Hello, dear readers! I am so sorry it’s been a while since you’ve heard from me, but I have good reason for it — I’ve been writing! In fact, I’ve completed another Austenesque novel that is releasing TODAY!!
You read that right—today is release day for my fifth Jane Austen variation, which is titled Born to be a Heroine. For those of you familiar with all of Austen’s works, you’ll recognize the title from the opening line of Northanger Abbey, one of the two novels (along with Persuasion) that were released after her death. And while some Northanger characters play roles in this story, this is primarily a Pride and Prejudice variation.
Time for the cover reveal!
Isn’t it lovely? This cover took me a good while to get right. Lots and lots of hours erasing the plain background behind the model, changing the color of the gown, playing with hue and saturation, brightness, color balance… Then of course, I had to choose the right background. The outdoor scene (the grounds of Chatsworth!) you see is the third option I tried.
Now, you might be wondering why a P&P/NA crossover? Well, first, I don’t think of it so much as a crossover as it is a P&P story with NA characters in it. Catherine and James Morland and Mrs. Allen appear as supporting characters, with the Morland parents and a few of the younger siblings in more minor roles and the Tilneys and Thorpes only being mentioned.
Secondly, the whole idea started, I’ll be honest, as a Northanger variation, until I found myself wondering which other Austen hero Catherine might do well with (sorry Henry!). A fellow writer friend suggested Colonel Fitzwilliam (her personal favorite), and then my thought became “How could I fit Catherine Morland into Pride and Prejudice?” I knew for certain that she and Elizabeth would be friends from the moment they met, and it occurred to me that Catherine might somehow be the catalyst for Darcy and Elizabeth getting together.
Born to be a Heroine is the result of my efforts! Like I did with A Promise of Forever, I shared the chapters as I wrote them on the fanfiction.net website to get feedback on the story, and the readers there were very enthusiastic with their praise. I’m so very happy to be bringing this story already so loved to the wider public at last!
This latest Austenesque adventure is available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover from Amazon (also available in KU). And don't forget to follow along on the blog tour to read excerpts and even a couple of character interviews!
I would have thought that Catherine would be too silly for the Colonel. Never understood what Henry saw in her.
ReplyDeleteColonel Fitzwilliam is being a gentleman and saving a girl he likes from ruination. Catherine's not really silly, just naive. I think what Henry saw in her that he liked was that she had a good heart, and she believed in the goodness of others until proven wrong, also that she has great enthusiasm for learning. These are things that Fitzwilliam likes about her too, as well as that she's got pretty eyes and a pretty smile. It helps that I always picture her as Felicity Jones' version from the movie.
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