August 9, 2025
PERSONAL UPDATE
We have reached VACATION month! August is when my hubby is finally allowed to take vacation time from his job. That means I’ll have an extra person around for a few weeks and that I’ll be taking off a few days to go do some fun stuff. Hopefully, I’ll still be able to keep up with most things, but a few might fall by the wayside for a while. Fingers crossed that I’ll find time to write another portion of our Harriet and the Colonel story before next month’s broadsheet.
Another thing that has me taking time away from writing is that (necessary) part-time job that I mentioned last month. I’ve put in a few days with it so far, and so far, I’ve been enjoying it. I’ve even found that it has given me some time to contemplate story and writing business things a bit as I drive around delivering prepared food and groceries a couple of days a week.
I will say that my nervous system has not been overly pleased with the extra activity I’ve thrown at it, but I think slowly it is learning that I’m really not trying to kill myself so it can just calm down and stop trying to warn me of danger when there isn’t anything to fear. (Disregulated nervous systems can be such drama queens! LOL)
I still don’t have any new Leenie writing projects to tell you about. I’m still plugging away at that Annilee Nelson novel. I just can’t handle more than that one writing project right now (other than the story for this newsletter, that is – which you can find a new section of at the end of this newsletter).
That’s it for my personal update. Now, let’s dive into all the book news.
It was Zoe Burton’s month to post in the Tearoom. In case you missed her post about the curses and blessing of summer, you can find it at this link.
AUDIOBOOK UPDATE
July’s audiobook release on YouTube was None So Accomplished as Mary.
August’s YouTube audiobook will be From Tolerable to Lovely, and it will be live and free to listen to by all on August 16 (next Saturday). I currently have the YouTube video scheduled to share with my patrons (free and paid) tomorrow. And I will have the download link for paid patrons who want to download a copy to keep in their Bookfunnel library.
This will make ten full audiobooks on my YouTube channel.
Speaking of YouTube…
We did it! My subscriber count has passed 500 and level one has been achieved.
Level one for what, you ask? Level one towards the goal of complete monetization.
You see I’ve had this dream of making my audiobooks freely accessible to listeners via YouTube while still earning some income from them via the monetization program so that I can keep writing and producing books to share for free on YouTube.
Full monetization, where YouTubers can earn from ads placed on their videos, requires 1000 subscribers.
BUT…
At 500 subscribers, YouTube makes a few money making opportunities available to me. These are:
- Memberships (which I’m considering how it could be used to benefit readers)
- Super chat stickers (only available if I’m doing a live or a premier – I may do some lives in the fall. I have an idea but haven’t had time to figure out all the hows to it just yet.)
- Super thanks stickers (These are like leaving a tip on a video you enjoyed. So they are available on all my uploads.)
- And the ability to link to merchandise (if I had any. Maybe one day.)
None So Accomplished as Mary, the audiobook, released on August 1 to all the places.
The audiobook for From Tolerable to Lovely will hopefully release on September 1. On August 1, Findaway Voices became Voice by InAudio. I have not had a chance to sign in and see what’s changed over there yet. I hope to get to that this coming week and at the same time get From Tolerable to Lovely on pre-order at all the places.
By “all the places” I mean:
Baker & Taylor (library) / Bibliotheca (library) / Overdrive (library) / Audiobooks.com / Everand / Kobo/Kobo Plus, Walmart (I have not found my audiobooks on Walmart) / NOOK Audiobooks / Spotify / TuneIn
As I am writing this on Friday, August 8, I only have one more Dash of Darcy story to add to ElevenReader. Remember ElevenReader is a place where you can choose to let a digital voice read you any of my books that are listed there. While listening to my books should be free, I will earn a bit of money for each qualified listen. Again, this is a way to make my books more accessible while still earning a bit of income to keep the lights on in my writing business.
LEAVING KU / GOING WIDE
Today, August 9, 2025, is the LAST DAY to download the Marrying Elizabeth series using your KU membership. After today, I will have no books left in Kindle Unlimited.
I haven’t really discussed my reasons for pulling my books out of Kindle Unlimited. There are a few reasons that I have elected to do so. The main one is that I want to be able to do what I want with my books.
- I want to make them available for free on ElevenReader.
- I want to have them all included in the Patreon library for my paid patrons to read.
- I want to make them available in library eBook catalogues so that readers can request them from their local library and read them for free while I still earn a bit for the check out or sale.
- I want to make them available in non-exclusive subscription reading plans such as Kobo Plus and Everand for those who can’t use Amazon or prefer not to use Amazon.
None of those things are possible while my books are bound to the exclusivity rules that govern Kindle Unlimited.
I will still run monthly discounts and have the occasional freebie (via Smashwords mostly), and as always access to all my books on a subscription basis starts at just $2 USD per month at Patreon. (It will take a few weeks to get all my books that have recently come out of KU added to patreon.)
eBOOK DEALS
Until August 31, His Father’s Last Gift is on sale everywhere for $0.99 USD, EUR, CAD, NZD, AUD, GBP, with all other currencies reduced.
JULY’S PATREON FREE READ and MEMBERSHIP PERKS
FREE READ: If you follow me for free on Patreon, there is a series starter that can be read for free each month. This month’s series starter read is Matching Mr. Darcy, which is part of my Sweet Possibilities Collection.
MEMBERSHIP PERKS: Each month, I offer an eBook or two to download and keep to my $2 or more Patrons, and every time there is a new audiobook finished, I also make a link to download that available to them.
This month’s eBook offerings are Matching Mr. Darcy and One Winter’s Eve. And this month’s audiobook edition is From Tolerable to Lovely.
SOMETHING NEW TO READ.
Our story continues this month with Richard about to begin a new assignment but first — he must make his official offer and be accepted.
Please remember that there are sections where previous chapters from this story can be read on whichever platform you subscribe to.
- On my blog, look for Harriet and the Colonel in the menu options.
- On Substack, look for the Harriet and the Colonel section on the home page.
- On Patreon, look for The Colonel’s Lady in the collections tab.
Chapter 2, part 2
Richard rubbed his chin as he read the paper he had been given, while Harriet peeked over his shoulder. Surprisingly, her brother did not even grumble about her doing so. Which likely meant that Edmund thought it would be good for her to see the report. That was also likely why it was written all in Edmund’s hand. The original document would have included identifiers to its true author. They would not be clear to any who did not know what they were, but Harriet was not the sort to not remember strange details.
She was a lot like Darcy’s Elizabeth in that regard. They would indeed make a fine pair of friends who had the potential to up-end society – at least, in familial circles.
“What would a purveyor of mostly honest goods have to do with this brothel scheme?” Harriet asked.
“Or,” Richard inserted, “what did he know that he was not supposed to know?”
“His place of business was in a bit of a mess when a man was sent round,” Edmund said.
“I see that here.”
“Was it Jimmy who was sent round? He would have been best, since he was the one who had accompanied me there when I bought the watch.” Harriet had returned to her seat to drink her tea.
Edmund shook his head. “I was not in charge of that decision, but you are correct, and I have sent a reply with that information.” He rubbed the back of his neck as he was wont to do when something was not sitting well with him. All his life – or, at least, since Richard had known him – he had done so when things were not right.
“You think this man’s demise has something to do with the watch.” It was a guess, but Richard suspected it was a good one both since Harriet had been allowed to read the report he held, and because Edmund had mentioned that her finding the watch may not have been helpful. “This makes no mention of it,” Richard continued, “but I assume whoever is overseeing things knows it had been found before this man’s body was discovered?”
Edmund’s head moved from side to side and then up and down as he nodded his unwilling agreement. “There is no way to be certain that the two are connected at this point, but that is another reason why I want Jimmy to visit that store.” He blew out a breath and then levelled a glare at his sister. “You are not to go with him. I do not care if you might notice something he won’t. This is far too dangerous.”
Ah, there was the reason why Harriet had been included in the reading of that report which had described how the shopkeeper had been found. Edmund was hoping to carry his point in demanding she not involve herself.
“He is right,” Richard agreed softly. “Neither of us would wish to have anything happen to you.” He extended his hand towards her, and she placed hers in it. “Promise me that you will not go with Jimmy.”
She cast a somewhat annoyed look at her brother and then, him.
“We will include you in the meeting when Jimmy returns before I send my report to …” Edmund smiled. “Well, to the appropriate people.”
“That is an excellent idea because Harriet may have some questions that we would not think to ask,” Richard added.
Edmund inclined his head in acceptance of the truth of the matter.
“Promise me, Harry,” Richard demanded. “I have only just begun to recover from the ordeal with Georgiana and Elizabeth. I am not sure I could withstand having you in danger.”
Harriet shot a concerned glance at her brother. “Do not say so, or he may remove his approval,” she hissed.
Richard chuckled. “Then, promise me that you will remove yourself from the dangerous bits of this assignment.”
She scowled. “I promise.”
“It is not because I do not think you are capable of dealing with unpleasant things,” Edmund assured her. “I am not sure I would be able to live with myself if anything were to happen to you because you were trying to prove yourself to me.” His lips tipped into a half-smile. “Not that there will not be an adequate number of other things about which you may persecute me to ensure that I am happy to be rid of you.” He winked, and his sister chuckled.
“That is perhaps too true,” she admitted.
He stood. “And now, I will take myself to my study so that my best man and dearest friend can present his official offer to you before he heads off to start his assignment.”
“Wait,” Harriet said. “Will I be allowed to see him after…”
“Yes. Most likely. It truly depends upon how things progress. As you saw, he and a couple other men will be staying in a rented room and doing their best to not stand out too much in the neighbourhood in which it is located. You will not be allowed to visit him there, but he cannot watch the comings and goings of the area all day and night. There will be times when he can make his way here.”
He gave his sister a stern look. “Here. You may only see him here, Harriet. If you feel a need to see him, tell me, and I promise to relay that information to him. The lives of many – including his – depend upon your adherence to this.”
“As long as I get to see him or write to him, I can bear it. I will remind you that I did not attempt to ride to Hertfordshire even once. I am capable of not getting in the way.” She gave him an impertinent smile but then sobered. “I would not wish to be the reason anyone died.” She pulled the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth and looked down at the floor. “Am I why that man died?” she asked softly.
Edmund dropped to his knees in front of her and took the hand that Richard was not holding. “No. You could have been any lady looking for a watch as a gift. He did not know who you were. He may not have even known the source of the watch at all, or to whom it belonged. I think he was just an unfortunate casualty of an evil scheme that we have not yet entirely figured out.”
Harriet let go of Richard’s hand and grasped Edmunds with both of hers. “Are you certain?”
“Yes.” He tipped his head low to catch her eyes for she was resolutely looking at their joined hands. “If anyone is at fault it is me. If I had only just allowed Richard to offer for you sooner, you would not have had to go to the extremes you did.”
“I could have been more patient.”
“I will not deny that, but I did not help you in that regard.” He rose from his place and drew her to her feet along with him. Then, he wrapped her in a tight embrace. “I love you, Harriet. Do not ever doubt that. I would have eventually relented, for there is no other gentleman I have ever known who is truly worthy to be your husband. I think I have always known it, but this profession is dangerous, and I do not want to lose you.” He released her, and taking her hand, turned her toward Richard. “There is no one else I would rather entrust her to than you.”
Richard accepted her hand and gave Edmund a nod before he quickly left them alone.
“Will you still have me despite the fact that you know your brother approves of me?” he asked in a teasing tone which drew a small laugh from her as it was supposed to do. “I, too, love you, Harry. You know I do.”
“I do,” her lips curved into a sweet smile as she said it. “And you know that I love you.”
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind about that, which means there is no need to prove it.”
She huffed. “I have already promised to keep myself safely tucked at home.”
He drew her to him. “Enjoy that time here for it will not be your home forever, and my inheritance will not afford us a home as grand as this.”
“I have a fine dowry,” she replied. “But I do not need a fine home. I only need you.”
“And all I need is you. However, I would also like to house you in a way that will make you happy to be my wife.”
“Does that mean that I will be allowed to be a part of some adventures?”
Richard chuckled. “I am quite certain that I will have no choice but to include you in a few – but nothing too dangerous. For I truly do not know what I would do without you. My heart would be irreparably shattered if I lost you. Shall I inform my father that his solicitor’s services are needed to put all my affairs in order in preparation for taking a bride?”
“Yes, please do, and then take care as you begin your assignment, for my heart will never be whole without you.” And then, without waiting for any response from him or giving him the opportunity to initiate a kiss, she pressed her lips to his.
But that was his Harry. Bold, passionate, unafraid to go after what she wanted. And he was absolutely delighted to be exactly what she desired.
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