Leenie Brown

Music Monday: A Good Man (Emerson Drive)

Tomorrow, in our Sweet Tuesday story, we will be meeting the hero of our story. Here is how chapter 2 begins…

“I do not see why Grace had to come with us.”

Walter Blakesley peeked over his morning paper to see the source of the comment. She was a fair-looking young lady with a pleasing figure and a dignified carriage. Not his sort. Such an air of grandeur was more likely than not accompanied by fits of temper when the chit did not get her way. He turned his attention back to the news from last night’s soirees.

“And leave her at home?”

Walter chuckled. The mother sounded shocked, but he reckoned that an opinionated young woman spouting her opinions should not come as a surprise to the young lady’s mother. He held his paper in place as if he were reading it but turned his attention to what he was certain was going to be an interesting conversation between mother and daughter as they strolled past where he sat in the garden.

“She has enough gowns for the number of soirees she will be attending. There is no need for her to follow us around from shop to shop.”

“I do not believe we are in a shop.”

He peeked around his paper so he could match a face with the voice of the young lady, most likely the aforementioned Grace, who had just spoken.

[from Her Secret Bea, Touches of Austen Book 3]

Published to Youtube by Katie Douglas on December 23, 2009.

I have heard this song by one of my favourite groups on the radio several times lately, and I thought it would make a perfect Father’s Day song. 🙂 So today’s song choice is for all those good men out there, whether real or imaginary. I am including the imaginary fellas here since I know that for my heroes, as well as many supporting characters, the ideas in this song hold true — maybe not at the beginning of a story, but most certainly by the end of a story. Therefore, it also seemed fitting to share this video today since tomorrow we are going to meet the hero of Her Secret Beau. Continue reading Music Monday: A Good Man (Emerson Drive)

Thoughtful Reader, František Dvořák: Čtenářka (1896)

František Dvořák (1862-1927) [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons

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“I have already explained why you did not know about my guests,” his mother said sternly.

Wes wondered for a moment, before he recovered himself after being caught woolgathering, if she had been reading his mind, for her look was as severe as her tone.

“Yes, I am not to be trusted.” He attempted to keep his tone flat and not one which spoke to his great displeasure with the whole situation.

A small, quiet burst of laughter caught his ear and drew his eyes to Miss Mary, who was diligently smirking at her book. The cheeky lass! What he wouldn’t do at this moment to be alone with her and discover just what she was thinking.

[from Persuading Miss Mary, book 4 in the Marrying Elizabeth Series]

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Confounding Caroline ~ Delighting Mrs. Bennet ~ Loving Lydia

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Music Monday: Dance of the Imagination (Greg Maroney)

Guess what starts tomorrow? 😀

Grace Love was not the sort of lady who sat on the side during dances. She was not the sort of lady who stayed at home when there was an outing to the park. She was not the sort of lady who avoided any sort of fun. Or, at least, she had not been such a lady until now. And all it had taken for Grace’s world to change had been one house party.

With eyes narrowed, she watched the progress of her sister’s hat as the carriage Felicity was perched in made its way down the street.

“Grace, dear, do not spill your tea on that chair.”

“Of course, Mama.” Grace pulled her attention back to the sitting room in the house they were renting for the season and away from her treacherous sister.

[from Her Secret Bea, Touches of Austen Book 3]

Provided to YouTube by CDBaby. Published on YouTube on July 5, 2015.

I had considered attempting to find songs with either the word secret or whisper in the title for each week that this story posts. However, I do not know how many weeks that will be, and I thought I might get bored of that. 😀 So, I might toss in a few secretively titled songs over the weeks but not every week. This week, I have selected a song that is on my Music to Write By playlist on Spotify that has a title which reflects what must happen as a story is being written. The imagination must dance! 🙂

And my imagination has been dancing. I am not sure how many conversations Mary and Wes have had in my mind this week. It all has to do with future possibilities, however, and not the portion of the story I am currently writing. They are even making it a bit of a challenge to focus on any other story but theirs. But then, we should expect Lord Westonbury to be a bit troublesome, shouldn’t we? LOL Continue reading Music Monday: Dance of the Imagination (Greg Maroney)

The Audio/Visual Connection to Writing

In this quote, Voltaire linked writing and painting.

I tend to not only think of writing as painting word pictures but also as something possessing musical qualities. I listen to the rhythm and tone of what I write as much as I do the images I paint. I want my words to flow smoothly where they should and have a staccato rhythm where it is needed.

Both visual and audio arts can stir the emotions and resonate deeply with the person experiencing the art. I hope that my writing can do that — if not now, then, maybe one day as I continue to improve.

But how do the visual and audio arts inspire my writing? If you follow my Music Monday posts or my Wordless Wednesday ones, you probably have a good idea that both music and art spark my creativity.

Tomorrow, in our LLS Society Papers video, Rose Fairbanks and I will be discussing this very topic and likely sharing a few examples of the link between the inspiration and final product.

The live stream will begin at 3 PM Eastern, but the video of the discussion can be viewed after that as well.

Books and links mentioned in the show:

Rose’s Links

Once Upon a December

Mr. Darcy’s Miracle at Longbourn

How Darcy Saved Christmas

The Maid of Inverness

Mr. Darcy’s Bluestocking Bride

A Sense of Obligation

Leenie’s Links

My news-related links:

A Scandal in Springtime

Mailing List Sign Up Form

Darcy and…

Books Currently in KU

And my discussion-related links:

Finally Mrs. Darcy

Music Monday: Five Long Years (Colin James)

Pinterest Book Boards

Mary: To Protect Her Heart

Have a great weekend! Thanks for joining us!

*Longbourn Literary Society (LLS) is a Facebook group founded by three friends, who share a love of writing and Jane Austen for the purpose of promoting those loves and our work.

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You can find Rose and Zoe’s websites at these links:

ROSE FAIRBANKS ZOE BURTON

St. George’s Hanover Square (1787), T. Malton

“St George’s Hanover Square,” aquatint, by T. Malton. Dated 1787. Courtesy of the British Library, London. [Public Domain] via Wikimedia Commons

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“What do you mean I am not allowed entrance?” Reginald Fitzwilliam, Viscount Westonbury, glared at Mr. Nibley.

“Just that, my lord. The countess has informed me that you are not allowed entrance without specific invitation.”

“But it is my home!”

“Not at present, my lord. Your residence is the house in Brook Street.”

“The house in Brook Street?” Wes huffed and looked at the sky above him before continuing. “I fully realize that my residence is in Brook Street. However, this is also my home, and I will not leave without seeing my mother.”

[from Persuading Miss Mary, book 4 in the Marrying Elizabeth Series]

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Confounding Caroline ~ Delighting Mrs. Bennet ~ Loving Lydia

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