Excerpt from New Novel: Pride and Proposals

Feb10

Okay. (Gulp) Here is the very beginning of my new Austen variation Pride and Proposals! I hope you like it. The book should be out soon — a couple of weeks. Stay tuned….

Chapter 1
Miss Bennet, I must tell you that almost since our first …

No. Too formal.

You must be aware of my attentions …

Would that assume too much?

You must allow me to tell you how much I admire you …

This came closest to expressing his sentiments, but would she view it as excessive?

Darcy guided his stallion along the path to Hunsford Parsonage, anxiety increasing by the minute. Somehow the perfect words for a proposal must come to mind. He was close by the parsonage.

Almost out of time.

He took a deep breath. The master of Pemberley was unaccustomed to such agitation of the mind. But Elizabeth Bennet had a habit of unsettling his nerves as no one else could. Not for the first time, he wondered why that should indicate she would be the ideal companion of his future life. However, he had wrestled with his sentiments all day and finally concluded that it must be so, despite his objections to her family.

He had not slept the night previous and only fitfully the night before that. Practically his every thought was occupied by Elizabeth Bennet. Every minute of the day, he would recall a pert response she had made to his aunt or a piece of music she had played on the pianoforte. Or the sparkle of life in her fine eyes.

Yes, at first she had seemed an unlikely candidate for the mistress of Pemberley, but his passion could not be denied.
He no longer made the attempt.

Strange. He had been angered with himself for months that he could not rid himself of this … obsession with Miss Bennet. But once he had determined to surrender to the sentiment and propose to her, he felt almost … happy. Despite the fleeting sensations of guilt and doubt, he could not help but imagine how joyful it would be to have her as his wife.

He pictured the expression on Elizabeth’s face when he declared himself. Undoubtedly, she was aware of his admiration, and she had returned his flirtatious banter on more than one occasion, but she could have no serious hopes for an alliance. Her delight would make any of his misgivings worth it.

The woods on either side of the path thinned, and Darcy slowed his horse to a walk as he reached the clearing surrounding the parsonage. Initially, he had been bitterly disappointed when Elizabeth’s headache had prevented her from accompanying the Collinses to Rosings for tea, but then he recognized a perfect opportunity to speak with her alone.

Excusing himself from the gathering had not presented any difficulties. His cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, had received a letter that day with word of an unexpected inheritance of property following the death of his mother’s sister. Darcy was well pleased for his cousin, who had chafed at the limitations of a second son’s life. Richard had excused himself to plan for an immediate departure from Rosings the next day so he could soon visit his new estate. Darcy had seized on the excuse as well – since, naturally, he would be taking Richard in his coach and would necessarily need to prepare.

Darcy turned his thoughts to the task at hand.

You must allow me to tell you how violently I admire …

No.
You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you …

Perhaps …

Darcy swung his leg over the pommel and slid off his saddle, tying his horse up at a post outside the Collinses’ front door. Pausing for a moment, he breathed deeply, willing his body to calmness. Then he seized the door knocker and rapped.
The maid who answered the door appeared unnecessarily flustered. As he followed her down the short hallway to the Collinses’ modest drawing room, Darcy had a dawning sense of wrongness.

Voices already emanated from the drawing room. Darcy immediately recognized Elizabeth’s lovely soprano. But the other voice was male, too muffled for him to hear. Had Collins returned home unexpectedly?

Darcy quickened his stride, almost crowding against the maid as she opened the drawing room door. “Mr. Darcy, ma’am,” the maid announced before swiftly scurrying away.

Darcy blinked several times. His mind had difficulty understanding what his eyes saw. His cousin Fitzwilliam was in the drawing room. With Elizabeth. With Darcy’s Elizabeth. In actuality, Richard sat beside her on the settee, almost indecently close.

Why is Richard here? Darcy wondered with some irritation. Should he not be packing for his departure rather than preventing me from proposing?

Richard and Elizabeth had been smiling at each other, but now both regarded Darcy in surprise.

For a moment, all was silence. Darcy could hear the crackling of logs in the fireplace. He had the nagging sensation of having missed something of importance but could not identify it.

“I … uh … came to inquire after your health, Miss Bennet.” Given the circumstances, Darcy was proud that the words emerged at all coherently.

“I am feeling much recovered, thank you.” Her voice was somewhat breathless.

A look passed between Richard and Elizabeth, and she gave a tiny nod. Darcy’s sense of mystification increased. Finally, Richard sprang to his feet with a huge grin on his face. “Darcy, you arrived at just the right moment. You can be the first to congratulate me.” At that moment, Darcy started to get a sinking, gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach. “Elizabeth has consented to be my wife!”

What Should Authors Do With Reader Reviews?

Jan19

There’s a lot of debate among authors about how much you should read your reviews on Amazon and Goodreads (although there’s a definite consensus that you shouldn’t respond to reviews). Some authors say they never read their reviews and I can understand that. It can drive you crazy if you feel like you have to satisfy every reader. There’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like your work.

At the other extreme, I have a friend (who writes in a different genre from me) who I think must have read every review ever written about her book. She’s looked up other reviews of the people who gave her one star so she knows what other things they don’t like. While I can totally understand that impulse (wouldn’t you want to discredit or at least discount someone who didn’t like your work?), I don’t think it’s a good idea to get that worried about reviews. Like I said, someone will always dislike your work. Does it matter who they are? Plus, I simply don’t have that kind of time. I’d rather be writing my next book.

That said, I’m not in the camp that says you should completely ignore reviews. They are particularly useful when there is a consensus of opinion. In the reviews of my last book, a couple of comments cropped up in a number of reviews and I thought they had merit. It’s not as if any book is perfect or any writer can’t improve his or her craft. One of the ways you get better is to get feedback. And readers are a great source of feedback.

I come from a playwriting background, which is pretty unusual in this business. When you write plays, you have staged readings where you invite an audience to a reading of the play (in which the actors read from the script rather than have it memorized) and then ask for their feedback afterward. Getting that feedback is very valuable. It tells you when the pacing of the play is dragging, when you’re confusing the audience, or if they find a character unsympathetic. Of course, you have to discount some of the audience comments you get — not everyone is going to like everything about your play. Sometimes you say, “thank you for your comment,” and move on. I know that if Shakespeare had a reading of Hamlet, there would be people telling him they didn’t like the main character because he was too indecisive or that they thought the language was too hard to understand.

Readers’ comments are similar. They can help you figure out what really works about your book and when you’re confusing or (God forbid) boring your readers. I’m grateful that my readers’ comments have been overwhelmingly positive. I’m grateful that people are buying my book 🙂 Yeah, the negative comments bother me. But just about everything helps me become a better writer.

What do you think? I’m interested in other authors’ opinions as well as readers’.

A New Year Thank You to My Readers

Jan11

In many ways 2014 was a difficult year. My family moved. My son has a mysterious digestive problem that has caused him to miss a lot of school. My daughter started high school and encountered new difficulties caused by being a bright kid with a learning disability.

But 2014 was a great year too. When I published The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth, I had no idea what to expect. I considered it entirely possible I would sell 100 copies and no one would ever hear about it. I wasn’t at all prepared for thousands of people buying the book and hundreds of good reviews. There are times I still can’t believe it :).

So 2014 was a great year because of my readers. I am very grateful to everyone who bought, read, and reviewed my book. Thank you!

And I’m humbled and thrilled that I may have brought fellow readers the kind of pleasure other authors have given me.

I am hoping 2015 will be just as good (or even better!). I am working hard to publish my next Austen variation, Pride and Proposals, as quickly as possible. And I’m germinating the ideas for the next story. Stay tuned!

Why Mr. Darcy is Such an Appealing Romantic Hero

Nov25

Okay, so I’ve been trying to figure out what makes Mr. Darcy stand out in the crowd of romantic heroes. Among Austen’s leading men he’s definitely the biggest star. Other romantic heroes from Austen’s period and from ours just don’t have the same powerful grip on our imagination. So, what sets him apart from other romantic heroes? Here are some of thoughts:

1. He is steadfast – he doesn’t give up on her, even after she turns him down.
2. He is willing to overlook her family — yeah, it takes him a while to get there, but he must love her an awful lot to put up with Mrs. Bennet, Lydia and Wickham. Talk about difficult in-laws…
3. He likes her intelligence – This is a biggie. He does think she has fine eyes, but what he really likes is her wit, cleverness, lively conversation. Wouldn’t every woman like to be appreciated for her brain?
4. He values her backbone – One of the first things he notices about her is that she stands up to him. I always assume most women treat him like Miss Bingley, fawning over him and agreeing with everything he says. Darcy likes Elizabeth because she’s her own person.
5. He defends her to other people – Isn’t this a female fantasy? A guy who will tell other people (including catty women) you’re beautiful and smart when they’re criticizing you.
6. He fixes problems for her — Yeah she generally takes care of her own issues, but she can’t fix the Lydia/Wickham thing. He wades into the scandal for her sake without even asking for any credit.
7. He’s played by Colin Firth (and that other guy who’s kind of cute too).

But the biggest reason of all: He is willing to change his behavior for her. He admits he was wrong and tries to be a better person so he can deserve her.

I think this is the characteristic that sets Darcy apart from most other romantic heroes. Yes, many of them change and make sacrifices for their loved ones, but few make the kind of deep alterations to their character that Darcy does. Deciding you’ll give up your womanizing and gambling for her sake just doesn’t compare. He essentially starts as a selfish character and evolves into one whose primary consideration is the happiness of the woman he loves. Who wouldn’t love that guy?

Okay, so that’s my take. What does everyone else think?

Some of My Favorite Things (in an Austen Variation)

Nov20

As I write my next P&P variation, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what I like in my Jane Austen variations – and, naturally, what I don’t like.

One of the things I look for in all my books is passion, emotion, true feelings. In life it might not be realistic to believe that two people must be together to be happy, but I love to see that premise in my novels. So, I look for these extremes of emotion in my Austen variations as well. If the characters aren’t feeling like this is one of the most important moments in their lives, why should I care?

However, in order to have extreme emotions (or an interesting plot), you need conflict; bad things need to happen to your protagonists. They can’t be happy – particularly at the beginning. I’ve read P&P sequels (taking place after the original book) in which Darcy and Elizabeth are happy most of the time. They have sex, they go to the beach, they laugh. I would love to be those people. I do not want to read about them. It’s boring.

Another thing I look for in my P&P variations is being true to the characters. I love to see variations which put the characters I recognize and love into new and interesting situations. That’s my idea of a great book – even if the situation is a bit farfetched.

Now, of course, my idea of true to the characters might not be someone else’s. I don’t mind me some sex scenes. I believe Darcy and Elizabeth would have a passionate relationship. I believe they might anticipate their marriage vows (there’s evidence lots of people did back then – particularly when engaged) under certain circumstances.

However, I can’t see Miss Bingley slipping into Darcy’s bed in the hopes of seducing or compromising him. She’s a harpy, but that’s not her style. She’s as interested in preserving her virtue and reputation as any other well-bred woman. I can’t picture Colonel Fitzwilliam becoming a letch who Darcy has to protect Elizabeth from. There’s nothing to suggest that interpretation of the character in the original text. I have a hard time imagining Jane becoming the protective head of the household after her father dies and defending a fragile Elizabeth. When did they both have a personality transplant? Mr. Collins may be a vain idiot, but would he become an evil villain? It doesn’t seem to be in his nature – plus he’s a dim bulb.

Now, maybe some readers can overlook these things. There are some improbabilities I don’t mind if they’re explained well. But for me this kind of radical reinterpretation of the characters makes it hard for me to stay in the world of the novel and enjoy it.

There are, of course, other things I like and don’t like about variations. But that’s enough for now. I’d love to hear others’ opinions. What are your favorite things about Austen variations?

Related to Jane?

Nov17

So, unbeknownst to me, my cousin has been doing genealogical research and discovered we are distantly related to…Jane Austen! I couldn’t be more thrilled. Maybe the urge to write is inherited :). Of course, there are probably thousands of people who are related to her (she had a lot of brothers), but it’s still cool.

Of course, he also discovered we’re even more closely related to Richard Nixon (11th cousins or something) ….But I’ll try not to dwell on that. Hopefully the urge for politics isn’t inherited (shudder) :).

The First Draft is the Hardest

Sep21

I finished!!! I wrote the last scene and the last word of my first draft (tentatively entitled Pride and Proposals) ! This is the hardest part of the process — for me and for many writers, I believe. Once you have something on paper, and you’re not facing a blank screen, it’s so much easier to revise. Even if you have to throw out pages and pages (and I have), you’re better off having something to work with. That’s why I always try to write the first draft quickly (I’m not always successful) and give myself permission for it to be crappy. If I worry about each sentence construction or word choice, I’d never get through the first page. Those considerations are for the next draft.

So, I’m going to celebrate with some chocolate and then start on the second draft.

The funny thing is, when I finish the first draft, I always think it’s awful (because I wrote fast and didn’t worry about a lot of details), but then when I go through to revise I often think, “Hey, this isn’t so bad!” Of course, sometimes that doesn’t happen, which is a sign that my first draft needs major surgery. Nothing to do but get out the scalpel….

Does anyone else have this experience with their second draft?

Why Do So Many People Want to be Writers?

Sep20

Recently I’ve read two blogs by published authors talking about annoying reactions they have gotten when they have told a casual acquaintance that they write novels. I’ve been a creative writer my whole life and I’m familiar with the scenario. A lot of times you get a reaction along the lines of “I’m working on a novel too!” or “I’ve always wanted to write” or “I’d write if I had more time” or “I have this great idea….” Many people seem to think that with a little time and effort, they too could be a writer just like you.

I always wonder if this happens to people in other creative professions. My guess is that if you say you’re a ballet dancer, you don’t get 45-year-old fellow party guests who say, “I’ve been meaning to take up a professional ballet career.” You might get someone who used to take (or even is taking) ballet lessons, but they don’t have aspirations to greatness in the field. Okay, but that’s an age thing. What about music or art? Although you can do some guitar playing or drawing with little or no instruction, most people would recognize that if you want to seriously pursue music or art (either as a professional or a serious amateur), you need to undertake a lot of studying and practicing. In other words: hard work.

Writing, on the other hand, looks easily accessible as an artistic pursuit. Everyone knows the English language, right? You can take it up when you’re 45 or 60 or 75. You don’t need to buy a tuba or oil paints. Here’s the problem: Yes, anyone can write. However, writing well takes a lot (and I mean a lot) of practice. I’ve been writing creatively for more than 20 years and I don’t feel like I’ve perfected it. It also helps to get good feedback from a support/critique group and instruction. (yeah, I know some people say creative writing can’t be taught, but you can teach the techniques of effective writing in the same way you teach brushstrokes or reading music.) Feedback and instruction help you hone your technique, but there’s no substitute for practice. You wouldn’t expect to go to a basketball game for the first time and sink every shot you make. Or do a perfect pirouette at your first (or fifth or fifteenth) ballet class. Or sculpt a coherent statue out of a hunk of marble without help. Just because you know the basics of writing — or even if you’ve been doing writing at your job — it doesn’t mean you have developed all the techniques you need for writing a novel.

Actually, I think a lot of people know this (at least subconsciously), but don’t want to believe it. I believe this is why writers encounter a lot of people who want to be a writer. There’s no age limit, so it’s something you can always aspire to be. But a lot of would-be writers have tried writing the Great American Novel and found that it’s more difficult than they expected (hence the “I’m working on a novel too” syndrome). It’s discouraging to have a vision and then discover that your writing isn’t up to the task of creating that vision perfectly (believe me, I understand!). But, rather than practicing their writing by sitting at the computer every day (even for 15 minutes) or honing their skills with feedback from a group or instructor, a lot of these people would rather tell themselves and imply to everyone else, that they would become great writers if only they had enough time. It’s scary to write. I know! But the only way to become a good writer is to write. A lot.

Anyway, that’s my opinion. What do you think?

Jane Austen Museum in Bath

Sep7

The Jane Austen Museum in Bath isn’t as well known as Chawton Cottage, but it is near one of the houses Jane’s family inhabited when they lived in Bath. It does give you a great idea of what Jane’s life in Bath was like and has lots of interesting Jane-related things to view. Plus their guides are knowledgeable and could talk about Jane Austen forever! One of the highlights is a waxwork of Jane Austen (based on their research) similar to what you would see in Madame Tussaud’s (is there an Austen statue at Tussaud’s in London? There should be!). I actually think the statue of Jane looks a little like Mrs. Gardiner in the 1995 production of Pride and Prejudice.

Happiness is Not Knowing Any Better

Sep3

The picture below is of the kitchen in Jane Austen’s Chawton Cottage. I look at it and immediately think longingly of my microwave. I guess it’s a good thing I can’t travel back in time. I might be a real whiner (“What do you mean dinner will take three hours to cook?” — and don’t get me started on the lack of toothpaste).

But then I remember that the Austens were probably pretty happy about the technology they had available. They had a stove after all, not just a fireplace. They thought they had it pretty good. It’s like when we had floppy disks and computers without graphics. We didn’t know any better, so it was cutting edge and cool. Jane and her family probably read books set in the Middle Ages and thought: “Those poor people! They only had a primitive fireplace to cook with.” Happiness is not knowing any better.

Victoria Kincaid

Official Website of Victoria Kincaid, Bestselling Author of Jane Austen Variations