Cover Reveal: Unwrapping Mr. Darcy

It’s here! I can’t believe release day is so close. It’s a crazy busy time but I’m so excited to show you what I’ve been working on. I hope everyone loves it as much as I do.

First thing is first! The cover! I couldn’t resist featuring Grunt. I found some illustrations on a stock image site and altered them to fit the story. I love that I have those little elements in there to personalize it a bit. If you’ve read the story, you’ll see them off the bat. If you haven’t, you’ll recognize them once you do read it.

The Kindle cover came first –

 

The last few days, I’ve been piecing the paperback together from the Kindle cover (I wish they had the same dimensions!) and adding the spine and the back cover. The blurb is still a bit rough, but I’m slowly working on it.

It was so much fun to put together. It took multiple stock images and some piecing but I’m so happy with it. I hope you like it too!

Now, I know you have questions so I’ll post 20 questions and answers that might help you out a bit.

  1.  How many words?  74,141
  2.  How many chapters? 20
  3.  How many pages? 6×9 paperback with 245 pages, including acknowledgments, author bio, etc.
  4.  What formats? Kindle, Nook, Kobo, paperback, Oyster, Scribd, and iBooks
  5. Who is it dedicated to?

    For Cindy Hinkle and Erika Hoemke,
    Thank you so much for your amazing donations
    for hurricane relief!
    It was a wonderful gift to those who needed it.

  6.  Is there adult content? Yes, there is some swearing and two love scenes when these two stubborn people finally get together.
  7.  What was your inspiration?  I wrote a short story inspired by the Advent Calendar theme we had last Christmas and even describe the banner Abigail Reynolds made for the theme in the story. See if you can find where I used it!
  8.  Who is more stubborn Elizabeth or Darcy? Definitely Elizabeth! Without a doubt!
  9.  Are all the usual characters in the story? Yes and no. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and Lydia live in another state and there’s no Mary or Kitty. I’ve also changed around a few characters since it’s a modern. The main suspects are all there. Darcy, Elizabeth, Bingley, Jane, Charlotte, Wickham, etc.
  10. Is it angsty? No, it’s a big ball of fluff 🙂
  11.  Where is it set? New York City! Fortunately, one of my fab betas is from New York and worked for a big company so she helped me with some of the smaller details. Thank you, Lisa!
  12. Are there any pets other than the little black furball? No, Grunt stole the limelight. He refused to share. It’s in his contract.
  13.  Are there really 25 days of gifts? Yes! On release day, I’ll give the URL for my Pinterest page for the story so you can look them up as you read. Nearly all of them are on there.
  14. Was it difficult lengthening a short story to a full length? Yes! I did have to make some changes and had to be really careful with some aspects of the story. Hopefully, I managed okay. You’ll have to let me know.
  15.  Is it a Happy Ever After Ending? Definitely! I always write a happy ending and I can’t write one that’s not and call the story fluff 😉
  16. Will you post chapters at Austen Variations leading up to the release? Yes, I will post once a week starting next week and ending on release day.
  17. When is release day? October 31st! Because everyone wants to read a Christmas story on Halloween, don’t they?
  18.  Will you have a blog tour? Yes! I’ve scheduled a number of reviews too (bites fingernails!). I hope you’ll join me for the fun. There will definitely be a giveaway!
  19.  Why all of the pink? Read the story and find out 🙂
  20.  Is Grunt as naughty in real life as he is in the story? Depends on the day 😉 He’s sleeping on my shopping bags on the dining room table at the moment.

 

Thanks so much for checking out my cover reveal! I hope you’ll join me next week for the Prologue of Unwrapping Mr. Darcy!

L.L Diamond

L.L. Diamond is more commonly known as Leslie to her friends, Mom to her three kids, and servant to her three cats. A native of Louisiana, she has been a wanderer for the past 20 years, living in Mississippi, California, Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, England, and Missouri before settling in Maryland.
One day, Leslie may decide what she wants to do when she grows up but for now, she enjoys writing the stories that live in her head and coaching age group swimming. She has degrees in biology and studio art, certifications to coach swimming in the United States and Britain, and numerous fitness certifications. Leslie is also a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Her accomplishments include drawing, watercolor, and playing flute and piano, but much like Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennet, she is always in need of practice!

After watching Sense and Sensibility with her mother, Leslie became a fan of Jane Austen, reading her collected works over the next few years. Pride and Prejudice stood out as a favourite and has dominated her writing since finding Jane Austen Fan Fiction.

Aside from mother and writer, Leslie considers herself a perpetual student. She has degrees in biology and studio art, but will devour any subject of interest simply for the knowledge. As an artist, her concentration is in graphic design, but watercolour is her medium of choice with one of her watercolours featured on the cover of her second book, A Matter of Chance. She coaches swimming and holds a variety of fitness certifications. She is also a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Leslie also plays flute and piano, but much like Elizabeth Bennet, she is always in need of practice!

30 comments

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    • Glynis on September 26, 2018 at 3:53 am
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    Hot as Hades?!!! That’s my kind of Darcy 🙂
    I love this cover Leslie and the idea. I loved last years advent calendar and I did read a couple of posts on D&L but then I stopped as I want to read it all in one go. I am a big lover of non angst stories as you know so this will be a perfect birthday present (I have stopped counting but I’ll make an exception in this case). 🙂

    1. I’m thrilled you love the cover. It’s definitely a big ball of fluff, just like Grunt 😉 Thanks, Glynis!

  2. Wow, Leslie!! I adore this cover and Grunt is just too darling for words!!

    So excited to be part of this blog tour!!

    1. Thank you, Claudine! I can’t wait to send you the file to review. I should have it to you pretty soon 🙂 Thanks again!

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on September 26, 2018 at 8:26 am
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    Leslie, the cover is awesome! Love the Pink even though Grunt steels the entire show. Ha Ha! That little stinker. I hope your book does really well. I loved reading it on the forum and look forward to getting my own copy in the grand finale. Have fun posting here and on the blog tour! Jen Red

    1. LOL! I couldn’t resist having Grunt front and center. He’s definitely a scene stealer 🙂 Thanks, Jen!

    • Sheila L. Majczan on September 26, 2018 at 8:39 am
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    I seem to remember reading this? It sounds so familiar. Good luck with the release. My favorite color is pink and I love many of PINK’s songs so the cover is right up my alley. I will have to read/reread this.

    1. I believe you did read and comment on the original short story last Christmas. It was just too much fun to pass up writing a full length out of it. I’m glad you like pink! Lizzy does too 🙂 Thanks so much, Sheila!

    • J. W. Garrett on September 26, 2018 at 9:43 am
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    OMG! That cover was amazing. I love the way this post was laid out. All the pink really put the emphasis back on that beautiful cover. Congratulations on the upcoming release and I wish you all the best. I’m looking forward to the blog tour. Blessing <3

  6. I’m so glad you love the cover! I definitely had some fun with pink on this post. Thanks so much for the well wishes. I can’t wait for you to join me on the blog tour!

    • Elin Eriksen on September 26, 2018 at 10:52 am
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    Yay🤗. Loved the short story and I am impatiently awaiting the release…😏

    1. Thanks, Elin! I can’t wait to have it released!

    • Janet T on September 26, 2018 at 12:32 pm
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    I love your cover, Leslie, especially with Grunt as the main attraction, front and center! Purr-fect! Thanks for including MAE in your blog tour.

    1. My pleasure! Thanks so much for having me. I’m so glad you like the cover! Thanks, Janet!

    • Deborah on September 26, 2018 at 12:43 pm
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    The cover is so festive. It is perfect. Looking forward to reading the story.

    1. Thanks so much, Deborah!

    • Suzan Lauder on September 26, 2018 at 12:56 pm
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    Loved this chick lit story as a beta and later at AHA. The awesome cover says so much about the content! What fun! People who are angst lovers will still enjoy reading. This novel is light on worrying themes but has lots of action and surprises to make up for it. Reading on Jane Austen Variations will be a blast. Best of luck on all you have planned for it, Leslie!

    1. Thanks so much, hon! Couldn’t have done it without you!

    • Shelley Hoisington on September 26, 2018 at 2:35 pm
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    Loved your story! Kitty! Love the cover and the kitty, Grunt! I cannot wait to read this again. Congratulations on the upcoming release. Love the Pinterest page because I am a visual person. I am hoping for a sequel at a later date or holiday.

    1. You aren’t the only one hoping for a sequel. 🙂 We’ll see. I won’t say never. Thanks, Shelley!

  12. Congratulations!! I love the cover!! Although I’m not usually a fan of pink, pink and black can work together nicely, as we see with your cover!

    I really like the back cover blurbs!! I think they capture the tone of the book well if I remember the Advent story correctly. 😉

    It’s really lovely, Leslie!! Congrats again!! Wooo-hooooo!!! 😀

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. I’m not a huge pink person, but Elizabeth is in the story so the color seemed appropriate. I liked the contrast when I finished. It’s not a total Christmas fest 😉 I’m thrilled everyone seems to like it. Thanks so much, Susanne!

    • Linda H on September 27, 2018 at 12:01 am
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    Cover caught my eye immediately!
    Grunt so adorable. Congratulations and thank you for sharing.

    1. Thank you so much!

    • Cindy Hinkle on September 27, 2018 at 11:20 am
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    I love the cover!

    1. Thank you!

    • Carole in Canada on September 27, 2018 at 3:44 pm
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    So excited it is finally coming out! The cover is purrfect! Very fun, flirty and fluffy! I couldn’t resist! Congratulations and so looking forward to reading it!

    1. Thanks so much, Carole! I’m glad you think it’s purrfect! 🙂

    • Carol on September 30, 2018 at 2:03 pm
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    Congratulations. Love the cover and I cannot wait to read the story.

    1. Thanks so much!

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