Persuasion 200: Mr Musgrove Calls on Captain Wentworth by Cassandra Grafton

Admiral and Mrs Croft have called upon Mr and Mrs Musgrove and mentioned the imminent arrival of Captain Wentworth, a name which rings a bell with Mrs Musgrove who later determines it is the very same Captain under whom their unfortunate son, Richard, served for several months before his death.  “The Musgroves, in their warm …

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More Scenes from the Outtake File

Since so many people enjoyed the last set of out-takes I posted, here is another set of scenes I had to cut from my new book. I hated cutting these since I really liked how they came out, so I’m glad to have the chance to share them. It also gives me an excuse to show off the …

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Persuasion 200: Captain Wentworth Arrives at Kellynch

The Crofts have settled into Kellynch, Anne has been staying with her sister at Uppercross Cottage, and Captain Frederick Wentworth is on his way to visit his sister and her husband. From Chapter 6: “When the Crofts called this morning… they happened to say, that her brother, Captain Wentworth, is just returned to England, or paid …

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Gifts by the Shore (Part 2) by Marilyn Brant

In Gifts by the Shore (Part 1), I introduced you to my main character, Marianna Greggor, a 39-year-old single mom of a college-aged daughter and, also, the younger sister of Ellen, who owns a bungalow in Sarasota, Florida. As many of you already know — or can guess from the names! — one of my inspirations for this …

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Mr Darcy’s Christmas Calendar – a new novella – Jane Odiwe

I’m really excited to share an excerpt from my new novella, Mr Darcy’s Christmas Calendar. This is a tale I started working on more than two years ago, and though I managed to write a great part of it during that time, other writing projects meant it always took a back seat. I love writing Christmas …

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Persuasion 200: The Musgrove Family Laments Their Poor, Lost Dickie by Jack Caldwell

“And I will tell you our reason,” she added, “and all about it. I am come on to give you notice that Papa and Mamma are out of spirits this evening, especially Mamma. She is thinking so much of poor Richard! And we agreed it would be best to have the harp, for it seems …

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Dickens’ London and Mr. Darcy’s, Too by Mary Simonsen

“Hell is a city much like London — A populous and smoky city.” Percy Bysshe Shelley* The excerpt below is taken from the opening paragraphs of Chapter I of Charles Dickens’s Bleak House. It is a brilliant description of what London was like in 1852-53 when Bleak House was serialized. However, it is not that far …

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Persuasion 200: Anne Reflects on the Crofts Arrival at Kellynch

It is Michaelmas and Anne’s thoughts turn toward Kellynch and the Crofts who have now taken residence there.  “Would you care for some blackberry jam?” Charles Hayter asked, lifting the dish in her direction. Oh bother, she must stop daydreaming before someone  at the dinner took notice or worse, offense! Anne smiled, “Thank you, yes. …

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Gifts by the Shore (Part 1) by Marilyn Brant

I’ve been intrigued by the relationship between sisters for as long as I’ve been a writer. It’s a bit odd, actually, because I don’t have a sister myself (just one awesome younger brother). And, yet, despite having watched sister-to-sister dynamics with fascination in real life, I still didn’t expect so many sister pairs to turn …

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Persuasion 200: Impromptu Ball at Uppercross – Jane Odiwe

The party at the Great House was sometimes increased by other company. The neighbourhood was not large, but the Musgroves were visited by every body, and had more dinner parties, and more callers, more visitors by invitation and by chance, than any other family. They were more completely popular. The girls were wild for dancing; …

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