engagingly playful with the possibilities of a werewolf double-life. His werewolf nature connects Darcy to the passions of the natural world, letting Simonsen ratchet up the couple’s romance. The classic love story between Elizabeth and Darcy holds firm, even if things do get a little hairy once a month.

I have not lived in New Jersey since 1977, but I have fond memories of The Garden State. So this review is something of a homecoming for me, and I’m pleased as punch that a fellow Jerseyite liked my story.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Publishing...

2011-12-04T15:58:00.008-07:00

UK Cover of Mr. Darcy's Bite

A funny thing happened on the way to publishing Becoming Elizabeth Darcy. If you remember when Mr. Darcy's Bite launched in October, it had a very rough start. The printer inserted about a dozen pages of someone else's book at the end of mine. That took about ten days to clear up. Two weeks ago, someone placed the UK version of my book (which has a different cover) for sale on Amazon US, and for reasons known only to Amazon, that cover knocked the US version off the main page, making Mr. Darcy's Bite available only to "these sellers," none of whom happened to be my publisher, Sourcebooks. It took about eight days to work that out as well. Because I was not the publisher, there was nothing I could do except to wait. One of the advantages of self-publishing is that you can jump right in and fix things.

Since I am now self-publishing, I was feeling pretty good about my cover for my latest release, Becoming Elizabeth Darcy. I found a beautiful portrait by Charles Amable Lenoir called "The Pink Rose" to which my daughter added a lovely background with a pink rose in it for the back jacket. I was very pleased with the cover. After dotting all my i's and crossing all my t's for the actual book, I ordered a proof from Amazon. When I opened the package, this is what I found: The Jerusalem Assassin. The inside was fine, except that it had a two-inch header because my book is smaller. But it just didn't make the cut for a cover of a P&P re-imaginining.

Of course, this happened the day before Thanksgiving. Although Amazon expedited shipment of a corrected copy, it did not arrive until Tuesday of last week. I had to order another proof, which is a long way round to tell you that the paperback version of Becoming Elizabeth Darcy will not be available for at least another week. However, it is already available on Kindle and Nook.

I hope you will visit Austen Authors on Tuesday for my launch and giveaway. Thanks.

P.S. I should explain that the buyers of Mr. Darcy's Bite from the UK and Australia said that the US cover was too similar to another cover, and they wanted something different. They got it. I told my editor I was glad I didn't live in the UK or Australia. :)

Connections - Part 2

2011-11-28T14:06:00.002-07:00

I am currently watching Whitechapel, a murder mystery on BBC's Dramaville. (Actually, I only watch parts of it because it is very graphic, so my husband lets me know when it's OK to look.) Anyway, the star is Rupert Penry-Jones who played Captain Frederick Wentworth in the 2007 TV Persuasion. Rupert's brother, Laurence, is married to Polly Walker, who played Caroline Dester in Enchanted April, along with Joan Plowright, who was married to Laurence Olivier, who played Henry V, as did Kenneth Brannagh, who was then married to Emma Thompson, whose sister, Sophie, played Miss Bates in the Gwyneth Paltrow Emma, along with Polly Walker, who played Jane Fairfax, who is the sister-in-law of Rupert Penry-Jones. So we are back where we started. Isn't this fun?

Happy Thanksgiving - An Excerpt from Darcy on the Hudson

2011-11-24T00:05:00.004-07:00

Thanksgiving is such a quintessential American holiday that it was prominently featured in my novel, Darcy on the Hudson. Here is an excerpt from the story that shows a typical Thanksgiving in early 19th Century New York:

Before sunrise, Mrs. Bennet was in the kitchen seeing to the last minute details for today was Thanksgiving Day. After she was satisfied that everything was ready, she went upstairs to join the others who were waiting to leave for worship service. This was to be Mr. Collins’s first—and last—Thanksgiving Day in America, and he was aware of the importance placed on the holiday by his parishioners. Charlotte had shared with Lizzy that he had spent a good part of the previous week writing his sermon, and she thought it would be the best he had ever delivered. Lizzy, in Christian charity, refrained from making comment about the quality of Mr. Collins’s sermons as she had grown rather fond of the preacher. She especially liked how he often deferred to his wife when his thoughts were muddled, which was often the case.

After the sermon, a collection was made with monies designated for the poor of the parish, and great hymns of praise were sung. Following a benediction, everyone gathered outside the church and complimented the Reverend Collins on his sermon. But there would be no lingering this day as there were chicken pies, hams, and roast turkeys to be eaten and apple and peach pies to be consumed.

There were fourteen seated at the Bennet’s dining table: Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their four unmarried daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Mercer, Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy, Mrs. Kraft, and Dirck Storm, who had sent word asking if he could join the Bennets for supper as he had done when he was a youth.

After Mr. Bennet had finished saying grace and had read his proclamation, he began to carve the turkey, and everyone waited in anticipation as the bird was dismembered and the first slices fell onto the meat platter. Plates were heaped with potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash pies, plum pudding, and vegetables, and everyone was encouraged to gorge themselves. The second course of pickled oysters, cheese, grapes, jellies, dried fruits, and nuts was eaten with relish, and everyone admitted that a break was necessary before enjoying the desserts, and the young people adjourned to the rear parlor for charades.

After everyone had had a turn, Lizzy recommended that they try a new game, The Farmer’s Cat. While explaining the rules, she provided a demonstration for the clapping that went along with the game. Lizzy started with “The farmer’s cat is an adorable cat,” which Jane followed with “The farmer’s cat is an attractive cat.” Lizzy saw signs of trouble with William’s angry cat, and his second turn with an aggressive cat and noticed that all his efforts were directed toward Dirck Storm. Things did not improve with a belligerent and bellicose cat or a cunning and callous cat. By the time they had arrived at the letter “g,” Lydia, Kitty, and Charles had been forced to drop out. Jane did not get beyond “h,” and Dirck was bested by the letter “j,” which caused Darcy to compliment the gentleman for getting as far as he did, he being an Oxford man and all. But Lizzy demolished William with keen, knowledgeable, kingly, kindred, and knotty. Fortunately, by the time the MacTavishes and Wesleys had come to join them for dessert, the room was too crowded for William to try to stare Dirck down.

After everyone had eaten their fill and could not eat another bite, Georgiana and Mary played tunes on the pianoforte so that all might dance, and the elders watched with amusement as Dirck and William vied for Lizzy’s attention. But with Darcy leaving in a week for England, there were puzzled expressions to go with the smiles. If the gentleman was so interested in Elizabeth, then why had he not done something about it? Even though it was after midnight before the last of the guests had gone home, there would be no answer that night.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Interview with Author of The Guardian, Robin Helm

2011-11-21T09:33:00.003-07:00

I would like to welcome Robin Helm, author of Guardian. Because I am a writer of Jane Austen re-imaginings, I do not comment on the books of other authors who write in the same genre as I do, and so I asked a friend to read Robin Helm’s debut novel. Her interview is below, but first a brief summary of Guardian:

The powerful and imposing Xander/Darcy, chief of all guardian angels, has protected exceptional humans from demonic forces over the course of ten millennia without losing a single battle. In 1989, he receives an unusual assignment which will forever change his ordered existence and alter the course of human history. Will he lose the battle for his own heart while guarding supernaturally gifted Elizabeth Bennet from the evil which surrounds her? Will he be strong enough to resist her as she grows from a precocious child into a beautiful, intelligent woman? The veil dividing the physical and spiritual planes is drawn aside to reveal warfare on an unprecedented scale as Elizabeth develops her gifts and her guardian discovers his emotions.

The way you describe Xander as a Guardian fits well with how we picture Darcy:

He stood six feet nine inches tall with eyes the color of a cloudless summer sky… He was well-known for his ability to make difficult decisions quickly, and his good judgment ensured that his final choices were the correct ones. If he chose to speak, he was never ignored… Though Xander’s appearance and mind were those of a warrior, he was surprisingly gentle when he was not engaged in battle.

In the beginning, when I read that everyone had a guardian angel with them, I felt as if I was in “It’s a Wonderful Life” and kept waiting for Clarence to appear! What gave you the idea to use Darcy as a guardian?

In my mind, Darcy has always been a protector; this was a natural role for him. He was protective of Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, as he illustrated when he forced Wickham to marry Lydia. He did that to guard Elizabeth's reputation, selflessly, because he loved her. He had hopes but no real expectations of receiving her affection in return. In fact, Darcy did not wish for Elizabeth to know what he had done. He did not desire for Elizabeth to marry him out of gratitude.

The Bennets have a healthy marriage and Mrs. Bennet does not suffer from “nerves,” but is rather a strong and opinionated character, much like Lizzy. What made you portray the Bennets, in particular, Mrs. Bennet in this light?

I felt that God would have provided godly, sensible parents for a person as important in His plan as Elizabeth is in Guardian. Her upbringing was integral to the plot. Her parents had to be wise and involved in her life in order to ensure that Elizabeth had the proper training for the role that she will play in the rest of the trilogy. Mrs. Bennet was faced with important decisions from the moment of Elizabeth's conception that required for her judgment to be sound. Mr. Bennet is also quite different from his canon counterpart - a very "hands-on father.

There is one part where Elizabeth’s mom is going to crash her van due to the evil ones working against them, but Xander and the other guardians manage to save them. This scene is pretty descriptive. How did you conduct your research for this scene, and more specifically, the novel? Are you a Bible scholar? How do you have such a vast knowledge of these things?

This particular scene actually happened in my life, as did several of the events in Guardian. Nothing in the novel is exactly as it occurred, but many things are similar to actual life events from the lives of family members and friends, all used with permission. All of my family has read the book and given their approval. I graduated from a Bible college; my degree is in music, but everyone who graduates from that college is required to take enough Bible hours to have a theology degree. I was reared in a family that went to church every time there was a service. I also taught Bible every day in Christian schools for twenty-five years, and I have worked in churches alongside my husband (a minister) for more than thirty-five years. For scenes requiring further research, Google became my new best friend.

There is a strong Christian theme, how do you think your book will be received? Who is your target audience?

My book has been well-received so far, and I expect the audience to grow when the second and third books (Soul Fire and Legacy) are published. I will not pretend that the story is for everyone, but many people who are not Christians have told me that they thoroughly enjoyed Guardian. The elements of the supernatural, the paranormal, and spiritual warfare are quite popular today. I have many Harry Potter, Airbender, and Twilight fans on FFN. People from over eighty countries read Guardian as I was posting it as a WIP, and many of them were teenagers.

Guardian is the first novel in a trilogy. By the time I had finished the book, I immediately wanted to start Book 2. When will the sequel be released?

The sequel, SoulFire, is now finished and will be published in January. I will start writing the third book, Legacy, immediately, and I hope to have it finished and published by May, 2012.

Robin Helm taught school for twenty-five years in Florida and South Carolina - mainly high school English, music, and Bible. She now teaches elementary school music part-time, serves as Associate in Music and the Music Academy Director for her church, and teaches piano. Guardian is her first book, as well as the first book in The Darcy/Guardian Trilogy. The second in the series, SoulFire, is completed and should be self-published in January, 2012. She and her husband have two grown daughters and live in a small South Carolina town with their Yorkie-Poo, Tobey.

Thanks, Robin, for joining us today. We wish you tons of book sales.

Twilight Werewolves of Breaking Dawn v. Mr. Darcy's Bite

2011-11-18T00:05:00.009-07:00

Today is a big day for Twilight fans. Breaking Dawn premieres in every theater in the world. :) I know this because I am babysitting my grandson so that my daughter and granddaughter can go to the first viewing. I would like to point out the in my novel, Mr. Darcy's Bite, my werewolf is much better behaved than the Twilight werewolves. Although fanged, furry, and four-footed, Fitzwilliam Darcy is always a gentleman, albeit, one with the same needs as his fully human counterparts. Here is an excerpt which takes place after Darcy has returned from two days of being a werewolf:

“On the terrace, I stated that I needed to talk to you,” Lizzy said, looking away from him towards the fire. “Perhaps, later today.”

“Your memory is faulty, Elizabeth. You placed your head on the back of my neck and said, ‘Mr. Darcy, what are we to do?’ Not ‘you’ and not ‘I’, but ‘we.’ So now I ask you, can you accept me for who and what I am?”

“I still do not understand. Why me? When we first met, you found me so unappealing that you could barely tolerate my company.”

“Quite the contrary,” he answered, shaking his head. “I was completely taken in by you and your impertinence, and it was because of my attraction to you that I pushed you away. I did not want to fall in love and risk being turned down when you found out about my altered state. I had imagined so many times how you would look at me when you found out, and, yesterday, I saw it for myself. You were repulsed, and I cannot blame you. But you must remember that I did not choose this way of life. It is a hand I have been dealt, and I do the best I can under the circumstances.”

“But your proposal at Hunsford Park? If you wanted me so badly, why were you so insulting?”

Darcy put his hands on both of her arms and pulled her gently towards him. “After being with you in Hertfordshire and seeing you at Rosings, I wanted you more than I have ever wanted anything in my life, and it took every ounce of my courage to go to the parsonage that day. But in the back of my mind, I knew you would reject me because I was a werewolf, and so I went on the offense.”

“So you made that obnoxious proposal so that I would reject you.”

“Yes, in that way I would not have to reveal that once a month I become a creature of the night. Logic is not my strong suit.”

“I should say not.”

Darcy started to laugh. “You see this is why I love you. You have such spirit and independence. You will not be put down by anybody—not by me or Caroline Bingley or my Aunt Catherine. You are fearless, and after love and loyalty, that is what I prize most. So now I will tell you that I love you, and I always will. But if you cannot accept this reality, then we shall say goodbye. I may be part wolf, but I am still a man with a heart, and it can be broken.”

Lizzy closed her eyes and felt the stillness of the room, and in the quiet, she could feel his love filling every part of her being. And then she knew—beyond a doubt she knew—that she would stand by this man no matter what.

Mr. Darcy's Bite is available on-line an in bookstores.

Connections - British Actors

2011-11-14T11:05:00.003-07:00

Caroline Harker

I don’t watch a lot of television, but when I do, it’s usually Masterpiece Theater or a mystery from BBC America. Watch enough of these shows and you will see familiar faces all over the place. I loved Juliet Aubrey when she played Dorothea Brooke in Middlemarch, and I enjoyed her performance as a high-class prostitute in an episode of Law and Order UK. Ditto for Kevin Doyle who plays Moseley on Downton Abbey and Rupert Graves who played Freddie Honeychurch in a Room with a View and Detective Lestrade in the new Sherlock Holmes. (I don’t mean to imply that Doyle and Graves played prostitutes; they were just in Law & Order UK episodes.)

Susannah Harker

Anthony Calf

While watching a British detective series called A Touch of Frost, I recognized Caroline Harker, who played Celia Brooke in Middlemarch. She had a recurring role in the Frost series as WPC Hazel Wallace. But she reminded me of someone else, and I couldn’t think who. So I went to imdb.com. She is the sister of Susannah Harker, who played Jane Bennet, in the A&E Adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (Firth/Ehle version). Caroline is married to Antony Calf, who played Colonel Fitzwilliam in the same production, and who had a part in A Touch of Frost episode. (I think the only scene that Calf and his sister-in-law shared was the wedding of the two couples at the very end.) Susannah and Caroline are the daughters of Polly Adams who played Jane Bennet in the1967 P&P British TV series. Susannah was married to Iain Glen, who played Richard Carlisle in Downton Abbey. See how this works?

I just wanted to share.

Final Report from AGM on Sense and Sensibility

2011-11-11T09:29:00.004-07:00

One of the plenary speakers for the JASNA Annual General Meeting was Joan Ray. Joan is a professor of English and President’s Teaching Scholar at the University of Colorado, but you probably know her as the author of Jane Austen for Dummies. Joan is a walking encyclopedia of Austen and her works. If you cut her, she would bleed Austen—not the Austen of Masterpiece Theater or feature-length films—but the writer of six novels. Here is what Joan wrote in the 200^th Anniversary Guide to the JASNA AGM:

For many readers, Sense and Sensibility is Austen’s most problematic novel; they note, for example, that Edward Ferrars, the hero, is a liar and that Colonel Brandon’s (whom some scholars even deem “elderly”: he’s 36!) marrying Marianne turns her into a Regency trophy wife.

There is a difference between the novel and its adaptations. To begin with, Hollywood (a generic term for movie makers) has decided that Elinor, our heroine, is taller and fairer than her immature sister, Marianne. That is exactly opposite of what Austen had written. Because of Hollywood, we think of Col. Brandon as being something of a stick in the mud, not a good match at all for the more exuberant Marianne Dashwood. But according to Joan Ray, this too is wrong. Col. Brandon, he of the flannel waistcoat, is “merrier” than Marianne and capable of strong emotions. After all, he had enough spunk to fight a duel! Again, according to Ray, it is not that the colonel is misunderstood, but merely under read. It is Ray’s contention that Col. Brandon is perfect for Marianne, but in order to know that, we must read the novel. After listening to her presentation, I came away convinced that Marianne will be happy with the colonel, something the film and television adaptations had failed to do.

However, the novel remains problematic. Although Austen resolved Edward and Elinor’s problems with a deus ex machina of Robert Ferrars marrying Lucy Steele, Elinor still has a tough row to hoe being married to a curate. And in her quieter moments, will Elinor ponder the unhappy truth that her husband is capable of lying and concealment? I wonder.

For more on this topic, click here to read Joan Ray's essay, "The Amiable Prejudices of a Young Writer's Mind: The Problems of Sense and Sensibility."

Andrew Davies at the JASNA AGM – Part II

2011-11-02T03:00:00.007-07:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the highlight of the JASNA AGM was listening to screenwriter Andrew Davies. The man has a natural wit, and all his stories were thoroughly enjoyable. However, he saved his funniest comments for Emma.

Davies mentioned that Austen’s novel has a young Mr. Knightley enjoying his visits to Highbury. “Why?” Davies asked. “For the sterling companionship of Mr. Woodhouse? Of course not, he was a young man, and because Emma would have been toddling about in her nappies, it couldn’t have been because of Emma. Therefore, it is obvious that George Knightley had a crush on Mrs. Woodhouse, which makes sense because, obviously, Emma did not get her personality from her father.”

He also mentioned that as a visitor to Highbury, George would have held Emma in his arms—as a baby—and he wondered at what point George’s feelings for Emma began to change from fraternal to romantic. “Was it when Emma was seventeen? Sixteen? Fifteen? Now we are in Willoughby territory.”

Then Davies shared the difficulties of shooting any scene with a baby. To soften the stern visage of Mark Strong, the actor who played George Knightley, opposite to Kate Beckinsale’s Emma, they decided to have Emma pass her sister’s baby to Mr. Knightley so that he might look paternal. However, the baby took one look at Mark and his harsh features and started to wail. After several attempts, they brought in baby #2 (a second baby being a must for shooting with children). Baby #2 didn’t like him any better. They went into the village and got a third baby. You guessed it. Baby #3 didn’t like Mark either. After several more attempts, the production manager pointed out that the scene was costing them a fortune. It was decided to use a “bean baby,” and they bought up all the beans in the village and made a cloth baby stuffed with beans.

So when you look at the Strong/Beckinsale Emma, you will see Kate pass off a live baby to Mark, but Mark will be holding the bean baby. But if you look at the real baby just before the transfer is made, you will see alook of alarm on the baby’s face. It’s worth the price of a rental just to see the baby.

Release of a New Novella - Captain Wentworth Home from the Sea

2011-11-01T08:30:00.001-07:00

Please join me at Austen Authors for a release of my new novella, Captain Wentworth Home from the Sea. I am hosting a giveaway of two copies of the book. Here is a description of the story:

In 1806, Frederick Wentworth returned to the sea in hopes of leaving behind memories of his lost love, Anne Elliot of Kellynch Hall. After eight years serving as the captain of the Laconia, he had failed to jettison recollections of the only woman he could ever love, that is, until a shipboard accident robbed him of his memory. When he is once again thrown into Anne’s company, he knows nothing of their previous engagement. With the slate wiped clean, will Anne Elliot be able to secure the love of Captain Frederick Wentworth or will all opportunities to reclaim a lost love be denied her?

I hope you will stop by. :)

A Mr. Darcy's Bite Vignette on Austen Authors

2011-10-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

Today I have a post on Austen Authors in connection with Mr. Darcy's Bite. I hope you will read it. It's a howling good tail and perfect for Halloween.

Last Day of Blog Tour for Mr. Darcy's Bite - Interview + Giveaway

2011-10-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! Today is the last day of the blog tour for Mr. Darcy's Bite. My final stop is at SOS Aloha visiting with Kim. I hope you will stop by to read my fascinating review or at least for the giveaway. Thanks.

P.S. Mr. Darcy's Bite was mentioned in the Daytona Beach News Journal, the Parkersburg, WV Sentinel, and Anohki, a Canadian magazine. I'm thrilled. :)

Closing out the Mr. Darcy's Bite Blog Tour

2011-10-30T03:00:00.003-07:00

October 31 - SOS Aloha

I hope you will join me as I conclude the blog tour for Mr. Darcy's Bite. Thanks to all who participated.

Candy at So Little Time... reviews Mr. Darcy's Bite.

Good news for Mr. Darcy's Bite: My book was featured in the Parkersburg, WV Sentinel, the Daytona Beach News Journal, and Anohki, a Canadian magazine. I'm thrilled.

Blog Stop at Love Romance Passion

2011-10-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

Today, I am Keira's guest at Love Romance Passion. I hope you will stop by. I talk about writing historical fiction.

Blog Stop at The Long and Short of It - Questions I would ask JA

2011-10-27T16:24:00.001-07:00

Today I have a guest post on The Long and Short of It. I was asked what questions I would ask Jane Austen. I had a bunch. I hope you will stop by.

Blog Stop at Historical Hussies

2011-10-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Today I am the guest of Linda Banche at Historical Hussies. We talk about werewolves in "Mr. Darcy Grows Fur!" I hope you will stop by and leave a comment.

Andrew Davies at the AGM

2011-10-26T03:00:00.012-07:00

One of the highlights of the JASNA Annual General Meeting in Fort Worth was listening to Andrew Davies talk about his screenplays, the most famous of which is the 1995 A&E adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. This production was also Davies’s favorite, and he talked about how he did not want to open the drama with the usual “It is a truth universally acknowledged…” Instead, he showed Bingley and Darcy riding full out with Elizabeth admiring them from a hilltop perch. He also talked about Colin Firth’s tortured portrayal of Darcy composing his letter to Elizabeth in which he explained his motives for making his obnoxious proposal. At the start of the scene, Darcy is wearing about three layers of clothes. By the end, he’s nearly down to his underwear.

With the theme of the AGM being the 200^th anniversary of the publication of Sense and Sensibility, Davies talked about the 2008 S&S production with Hattie Morahan and Dan Stevens. Like most readers of S&S, Davies understood that Austen’s first published novels has lots of problems, including how to get readers/viewers to like our hero, Edward Ferrars. There’s not much to admire in his behavior, and although his presence is “felt” throughout the story, we actually see very little of him. The screenwriter’s task was to make Edward “likeable” as Emma Thompson had done in her S&S screenplay with the sword-fighting scene between Edward and Margaret. Davies also used Margaret as a way to achieve his end in the scene where Edward (Dan Stevens) takes Margaret for a ride on his horse.

After softening Edward up, the producers thought that Ferrars wasn’t “butch” enough for a modern audience, and so Davies wrote the log-chopping scene (something he had always wanted to do) with Edward wielding an axe in the rain while Elinor Dashwood admires his obvious masculine skills and very wet shirt.

Davies was an absolutely delightful speaker, but his funniest comments were reserved for Emma. More on that in the next post.

Blog Stop at Deb's Book Bag + Giveaway

2011-10-23T08:58:00.001-07:00

On Monday, October 24, I will be visiting Deb's Book Bag for an interview and giveaway as part of the blog tour for Mr. Darcy's Bite.. I hope you will stop by.

Blog Stop at Mur-y-Castell Today

2011-10-20T08:23:00.001-07:00

I will be visiting with Blodeuedd today at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell. She is hosting a giveaway of one copy of Mr. Darcy's Bite. I hope you will stop by.

Don't forget to visit with Anna at Diary of an Eccentric for a chance to win a copy of Mr. Darcy's Bite. Giveaway closes on October 30.

Excerpt from Mr. Darcy's Bite and Giveaway for Spook-A-Licious

2011-10-17T00:05:00.003-07:00

A Scene at the Darcy estate, Pemberley, from Mr. Darcy’s Bite:

“I love you, Elizabeth Bennet...” After stepping away from her, he continued. “I actually never thought I would fall in love for reasons I shall shortly explain. However, I am in love—deeply and profoundly in love—and if after I share my secret you have not run back to Pemberley, I shall have a question to ask you.”

“Mr. Darcy, what secret could you possibly have that would cause me to run away from you?”

“That is a good question, and my answer begins with an event that happened fourteen years ago when my father and I were traveling in the Black Forest in Germany. Our carriage became mired in mud, and while the men tried to dig it out, I went into the woods. Not very deep, but Nature called... At that moment, a wolf walked by. She had not seen me, and because I had startled her, she scratched me with her fang. I know it was an accident because she began to cower and whimper.”

“Mr. Darcy,” Lizzy said, interrupting, “are you saying that you were bitten by a wolf in the forest and this wild animal was trying to apologize for biting you?

“That is close to what I am saying, but I need to add one other detail. It was not a wolf who bit me, but a werewolf.”

Lizzy now burst out laughing. “Shame on you, Mr. Darcy, for going on in such a way. Is this what I have to look forward to? Scary stories on the night of a full moon?” Lizzy waited for Mr. Darcy to break out into his wonderful smile—to let her know that he had been teasing her—but he did not. “Mr. Darcy, please tell me you are in jest.”

“I wish I could, but that would be a lie, and I promise I shall never lie to you,” he said, and Lizzy could hear the tension in his voice. “Elizabeth, as a result of that bite, I became a werewolf...”

Lizzy, horrified by his story, started to walk backwards, moving in the direction of Pemberley, but Mr. Darcy reached out to stop her.

“That is the reason I had to leave Hertfordshire so often, the reason I must leave you now. This is where I need to be during my transformation, and tonight is a full moon. At dusk, the change will begin. I am sure, at this moment, you are thinking about how quickly you can leave Pemberley, but I would ask that you stay. While I am gone, Georgiana and Anne will be with you to explain everything. We have arranged a signal. If you want to see me as a werewolf, they will light the candle in the window in a front bedroom, and I will come and introduce myself. If, however, there is no candle, I will remain in the woods, and I promise I will never see you again. You can go on with your life acting as if none of this happened. Whether or not we are together is now in your hands.”

Mr. Darcy extended his arm, but as the pair walked to the manor house, not a word was exchanged between them.

I hope you will let me know what you think of my story. If you leave a comment and an e-mail address, you will be entered in a giveaway of an ARC (advanced reader's copy) of Mr. Darcy's Bite. Thanks for stopping by.

Mr. Darcy's Bite is worldwide.

The Winners of Mr. Darcy's Bite Are:

2011-10-12T00:15:00.001-07:00

The winner of the ARC for Mr. Darcy's Bite from my blog is Sophia Rose.
The winner of Mr. Darcy's Bite from the Austen Authors entry is Margaret.

Congratulations, Ladies. You will be receiving an e-mail from me shortly asking for your mailing information. If you enjoy the story, I hope you will let me know and consider posting a review on Barnes and Noble and/or Amazon. If you don't like it, please remember that silence is golden.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by my blog and Austen Authors to help me celebrate my launch.

Final Day to Enter Giveaways for Mr. Darcy's Bite

2011-10-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day to enter giveaways here on my blog and at Austen Authors as well. All you have to do is leave a comment along with your e-mail address. That's it. Winners will be announced tomorrow here and at Austen Authors.

Launch - Jane Austen Made Me Do It

2011-10-11T11:45:00.007-07:00

Today at Austen Authors, Laurel Ann Nattress (aka Austenprose) launches her short story anthology, Jane Austen Made Me Do It. Here is the introduction to her Austen Authors post:

Many thanks to all of the Austen Authors for hosting me on my very special day. Today, October 11^th, my anthology, Jane Austen Made Me Do It, releases from Ballantine Books. I have been working on it for close to two years now so this day is very exciting for me and the twenty four contributing authors – four of which are your members: Diana Birchall, Monica Fairview, Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway. To continue reading, please click here.

A huge congratulations to Laurel Ann and all the authors included in this anthology! The following authors also have guest posts on Austen Authors as part of the launch: Monica Fairview, Jane Odiwe, Diana Birchall, and Jane Rubino. Please stop by and celebrate with them.

Blog Tour Stops at Eva's Sanctuary, Thoughts in Progress & Psychotic State

2011-10-11T00:05:00.000-07:00

While I am in Fort Worth attending the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America, please stop by these blogs for an interview or blog post. I promise you will be excessively diverted.

October 11 - Eva's Sanctuary
October 12 - Thoughts in Progress
October 13 - Psychotic State

Today at Austenesque Reviews and Sunday in Fort Worth

2011-10-10T00:05:00.008-07:00

I was scheduled to visit with Meredith at Austenesque Reviews today, but I had a conflict. So I asked Georgiana Darcy and Anne de Bourgh if they would fill in, and they were happy to do so. Please stop by for a chat with Mr. Darcy's sister and cousin because Meredith is hosting a GIVEAWAY!!!!!

I'm heading to Fort Worth for the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North American (October 14-16). Several Austen Authors will be having an informal gathering at the Barnes & Noble in downtown Fort Worth (Sundance Square) at 1:00 on October 16. Please stop by and say hello. If you have one of our titles, we will be happy to sign it for you. We will also have bookmarks for all the Austen Authors. We would love to see you. Sincerely, C. Allyn Pierson, Sharon Lathan, Karen Doornebos, Abigail Reynolds, Cindy Jones, Susan Mason-Milks and yours truly.

Blog Tour for Mr. Darcy's Bite

2011-10-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

There has been so much going on with Mr. Darcy's Bite. But I am happy to say that the paperback version is now available, free of all printing errors. If you have been holding back on buying the book, you can now do so. Thank you for your patience.

Here are the stops I have made to date on the blog tour for Mr. Darcy's Bite:

Austenprose - Five-Star Review by Kimberley Denny-Ryder
Austenprose - Guest post and giveaway (ends October 19)
Mr. Jane Austen Book Club - Guest post and giveaway (ends October 10)
Savvy Verse and Wit - Guest post on S&S and P&P
Savvy Verse and Wit - Review

Launch of Mr. Darcy's Bite at Austen Authors and A Moment of Your Time

2011-10-04T00:05:00.004-07:00

It’s party time again. I am pleased to announce the launch of Mr. Darcy’s Bite, my first venture into paranormal or Gothic or just something different. A fuller description of the novel and details of a giveaway can be found at Austen Authors. As part of the celebration on this blog, I am giving away an advanced reader’s copy (ARC) of Mr. Darcy’s Bite. The usual rules apply. You must leave an e-mail address in the comments section by October 11^th so I may contact you. The winner will be announced on October 12^th. But this giveaway is a little different. Rather than ask for a comment, I would like a moment of your time.

From the time I started to write fiction in 2006, the world of publishing has changed. More people are now reading novels on e-book readers than in print form. Because of this change, I have decided to go independent, and Mr. Darcy’s Bite will be my last book with Sourcebooks. But when someone leaves a publisher, they also leave behind the support staff who arranges for the blog tour, publicity, preparation of the Amazon and B&N pages, etc. This is where you come in. You, the reader, are now my support staff.

Reviews on Amazon and Barnes and Noble have become critical to the success of a book. A few good reviews can really sell a book. And that’s where I need your help. Although I receive lots of e-mails and Facebook posts from readers who say they enjoy my books, for one reason or another, they do not post reviews on Amazon or B&N. As we all know, we are more likely to take action over something negative or unpleasant. This is as true on Amazon as anywhere else, and a few bad reviews can kill a book. What I am asking (as well as other Austen authors--actually any author) is that if you enjoy a book, please consider posting a review on Amazon and/or Barnes and Noble. As an independent author, I can tell you good reviews on these sites are now the most critical element in making a book a success. If you do post a review, please let me know at: quailcreekpub@hotmail.com.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Best of luck in the giveaway.

P.S. To double your chances to win a copy of Mr. Darcy's Bite, visit Austen Authors.

Blog Tour for Mr. Darcy's Bite Starts Today

2011-10-03T07:39:00.007-07:00

I kick off my blog tour for Mr. Darcy's Bite at Austenprose. Laurel Ann is giving away three copies of my novel so I hope you will stop by.

10/3 Austenprose
10/4 My Jane Austen Book Club (Review and Giveaway)

10/6 Savvy Verse and Wit

10/10 Austenesque Reviews

10/11 Eva’s Sanctuary

10/12 Thoughts in Progress

10/13 Psychotic State Book Reviews

10/17 Diary of an Eccentric

10/20 Books for Life

20/24 Deb’s Book Bag

10/26 Historical Hussies

10/27 The Long and Short of It

10/28 Love Romance Passion

10/30 Romantic Crush Junkies

10/31 SOS Aloha

Update on Mr. Darcy's Bite

2011-09-29T15:21:00.001-07:00

The e-book of Mr. Darcy's Bite is fine. There never was a problem with it. This was a printing mistake, and Sourcebooks is checking their inventory to see if more than one box of 20 books was affected. They are really doing a thorough check which is best for everyone. I will let you know as soon as I find out anything. Thank you for your patience. Mary

Two Reviews from My Little Corner of the World

2011-09-28T09:34:00.002-07:00

One of the nicest things about writing books is that you get to meet nice people from around the globe, and many of them write blogs. Erlynn has posted reviews for The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy and Searching for Pemberley on her blog, My Little Corner of the World, I really appreciate this because these are two of my older titles, and they don't get as much attention. I hope you will visit Erlynn's blog, and please leave a comment. Thank you.

Two Inches of Ivory - Miniature Portrait Painting in the Regency Era

2011-09-22T00:05:00.003-07:00

National Portrait Gallery

The following is a combination of two articles Tony Grant wrote on his blog, London Calling, about painting on ivory. He has kindly agreed to share them with my readers.

This particular drawing of Jane Austen was done on paper, but it serves a similar purpose to those done on ivory that Jane references:

Jane wrote to her nephew, James Edward Austen, on 16 December 1816. She congratulated him on leaving Winchester College and commiserated with him about his time there. Jane writes to him in terms as an equal in novel writing.

“Uncle Henry writes very superior sermons. You and I must try and get hold of one or two and put them into our novels.”

Then she explains the difference between their writing: Uncle Henry's is “strong, manly, spirited-- Sketches full of Variety and Glow.” Hers is comparable to a “little bit (two inches wide) of ivory on which I work with so fine a brush, as produces little effect after much labour?”

Ivory Tusk

It was the practice, in 1816, to paint miniature portraits in fine detail on fine slivers of ivory cut from elephant tusks. They were intended to not only show the likeness of the sitter but also to try and capture their personality.

Pieces of Ivory Prepared for Painting

In 1847, thirty-one years after Jane wrote her letter, Charlotte Bronte has Jane Eyre using the miniature portrait as a sort of talisman or voodoo doll to expunge her feelings for Mr Rochester and her thoughts and feelings about Blanche Ingram. She decides to draw a self portrait in chalks on a piece of glass and a portrait in watercolours of Blanche Ingram on “a piece of smooth ivory.”

Metal Paint Box

The miniature portrait was a purveyor of fine detailed true likeness. It was an artistic process. Jane used it as a metaphor for her writers style. Emily Bronte used it as a way of comparing individuals as well as controlling and guiding emotions. We ourselves become integrated in the interpretation. We are bringing our beliefs and insights to the interpretation of the miniature too.

Unknown subject - Victoria and Albert Museum

References:Sir Walter Scott’s Review of Emma posted in Books, Emma, Jane Austen, Literature, Review by onlyanovel on January 19th, 2008

http://onlyanovel.wordpress.com/2008/01/19/sir-walter-scotts-review-of-emma/

Le Faye, Deirdre (Ed) Jane Austen’s Letter’s (New Edition)
Oxford University Press 1997

The National Portrait Gallery
http://www.npg.org.uk/

How My Grandson Got His Name

2011-09-20T00:05:00.003-07:00

Today I am the featured blogger on Austen Authors. I am writing about my grandson, Skyler, and how he got his name. I hope you will click on the link and find out. To entice you, I'm posting pictures of the little dear. He's now crawling all over the place, pulling himself up on my couch, pulling down my tablecloth, pushing over my potted plant, teething on my coffee table, and locating every electric cord in the house. But how can you complain when the little guy is so obviously adorable?

Books on Sale - Anne Elliot and The Second Date & A Great Review

2011-09-16T08:00:00.005-07:00

I am putting two of my titles on sale for e-books only for the remainder of September on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The price for Anne Elliot, A New Beginning will now be $1.49, and The Second Date, Love Italian-American Style will be $.99. Anne Elliot is a parody of Jane Austen's Persuasion, while The Second Date is the story of love in the Italian-American community of North Jersey where I grew up. Many of the stories are true or partially true or as I prefer to remember them. I hope you will take this opportunity to get acquainted with my non-Pride and Prejudice work.

Click on the pictures in the sidebar if you wish to order these books.

Also, please check out Kimberly's five-star review of A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park on her blog, Reflections of a Book Addict.

A Balloon Tragedy - Part 3 of Balloonamania

2011-09-15T00:05:00.005-07:00

de Rozier

The first balloon crossing of the English Channel was met with cheers from enthusiastic bystanders. Unfortunately, Blanchard and Jeffries's success was followed by a horrible tragedy.

On June 15, 1785, Pilatre de Rozier attempted to fly across the Channel in the opposite direction, from Boulogne to Dover, possibly to prove that England could be invaded from the air.

“[de Rozier’s] huge aerostat was not a single balloon but two harnessed together, one on top of the other. The idea was to combine the stable lifting power of the hydrogen balloon (on the top) with the more dynamic and controllable power of the hot-air balloon below… In theory this dual design combined the best lifting characteristics of hydrogen and hot air… In practice, he had designed a lethal combination of highly inflammable gas and naked flame.”*

After the lift, witnesses watched as the balloon floated out to sea, but it soon drifted back to the French coast. Something had gone very wrong. “A small bright crown of yellow flame now began to appear at the top of the balloon where the hydrogen was venting. Then it folded up upon itself and began to drop to earth… Both aeronauts were killed, their bodies so horribly broken and ruptured that they were buried the same evening in the little local church at Wimereaux.”* It is possible that the spark was a result of static electricity.

Because of this tragedy and a balloon accident near Newcastle, the British public turned away from ballooning for a generation. “From 1790, virtually any balloon sighted in English skies would be assumed to be French and hostile. The aeronaut would find the ground even more dangerous than the skies.”

*The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes, Vintage, 2009.

Mrs. Sage and Balloonist Lunardi - Part 2 of Balloonamania

2011-09-14T10:00:00.003-07:00

After Blanchard and Jeffries’ first successful cross-channel balloon flight, there was Mrs. Sage, an actress famed for her full figure, who became the “first aerial female” in June 1785.

“The launch was made from Hyde Park and was attended by a huge and raucous crowd. Mrs. Sage, in a low-cut silk dress presumably designed to reduce wind resistance, was to be accompanied by Vincent Lunardi [a famed balloonist]… In his haste to depart, Lunardi failed to do up the lacings of the gondola’s door. As the balloon sailed away over Piccadilly, the crowd was treated to the provoking sight of the beautiful Mrs. Sage on all fours in the open entrance of the gondola. The crowd assumed that she had fainted and was perhaps receiving some kind of intimate first aid from Mr. Biggin. In fact she was coolly re-threading the lacings to make the gondola safe again… In due course the two of them were lunching peacefully off sparkling Italian wine and cold chicken, occasionally calling to people below through a speaking trumpet.”

When the balloon landed near Harrow, the ancient British public school, it smashed through a hedge, and as the gondola dragged across the fields, it plowed a row of uncut hay. The farmer was furious, but the young gentlemen of Harrow saved the day. They rushed across the field to greet the lady and to pacify the farmer with a hastily arranged collection of cash. After that was settled, Mrs. Sage, who had hurt a tendon in her foot in the rough landing, was carried to a local tavern by the boys of Harrow where everyone “got gloriously drunk.”

“Later there was much speculation at Mr. Biggin’s** London Club as to whether Lunardi had been the first man to board a female aeronaut in flight. The members of Brooks’s Club were said to be laying bets on who should first have an amorous encounter in a balloon. The cry “Lunardi, come down” now became a kind of catchphrase with a suggestive double entendre implied.”

Tomorrow – tragedy

*The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes, Vintage 2009.

**Mr. Biggin was supposed to travel with Lunardi and Sage, but because Mrs. Sage tipped the scales at over 200 pounds, someone had to go. Lunardi, recognizing the publicity value of the famous actress, kicked Biggin out of the gondola.

First Balloon Crossing of the English Channel - Part 1 of Balloonamania

2011-09-13T00:10:00.006-07:00

Painting by E. W. Cocks

On January 7, 1785, the first cross-channel crossing by balloon took place between England and France. The balloon carried Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American physician, Dr. John Jeffries, who had served as a military surgeon on the British side in the American Revolution.

On that winter’s morning, the two aeronauts (a newly coined term for the balloon age) lifted off from the top of Dover cliff to attempt the first ever Channel crossing. As they began to drift toward Calais, they steadily lost height over the water. “By two-thirds of the way across they had progressively jettisoned all the sand ballast, all their food, and most of their technical equipment, except the precious barometer and one bottle of brandy. But the balloon continued to drop, until it was well below the level of the approaching cliffs of the Pas de Calais. They now began to perform an aerial striptease.”*

Jeffries noted in his diary: We were again falling rapidly towards the sea, on which occasion my noble little captain gave orders and set the example by beginning to strip our aerial car, first of our silk and finery… We cast away first one anchor, then the other, after which my little hero stripped and threw away his coat. On this I was compelled to follow his example. He next cast away his trowsers [and eventually they had to empty their bladders as well].”**

“With nothing remaining as ballast…, they were left standing in their underclothes, wearing their cork jackets. But this made the crucial difference. Less than 120 yards above the sea, the balloon steadied and began to rise. As they caught the onshore wind, their ascent turned into a great triumphant arc, taking them high over the cliffs of Calais and twelve miles inland. Blanchard now revealed that he had concealed a small sack of publicity letters, and these were thrown out, to become the first ever airmail delivery.”*

After slowly releasing the hydrogen, the balloon crashed through the canopy of the Forest of Guines. Like Charles Lindbergh of another era, they were greeted by a crowd of well-wishers, many of whom had followed them on horseback. They were carried back to Calais in triumph. Once in Paris, they were presented to the king of France and lauded by the Academie des Sciences. “Jeffries spent several quiet evenings with Benjamin Franklin at Passy discussing the future of flight and the beauty and intelligence of French women.*

Blanchard would go on to make a total of 63 more flights. However, Jeffries never flew again. In his diary, he “thank[ed] God” that he survived. On a visit to Dover, he remarked “My heart filled, I hope, with sincere and grateful acknowledgments to the kind protections of that day. Oh Gracious Father, may I be influenced by it as I ought, through my life.”

I am sure that Jane Austen, who would have been ten at the time, would have been aware of this epic event in the history of flight.

*The Age of Wonder, Richard Holmes, Vintage Press 2009.

**Narrative of Two Aerial Voyages with M. Blanchard by Dr. John Jeffries

New Kids on the Block - Austen Bloggers

2011-09-12T11:30:00.002-07:00

One of the biggest advantages of writing Jane Austen re-imaginings is that I have met people from all over the world who are Austen admirers. Their love of Austen takes many forms, such as sewing Regency Era clothes or learning Regency Era dances, but several have chosen to set up blogs to review books. There are many bloggers who have been at it for a while, such as Austenprose, My Jane Austen Book Club, and Austenesque Reviews. But there are four new kids on the block, and I would like to introduce them to you.

The Secret Dreamworld of a Jane Austen Fan
My Little Corner of the World (not exclusively Austen)
So Little Time... (arts and crafts as well)
My Love for Jane Austen

If you are a fan of Austen adaptations, you will want to visit Jenny Allworthy's blog, The Jane Austen Film Club. There is also an all-Jane newspaper published by Maria Grazia, The Everything Austen Daily, that is chock full of interesting news about Austen world.

I hope you will check out these blogs. Tell them Mary sent you.

And the Winners Are

2011-09-09T00:05:00.005-07:00

The winners of Darcy on the Hudson are Katy of A Few More Pages and Becky C. Congratulations! You will be receiving an e-mail from me shortly. And thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway. I received so many comments and wonderful suggestions for historical novels. A lot of them were old favorites, but there were several titles that sent me to Amazon to find out what they were about. As a result, my TBR list has grown substantially. Here they are. (Asterisk indicates that more than one person suggested the novel.)

The Pillars of the Earth,* Jane Eyre,* The Queen's Confession,* North and South,* Pride and Prejudice,* These Is My Words, Redeeming Love, Little Dorrit, The Three Musketeers, A Dream of Eagles, Wives and Daughters, Outlander Series,* Grapes of Wrath,* Darcy's Voyage, Scarlet Pimpernel,* Richard Sharpe Series, Zeminder, The Queen's Fool, Anne of Green Gables, The Barchester Chronicles, Across Five Aprils, Anne Elliot, A New Beginning, When We Were Strangers, Persuasion, Frenchman's Creek, Friday's Child, Searching for Pemberley*, Georgette Heyer Regency Novels,* To Kill a Mockingbird,* The Secret Life of Bees, Patriot's Hearts, The Watsons Go to Birmingham, Out of the Dust, Winthrop Women, Just Jane, The Greatest Knight, Maisie Dobb Series, Through a Glass Darkly, The Secret Diary of Miss Amanda Cheever, Something Like Regret, Roots, Guardian Angel, Little Women, The Sherbrooke Bride, The Dark Tower

If I missed anyone's suggestion, I apologize, but I was nearly cross-eyed between all the entries and going back and forth between the two blogs.

See you in October for the launch of Mr. Darcy's Bite.

A Few Things

2011-09-08T00:05:00.001-07:00

Heather Rigaud is having a giveaway of three copies of her book, Fitzwilliam Darcy Rock Star, at Austen Authors.

Austen Authors' celebration of our first-year anniversary continues through September 10. Lots of chances to win cool prizes.

Today is the last day for a chance to win Darcy on the Hudson. Please read my post for details.

Thanks, everyone.

Anniversary Special - Day 2 at Austen Authors

2011-09-06T08:52:00.002-07:00

Today, Austen Authors share where they were when they got "the call" from Sharon to join Austen Authors. Here is mine:

When Sharon called with the invitation to join Austen Authors, I was a finalist on The Next Food Network Star. When my cell phone went off, I was filleting a salmon to be served with crème fraiche sauce on shallot toast. Because it was the ring tone I use only for emergencies (The Beatles “Help”), I knew that I had to take the call. I held up my hand, indicating to the judges and the audience that something more important than a shot at having my own cooking show might be in the offing. I was right! That day I became an Austen Author.

Mosey on over to Austen Authors to read more. Have fun.

Let the Games Begin

2011-09-05T09:22:00.001-07:00

Please join us today at Austen Authors for the kickoff of our anniversary celebration. What's up today?

Do you have any questions you would like to ask me or another Austen Author? You can do that, and you will be entered in a prize drawing.

Who wrote it? Connect the author to their story, and you are entered in a prize drawing.

There's also a game for i-Pad and i-phone owners.

It's going to be so much fun. Please join us.

Prizes for Austen Authors First Anniversary - Starts September 5

2011-09-03T10:14:00.008-07:00

PRIZES! PRIZES! PRIZES!

Who Wrote It? challenge quiz
First Place: $60 Gift Certificate to Barnes & Noble
Second Place: Jane Austen card game packet and tarot set donated by Diana Birchall
and a $20 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble
Third Place: box of “Wicked Wickham” flavored Bingley Tea donated by Cindy Jones

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rockstar — signed copy by Heather Rigaud for launch

Definitely Not Mr. Darcy – 3 signed copies by Karen Doornebos for launch
plus “coffee, tea, or Mr. Darcy” coasters

Persuade Me — signed copy by Juliet Archer for launch to UK winner

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy
Darcy on the Hudson
donated and signed by Mary Simonsen

Bath TangleCousin Kate
Georgette Heyer duo donated by Sourcebooks Landmark

The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy by Marsha Altman
Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion by Regina Jeffers
duo donated by Ulysses Press

Mr. Darcy’s Decision
Sanditon
Juliette Shapiro (and Jane Austen) duo donated by Ulysses Press

The Trouble With Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy Falls in Love
advanced reader copy
duo by Sharon Lathan

The Darcy Cousins by Monica Fairview, signed and for UK/ROW winner

A handmade slate chalkboard with image of Jane Austen created and donated by Carolyn Eberhart

Giveaway and Launch of Darcy on the Hudson

2011-08-30T00:05:00.009-07:00

It’s me again. Back with another launch. But this one is special. Why? Because it is my favorite type of novel: a historical setting with protagonists (Darcy and Elizabeth) provided by Jane Austen. In Darcy on the Hudson, Darcy, Georgiana, and Charles Bingley travel to New York's Hudson River Valley to visit with Charles’s Uncle Richard. Once in New York, he meets American, Elizabeth Bennet, and it’s on.

At first, Lizzy and Darcy are convinced that they are engaged in a harmless flirtation, but as their feelings deepen, they realize that there are hurdles—probably insurmountable—because England and America’s class structures are so very different. On a visit to England three years earlier, Lizzy had been criticized for her outspoken opinions, something Darcy has experienced firsthand. Another problem. The story is set against the background of the upcoming War of 1812. Great Britain and the United States are very close to going to war over impressment, trade restrictions, and British interference with Native American tribes on the western frontier. Will these difficulties keep our favorite couple apart?

The usual suspects are in play: Villains George Wickham and Caroline Bingley, our favorite bore, Mr. Collins, the five Bennet sisters, Charlotte Lucas, and Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. But there is a sprinkling of new characters (a love interest for Georgiana) to make it interesting and one major character change: Mrs. Bennet. My Mrs. Bennet is not silly, ill-mannered, or undereducated. Instead, she is a wise woman who can look after her family without throwing her daughters in front of every passing bachelor.

As part of the research for Darcy on the Hudson, my husband and I spent a week traveling up and down the Hudson River Valley from Manhattan to Troy, New York. We visited a dozen historical sites, and I spent a small fortune on history books. But it was wonderful, and I hope when you read the novel, you will be able to visualize the places we visited. This is a full-length novel. In order to entice you to read it, I am pricing it at $3.99 for the month of September. After that it will go up to $5.99.

Now for the best part: the giveaway. I will be giving away two signed copies of Darcy on the Hudson. I will choose one winner from Austen Authors (the giveaway will post tomorrow - August 31) and one from my blog. All you have to do is leave a comment(s) with the title of your favorite historical novel on one or both blogs (doubles your chances). It doesn’t have to be Regency Era. For example, my favorite historical novel is Lonesome Dove, an American western.

Other rules: Comment by September 8. Winner will be announced September 9. Please leave your e-mail. No e-mail, no can win. Open worldwide. Looking forward to reading your comments.

P.S. My daughter, Meg, designed the cover. Isn't she talented? Answer: Yes.

To Anyone Who Bought Darcy on the Hudson in Paperback

2011-08-26T10:18:00.005-07:00

My novel, Darcy on the Hudson, was released prematurely. I clicked on the wrong button, and it went live. The book was still in its proof stage, and there are at least a dozen errors in the book. I apologize to anyone who bought the paperback because I am pretty darn fussy about the finished product on all my self-published books. There are no egregious errors, but there are mistakes. My sincere apologies.

The corrected version will be available on Amazon on August 27.

I Need Your Help - Again

2011-08-24T20:58:00.005-07:00

On August 31, I will have the official launch of my novel, Darcy on the Hudson on Austen Authors. Here is the text from the back jacket:

When Fitzwilliam Darcy, Georgiana Darcy, and Charles Bingley set sail from England for New York, each travels with a different purpose in mind. Georgiana wants to put a particularly jarring episode involving a family friend in the past, and Charles wishes to visit his Uncle Richard in an exciting new land. For Darcy, it is an opportunity to explore the possibilities of new sources of wealth in the expanding United States, but once Darcy meets American, Elizabeth Bennet, it is the beginning of a love story. But will their differences and a possible second war between Britain and America keep them apart?

This story is a particular favorite of mine. Having grown up in North Jersey, ten miles off the George Washington Bridge, I often visited the Hudson River Valley and did so again 18 months ago as part of my research for this novel. Darcy on the Hudson is the result. Because it is self-published, it is up to me to get the word out that I have a new, full-length novel available. But how best to do it? That's where you come in.

How do you find out about new books with Austen tie-ins: Google alerts? Amazon alerts? Book blogs? Austen only blog? A particular author's blog? Twitter? Facebook? Would you please take my poll and let me know? Click on as many answers that apply. If you follow a book blog, I would appreciate it if you would share the name. But that's up to you. Looking forward to reading your answers.

P.S. Darcy on the Hudson is currently available on Kindle. The Nook and paperback versions will be available shortly.

Building the Perfect Mr. Darcy

2011-08-24T00:05:00.005-07:00

The Winner - The Perfect Mr. Darcy

After crunching the numbers, examining the poll data, looking for patterns, etc., I have come to the conclusion that Colin Firth beat Matthew Macfadyen's and Elliot Cowan's butts--literally. Colin won for best below the belt. Having said that, I must add that Matthew put up a good fight in some of the body parts. Elliot Cowan, on the other hand, was a distant third in everything but the lips. But when it comes to the voice, most readers wanted to hear Matthew whispering in their ear, not Colin.

Below are three links shared by readers so that you can decide for yourself about Matthew's voice. All I'll say is that I never thought of eating ice cream as being particularly sexy--until now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGmCZnliYmg (Darcy and Elizabeth - Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQspkI3ySZg (Darcy and Elizabeth - Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVWcoUVirbw (Hagen Daz)

My Own Little Corner of the World

2011-08-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

There is a new book blog, My Own Little Corner of the World. I have been fortunate in that iErlynn chose two of my titles to review: A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park and Mr. Darcy's Angel of Mercy. Scroll down and you will see a review for Kara Louise's Mr. Darcy's Voyage. I hope you will stop by and visit. Obviously, iErlynn has great taste in books. :)

The Black Tower - A Book Review

2011-08-22T00:05:00.001-07:00

I love a good historical mystery, especially if the author has successfully recreated the era in which the story takes place. The Black Tower by Louis Bayard is just such a book . Dr. Hector Carpentier is drawn into a web of intrigue when his address is found on a note in the pocket of a murder victim. Carpentier doesn’t know Henri LeClerc—yet. But when Paris detective Vidocq shows up at his door, he is about to find out who the deceased is. Vidocq is the master of disguise, and he needs every one if he is to find out if Louis Charles, the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, survived the abuse and neglect of his guards in the Temple’s Black Tower during the French Revolution. Because if he did, he is France's rightful king.

Although it is 1818, the setting is medieval Paris before Baron Haussmann razed much of the city to create its wide boulevards for Emperor Napoleon III. The buildings are covered with centuries of grime, and the roads are little more than alleys housing Paris’s least desirable elements. But at the center of the story is the Black Tower where the ill-fated king and queen of France spent their final days with their children. Although it has been torn down on the orders of the now deposed Napoleon, the memory of what took place within its stone walls haunts those living in the early years of the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy.

This is a crack mystery that grabs you from the first chapter and doesn’t let go until you find out if the Dauphin, the heir to the French throne, survived his ordeal or if it ended with his body being thrown into an unmarked grave.

Just as a Reminder

2011-08-19T11:02:00.001-07:00

If you enjoyed my deleted scene, Charlotte Collins's Wedding Night, you may find it on The Writer's Block in "Trimmed Treasures." It will be easier to find it there than scrolling down on my blog.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway on Austen Authors for two copies of A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park. The deadline is August 24th.

Austenesque Extravaganza will continue through the month of August. Tons of giveaways. You won't want to miss it.

Austenesque Reviews - Touring Thursday #2

2011-08-17T21:06:00.009-07:00

It is my turn to celebrate with Meredith at Austenesque Reviews as part of August's Austenesque Extravaganza. The following is a deleted scene from the original manuscript submitted to Sourcebooks for the novel that would become A Wife for Mr. Darcy. In this scene, Jane and Lizzy are rehashing events that took place at the wedding breakfast of Charlotte Lucas and William Collins. During the festivities, Lizzy and Darcy entered into a secret engagement. I thought it was rather cute; my editor thought I was being “too clever for my own good.” So now you maydecide:

Charlotte Collin’s Wedding Night

As soon as Lizzy and Jane were alone in their bedroom, Jane grabbed hold of her sister’s hands, and the two of them jumped up and down for joy.

“You are to be Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy!” Jane said in hushed tones so that her younger sisters would not hear her. But nothing could contain her enthusiasm for the news of Lizzy’s engagement. “Did he kiss you again?”

“Oh, my, yes." After thinking about his kisses, she blushed at how willing she had been in allowing him to kiss her in such a way. “We absolutely cannot be alone. He was kissing my neck and shoulders, and if I had not stopped him, he would have been kissing…,” and she abruptly stopped. “I should be ashamed to say it, but if such actions were stripped of the taint of immorality, I would have given way.”

“Oh, this is very good news,” Jane said relieved. “It is so much on my mind because, of late, Charles has become a bit more assertive. When he said good night to me on the night you had very nearly been found out in the billiards room, well, he kissed me in a way that had my toes curling.” Lizzy threw herself on the bed and was nearly hysterical laughing. "I now understand what you meant when you spoke of the 'sensation' you experienced while kissing Mr. Darcy. It is not where one would expect it to be. I mean he was kissing my lips. Who would have thought it would affect something so distant?” And the pair again dissolved into laughter.

After the sisters climbed into bed, they continued talking about the great unknowns of marriage—the biggest being, what happened on the wedding night, and if it would be pleasurable for both husband and wife, or just merely awkward.

“I don’t see why it should not be pleasurable if both husband and wife are deeply in love,” Lizzy said, trying to reassure her sister—as well as herself.

And then Lizzy and Jane had the same thought at the same time.

“Oh, dear! Poor Charlotte.”

* * *

In order that the newly-married Mr. and Mrs. William Collins might have some privacy on their wedding night, all Charlotte’s brothers and sisters had happily agreed to visit with friends or relatives, and only Mr. and Mrs. Lucas remained at Lucas Lodge, closeted in their own apartment. If the Lucas family had known what was taking place in the wedding suite, they would have remained at home and slept in their own beds.

Rather than focusing his attention on his bride, Mr. Collins could not stop talking about the luminaries who had been in attendance at his wedding. He already had bragging rights because he had won the affection of the daughter of Sir William Lucas, someone who had been knighted by George III at St. James’s Palace. But in addition to this honor was the appearance of Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, a scion of one of the great Norman families of England and himself the grandson of an earl, and his sister, Miss Darcy, whom, he was sure, would end up a duchess. But nothing compared to the honor of having a peer of the realm, Antony, Lord Fitzwilliam, at his wedding breakfast. And because of this, he suspected that if Miss Anne De Bourgh’s health had not been indifferent, Lady Catherine herself would also have attended the nuptials.

“Charlotte, my dear, what a day we have had. Who could doubt that I have greatly benefited from the patronage of Lady Catherine De Bourgh? What other reason could there be for two of her nephews and a niece coming to our wedding?”

Not wishing to throw water on her husband’s delusions of grandeur by association, Charlotte did not mention that she could think of at least three possible explanations for the appearance of such prominent guests that did not involve him: Mr. Darcy was there because he was in love with Elizabeth Bennet. Miss Darcy was there because she liked Elizabeth very much and was encouraging the match, and in order that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth might meet in secret, a diversion had been staged by the cousins in the guise of Lord Fitzwilliam. And what a diversion it had been! With everyone gawking at the earl and his traveling governess, she doubted very much that anyone, other than herself, had noticed that Lizzy and Mr. Darcy had slipped away and had stayed away for upwards of thirty minutes.

“Yes, my dear. I am sure you are right,” Charlotte answered. But her husband was hardly listening, and so she went to her dressing room to prepare for bed. When she re-entered the bedchamber, she found Mr. Collins fully clothed, pacing the room, and still talking to himself, unaware that she had ever left. It was only when she got into bed and under the covers that he realized that for the first time in his life, he was to share a bed with another—and that "other" was a woman.

Understanding that the groom was more nervous than the bride, Charlotte turned on her side so that he might undress in private. However, it was only after blowing out the candle that William climbed into bed with her. Lying in the dark, Charlotte was unsure of what to expect, and several minutes passed before she realized that Mr. Collins had fallen asleep and was now snoring—a sound that was music to her ears.

Please feel free to leave a comment. Your comments will count toward the giveaway prizes on Meredith's Austen Extravaganza. Besides, I like to read comments--a lot. :)

Giveaway at Austen Authors and 4.5 Star Review

2011-08-17T00:05:00.004-07:00

Today is the official launch day for A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park at Austen Authors. To celebrate, I will be giving away two copies of the book. All you have to do to be entered in the giveaway is to give me the combination to your home safe. Seriously, just leave a comment.

Also, I received a 4.5 star review from Eva's Sanctuary for A Wife for Mr. Darcy. This was a complete surprise, and I'm very pleased as the blog tour has been over for three weeks. As a result, I have a new best friend. :)

P.S. I will be posting a deleted scene from A Wife for Mr. Darcy on Thursday as a part of Meredith's Austenesque Extravaganza. Please check back to read "Charlotte Collin's Wedding Night."

The Perfect Mr. Darcy - Part 6 - The Voice

2011-08-15T20:35:00.000-07:00

Other than the lips, Colin has had little competition in this production, but I think Matthew can give him a run for the money in the voice department. Elliot also has a nice voice.

The question is: You are lying in bed with your husband, who just happens to be Mr. Darcy. He whispers something in your ear. This melodious voice belongs to????

This concludes building the perfect Mr. Darcy. It's been a ton of fun for me. I hope for you as well. We'll wrap up with pictures of all the Mr. Darcys.

And the Winners of the Giveaway Are:

2011-08-15T07:00:00.005-07:00

The winners of my giveaways are: Trez, Suzan, MonicaP, BevMayo and Marylinda. I will be e-mailing you with all the information. Thank you to everyone who participated. You were very helpful with your suggestions, and I enjoyed (and will continue to enjoy) the polls building the perfect Mr. Darcy.

If you didn't win, I will be having a giveaway of A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park at my official launch on Austen Authors. My blog post will appear on August 17. Please come on over and try again. Thanks. This was fun.

Building Mr. Darcy - Part 5 - Below the Belt

2011-08-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Let's be honest, this part of the poll boils down to who looks best in tight breeches, thus displaying his assets. I don't know what I can add to that.

On Tuesday, I will wrap up my perfect Mr. Darcy by polling "the voice." Whose voice would you want to hear in the middle of the night?

Also, today is the last day to enter my giveaway. I will choose five people at random at the stroke of midnight (not really as I'll be in bed). Tomorrow, I will post your names. Since there are a bunch of books available (which I will post tomorrow), it will be on a first come, first served basis. Please remember to include your e-mail.

Building Mr. Darcy - Part 4 - Torso Time

2011-08-11T20:35:00.004-07:00

It's time to put Mr. Darcy's head on a body. It may be helpful to know that Colin Firth is 6'-1-1/2" tall (my husband's exact height--I wonder what that means?). Elliot Cowan is 6'-2", and Matthew Macfadyen is 6'-3". So let's start with the torso. So what do you think? CF, EC, or MM?

The next poll will be on Mr. Darcy's, how shall I put this, equipment below the belt, by that I mean, his feet. :)

P.S. Regarding Mr. Darcy's Hair - Please note the title of The New York Times article on MM playing Mr. Darcy when the movie first came out: Mr. Darcy Has a Mullet.

Building Mr. Darcy - Part 3

2011-08-09T20:17:00.001-07:00

Well, it's time to decide on Mr. Darcy's hair. This is pretty easy. Either you like curls and waves or you don't. In my opinion, Matthew had a bad haircut. I thought it was done deliberately as a way to reflect the harsh shampoos of the era and lack of a good Great Clips in the neighborhood. So what do you think? Curly (CF), wavy (EC) or straight (MM)? I think I have a pretty idea who is going to win this one.

Don't forget that any comment left on my blog between now and August 14th enters you into the giveaway. All you have to do is leave your e-mail address so that I may contact you.

Sale on A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park

2011-08-09T00:10:00.001-07:00

Reading the newspapers about the economy can be depressing, so I have decided to take matters into my own hands. I am cutting the price for my book in half on Kindle and Nook. A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park is now available for $1.49 indefinitely (or until the economy gets better). I hope you will take advantage of this sale. It's a novel plus a short story, all for the price of one. Thanks.

What's Going on in Austen World

2011-08-09T00:05:00.016-07:00

Lots going on. There are two reviews of my novellas. Irena at This Miss Loves to Read reviews my latest, A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park, while Erlynn at My Own Little Corner of the World reviews A Wife for Mr. Darcy. I hope you stop by and leave a comment.

Take a tour around England, from Oxford to Scilly, with Diana Birchall, the author of Mrs. Elton in America and Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma. Lovely pictures. You won't want to miss this.

Do you love Alan Rickman, Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility? Then you will want to check out Jenny Allworthy's post on The Jane Austen Film Club.

Abigail Reynolds has Morning Light and Pemberley Medley on sale on Kindle and Nook for $2.99.

Vic at Jane Austen's World has a great post on Laundry in the Georgian Era.

For those who love Pride and Prejudice 2005 with Keira and Matthew, I have found a new blog appropriately titled Pride and Prejudice 2005.

Austenesque Reviews continues its Austen Extravaganza throughout the month. You really don't want to miss this.

A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park is now available in paperback for $7.75.

Building Mr. Darcy - Part 2

2011-08-07T17:21:00.007-07:00

OK, The "eyes" have it for Colin Firth. By the way, that's a pun on "ayes." So let's move on to Mr. Darcy's lips. I think Matthew will do better here because his lips are thicker (lusher?). By special request, Elliot Cowan has been included, and looking at this picture, Angie does have a point. So what do you think?

P.S. I am moving up the date for inclusion in the giveaways from August 21 to August 14. Best of luck.

Building the Perfect Mr. Darcy

2011-08-04T20:41:00.004-07:00

The war of the Darcys continues. Do you prefer Colin Firth or Matthew Macfadyen? Do you like Colin's smile better than Matthew's. Well, let's find out. Let's build the perfect Mr. Darcy, and we shall begin with the gentleman's eyes. This is a challenge for me because I like Colin's dark brown eyes, so soulful loking, but Matthew's blue eyes are very alluring. What do you think? Take my poll in the sidebar, and we shall start building the perfect Mr. Darcy.

P.S. Remember, if you comment on any blog post between now and August 14, you will be entered in a giveaway. See post below. Just remember to leave your e-mail address.

Release of a New Novella

2011-08-04T00:05:00.004-07:00

I have a new novella out, A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park, that includes a bonus short story, Mr. Darcy Steps In. Here is a brief description of both:

The day after the assembly at Meryton, Fitzwilliam Darcy departs Hertfordshire believing that he leaves little of interest behind him. But when Elizabeth Bennet comes to Kent, Darcy has an opportunity for a second look at the dark-haired beauty and is instantly smitten. Unfortunately for Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth has a long memory, and the gentleman from Derbyshire will have to earn her love. His efforts begin with a walk in the meadows at Rosings Park.

Bonus Short Story: Mr. Darcy Steps In. When Mr. Darcy learns that Mr. Collins intends to make Elizabeth Bennet an offer, he knows he has to do something, but what follows is totally unexpected.

Right now, this book is available only on Kindle and Nook.The paperback version will be up on Amazon by next week. I have priced the e-book at $2.99. I hope you will have a look. Thanks. Mary

P.S. My daughter, Meg, designed the cover.

Your Responses Re My Blog - So Far

2011-08-03T00:15:00.005-07:00

I asked for input, and so many of my wonderful readers responded. Here is what I have so far.

Luthien: I love history especially Regency period and giveaways. I don't really know what to say when you ask some questions about JA's characters, plots, etc. but I welcome it if it helps me to voice out my opinion and interact with the other participants. If you have the talent, maybe you can create some form of intellectual pursuit like treasure hunt, crossword puzzle, etc. As for puzzles, etc., I don't have the talent, but I could suggest it to my fellow writers on Austen Authors. There are a few computer geeks on the site.

Luthien, I’m so glad you like history because that is my greatest love.

Cinta: I am a real fan of all things Austen or Austenesque. I also like history, so everything related to the Regency period will be most welcome. I also like blogs to include links to other related websites and funny quizzes or games about Austen and the Regency Period. You can also include from time to time contests, as for example, you can ask people what their answer to a certain questions would be or something like that.

Cinta, Two votes for history! Yeah! I will make it a point to link to other Austen sites. I did that for a while in “What’s Going on in Austen World.” I’ll also think about contests. If you have any specific ideas, I’m open to suggestions.

Gayle: I always want more historical romances. You do that so well.

Gayle, Aw shucks, thanks. You know I love your comments about my stories.

Jakki: I am interested in exactly how you do your research for your books. Do you have particular books you turn to, the internet, library reference section? I love learning about history (one thing I love about your books). I also love the interactive questions. I feel that not only do I get to see what others think, but it is creating connections between me and other fan fiction readers. Also, it is nice to have these conversations since I do not have any friends in my area that share my love for JA and Darcy and Elizabeth. It allows me a chance to have conversations with people instead of only in my head! I CANNOT wait for Darcy on the Hudson and A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park & your short story, Mr. Darcy Steps In to be published!

Jakki, Three votes for history! I’m so pleased. I will definitely write a post on my research. As for interactive questions, I love the comments as well. The responses from the readers are so thought provoking. Connections are important. I've made so many because of my books (including a wonderful lady from the Deep South). They bring up things I never thought about. I learn a lot. Thanks for the plugs on my upcoming releases. :)

Angie, What I like most is when I find out about Mary the woman, first, writer, second, Austen & historical context third. In the end - what is the inspiration? You already know what my favorite line was in the last book - where on earth did that come from!?!

Angie, Thanks for being interested in me. I’m not terribly complex, but I’ll see what I can do.

(The quote Angie is referring to is from A Wife for Mr. Darcy. The rake, Lord Fitzwilliam, is counseling Darcy: “It is a bad start to a marriage when you have to pry your spouse's fingers, one at a time, from the bedpost on your wedding night. Ask Eleanor. Although I very nearly succeeded in holding her off.”)

Debbie Brown: It is hard to think of anything original to ask for! I love historical details.

Debbie, I’m counting your comment as a vote for history. Thanks!

Jennifer: You'll find an audience when you write what you love! That's my suggestion.

Jennifer, My first love is history, but when you don’t get any comments on a post, you wonder if there is anyone out there who is still awake!

Trez: I like the historical tidbits of history that you enlighten us with, such as the time you posted about cholera and the outbreak in London, that was about John Snow, wasn't it? I like the neat places you talk about that you have been to and the pretty pictures. I like the post on the Sistine Chapel. I like it when you put things up like that time you talked about the covers of the novels and why there are no face or only partial bodies. I thought that was really interesting. I think Mary, when you put things up that inspire you and you add what you have to say about it that it's very interesting.

Trez, Aren’t you sweet? Answer: Yes. Another history lover. Hurrah! Yes, it was John Snow. Great book. You can thank Jennifer Becton for the cover post. She was a guest blogger that day. Here’s the link: http://marysimonsenfanfiction.blogspot.com/2011/02/choosing-cover-guest-post-by-jennifer.html I might repost that because I have at least five new followers since Jennifer wrote her post. :)

Margay: I'm a history buff myself, so I'd always like to learn more about the places I read about in books. As an off-shoot of that, learning how you come by that information would be interesting, too. Research tips and the like.

Margay: I'll share more of my research in future posts. Glad to meet another history buff.

Blodeuedd: It seems history is what we like and yes I'd like more history. You know the small things, how did they brush their teeth, what they wore, I like things like that : Oh and pics of castles always make me happy.

Blodeuedd, Because of your nom de plume, I guessed that you were a history lover. Being a 100% of Irish descent, I share your interest in Celtic history. Pics of castles? I wonder where that came from? J

Irena: I'd love to read about history because your posts about history are great. Also, posts about places you've been, things you've experienced, and interactive questions - I love those. And it would be great to have you answer the question you asked: Did Marianne really love Col. Brandon? I am also always up for a poll. For now, I'll have fun imaging the butts of every Mr Darcy to date.:)

Irena, I love polls! They are too easy to pass up. Did Marianne really love Col. Brandon. Not sure. I wonder if she mistook gratitude for love. Now, as for Mr. Darcy’s butt. I’m thinking of having a vote on that one.

Candy: Mary, I love your post on history, I've learned so much from you. Sometimes when you have written something historical, you have inspired me to do more of my own research to find out more! Your interactive posts are fun too! Reading about YOU is wonderful too! About your tony perms and your beautiful mother. So...pretty much anything you want to write about is great. :P.S. Pardon any typos, I was writing this while walking on my treadmill.

Candy, Seriously! You are writing on a treadmill? When I do “athletics,” such as a treadmill. I have to concentrate 100% or I would fall off. Remember, I managed to fall out of my sister’s tub. Thanks for the comments.

Carol: I really enjoy little titbits of information on everyday things in an historical era. The foods they ate, the clothes they wore, there entertainments and so on with lots of detail.

Carol, Thanks. Another history buff. Hurrah! Will do.

Nancy: Most of us are so interested in the actual research and writing process. Does the author have the story idea first, or the character? Does the author use an outline or, as I do, write down ideas and then number them in the order I want to use them. (Don't ask how I started using that regime). We are all in love with the characters, the landscape, the manners and the verbage, and the history of these families, their neighbors and friends always spikes our interest. It sounds as if you are a very, very busy lady and how do you schedule your writing time each day?

Nancy, I am a pantser, i.e., someone who writes by the seat of her pants--not outline. I'll be happy to share a day in the life with you. How do I manage everything? It certainly helps that I'm retired, and my kids are grown!

pseudophilosopher: I love the ideas of including polls, and giveaways which you already are doing.

Pseudophilosopher: More polls on the way.

Your input was invaluable. I wasn't sure if people liked my historical posts or not. I think I need to provide some incentives so that people will comment. Maybe a once a month of giveaway. Please keep your suggestions coming.

P.S. Anyone who comments on any post before August 14 will be entered in the giveaways. Please remember to leave your contact info.

Today at Austenesque Extravaganza

2011-08-02T07:45:00.005-07:00

Traveling Tuesdays:
Austen Inspirations - Nancy Kelley (His Good Opinion)
For the Love of Austen - Kaydee Kildow (Saving Grace)
Jane Austen Sequels - Jane Odiwe (Willoughby's Return)
Ola Wegner's Books - (Moonlighting)

Please visit Meredith's blog at Austenesque Reviews for more information.

I Need Your Help

2011-08-01T16:06:00.001-07:00

This has been a busy summer for me. I went to a wedding on Long Island and spent a beautiful day in New York City with my husband and younger daughter. Then it was off to Texas for five days with my four sisters, my older daughter, and my two grandkids. I've also been busy preparing two titles for publication in August: Darcy on the Hudson, a novel, and A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park, a novella with a bonus short story, Mr. Darcy Steps In.

Because I was so busy, my blog was neglected, so I want to jump right back in by asking people what exactly they want to see when they link to my blog. I've already had a couple of responses, and they have provided an excellent start.

My greatest love is history, and so I like to write historical posts. Do you enjoy that as well? Would you like interactive questions, such as: Were Marianne Dashwood and Col. Brandon really happy? How about polls: Which Mr. Darcy has the best butt? Giveaways? Definitely. So to encourage you to share, I am giving away proof copies of A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park, Mr. Darcy's Angel of Mercy, and For All the Wrong Reasons. But there's more:

Dancing With Mr. Darcy - Introduction by Sarah Waters
Jane and the Stillroom Maid - Stephanie Barron
The Matters at Mansfield - Carrie Bebris
Jane and the Man of the Cloth - Stephanie Barron
Pride and Prescience - Carrie Bebris

On August 22, I will select five winners, and you will get to pick whatever book you want. Remember the rules: Make a suggestion, enter by August 21, open worldwide, but you must leave me an e-mail address. No address; no can win. Pretty easy, right? I'm looking forward to hearing your suggestions.

What's Coming Up in August

2011-08-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, Meredith at Austenesque Reviews is having a month-long Austen Extravaganza with tons of giveaways and posts by dozens of bloggers (me included). Secondly, I will be having my own giveaways of my titles and some other Austenesque authors. I am doing this for a selfish reason. I want a better blog, and I need for my readers/followers to tell me what they want to see on my blog.

Originally, it was my intention to publish short stories and novellas on this blog, but recently an author found that her story had been lifted in its entirety from a fan fiction site and placed on another fan fiction site passing it off as her own. Fortunately, an alert reader recognized the story and notified the author, but it does give one pause. I have decided to make my short stories available on Kindle (and Nook) for $.99 and my novellas for $2.99. That is as low as Amazon Kindle will allow me to go in order to preserve a 70% royalty. Otherwise, they get the lion's share.

So please think about it. Do you like history? Are you interested in giveaways? Do you like games? Polls? Interactive posts? Please let me know. I really do want to have a bog where people will check in every few days to see what is going on. Thanks so much. Mary

Wrap Up of Blog Tour at A Life in the Thumb

2011-07-29T10:42:00.002-07:00

Ah, another blog tour comes to an end. I finish up with a review of A Wife for Mr. Darcy with Staci at Life in the Thumb. This was a great review, and she also reads a portion of my book in a video. That's a first for me. Hope you will stop by. Now, I have to go put the bus back in the garage until October when I will be on a blog tour for Mr. Darcy's Bite.

P.S. In August, I will be having giveaways. Stay tuned.

Great Review for Diary of an Eccentric for A Wife for Mr. Darcy & Blog Stop & Giveaway

2011-07-27T03:00:00.005-07:00

I am so pleased with the review that I received from Anna at Diary of an Eccentric. That's me jumping over the Grand Canvyon after reading my review.

Here is a part of Anna's review:

A Wife for Mr. Darcy was so engrossing that I truly feared for the happiness of Darcy and Elizabeth, and I was so wrapped up in the whole mess with Miss Montford that I didn’t even miss all the chaos associated with Lady Catherine, who did not make an appearance. Simonsen does a wonderful job making Austen’s characters her own, and the addition of her original characters make for a richer read. I can’t wait to see where she takes the Darcys, the Bingleys, and the Bennets next.

Please click here for the complete review. I am also scheduled for a blog stop at Diary of An Eccentric today where Anna is hosting a giveaway that ends on August 7.

Blog Tour Stop at My Jane Austen Book Club

2011-07-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

Please join Maria Grazia and me at My Jane Austen Book Club. I have written a guest post about P&P's three couples: Elizabeth and Darcy, Bingley and Jane, and Lydia and Wickham. There is also a giveaway of one copy of A Wife for Mr. Darcy, but please hurry because the giveaway ends on August 1.

Laura's Reviews - Blog Stop

2011-07-22T00:15:00.010-07:00

My blog tour for A Wife for Mr. Darcy will stop at Larua's Reviews. The giveaway ends on August 12.

Another Chance to Win A Wife for Mr. Darcy

2011-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was interviewed by Angie Kroll and Stacie Nobbe for Stacie's blog The Beginner Businesswoman. I hope you will stop by and check out their site. In order to entice you, they are having a givewawy of A Wife for Mr. Darcy. All you have to do is click "like" for their Facebook page, and you are entered. It's that easy. Please visit. Thank you.

Today at Love Romance Passion

2011-07-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Today, I have a guest post at Love Romance Passion with Keira for my blog tour of A Wife for Mr. Darcy. I hope you will stop by for a visit.

Interview with Austen Prequels and Sequels

2011-07-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

I recently visited with Sofia at Austen Prequels and Sequels to answer questions about what Austen books and characters I like best. I was asked what four Austen characters I would like to have dinner with. Hope you will stop by and read my answers.

Giveaways of A Wife for Mr. Darcy

2011-07-15T14:16:00.003-07:00

There are currently two giveaways for A Wife for Mr. Darcy. Here are the links:

Songs and Stories

Historical Hussies

I hope you will stop by and visit with Natalie and Linda. Thanks.

New Blog in Town

2011-07-13T11:18:00.000-07:00

There is a new blog for Austen lovers and supporters of independent publishing called Indie Jane. They are also giving away a Kindle. Now you have two reasons to stop by for a visit.

The Companion of Lady Holmeshire by Debra Brown

2011-07-13T10:22:00.003-07:00

Debra Brown, aka English Period Novels, on Facebook, has released her first book on Kindle, The Companion of Lady Holmeshire. Here is some information from her press release:

Pensacola, Florida. World Castle Publishing just announced the release of The Companion of Lady Holmeshire by Debra Brown. Available Friday, July 15th. This historical with a touch of romance is sure to become a classic suitable for any age. Mrs. Brown keeps the reader glued to the pages to find out what happens next. Not your typical historical or your typical ending either. The Companion of Lady Holmeshire will sweep you away from modern cares into a different, fascinating world of aristocrats and servants, castles and villages, mansions and balls. Enjoy the London Season with a servant girl, become a companion to a countess, who is dragged along into snobbish society. Watch mysteries develop and sweet romances bloom.

For more information, please click here. Congratulations, Debra, and best of luck with your book.

Three New Reviews for A Wife for Mr. Darcy

2011-07-12T00:05:00.033-07:00

From Keira at Love Romance Passion:

Review: As much as I love Regency romances sometimes the rules are beyond me. An extra dance at a ball, a visit or two to a drawing room, and suddenly you’re nonverbally committed to someone to the point where marriage contracts are being drafted up on the side for the day when the proposal comes. Yikes! Poor Darcy.

Letitia Montford is the young lady in question. She’s everything Darcy believes he wants in a wife. She possesses all the qualities of a perfect Regency Miss, but she has all the character, depth, and personality of a painted table. Pretty to look at and not much else. She does not engage him that way our Elizabeth does.

Recommended: If you love Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice Variations, or Regency romance you’re gonna devour A Wife for Mr. Darcy! I did. It’s one of the best books out in 2011.

For the complete review, please visit Keria at Love Romance Passion

* * *

From Blodeuedd at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell:

This is the Pride and Prejudice variation to read. It was sweet and wonderful, just like a nice desert that you just savour. And it will bring a smile to your face.

For the complete review, please visit Blodeuedd at Mur-y-Castell.

* * *

From Linda Banche at Historical Hilarity:

Rich with the social realities of the era, A Wife for Mr. Darcy is also a cautionary tale of the pitfalls involved in blindly following society's dictates. Duty and position in the world loomed large in Darcy's day, with serious penalties for not conforming to expectations. But should you follow society's precepts and undertake a disastrous, loveless marriage with a "suitable" woman as Darcy's cousin, the earl, did, or follow your heart and risk the consequences?

Ms. Simonsen writes the style of Jane Austen well, but with added emotion. The emotion transforms a simple Cinderella story into a tale of real people caught in a bind of life-altering proportions.

Darcy and Elizabeth's love makes them both vulnerable and deeply human, and is a joy to read. I like the rehabilitated Mrs. Bennet, here a sensible woman whose dramatics are only a bid for attention in a crowded female household. Mr. Collins is even sillier than in Pride and Prejudice, and Georgiana shows a definite talent for intrigue as she helps extricate her beloved brother from a tangle not entirely of his making.

For the complete review, please visit Linda at Historical Hilarity.

P.S. Blogger determines the spacing of my posts. Sometimes, I would like to take an axe to Blogger.

4.5 Star Review at Austenesque Reviews - A Wife for Mr. Darcy

2011-07-11T09:59:00.009-07:00

I have received a 4.5 star review at Austenesque Reviews for A Wife for Mr. Darcy. Here is a snippet:

[In A Wife for Mr. Darcy], Darcy and Elizabeth receive some much needed assistance from the schemes and manipulations of Darcy's meddling and well-meaning relatives. Through these characters and their clever machinations, Ms. Simonsen's penchant for humor and satire really shine... If you are the mood to read about Darcy being embroiled in a love triangle, Bingley and Jane combating some unmanageable little hellions, and the profligate Lord Fitzwilliam constantly causing mayhem and aggravation, A Wife for Mr. Darcy is the novel for you! Hilarious, absorbing, and unique - A Wife for Mr. Darcy, is my new favorite Mary Simonsen novel! I highly recommend!

For Meredith's full review, please click here.

Also, don't forget to enter the giveaway of A Wife for Mr. Darcy at Austen Authors. Deadline is June 12. Winner will be announced on June 13.

Review from Savvy Verse and Wit

2011-07-08T11:46:00.006-07:00

Here is a review from Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit for A Wife for Mr. Darcy:

Simonsen's writing is as close to Austen’s as you can get, but it is modern at the same time, with sexual intimacy talked about, but never shown explicitly. The wit of Austen is here as well, though with a more modern sensibility. Readers will enjoy this creative exploration of these characters, the introduction of new characters, like Sir John Montford and his daughter Letitia and Bingley’s older sister and her brood the Crenshaws. One of the most amusing scenes in the novel is when Jane takes on the task of taming the savagery of the Crenshaw children, who are prepared to survive any apocalypse.

“‘Please. You must say please, Master Lucius,’ Mrs. Bennet told the more compliant twin.

‘Soldiers don’t say please,’ he answered in a voice revealing just how insecure he was feeling.

‘Are you an officer or an enlisted man?’ Mr. Bennet asked.

‘An officer.’

‘Any officer in His Majesty’s Army would be regarded as a gentleman, and as such, would know the proper manners to use when dining.’

‘Well, then, I am an enlisted man,’ he said, even less sure than when he had been an officer.

‘Enlisted men follow orders,’ and after staring him in the eye, he continued, ‘or they are flogged.’” (page 119 of ARC)

Tension, on the other hand, is created by the introduction of another woman — though not a woman who he views with love, but merely obligation. In this way, Simonsen has called attention to societal norms in a way that Austen would have, pointing to their shortfalls and ridiculousness... A Wife for Mr. Darcy is a quick read that allows readers to revisit their favorite characters, see more of Austen’s characters who were more on the sidelines in the original, and be introduced to new and interesting characters.

For the full interview, please click here.

Blog Tour for A Wife for Mr. Darcy Stops at Psychotic State

2011-07-07T04:00:00.002-07:00

I will be visiting Lori at Psychotic State today for an interview. Please stop by for a visit. Thank you.

Review for A Wife for Mr. Darcy from Austenprose

2011-07-06T14:00:00.002-07:00

Guest review by Kimberly Denny-Ryder of Reflections of a Book Addict

Mary Lydon Simonsen, author of Searching for Pemberley and The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, is back with yet another opportunity for us to wander down that “what if” path with our favorite Pride and Prejudice characters: Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. This time, our variation begs the question: what if, after Mr. Darcy made that terrible “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” comment, he goes to apologize to Elizabeth and beg her forgiveness instead of never addressing it? We find out in A Wife for Mr. Darcy, Simonsen’s third P&P fan fiction novel...

Simonsen is a master at getting her readers to feel the emotions that her characters are feeling. For most of the book, I felt the angst that Darcy was feeling when trying to figure out what to do and how to do it. I felt Elizabeth’s depression, as she realized she loved Darcy, and also realized that he could never marry her due to her low social standing and lack of wealth. Simonsen’s descriptive prose flows from page to page, as you become engulfed in the emotions of her storytelling. It’s a fantastic reading experience, one I get from reading every one of book of hers...

I think if Austen were able to read Simonsen’s work, she would definitely approve of the new directions that her beloved characters are taking. While Austen purists might not enjoy the new plot, I think even they would be satisfied with the characterizations of the characters.

You’re definitely going to want to add this emotional rollercoaster of a book to your “to read” pile. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

5 out of 5 Regency Stars

To read all of Kimberly's review, please click here.

Launch of a Wife for Mr. Darcy at Austen Authors

2011-07-05T00:05:00.002-07:00

Please join me at Austen Authors for the launch of A Wife for Mr. Darcy. There will be a worldwide giveaway. Also, I am a guest of Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit. Thank you.

The Fourth of July - The View of a British Lady

2011-07-04T00:05:00.002-07:00

The following excerpt is taken from Frances Trollope's Domestic Manners of the Americans. Frances, the mother of novelist Anthony Trollope, lived in the United States for three years, chiefly in Cincinnati. Her book created a storm on this side of the Atlantic as Americans felt they were portrayed as ill-mannered boors, but it laid the foundation for her career.

And now arrived the 4^th of July, that greatest of all American festivals. On the 4^th of July, 1776, the declaration of their independence was signed at the Statehouse in Philadelphia.

On the 4^th of July, the hearts of the people seem to awaken from a 364 days’ sleep. They appear high-spirited, gay, animated, social, generous, or at least liberal in expense; and would they but refrain from spitting on that hallowed day, I should say that on the 4^th of July, at least, they appeared to be amiable people. It is true that the women have but little to do with pageantry, the splendour, or the gaiety of the day; but, setting this defect aside, it was indeed a glorious sight to behold a jubilee so heartfelt as this; and had they not had the bad taste and bad feeling to utter an annual oration, with unvarying abuse of the mother country, to say nothing of the warlike manifesto called Declaration of Independence, our gracious king himself might look upon the scene and say that it was good; and even rejoice that twelve millions of bustling bodies, at four thousand miles distance from his throne and his altars, should make their own laws and drink their own tea after the fashion that pleased them best.

In Mrs. Trollope's own words: In 1832, I published Domestic Manners of the Americans, which was described by one critic as “a spirited, highly critical account of [my] adventures and travels in the new republic.” Although my candid observations about American life and society were contemptuously dismissed by American reviewers, Domestic Manners of the Americans was enormously popular in England and it launched my career as a writer and social critic.

Blog Tour Schedule

2011-06-30T00:10:00.023-07:00

The official launch for A Wife for Mr. Darcy is today at Austenprose, and Laurel Ann is giving away three, yes that's three, copies of my latest novel. Here is my blog schedule. Along with brilliant blog posts, there will be additional giveaways, and I hope you will stop by for a visit.

July 1 – Austenprose
July 5 – Savvy Verse and Wit
July 7 – Psychotic State
July 13 – Historical Hilarity (Linda Banche has a new book out.)
July 15 - Songs and Stories
July 19 – Love Romance Passion
July 22 – Laura’s Reviews
July 25 - My Jane Austen Book Club
July 27 – Diary of an Eccentric

Regency Era Milliner's Shop

2011-06-29T09:23:00.001-07:00

Vic at Jane Austen's World has a very interesting article, Parisian Milliner’s Advice in 1801 to a Visiting Lady: Regency Fashion, along with excellent sketches.