Leenie Brown

TSB: Changes are Coming for the Summer

I’m trying some changes. Here’s what they are and why.

Have you ever been so tired that you put the jar of protein powder in the fridge instead of in the cupboard next to the fridge? I have been. Several times lately.

The lockdown is taking its toll. Later this month, I will get to return for an appointment with my osteopath. I have not seen her or any of the health care team at her clinic for more than 6 months now. This, coupled with just the stresses we all face during our current world situation, has not done my health any favours. Much of the progress we had been making on correcting some sleep issues while still keeping me relatively free from pain (I have some disc issues) has been lost.

I know that getting in to see my healthcare team will be even trickier now as appointments per day for the clinic are being restricted due to health measures that are in place. This means it will be a while before a regular pattern of treatments will resume for me.

With this in mind, I am looking at ways to adjust, rearrange, and/or lessen my workload, thereby easing some of the stress on my body at least for the summer months and possibly longer if I find the changes work well. Rest assured that creating stories for you to read will remain my priority.

Trust me. Cutting back is not something I find easy to do (I am a bit of a workaholic), but I know it is necessary. Here are the changes I have planned at this time:

A Farmer in His Wagon (Troyon, Constant)

A Farmer in his Wagon, Constant Troyon / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Well, the gentleman driving this wagon is definitely not as young and handsome as the fellow driving his aunt’s donkey carriage in chapter 12 of Protecting Miss Darcy. 😉

~*~*~

They stepped to the side to allow a donkey carriage to enter Longbourn’s driveway ahead of them, but it did not. Instead, it came to a stop.

“Miss Lydia, Miss Kitty,” the handsome gentleman who drove the carriage said.

“Mr. Webb!” Lydia cried with delight. “We have not seen you in an age!”

“Indeed, it has been since last summer – very nearly a year.”

“And are you once again visiting your aunt?”

[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]

~*~*~

Marrying Elizabeth, books 1-5

MAILING LIST PATREON

MM: The Approaching Night – Philip Wesley (Piano Cover)

PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY PIANO TIME ON MARCH 23, 2020.

I find it mesmerizing to watch the lights dropping down, showing the notes. That is why I chose this video to share today. The reason I chose the song is for the title, for today, I am sharing a chapter from my very first published book, Oxford Cottage, which is where the dark part of the tale begins.

You can find The Approaching Night by Philip Wesley on Spotify here.

Oxford Cottage, Chapter 6

July 1811

Darcy looked across the assembly hall and watched the dancers as they wound their way through the steps of a country dance. His eyes followed Elizabeth for a few moments before he pulled his attention back to the rest of the people standing around him.

Just to his left, Mrs. Bennet fidgeted and fussed with Kitty’s dress. “Stand up straight, Kitty,” she scolded. “No man wants a woman who is all bent and crumpled.”

“Yes, Mama,” said Kitty.

Darcy suppressed a chuckle as he watched Kitty roll her eyes before she pulled herself up, squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. It reminded him of Georgiana. How often had he, when watching Miss Kitty, noticed similarities between the two young ladies? Both shared an exuberance for life that was infectious, and neither appreciated the reminder to carry themselves in what society deemed a ladylike fashion. Miss Kitty was a bit silly, but she was a sweet and caring young lady. She was the sort of young lady with whom Darcy did not mind having his sister associate.

Having seen to her daughter’s lack of posture, Mrs. Bennet had moved on to discussing with several local ladies her very good fortune of having “three daughters so agreeably attached.” Mr. Bennet was attempting to calm his wife’s happy nerves in order to keep her voice at an acceptable volume. Darcy shook his head slightly and smiled. How a man as intelligent as Mr. Bennet could abide such a fluttering wife was beyond his comprehension.

But he knew it to be true that Mr. Bennet did not just abide his wife, he loved her and showed it through his solicitous attentions and patience. Although some might only see the man who teased and laughed at his wife’s silliness, Darcy had observed the soft glow of his eyes and an occasional touch that accompanied such teasing. Mrs. Bennet often responded in a huff of emotions but there was always a twinkle in her eye, a little wink, or a slight upturn of her mouth which let him know she was not truly put out by her husband’s comments. It was a dance of words and actions, a game they played, a game he was just beginning to learn to play with his beloved Elizabeth. He allowed himself the pleasure of once again watching her dance.

TSB: Writing News, Sneak Peeks, and More

Before we get into the writing news for this week, I wanted to say that I know the past nearly two weeks have been fraught with strife for my American readers, relations, and friends. You have and will continue to be in my prayers, and I want you to know that I will continue to strive, as I always have, to demonstrate through my actions and words my love and respect for you all.

Writing News

So far this week, I have written one chapter of Protecting Miss Darcy. That’s it. That’s all I wrote. 🙂 I hope to have time later today (Friday) to write another chapter of something.

My reason for such a low amount of writing this week was editing. I finished my first round read-through of Matching Mr. Darcy and have sent that off to my sister for her critique.

Publishing News

Sneak peek time!

By this time next week, I expect to have preorder information for Matching Mr. Darcy to share with you. If you’d like to see the book cover and read the first (unfinalized) chapter of this book, you can find both of those things at this link.

What They Might Have Seen

Collage created on Canva.com. Images sourced from Depositphotos.com

I thought today, since Alfred and Wes are going riding, that I would create a collage of possible vistas that they might have seen.

~*~*~

“There is no one else,” Wes said. “I am afraid you are stuck with me.”

“Could you not entertain yourself?”

“I could,” Wes replied as they descended the stairs, “but what fun is there in that?” He stopped and turned to face Alfred who was a step behind him on the stairs. “You have been spending far too much time alone.”

“I enjoy spending time alone on occasion, and I have brought some books with me to study.” Not that he had put very much effort into studying them. He had opened all of them at least once and even read a paragraph or two from one of them.

“I thought we might ride toward Oakham Mount,” Wes said as he continued down the stairs.

“Where is that?”

“Do not fret. I have walked in that direction before.”

[from Protecting Miss Darcy, Marrying Elizabeth book 6]

~*~*~

Marrying Elizabeth, books 1-5

MAILING LIST PATREON