In order to make it fun and worthwhile for my 357 fans to do, I made it into a contest! First I drew from those who were already a part of my fanpage and mailing list with JENNIFER PEARSON the lucky winner. Yeah to Jennifer! All month I have kept tabs of the names and today entered them into a random winner site with the top name being --

KIM CLEAVER!!!

Both Jennifer and Kim must be patient since the prize is a signed copy of In The Arms of Mr. Darcy, which is not yet released. The good news (hopefully) is that my copies could arrive any day! Maybe, just maybe, Kim and Jennifer will receive their novels before anyone else. How awesome is that?

For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about, if you are on Facebook - And who isn't? LOL! - my fanpage is perfect to be kept updated on what is going on with me and my novels. Quick updates are regularly posted there whereas it may take me longer to enter a full post here on the blog. It is all about time! Something I have very little to spare. The link is on the right sidebar, so it is easy to join in.

There you have it. And don't worry, there are plenty of opportunities coming up to win a copy of my newest novel. My blog tour will kick off in a month!

In the mean time, speaking of winning prizes, Austen Authors will go-live on Monday, September 6 - 5 DAYS FROM NOW!!! We are working overtime to make the event an unbelievable extravaganza. Come by and see what we have planned and be sure to visit daily if possible. All month long it will be one endless party!

I am so very excited to announce a special, fantastic new development.

Here are the diverse authors who will be jointly blogging with us---

Susan Adriani

Marsha Altman

Marilyn Brant

Skylar Burris

Jack Caldwell

Monica Fairview

Regina Jeffers

Cindy Jones

Kara Louise

Kathryn Nelson

Jane Odiwe

C. Allyn Piereson

Mary Simonsen

Heather Rigaud

Victoria Connelly

J. Marie Croft

Lynn Shepherd

We have been very busy getting the blog together and planning for our official go-live. That is one reason why I have been a bit absent from my own website! We are planned a month long extravaganza - you read that correctly: MONTH LONG! - to celebrate our individual novels and the classic author who inspires us all. There will be daily blogs by each one of us introducing our novels, talking about how we were inspired to write in this genre, and so on. There will be games, polls, quizzes, videos, photos, and tons more. We are amassing a huge pile of books and gifts to be given out over the month. And we aren't done plotting and planning. It will be EPIC!

On top of all that, Amanda Grange, best-selling author of Mr. Darcy's Diary, Mr. Darcy Vampyre, and the upcoming A Darcy Christmas - with your's truly - will be our Spotlight Guest! I am beyond excited to welcome Amanda to our blog.

I do hope everyone will pass the word around to anyone who will listen. Tweet it, Blog it, Facebook it! Anything to help spread the word is appreciated. But most importantly, just come by throughout the month and join in the fun and chances to win.

Here is the link to the blog so you can get a taste for what is to come: Austen Authors

LOL! If you didn't then I would suggest calling your eye doctor quick! It all started with accidentally running across ideas on how to create a website header while I was searching for something else. I have long desired to create a header/banner that was specific to me and what I write. Yet every time I looked into it the task seemed too daunting for me to tackle and too expensive to hire a techno-wizard. Well, it was not easy by a stretch, but I am rather tenacious when I get a wild hair to do something! The header was created using Gimp. Nope, I had never heard of it either, but it is a free software program similar to the very pricey Photoshop and it works on Mac. It is quite complex and I was about to give up when I stumbled across a plethora of YouTube video tutorials!! Talk about awesome. Remember to check out YouTube if you ever need help with anything - chances are someone has made a video about it.

How do you like the header? Don't tell me if you hate it! Ha! I actually love it. I had to incorporate my favorite painting of the two on the patio. That image was on my original self-published versions so it holds a special place in my heart. I love the linked hearts I unearthed. They have tremendous significance to me. The other images were recently discovered, but I love the vintage books with the violin (Darcy does play the violin, as we all know), the rose as symbolic of those given to Lizzy (read My Dearest Mr. Darcy), the English landscape, and the romantic lovers. Simply perfect!

Of course once I got the header looking all professional and stunning, the rest of the website just did not fit. Kind of like wearing a Versace ballgown with tennis shoes, ya know? More hair pulling and YouTube videos were in order, and the instant support from the incredible crew at Squarespace (my webhost), and this is what we have. Ta-Da!!

I was thrilled to find out that drop-down menus were available. Actually they have been for quite a long while, but this intermediate level web designer did not know this. Being able to add that element meant I could clear up the sidebar clutter. Hopefully it is easier to navigate having it all right up front like this. Nothing was deleted or altered, but simply moved into folders that flow from the menu bar. Colors have been adjusted, obviously. Frankly, I was weary of the pink. I like the elegant, soft tones of gold with the hints of calming blue.

I scoured through dozens of online places for a background image I loved. I found several others, so it was a tough decision, but I really love this one. I adore textured pages and was tempted to add more, but I did not want to overwhelm.

So there you have it! Sharon always messing around with something! If you come across any errors, let me know. After a while the eyes begin to cross!

Let me start with what is most exciting:

The latter brings me to the next topic---

I am fortunate that Sourcebooks has an amazing publicist, Danielle Jackson, and a crew of marketing folks who exclusively concentrate on the romance fiction line. However, an author in this competitive business needs to always be proactive and self-promoting. Strategies are myriad and print advertisement has a place, but everything points to online being most important in getting your name heard. I learned of different avenues to delve into and will gradually advance as time and finances allow, always, of course, announcing new developments here on the blog.

This is what resonated loudest for me: There is no longer any debate that Facebook has soared ahead as THE leader in social networking sites. For a long while I have realized that creating my FB Fanpage under “The Darcy Saga Novels” was a mistake. At the risk of sounding egocentric, in the business of publishing it is all about the author’s name. The name is what people remember and correctly branding your name is #1. I could go on and bore you all to tears, but trust me on this.

SO, I am finally taking the plunge and creating a new Fanpage on Facebook as Sharon Lathan, Novelist. Unfortunately FB does not allow a page name to just be changed, nor can the data be transferred, so my current Darcy Saga Novels page will become obsolete. That is a bummer, but the longer I wait the harder it will be.

In order to make it fun and worthwhile, I AM MAKING IT INTO A CONTEST! That’s right – everyone who clicks the “like” button for my new fanpage will be entered into a drawing. At the end of August I will select 2 names who will each win a signed copy of In The Arms of Mr. Darcy once it is released. How awesome is that?

The new fanpage – Sharon Lathan, Novelist – can be easily subscribed to by clicking the “Like” button on the sidebar to the right. Or you can go to the page itself. Bear with me as I make the switch and get the photos added, etc. The Darcy Saga Novels page will remain for a month or so, but I will not be adding updates there, and I do plan to completely deactivate it. So do not wait!!

Remember that this is a contest! And there’s MORE---

IF you also sign up for my Mailing List as a new contact I will add your name twice, increasing your chance to win. Coolness!!

Those already on my mailing list, don’t worry about signing up again. I am not deleting or changing the mailing list and newsletter. But, to be fair for those who have been on the list, I already submitted each of the 583 names to random.org and picked a winner for a signed copy of In The Arms of Mr. Darcy.

The lucky lady is Jennifer Pearson of Tennessee!!

In case you are scratching your head over any of this, feel free to email me. And if you are hesitant to join Facebook, I understand. But it is terrific fun and a great way to keep in touch with friends. As for my Fan Page, I really encourage everyone to be a part. It is so much easier for me to add quick updates there than here on the blog and so much easier to comment in response. All news gets posted there instantly when I know of it with links and so on. Other authors, music bands, TV shows, and public figures you may be interested in keeping track of are on FB. That is the reality of where it is at nowadays!

Still not convinced? No problem! My newsletter is another way to be kept informed. I am vowing to send a newsletter each month at least. Benefits to being on my mailing list include: 1) Information delivered right to you, 2) Extra novel excerpts, 3) Occasional giveaways/contests exclusive to newsletter readers, 4) Privacy since I will never share your name or email.

Alrighty then, I think that is enough! Excited? I sure am!! I will be back to share more of my adventures in the South. Keep watching!

I know I will need to separate the memories over several blogs. First I will start with the conference since that is freshest on my mind and also to correspond with our group blog at Casablanca where several of us are sharing photos and memories. 

Our Memories of RWA Nationals 2010 by Casablanca Authors

I will get to the main conference in a moment, but for me the fun began early on the 28th. That is the day I transferred to the Dolphin Resort at WDW and started my RWA fun by attending the one-day conference held by the Beau Monde chapter of the RWA. The Beau Monde is an online chapter exclusively for Regency writers and I joined up after last year's RWA. Many times the learned ladies of the Beau Monde have kindly given me answers to those tough questions not easily found with a Google search. Knowing they are there to assist is a wonderful boon. Each year they hold a separate conference the day before Nationals officially begins and like the amazing organizers of RWA who miraculously rearranged the affair after Nashville sadly flooded and Orlando stepped in, these gals threw the Beau Monde conference together with startling efficiency. And did a fabulous job at it! It was a day of workshops interspersed with a delicious breakfast, luncheon, and afternoon tea. The choices of food and lessons were numerous and tough to pick from, let me tell you! I went with Delilah Marvelle's titillating talk on the "disreputable lady," Janet Mullany's outline of Regency servants, and Sabrina Darby's interactive discussion on adapting modern situations to the past. In between I visited with old and new friends while eating myself silly. How awesome is that?

Later that night, after the Pro Literacy Signing (more on that in a moment), was the Regency Soiree. I was super excited about this since it was my first opportunity to dress as a Regency lady, ballgown and all! My gorgeous gown was sewn by a dear friend of mine named Rachel, a marvelously talented young lady only 14, who fashioned a stunning garment perfectly tailored to my matronly dimensions.

Above with my daughter Emily, who came with me and was my ladies' maid! And another of the dress. Below is a closeup of my hair, and posing with fellow Sourcebooks Austen author and friend Abigail Reynolds.

As I mentioned, a break from Regency events was taken for the annual Literacy book signing. Like last year I joined over 500 authors with books to sell and sign for the public, all proceeds going to benefit the cause of literacy worldwide. I had a blast! Sadly I was not seated beside Stephanie Laurens like last year, but that hardly mattered. The crowd was huge and I signed a bunch of books. Highlights personally included fan Michelle who drove many miles with all 3 novels in tow for me to sign. How cool is that? I was additionally blessed by visits from longtime fans Carl and Charly, and Seli and Robert, both couples driving long distances to see me and other favorite authors. We managed to dine with each couple during the course of our stay in Orlando, adding to the incredible delight of my conference.

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Me at my spot getting ready to sign. With Seli, Roberto, and Robert. And then with Carl, a big fella not afraid to love romance.

So much already and that is just the first day, BEFORE the RWA conference technically began! Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were filled to the brim with speakers, workshops, luncheons, endless chats with fellow attendees, meeting with friends, appointments with my publicist and editor, and Sourcebooks events. Wowza! The special moments are myriad, but here are a few high points with photos. 

My fellow SB authors are dear to me. Our group continues to grow - and that is wonderful - but there are several of us who have been around since the beginning of the romance line. Above top is me with Mary Margret Daughtridge, writer of the SEALed series, and then Terry Spear, writer of a fabulous wolf-shapeshifter series, with Emily and me. Meeting these 2 ladies for the first time after all these years was simply amazing. On top of that I got to hang with Robin Kaye, Marie Force, Amelia Grey, Cheryl Brooks, Abigail Reynolds, Judi Fennell, Lydia Dare, Joanne Kennedy, Julie James (not SB but I love her!), AND the newer authors too numerous to name! Some perspective: the first RWA dinner hosted by SB was 2 years ago in San Francisco and there were 10 of us. This year there was over 20! And that isn't all of us by a long shot! It was rousing fun, let me tell you.

Our dinner was held on Friday night at a restaurant named Ceviche with Spanish-style food that was to die for. Two super stretch limos took us to the place, our party of writers enhanced by the presence of our publisher and CEO, the delightful and awe-inspiring Dominique Raccah; our fabulous editor Deb Werksman; the best publicist in the business, the adorable Danielle Jackson; and our new marketing manager Liz.

Earlier that day The Three Ds - Dominique, Deb, and Danielle - held the Sourcebooks Spotlight. These ladies are powerhouses, let me tell you! Hearing them speak so passionately about Sourcebooks and their united vision for the company and the romance/fiction line is truly breathtaking. The room was filled to overflowing, a goodly number those of us who are already fortunate to be published with them, but many many more who listened intently to the speeches and then flocked forward to take cards, submission guidelines, or chat with the Ds. It was amazing as always.  

On Saturday it was our turn to hold a book signing. Our room still isn't quite as full of authors as the Harlequin or Berkeley ones, but we are growing fast! The crowd was every bit as large. People stood in long lines until let in to meet those of us signing, and I am humbled to say that the line for me was perpetually the longest! Ladies, and one man, waited over 15 minutes just for my 2 books and I signed continually for 2 solid hours. It was unbelievable. It was fantastic to chat with so many people about Jane Austen and my vision for the Darcys, while signing until my hand was cramped. But the big WOW moment was when I looked up to see NYT Bestseller author Nalini Singh standing before me with the sweet-voiced entreaty for both my novels. I am here to tell you, and Emily will attest, that I almost had a heart seizure! I slipped into total fan-girl mania!! Thankfully Nalini was gracious, even posing for a photo. As you can tell, I am in shock..... 

I was slightly more composed when I encountered Eloisa James on the escalator, but probably only because I had glimpsed her in the hallway about 10 minutes prior so was semi-prepared. She was Lovely with a capitol L. We talked for a good 15 minutes, some about books but mostly about how her speech last year moved and inspired me, on several levels, but partially because of her experience as the mom of a premie in the NICU. This interlude was a high light to be sure.  

Take it from me, I am only scratching the surface. I didn't mention Galean Foley's Beau Monde speech, or Nora Roberts or Jayne Ann Krentz. I didn't touch on the things I learned that will help me to be a better writer and deal with this crazy business. And I haven't said a word about the great report from my editor and publicist! You will just have to bear with me a bit longer on some of that. For now, pop over to the Portrait Gallery to see a bunch more photos. I still need some time to unpack, sleep, and assimilate all of it. Trust me, I will share more and talk about the family visits that were beyond fantastic.

"Time! There is no time!" by Sharon Lathan

Jack Bauer has nothing on me. OK, I am not saving the world and the president has never called me up for a one on one convo. But when it comes to feeling as if the clock is loudly ticking with the thum-thum-thum of doom, I totally get Jack’s grim panic. Too bad I can’t do the scratchy, sexy voice…. But that is for another discussion!

My life as a hopeful writer was a fairly leisurely one. Sure, I had the real life job, family, housekeeping duties, etc. to keep me from writing in ten-hour blocks. Yet, when I was writing for fun and personal pleasure the demands were not as great and it was easy to drown out the few distractions.

There is no denying that nearly from the moment I signed that first contract my time shrunk. It almost was visible! I swear the hands on the clock began to spin faster! The added responsibilities of marketing myself, running the blog, and the process of editing – while still working at the hospital and trying to keep the house functioning – crunched into that leisurely writing time.

Am I complaining? Oh no! Heaven forbid! I love being published and am having a blast with my blog, the launch activities and touring, the guest speeches, and working with my editor. However, the truth is the truth and I don’t believe in burying my head in the sand in denial.

So, how do I juggle it all? Have I discovered the magic secret? Ha! I wish! Every day is a balancing act. Some weeks I feel really good about what I have accomplished and pat myself on the back for being so organized and focused. Then another curve ball is thrown my direction and I have to reevaluate. The hardest part for me has been to accept that large portions are beyond my control. This Type-A gal does not like to be out of control! I haven’t completely mastered shrugging nonchalantly, but I am daily improving in the art of deep breathing – and prayer!

Discipline truly is the key to balancing a writer’s life. Fortunately I am fairly disciplined. Unfortunately my work schedule does not allow me to be on a set writing schedule. So I have to reapply the careful planning on a daily and weekly basis. Simple aids like a large calendar in my office help me to see what is ahead so I can prepare. Retreating to my office where I can concentrate is essential.

I keep my goals achievable. I am not one who can force myself to write X number of words a day. Rather I look at each task and set a time limit on when it needs to be done. I also refuse to panic or beat myself up if I am unable to accomplish a goal. Instead I look at why it was not done, decide if it was due to a fault of my own that I can correct or avoid in the future, or just the result of circumstances. So far I have managed to be ahead of every deadline and never have missed an appointment. That is pretty good! And it restores hope when I do sense the tendrils of panic setting in!

Clinging to the “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” adage is a lifesaver. It is very easy to succumb to the incessant demands and need to write. Thus, getting away from the computer and letting go is vital to keeping my sanity intact. Watching TV or a movie, reading books, playing silly games, lunch dates with friends – all of these entertainments are abundantly worth the time cost.

My job offers an outlet for me too. I work in a very intense environment: a neonatal ICU. My profession is a passionate love, my workplace an opportunity to socialize with friends, and my tasks mind consuming. In general I can’t be dwelling too intently on Darcy and Lizzy when I have very sick babies who need my constant attention! Alaine asked if my job was an inspiration. Certainly it is in writing of Lizzy’s pregnancy and birth, as well as the antics of their baby, since this is my area of expertise. But I think the greatest inspiration comes from the diversion; from being forced to turn off “author Sharon” and turn on “nurse Sharon.”

There is no solution to the limits of 24 hours in a day. I keep hoping but time travel hasn’t been invented yet, so that option is out! Discipline, organization, upbeat attitude, persistence…. yada, yada yada. If all that fails, I just think of Jack Bauer. After all, if he can save the world in 24 hours, anything is possible.

"Why I Write a Saga" by Sharon Lathan

I was cleaning my books shelves recently – yes, in the plural! – and thinking about what I write in relation to two questions that are often asked of me. They are, “What is your favorite book?” and “How has it influenced your writing of the Darcy Saga?”

The answer to the first question that immediately pops into my mind each time is JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. It is my favorite book and has been since I first read it at the age of 13, right after reading The Hobbit for the first time. I reread it roughly every year and have read most of Tolkien’s works numerous times as well. Tolkien is the master of fantasy, and reading his creation led me to embrace the fantasy genre as a whole. There is no denying that out of the many thousands of books I have read in my lifetime, the bulk of them have been fantasy.

However, I write historical fiction with strong romantic elements. At first glance this seems at odds with what I typically read. If LOTR is my favorite book and fantasy my favorite genre, how in the world could that influence my writing? There are no scary creatures, no magic, and no other universes in Jane Austen’s story or in mine. So what gives?

Believe me, I have thought about what appears to be a contradiction many times. My husband still insists that I should write fantasy since that is obviously what I know and love best! Yet what he also forgets, and what cleaning my shelves reminded me of, is the breadth to my collection of books.

Among my earliest reading memories are the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, everything by Louisa May Alcott, and massive epic stories like Gone With the Wind and Centennial and Shogun.  I own the entire John Jakes’ Kent Family Chronicles, Stephen King’s Gunslinger novels, the continuing sagas by Howard Fast, Robert Ludlum, and Diana Gabaldon. All of them have been read dozens of times.

Do you see a pattern? And have you ever noticed that most fantasy books are part of a trilogy or more? Heck, Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind are working on double digits in both of their series! 

After a bit of introspection, it now feels perfectly natural that I would end up writing a continuing saga. In nearly every one of my favorite books, including Lord of the Rings, there is the common thread of lengthy stories unfolding, in some cases, over decades. I love this! For me books offer a refuge and the characters become dear friends that I want to visit and live with. I never tire of my beloved characters and the worlds they inhabit. I am delirious with joy when the author decides to write more of them, to give me a new book that will reveal more of their lives and take me on a new adventure with them. And if the author does not do that, I just read the same book a second or tenth time!

Another common thread I see in my collection is extreme world building and depth of story. Fantasy and Sci-fi are known for world building, of course, but any well-written novel that needs to transport the reader to a place unfamiliar must rely on the same tactics. Richness in vocabulary, detailed history, gritty realism, and comprehensive exposition are hallmarks of a perfect book, to me anyway.

I know that this desire to dwell with characters I love is what primarily inspired me to continue the life of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy. I was not content to say good-bye at the end of Jane Austen’s classic novel! I hungered for more and when I could not find a sequel that satisfied that hunger, I wrote it myself!

Additionally, I saw this as my chance to truly live with characters I love, within a historic world I love, and to do so on MY terms! I would not be at the mercy of another author who may decide to kill off a person I adore, go in some bizarre direction, or ignore a preferred storyline entirely. I am in control! And I love it!

Thank you, Wendy, for asking the questions that allowed me to put into words how I feel about saga-themed stories. There is nothing wrong with a single story novel. I have a million of those on my shelves also! But if any of those authors wrote a sequel, I would be on it like white on rice.

Here is a link to the Starz Pillars of the Earth website  

and

Here is a link to the YouTube trailer

Now I appreciate the words within this essay from a new perspective because 24 years ago today my husband Steve and I were married. Yes, today is our anniversary and we are celebrating while in New Orleans with our kids and my father. Not sure what we will do, but it will be memorable as always. I have said it before and have no reason to doubt I will be saying it 30 years hence, but I believe in true love and happily-ever-after. Mixing my personal experiences with quotes from poets of the past, I tried to state my case. Read and enjoy!

"The Heart of a Poet" by Sharon Lathan

The pearly treasures of the sea,
The lights that spatter heaven above,
More precious than these wonders are
My heart-of-hearts filled with your love. Heinrich Heine, “Of Pearls and Stars”

Several years ago I set out on a mission. Inspired partly by a beautiful love story portrayed on screen and within the pages of a book, and equally by my own love story of over twenty years, I embarked on a quest to intimately reveal a happy marriage.

Today the concept of a “happy marriage” is deemed a fantasy; an oxymoron. I do not believe that, not now or when I first sat down at the keyboard and wrote the opening lines of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One. I knew it was possible to have a fulfilling, contented, romantic, and passionate relationship within a marriage, even after several decades. I knew it because I witnessed it with others. I knew it because God said it was to be so. I knew it because I possessed one myself.

And the moments which find life there

Become the brightest stars above,

Which live forever beautiful

In the sky of my heart’s love. Steve Lathan, “Your Smile Stops the Minutes”

I knew it was not a Mission: Impossible. I approached the life of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy with my goal clearly in mind. The mission statement was clear. Love. Romance. Passion. Those are the attainable treasures that they would pursue. Daily. Weekly. Monthly. Yearly. And maybe even on into eternity. 

Throughout my Darcy Saga series I have faithfully held to the ideal. I wanted to give Darcy and Lizzy the life that I believe Austen intended. I wanted to allow the reader to journey along with them as they attended to their normal lives with an unusual event thrown in occasionally. I wanted to show the Darcys growing in their accord and deepening their love.

Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear,
too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice,
but for those who love, time is eternity. Henry van Dyke, “Time Is”

My newest novel, My Dearest Mr. Darcy, follows along in the same vein as the previous two. The Darcys travel to the seacoast for a holiday jammed with history, entertainment, action, and romance. Of course! Then they return to Pemberley, settling in and enjoying the autumn months. The culmination as their first year of marriage draws near is the birth of their child. As with all my novels, the theme is positive with the love between these two heightening as they await the addition to their family.

Have I convinced a skeptical world? Have I succeeded in restoring hope? That is for each individual to decide. I have succeeded in my mission: The Darcys are still in love, are passionate for each other, delight in their company, respect and honor their vows, and are not ashamed to express their feelings.

Darcy was gazing into his lap with a soft smile upon his mouth. He did not answer hastily, finally speaking lowly, “I do not know if I can sufficiently place it into words. Perhaps that is why the poets wax eloquent with platitudes and analogies as mere common phrases do not suffice. All I know for certain is that almost from the moment I saw her she has filled my senses and my heart. There is joy with Elizabeth in every way and every moment, whether present or no. I feel light and buoyant, yet also grounded and secure. Giddy and frivolous, yet strong and steady. Childish and masculine simultaneously.” He chuckled softly, closing his eyes and leaning back against the carriage wall. “Yet you know what the most miraculous part is, Richard? Greater than how she makes me feel is the miracle that she loves me.”  An excerpt from My Dearest Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan

True love. Everlasting love. Passionate love. These are goals to reach for. Do you agree?

 I can answer answer yes to the above. I am blessed with a terrific man to share my life with. Honey, I do love you more today than ever before. Happy Anniversary!

In the mean time I have several blogs from the virtual tour for the release of My Dearest Mr. Darcy set to post in intervals while I am gone, starting tomorrow. A reason to check in periodically!

The News ---

BIG NEWS!!! I finally spoke with my wonderful editor this week and it was unanimously agreed to publish the next story I am working on, that being Georgiana Darcy's love story!!!!! Needless to say, I am very excited and very relieved. Nothing is certain in the publishing world, so until I heard the words I was not going to trust it would happen. Luckily I received positive news!! My editor and publisher remain cautious and, as Deb put it, "realistic" in that novels about secondary Austen characters do not sell as well. They are content with that, but I am hoping to prove them wrong! However, sales aside, I love how Georgiana's tale is coming along and think my fans will love it too. I see her so clearly, as well as the man made for her, and although these images do not quite match my mental vision, they are nice and come close.

I have about half of the tale written with a rough deadline set for the end of the year. Release month is tentatively slated for November 2011. Again I must say thanks to everyone who supports me through purchasing the novels, encouraging emails and remarks and reviews, sharing your thoughts with friends or on blogs, and so on. Each of you make it happen for me and I truly cannot adequately express my appreciation. Here's to more of the Darcys!