You might be surprised to learn that when Susan read Pride and Prejudice for the first time in the eighth grade, she was not impressed! That changed when she saw the now famous 1995 mini-series version of the story. Deciding to give Austen another chance, she read all the novels and fell in love. Her favorite Austen book is Pride and Prejudice with Persuasion a close second. She says, “Writing stories inspired by Austen’s books offers a way to spend more time with characters I’ve grown to love. Just because the book ends, it doesn’t have to be the end of the story.”

When people catch her day dreaming (which is often), she always says, “Oops, gone to Pemberley, again!”

In addition to writing, her other loves include singing, reading, hiking, and yoga. She currently lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband and Lucy, the Tibetan Terrier AKA Tibetan Terror.

Visit Susan on her website: Jane Austen What If Stories; on her Facebook Page; on Pinterest; and Twitter @SusanMasonMilks

~ Susan’s Novel ~

Mr. Darcy’s Proposal

This retelling of Pride and Prejudice asks “what if” events prevented Fitzwilliam Darcy from proposing to Elizabeth Bennet that day at Hunsford parsonage? Darcy arrives with marriage on his mind, only to find that Elizabeth has just received news her father is critically ill and probably dying. In the process of offering his help to her in traveling home, he discovers what she really thinks of him—and it’s not good. Should Darcy deliver Elizabeth home to be with her family and then disappear from her life, or should he propose another kind of help? Will Elizabeth be willing to sacrifice her future happiness to save her family from financial ruin? Or, do she and Darcy, two very stubborn people, have a chance of finding happiness together?

The Darcy Brothers

Theo Darcy is everything his disapproving elder brother, Fitzwilliam, is not – easy-going, charming, and full of fun. A tragic event as children severed their bond of friendship, but now they are together again. They are still at odds, though, this time over the love of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and the truth about George Wickham. Will Wickham manage to divide the brothers again? And more importantly, which Mr. Darcy will Elizabeth choose?

Find out as the two brothers lock horns in this unique Pride & Prejudice variation collectively written by five respected authors: Monica Fairview, Maria Grace, Cassandra Grafton, Susan Mason-Milks, and Abigail Reynolds.

The Darcy Brothers was first conceived as an interactive group writing project and has developed into a full-length novel featuring the charismatic Theo Darcy.