Category: book excerpt
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Love Between Persons of a Certain Age
Happy Valentine’s Day. This column has nothing to do with the celebration but does dip into the idea of love. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is an interesting character study headlined by Nicolas Cage. This has nothing to do with me. I am arrogant enough to realize that my stories rise from a competence…
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Return to Longbourn Part II
Hello, hello, hello! I hope that everyone’s 2025 is beginning on a fantastic note and that this year will be filled with a multitude of blessings. Mine has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but I am so glad to share the next excerpt of my current WIP with you. If you want to get…
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Intentions and Mishaps & What Happens in Between
Happy news! I’m excited to share my new release, Intentions and Mishaps. Just in case you’re wondering how this charming tale might be categorized—is it a variation or a sequel? It’s more of a sequel, as all preceding events remain exactly as presented in canon. Think of it as a glimpse into Darcy and Elizabeth’s…
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Once Upon a Time
It’s always such fun thinking up new What-Ifs for Jane Austen’s fabulous characters. For almost every plot point in Austen’s amazing novel Pride and Prejudice, there’s an option for a different direction; for every character, the possibility of a different choice. We have role reversals, Elizabeth as an heiress, Darcy as a werewolf, bad Jane,…
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Active Reading in Austen & Austenesque Fiction
Those of us who love all things Austenesque often go deep into the weeds as we try to divine the “true” meaning and intent of scenic elements that establish the framework upon which character development and plot rest. Austen forces her readers to be active participants in the story’s development. She liberally sprinkles breadcrumbs but…
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Return to Longbourn
Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and that 2025 is starting out well. I reread what I have written so far in this story, An Interrupted Proposal, and realized that there are sooo many threads that need to be tied up. Luckily, I will be taking a break after my…
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A Quote, a Question, and a Holiday Quest
“I imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly for the sake of having someone at his disposal. I wonder he does not marry, to secure a lasting convenience of that kind. But, perhaps, his sister does as well for the present, and, as she is under his sole care, he may do what…
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Return to Hertfordshire
Happy Holidays!! For those of you who celebrate it, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and now we are diving into the December holiday season. May I add my wishes for a joyous season and time spent with those we love most. Please remember to take some time for self-care and enjoy a cup…
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Of Audio and Large Print – More Ways to Enjoy Once He Made a Beginning
When Once He Made a Beginning: A Pride and Prejudice Variation debuted in eBook and paperback in September 2024, I was delighted by the enthusiastic response from readers. Now, I’m excited to announce that Once He Made a Beginning is available in two new formats: audiobook and Large Print—offering fresh opportunities to enjoy Darcy and…
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Christmas’s Place: Family and Home
Bear with me as I rifle through my life’s album. By my count, I have used a half-dozen seasonal events to move various books closer to their conclusions. I am convinced my frequent turning to Christmas and Twelfth Night rise from inner truths that inform my stories. This was not unexpected, I suppose. I am…