TSB: Three Books – One Free; One New Release, One Soon-to-be-Unpublished

Settle into a comfy reading spot. This is a long one. 🙂


Summer is here in Nova Scotia, and there is no denying its arrival as the weather has let us know, without question, that a new season is upon us. (We’ve had several hot days which is a little earlier than normal for us.) I have had my first osteopath appointment since the clinic was shut down because of the pandemic, and while it was helpful, I still have a long way to go to get all the kinks worked out. However, I now have a treatment plan in place, and that feels good. 

As I mentioned in the last Saturday Broadsheet, I am cutting back and taking it a bit easy this summer for health reasons. This will include some changes to what is being posted each week on my blog and the frequency of this newsletter. Starting in July, the Saturday Broadsheet will be delivered once per month. 

I have added a new change to my summer business plans.

Continue reading TSB: Three Books – One Free; One New Release, One Soon-to-be-Unpublished

MM: My Father’s Son (The Tenors)

PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE BY THE TENORS VEVO ON JUNE 18, 2015.

Isn’t this a perfect song for the Monday after Father’s Day Sunday? I thought it was. 🙂 I have paired it with an excerpt from At All Costs. Bingley looked up to his father and learned many good lessons from him. In fact, one of these lessons is where the title of this book comes from. It’s here in this line, which is from very, very near the end of the book: “My father taught me many things, but the one he stressed more than any other was that a man must protect that which is dear to him at all costs.” Below is another place in this book where Bingley is thinking about his father.

At All Costs, Chapter 4 Excerpt

“Harris is to leave with you when you leave Derbyshire, is he not?” Bingley cut a sidelong glance at Richard, who nodded, as they walked. Harris was an ever-present annoyance that Bingley would gladly see gone. “Is it not possible to send him back to Brighton early?”

Richard laughed. “I have no reason to do so.”

Bingley sighed. “That is unfortunate.”

And it was unfortunate indeed, for that very gentleman happened to be the one that brought Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth to Pemberley. It was also Harris who took Jane’s arm as they strolled around the garden, and it was Harris who claimed the seat next to Jane when they all finally paused for a rest. And it was also Harris who was now monopolizing the conversation.

“It is a lovely day, is it not?” Harris asked as they sat in the shadow cast by Pemberley across the side garden at this time of day.

It was the consensus that it was indeed a fine day — for the weather was pleasant. However, for two of the party, the day was not so fine as it could have been. Bingley was in general annoyed by the presence of Harris and, in specific, irked by Harris’s attentions to Jane.

Continue reading MM: My Father’s Son (The Tenors)

MM: Nothing Else Matters (Metallica) Cover (Luka Sulic)

PUBLISHED TO YOUTUBE ON MAY 15, 2020, BY LUKA SULIC

This was another one of those just happened to see it recommended on YouTube songs. I have listened to a lot of Luka’s music both as a solo player and as part of 2Cellos, and I have like nearly everything I have heard. This was no exception. This song is originally by a heavy metal band, so I was interested to see how the song was played on a cello. The results are simply beautiful in my opinion, and I had to share it with you.

I have paired it with a chapter from Waking to Mr. Darcy because in this story nothing else matters as much as seeing to Elizabeth’s well-being.

Waking to Mr. Darcy, Ch. 2

Darcy rolled the sleeves of his shirt, which were several inches too long, so that Elizabeth’s hands were visible.  He straightened the collar and pulled the bedclothes over her, making sure to place her hands and arms outside the quilt as he tucked it around her small frame.  He brushed a stray strand of hair away from her pale face.  She was still not warm, but she was clean, and she was dry, and Darcy hoped that the two would be enough to stave off any fever.  “I am sorry,” he repeated yet again. How many times had he said those words?  He felt as if he could never say them enough.  “If there were any other way….”  He sighed.  “But there was not.  I shall be good to you.”  He gathered her clothes.  “I am sorry,” he whispered it once more before he exited the room.

“You still do not look well,” said Bingley from where he sat near the fire. “Although you are not so pale as you were.”  He tipped his head.  “In fact, you look rather flushed.”

Darcy chose not to acknowledge the comment or the teasing tone in which it was said.  He was feeling rather flummoxed.  His heart had already begun to betray him before this evening, but now it seemed to have utterly abandoned all sense of reason.  He pulled on his coat and turned toward the door.

“Are you going for help?” Bingley jumped to his feet.

Continue reading MM: Nothing Else Matters (Metallica) Cover (Luka Sulic)

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: 

Continue reading TSB: Changes are Coming for the Summer

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

Continue reading TSB: Writing News, Sneak Peeks, and More