Wow! Such Terrific Company I’m Keeping

Thank you, Cat Gardiner, for posting this on Facebook this morning. It was a lovely surprise to wake up to.
 
Independent Publisher, a stellar website for self-publishers and small presses, posted a list of what they deem “some of the best indie Pride and Prejudice books the IP staff has seen in the past several years“. Along with Cat’s book, Villa Fortuna, TWO of my books made the list (The Abominable Mr. Darcy & Mr. Darcy’s Mail-Order Bride). I’m gobsmacked! 
Here is a link to see who else made the list: Independent Publisher

Sisterly Love! @ More Agreeably Engaged

Happy July 5th already.

I am visiting the lovely Janet Taylor at her blog: More Agreeably Engaged with a post about family relationships in Jane Austen’s writings. Do you have sisters? Were you the bossy older sister or the indulged youngest? I was the middle girl who had to wait until I moved out to get my own bedroom. Privacy at last! However, I did miss the pleasant companionship of my sisters. Who knew?

I’ve included a nice little giveaway for those who answer the question at the bottom of Janet’s post. I’d love to hear your replies.

All the best to you!

Traveling at Home!

Recently, a few of my friends journeyed to England. I followed their photographs religiously as they went from one Jane Austen site to another. My heart filled with the joy of discovery as I vicariously packed my bags and went with them. Thank you, Christina Boyd, Claudine Pepe, and Dung Vu for sharing your trip on social media. I swooned and sighed with each lovely vista.

Then, it occurred to me, how often the people living in England drive by these sites without paying any particular attention to them at all. Why did my mind go there? Because I lived 20 miles from the Pacific ocean for the majority of my life and rarely went to the beach. For the past three years, we have lived two miles from Wildlife Safari, an outstanding drive-through game park. Do you know how many times we have been? Not once. Yet, both places are destinations of choice for many, many tourists.

So, I have a new plan. Since we will not be traveling to England or even Ecuador in the near future, this summer John and I will become tourists in our own back yard. We will take the wine tour of our county, visit lakes and streams, hike trails, and let the sand filter through our toes. Yes, we will even go to the beach and drive through the Wildlife Safari.

What places in your area would you take first-time visitors to see? Where is your heart longing to travel? I’d love to know.

Crazy World of Publishing!

I have great news and some not-so-great news. First, my latest J Dawn King story, Friends and Enemies, is available for pre-order and will release this coming Monday, June 5th. Yay! The print book is in the review stage and should be available by this weekend.  Here is the link if you want to check it out: Friends and Enemies

Now, for the not-so-good news. Jennifer Joy and I had the month of June filled with scheduled writing/publishing/release dates. However, I finished before she did. Therefore, instead of her releasing the final book in her Meryton Mystery series at the first of June and me releasing Friends and Enemies at the end, we swapped. Jennifer’s story should be launched prior to the end of June. Sigh! I was so looking forward to seeing how Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth reached their happily-ever-after, who gets murdered, and who dun it. Drat! Now, like everyone else, I have to wait.

I hate waiting. So, even though my latest is at Amazon, I’m still waiting for the file review of the print edition. Then I need to wait until my proof can be reviewed. Then I need to wait for it to publish. I’m still waiting for the audio file review of For Pemberley, my latest Christie Capps audiobook and then I will need to wait another two weeks for it to be available in the marketplaces. And, as mentioned, I’m waiting for Jennifer to finish the last few chapters, then I wait for editing and proofreading, and then for the formatting and publishing. (Deep sigh, again!) Wait! Wait! Wait!

Do you hate to wait?

“More Happiness in Giving!”

Is it true? Is there more happiness in giving than receiving? Oh, yes!

So you know, the giveaway for my June newsletter is four (4) Amazon gift cards valued at $25.00 each. While it would be wonderful to receive one, I’m REALLY looking forward to July’s giveaway. I’ve been shopping and collecting again. My husband, John, is sincerely happy I’m giving. Thankfully, he understands me.

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter (that’s all it takes to enter) because here’s what’s coming July 1st:

  • Sock-It-To-Me “Socks & Sensibility” Knee High Socks
  • Socksmith “Jane Austen” Socks
  • “I’d Rather Be at Pemberley” Coffee Mug
  • Jane Austen Memo Pad
  • Jane Austen Books Coaster Set

    Picture1

    Best of wishes to you all! (I’d love to keep the coaster set. They are tile with a cork back in a gorgeous wood case. And, of course, I’d love to drink my tea in the mug, wear the socks when my feet get chilled and take copious notes in the memo pad. Sigh! They aren’t for me.)

I’m thinking August will be all about Pride & Prejudice. I have notebooks and a tote bag and a cosmetic bag and…I’m still shopping! Poor John!!! (Tee-Hee!)

I HAVE A SECRET!!!

For the most part, my life is an opened book. However, since the first of the year, I’ve been hiding something from JAFF readers and it has been a HUGE challenge for me to keep it to myself. Well, almost to myself. With the exception of a few close friends and family members, nobody knew. Are you curious?

I’ve been writing short stories under a pen name. Yes, I’m Christie Capps, author of Mr. Darcy’s Bad Day and For Pemberley. To discover why I’ve kept this a secret, please click over to Rita Deodato’s blog: From Pemberley to Milton

This exciting news comes with a giveaway on her site. Please don’t forget to comment on her post (not this one) so you can be entered.

If you don’t want to click the link, here is a little glimpse of my work. (Ok, a fairly large glimpse.)

Mr Darcys Bad Day

Finished! “Friends & Enemies” is done. Yay!

The first draft of ‘Friends & Enemies’ is done and posted online at BeyondAusten.com and fanfiction.net. I will be leaving them up until May 10th so read fast or you won’t be able to finish while it’s free.

The reviews so far have been excellent. There are over 1,000 comments on the fanfiction.net site for this story. Incredible! Even I cried when I wrote the Epilogue. Oh, my! This Darcy is quite the man.

So, please do not forget the timeline – May 10th is the day it disappears until it goes up on Amazon in the summer. The editing process has already started and the cover, which I revealed in an earlier post, but will share again, is ready.  I’m very excited for this one to be in my hands and on my shelf.

Here’s my cover – friends-and-enemies-cover-medium-web

Richard Armitage!!! (Faints/Swoons)

RA

As you can see from my copy of Elizabeth’s Gaskell’s North & South, I am a fan of Richard Armitage. Why? He’s an excellent actor, he’s tall and handsome, and he has one of the best male reading voices I’ve ever heard.

As my newsletter subscribers know, I contacted him about narrating my next release, Friends and Enemies. Since the story is from Darcy’s point-of-view, I wanted a male narrator/producer.

Here is an update.

I received an email from his representatives on April 3rd. In my reply, I told them I would have the finished first draft to them on Monday, April  17th.

This is why I’ve been practically invisible on social media. I’m typing like a crazed person trying to get this story done. On Monday of this week, I went back to chapter one and did a word-by-word clean-up. Now, I’m pressing on to the end. I have approximately 8,000 words to go—I hope.

Click below for a video interview which should give you a hint why I’m desperately hoping he agrees to my project.

I will keep you apprised of the process. Of course, if he agrees, you will undoubtedly hear my screams right before I faint.

Would you like to hear Mr. Armitage read Fitzwilliam Darcy? Boy, I would.

Enjoy!

Winner!

DU17_01_whiteJA CoinCONGRATULATIONS!!! Julie R. you have won the coin set which was the prize for my 3rd publishing anniversary celebration. I have sent you an email announcing your win. If I do not hear from you by April 1st, I will have to choose another winner. Please check your email.

Thank you to all who commented on the post. It was heartwarming to read how many enjoy my efforts in writing stories about Darcy and Elizabeth. Stay tuned for more.

Happy 3rd Anniversary!

3 year anniversary

This is a joyous day for me. Three years! Never could I have imagined the difference publishing my first book would make for my family. I have ten books out and Jennifer has nine. Both of us have received so many blessings that it would take too much time to write and I need to get a chapter done of my work-in-progress.

Anniversaries call for a celebration and instead of presents for me, it’s a present opportunity for you. One newsletter subscriber will be chosen on Saturday, March 25th to win the 2017 United Kingdom Annual Coin Set from The Royal Mint. Why is this special? The 2-pound coin included in the set is a special edition marking the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death. How fitting this falls on the anniversary date of my birth as a published author.

Here’s a link: 2017 Royal Mint Set

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all who have supported my career by reading, reviewing, and caring.

(PS: The set arrived yesterday and I so badly want to tear off the plastic wrap to see inside. Grrrrr! I need to leave it alone, but my curiosity is killing me. I apologize in advance to the winner if I can’t cultivate some self-control before it goes back into the mail. BTW, this is open internationally.)

JA Coin