I first became acquainted with Jane Austen when I was a senior in high school in the late 1960s in northern New Jersey. As soon as I finished reading Pride and Prejudice, I went on an Austen marathon and read all of her books one after the other. Little did I know that forty years later, I would publish a novel, Searching for Pemberley, with a Pride and Prejudice tie-in.
After retiring as a special education assistant, I started to write fiction. Sourcebooks, a publishing company that specialized in Jane Austen re-imaginings, found my self-published book on Amazon and offered me a contract. You can imagine how thrilled I was to walk into a local bookstore and see Searching for Pemberley sitting on a shelf for others to buy. I published three other P&P re-imaginings with Sourcebooks, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy, A Wife for Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy’s Bite, before returning to self-publishing. My efforts are listed below.
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Mary’s Books
Darcy and Elizabeth at Pemberley – A Short-Story Collection
Lost in Love – After Elizabeth Bennet’s rejection of his offer of marriage, Fitzwilliam Darcy returns to Pemberley in the hope of finding a path that will lead him to Elizabeth. Little does he know that she is already at Pemberley, walking the gravel paths of the maze in the estate’s expansive gardens. When Darcy and Elizabeth meet in the middle of the labyrinth, the unexpected happens.
Behind Pemberley’s Walls – Four months after Elizabeth Bennet’s rejection of his offer of marriage, Fitzwilliam Darcy is still trying to puzzle through the reasons for her refusal. When he arrives at Pemberley, a place of reflection, he finds that Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle are touring the gardens. Is it possible that Fate has presented him with an opportunity to make amends for his awful behavior in Kent? Darcy quickly devises a plan to find out if Elizabeth is having second thoughts about refusing him, but it involves a bit of subterfuge.
Answered Prayers – Although four months have passed since Elizabeth Bennet’s rejection of his marriage proposal, Fitzwilliam Darcy has yet to come to grips with the idea of a future devoid of Elizabeth’s love and companionship. Riding through the rain to reach Pemberley, Darcy arrives at his home with his mood as gloomy as the weather. When he discovers that Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle are touring the gardens, Darcy decides to use the approaching storm as a way to keep Elizabeth at Pemberley. It is his last chance to convince Elizabeth that he is a man worthy of her affection.
The Marriage of Antony, the Earl of Stepton, to Lady Eleanor Henley – This story serves as an introduction to Fitzwilliam Darcy’s cousin, Antony, the Earl of Stepton, an original character, and his wife the Evil Eleanor.
The Fitzwilliam Brothers at the Pemberley Ball – It is Elizabeth’s first ball at Pemberley as Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, and expectations are high. But with the arrival of Darcy’s cousins, Antony and Richard Fitzwilliam, and Antony’s estranged wife, the Evil Eleanor, everything is turned on its head.
The Bell – A Pride and Prejudice Novella – Mrs. Darlington, the current lessee of Netherfield Park, wants out of her lease, and rumor has it that Mr. Bingley, a handsome gentleman from the North, is interested in leasing a country estate near to London. In order to entice Mr. Bingley to take over the lease, Mrs. Darlington had planned to host an intimate party to show off the neighborhood and the local beauties. When word gets out that there is an eligible bachelor in the neighborhood, all of Mrs. Darlington’s plans go out the window, and a small card party becomes a full-blown affair. One of the people adding to the confusion is Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, who is reported to be an elderly gentleman who travels with an ear horn. When the real Mr. Darcy arrives at Netherfield Park, all eyes are on the gentleman from Derbyshire, but who will be the fortunate lady to capture Mr. Darcy’s attention? Confusion, mistaken identities, and an obnoxious bell all make for an interesting evening at Netherfield Park.
The Carriage Ride – A Pride and Prejudice Short Story – Following Darcy’s failed marriage proposal at Hunsford Parsonage, Darcy and Elizabeth head for London, but a chance encounter at a coaching inn in Bromley has the couple sharing a carriage. The forced intimacy presents Darcy and Elizabeth with an opportunity to set aside their prejudices so that they might see each other in a different light.
Available on Kindle
Netherfield Park Is Let at Last – Netherfield Park is let at last! Or is it? – Charles Bingley is looking for a place in the country, and it appears that Netherfield Park in Hertfordshire is perfect for his needs. After hastily signing a one-year’s lease, Bingley is having second thoughts and asks his friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, to visit Netherfield Park to look over the property. It is while inspecting the manor house that Darcy encounters Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn. An interrupted introduction has Elizabeth believing that she is meeting a certain Mr. Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy’s aide, a mistake Darcy declines to correct as it affords him the opportunity of enjoying a lovely afternoon in the country where deference to rank is set aside. But what happens when Elizabeth learns Darcy’s true identity?
Available on Kindle.
Dear Sir, Dear Madam, A Pride and Prejudice Novella – In Pride and Prejudice, while in Kent, Elizabeth Bennet refuses Fitzwilliam Darcy’s offer of marriage. The next day, Darcy hands Elizabeth his infamous letter which succeeds in shutting down all communication between the two prior to their reunion at Pemberley. But what if Elizabeth had responded to Mr. Darcy’s hastily written letter? By committing their thoughts to paper in a secret correspondence, and with the help of cousins, a friend, and a manservant, Darcy and Elizabeth gradually develop a better understanding of the reasons for their actions in Hertfordshire. In these exchanges, the prejudices that have hampered their relationship from the very beginning are exposed, and the letters open a world of possibilities.
Dear Sir, Dear Madam, a novella, provides a look at the thoughts of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy following the Hunsford Parsonage dust-up.
Available on Kindle
Conversations with Mr. Darcy – It did not begin well. At the Meryton assembly, Fitzwilliam Darcy was rude, and Elizabeth Bennet was offended. But what if, through a series of conversations, Darcy and Lizzy come to recognize the virtues that lay hidden beneath his pride and her prejudice? Even though the lovers walk a smoother path, there are obstacles, including other suitors for Lizzy and societal hurdles for Mr. Darcy. Conversations with Mr. Darcy, a novella, is a gentle “what if” Pride and Prejudice re-imagining where Darcy finds courage and inspiration in a long-ago love story from his own family. – Novella length
Available on Kindle.
Convincing Mr. Darcy – Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley is stubborn. Although given good principles as a child, he has grown into a man who needs convincing that his opinions are not the only ones that matter. Reform is possible, but it will require the intervention of a strong-willed Elizabeth Bennet, who has opinions of her own. – Novella Length
Mr. Darcy – Bitten, A Novella – While touring the Black Forest with his father, fourteen-year-old Master Darcy is bitten by a wolf. When the wound does not heal, Old Mr. Darcy consults a doctor and learns that his son has actually been bitten by a werewolf. As the years pass, Fitzwilliam comes to accept that for two nights of the lunar calendar, he is a creature of the night, prowling the grounds of Pemberley with a small pack of werewolves. He understands that for reasons of safety, it is in his best interest to marry a she-wolf, but that decision was made before he met Elizabeth Bennet. Mr. Darcy – Bitten is the story of Fitzwilliam Darcy’s pursuit of a woman who is fully human, but whom he cannot live without.
Darcy and Elizabeth – Answered Prayers, A Pride and Prejudice Short Story – Although four months have passed since Elizabeth Bennet’s rejection of his marriage proposal, Fitzwilliam Darcy has yet to come to grips with the idea of a life devoid of Elizabeth’s love and companionship. Darcy arrives at his home with his mood as gloomy as the weather. When he discovers that Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle are touring the gardens, Darcy decides to use the approaching storm as a way to keep Elizabeth at Pemberley. It is his last chance to convince Elizabeth that he is a man worthy of her affection. Will he succeed?
Novels ~
Another Place in Time – In the time-travel romance, Another Place in Time, Fitzwilliam Darcy learns of the existence of Elizabeth Bennet from Hannah and Jacob Caswell, time travelers from the twenty-first century. When Darcy’s offer of marriage is rejected at Hunsford Parsonage, the Caswells advise Darcy to visit the future and seek the assistance of an expert on Jane Austen and the Regency Era.
When Darcy arrives in Baltimore in 2012, he finds Christine O’Malley serving on a panel at a Jane Austen conference. Although his arrival is a crowd pleaser, Chris is upset that an “actor” impersonating Mr. Darcy has stolen the show. After a rocky start, Chris agrees to go with Darcy to the past to help him sort out the mess with Elizabeth. While plans are being made for Darcy to capture the heart and hand of Elizabeth Bennet, Chris, who has experienced her own heartache, finds she is falling for Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. With her sensibilities firmly rooted in the future, will Chris be able to find happiness with a man who occupies another place in time?
Available on Kindle and in paperback.
When They Fall in Love, A Novel – 
Spring of 1814 – Fitzwilliam Darcy proposes to Elizabeth Bennet at the Hunsford Parsonage, but his offer of marriage is rejected.
Spring of 1821 – A recently widowed Fitzwilliam Darcy has taken up residence with his six-year-old daughter, Alexandra, at a villa in the hills above Florence and invites Charles and Jane Bingley and their daughter to come for a visit. Included in the invitation is Elizabeth Bennet, who has taken on the responsibility of governess for her niece, Cassandra Bingley.
In the intervening years, Elizabeth’s opinion of the Master of Pemberley has altered greatly, but has Darcy’s opinion of Elizabeth changed? After all, he married another and fathered a child. Will they be able to put their troubled history behind them?
When They Fall in Love is set against the background of the greatest city of the Renaissance, a perfect place to start over.
Available on Kindle and in paperback.
Becoming Elizabeth Darcy, A Novel – 
In 2011, American, Elizabeth Hannigan falls into a coma and wakes up in the bed and body of Elizabeth Bennet Darcy. Beth soon realizes that the only way back to her life in the 21st Century is through the Master of Pemberley, Jane Austen’s Fitzwilliam Darcy. But first she must uncover the dark secret that has brought her to Pemberley in 1826 in the first place. Becoming Elizabeth Darcy is a story of love, loyalty, and loss, where a very modern woman is called upon to resolve the problems of Jane Austen’s most beloved couple.
Available on Kindle and in paperback
Darcy Goes to War, A Novel – Spring 1944 – Britain is now in its fourth year of war. In order to defeat Adolph Hitler and his Nazis,everyone in the country must do his or her “bit.” While a young Elizabeth Bennet makes her conntribution by driving a lorry, Lieutenant Fitzwilliam Darcy flies bombers over Germany. Because of the war, both are wary of falling in love, but when the two meet near an RAF air station in Hertfordshire, all bets are off. In Darcy Goes to War, Lizzy and Darcy battle something more than class differences. The Nazis are trying to bring Britain to its knees. In order to be together, they must first survive the war.
Available on Kindle and paperback.
Mr. Darcy Bites Back, A Novella – Someone or something is lurking in the woods of Pemberley.
As Mr. and Mrs. Darcy approach the first anniversary of their marriage, they look upon their life together as very much an idyll. With one exception. Their lives will always be ruled by the lunar cycle as the Master of Pemberley is a werewolf.
As Darcy prepares his pack for the full moon, an unsettling rumor is being spread in the village that a phantom Ghost Buck has appeared in Wentside Woods on the Darcy estate. Because Darcy does not believe the stag exists, he wants to know who started the rumor. Is it possible that someone knows of his darkest secret and is trying to draw him out?
For All the Wrong Reasons, A Novella – 
Pemberley, the Darcy estate, is entailed away from the female line. When Fitzwilliam Darcy learns that his heir, Peter Grayson, is engaged to Caroline Bingley, he realizes that he must take a wife and father a son. But will Elizabeth Bennet agree to enter into a loveless marriage, and if she does, will she wed for all the wrong reasons? This novella explores Darcy and Elizabeth’s path to a happily-ever-after ending.
Mr. Darcy’s Angel of Mercy, A Novella
Darcy on the Hudson, A Novel – When Fitzwilliam Darcy, Georgiana Darcy, and Charles Bingley set sail from England for New York, each travels
with a different purpose. Georgiana wants to put a particularly jarring incident involving a family friend behind her, and Charles wishes to visit his Uncle Richard in an exciting new land. For Darcy, it is an opportunity to explore the possibilities of new sources of wealth in the expanding United States. But once Darcy meets American, Elizabeth Bennet, it is the beginning of a love story. But will their cultural differences and a possible second war between Britain and America keep them apart?
Available on Kindle and in paperback.
A Walk in the Meadows at Rosings Park – The day after the assembly at Meryton, Fitzwilliam Darcy departs Hertfordshire, believing he leaves little of interest behind him. But when Elizabeth Bennet comes to Kent, Darcy has an opportunity for a second look at the dark-haired beauty, and he is instantly smitten. Unfortunately for Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth has a long memory, and the gentleman from Derbyshire will have to earn her love. His efforts begin with a walk in the meadows at Rosings Park. Also includes two light-hearted short stories: The Language of the Fan and Mr. Darcy Steps In.
Captain Wentworth Home from the Sea, A Novella
In 1806, Captain Frederick Wentworth returned to the sea in hopes of leaving behind memories of Anne Elliot of Kellynch Hall. But after eight years as the captain of the Laconia, he has failed to jettison recollections of the only woman he could ever love, that is, until a shipboard accident robs him of his memory. When he is once again thrown into Anne’s company, he knows nothing of their previous engagement. With the slate wiped clean, will Anne Elliot be able to secure the love of Captain Wentworth or will opportunities to reclaim a lost love be denied her?
Available on Kindle and in paperback.
Titles available from Sourcebooks Publishing
Mr. Darcy’s Bite – 
This fresh original paranormal Jane Austen sequel explores Mr. Darcy as the leader of a secret world of werewolves threatened with extinction. After learning his secret, Elizabeth must decide if she can accept Mr. Darcy as a man who becomes a wolf for two days out of the lunar cycle. Mr. Darcy’s Bite is a story of love and acceptance where our beloved couple’s devotion to each other is tested with every full moon.
Available on Kindle and in paperback.
A Wife for Mr. Darcy – When Mr. Darcy realizes he has insulted Miss Elizabeth Bennet at the Meryton Assembly, he feels he is duty 
bound to seek her out and apologize. Instead of meekly accepting his apology, Elizabeth stands up to him, and Darcy realizes that she is a very different type of lady than he is used to. Although intrigued by this unique young woman, Darcy is already entangled in a courtship. It is a brutal predicament for a man of honor who only longs to follow his heart.
The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy – 
After Elizabeth’s refusal of Darcy’s offer of marriage in Kent, Lizzy and Darcy parted company. Although each has regrets about what had happened at Hunsford Lodge, neither sees how the situation can be remedied. But Anne De Bourgh is of a different mind, and with the help of Georgiana Darcy, she sets a plan in motion to bring the two together at Pemberley.
Available on Kindle and in paperback
Searching for Pemberley
Maggie went in search of a love story, but she never expected to find her own… Desperate to escape her life in a 
small Pennsylvania mining town, Maggie Joyce accepts a job in post-World War II London, hoping to find adventure. While touring Derbyshire, she stumbles upon the stately Montclair, rumored by locals to be the inspiration for Pemberley, the centerpiece of Jane Austen’s beloved Pride and Prejudice. Determined to discover the truth behind the rumors, Maggie embarks on a journey through the letters and journals of Montclair’s former owners, the Lacey family, searching for signs of Darcy and Elizabeth. But when the search introduces her to both a dashing American pilot and a handsome descendant of the “Darcy” line, Maggie must decide how her own love story will end.
Available on Kindle and in paperback
2 comments
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Mary – I absolutely adore your books and have read them all. So glad I visited this site today because I didn’t realize you have a new book out. Have just flipped over to Amazon and purchased ‘Another Place in Time’. x
Melanie, Thanks so much. You are such a loyal supporter. I can’t tell you how much it means to hear from you. I hope you enjoy Another Place in Time.
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