"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!

Today I am over at our joint Sourcebooks Casablanca Authors Blogspot. We are spending the first half of the month with the theme “the pursuit of happiness” in honor of our American Independence celebration. I did chat a bit about how I pursue happiness, but also took the time to give a mini-history lesson on our Founding Fathers, especially investigating what they meant by this evocative phrase. Stop in, read and learn, and say Hi!

In Pursuit of Happiness by Sharon Lathan at Casablanca

I did send out a newsletter on July 1 st. Hopefully those of you on my mailing list opened it and enjoyed the tasty tidbit from In The Arms of Mr. Darcy. See, there are advantages to being on my mailing list! If you aren’t, signing up is easy via the link to the right or HERE. Newsletters will be sent out periodically when I can, but I am trying to compose one on a more frequent basis.

Another way to be kept informed is by joining my Facebook Fanpage. It is far easier to post quick blurbs there so if you are on Facebook, become a follower to know instantly what I am doing.

Amazon Alert: I saw that Amazon has finally gotten their act together and have In The Arms of Mr. Darcy and A Darcy Christmas listed as available for pre-order. Hopefully it will stay that way, but with how Amazon has been functioning lately I would not be shocked to find it unlisted tomorrow! More online purchasing websites are adding them both on as well and I have updated the purchasing pages accordingly.

In the writing world I finally typed The End on the fifth Darcy Saga volume. WhooHoo!! I have sent it off to my editor, Deb Werksman, who will begin her editing toward the end of July. Publication is scheduled for April 2011 – MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! It looks like the title is to stay The Trouble With Mr. Darcy. Of course we all know these things can change, but it appears to be a favorite and I have to admit it has grown on me and fits with the events in this installment of the tale. I am SO proud of how it turned out!! It clocked in at roughly 135,000 words, making it about the same size as My Dearest Mr. Darcy. Edits may change that slightly, but probably not too much. Nothing on covers as yet.

Now I am turning my attentions to the novel on Georgiana. Chats with my editor are all favorable but I confess that I will breathe easier once a contract is signed. So continue to cross fingers that there will be no hitches in that respect. Nothing is certain in the publishing world. But I am hopeful and happy with how the novel is shaping up. The muse is at full force and creative juices are aflowin’!

In the immediate weeks ahead I will be boarding a plane with my husband and two children for our summer vacation. We have planned a special excursion this year. Our agenda includes visiting my father and family in Mississippi, my brother and family in Pensacola, and then heading to Orlando. I visited with my dad two years ago on a road trip with my sister, but for my hubby and kids it has been over 6 years since they saw grandpa and never in the South. This will be a real treat. My brother and family we saw last year while visiting with my mom prior to her death, but again, they haven’t been to Florida. Sadly I hear the white beaches of Pensacola aren’t so white any more, but we will still have a wonderful time.

While in Orlando we will spend several days at Walt Disney World and Epcot, an adventure we are extremely excited about. None of us have been to WDW and since we are HUGE Disney fans, this is a dream come true. “Excited” honestly does not describe how thrilled we are!! The tragedy of floods in Nashville moved the Romance Writers National conference to Orlando, and as dreadful as the disaster is, the relocation to Orlando is a fortuitous happenstance.

This will be my second RWA conference and I am doubly enthused! Four days of workshops, speeches by the likes of Nora Roberts and Sabrina Jeffries, luncheons, book signings, meeting my fellow Sourcebooks writers, dinner with our publisher and editor, the Beau Monde chapter conference and soiree, and fun, fun, fun! Of special note is the Literacy Signing on Wednesday, July 28 at 5:30 pm in the WDW Dolphin Resort. This event is open to the public, is a fundraiser for ProLiteracy Worldwide, and features over 500 authors happy to sign books. I will be there and encourage anyone in the Orlando area, or close enough to drive in, to come and support this worthwhile cause. I would love to see you!!

For more info on the signing and a list of romance novelists scheduled to appear, click HERE

Naturally I will have my laptop and iPhone handy at all times to keep in touch, but it may be sporadic. I will try to post notes and updates from time to time, especially on Facebook where I can upload rapidly. Another reason to join my page! LOL! Once home and recuperated from all the fun, I will elaborate here on the blog. But just in case I don’t get a chance to share my fun until well after I am home, I will set a few of the guest blogs from the My Dearest Mr. Darcy book tour to publish during the two weeks. Be looking for them!



     The young, bespectacled lady bobbed a proper curtsy to the impeccably attired butler, her voice quavering slightly as she introduced herself, “Miss Austen of the Derby Chronicle. I have an interview with Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.”
     Mr. Travers inclined his head. “Indeed. They are expecting you, Miss Austen. Follow me.”
     He led the way across the enormous, two-storey vaulted foyer and ascended the marble, plushly carpeted staircase at a stately pace. She followed, managing to keep her head from whipping side-to-side but unsuccessful with her eyes. They constantly swiveled in a vain attempt to canvas the wealth of wonders lining the ornate walls. Yet even their curiosity ceased upon entering the parlor where Mr. Darcy stood waiting.
     The rumors did not do him justice and it required every ounce of her professionalism to prevent her mouth dropping open as he crossed the room with the grace and power of a stalking lion. Or a bear, her mind amended, as the height and breadth of his body assaulted her senses when he drew close enough to incline his head in respect.
     “Miss Austen,” he greeted. His resonant baritone befitted his masculine physique, but was velvety and warmed further by the soft smile he gave her. “Welcome to Pemberley. Mrs. Darcy is otherwise engaged but will join us in a moment. Please refresh yourself. If I may be forgiven in boasting, my cook is a genius and her gooseberry tarts are the finest in all of England.”
     Smoothly he guided her to a comfortable settee, a footman and maid already serving tea and tarts, while he sat onto a sofa across from the low, linen draped tea table. He crossed his long legs and folded his hands onto his lap, dominating the space even in his repose.
     Miss Austen opened a case, removing the lap-sized secretaire and preparing to dip her quill into the inkwell when Mr. Darcy suddenly leaned forward, shattering her regained composure.
     “This is an incredibly compact secretaire. How extraordinary! Inkwell and quill drawer integrated, a clip for the parchment sheets, and carved from weightless balsa. Now if you only used steel tips you would not need to stow accessories to keep your quills sharp.”
     “So it is true what they say.” She flushed at his quizzically raised brow and intense, blue-eyed gaze. “That you are fascinated by unique inventions?”
      He laughed, sitting back and re-crossing his legs. “Indeed. Too much so, perhaps. My wife teases that I shall one day lose all track of time while investigating how some bizarre instrument operates and perish from starvation. Of course, I haven’t missed a meal as yet, so doubt she has ought to worry about.”
     “Aside from steel-tipped pens, what other marvels have captured your particular attention?”
     He swept his hand toward a high ebony carved table near the window with a tall brass-tubed instrument sitting atop. “That is a kaleidoscope I purchased directly from Sir Brewster. One of his original designs, in fact. I have several miniature musical boxes, although two are in a hopeless state of disassembly, hence why Mrs. Darcy refuses to allow me to even touch her Recordon and Jundon cylinder music box.”
      “Did you disassemble the kaleidoscope as well?”
      “I comprehend how it works so am able to restrain myself. With an effort, mind you,” he added with a humorous lilt. “In all truth, I do not usually take items apart. Learning of them is sufficient the majority of the time. We live in an exciting age, Miss Austen. Marvels of ingenuity are springing upon us every day.”
     “Such as?” She pushed her spectacles up her nose, scribbling furiously upon the paper page.
     “Have you seen a hot-air balloon? No? It would be a thrilling event to report on, Miss Austen. I am sure your readers would be dazzled by your description. Mrs. Darcy and I were fortunate to witness a launch while vacationing in Great Yarmouth this past summer. It was incredible.”
     His voice took on a dreamy quality that made Miss Austen smile.
     “You must forgive my husband, Miss Austen. He tends to lose all regulation when faced with something fascinating or provocative. Contrary to popular opinion he is quite the daredevil, if I did not rein him in.”
      Darcy rose with a broad grin. Miss Austen turned to the speaker, who was obviously Mrs. Darcy. She was a slim woman, fairly tall if still dwarfed by her spouse, with an impish face and teasing smile. Mrs. Darcy’s gay tone and sunny disposition were apparent and the reporter felt instantly at ease.
     “Have you needed to rein him in frequently then, Mrs. Darcy?”
     The Mistress of Pemberley laughed, laying one hand lightly onto Mr. Darcy’s forearm. “Oh my yes! Thankfully the balloon was well into the sky so leaping into the basket was not a possibility, but I nearly called in reinforcements to prevent him jumping onto the trick horses we had for the festival!” She glanced to her spouse, who was smiling but also pink-cheeked at her teasing. “See, he is not nearly as fierce as people presume. I apologize for not greeting, but I was putting the baby to sleep.”
     “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, on the birth of your firstborn. I am pleased that all proceeded well.” All three resumed their seats, Mrs. Darcy sitting near her husband and expressing no outward signs of having recently gone through the ordeal of childbirth. In fact, she was radiant.
     “Thank you, Miss Austen. Yes, life has been promising and joyous. We are thankful that difficulties have been few.”
     “Aside from tumbles down ravines, duels, poachers, mill fires, murder at an inn, and attacks from bandits, you mean?”
     Mr. Darcy scowled as a dark cloud passed over his handsome features.
     Mrs. Darcy, on the other hand, laughed gaily with only a hint of a tremor. “Even the most blessed life is fraught with the occasional mishap. Fortunately we have weathered difficulties since the very beginning of our relationship, thus learning how to deal with the travails tossed in our path.”
     “Really? Such as?” The reporter asked, quill poised over the paper and avidly listening.
     “It is far too lengthy to recount here, I am afraid. Why, it is enough drama for a novel!”
     “Hmmm, how interesting. Perhaps I should contact my cousin. She aspires to be a novelist.”
     “Oh, I do not think….”
     “A woman novelist?” Mrs. Darcy interrupted her husband, leaning forward. “How extraordinary. Does she write romantic stories with prideful crossed lovers and prejudiced attitudes?”
     “Indeed! Her name is Jane Austen and I think your tale may be just what she is looking for.” 

Perhaps I am unusual, but I have always felt a bit sorry for Mrs. Bennet. Her flaws and failings are numerous, and most entertaining within the cinema adaptations, but she truly did have a rough occupation: Marrying off five daughters! Our modern eyes look at this dilemma and can’t quite comprehend why this would send someone into a nervous frazzle. I am also probably a bit unusual in that while I do applaud Lizzy Bennet for refusing the ridiculous Mr. Collins and arrogant Mr. Darcy, I also recognize that she was rather stupid. From a certain point of view!

A woman in the early years of the nineteenth century had few choices in life and was completely vulnerable. Securing a man who would protect and provide for her, and possibly her family, was the wise choice. We shudder at this reality, and I am sure there were many ladies of that time who did as well, but for most it simply was the way of it. Thus Mrs. Bennet was merely doing her job in focusing her energies on landing suitable mates for her daughters. And Lizzy was not particularly smart to refuse two worthy men. From a certain point of view!

We do not know if Jane Austen intimately knew how it felt to love a man, but we do know that never marrying created a situation of extreme hardship for her, her sister, and her mother. The beauty of Austen’s novels is that her heroines not only marry men who are financially and socially established, but are also men that they love. Debates rage on whether Jane was content in her chosen path not to marry and I doubt the mystery will ever be solved. Yet clearly she, like the romantics of that day, believed in the idea of love within marriage as worthier than a large pocketbook.

Personally I am of the opinion that no matter what century it is or what culture one is in, emotions are universal. Humans desire to find love, passion, respect, devotion, friendship, happiness, and so on. We especially want these emotions within our marriages. Pragmatism has its place, and it certainly did in ages when women had little recourse. Yet the driving force has always been the heart.

Lizzy was willing to live with the consequences of being a spinster rather than marry without love. We admire her attitude, of course, but are also approving when she and Mr. Darcy overcome their problems and admit their mutual love. I never doubted the passionate love between these two characters and this beautiful story inspired me to write my sequel.

However, do not forget while sighing over the romance that Mrs. Bennet’s dilemma was solved beyond her wildest dreams! Lizzy married for love, but man, oh man, did she score!

My approach to the marriage and newfound life of Elizabeth Darcy was to explore the happiness possible when the relationship is based on deep love and respect. It was also to acknowledge the reality of marriage as it was then. Lizzy was now a wife in the early nineteenth century. Her independence, intelligence, sharp wit, and strength would assure she was a competent Mistress of Pemberley. Nevertheless, her role is as a support to her husband. As Mrs. Darcy I believe she would have understood and willingly performed her duties, and embraced her position as wife and eventually a mother.

We may not like it, but this was a male dominated society. It was also a culture centuries steeped in traditions of heritage and the importance of preserving the land. Men of the aristocracy and landed gentry, for the most part, took their duties very seriously. Devotion to their estates, their country, and their family was premier. The perfect husband, as my Mr. Darcy is naturally, would not only love his wife but would hold her in the highest regard. He would esteem her, trust in her instincts, welcome her opinions, and seek her advice. Their marriage would be a partnership with the pure emotions we hope for. Still, he would be the protector, ruler, and final authority, providing for his family as it was expected of him.

So at the end of the day everyone, including Mrs. Bennet, would live happily ever after! Now that is a great fairytale come true.

I love what is written on the back cover and how beautiful it is:

Now, I did notice that the round label says the pub month is October, which is not what I was previously told. So I am clarifying that with my editor, but have not heard back from her as yet. Lastly, just for fun and because my hubby is so silly, here is a short iPhone video of the newest book. Kinda cute....