Leenie Brown fell in love with Jane Austen's works when she first read Sense and Sensibility followed immediately by Pride and Prejudice in her early teens. As the second of five daughters and an avid reader, she has always loved to see where her imagination takes her and to play with and write about the characters she meets along the way. In 2013, these two loves collided when she stumbled upon the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction. A year later, in 2014, she began writing her own Austen-inspired stories and began publishing them in 2015. Leenie lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her two teenage boys and her very own Mr. Brown (a wonderful mix of all the best of Darcy, Bingley and Edmund with healthy dose of the teasing Mr. Tillney and just a dash of the scolding Mr. Knightley).
This song was playing on the car radio the other day as I was driving out to a camp where my school was holding a beginning of the year retreat. The scenery on this drive is beautiful and is really just the perfect sort to “prime the imagination pumps”. Well, my brain was thinking Jane Austen thoughts (as it often does 😉 ) as this song began to play. Immediately, I thought the lyrics fit Darcy quite nicely, especially this phrase
“and my heart won’t tell my mind to tell my mouth what it should say”
I also thought of the 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I love how the role of Darcy is played in this version because the portrayal, in my opinion, shows the struggle that Darcy has in trying to overcome his feelings for Miss Elizabeth. So, I thought I would share a clip of the movie below the song. This clip is one of my favourites and features Lizzy walking away from a Darcy who looks as if he wants to say something. (And yes, I know this scene is not in the book. 🙂 )
“Zac Brown Band – As She’s Walking Away.” YouTube. Uploaded to YouTube by Zac Brown Band September 13, 2010.
“Pride and Prejudice – Encourage Affection.” YouTube. Uploaded to YouTube by Christa McKinney on August 5, 2008.
“Period Drama: A Thousand Years.” YouTube. Video created and uploaded by TheDeathlyNight on May 5, 2012.
This is a song that I simply adore. It is on my Music to Write By in an instrumental version (no words are allowed on that list 😉 ). But, I also love this video of it.
I have begun working on my next book, and this song is one that I keep playing as I write it. (In fact, I think it could be an unofficial theme song for the story.)
In this variation, Elizabeth and Darcy are forced into a marriage by … nope, not telling yet. 🙂 But know that at the beginning neither are completely sure of their feelings for the other; though Darcy does suspect he is indeed in love with Elizabeth.
This little bit of the story is in its “Head to Page” version, and I hope it survives to the final draft because it is sweet. Darcy and Elizabeth are in the process of learning a bit more about the other. Elizabeth has just asked why Georgiana has not accompanied Darcy to Hertfordshire.
From Her Father’s Choice
“She is with her aunt and taking lessons from the masters. I did not wish to interrupt her education.” He smiled slightly and there was a twinkle in his eye. “And she did not wish to spend time with Miss Bingley.”
Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide. “But, Miss Bingley led me to believe she and Miss Darcy were close.”
“She knows how dear my sister is to me, so I believe she says it so that I will think she would make a good sister for Georgiana and, therefore, a good wife for me.” He stood and extended a hand to Elizabeth to assist her in rising from her seat on the stile. “She is mistaken if she thinks I would ever consider her for a wife.”
“Because she is from trade?”
Darcy laughed. “No, because she is annoying and rather dull.” He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and kept it covered with his own. “I have always wished for a companion in a wife. Someone with whom I can have discussions. Someone who has read extensively and has a quick wit. I wish for my sister to have a sister who is compassionate and caring as well as intelligent and strong.” His steps faltered slightly at the realization that dawned on him. “I believe…” He paused. “I believe I have been looking for you.”
Tomorrow is the first day of school for me and my sons for the 2015-2016 school year. I will be teaching one of my poor sons this year while the other starts his first year in college. So, in honour of the beginning of the new year, I decided to share a school-related music video. This one is a throwback to the old days when I was a kid — I remember seeing Schoolhouse Rock commercials every Saturday morning during cartoons, and I loved them! I chose a grammar song since this is a blog about writing. 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
“Schoolhouse Rock: Grammar – Conjunction Junction Music Video.” YouTube. Posted by Disney Educational Productions on December 8, 2011.
The rain was just beginning to fall lightly as the parishioners began to file out of the small church in Kympton. Each took a moment to comment on Mr. Dobney’s sermon and to congratulate him on his upcoming marriage.
Lucy remained in her spot, watching the man she would soon call husband. She had seen him greet people as if he had always known them for as long as she could remember. He was soft-spoken and welcoming. Even as children, he had been the one to which the others had looked to for guidance, and he had provided it without ever making one of them feel as if they were lacking in any way.
She smiled as he leaned his tall frame down to speak close to Mrs. Walcroft’s ear. Others might have raised their voice to speak to the woman, but he never did. He was so cautious to not injure the dignity of others. She had always admired that about him; though, not all had found the trait admirable. In fact, there were those who thought it a weakness and would tease Philip relentlessly.
It was not the only thing about which Philip was teased. He had been gangly as a young man. His arms and legs seemed to grow rapidly, much more rapidly than his ability to use them with grace and dignity. He had also been rather skinny until he had gone away to college. However, during those years, his body had finally righted itself. He had not added another inch to his height, and he was no longer skinny. She ducked her head as she felt a bit of colour creeping into cheeks when she realized just how fine he now appeared to her. He was still taller than most ─ he often had to duck to avoid a collision between his head and the door frame ─ but his clothes no longer hung on him. She turned her mind away from admiring how his jacket now stretched across his back and wrapped snuggly around arms that were well-muscled and strong.
She rested a gloved finger on her lips. She had chosen him for his admirable character, but since that kiss two days ago… She swallowed and rose from her seat. This was not the place to be contemplating kisses. She took one more look at Philip and ducked out the side door.
