Release of P & P & LOL + Excerpt + Giveaway!

Hello!  I’m excited to announce my newest release: P & P & LOL: a Novella Retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice…Through Texts!

The idea from this book came from YOU.  Several months ago, I read a short text conversation on Pride and Prejudice, and I thought it was so funny and inspiring that I wrote a blog post of P & P texts.  The comments I got from all of you were so encouraging that I decided to…write more text posts. 

But THEN I decided to go all in and write this novella.

Writing a text-only book had its challenges, especially in the beginning, when I was trying to figure out the structure.  How do I convey narrative information, like “Now everyone is going here,” without any narrator to say, “Now everyone is going here”?  Here’s a texting conversation that never happens:

You will be happy to know that is not how I solved the problem. (But you’ll have to read the book to find out how I did solve it.)

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Now for the sneak peek. Ready to meet the cast?

First up, introducing Charlie…

Charlie: What did you think of Jane? I think she’s beautiful. Kind. Funny. Easy to talk to.

Darcy: I saw you were really into her.

As long as you don’t get ahead of yourself.

Charlie: I would never.

But, destination weddings—fun or a hassle? Be honest.

What was up with you giving her sister the cold shoulder? Eliza was great too. Same sense of humor as you. Except, you know, funnier.

Darcy: I see you’re already envisioning us marrying two sisters and raising our kids together.

Hate to burst your bubble, but that’s not happening.

Charlie: I’m not some kind of hopeless idealist.

But we should definitely plan our children’s births to coincide so that we can do joint birthday parties.

Are pony rides over the top for the first birthday? I’ll look it up.

Oooh, did you know you could rent elephants?

Next up, meet Mr. Collins…

Collanytime: Hello Jane Bennet. My name is Jonathan Collins. Your mother believed that you and I would be a most compatible match. May we arrange a time to explore this together?
Janie: I’m really flattered, but I’m seeing someone. Hope you find someone special!

Collanytime: Hello Eliza Bennet. My name is Jonathan Collins. Your mother believed that you and I would be a most compatible match. May we arrange a time to explore this together?

Introducing our heroine, Lizzy…

Darcy: So why’d you choose Red Duck Restaurant to work at?

Lizzy: They needed servers, so I got to move to the server position pretty fast.

 But mostly it was connections. I was dating the guy in the red duck costume out front.

Darcy: I think you’re kidding. But sometimes it’s hard to tell.

Lizzy: Dead serious. But we didn’t last.

I thought he was a nice guy. But he was fowl.

Darcy: No. You did not just do that.

Lizzy: He owed me money too.

And he was like, put it on my bill.

Darcy: OK, now I’m just embarrassed for you.

And, of course, Mr. Darcy himself…

Darcy: You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.
Lizzy: Who is this?

***

Now for the Giveaway!

Leave a comment on today’s blog for your chance to win one Kindle copy of P & P & LOL.  The giveaway will end at midnight EDST on Thursday, April 20. Winners will be announced on Sunday, April 23. 

Join P & P & LOL and me as we embark on my very first blog tour!  I’ll be giving one eBook away at each of my future blog tour stops.  I’ll be here tomorrow, here on Wednesday, here on 4/24, and here on 5/8. Or you can follow me FB to find out where I am next.

Thank you to Riana Everly for patiently explaining to me that a blog tour is where you, like, tour other blogs.  It’s like a vacation!  Except you don’t actually go anywhere.  Or explore beautiful and interesting cities.  Or eat any fun food.  Wait a minute, Riana…

Thanks to all of you for encouraging this idea!  If you liked this post and want to see more of what to expect in P & P & LOL, you can click here or here or here to read other texting posts I’ve done.  Or click here to find this book on Amazon.