Have you all read Melanie Rachel’s wonderful new “Accidental Love” series of novellas? It’s no secret that Melanie is a favorite author of mine (and my critique partner), but that doesn’t stop me from fangirling from time to time when she hits it out of the park!
The books of the Accidental Love series all start with some sort of accident, and I love how each book takes place at a different setting in Pride and Prejudice.
The first, An Accidental Holiday gives us a lovely little Christmastime book that takes place in Meryton. Somebody is injured and ends up at Longbourn—but I’ll leave you to read it and find out all the entertaining detail!
The second, An Accidental Scandal, jumps us to late winter in London, when there is an unexpected meeting at the theatre . . . and of course an accident!
One of my favorite things about these books is how Melanie manages to add so many fun and unique twists without going overboard with angst or drama. There’s just enough to give us some conflict, and then we’re off and running! And her banter and clever lines keep me grinning and happy sighing all over the place.
A third book is expected in January or so. I’ve been reading some early samples of it and absolutely loved it. We’ve had Meryton, we’ve had London . . . can you guess where the third book will take place?
Thankfully, we’ll have a Christmas story to read in the meantime, as Melanie’s Mr. Darcy’s Christmas Letters will be out in November. There’s no preorder (yet?), but at least we won’t have long to wait for that one!
Congratulations, Evamedmonds! You are the winner of the Elizabeth and Darcy dolls and paperback copy of Mark of Character! I hope you enjoy! I’ll be emailing you for your address so that I can get these on their way!
As you can see, they are excited to travel to their new home!
I want to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated! I was blown away by the amount of participation and really pleased that the dolls were a hit. I also have great patterns for a potential Colonel Fitzwilliam and for a doll of Jane Austen herself, so I may have more giveaways available in the future!
If you didn’t win but are a crocheter, you can check out the patterns on crochelandia.com.br.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a soulmarked couple must marry. They must, or they will die.
When Fitzwilliam Darcy arrives in Meryton, he is already engaged to his soulmatch—Miss Caroline Bingley.
He may be the only person in history who detests the woman destined for him. But their soulmarks clearly match, and there is no denying that they must marry.
So why is he so inexorably drawn to the intriguing Miss Elizabeth Bennet?
Elizabeth Bennet always knew she was destined to marry. Her soulmark appeared at birth, meaning that someday she would meet the man who matched it. They would see each other, fall in love, realise their soulmarks matched, and live happily ever after.
Or so she was told.
The dark and handsome Mr. Darcy already has a soulmatch. Why can she not stop thinking about him?
Denying their growing affection for each other seems impossible . . . but they must. Two lives are at stake.
Release day for Mark of Character is tomorrow, and I have a special surprise giveaway!
It’s your very own Elizabeth and Darcy crocheted figures to go along with a paperback copy of the book! I had a lot of fun crocheting these dolls, and now it’s time to share them with one lucky reader.
The dolls are about six inches all (with a little extra for Mr. Darcy’s hat!) and stand mostly on their own (Mr. Darcy has a wire “stand” to give him a little help). They also come with their very own copy of Pride and Prejudice. The little crocheted heart comes with long strings so that you can tie it between them or wherever you like to represent the bond of love between them.
Aren’t they adorable? I just love their little curls. I love to imagine Elizabeth wanting to stroke back that little curl that drops over Mr. Darcy’s face.
His hat and her bonnet can be removed so they can share a kiss before they take a walk together outdoors. It seemed right to photograph them outdoors under this flowering tree in my yard, as I could imagine how much Elizabeth would love walking here.
Some more pictures so that you can see them up close!
Edit: I forgot to add, in case anybody is interested in making Jane Austen crochet items, I found these at crochelandia.com.br. She has Jane Austen and Anne Shirley and all sorts of other great projects, too!
To enter this giveaway, comment on this page. Do you like to knit or crochet? Or do another craft? What’s your hobby?
The winner will receive the crocheted dolls pictured. Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, the little book of Pride and Prejudice, a little pink heart that can be tied between them or used however you’d like, and . . . one of the first paperback copies of Mark of Character!
Because I need to ship them, this giveaway is limited to readers in Europe or the United States. I apologize to our lovely readers elsewhere! I will try to offer worldwide giveaways as often as I can. I will contact the winner to get the address where they would like it shipped after the winner is declared, so please make sure to give me a good email address to reach you.
I will pick a winner one week from release day, on Thursday, May 18. Good luck to all!
We have one final winner before release day! Sabrina, you are the winner, and I will be emailing you to get you your book!
Thanks, everybody, for participating. I had a lot of fun seeing everybody’s thoughts on soulmarks, secondary characters, time loops, and more! I’ve been pretty busy with a few group projects this month (look for some great multi-author projects coming soon!), but I’m hoping to get busy on my timeloop story, “Another Day at Rosings,” as soon as I can.
I will also be having a very special giveaway with a unique Elizabeth and Darcy present coming soon! I’m hoping for an announcement on release day or soon afterwards. Because this special giveaway will require mailing a package, I will need to limit it to JAFF readers in Europe or the United States. (I’ll be shipping it from Europe, so it may take a little longer to reach the US). I’m really excited about sharing this with you, so check back next week for more info!
Congratulations, Ginna! You’re last week’s winner! I will send you your copy of Mark of Character as soon as possible. I hope you enjoy it!
I loved hearing everybody’s thoughts on their favorite secondary characters. While Colonel Fitzwilliam, especially the fanon version, is probably generally my favorite, I think just about every one of Jane Austen’s characters (and quite a few originals) has at least one story that makes them really shine. I think that’s one of the things I enjoy the most about JAFF: seeing all of the different possibilities for a character.
We’re only one week out from release date, so I have another excerpt to whet your appetite! If you don’t care for excerpts, feel free to skip past it to get to this week’s giveaway.
Sneak Preview
Darcy locked the door to his room, leaving the key in the lock so that it could not be opened from the outside, then wedged a chair under the doorknob for good measure. Jones, his valet, would do the same in the dressing room to the door that led to the servants’ passage.
It did not sit well with him, this reluctance to consider his betrothed with any delight or pleasure. In fact, the idea of marrying Miss Caroline Bingley and having children with her—if anything, it made an icy shiver run down his spine.
Was he so cold, so closed off to emotions that even a soulmark could not penetrate his heart?
Wickham and even Georgiana had accused him of coldness in the past. What was it that Wickham had once said? “You are more statue than man.” His temper had risen hot at the insult, but now . . .
Could Wickham have been right all along? Was this why Wickham had been able to gain his father’s affections and attention, because he was so much warmer and open?
But how did one change?
And did he even want to, if that meant falling in love with Caroline Bingley?
He stretched, wincing at the twinge in his back. It had been aching since the ride from London. Perhaps he would have been better served sitting in the carriage instead of riding alongside, but he had never liked being confined in the carriage if the weather was fine.
And since his betrothal to Miss Bingley, everything felt confining.
The worst part was that he could not seem to take his eyes off Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
What was it about her that caught his attention? She was pretty—very pretty, even, though most would probably consider Caroline Bingley more handsome, and neither could compare to the incomparable Jane Bennet. If the eldest Miss Bennet had had a season in London . . . Even without a fortune or connections, she would probably have received the queen’s notice for her beauty alone.
No, it had not been for Miss Elizabeth’s beauty.
A flash of memory. There had been that moment when he had shamefully insulted her. He had not meant for her to overhear, but he had taken no precaution to prevent it, either. It was badly done of him.
In that moment, she could have reacted any number of ways. She might have burst into tears, or ignored him, or rushed out of the room. She might have gone to complain to her mother or Sir William, or perhaps gone to hint for a dance with some other gentleman to undermine his insult.
But she had laughed. She had retold the story with vigour and amusement, mimicking both him and Bingley and delighting her friends with the retelling. She had not spared her own vanity by hiding that a handsome, if ineligible, bachelor had insulted her looks. Instead, she had found a way to laugh at his rudeness.
Why? How could a young lady from a small village in the country, to whose society any new gentlemen must be a novelty and delight, so easily laugh off his insult?
He slipped under the cold sheets and shivered again, stretching his stiff, aching legs.
And why was it that when he thought of his own betrothed he felt nothing but coldness, yet he felt warm just thinking of Miss Elizabeth Bennet?
Last Early Giveaway!
This will be the last giveaway before release day, so it’s your last chance to get the book early. I have it ready now and will be sending out the giveaway prizes as soon as I can. I will announce the winner for this one early so that you can get your book before the official release.
To enter, just leave me a comment on this blog post. You can tell me what you think of the excerpt above, or you can answer today’s question: What do you think about timeloop stories? (Like the movie Groundhog Day.) Love ’em? Hate ’em? What do you like or dislike seeing in such stories? My next story for the Enchanting Tales series is going to be a timeloop story with a bit of a twist, and I’d love to know what you would want to see in such a book.
All comments will get you entered into this week’s contest. I will choose this week’s winner from the comments on Sunday, May 7! I’ll post here, my Facebook page, and email the winner (so make sure to give your correct email address!). If you want to comment but don’t want to be entered because you already purchased the book, just let me know in the comment!
Congratulations, Sheila! I will be sending you your copy of “Mark of Character” in early May, as soon I have the finished and polished version ready to send over.
Sneak Preview
This is a little excerpt from the beginning of “Mark of Character” as Elizabeth catches her first glimpse of Mr. Darcy.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a soulmark must be in want of her match. Elizabeth Bennet was no exception.
Elizabeth held back her anticipation as she joined her friend Charlotte at the edge of the dance floor at the Meryton assembly.
“Mr. Bingley has brought only two ladies after all! Do you know who they are?” Even to Charlotte, she was reluctant to reveal her eagerness by asking about the gentlemen.
Charlotte nodded, linking her arm through Elizabeth’s. “Mr. Bingley’s sisters, I understand. One of them is married to one gentleman, and the other is engaged to the other.”
Elizabeth’s heart sank. Only one gentleman was eligible, then. And she had heard nothing of Mr. Bingley having a soulmark.
She tried to mask her disappointment. “My mother will be displeased that neither of the other gentlemen is single.” How Mamma would have crowed at the idea of three eligible gentlemen entering the neighbourhood. At least she could be consoled with Mr. Bingley.
“Engaged is not married!” Lydia said brightly, squeezing between them. “Which gentleman is only engaged? I hope it’s the taller one.”
“Lydia!” Elizabeth scolded, but Charlotte only laughed.
“It is the taller one, but engaged is as good as married, Lydia, and you know it. Besides, my father said that it is a soulmatch. And you know there is no thwarting a soulmark.”
Elizabeth’s own soulmark had appeared at birth, so she knew well the significance of the match. Being soulmarked made one very fortunate, or very much . . . not. After all, the image of a flower imprinted on her back would either lead to a match of true love, or, if not fulfilled, a slow, wasting death. There was no middle ground.
Lydia sighed. “Three gentlemen, and only one eligible.” Elizabeth smiled slightly at the similarity of their thoughts. “And of course he will fall madly in love with Jane and never glance at the rest of us.” She tossed her curls and returned to Kitty to share the news.
Elizabeth cocked her head as she watched Sir William introduce Mr. Bingley to his new neighbours.
“Is it truly a soulmatch, or did you say that to discourage Lydia? Mrs. Phillips said the Bingleys were a town family, originally from trade.”
Charlotte shrugged. “Yes, Mr. Bingley clearly said it was a soulmatch between his sister and Mr. Darcy. It is a little odd, but then, Miss Bingley may have an affinity for the land even if her family has always lived in town. My father thinks that perhaps Mr. Bingley’s family was landed in the past. Mr. Darcy is an excellent catch for her. He will inherit an estate worth ten thousand pounds a year!”
“A good catch indeed.” Mr. Bingley was being introduced to Mamma and her sisters now. Most likely Mamma had been waving frantically for her to join them, but she had been too engrossed with Charlotte to notice. No matter; she would certainly meet Mr. Bingley in time. Sooner rather than later, she thought, considering his awestruck look as he was introduced to Jane.
Her eyes were again drawn to Mr. Darcy. He was a handsome man, very tall, with broad shoulders and dark hair.
She sighed. She had been hoping that among Mr. Bingley’s guests might be the gentleman who would match her soulmark. Her parents had already put out tentative enquiries throughout Meryton and the surrounding neighbourhoods, but with Papa’s refusal to take them all to London, she was forced to wait until gentlemen came to her.
She had time. Some time, anyway. She was only twenty, so she probably had ten years at least until the soul weakening. But her soulmark had appeared at birth, so that meant that her soulmatch was older than she was. If he was nearing thirty, he might start to feel the soul weakening soon, and it would only grow worse until they found each other and sealed the match with a kiss—and then cemented it with marriage. It was frustrating to wait, her own father’s indolence keeping her from her soulmatch. But it was an argument that had been repeated many times in the past year, and she was tired of it. Even if this was yet another lost opportunity, she would not allow it to ruin her evening.
New week’s giveaway!
And now, we have a new giveaway! If you didn’t win last week, you’ll have a few more chances. We’ll have one this week and next leading up to the book release. All prize ebooks will be sent out in early May as soon as I have the final version ready to go.
So for this week’s giveaway, I’d love to hear who your favorite side character is in JAFF fanfic. Colonel Fitzwilliam? His older brother? Georgiana? Or perhaps you are fond of some of the usually less amiable characters, like Mr. Collins, Mr. Wickham, or Anne de Bourgh. Whether you love the character or love to hate them them, I want to hear it! I’d also love to hear what you think about the excerpt above for “Mark of Character.”
All comments will get you entered into this week’s contest. I will choose this week’s winner from the comments on Thursday, May 4 and post here, my Facebook page, and email the winner (so make sure to give your correct email address!).
I have a fun additional giveaway planned for closer to the release date! It will be a paperback and a special surprise, so keep an eye here to see the announcement. Since I need to mail that prize, it will be open to American and European addresses only. But the weekly ebook contests are open to all!
Are you interested in being an ARC reader for my newest book? Will you have time to read and review it by May 11? I hope to send them out around May 1. I will send out a reminder as soon as the paperback goes live so that reviews can be posted.
Sign up to be one of the first to read it! I have room for about thirty readers this time, so let me know quickly.
Mark of Character is finally on its way! It will join A Disguise of the Worst Sort in my new series, Enchanting Tales. I’m so excited to share this series with you. Each story will have some small element of magic or the supernatural to it. In A Disguise of the Worst Sort, we saw Caroline Bingley change bodies with Elizabeth Bennet in order to steal her betrothed, Mr. Darcy.
Mark of Character is a soulmark story, based on the brilliant fanfiction concept of two people having some sort of mark on their body that destines them for another. We’ve seen some fun and clever soulmark stories in the JAFF genre, like Melanie Rachel’s Sole Mates and Elizabeth Adams’ Meet Your Mark. Now it’s time for a new twist!
What’s it about?
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a soulmarked couple must marry. They must, or they will die.
When Fitzwilliam Darcy arrives in Meryton, he is already engaged to his soulmatch—Miss Caroline Bingley.
He may be the only person in history who detests the woman destined for him. But their soulmarks clearly match, and there is no denying that both their lives are at stake.
So why is he so inexorably drawn to the intriguing Miss Elizabeth Bennet?
Elizabeth Bennet always knew she was destined to marry. Her soulmark appeared at birth, meaning that someday she would meet the man who matched it. They would see each other, fall in love, realise their soulmarks matched, and live happily ever after.
Or so she was told.
The dark and handsome Mr. Darcy already has a soulmatch. Why can she not stop thinking about him?
Denying their growing affection for each other seems impossible . . . but they must. Two lives are at stake.
But whose?
And now, here’s the cover!
Giveaway!
To celebrate the new release, I will be offering one free ebook copy each week until the release! Comment below and tell me what you think about soulmark stories–or anything else you want to say! I will choose this week’s winner from the comments on Thursday, 4/27/23 and post here, my Facebook page, and email the winner (so make sure to give your correct email address!).
All winners will receive their advanced copy in early May after it is polished and ready!
Do you know anyone who did NaNoWriMo this year? If you haven’t heard of it, NaNoWriMo is the National Novel Writing Month, which happens every November. Writers or aspiring writers are challenged to write 50,000 words of a novel (which is sort of the minimum length to be considered a full novel) over the course of the month of November. To do it officially, you must start the novel from the beginning no earlier than November 1st and reach 50,000 words on that novel before the end of the day on November 30th.
Every year, I try to do NaNoWriMo. And every year, something happens. Last year, I was suddenly inspired to write A Disguise of the Worst Sort. I wrote the entire thing between Sept. 29 and Oct. 29 and ended up in the midst of edits in November. But since I basically accidentally NaNo’d the story in October, I couldn’t really be too disappointed. Just amused.
This year, I had the best of intentions! I had a story all plotted out–a story for my new romantic fantasy series of fairytale adaptations. This one is The Princess and the Pea and involves a princess competition. I’ve been having fun writing it and got up to a little over 25,000 words, so halfway to the NaNo goal. But, you guys, I was really starting to find that I wasn’t ready to keep plowing through the story. I needed to take more time thinking about character background, goals and motivation, and that I was missing a lot of chances for hero/heroine interaction and humor. It needs me to slow down and figure more things out before I plow through.
I had still intended to keep at it, though, until I happened to be chatting with one of my daughters about the soulmarks concept and hit upon a fun new idea for a JAFF soulmark story that I don’t think has been done before. And then I had a block of time in which I had nothing to do, couldn’t use my phone to read on my Kindle app, but I did have a notebook. And I plotted the whole story out with a Save the Cat format. And suddenly I realized that *this* story, being JAFF, is something that I could write straight through.
So . . . I switched stories. I kept the goal of trying to make it to 50k by the end of the month, and, would you believe it, I actually hit 60k! I wrote about 25k on Tested and 35k on the new Soulmarks story. Which means that, yet again, I have not quite done an “official” NaNoWriMo, which requires 50k on the same story. But at least I did make it through to the 50k as a NaNo rebel and got my completion badge for the first time ever!
In the end, NaNoWriMo is a tool. It’s an encouragement to get the story down, and it’s meant to help, not hinder. If it’s only hurting one story, then I think it’s okay to drop it. I would probably not switch stories if I wasn’t confident that I *will* go back and finish Tested later (and have several other books under my belt to prove it to myself).
So, I hope that you all are as excited as I am to see how this new soulmarks story turns out! I’m writing the epilogue right now, so I’m almost finished the first draft, but it will still have several drafts to go before it’s ready to publish. But since it’s not too long, I may be able to put it out later this winter!
Hoping any of you who are writers had fun with your own NaNo, and remember–it’s a tool, not a prison. Use it in the best way that works for you! Even if it means, like me, you have a string of enthusiastically planned but never quite official NaNos in your wake.
Sarah Courtney 