Music and Inspiration

Short blog post today as I am hard at work on the edits to overhaul the story of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Grace into an amazing story which I hope to publish this year or early 2017.

Music is a huge part of my writing process. It helps me get to the emotion of particularly hard scenes by setting the tone. My writing process is unique or maybe not so unique. I have to have music to write. It helps my process. I think it makes me a better writer.

As I work on my Austenesque novel about Colonel Fitzwilliam there have been two songs which I have deemed the theme songs of my novel. I tried to pick only one, but both of these songs just spoke to me and they really encompass the tone of the relationship between Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Grace.  It’s sexy and playful, but with a touch of darkness and mystery.

Please take a moment to listen to the theme songs for the romance of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lady Grace.

Tip of my Tongue by The Civil Wars

Dance Me to the End of Love by The Civil Wars

You can check out additional musical inspiration for my novel by checking out my playlist. Click on the tab titled playlist at the top. J

Tastes of Colonel Fitzwilliam

Colonel Fitzwilliam’s tale is progressing nicely, but title wise is in an identity crisis. That will work itself out and that is not what I wanted to share with you today.

I did want to take a moment to share with you some insight into my Colonel Fitzwilliam. I say my,because 2012 may be the year of 3 different Colonel Fitzwilliam novels. Nancy Kelly, author of His Good Opinion is working on her yet untitled Colonel Fitzwilliam novel. Then there is Presumption by the wonderful Emily C.A.Snyder, whom also wrote the wickedly funny Nachtstürm Castle.

I believe my Colonel Fitzwilliam offering will perhaps be the darker of the three, but I could be wrong. Not to worry there will be plenty of romance for Colonel Fitzwilliam.

What did I imagine for Colonel Fitzwilliam?

Austen herself does not tell us much about Colonel Fitzwilliam, except that he is in the military and is “about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly a gentleman”. Just the little that Austen says about Colonel Fitzwilliam leaves him open for a lot of development. Well, dear readers, I kidnapped him. I promise to give him back when I’m done, but until his tale is told then I am afraid he must stay with me.

Colonel Fitzwilliam’s tale begins after the end of the Napoleonic Wars and after a long, fruitful career he retired. Colonel Fitzwilliam is a changed man. He must navigate a world he has not lived in often enough because he was on various campaigns for the British Crown. The Colonel and his family must become reacquainted with each other. It all creates an interesting dynamic.

Perhaps, my favorite aspect of Colonel Fitzwilliam is the internal scars he carries. He was one of the few who made it home. The Colonel is dealing with the Regency equivalent of PTSD, except he could never admit to such a flaw because the closest Regency equivalent would be a medical condition known as hysteria. How is that a problem? Hysteria was largely considered a female disease which was abelieved to largely be the result of sexual dissatisfaction. In other words, men did not and could not suffer from feminine attributes. They acted like men: strong, commanding and infallible. Imagine how hard it is today for soldiers with PTSD and then imagine what it would have been like for Colonel Fitzwilliam.

A tough road for Colonel Fitzwilliam follows. As I mentioned previously, there is romance, but this is a story that deals with so much more than just finding a happy ending. At least that is what I believe. Once I release the Colonel into the wild I am sure I will hear all about how I did or did not succeed, but until then the little tidbits I do share will have to sustain your curiosity.

Are you intrigued by Colonel Fitzwilliam yet?

Finally, I want to share two more things with you. First, A peak at my chosen portrait of Colonel Fitzwilliam, which I hope serves to intrigue you. What do you think?

Secondly, a song which I think really highlights what might be the mindset of a soldier during the time. This song is placed in 1917, so somewhat past the Regency, but it’s beautiful and haunting. The lovely Niamh Parsons’s sings.

I hope you enjoyed a little insight into Colonel Fitzwilliam. Watch my blog, visit my Facebook page or wait for his book to find out more. J

Releasing Colonel Fitzwilliam: An Austenesque Novel Release Announcement

It’s time for the big announcement if you have not already followed my twitter feed. I’ve been pecking away and toiling to complete my first novel. I am happy to report that it is flowing nicely and should be ready for edits in the next month or so. YAY! I have picked a release date for my novel. Drum roll please……

MARCH 2012

Ok, so it is missing an actual day, but we have the month and year which is significant. I have a DEADLINE! It has motivated me to work faster.

I have decided to self-publish with Amazon.com CreateSpace. It is the best option and it is easy to use. I already uploaded a portion of the novel to my Kindle just to see what it would look like. Not bad, but it needs to be formatted and most importantly edited. I’m on the indie author route.


My novel is titled Saving Grace. It is a Jane Austen sequel to Pride and Prejudice. Colonel Fitzwilliam is the hero and he has been a delight to write. I have realized my book title needs to also have something included to denote that it is in the Austen Sequel genre. Any ideas?

Without further ado I would like to thank Jessica over at NarniaMum (she’s self publishing a Sleeping Beauty story) for writing out a back cover synopsis of my novel. This is subject to change, but just so you know my original synopsis was a bit pathetic compared to the one below which has pizzazz. I hope you are intrigued.

Saving Grace: A Continuing of Pride and Prejudice*

March 2012

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam has spent the last several years battling Napoleon's army. Although he has returned home to the loving arms of his family, he cannot quiet the battles that still rage in his mind and soul.


Lady Grace MacKenna is battling demons of her own. Beautiful and passionate, Lady Grace is bound by the strictures of a society which shuns her, and must hide her broken heart. Although Colonel Fitzwilliam has sworn off romance, there is something about Lady Grace's melancholy beauty that inexorably draws him.


Can these two wounded souls find healing in each other's arms, or will the fire of their attraction consume them?



*That portion of the title, A Continuing of Pride and Prejudice, is subject to change as I feel it too closely mirrors author Jennifer Becton’s secondary title A Continuation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.



Also check out Nancy at Austen Aspirations as watch her journey on the self publishing route for her Austen sequel, His Good Opinion. :D