Twisted Austen 2020: The Ladies of Norland

It's that time of year when I insist on overtaxing myself by writing a story that few will read and might prove detrimental to my career. Welcome to Twisted Austen, my annual event conceived in the spirit of Halloween but which really just serves to infuriate and confuse my fellow Janeites. That’s not being totally fair to myself. Some readers do actually seem to really like these stories, but I write them for my own amusement. It’s a space where I can explore ideas that really aren’t marketable.

Now that I have entranced you with that confident pitch, let me inform the uninitiated that this is an eight day event, beginning tomorrow, October 24th, and running through Halloween. I will post one part of this year's story each day, and then I will publish once complete. There are likely to be giveaways, as well (I've always offered them in the past, perhaps too many), if I can pull it together in time. 

Twisted Austen was born in the wake of the monster mash-up craze that overtook this genre after the publication of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Could Austen’s beautiful stories be rendered “horrid” even without imposing monster-filled dystopian realities on her stories? If nothing else, I think I’ve proven the answer to be an emphatic yes. Why would I want to attempt such a thing? I guess I am, myself, a little twisted. I actually treasure some of the worst reviews this series has received, in a way I never could for any of my other works, because the entire point is to be a bit appalling, while provoking the reader's imagination into doing the bulk of the dirty work for me.

I launched Twisted Austen in 2012 with Emma & Elton: Something Truly Horrid. The subtitle was meant as a warning but, nevertheless, many readers were truly dismayed. It is the most disturbing of the collection, exploring what could have happened had Mr. Knightley warned Emma not to be overly attentive to Mr. Elton. Still, I really don’t understand how anyone could expect a happy ending with such a title. My very favorite review for it on Amazon is one sentence long and only two stars: “It was written, but the plot itself is so cringe-worthy and horrifying that there’s really no reason to re-read it.” I know it’s probably against my better interests to further publicize such sentiments, but I just can’t help myself. For this story, cringe-worthy is a compliment. I did, however, listen to the reviews and tone it down a little bit the following year. Jane & Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling is not nearly so devastating as Emma and Elton in its outcome. In fact, it adheres strictly to canon, which possibly angered readers even more. The most consistent complaint about the book is its abrupt ending, which I’m glad people found unsettling. I took a story my readers know like the back of their hands and offered a different perspective – not necessarily a probable one, just a possible one – and supported it with evidence from Austen’s original text. Readers, equipped with their perfect knowledge of forthcoming events, are then left to their own conclusions. This is where Twisted Austen stories collide with typical Halloween tales, ghost stories and horror films having long exploited the fact that what goes unseen is often what frightens most. At the same time, the concept is quintessentially Austenesque, dependent as it is on the reader's knowledge of Jane’s novels.

In 2014, I wrote Becoming Mrs. Norris, a prequel to Mansfield Park. It attempts to evoke sympathy for a despised character by endowing her with a tragic backstory. I published this story convinced no one would read it. Mansfield Park is notoriously hard to sell to JAFF readers. Little surprise, it pretty much tanked upon release, but when a few reviews finally did trickle in, they were far more positive than I had expected. I guess having the name “Mrs. Norris” in the title is a better deterrent for the feint-hearted than my more expository attempts to ward them off. Those of us who read Mansfield Park fan-fiction are a rare breed, and I think I self-selected an appreciative audience.

*Just a random note about book covers. I repurposed the artwork from Emma & Elton for Becoming Mrs. Norris (who wants to spend money on a book they don’t expect to be able to sell?). Also, and as you may have observed, Twisted Austen comes to you in color this year. I have long been in the process of changing the style of my covers, and this year's story, The Ladies of Norland, is the first publication to roll out the new look. 

For two years I had to abandon Twisted Austen. We relocated to Switzerland in late summer 2015, and it was a long struggle afterwards to reestablish regular writing habits. The fact that Halloween is not widely celebrated here was of little assistance. When I finally resurrected the event in 2017, I was in a decidedly more playful mood than in previous years, even as I continued to try and redeem the unredeemable. Part prequel and part perspective-shift, I am Lady Catherine envisions that lady’s life from the time of her marriage through the end of Pride & Prejudice. The reception for this story was, by far, the most positive of the entire series and a firm reminder to me that no matter how tempting it might be to push people’s buttons, it is way more fun to earn their praise than their censure. In 2018, I tried to build upon that "success," even while delving into a very delicate subject. Young Wickham is a sequel to Pride & Prejudice that relies heavily on the plot of Mansfield Park. Instead of the Bertrams taking in a niece, we find the Darcys inviting Lydia and Wickham’s oldest son to live at Pemberley. A lot of readers were expecting this to be about Wickham's youth and were taken aback to find the action takes place in the Victorian Era. Still, the reception was strong amongst those who read it.

I'm trusting that The Ladies of Norland has not such an off-putting title as some of my others. I've experienced another Twisted Austen hiatus, this time triggered by the birth of my son, and it is a small miracle that I managed to complete it at all. It is the first real work that I have accomplish since the pandemic began. As it is, I barely finished it in time, and it is significantly shorter than my other Twisted Austen books, definitely not qualifying for the grandiose title of "novella" to which the others aspire. As you've probably surmised, this one is Sense and Sensibility based. It's a reimagination premised on the idea of old Mr. Dashwood being more generous to our heroines than Austen rendered him. Unfortunately, sometimes adversity is better for us in the long run. It's actually sort of a hopeful theme for our chaotic times. So please, come by, read along, and gasp in shock if you must. A happy Twisted Austen to all! 

Jane and Bingley Now Available on Kindle and Nook!

Halloween is behind us, but the fun continues! Jane and Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling is now available for purchase on your Kindle or Nook, or you can always read it for free right here (check the page tabs above), or download a pdf of the story from Goodreads, also a freebie. It was great fun. Thanks to all who participated, and good luck to everyone who entered the giveaways. They are all open until November 8th, so there is still time to enter and win!

More Halloween Cards for Twisted Austen!

Those of you who read last week's post on the Northanger Abbey themed cards I made may recall the issues I had finding frightening quotes to feature, even in Austen's gothic parody. On further consideration, I came to much the same conclusion as that which inspired this entire Twisted Austen endeavor: it is not ghosts and ghouls that Jane found terrifying, but moral deficiency and failing. The most harrowing moments in Austen's novels are not fantastic. Instead they are very realistic depictions of the foibles and cruelties of humans inflict on themselves and others. These are the themes I explored in Emma & Elton: Something Truly Horrid last year, and even more so in this year's story, Jane & Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling. With these thoughts in mind, I decided to make a second set of Halloween cards for giveaway during Twisted Austen, highlighting some of the more harrowing moments in Austen. Both sets of cards were made using Martha Stewart halloween stencils, which I happened to find on sale at Michaels (a great buy! I've been using them for all kinds of seasonal projects with my daughter as well), and some of the cards in this second set turned out rather witty, if I may say so myself. I selected the stencils used to provide a bit of commentary on the quotes featured, a fact which I hope is readily apparent to all. For example, I quote Fanny Dashwood's objections to providing Mrs. Dashwood an annuity and adorned the card with a skull and crossbones. Get it? I'd love to hear your thoughts on them:

"I am not going to urge her," replied Mrs. Norris sharply; "but I shall
think her a very obstinate, ungrateful girl, if she does not do what
her aunt and cousins wish her - very ungrateful, indeed, considering
who and what she is." - Mansfield Park

There was no wound, no blood, no-visible bruise; but her eyes were
closed, she breathed not, her face was like death. The horror of the
 moment to all who stood around! - Persuasion

Why was the evil so dreadfully increased by Harriet's having some
hope of a return? It darted through her, with the speed of an arrow,
that Mr. Knightley must marry no one but herself! - Emma

"To be sure," said she, "it is better than parting with fifteen hundred
pounds at once. But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood should live fifteen
 years we shall be completely taken in." - Sense & Sensibility

"When my eyes were opened to his real character. - Oh! had I known
 what I ought, what I dared, to do! But I knew not - was afraid of
doing too much.Wretched, wretched, mistake!" - Pride & Prejudice

 The pile of swag is building up. I am going to do a giveaway each of the eight days of the event, with a grand prize on the last day (Halloween), featuring a selection of all the goodies I've made for the occasion, along with a complete set of my Tales of Less Pride & Prejudice series. I hope you will all join in the fun!

Handmade Copies of Emma & Elton ready for Twisted Austen!

This is the week! The fun begins on Thursday with the first section of Jane and Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling, a piece of which I will post each day through the end of the month. I'm still fiddling with the story a bit, so I have not yet had an opportunity to treat it in the same manner as last year's Emma and Elton: Something Truly Horrid, which I have hand bound into an extremely limited edition paper back (I only made three). Two of the copies, along with lots of my handmade Halloween cards (see the first completed set here) and copies of my novels will be available for giveaway during my Twisted Austen event. So stop by each day, stay updated on this dark alternative perspective version of Pride & Prejudice, and enter to win fabulous prizes. I can think of few more gratifying manners in which to celebrate Halloween then with Austenesque tricks and treats. Take a gander at the Emma & Elton folios. I'm so please with how they came out!

Halloween Cards and Jane Bingley: Twisted Austen 2013

I seem to begin a lot of posts with the word "so."

So here are the Austen Halloween cards that I've made for what I am struggling to brand Twisted Austen. I intend an annual event, barring the unexpected, in honor of Halloween. 

Here's the problem: Jane Austen isn't exactly Edgar Allen Poe. Her work really isn't very Halloweeny. With Christmas she has some affinity, if in the form of Caroline Bingley's snarky greetings, but with Halloween? There's a stretch. It's just like these cards (for more on process, proceed here), which feature quotes from  Northanger Abbey, but even Austen's spookiest novel afford's little fodder. I think my favorite is "Our foggy climate wants help," courtesy of Mr. Thorpe.

I believe I described Emma and Elton: Something Truly Horrid as an Austenesque nightmare when trying to promote it last year: no ghouls or mayhem, but still terribly wrong. This year I'm presenting Jane and Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling. I hope the title, like it's predecessors, conveys enough warning to those whom it might offend to keep them from ever reading it all. I offer these stories to those who find the nightmares of others compelling, and duly urge all others to keep their distance. These are not happy stories. 

I also referred to Emma and Elton as an entirely opposite endeavor to Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice, a story so happy as to invoke the ire of some readers. Things went very poorly for Miss Woodhouse last year. This year's story doesn't actually alter Austen's plot line in the least (hence slightly unsettling instead of truly horrid). Jane and Bingley is a retelling of the first volume of Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of a very different Jane Bennet, not a reimagination of the story. Here's a small taste, still subject to further editing:

"It is to be uncommonly dreadful. I  expect murder
and everything of the kind"

Elizabeth smiled brightly in greeting. “You look well rested! No adverse effects from last evening’s frivolity?”

Jane returned the expression. “No. My daring journey to the drawing room has not set back my recovery. I feel much improved.”

“Good! I was hoping you would, and not only for my own selfish reasons. Nothing matters more to me than your well-being, my dearest sister, but I am anxious to return home. Let us write to Longbourn and request the carriage.”

Jane saw Elizabeth’s eagerness, but she could not share it. She was not prepared to leave Netherfield just yet, nor did she think her sister should. She would have preferred it had Mr. Darcy expressed such an interest in herself, for to be Mrs. Darcy would be something, indeed, but Elizabeth was the next best person he could possibly have alighted upon. Mr. Darcy was too precious an opportunity - wealthy, handsome, and respectable - to quibble over which sister should have him.

"And are you prepared to encounter all the horrors
that a building such as 'what one reads about' may produce?

She considered her options, quickly concluding that her mother would see the situation in much the same light as herself, even without knowing Mr. Darcy to be a prospect. I do wish Mama had not insulted him! Safe in the knowledge that Mrs. Bennet would never concede to the request, Jane aceeded to Elizabeth’s wishes, and a letter to Mrs. Bennet was promptly dispatched. When the expected refusal arrived, she participated in Elizabeth’s chagrin while inwardly rejoicing. There was a great deal of satisfaction to be derived in rightfully predicting the actions of others. Furthermore, the color had begun to return to her checks, which must be of assistance in subduing Mr. Bingley’s heart, and she had at least a few more days to enjoy the luxuries of Netherfield while accomplishing that task.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth was not to be so easily satisfied. Soon she was at Jane’s side, continuing to insist on their departure. “You might request the carriage of Mr. Bingley,” she argued, adding, “ I fear we might become an imposition, were we to linger any longer.”

Jane scurried to defend her position  “Might it not be too forward a request? I would hate to be a further inconvience, after having already caused so much.”

“Nonsense, Jane! Only you would imagine such a commonplace courtesy too much to ask.”

Darkness impenetrable and immovable filled the room.
A violent gust of wind, rising with sudden fury,
added fresh horror to the moment.

She tried again. “I would rather not display our lack of access to the carriage.”

“Says the lady who arrived upon a dripping wet horse!” Elizabeth laughed. “It will not do, my dear! Besides, do you truly imagine that every person Netherfield did not know precisely how many horses my father keeps and what kind of equipage before they had been a full week in residence?”

Jane could think of no further excuse. She would have to ask Mr. Bingley to return them to Longbourn. Now she lamented her rosy checks. If she could only contrive to look wain and subdued, her hosts might forbid her departure.

Fortunate for Jane, the energy required to join the others downstairs restored her sickly pallor. With breathy weariness did she make her request, sitting in languor beside the fire, and the response received was everything she could have wished.

“My dear Jane!” Miss Bingley cried. “But you do not appear at all recovered. I’m surprised you chose to leave your room.” She looked at Elizabeth accusingly. “I’m sure you are not yet ready to travel.”

"Our foggy climate wants help."

“But Caroline, I have already caused you such a great deal of trouble ...”

“Nonsense! You must remain with us at least until tomorrow. If you continue to improve, you may return to Longbourn after the morning service. I insist!”

“Very well,” Jane conceded with a look towards Elizabeth that she hoped appeared apologetic. “We shall leave tomorrow, as you insist.”

“Thank you for your continued hospitality,” Elizabeth chimed in, “and for the accommodation of your coach.”

“Not at all,” Miss Bingley replied, with an expression that suggested she might regret her own generosity. She is jealous of Lizzy, as she well should be! Jane reflected happily. 

Would the veil which Mrs. Tilney had last walked,
or the volume in which she had last read, remain to tell what
nothing else was allowed to whisper?

Jane studied Mr. Darcy closely that evening, but with no satisfaction for her efforts. He paid not the slightest bit of undue attention to her sister or to any of the other ladies. If anything, he seemed to be assiduously avoiding Elizabeth’s company. He fears he might raise expectations, Jane thought with mingled respect and regret. He is the perfect gentleman. She sympathized with his reluctance to associate himself with the Bennet family. So long as he doesn’t apply the same scruples to his friend. She understood he was dominate over Bingley in their friendship - in every way the bigger man - and feared his influence. Turning her brightest smile upon Mr. Bingley, she responded to his urgent insistence that she remain for yet another day with a regretful but firm refusal. It would not do to rouse Mr. Darcy’s suspicions regarding her affection for his friend, but neither could she allow her behavior to betray anything but perfect decorum. Suddenly, all attempts to remain longer seemed uncouth and mercenary. 

Twisted Austen will commence October 24th and end on Halloween, with one section of the story posting each day. The entire story will then be available for free download both here and on Goodreads. Jane & Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling will also be available for Kindle and Nook, at the cheapest price they will permit me to sell it. Along with the cards, other goodies will be up for grabs, including copies of my books. Stay tuned for more!

My Jane Bennet

My head is currently divided between trying to get the word out on Holidays at Pemberley, or Third Encounters: A Tale of Less Pride & Prejudice Concludes and writing Jane & Bingley: Something Truly Horrid, and it occurred to me that between the two, a few readers might feel I am mistreating such a dear, sweet creature as Miss Bennet. I had the same concerns last year regarding Emma & Elton: Something Truly Horrid, but, as I've said before, Janeites usually have a measure of tolerance for Miss Woodhouse falling on misfortune. Not so for Elizabeth's idyllic sister, whose greatest fault lies in being too kind and never thinking poorly of anyone.

SPOILER ALERTS: No misfortune actually befalls the heroine of Jane & Bingley, but that is not true for the Jane Bennet of Second Glances: A Tale of Less Pride & Prejudice Concludes, who has a miscarriage. The reviews for First Impressions: A Tales of Less Pride & Prejudice frequently called for more conflict, and I tried to respond to that need in a variety of ways in Second Glances, but the only person to suffer anything truly tragic in the course of the book is Jane. Why?

I began Second Glances right after experiencing two miscarriages myself. Both Jane and Elizabeth become pregnant during the book, and in inflicting this same loss on Mrs. Bingley, I was definitely making her more emotionally accessible to myself. Throughout the course of my third and successful pregnancy, I found myself researching not just modern birthing practices, but 18th and 19th century techniques as well. The horrors of the Regency "birthing chamber" gave me much for which to be thankful, but the knowledge would creep into my writing. There was no possible way for me to incorporate these gruesome details into my polite little stories, but they would assert themselves, nevertheless. In Holidays at Pemberley, Lady Catherine references some ...

“For an infant, William has a remarkable number of verbose fans to declare his perfections,” added Elizabeth. “Lady Catherine seems to take all the credit for his safe arrival upon herself. She writes: ‘The well-being of both mother and babe can be attributed in no small part to the sage advice I provided Mrs. Collins throughout her confinement. Had the matter been left in the hands of Mrs. Bennet, there is no guarantee that the outcome would have been so felicitous. She would have the midwife close off the room and build up the fire ...’ Oh my! The remainder of this paragraph is quite unsuitable!” she blushed, as did Georgiana, who had rather more notion than the other young ladies as to what the topic pertained, while Mrs. Gardiner tried not to laugh.

... and Elizabeth herself suffers from infection (puerperal fever) following delivery, a very common occurrence and often fatal. Mrs. Darcy, of course, recovers, but it is an important moment in the book, as it plays a strong role in changing Charlotte Lucas' opinions on love in marriage, the central theme. It also helps reconcile the two sisters, which I left estranged at the end of Second Glances. I hope I haven't given too much away, but felt the need to offer some sort of justification for my actions. Sympathetic readers should understand that I do not seek to make Jane suffer needlessly, for "pictures of perfection" do not make me "sick and wicked." Here's one last excerpt (one last spoiler) which I hope proves my point:

When a carriage entered the grounds of Pemberley not long after Elizabeth’s recovery, Mrs. Reynolds had only three conjectures as to whom it might be – Lady Catherine, Mrs. Bennet, or someone wishing to tour the house and grounds. She fortified herself against the most difficult of these options, determined no one should be admitted, but she lost all her will when a distressed Mrs. Bingley raced through the door demanding, “Is my sister all right? I heard that she is ill.” “Yes, Mrs. Bingley. Mrs. Darcy is quite on her way to recovery. We no longer have any fears on that score.” “Thank goodness!” she cried, almost collapsing into her husband’s waiting arms. “I am sorry to burst in upon you this way,” he explained, “but rumor reached us that Mrs. Darcy was in decline, and we almost instantly departed for Pemberley. It has all been a bit too much excitement for Mrs. Bingley.” “Of course, sir!” exclaimed Mrs. Reynolds, ushering the couple into the nearest parlor and ordering tea. “I’m sure Mr. and Mrs. Darcy will be delighted to see you. We did have our time of concern, to be sure, but Mrs. Darcy is vastly improved.” She paused before adding, “Young Master Frederick is as hale a little lad as ever I saw.”
Jane looked towards the housekeeper with appeal in her eyes, but she said nothing.

“I will get Mrs. Gardiner.” A few minutes later, that lady entered the parlor with Mr. Darcy, who was holding in his arms his new son. Jane rose with eyes for no one but Frederick, and a broad smile swept away any last vestige of her pain. “My little nephew!” she exclaimed softly. “Lizzy’s little boy! Oh, Mr. Darcy! May I hold him?” He laughed. “You certainly may. It is wonderful to see you, Mrs. Bingley. Now our joy is complete.” She looked up from the babe in her arms for just a moment, casting her brother a pained gaze. “Nothing could keep me away when I heard Lizzy was ill. Is she truly recovered?” “Mr. Stevens assures me he has no further concerns, though she is to keep to her bed for the time being. Would you like to bring Freddy to her?” “I might drop him!” she protested. “He is so small!” “You will do nothing of the sort, my dear,” smiled Mrs. Gardiner, “and he is not small, but rather enormous. I will go with you.”

 

Twisted Austen 2013! Jane & Bingley: Something Truly Unsettling

I've decided to call my Halloween tales a la Jane "Twisted Austen" with every intention of making this an annual event (we'll see how that goes). At least for this year, Jane & Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling is well underway, and I thought I'd better stop and announce it now, before my mind gets completely swept away with the Holidays at Pemberley release (still can't say exactly when, but very soon, my friends: that seems certain). As you see, I've already given the blog a quick facelift in preparation.

I feel a bit like a broken record here, but I can't actually say when Jane & Bingley will start posting. Not until I've finished writing it, and I've got a few thousand words to go. However, I can say with certainty that the conclusion will post on October 31st, at which time ebook versions will become available for free on Goodreads (here's the link to the book's listing: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18517279-jane-bingley), and for as cheap as they will allow me to sell it for Kindle and Nook, currently $0.99, just as I did last year for Emma & Elton: Something Truly Horrid.

As you might gather from the differing subtitles, this year's offering is not quite as shocking a last's, but that does not mean the tenderhearted should proceed without caution. After all, there is some leniency allowed by fans in what befalls Miss Woodhouse. Miss Bennet, on the other hand, is rather more sacred ground.What did dear, sweet Jane do to deserve such treatment at my hands? You'll have to read the book to find out. I'll share more, including the start date and an excerpt, in early October.

Can't wait for the mayhem? Why not relish the horror of Emma & Elton in the meantime?

Musings on Elizabeth and Darcy, plus Various Announcements

 "Manners, Trojan!" Darcy scolded and then assured the man as he pulled open the ponderous sentinels, "Be easy; I sent no word, Jacob. Back by two," he warned. Nodding his thanks, he and Trojan left behind his ancestral lands with the express intention of escaping for a few hours the wrenching grip of sorrow and fear that had taken possession of it.

Once on the road to Lambton, Darcy loosed his restraint and allowed Trojan and himself to release of a good run. The horse's hooves kicked up an appalling amount of slush and mud, spattering him from head to toe, but what did it matter? The sense of abandon, of freedom was exactly what he needed! The cold air set his lungs to burning and his eyes to watering, but it felt marvelous, it felt ... alive!

I begin this musing remembering Pamela Aiden's remarkable portrayal of a young Fitzwilliam Darcy in A Lesson in Honour because I think she got him exactly right. Inside the rigid Mr. Darcy is a free spirit, one caged by responsibility and societal expectation. My most recent reading of Pride and Prejudice (I'm slowly making my way through David M. Shapard's revised and expanded annotated edition - his Annotated Northanger Abbey is due out October 1st! Can't wait!) has emphasized the notion of Elizabeth as a representation of the freedom he yearns for, particularly poignant at this moment:

In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ancles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.

The image of Ms. Aiden's Young Master Darcy (a book I haven't read in more than two years, check out my review here) instantly came to mind when I read these familiar lines. Mr. Darcy is immediately torn by the dueling claims of propriety and his appreciation for the very wildness that Mr. Bingley's sisters later deride:

She was shewn into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. -- That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and in their brother's manners there was something better than politeness; there was good humour and kindness. -- Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.

His attraction to Elizabeth has already survived her indecorum in addressing him directly at the Lucas' party, instead of waiting for him, her social superior, to speak first, and when she proves her self to be further exceptional by declining (twice!) his offers to dance, his interest is further piqued. This small post is nothing more than an opportunity for me to bask in the joy of considering Elizabeth as Mr. Darcy longed for liberation, which makes her so much better than even a soulmate. As sure as he rescues her from a life of instability and poverty, she rescues him from the expectations of Lady Catherine and all those (which is to say near everybody) of her ilk. Is it not the measure of a perfect book when, after countless reading, it continues to produce new and unexpected sources of delight?

Now just a few bits of business. I have created a page where the finished version of the first chunk of Holidays at Pemberley may be read (look up, or click here). The book will be released on November 20th! Hurray! I'm so excited to have an actual publication date that I'm really not sure what to do with such priceless information. Action will dawn on me in time.

I also want to tout the upcoming Austen in August event at The Book Rat, one of my favorite annual celebrations of all things Jane. I get to participate a lot this year, and I'm really excited! I believe there will be reviews posted of First Impressions and Second Glances (maybe giveaway copies too?), and Holidays at Pemberley will receive it's first big push (if I get to provide an excerpt it will definitely be from a part not already posted here, so do check it out!). I'm also contributing a post on "Amelia Webster," (see Austen's Juvenilia) and the epistolary format, and I'm making some of my Elegant Extract books of the story for giveaway. Plus there's a Mansfield Park read along happening! I have no certain idea as to what other authors will be participating, but they are all sure to be wonderful, and I wouldn't miss it for the world. The fun starts August 18th!

One last note to everyone who was so kind as to provide feedback on my Jane and Bigley: Something Slightly Unsettling project. I'm removing the survey now as all who responded told me to go for it! This was just the encouragement I needed. Thank you! Look for the story on this blog before Halloween. I plan to release it in parts, just as I posted Emma & Elton, before publishing an ebook version.

Thanks for reading!

Holidays at Pemberley is DONE! Plus this is my 500th post! Lots to celebrate ...

I have so much to share. First of all, I spent the bulk of last week in a spa with my mother. sister, and daughter. I'm not sure it was really all that relaxing, but massages and saunas are to be relished, regardless of their lasting effects. Part of the problem was that I knew as soon as I got home, I would meet with my awesome designer to finalize the layout of Holidays at Pemberley, or Third Encounters, A Tale of Less Pride & Prejudice Concludes. I spent a good chunk of the vacation reading the story to my family, hoping to catch any last errors (of course, I'll find more after publication). Here's the finished front and back. I'll also be creating a tab where you can read the completed first chunk of story (a rough version is already available here). All I need now is for the publisher to agree to my timeline for release. I'm really hoping to convince Outskirts to agree to a specific publication date (November 20th). That would make marketing so much easier. I have never had the luxury of being able to say a book of mine would be available at a set time, instead being forced to reload Amazon every half hour for two days or more, anxiously waiting to see if it is yet listed. This is the biggest detriment I've found to the self-publishing process.


This is my 500th post! 500 opportunities for me to stick my foot in my mouth for all the world to see. I had no idea this blog would become such an important part of my life when I began, and while it doesn't ever seem to receive the attention I should give it anymore, it remains an important place for me to organize my thoughts and interact with other Janeites. Thanks to all who have stuck it out with me through these last years. You've helped me find myself, and I am forever grateful.

Now that Holidays at Pemberley is in holding mode, I'm starting to think about my writing plans for the fall. I know it's a bit early to be thinking of Halloween, but I have a plan for a new novella I want to write for the occasion, along the lines of last year's Emma & Elton: Something Truly Horrid (you can read it here for free). This was a very different kind of experiment for me. Usually I write feel good stories, and Emma & Elton was intentionally the opposite. You see, while I have mostly beautiful Austen-based dreams, I also have some very disturbing notions, indeed, and Emma & Elton was an exploration of one such nightmare. I knew it would be upsetting to many of my readers, and I tried to provide adequate warning of what it was, but I never received enough feedback on it to know if I caused anyJane & Bingley: Something Slightly Unsettling, I'm giving you one last opportunity to tell me to stop. Please see the poll in the right sidebar to provide anonymous feedback. Thank you!
lasting trauma. So before proceeding down a similar path in

Continuing to look ahead, I'm going to again participate in NaNoWriMo this year (though I still need to register). I'm really excited about the new Pride & Prejudice variation I plan to write for the occasion, and while I'm reluctant it say too much about it right now, just in case the plot takes a wildly different turn, I will reveal that it takes place in the 1830's, when Darcy and Elizabeth, having never married, meet again. As I said, I'm really excited about this, so I'm sure I won't be able to keep my thoughts contained for long. If I've sparked your curiosity, you should periodically check back here for the more information that is sure to come.

Thanks for reading!