Monica Fairview's Blog, page 36

A Pinch of Salt: New Book Announcement

And now for something completely different…

Happy New Year! I’m starting it off by announcing a new book, A Pinch of Salt, which will be out in early March. (If the name is familiar, it might be because I posted an excerpt from the unedited version a couple of years ago, and some of you may have read seen it on the story boards; I posted it around 2016, if I remember correctly. Both have since been deleted.)

Unlike the other books I’ve published, this one is a modern. It is a Pride and Prejudic...

P&P The Untold Stories: Elizabeth Discovers Wickham’s Interest in Mary King

In which Wickham shows his true colors…

January 3, 1812

“You are keeping the warm brick to yourself, Lydia, and my toes are turning numb!” complained Kitty Bennet.

Mrs. Bennet elbowed her. “You are sitting in the middle, and that should be enough to keep you warm. Why does your father not have the carriage window fixed? It lets in the cold so terribly. If I die from a chill, it shall be his fault.”

Kitty shoved Lydia to the edge of the carriage bench, receiving a sideways kick in response.

Eli...

Mr. Darcy and the Girl Next Door Chapter One and Giveaway

I hope everyone had a happy new year! I lounged around and ate too much. But enough of that! Are you ready for story time? And how about the first giveaway of the new year?

Last week, I shared the opening chapter of Mr. Darcy and the Girl Next Door. That introduction set the stage for Elizabeth’s future back in 1804, in a discussion between George Darcy, Senior, and Mr. Gardiner.  Now, here we are, seven years later, and ODC are on a collision course for a reunion.

How the Giveaway Works: I will...

P&P The Untold Stories: Charlotte Lucas on New Year’s Day

Charlotte has an unexpected visitor

Author Note: This is part of a mini-series of scenes telling the story of Charlotte Lucas’ other romance. Here are the previous parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

January 1, 1812

Lady Lucas was all aflutter at their first visitor in the year of Our Lord 1812. “A happy new year to you, Judge Braxton! This is an unexpected pleasure. I cannot recall the last time our home was honored with your presence. Please sit down and allow me to order s...

P&P:TUS First Footer

Foretelling the new year does not go as expected

December 31, 1811

When Mr. Bingley and his party left Netherfield, a grey cloud settled over the neighborhood, rendering the society dull and dreary. Now that Jane had gone to London with the Gardiner’s, the same somber mood seemed to permeate the halls of Longbourn.

Though Mama continued to host parties and dinners, the sparkle had dulled. Even those hosted by the Gouldings, and (dare she say) the Lucases held little interest. Talk of Charlotte’...

Mr. Darcy and the Girl Next Door

It’s coming! Mr. Darcy and the Girl Next Door is entering the final stages prior to publication. I haven’t shared any chapters from Works in Progress for a while, so I thought it would be a fun way to kick off the new year.

I think one of my favorite tropes in Jane Austen fiction (or romance in general) is the Friends to Lovers trope. But what if it’s Friends-to-almost-lovers-to-other-friend-to-True Love? That’s quite a mouthful, I know. But wait, there’s more! (I’m starting to sound like an inf...

Jane in Denver by Diana Birchall

Cast of Syrie James’ play, Pride and Prejudice: Six Rocky Romances. Janet Todd, Diana Birchall, James Nagle, Devoney Looser, Syrie James, Paul Savidge, Francine Mathews, Paul Birchall

No, this isn’t Austenesque fiction in which Jane Austen herself, or perhaps the Darcys, crosses the Atlantic Ocean in a wooden sailing vessel, travels across the United States in a wagon, and ascends the Rocky Mountains in pattens. I don’t think Denver was even founded until about forty years after Austen’s death, ...

P&P The Untold Stories: LADY CATHERINE’S CHRISTMAS

Lady Catherine’s Christmas is disturbed by her worries about Mr. Darcy’s marriage intentions…

December 25, 1811

Christmas makes the strongest demands of any sacred day upon a clergyman, but one might particularly feel for Mr. Collins, whose maiden Christmas sermon he must preach before his formidable patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. All went off well, however, and he was gratified to be invited, after his efforts, to take his Christmas dinner at Rosings. To him this was the crown of his amb...

P&P:TUS Darcy on Boxing Day

Holiday socializing takes its toll on Darcy

December 26, 1811

Darcy fought his luxurious sheets, blankets and counterpane as he tossed and turned on the high, four poster bed of his chambers at Darcy House. His London abode was quite as comfortable as Pemberley, and there was no good reason for his disquiet.

No good reason, though, did not mean no reason at all.

Sleep did not come easily. It rarely did after so large a social gathering. That was not precisely unusual. But rarely did he have to ...

P&P:TUS Christmas Dinner at Longbourn

Mrs. Bennet sets a fine table for her guests at Christmas

December 25, 1811

 

Christmas day had begun with the familiar walk to the little stone parish church, which brimmed with guests. How happy the seemed to make the vicar who often seemed downcast when the pews were not filled. A pleasant walk through Meryton followed, greeting friends and neighbors alike. Meeting the Lucases proved awkward though. Mama bore her grudge against them with little attempt at concealment. Only Maria Lucas, who l...