June 13, 2026
What have I been up to in the past month?
Well, delivering Uber Eats orders, producing audiobook chapters, and trying to get my creativity unstuck so that I can write what needs writing. If you’d like more information about those things, including some research tidbits that I found interesting during my attempt to get unstuck, then, I would suggest that you pop over to the Sigh-worthy Romance Tearoom and read the post I made there on June 1 (which can be found here) .
Since that post was made, I’ve managed to write the next story installment for Harriet and the Colonel, which you will find at the end of this newsletter, and I’ve gotten a half chapter of Lydia’s story done. I know that’s not much, but it’s a start in the right direction, and I’m hopefully optimistic that the worst of being stuck is behind me. In fact, I hope to get that half chapter turned into a full chapter before you read this on Saturday. (I’m writing this on Thursday.) [Friday evening update: I did it! That chapter is complete!]
Another thing that has happened in my life since that Tearoom post, is my car broke down. I was in the middle of a delivery order on Thursday (June 4) when several dashboard lights came on. And then, it started shuddering and chugging and threatening to stop altogether just after I had finished that delivery. Long story short, I ended up leaving it in a parking lot to wait to be towed to the shop the following morning. Thankfully, my husband was able to leave work for a bit to come get me and take me home.
The shop put it on the schedule for Monday. But then, there was a power outage so it got bumped to Tuesday. They thought they found the issue, replaced the parts, and cleared the error codes.
The car was back in my driveway by Tuesday evening.
I went out to make deliveries this morning, and on my way to make the second delivery, ONE of those dashboard lights came on again. So… I dropped off someone’s lunch, drove to the shop, told them what was happening, and that is currently where my car remains as I am typing this. (I walked home. The shop we use is just down the road and around the corner.)
So, that’s the “excitement” in my life that I could really do without. LOL However, it has meant more time to work on writing business things.
And speaking of writing business things, let’s get on with the rest of the book news and get to that next piece of Harriet and the Colonel’s story.
AUDIOBOOK NEWS
I am back to adding books to ElevenReader!
All my books, which I had published there before their pricing/payout scheme changed, have been given a la carte prices. That was what I needed to finish before I could start adding new book to their library.
So far, I have gotten the first four books of the Marrying Elizabeth series published there. The plan is to continue adding one book to the ElevenReader library per week unless life gets in the way. If I have counted right, I have sixteen titles to add over there until all my books are available to listen to with your subscription or as a one time purchase.
On YOUTUBE, we are up to chapter 8 of Discovering Mr. Darcy, I have chapter 9 already scheduled and waiting to be released next Friday, and will begin producing chapter 10 either today or tomorrow. I’m getting close to the end of that book, which is always exciting for me because it means I’ll have a new audiobook to give to my Patreon subscribers and to list with various audiobook retailers. [Friday evening update: I did it! I got the first production pass done on Chapter 10.]
BOOK NEWS
Book Promotions:
My Teatime Tales collection is being highlighted this month with special prices and Patreon perks.
As you can see I’ve reduced prices across the series for the month of June. That’s on all retailers and all currencies have been reduced, although the $1 drop is referring to USD, CAD, EUR, GBP, AUD, NZD, as is the $0.99 for Two Days in November.
And the free read at Patreon is From Tolerable to Lovely, which is also one of the two downloads for Patreon subscribers.
If you’re a subscription reader, Patreon is just one of the subscription places where you can read my books. In addition to Patreon, my books, including the full Teatime Tales collection, are included in the Kobo Plus and Everand subscription programs.
Also, the boxset of all six stories is listed on Hoopla for those who have access to that.
So, what exactly are the stories in my Teatime Tales about? Well, here’s the collection blurb to let you know:
Experience the timeless romance of Pride and Prejudice reimagined in this collection of six standalone novelettes, where secret alliances like the “North Wind” and “Southern Seas” protect family hearts, and a shrewd Mr. Bingley takes the lead to ensure Darcy finds his “best sort” of accomplished lady. From defending their engagement against intense family interrogation to revealing the tender heart hidden behind a “tolerable” first impression, these stories offer a captivating escape into the many ways Darcy and Elizabeth find their way to a most ardent love.
There is also a library catalogue sale going on this month and all my stories from both my pen names are part of that sale. That means this would be a good month to request my books at your library if they use OverDrive. (A good to know tidbit: If your library uses the Libby app, then, they use OverDrive since Libby is provided by OverDrive.)
AND… One more book promotion
If you are in the US or Canada, Kobo is running a Great Reads Under $5 promotion and two of my books (one for each pen name) have been included. My books are reduced in price by $1 in each currency.
SOMETHING NEW TO READ
We’re continuing to set things up with our story this month. Harriet is not one to just sit and wait for answers to be given to her.
Please remember that there are sections where previous chapters from all the Harriet and the Colonel stories 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 On the Way to a Wedding in the collections tab.
Chapter 2 (Part 1)
Edmund was gone. He had been gone for two days now. He had likely met Richard along the way already and was soon going to discover the information that Wickham thought he possessed.
Harriet had never met this Wickham fellow. Truth be told, she was not certain she cared to meet him. Although…
“What are you planning?” Samantha asked when Harriet accidentally gave away the fact that she was pondering with a small “hmm.”
Harriet directed the two of them to the right of the pool with the fountain since the path along which they had been strolling along required them to turn one direction or another.
“I am not planning anything other than a wedding,” she replied.
Next to her, her sister laughed knowingly. “I believe all you have left to do on that front is make sure your dress fits when you return to town.”
Yes, well, that was true. There was very little left to be done. She knew the menu for, as well as the songs she wished to have played at, her wedding breakfast. She had contracted with the appropriate people to have flowers sent and arranged, and she had written up all the schedules for what needed preparation and when.
“I have not packed all my things.”
“And for that, you have servants,” Samantha replied. “So, allow me to repeat myself: What are you planning?”
Harriet sighed. “I truly am not planning anything. I am merely pondering a certain situation.” It was a situation that had taken over much of her quiet time – frustrating her with its seemingly unanswerable questions.
“Does this certain situation include a particularly awful man who kidnapped the colonel’s cousin?” her sister asked. Of course, Samantha would know what Harriet was thinking about. She had nearly always been able to decipher what Harriet was thinking.
“Yes. Something just does not feel right, and there is no way for me to feel less unsettled when questions have not been answered. Or at least, when those answers have not been shared with me.” She huffed. This was all too similar to how she had felt after Andrew’s death.
“You found Andrew’s watch,” Samantha said quietly as if once again, she knew what her sister was thinking. “Remember that,” she added firmly. “Edmund and his men did not find it. You did. And they gave you no information about it. You did it on your own.” She bumped Harriet’s shoulder with her own. “Do you really need their answers?”
Harriet could not help smiling at that. “It would make it easier.” But was it necessary? Was there truly a way for her to discover useful information from here? And not town? With only the bits she knew? And not with the full scope of information her brother had?
“So what are we planning?” Samantha whispered conspiratorially as they entered the cool shade of the folly, which had been their objective when setting out on their garden stroll.
“We are not planning anything,” Harriet said with a laugh as she took a seat on the settee that was tucked in the back of the folly where it would be sheltered from the weather. “You are far too pregnant to be taking part in schemes.”
Samantha placed her hands on her hips – or the side of her belly, it was rather hard to tell these days where Samantha’s every growing baby began and ended – and scowled down at her younger sister before taking a seat, none too gracefully, next to her. “I will have you know that I am not going to let you carry out some plan without my help. Edmund expects me to see to your care while he is gone.”
“I do not need a nursemaid,” Harriet protested. She pulled her feet up under her and turned sideways on the bench so she could look at her sister while they spoke.
“Perhaps not, but I do need to practise being a mother hen.”
Harriet rolled her eyes. “I think you are well prepared for motherhood on that front. I have made certain of it for you for years now.”
“So then, do not push me aside now. Please.” Samantha sighed. “Our lives are going to change so much in a few months. I will be a mother, and you will be a wife. Let us attempt to enjoy a few weeks this summer of just being sisters.” She patted her belly. “Even if I must bring this little one along on our adventures.”
“Julian would kill me if he knew I allowed you to take part in anything that might in some way be remotely dangerous, and Edmund would assist him.”
“Then, we will not do anything dangerous.” She bit her lip the way she had always done when they were young, and she had an idea that she thought was clever. “I am quite certain that taking tea, making calls, and doing a bit of shopping are not overly dangerous.”
A furrow formed between Harriet’s eyebrows. “How will that help me figure out what I need to know?”
“And Edmund thinks you are the clever one,” Samantha teased. “What do we women do best when taking tea and making calls and shopping? We talk and listen.”
Harriet sucked in a quick breath as a smile spread across her face. Why yes! That was how she had finally discovered Andrew’s watch, was it not?
“And what we hear is not the same as what a group of men would hear in a tavern or over a game of cards, now is it?” her sister continued.
A thrilling shiver raced up Harriet’s spine and down her arms. It was brilliant. How had she not considered that? Of course, what women talked about was different from what men did. It was entirely possible that someone might have a story about some fellow who was not at his home during the summer as he normally was or some such thing, would they not?
“In fact,” Samantha said, “I believe we have spent enough days at home as of late. I find a change of scenery would be most beneficial, and I would love to procure a few embellishments for some of my motherly projects, as well as for the dress I plan to wear to your wedding. And I am certain there must be some items left for you to add to your trousseau. If there are not, we can invent a project or two.”
Harriet clapped her hands in delight. “I do love how clever you are.”
“I dare say I am nearly as clever as you,” she said with a laugh. “Now tell me, what information do we hope to discover?”
Thank you so much for being my readers! Have a lovely weekend!
<3 Leenie
