The April 2024 Saturday Broadsheet
Writing News, Book Sales, A Story Vignette
April 6, 2024
Hi. Welcome to the April 2024 edition of the Saturday Broadsheet. I’ve got a couple of sales books listed below, and, of course, there is a story vignette at the end. But let me begin with a few updates.
First of all, I had a poll in last month’s Broadsheet to help me decide which one of a set of books to work on as my next “Refresh Project.” Oxford Cottage was the clear winner, so once a few things settle a bit in my writing life, I’ll be getting that story out to give it a read through and polish. I don’t expect the story to change in essence. I only wish to improve what is there by adding deeper emotional connections and probably limiting the number of points of view in each scene. I’ll let you know when I am ready to start sharing the updated chapters on my blog (as well as Ream and Patreon).
While I’m talking about Oxford Cottage, allow me to remind you that it and all the other stories in Darcy And… A Pride and Prejudice Variation Collection will be leaving KU on April 23. Make sure you’ve read or downloaded the stories before then if you want to read them with your subscription. They will still be available to purchase on Amazon, but since I will be putting them on other stores and in my Ream Stories library, they have to come out of KU because KU demands exclusivity.
There will be a new set of stories entering KU for a time. Those stories are my Choices Series. The four Choices stories and the book bundle will be removed from sale on all other stores and from the library at Ream Stories on April 15. Then, around April 22, I will add them to Kindle Unlimited.
I wish I had a wonderful update about a huge number of words being written on my new Darcy and Lizzy story, How to Marry an Accomplished Lady (without losing one’s mind), but I don’t. Things are crawling along very slowly. There’s a reason, but it still annoys me that it’s taking longer than I want. LOL
The reason is that my other pen name,
, has a book that will be releasing in four days. There are just so many little details that go into getting a book ready to publish, and this time, I had a few additions to the list because I’m switching up my business model a bit. It really does take a lot of time and focus to get a book launched.If you’re the praying sort, I’d love it if you’d ask God to help me figure out how to write my Leenie story, start the next Annilee one, and begin the Oxford Cottage refresh in a way that is sustainable. Because those three stories are what I need to work on as soon as this book release is set to go (meaning, when I have the paperback copies finished).
IN THE TEAROOM
It was
turn to post in the The Sigh-worthy Romance Tearoom this month. She shared some book news and had a poll asking for help deciding on the title of a new story.eBOOK DEALS
These are the deals you will find on my Book Promotions page HERE. « Go here to find links to stores, etc.
The Tenant’s Guest is book 2 in the Willow Hall Romance series. It is set in Derbyshire during the summer after Darcy’s first proposal. It is free from April 6-10 and only in the Amazon store because this series is currently in Kindle Unlimited. There is a sequel to this series which is not in KU because I give this away to my newsletter subscribers and that would break the exclusivity rule for KU.
This month, I have two books that are 50% (or more) off at Smashword with a coupon (which is automatically applied by Smashwords). I say or more because my Sweet Extras are still only $0.99 to purchase (something that might be changing in the near future) and that means when the coupon is applied to Moonlight, Mistletoe, and Mary, it drops to free because that’s the only price Smashwords will reduce a $0.99 book to. So really, I have one book that is 50% off and another that is 100% off. :)
Follow me on Ream to read this book for FREE this month. (This book is also free to read on Patreon this month.)
SOMETHING NEW TO READ
Want to know what the inspiration was for this story scene?
A snowy day in April that was grey and cool, and the fact that when I think of spring, daffodils are among the first flowers that come to mind. So, I combined the two and then set out to write a scene that goes from grey to bright and cheery.
Enjoy!
There was nothing Samantha Thompkins liked more than a walk in the sunshine and among the flowers of the garden and field in the spring when the air was just breaking free from its winter imprisonment and the sun was bright but not scorching as it would be once spring shifted to summer.
Unfortunately, today was not such a day, and Samantha had been confined to the carriage for two hours just to obtain the embellishments she needed for what would be her Easter bonnet.
She sighed contentedly. Easter services were her favourites. There would be many new dresses and hats to brighten the pews in the church and give her something to admire while she listened to the parson. Even the anticipation of the day brought a smile to her lips.
Oh, she hoped, as she removed her outerwear upon entering the house, that it would be a fine, sunny day that day. The stained-glass windows were prettiest in the sunshine.
“I am pleased to see you smiling. Did you find a ray of sunshine to purchase while you were out? For you were a veritable grey rain cloud when you left.” Her brother teased her from where he leaned against the frame of the door to the drawing room.
“I was no such thing. I was just not pleased that the day was so grey. It is my least favourite colour you know.” There was nothing cheery about it.
She turned to her maid who was waiting to carry her coat, hat, and gloves above stairs. “Please bring me my Easter bonnet when you return. I simply cannot wait to begin adding these ribbons to it.”
“Do you wish for the blue muslin as well?”
“No, I think I will finish the hat first and trim the bodice of my dress after.”
Her maid dipped a curtsy and scurried off to deposit and fetch her mistresses things.
“Ah, that is what has brought the smile to your face. You were successful at the shops.”
Samantha pursed her lips in displeasure and scowled at her brother as she moved toward the drawing room. “You are as good as a north wind at driving away any pleasantness, Gerard.”
He chuckled.
“You make is sound,” she continued, “as if I am only in a happy mood if the weather is favourable, and I have spent money. I dare say it sounds like I am a daft and fickle spendthrift to listen to you. Honestly, I do not see why you must provoke me as you do.”
He caught her by the arm before she entered the drawing room and pulled her into a quick embrace that included a peck to her cheek. “It is just such fun to watch you bluster.”
She swatted his arm. “It is a very good thing that I have the patience of Job when it comes to trying younger brothers.” Especially one who was now not only her brother but also her guardian. “I do hope you intend to treat your wife better than your sister.”
“About that.”
She spun from where she was getting her work basket opened to look at him. “Have you made an offer to Miss Robins?”
He shook his head. “No, I have not, nor am I certain that one will be forthcoming.” He grimaced. “It seems she has been seen in town with another fellow not two weeks ago.”
“Indeed!” Samantha dropped into her chair in a very unladylike fashion. “But I thought she was enamoured with you!”
“That would make two of us, but it seems that perhaps we were mistaken.”
“Well, then, Miss Robins should grace the stage in Drury Lane,” she grumbled as she shook her head. Anyone – male or female – who played at loving someone only to have it revealed that they were only playing a part were not to be borne in her way of thinking. In fact, a cold, grey, blustery winter storm was more welcome to Samantha than such a person as Miss Robins appeared to be.
“It could be that the gentleman is just a friend or relation. We do not know his name or particulars,” her brother cautioned.
“But we do know that he was with Miss Robins?”
“Yes, we do, and I will inquire of a friend who remains in town about the details of the affair. It is better to know now that I have been hoping in vain than to discover the duplicity later after my heart is well and truly decided upon her.” He joined his sister near the window. “As I have been thinking about it for the past half hour, I am almost convinced that since my heart is not yet fully decided after two months of many meetings and an acquaintance of a full year before that, it is likely best if I set my eyes elsewhere. I am young. There is time.”
He spoke of not being attached, but the touch of sadness in his eyes and smile said something different. Oh, how Samantha wished she could keep him safe now as she had when they had been younger. But it was not the first disappointment he had weathered without her aid and would not be the last. Still, the heart of a sister was not altogether satisfied by that information.
“How did you come to find out about Miss Robins?”
“Ernst.”
“Oh, has Mr. Grey written? Is he still enjoying the soirees of the season?” She glanced up from attempting to poke the end of her thread through the eye of a needle to see him shake his head.
“He called while you were out,” her brother added.
“He has returned? Not permanently I hope.” Though she was happy to know that she would get to see him sooner than she had expected to do. “Was he not renting that house in town until the end of May? I am certain that is what he told me.” Ernst Grey was a dear friend of many years who was only just a year older than she was and three years older than Gerard.
“He has paid for the house through May, but that does not mean he has to remain in it for the full time. At least, that is how he explained it to me.” Her brother chuckled. “You know Ernst. He is his own man and does as he pleases when he pleases unless it is disreputable or ignoble, of course.”
Samantha knew that quite well. Mr. Grey did not hold to all of society’s rules, but he was as honorable as a gentleman could ever be. It was of little wonder that he would be the one to share the news about Miss Robins with her brother.
“Did he just arrive in the area today? Are we to blame him for bringing the cold wind and snowflakes with him?” She smiled as she imagined Mr. Grey’s impassioned protest to such an accusation. She did so enjoy his company. She truly had no better or well-loved friend amongst all of her acquaintances.
Her brother’s lips curled into a sly grin that rose higher on the right than the left. “No, he arrived last night, and though he came home to attend to an estate matter, he put that matter off long enough to bring you a bit of sunshine, my dear sister.”
Samantha blinked. “I do not understand.”
“James,” her brother called to a footman that Samantha only now saw standing in the hallway outside the door. “You may present yourself now.”
“Your sunshine,” Gerard said as James entered carrying a vase of daffodils.
“Oh!” Samantha’s hands flew to cover her cheeks which were pushed as round as they could be by her smile. “They are lovely!”
“There is a note.” James handed a folded piece of paper to her before placing the vase on the table next to her and leaving the room.
“I know you do not like the colour grey, but I do hope you do not mind it as a name.”
Samantha shook her head. “What a strange thing to say, Gerard. I have never minded it before, and we have known Mr. Grey for years.”
“I know.” Her brother looked rather smug as he settled back into his chair. “But that is not what I meant.” He pressed his lips together and motioned to the note.
“My Dearest Miss Thompkins,” she read, “I saw the snowflakes swirling in the air this morning as I prepared for the day, and I knew that you would sigh over the sight. Indeed, I sighed myself.” Samantha chuckled after reading that part. Ernst preferred sunshine to rain clouds just as much as she did. “So, I went to the garden and rescued these flowers from the cold. They are, as you say, as cheerful as a sunny day.”
“Indeed, you do say that,” her brother muttered. “They are quite happy little flowers is also what you say about them.”
“They are my favourite,” Samantha replied before turning her eyes back to the note. “I missed you after you left town. Indeed, the brilliance of the sun seemed to have been stolen from my life the past month without you to cheer me.” Her hand was on her heart. Perhaps he did feel about her the same way she felt about him — as something quite a bit dearer than just a friend. “I have spoken to your brother.” She gasped. “He did?”
“He did, which is why I do hope you can tolerate the name Grey better than you tolerate a grey day.” He nodded to the missive she held. “You have my blessing to answer his request however you wish, but I suspect I know what your answer will be since I am not unaware of how you feel about the man. I haven’t been for some time.” He chuckled at her gasp of surprise. She didn’t think anyone knew about her tendre for her dear friend.
“Even on the darkest days you brighten when Ernst comes to call.” He rose, took the few steps to cross the space between them, and kissed the top of her head. “Read the rest to yourself. I’ll be in the library when you feel composed enough to share your happy news with me.”
Samantha could only nod for she was feeling quite overwhelmed with emotions. Ernst loved her. It said it right there. In the next line. “I love you. I have for some time. However, I did not know how completely I loved you until you left town last month and my world no longer seemed right. I would like to ask you to marry me, but I understand if that seems too sudden and you would rather that I call on you and make an attempt to sway your view of me as a good friend to something more. Please do not keep me in suspense for too long. Yours, etc. Ernst”
“Oh my!” she said to the daffodils who were her only companions. “That is quite something, now, isn’t it?” She fingered a petal. “And to think that a day that started out so poorly, and on which snow fell when it should not have since it is spring, has become one of my favourites which I shall always remember.” She sank back in her chair and pressed Ernst’s letter to her chest. “Mrs. Grey.” She sighed. My, how she loved the sound of that.
Snowflakes & Daffodils...what a sweet read! Brightened my day.