So much is going on that I don't even know where to start! To Conquer Mr. Darcy (formerly titled Impulse & Initiative) was released on August 2, but I still haven't gotten around to doing a giveaway of it here because I've been busy working on an exciting new project which will be launched September 6. It's something that Sharon Lathan and I dreamed up at the Romance Writers of America National Convention, an occasion which deserves a blog post of its own. It's a group blog of authors of traditionally published Austen-related fiction, and we've been astonished with the enthusiastic response we've been getting from other writers. We'd optimistically hoped we could get 8 or so writers involved, but we're up to almost 20 with new ones signing on every day, and even more offering to do guest posts from time to time. I'll be doing a massive book giveaway there in September, including all my books from out-of-print to my latest release, and there will be tons of other giveaways as well. Be sure to stop by in September!

I've also been writing like mad. The next Pemberley Variation is almost finished, despite major efforts by Darcy, Elizabeth, and Georgiana to sidetrack the plot, not to mention the completely unplanned for steamy scene. Advice: don't trust Jane and Georgiana if they offer to chaperone Lizzy and Darcy. Epic fail! Well, it's true that I still don't have the ending down, but it's almost there. All that sidetracked me from the story I've been expanding at 50 Miles, but that's next on the agenda.

Also on the books for the next couple of months are a totally revamped web site and (crossing fingers) the eventual release of the oft-delayed Morning Light, sequel to The Man Who Loved Pride & Prejudice. Meantime, the never-before-published Mr. Darcy's Obsession is available for pre-order and is already garnering some great reviews, including one from Booklist that will be released next week (they were kind enough to give me a sneak peak).

Oh, yes, and I've been on the road all summer. I started out on July 1, managed 12 whole days at home in August, and am now off again until early September. Fortunately, there's been lots of inspiration along the way between writers' conferences and time in Woods Hole, and it's been fun.

By the way, comments on this blog now have a slight publication delay, not because I want anyone to hesitate to comment but because there's been a major problem with spam comments (part of the inspiration for the website revamp). But I do love your comments, and none of them are being censored unless they selling something.

Best,
Abigail

I, along with many readers, have been frustrated with the challenges caused by the title changes of my books. Some readers have accidentally purchased a second copy of the same book under a different title, and are understandably annoyed. Unfortunately, I have no control over the name changes, which are determined by my publisher, so the only thing I can do is to keep repeating the information about the title changes in hopes that more people will know about it. In that spirit, here's the current summary:

The Man Who Loved Pride & Prejudice = Pemberley by the Sea
To Conquer Mr. Darcy (August 2010) = Impulse & Initiative
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World = The Last Man in the World
What Would Mr. Darcy Do? (spring 2011) = From Lambton to Longbourn

For the sake of completeness, there is also the unpublished POD book The Rule of Reason = Alternative version of Impulse & Initiative which is only available at lulu.com. Without Reserve and By Force of Instinct will eventually be released with new titles, but I don't yet know what they are.

There's a Facebook group Pride & Prejudice Fanfiction Fans which has a running discussion thread about the title changes for lot of different writers. It's worth checking before you buy. I also announce title changes at the Pemberley Variations Facebook fan page and on my own Facebook page, and I happily accept friend requests from readers!

Again, I'm sorry for the confusion about titles. I just wish I had some way to let everyone know!

After posting last night, I dug through my old emails to find the new title for From Lambton to Longbourn. The most recent is What Would Mr. Darcy Do?, and it's scheduled to come out in Spring 2011. In the meantime, I've been making some adjustments to it.

From Lambton to Longbourn was my first Austen-related story, and I wrote it for an audience that knew Pride & Prejudice well. As a result, I could get away with starting the story mid-way through the scene at the Lambton Inn with a long quotation from P&P and no explanation whatsoever, and still count on my readers to know where they were and what was happening. It isn't exactly conducive to convincing someone that they want to read the book! So I've gone back and written a new preliminary scene and thought I'd share it with you. Hopefully it provides a better introduction to the book.

Read more »

The Man Who Loved Pride & Prejudice (the mass market release of Pemberley by the Sea under a new title*) has reached the bookstores! It's a modern tale based on Pride & Prejudice set in the seaside village of Woods Hole, with a marine biologist as the heroine. It's been garnering good reviews, including one at Austenesque Reviews. I'm celebrating by raffling off two autographed copies to lucky readers. If you'd like to be entered in the drawing, leave a comment on this post. If you post a link to the contest on your own blog, Facebook, or Twitter, that gives you an additional entry. I'll draw the names on May 17.

Meantime, I'm going through the galleys for To Conquer Mr. Darcy (formerly Impulse & Initiative), and I've set a goal for finishing revisions to the newest Pemberley Variation by the end of May. Stay tuned for excerpts!

*My publisher is on a re-titling binge with Jane Austen-related fiction (mine and many other authors as well). It's beyond the author's control, but no writer wants you to buy their book under false pretenses. I strongly suggest checking book descriptions before buying new books to avoid paying money for something you've already read.

So, Darcy and Elizabeth were having this shy but touching conversation while sitting on a riverbank and talking about how the water flows to the sea, and suddenly Darcy starts whispering in my ear.

“Only a gentleman would master temptation.” Elizabeth did not know what else to say, and it seemed that neither did he, for the silence between them grew long. Finally she said archly, “I am glad, I suppose, to know that I was enough to tempt you.”

He half-turned toward her, leaning on one hand, his voice low. “You can have no idea how you tempt me. You tempt me every day with the thought of your laughter, and every night with the thought of touching you. You tempt me with your every smile, your glance, the way you bite your lip when you are concentrating, by the sparkle in your eye when someone challenges you, the way you tilt your head when you are about to tease, by your sweetness when you try to protect someone’s feelings. I remember watching you walk past me at Netherfield, and aching to take you into my arms. I remember listening to you play and sing, and thinking you the most fascinating creature I had ever met. I remember how you cared for your sister when she was ill, and how I wished you would care for me in the same way. I remember how your hair glinted in the candlelight at the Netherfield ball, and how I longed to touch it, to take the pins out and watch it tumble around your shoulders. I see the pulse in your neck, and I ache to press my lips to it. I dream of your eyes sparkling for me, your hands reaching for me, your lips against mine. Oh, yes, Elizabeth, you tempt me. Every second, every minute, every hour, every day, waking or sleeping, you tempt me almost beyond reason.” His eyes were dark, his voice almost a whisper by the time he finished, but she heard every word of it.

Elizabeth felt suddenly unable to breathe. A new heat flowed through her, and it was as if his lips had indeed branded her neck, his eyes had indeed claimed her for his. She felt aware of her body as she never had before, aching for him to come even closer, yet at the same time fearing it. She could feel the tension radiating from him, and his scent of leather and fresh soap made her dizzy. She was glad she was sitting; had they still been standing, she doubted her legs would have held her. As it was, she felt as if she might melt and run into the river. How could she possibly reply? She touched her tongue to her dry lips.

“Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth,” he breathed, his words a caress in themselves.

Whew! That Darcy is something else. Now I just need to figure out how to get them out of the big hole they've just dug themselves into....