Welcome to the beginning of a new week full of possibilities. As I look forward to the week ahead, I like to start by taking inventory of where I am by looking back at what I accomplished last week. It’s a lot easier to know where you are going if you know where you are starting. 🙂
But first…
Some musical inspiration…
videosbyloo. “Period Dramas – At the Beginning (PDC).” YouTube, YouTube, 17 June 2011, youtu.be/jMLlkAMLV-Q.
And then…
Writing News:
Mr. Darcy’s Comfort released, successfully, last week on Thursday. 🙂 You can find out more about the book as well as a link that will provide all my vendor options at this link:
https://books2read.com/b/3GYBBr
My writing time focused only on Master of Longbourn this week because I actually took two nights off from writing. I did not take them off completely. I still did some other book business work, but no story was written. Launching a book can be draining (so much excitement is tiring 🙂 ) and when I combined that with a lack of sleep (because my body does that sometimes), I ended up with a mushy, not terribly creative brain. And that is not good for writing. 🙂 So, after fighting the idea for a while (I’m no quitter, you see :D) I gave in and allowed the brain to do things other than create imaginary worlds. Hopefully, this week, I will get in all five writing sessions.
Because of the book release, I did not do my regular editing time. I gave that time to book release sorts of things such as creating a graphic, posting an excerpt (which I am using for marketing purposes), sending out an email to my mailing list, making sure I had the book added to my book page and a few other things like that. (I have a list. It’s rather long.)
But that was last week, and though I will need to keep doing some marketing work for the new book, this week during editing period, I plan to begin final edits on Confounding Caroline since I have them back from my editor. I should have a publication date firmed up by next Monday!
I have also begun a project of updating book covers and reorganizing some things. This project will not be completed any time soon, but it has begun. I started by updating the cover for Listen to Your Heart. The story inside has not changed, although I did update the book list in the backmatter and added an excerpt from And Then Love.
And lastly, I created a bundle of stories — a box set of Dash of Darcy and Companion Stories. This bundle contains Finally Mrs. Darcy, Waking to Mr. Darcy, A Very Mary Christmas, Discovering Mr. Darcy, and Not an Heiress.
I have only uploaded this bundle to Kobo so far since I wish to apply to have it included in a promotion in May, but this week, I will be attempting to add it to other vendors. In fact, between when I am writing this Saturday night and Monday when you are reading this, I might have gotten part of that done. There will be a print version eventually.
Phew! You know, now that I have listed all that out I can understand better why I was so tired by the end of the day on Thursday. When I’m just working on this and that steadily through a week, I don’t see how much I am actually doing. Little by little, consistent, steady effort adds up!
Now, for…
AN EXCERPT FROM Master of Longbourn:
“Come, come,” Mr. Bennet called in response to the rap at his study door. He had begun insisting on spending a few hours in his study, lounging in a chair not far from the desk while Collins added numbers and asked questions as needed.
“Ah, my soon-to-be sons.”
Collins looked up from the column of numbers he had just finished calculating. Mr. Bennet was smiling broadly and had placed his book on the table next to him.
“Five daughters and three sons,” the elder gentleman muttered before sighing.
“Two,” Collins said before he could help himself.
“Nay, I did not misspeak. I count you as a son.” There was a gleam in the man’s eye. “An heir is as good as a son, is it not?”
Collins shrugged.
“Do not tell me you do not wish to be my son?”
“Oh, no, no, I would never do that. You are far too good a man to be my father is all.”
“Foolishness.”
If Mr. Bennet’s lips were not curled into a smile, Collins might have considered the somewhat stern tone he used to be a reprimand, but as it was, he could not think of it as anything more than a jovial disagreement. That was likely how he looked and sounded when he teased Kitty about being silly. It did sting a bit even though he knew it to be in jest.
“I see you have come to embrace wearing more than one colour,” Bingley said as he turned one of the chairs in front of the desk so that from the angle in which he sat, he could converse easily with both Mr. Bennet and Collins.
“I am not so poor a student as to ignore the instructions of the master.”
“Master?” Mr. Bennet looked curiously between Bingley and Collins.
“I have asked these gentlemen to help me with learning how to present myself,” Collins explained. He had forgotten that Mr. Bennet did not know about that little agreement, and he did not particularly wish for the gentleman to know the particulars of why he had sought help.
Mr. Bennet smiled. “I will assume that it is not to impress me.”
“No, sir.” What else could he say? “I wish to look the part of a gentleman rather than a parson.” That was true. He did wish to fit in with his neighbours.
“Well,” Mr. Bennet said as he smoothed the blanket on his lap and steadfastly did not look at Collins, “I am certain Kitty will appreciate the effort.”
Collins thought for a moment that his heart would either cease its job of ticking along or jump from his chest. The shock of such a comment left him in a state of utter confusion. Did one admit such a thing to the father of the lady one admired? Or did one remain silent? What was for certain, was that his face felt as if it was burning in the heat of a midsummer’s day.
Chuckling, Mr. Bennet lifted his eyes to Collins and then shifted them to Bingley and Darcy. “As I said, three sons at some point. I have no doubt of your success, William.”
His Christian name caused another stirring of uncertain emotions within Collins. He had never heard it said in such an amiable tone. His father had spoken it with indifference, spat it at him, followed it with a curse, yelled it, and on occasion snarled it. He had heard it used once or twice in an encouraging fashion from his tutor, but this declaration of Mr. Bennet’s was one of complete trust and confidence. It was truly startling and excessively welcome.
~*~*~
KOBO AMAZON NOOK IBOOKS MAILING LIST PATREON SOCIETY6
Bless your heart Leenie… you are one busy lady. Anyone who says a writing career is easy… is insane. I hear all the things you have to do to manage your business… for it is a business… and I am amazed. I do so appreciate everything you do as an author, because I get to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Thank you so much.
I loved the video clips… good choice and that music was delightful. The excerpt was so touching. Poor Mr. Collins. I am intrigued at this different Collins and his interest in Kitty. That is a different spin. Well done for tackling that what-if. I look forward to reading it.
I was honestly surprised when I compiled my list for this post by how much I had done. It doesn’t seem like so much when you are just checking the next thing off the to-do list. In fact, I felt a bit guilty for missing those two writing times until I read this list. Then, I was able to give myself an “excused absence.” 🙂 I must admit that I would prefer to just write and ignore most of the business stuff on many days, but that would not be a very healthy business model. It can be a challenge to balance the art and creation portion of my career with the nitty-gritty business stuff, but I kind of enjoy that challenge to a point (probably because it is something where there is always something to learn). I also think all the work that goes into teaching prepared me for this kind of a busy career. Are you ever done with things when you’re a teacher? There always seemed to be something to do whether it was creating lessons, researching, planning, or marking.
This is a different Collins, but he’s developed from the basics of Jane Austen’s description. Hopefully, when you get to read it all, you’ll see how he became who he is and how those basic descriptions from Jane Austen are played with as this what if is created.
Aaaaawwwwww, A sweet Mr. collins is almost unbearable! I want to pet him and hug him, Kitty will not be able to resist. Especially this a bit more like Jane version of her, as described in Mr. DArcy’s Comfort.
She is more like Jane — sweet, a bit naive, and maybe a little less than astute at times. I’m really liking this Mr. Collins.