Monica Fairview's Blog, page 37

2023 Deck the Shelves in the Closet Book Sale

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! The Holiday season is in full swing. We’ve finished Thanksgiving (in the US) and Chanukkah, and Christmas Day is upon us. We’re decking our halls and wrapping our presents.

How about something to tide you over in your quiet hours as you await New Year’s Day 2024?

Like a great book!

This is the
2023 DECK THE SHELVES IN THE CLOSET BOOK SALE

Lady Catherine de Bourgh had a good idea, but she didn’t tell Mr. Collins what to put on those shelves. But we do!

Running from Dece...

Excerpt from “An Unexpected Merry Gentleman”

 

Happy Holidays, Janeites!

‘Tis the season of plum pudding, wassail and mince pies (Or in my case, Grape leaves, Eggnog Bundt cake and Peanut butter-peanut butter cup cookies).  We all have those traditions which dictate our events for Christmas—baking Christmas Cookies, making tamales or even pulling taffy. The holidays wouldn’t be the same without love wrapped up in the memories of our traditions.

 

In Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” one assumed tradition in the Bennet household is that...

P&P The Untold Stories: Caroline Bingley Writes to Jane

Miss Bingley is suspicious

December 18th 

 

Caroline was in the parlor at the Hurst’s house at xx Square when the doorbell rang.

“Who can this be?” said Luisa Hurst, her eyes brightening with the prospect of something unexpected. She had been playing with her bracelets for the past half-hour as she looked over the latest fashion plates, yawning and looking bored. Her husband, Mr. Hurst, was in a reclining position as usual, fast asleep.

Caroline’s heart gave a little jolt as the unmistakable vo...

P&P:The Untold Stories~ The Matrons of Hertfordshire Discuss Charlotte Lucas’s Wedding Plans

Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort on Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daughter well married; and she called at Longbourn rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was, though Mrs. Bennet’s sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been enough to drive happiness away. Pride & Prejudice Chapter 23.

 

In the opinion of Mrs Bennet, the plainer the girl, the lighter the skirts. Every lady had her own sort of allurements, only some ladies’ allurements w...

Christmas Cookies

I posted this vignette a few years ago, and as I start backing up cookies for this year’s Christmas celebrations, I thought I’d share it again.

Christmas Eve

Will Darcy approached the village of Meryton. He was hesitant to go directly to 13 Netherfield Park, which was still about fifteen minutes away, he estimated. It was the new non-city home of his friend Charles Bingley. Charles still maintained an apartment in Toronto, but he had wanted a place he could easily retreat to and work from par...

Available Now for Preorder: Wrighting Old Wrongs

Sometimes you just have to stretch your wings and try something new. In this case, a little side step out of the Regency and Austen, to the Victorian Era and original characters who would be utterly at home in a Jane Austen book. With a little fantasy thrown in to make things more interesting.

Welcome to the world of the Word Wrights!

Controlling Fire, Earth, Water, and Air with a simple touch would have been much more impressive if it paid the bills.

For nearly 200 years, the Wrig...

Variations on the theme “All Was Joy and Kindness”

I love this month’s theme, chosen by the wonderful Joana Starnes: “All was joy and kindness“! We could always use more of that in the world!

When I first saw the phrase, I thought immediately of the holiday season; only later did I realize, with chagrin, that it’s a quote from Pride and Prejudice. (How is it I have not yet memorized every brilliant word of the novel?)

I couldn’t decide how best to post about this theme: should I include a holiday-related excerpt from one of my novels or should ...

P&P The Untold Stories: Charlotte’s Surprise

Charlotte Lucas learns that not everything is as it seems

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

December 11, 1811

Charlotte had managed to avoid making any appearance in public since her ill-fated dance with Mr. Willoughby at the Netherfield Ball. No one doubted her when she made the excuse that she was too busy preparing for her wedding to attend this party or...

P&P The Untold Stories: Mrs. Bennet Consoles Jane

Did she help her daughter or only make matters worse?

December 10, 1811

Jane has received the letter from Miss Bingley declaring they will not be returning to Netherfield,
and that she has every hope that her brother will soon marry Miss Darcy.

Mrs. Bennet hurried through the hallway to Mr. Bennet’s study. Without thinking, she pushed open the door and came to an abrupt halt in front of her husband’s desk.

Mr. Bennet slowly lifted his head. His bushy eyebrows lowered, partially covering the eye...

P&P The Untold Stories: Swaying Bingley’s Opinion of Jane

Did Darcy and Caroline really stoop to such devious measures?

December 8, 1811

Darcy paced back and forth in the sitting room awaiting his guests. He knew this meeting was not going to be easy, but it must be done. Promptly at two o’clock, the Bingley party was announced. Charles Bingley walked in jubilantly ahead of the others and greeted Darcy with a firm handshake and a broad smile upon his face.

“Goodness, Darcy! I can understand my sisters following me into Town, but your arrival has certa...