Music Monday: Safe in Your Embrace (Kevin Kern) + a Free Book Day

On the list of all the people who were not to know about Mr. Blakesley, her sister sat at the top.

[from Her Secret Beau, Touches of Austen book 3]
Published to YouTube by Luisa Moreta Pérez on November 16, 2014

Today, I am only sharing one line from tomorrow’s story — but I think it is a good tantalizing line. 🙂 What do you think?

I’m also just plucking a song off my Music to Write By playlist because I listened to it several times this week while writing. And I did get a good bit of writing done this week.

I have reached the end of Addie’s story, but this one is going to need more work in the editing department than most of my stories do. I talk a bit more about why that is in tomorrow’s Austen Authors post. So, for the curious, you can find out there. 😉

To get to the end of Addie’s story and then figure out why it didn’t feel right meant that Addie’s was the only story I wrote on last week, so I am going to have to focus on my Tuesday and Thursday stories this week or next week there might not be anything to post. Yikes! 🙂

In other book-related news, I have two promotions happening this week. Continue reading Music Monday: Safe in Your Embrace (Kevin Kern) + a Free Book Day


Music Monday: You Don’t See Me (North and South)

…“I did not know Mr. Blakesley had a lady,” Grace’s new bench mate said. “Indeed, I have never seen him with any lady in particular in all the time I have been in Bath.”

“Oh, she is not from Bath.” Grace’s stomach twisted at the idea of spreading gossip about Walter.

“I do not see how she could not be. I do not believe Mr. Blakesley has been gone from Bath for these past six months.” She leaned a bit closer to Grace. “Not even at Christmas time. His parents came here.” She clucked her tongue. “If he has told you he has a lady somewhere other than in Bath, he has not been honest with you.” She sighed. “And I find it difficult to believe he would be so deceptive.”

[from Her Secret Beau, Touches of Austen book 3]
Published to YouTube by greencat9 on July 22, 2007

This video has nothing to do with tomorrow’s chapter of Her Secret Beau but everything to do with how Lord Westonbury might be feeling about his relationship with Mary and where my brain kind of needs to be while writing their story at present. It also has to do with the fact that I was given the privilege of reading the first draft of a North and South short story which Rose Fairbanks has written for an anthology that she is in with several other authors called Falling for Mr. Thornton.  You can keep up with the project on their Facebook page if you are a Facebook user.

Currently, as I am attempting to write this rapidly on Saturday, hurricane Dorian is beginning to make his presence known. The wind is picking up and the rain is pelting down, but we still have power. However, we know that the power will eventually go out as the storm settles in. That’s why I am attempting to dash this off as quickly as possible. 🙂 Continue reading Music Monday: You Don’t See Me (North and South)


Music Monday: Mayapple Road (Thad Fiscella)

“More, Mama! More!”

Thomas Prescott heard the small child’s squeal of delight before he rounded the bend in the path and saw her, a small bundle of excitement, dancing with her hands in the air attempting to catch the white petals falling from the apple tree above.

Thomas stopped where he was. He would eventually have to continue on his way, but he did not wish to disturb the child’s fun just yet. He would let her twirl and giggle for a few moments longer before intruding on her play.

“More, Mama!” the child pleaded when the shower of petals slowed.

“One last shake,” the lady, who must be the child’s mother, said from her perch on a bench beneath the apple tree. “But we must save some flowers so that we can make apple pies for Christmas.” Rising up on her toes, she grasped a branch and gave it a gentle shake. The flurry of white petals caused by the action was met with clapping hands, bouncing curls, and happy laughter.

[From Apple Blossoms, an original sweet Regency romance short story, and the Sweet Tuesdays story for the next four weeks]

Provided to YouTube by CDBaby, October 19, 2015.

The excerpt above is how the new Sweet Tuesdays story, Apple Blossoms, begins — with Mr. Prescott, a bachelor, meeting his new neighbours, Miss Abigail Watson and her mother the widow Watson. This short story will be shared in four parts, starting tomorrow.

Apple Blossoms is a short story of about six thousand words. It has a complete story arc (beginning, middle, end sort of thing). It has characters that are developed, and the main character does grow (learns something new to him). There is a desire that the main character has, as well as obstacles (of his own creation) to overcome. In other words, it is a complete story.

However, because of the short length, the plot of a short story has to be kept tight so there are no side plots, and the number of characters is limited as is the time frame and the number of problems. It should be a sweet little tidbit which will (hopefully) leave you with a smile and a sigh. I hope you will join me for this story starting tomorrow.

Apple Blossoms will be one of the stories eventually included in my next Nature’s Fury and Delights collection whenever I get the rest of the stories written. 😀 I have really fallen down on that goal for this year. I have an inspirational image selected for the next story for the collection, but that is as far as I have gotten with that project. There have just been so many other things needing attention.

Let me tell you about some of those other things which have claimed my time this past week:  Continue reading Music Monday: Mayapple Road (Thad Fiscella)


Music Monday: I Will Never Stop Trying (Emma and Knightley)

“Diana,” he called to his sister before he followed the Uptons into the library.

She turned toward him.

“I’m sorry.”

She stood looking expectantly at him.

“For making a mess of things.”

She smiled at him.

“You will tell Victoria that?

[from His Darling Friend, A Touches of Austen Novella, and the current Sweet Tuesdays story]

Published to YouTube by xxnumber27xx on February 10, 2013.

Tomorrow’s chapter of His Darling Friend is the final chapter. The book will be going on pre-order tomorrow, and so, ahead of that, I have password protected most of the chapter posts so that Amazon will hopefully not flag the story as being available elsewhere and refuse to list it until the story is removed. The password for all protected chapters of His Darling Friend is ROGER2019.

In other writing news: Continue reading Music Monday: I Will Never Stop Trying (Emma and Knightley)


Music Monday: Collide (Emma and Knightley)

“Is that so?” Carlyle taunted. “Exactly how good a friend is she, Shelton? We all know your reputation with the fairer sex.”

“Mr. Shelton.” Grace was at his elbow. “Please, do not hit him.”

“Why not?” He pulled his arm away from her. “Even you must know what he is insinuating about Victoria.”

“I do, and it is most improper. But think of the explanation that will be required if Mr. Carlyle returns with a black eye or bloody nose.” She looked at Carlyle and added, “Not that he does not deserve both.”

From the vehement tone she used to say that last bit, it appeared to Roger that there was some fire hidden within Miss Grace Love. Hopefully, she would learn to use that fire when dealing with her sister, who was smiling behind her fingers as if what was happening was the most amusing things she had ever witnessed.

“Do you find me entertaining, Miss Love?” Roger asked. “Or do you find it diverting when someone accuses another lady of impropriety?”

Felicity gasped. “You are very forward, Mr. Shelton.”

“And you are a conniving wench, Miss Love.”

[from His Darling Friend, A Touches of Austen Novella, and the current Sweet Tuesdays story]

Published to YouTube by SaraBethie on July 20, 2012.

I thought it imperative that I use and Emma video this week since His Darling Friend is nearly over since that story has touches of Emma in it.  There are only two chapters left. 🙂 And I thought the title of the song went well with the snippet I shared above as well as the cliffhanger last sentence of tomorrow’s chapter. 😉

I have exciting writing news this week.  Continue reading Music Monday: Collide (Emma and Knightley)