My Road To Publication: The Idea for Betrothed To Mr. Darcy

It's hard to know what to write about on a blog, particularly if you don't think anyone is reading anyway (Hi Pat!). But, why would anyone read if I don't write? It's one of those chicken/egg situations.

So, I am going to write a bit about My Road To Publication.

Part of my motivation to write Betrothed To Mr. Darcy was because I wanted to see if I could. I think the fantasy that I, and many others, have about writers is that they happily sit at keyboards typing away as words magically spring from their fingertips. And of course, those words are always perfect the first time around so there's no need for editing or even spell check.

Fantasy for sure.

Writing is hard work. Parts of it are fun and even the hard work part can be invigorating, but for me, it also involves a fair amount of gnashing of teeth and self-loathing. I find that invigorating because aging and hormones have not provided me with enough opportunities to gnash my teeth and despise myself.

Before I could finish a book, I had to figure out an idea for the book to begin with. I came up with the idea for Betrothed to Mr. Darcy because there is that gap of about a month between the time Lizzy and Darcy become engaged and when they actually get married. I know that weddings were much smaller and less elaborate affairs at that time, but I still liked the idea of wondering how things would go for the two of them during that time. Remember, they never actually courted and their engagement was a surprise to nearly everyone, so the time for people to see them as a couple and for them to see themselves that way too, was that brief period of preparation for their wedding.

So, what happened during that time? It's fun to think about. I imagined Caroline Bingley forced to wear some hideous bridesmaid dress or trying to thwart the wedding, but the more I thought about it, the more interested I became in the idea of Mr. Darcy trying to get used to his new family, The Bennets.

How much could he tolerate in his lovesick state?

How did Lizzy really feel about her mother?

And, seriously, could Darcy actually marry into a family which now included George Wickham?

Thinking about these questions was fun and gave rise to lots of ideas. Try it. You'll see. How much of Mrs. Bennet's chatter could Darcy stand? What about Mary's piano playing? Can love really conquer all?

So, from those ideas came the nuggets of a story. Come back next week to find out more about that.

WeWriWa and Snippet Sunday : A Gentleman's Reputation

Thank you for stopping by! 

In this scene from Betrothed To Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy are sharing their thoughts on the importance of a gentleman's reputation. 

 “What do I care about my reputation? I have money in the bank and soon I will marry the most beautiful and agreeable woman in all of England. You are the one who is overly concerned with the opinions of others, though why you care, I do not know.”

“I care,” Darcy’s firm voice emphasized his point, “because all a gentleman has is his reputation. Once he loses the good opinion of others, it is lost forever.”

“The good opinion of society can be bought and sold. The true love of a good woman, however, cannot.”

“It may not be able to be purchased, but it still comes at a hefty price,” Mr. Darcy said, then exited before Bingley could respond with more of his lovesick drivel. 

Betrothed to Mr. Darcy will be available September 18! I'm pretty excited. 

In the meantime, please visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday bloggers. 

A Snippet from Betrothed to Mr. Darcy

Sorry I've been MIA for several weeks (yikes, almost two months) but I had to actually write and edit the book. Go figure.

I've already shared a number of snippets but since it was months ago I think I'll start back at the beginning and work my way forward.

Here, Lizzy is sent to settle an argument between her father and Mr. Darcy who have disagreed over the marriage settlement.

“But, this man,” he pointed at Mr. Darcy yet again, “refuses to accept anything.” Lizzy wondered at the restraint her intended showed because a lesser man who dared to point at Mr. Darcy not once, but twice, might have found his finger snapped off at the joint.

Before she could voice her surprise, Mr. Darcy responded to the accusation. “I am simply being practical, sir; my income is more than sufficient to provide funds for the care of my future wife.” Despite his anger, a smile formed on his mouth when he said ‘wife’ and his eyes softened as they looked to the subject of his affection. “But you, sir, have a wife and two other daughters to provide for, not to mention the likelihood that your youngest will need financial assistance for the balance of her marriage and beyond.”

“Is it not shameful enough that I am obliged to you for the expense of one daughter’s marriage and the living of her husband, but you expect me to allow you the full measure of support for my most beloved daughter as well? It cannot be.”

Will these two work out their differences? Will Mrs. Bennet ever learn to keep her mouth shut? Stay tuned. 

Betrothed to Mr. Darcy will be available September 18 from Lazy Day Publishing. 

Be sure to visit all the other Weekend Writing Warriors  and the fine folks at Snippet Sunday on Facebook. 

Mr. Darcy at Summer Camp---Part Two

Part One of this exciting saga can be found here. 

Franks and beans appeared to be a favorite of everyone at Camp Pemberley except for the two Bingley sisters and Fitz Darcy who had all picked at their plates with dismay, despite the effusions of Charlie Bingley.

“This food is odious,” Lou said, scrunching up her nose in distaste. “I suppose they’ll be serving us Ragu tomorrow.”

 “Honestly, must you all be so fastidious?” the counselor said to his tablemates. “This stupid manner of yours is NOT the Camp Pemberley way.”

“Oh lord,” Caroline said. “There’s a ‘Camp Pemberley Way’? Pray, tell us all about it.”

“A Camp Pemberley Camper is cheerful and courteous at all times,” Charles recited pointing to a banner on the wall with a numbered list on it. “A Camp Pemberley Camper strives to accomplish much, whether it is in the arts and crafts room or on the playing field.”

“Must you go on?” Fitz groaned. “We can all read the list.”

“I am merely pointing out,” Charlie said, “that you would all have a better time if you had a better attitude.”

Before the conversation could continue, the nightly ritual of thanking the cook for dinner began. The song leader, Mrs. Bennet, stood up and was heard over the clatter of dinner even without holding up her hand in the universal Camp Pemberley sign for quiet. “Attention!  Attention everyone! It’s time for the thank you song.”

Whereupon she began to lead them in a rousing chorus of:

Thank you, thank you. You are so kind.

Thank you, thank you. Let us kiss your…hand.

While everyone joined in the song, a reluctant woman in a tall chef’s hat and white coat with the name Pat inscribed over her heart was drug from the kitchen. She blushed and waved at the campers. When the cheers died down she announced, “Tomorrow night…mac and cheese!”

Mr. Darcy Gets Frisky

Welcome Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday Fans. And welcome to anyone else who just happened to get here by some other means. 

One of the fun things about writing a book set in the Regency era is that everything was so restrained (or at least in Jane Austen's world). In this snippet, Mr. Darcy is getting bold. 

Seeing that all the other inhabitants of the room were happily occupied, Mr. Darcy took the opportunity to steer his fiancée toward a pair of chairs in a  quiet corner for private conversation, or as private as decorum would allow for a couple who were not yet married.

“The arrival of my sister and cousin signal that our wedding day is nearly here.”

Elizabeth blushed and looked up at him from under her lashes, but did not reply.

Darcy glanced around the room and once assured that they were unobserved slipped her hand into his and rubbed soft circles into the sensitive skin at the top of her hand with his thumb.

“As much as I am glad to see my sister and Colonel Fitzwilliam,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “I am over-joyed to think that in a few days’ time you will be my bride.” He felt his own pulse quicken when he said the word “bride”.

Although she had neither spoken nor retrieved her hand from his, Darcy could see the faint pulse in Elizabeth’s fair throat throbbing and her chest rose rapidly with shallow breathing, which indicated she was not unaffected by his words. 

This is from my current WIP Betrothed to Mr. Darcy. 

Please be sure to visit Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday for more samples from great writers. 

A Chat Between Gentlemen

Welcome Back! I've decided to move away from Mrs. Bennet. This week we are listening in on a conversation between Mr. Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy during a carriage ride to Longbourn for dinner with the Bennet Family. It is fun to imagine the ribbing Mr. Darcy probably got from his two closest friends. 

“She certainly has the ability to bring out the best in others,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. “In fact,” he gave Mr. Darcy a mocking look, “I have heard that the most stoic among us has been known to smile and even laugh aloud under her charms.”

“My heavens, yes ” Mr.  Bingley said. “He has been so much more tolerable to live with this past fortnight. He was grouchy as a bear and prickly as a porcupine, but the affections of Miss Elizabeth Bennet have changed him and I, for one, am grateful to her.”

“We all owe Miss Elizabeth Bennet a debt of gratitude,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, barely containing a laugh at his cousin’s discomfiture. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy was not a man accustomed to being the object of ribbing, no matter how light-hearted or well-intentioned.  Before the subject of this banter could compose an appropriate retort, the carriage mercifully arrived at Longbourn. 

Be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday participants. 

What Would Darcy Do---Mr. Darcy Goes To Summer Camp

I've taken a couple weeks off from my What Would Darcy Do posts. My apologies to my reader(s).

I had fun with the Pride and Prejudice Gang on an airplane, but I think I'll move on to another scenario.

Welcome to Mr. Darcy Goes To Summer Camp, Part One 

Standing in the doorway to the camp mess hall, Fitzwilliam Darcy surveyed the chaos that was meal time at Camp Pemberley. He found an empty table in the corner and hoped to have at least a few minutes of peace even if fine dining was not an option.

To his dismay, two girls joined him at the round table.

"I should hate to pass many hours in such company, don't you agree, Lou?" A tall, bony featured girl said looking around the mess hall with a sniff. She wore a crisp white tennis dress and the mandatory Camp Pemberley name tag with "Caroline" written in elaborate script.

"I cannot believe that we have been forced to attend this camp, simply because Charlie is a counselor," Lou said.

Caroline sighed. "I am still angry with Mummy and Daddy for going off to Europe and leaving us with Charlie."

"Shhhh," Lou gave her sister a meaningful look. "We shouldn't talk about this in front of strangers."

Caroline leaned toward Fitzwilliam and squinted at his name tag. "Well, Fitz," she said. "This is Lou and I am Caroline." She turned back to her sister. "There, now we are not strangers."

Lou rolled her eyes.

"Tell me, Fitz," Caroline surveyed him from head to toe in a way that made him decidedly uncomfortable. "What do you think of Camp Pemberley?"

Not exactly sure of how much he wished to reveal to these two girls, Fitzwilliam was slow to respond. Just when he opened his mouth to respond, a firm hand clapped him on the back. "Isn't this fantastic? My favorite camper and my sisters all having dinner together." Fitzwilliam looked up and his fear was confirmed. Charlie, his effusive counselor was also the brother of these two girls.

"Save me a seat," Charlie said before rushing off to the kitchen. "I'll be right back with our franks and beans."

Come back next Wednesday to see what happens next. Since I don't have any idea, feel free to offer some suggestions.