Tag Archive | Pride and Prejudice variations

My Latest P&P Variation, When Jane Got Angry, is Now Available!

Sep24

My latest Pride and Prejudice variation, When Jane Got Angry, is here!  It’s now available on Amazon, Smashwords, BN.com, Kobo, iTunes and other sites.  The paperback is available on Amazon.

The story focuses on Jane and Bingley–with a little Darcy and Elizabeth thrown in.  Check out the blurb below!

When Mr. Bingley abruptly left Hertfordshire, Jane Bennet’s heart was broken.  Since arriving in London to visit her aunt and uncle, Jane has been hoping to encounter Mr. Bingley; however, it becomes clear that his sister is keeping them apart. 

But what would happen if she took matters into her own hands?  Defying social convention, she sets out to alert Mr. Bingley to her presence in London, hoping to rekindle the sparks of their relationship.

Bingley is thrilled to encounter Jane and renew their acquaintance, but his sister has told him several lies about the Bennets—and his best friend, Mr. Darcy, still opposes any relationship.  As Jane and Bingley sort through this web of deceit, they both find it difficult to maintain their customary equanimity. 

However, they also discover that sometimes good things happen when Jane gets angry. 

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Wow! Awesome Review from Margie’s Must Reads

Nov5

Margie’s Must Reads writes, “I adored it! There was so much to love! I loved the original quotes for Pride and Prejudice sprinkled in, I loved the characters and how their modern counterparts were very similar to their classic siblings but still had a way of being original…..”

“I really did not want it to end! It was not long enough!! I didn’t have enough time with Mr. President!! There were so many laughs and I even cried in a few places!! This book was just want I needed, a perfect remedy for my political woes right now. Why can’t we live in a world with President Fitzwilliam Darcy?!?!”

Check out the review and excerpt and giveaway!  Also,  you can find out which world leader Margie was fantasizing about when she was reading the book.  Although, here’s a hint….

Darcy’s Honor 4.5 Star Review, Giveaway, and Excerpt!

Apr17

I’m  a guest at JustJane1813, where she gave my new novel, Darcy’s Honor, a 4.5 star review.  There’s also an excerpt from the novel and a giveaway.  In her review, Claudine writes,

“I also loved the camaraderie that was developed between Darcy and Elizabeth because it was built upon the slow, but steady development of trust and respect between them as their relationship evolved throughout the story. I felt that their collaborative efforts in this story mirrored, in many aspects, the ways that their relationship was crafted in The Secrets Between Darcy and Elizabeth, which was the book that started my love for Ms. Kincaid’s writing. Ms. Kincaid’s characterizations of Darcy and Elizabeth were spot-on and a true delight to read. I love her version of a besotted Darcy, especially when he tries to take charge of a situation for Elizabeth’s sake, as well as a strong-willed Elizabeth, who is determined to take charge of her own life, even when that path isn’t the easier one.

Ultimately, it is the liveliness of Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s minds, along with some help from a couple of unanticipated allies, that helps to save the day for our dear couple. Ms. Kincaid’s fluid and engrossing writing style make their journey an absolute pleasure for her readers to experience!”

http://justjane1813.com/2017/04/14/darcys-honor-by-victoria-kincaid-a-review-an-excerpt-readers-choice-giveaway/

Darcy’s Honor in Paperback and Excerpt

Apr14

Darcy’s Honor is available in paperback at Amazon!  Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/Darcys-Honor-Pride-Prejudice-Variation/dp/0997553065/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1492189671&sr=8-2&keywords=darcy%27s+honor

Below is an excerpt from Darcy’s Honor in which Darcy helps Elizabeth down from the back of a horse after encountering her on a road near Longbourn:

She clambered awkwardly down from the saddle and stood on unsteady legs as she smoothed her skirts around her ankles. Her whole body shook. “Are you unharmed, Miss Bennet?” he inquired, running his eyes up and down her form.

She gave a shaky laugh, and Darcy could not help admiring her fortitude. Many women of his acquaintance would have swooned after such an episode. “Yes, I thank you for your timely intervention. I believe the only damage is to my dignity. I assure you that I do not customarily ride a horse like a sack of potatoes.”

Darcy blinked. “Undignified” was not one of the adjectives he had thought to apply to the sight of Elizabeth on the back of a horse, particularly not with so much leg revealed. “Of course. I would imagine you are a far superior rider with a proper sidesaddle.”

She brushed errant strands of hair from her face. “You are very kind to make such an assumption given the display you just witnessed.”

How odd to be discussing Elizabeth’s horsemanship when something was so obviously wrong. How had she acquired a horse, and why was she riding at such speeds?

“On the contrary,” Darcy returned. “It requires great skill to remain atop a strange horse under such circumstances. I am quite impressed.”

She regarded him with narrowed eyes for a moment, as if assessing his sincerity. Finally, she said, “I thank you for the compliment, sir.”

Would she think him impertinent to inquire about the circumstances of her ride? But surely the unusual situation cried out for some kind of explanation. “You were in quite a hurry. Is there an emergency?” he asked.

She glanced over her shoulder at the road behind her. “No, I do not believe so.”

This ambiguous response left Darcy at something of a loss. Why had she ridden so fast if there was no urgency? And why did she watch the road so intently? Finally, he settled on a different but not unrelated line of inquiry. “I did note that you departed the church on foot.”

He had meant his words as a light-hearted jest but cursed himself for a fool when he saw the blood drain from Elizabeth’s face. He cleared his throat. “Does, er, the Longbourn stable boast such a creature?” he asked, knowing full well she had not had sufficient time to reach her home.

“No…” Her face was now quite red. “I…er…that is, I—”

“Borrowed the mount?” he inquired as though a simple explanation would work. He reached out and took her gloved hand in his. “Please be assured, Miss Bennet, I only wish to help.”

Her eyes widened as if she had not expected such an offer from him, although he could not imagine why. But he was then rewarded with a small smile and a slight loosening of the tension in her shoulders. She let out a long breath. “No, indeed. The horse actually is the property of”—she cleared her throat —“Viscount Billington.”

“Billington!” Darcy echoed in surprise, releasing her hand. That was the last name he expected to hear. “He lent you his mount?” Was Darcy wrong in assuming she wished to have no connection with the man?

“He did not precisely loan it to me—” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Although I am quite concerned he could label me a horse thief. I must be sure the beast is returned to him.” She pressed her lips together into a white line. “Perhaps I should not have— Oh, what a terrible tangle I have created!”

Suddenly, the various oddly shaped pieces of the puzzle fell into place. He took a step closer to her. “Billington accosted you on the road?” His voice was a low growl.

She nodded miserably but lifted her chin and met his gaze. “The horse was the only way to escape.”

To Darcy’s own surprise, he began to laugh. “Serves him right! You should keep the animal.”

Elizabeth’s eyes were wide, and her mouth hung open. Darcy could only imagine the expression on Lord Henry’s face when Elizabeth jumped into his horse’s saddle. Darcy laughed even harder.

Her brows drew together. “Did you, perhaps, help Mr. Lehigh finish off the communion wine?”

Thinking of the vicar sobered Darcy, and he shook his head. “Miss Bennet, to be clear, I believe you should be commended. A lady should always have a horse at hand when encountering such a man,” Darcy said.

Mother’s Day Thoughts on Mrs. Bennet

May10

For mother’s day: a rumination on Mrs. Bennet. Austen pokes fun at a lot of characters in P&P, but I find myself being most sympathetic to Mrs. B. While Wickham, Collins, and Lady Catherine act wholly out of self-interest, I do believe Mrs. B. is acting out of concern for her daughters and not just mercenary considerations.

Why do I think this? Oddly, it’s because she dislikes Mr. Darcy. If Mrs. B. were solely interested in money and the security that a good marriage could bring her and her family, she would be pushing one of her daughters to pursue Mr. D. even though he’s an unpleasant, proud person– in her opinion. But she decides she doesn’t like him, and that’s the end of him and his ten thousand pounds as far as she’s concerned.

She likes Collins and Wickham (yes, she does have bad judgment) and so thinks they would make good husbands for her daughters (at least once Wickham gets past his little elopement and gambling problem). But she doesn’t push anyone toward Mr. D. because she doesn’t think he is a nice person despite the fact that he’s the best catch in the neighborhood.

I may be influenced by my own motherly instincts; every mom is worried about her child’s future happiness. I know I was less sympathetic to her and more inclined to think of her as meddling and annoying before I had kids.  But, the thing is, she’s not wrong that the stakes are high and, honestly, I don’t blame her for being worried. You just have to look to the beginning of Sense and Sensibility to see what Mrs. B. is afraid will happen. She might go about the solution in the wrong way, but she’s not wrong about the problem.  And that’s why I find it easier to forgive her misguided ways than the other characters in P&P.

Mrs. Bennet

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?

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?

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Congratulations on Giveaway Winners from My Love for Jane Austen Blog!

May19

Congrats to Brenda, Liz, and Angie for winning free copies of The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth in the giveaway hosted by My Love for Jane Austen!  And thank you to Sylvia for hosting the giveaway.

Additional giveaways are in the works.  I’ll keep you posted (no pun intended :)).