Tuesday, July 7, 2015

A Will of Iron...Linda Beutler

Available on Amazon
More Agreeably Engaged is the second stop on the Blog Tour for Linda Beutler's latest, A Will of Iron. Linda reveals quite an amusing take on her 'gestation of the plot bunny' for this novel. She leaves us much to ponder. Thank you, Linda, for popping in today!

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Developing A Will of Iron: from plot bunny to outline
by Linda Beutler

There are two kinds of bunny that hatch out of an egg, the Easter Bunny, and plot bunnies. It was about halfway through the editing of my first novel, The Red Chrysanthemum, that the basis of A Will of Iron was expressed. As Meryton Press editor Gail Warner and I bantered about TRC, we talked about what might happen if Darcy came back to Rosings while Elizabeth was still at Hunsford. Both characters would still be smarting from the Hunsford Proposal. How soon would self-revelation set in?
            First, why would Darcy return—under what circumstances? A death in the family perhaps? Okay…that would indeed pull him back to Rosings, along with not just Colonel Fitzwilliam, but his entire family.
            If Darcy comes back for a funeral, who has died? The obvious choice is Anne de Bourgh, the ever-sickly cousin. In such circumstances, Elizabeth might be asked to extend her stay to assist Charlotte Collins with any burdens placed on the Hunsford vicarage by Lady Catherine.
            (The first scene written was a silent conversation between Darcy and Elizabeth, full of significant eye contact and mimed words, as they see each other across a room at the gathering at Rosings following Anne’s funeral.)
            Of course Anne is sickly, but why would she suddenly die?  Anything catching might carry off another character too, so that was out. Her malady had to be personal—or maybe not just personal, but perhaps an outright secret? Something scandalous, even? What about succumbing to complications of a pregnancy?
            It started to become clear that at least some portion of the story must be told from Anne’s point of view, but with her found dead in the first paragraph of Chapter One, how could this be managed? The opportunity to get deep into Anne’s head was best exploited if she kept a journal.
            (The prologue was the second thing written, consisting of Anne’s last journal entry the night before her death.)
            Why would Anne de Bourgh get pregnant? Ah…to escape her mother. Well I ask you, who wouldn’t search every avenue for respite from such a mother as Lady Catherine? Anne is an heiress, having come of age as defined by the terms of her father’s will at age 25,and ready to cut the cord, fly the nest, beat a hasty retreat. Oh my…those journals could be dynamite!
            (The delivery of the journals to Charlotte and Elizabeth was the third scene written.)
            [Now mind you, all of these musings are shared with my editor as we polish a much different story.]
            If Anne is pregnant when she dies, who was the sperm donor? It had to be someone pretty awful, if she thought carrying his child would buy her freedom from Lady Catherine. But what if Anne left a will? Her moral compass may be as skewed as her mother’s, but she would wish to secure her child’s future as the Rosings heir.
            (The reading of the will was the next scene completed.)
            Having read my other books, many More Agreeably Engaged readers will remember there is a wedding night at the end of my stories—I cannot escape including mature content, nor do I wish to. When three different scenarios for wedding nights intruded into my brain, I had to end the plot with three different couples to use the options. At first all three scenes, of three different couples at three different locations, appeared at first in the same chapter. Then Anne spoke to me from beyond the grave, explaining the need for two chapters to divide the focus properly between the first two wedding nights and the last.
            (Oh dear…the end was written much too soon, yet again. This is getting to be a regular habit!)
            The story took a dark turn, as stories based on a death do, but because it centers so heavily on Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and scrambling in her wake, the toady Mr. Collins, how could it not be a comedy? Perhaps an uncommonly dark mash-up of P & P with A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
            Suddenly there was too much written and not enough bridges between the pieces. Time for an outline, which saw bodies piling up, Anne’s will disrupting the socio-economic order of Jane Austen’s characters, and not a few ill-timed wounds from Cupid’s errant arrows. He has lousy aim.
            My editor describes A Will of Iron as a macabre romantic comedy. Much to my surprise, the outline revealed some interesting explanations for details left hanging in Pride and Prejudice. How did Sir Lewis de Bourgh die? Who exactly purchased Wickham’s commission in the ____shire militia? Is there some mutual consensus that keeps Darcy and his cousin Anne from marrying? Does “Richard” Fitzwilliam always have to be a “Dick”? If your best friend swoons at the suggestion, might he not be Colonel Alexander Fitzwilliam?
This last question I can answer truthfully without fear of spoilers. I have become so fond of the name Colonel Alexander Fitzwilliam—and JA never christened him—that he will remain with this name in all of my future stories.
Outlines are flexible documents, not meant to be written in stone. But they also serve as an often necessary guideline. For me, the outline additionally serves as the repository of perhaps-useful facts and snippets of dialogue, a think tank. In this regard, the AWOI outline worked better than most.

            I hope your readers will be intrigued and open-minded. This story is told with a peculiar voice. Thanks for this opportunity, Janet!

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Thank you again, Linda Beutler, for including More Agreeably Engaged as part of your blog tour. I know it is a hectic schedule and I'm happy to have you here. I enjoyed you sharing your thoughts from plot bunny to outline. I am intrigued and open-minded as I feel sure these readers will be too. 

Colonel Alexander Fitzwilliam??? Tell me it isn't so! lol (yes, I know I said I would be open-minded) I had to laugh at your question about "Richard" Fitzwilliam. I will be looking now for Colonel Alexander Fitzwilliam in this and your future releases! :) I guess because we see him so much as a Richard that that is how I think of him. But then, I had never imagined him as a "Dick" either. (chuckling here) He is one of my favorite characters and I always like to see him well portrayed.

Below is the book blurb, buy link, author bio and blog tour schedule, for Linda's new release, A Will of Iron. There is also a giveaway of one eBook and it is open internationally, thanks to Meryton Press and Michele Reed. Please have your 'share in the conversation'. Maybe tell us what you think of the name change from Richard to Alexander for the dear Colonel. What did you think of Linda's revelation of plot bunny to outline? So many questions she posed. I guess one must read the book to find the answers. 'What say you'? As always, please leave your contact information so we may tell you if you are the winner of this book. The giveaway will end at 11:58 P.M. on 13 July, 2015. Good luck to all! Please be aware that the book from the giveaway will not be sent out until about two weeks after the blog tour ends. Keep that in mind if you are the winner. Thanks!

Book Blurb:

The untimely death of Anne de Bourgh, only days after his disastrous proposal at the Hunsford parsonage, draws Fitzwilliam Darcy and his cousin Colonel Alexander Fitzwilliam back to Rosings Park before Elizabeth Bennet has left the neighborhood. In death, Anne is revealed as having lived a rich life of the mind, plotting rather constantly to escape her loathsome mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Anne’s journal, spirited into the hands of Charlotte Collins and Elizabeth, holds Anne’s candid observations on life and her family. It also explains her final quirky means of outwitting her mother. Anne’s Last Will and Testament, with its peculiar bequests, upheaves every relationship amongst the Bennets, Darcys, Fitzwilliams, Collinses, and even the Bingleys! Was Anne de Bourgh a shrewder judge of character than Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy combined?

Buy Link:
Amazon

Author Bio:


Linda Beutler is an Oregon native who began writing professionally in 1996 (meaning that is when they started paying her...), in the field of garden writing. First published in magazines, Linda graduated to book authorship in 2004 with the publication of Gardening With Clematis (2004, Timber Press). In 2007 Timber Press presented her second title, Garden to Vase, a partnership with garden photographer Allan Mandell. In 2013 Linda began working with a new publisher, and writing in a completely different direction. Funny how life works out, but more on that in a minute.

Linda lives the gardening life: she is a part-time instructor in the horticulture department at Clackamas Community College, writes and lectures about gardening topics throughout the USA, and is traveling the world through her active participation in the International Clematis Society, of which she is the current president. Then there's that dream job--which she is sure everyone else must covet but which she alone has--Linda Beutler is the curator of the Rogerson Clematis Collection, which is located at Luscher Farm, a farm/park maintained by the city of Lake Oswego. They say to keep resumes brief, but Linda considers Garden With Clematis (Timber Press, 2004) her 72,000 word resume. She signed on as curator to North America's most comprehensive and publicly accessible collection of the genus clematis in July 2007, and they will no doubt not get shut of her until she can be carried out in a pine box.

And now for something completely different: in September 2011, Linda checked out a book of Jane Austen fan fiction from her local library, and was, to put it in the modern British vernacular, gob smacked. After devouring every title she could get her hands on, she quite arrogantly decided that, in some cases, she could do better, and began writing her own expansions and variations of Pride and Prejudice. The will to publish became too tempting, and after viewing the welcoming Meryton Press website, she printed out the first three chapters of her book, and out it went, a child before the firing squad. Luckily, the discerning editors at Meryton Press saved the child from slaughter, and Linda's first work of Jane Austen-esque fiction, The Red Chrysanthemum, was ready for publication in September 2013.


Linda shares a small garden in Southeast Portland with her husband, and pets that function as surrogate children. Her personal collection of clematis numbers something around 230 taxa. These are also surrogate children, and just as badly behaved.


Blog Tour Schedule:

7/6: Review at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell 
7/7: Guest Post & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged
7/9: Review at Wings of Paper
7/10: Guest Post & Giveaway at So Little Time… 
7/11: Review at Half Agony, Half Hope
7/12: Excerpt & Giveaway at My Jane Austen Book Club 
7/13: Review at Songs & Stories
7/14: Review at Austenprose
7/15: Guest Post & Giveaway at Babblings of a Bookworm 
7/16: Review at Margie's Must Reads
7/17: Excerpt & Giveaway at Best Sellers and Best Stellars 
7/18: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Love for Jane Austen 
7/19: Excerpt & Giveaway at The Calico Critic 
7/20: Review at Diary of an Eccentric

Thank you again, Linda Beutler, Meryton Press and Jakki Leatherberry! Best wishes for the release and the blog tour. I hope everyone will take time to stop by all these fabulous blogs and check out the offerings.

49 comments:

  1. Linda, I deeply appreciate your comment describing Anne as having a "rich" life. That seems like the best revenge against her domineering mother, doesn't it?

    I love the name Alexander and have used it several times for the Darcy heir. Yes, I can see it being a fitting moniker for Colonel Fitzwilliam. I may need to borrow the idea from you in the future.

    Great post, Janet. (As always!)

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Joy. Always a pleasure to read your comments. Alexander as the name of the Darcy heir sounds grand and bigger than life, like Fitzwilliam. :) It is a good name for either boy/man.

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    2. Joy, do feel free to name the colonel "Alexander". It sounds so military and strong. Maybe we can gang up on the tide of Richards out there. The name Richard for the colonel is totally a fan-fiction phenomenon, and perhaps one good phenomenon deserves another? Plus, Alexander can be Alex or Alec or Al or goodness knows what else?

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  2. I hope everyone enjoys reading A Will of Iron as much as I have. This story is so much fun (despite some rather macabre scenes) and I think it's Linda's best yet! Her subtle wit reminds me so much of our dear Jane. And who can resist THREE wedding nights?

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    1. LOL! I must thank Gail for keeping me focused on A Will of Iron. She simply would not allow me to forget/ignore it. I'm so glad to see "my own dear child" step into the world after the ministrations of a great editor! (Okay...stepping back from starting into a gush-fest about how much I love my editor.)

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  3. I really enjoyed this candid view into your writing process. While I read (and sometimes edit) as much JAFF as I can get my hands on, I never cease to be amazed by all the various plots, twists, and turns you writers develop to keep we readers happy! Fascinated by your interest in clematis, too; I had a marvelous specimen that fell victim to the addition we put on our house 15 years ago and have never been successful in establishing another (sigh...)
    Really enjoyed The Red Chrysanthemum and look forward to this latest from you!
    rcmsilvia@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks, Regina! I have just returned from a trip to England, first to attend the International Clematis Society annual conference, and second to spend a few days in Bath and Chawton taking pictures of plants Jane Austen knew and grew. Talk about worlds colliding! I'm still pretty addled. I hope you enjoy A Will of Iron!

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  4. That was fun and fascinating to learn how this book came about. I can't wait to read it now. Congrats, Linda!

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Sophia Rose. Wasn't it fun learning about this book's creation?

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    2. Thanks for your comment, Sophia Rose. Different things inspire different writers, but even after inspiration strikes, a story can spin off, as this one did, into some wild dips and dives and swoops. But this is, first and foremost, the romance of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, and we never lose sight of that. We merely get the chance to see the matter through the eyes of Anne de Bourgh.

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  5. Regarding "Alexander", I don't mind. I never liked how fanon insisted that he was 'Richard'. I can come up with quite a few names that I think would fit him. Bob, for example. Aloysius would be pretty funny. I saw a movie once (can't remember which) where a female character was introducing her beau, 'Bill', to her mother. She rattled off a long list of names as his given name, and then said, "so of course, you see why everyone calls him 'Bill'." In a similar way, I can see the Colonel having a fun nickname, because he has too many first names. Perhaps along the lines of 'Bitsy' (the way only the British can do!) or 'Ruffles' maybe.

    I'm definitely interested in the giveaway! Thanks! GinnaSaisQuoi at verizon dot net

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    1. Ginna, loved your comment. And of course there's the Beatle's famous riff "Her name was McGill, and she called herself Lil, but everyone knew her as Nancy." Perhaps someone needs to write a modern and call the Col. Fitz. character "Nancy" for just this reason. Not sure I have a modern in my repertoire, but feel free to use the idea!

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    2. Exactly the sort of thing I meant!

      Hah! I saw a Miss Marple on PBS where one of the characters names was Lettice (Leh-Teece) but all the townsfolk called her Lettuce!

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    3. I read a JAFF once (i believe it was "Thaw", if anyone's curious lol) and there was a character named Lettice and my mind kept calling her Lettuce every time. Glad it's not just me.

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  6. Colonel Fitzwilliam is one of my favorite characters and I crave any book giving him more page time. Richard seems to be most used, but I have seen others such as Edward. I look forward to reading with him as Alexander. My first instinct is for Alexander to be the colonels older brother, but I will keep an open mind. Of course an open mind is essential in moving from one variation to another. Wonderful post and thank you for the giveaway.
    Cherringtonmb at sbcglobal dot net

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    1. Becky, I always appreciate a reader with an open mind! You'll need one with this funny, twisted story. Just remember, poor Anne de Bourgh was truly handicapped by her mother, and, as is revealed in more depth, the tragic early loss of her dear father. We must pity this Anne, even as we are amused by her and appalled by her life choices.

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  7. I like the name Richard, and the one Richard I have known I never called him Dick though I have called other people a dick meaning that they are stupid - I put this down to my innocent upbringing in the English countryside

    meikleblog at gmail dot com

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    1. "Innocent upbringing in the English countryside"???? I know some very un-innocent ladies from the English countryside!!! But now you know why Americans snort and laugh and point at "spotted dick" in English grocery stores. We are a juvenile and easily amused race.

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  8. I admit I'm used to the Colonel being Richard but it doesn't bother me if an author chooses something else. After the initial mention of the name - Alexander or Edward or whatever - I can usually roll with it.

    I recently finished reading this and really enjoyed it. This is Anne as I like to envision her, instead of just blending into the wallpaper. Though I doubt Lady Catherine would ever have plain colored wallpaper! Since I have a copy, please don't put me into the giveaway. Thanks!

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    1. Monica, I'm glad you enjoyed my Anne de Bourgh, the wallflower with keen observations and sarcastic wit. I do believe by me second reading of Pride and Prejudice (in my college years) I was already imagining her peeking through keyholes!

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  9. I have read JAFF where Colonel Fitzwilliam is called David or Geoffrey, too. I like them all and think the author is the best judge. I just bought AWOI and it is calling me from my TBR pile. Thanks for this post as it makes the book even more intriguing. 😊

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    1. Thanks, Kathy! I think I read the Geoffrey story, too! I've heard many excellent choices for the colonel's given name now that I've outed mine as Alexander. Here's a wicked thought: Colonel Darcy Fitzwilliam. Oh, the trouble!

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  10. I have read JAFF where Colonel Fitzwilliam is called David or Geoffrey, too. I like them all and think the author is the best judge. I just bought AWOI and it is calling me from my TBR pile. Thanks for this post as it makes the book even more intriguing. 😊

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  11. I also with those that think Alexander is a good name for the Colonel. It is your story to tell and we readers adjust to the name change.
    I also think it is funny that I read a novel where Anne was pregnant and eloped from her mother's home. Who knows what the future could bring for any of these characters as the plots change. I love the difference in what happens and keeps it interesting.
    Your comments are very interesting. Thank you!

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    1. MaryAnn, I too read the story of Anne eloping. It's a cracking good yarn! However, I'm not sure how my story would have fared by being read serially. In my case, I think the reader will enjoy racing through at their own break-neck speed without the artificial interruptions of waiting for the next post.

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  12. Loved hearing about how the story started. Love the take on Anne, she does get overlooked so often.

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    1. Easy to imagine her lurking outside the Rosings billiards room, isn't it?

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  13. Wow! I always wonder how writers get the idea to develop the book around and you seem to put together a jigsaw puzzle! I don't think I will ever write anything original but I love to read JAFF stories! Thanks for the chance to win your book.
    About the name Alexander for Colonel Fitzwilliam, it sounds nice.

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    1. Thanks for commenting, tgruy! This was truly a jigsaw puzzle, especially when fitting the back story of Pride and Prejudice into this particular "what-if". But I was able to work in answers to some details JA left hanging, such as, who bought Wickham his original commission in the militia quartered at Meryton?

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  14. Not sure about the "Eater" bunny... Typo? But what ever the name of the Colonel, Alex, Richard, Horatio...although he was in the navy... Still he could have been a boy named Sue! ... Anyway if the story is good... The name will work!

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    1. Yes, that should have been Easter! And I had a lovely cat named Rufus once. Sadly, he was taken by a coyote when only four years old, right in the prime of life. He was a ginger, and named for Rufus, Oregon.

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  15. As you have said Jane Austen never tell us what is the first name of Colonel Fitzwilliam, so while Richard is surely the most used name for him, his name is a free choice for any authors (and in many books he is not called Richard). Alexander sound nice and is a good name for him. Thanks for the giveaway

    adavittoria at email dot it

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    1. Euridice, Glad you can live with Alexander! The name made my best friend, who helps with my research, swoon. So I knew I'd hit on a winner.

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  16. Thank you for this guest post Janet and Linda!
    I have already read the book and it was funny to know more about its creations.
    For me the colonel will be always Richard, actually sometime in my reading the book I had to stop and ask myself: "Wait! Who is Alexander!?" LOL But i really liked the book!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it, Loren! Please imagine my lovely best friend at a happy hour, casting her forearm to her forehead and swooning, with a little cry, "Oh! I love him already!" when I suggested Colonel Alexander Fitzwilliam. Maybe having a visual of that might help relieve the confusion!

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  17. Wow, this is such an intriguing book. I wish I could read it right away and know the answers to the questions posed by Linda. Anne married or not? How did she become pregnant without her domineering mother knowing about it?

    I don't mind if authors give Colonel Fitzwilliam a first name other than Richard since Jane Austen clearly didn't state it in her novels.

    evangelineace2020(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Luthien, since you'll be joining us as a stop later on the blog tour, if you want to change the guest post to an interview, I'm game if you are! Ask whatever you'd like! Let's start with is Anne married? Nope. She has a skewed moral compass, and the only courting she does is the courting of scandal.

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  18. If anyone can do macabre romance, it's Linda! Make certain you put strong warnings on the book blurb about Alexander. Some poor authors have not known the fanon and have been murdered in Amazon reviews. Sometimes I find it hard to read a book if he's not Richard, and I keep trying to figure out who they're talking about. But I like Alexander, and I think it will come easily! Thanks, Linda, Jakki, and Janet! (myfullauthorname) at gmail dot com

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    1. I expect to get murdered on amazon anyway—it's best to expect the worst. But people who have actually read Pride and Prejudice, and some Shakespeare, will, get where this story is coming from. The editor we share at Meryton Press says this is a very different voice for me, but even I (the flowery one) need to change it up once in a while! And there are some flowers here. Thanks, Suzan!

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  19. I have never heard the term plot bunny but very appropriate. I can only begin to imagine how new plot lines develop when one is writing a book. The characters are so alive to the writer (and I must confess that I will have to get used to the name Alexander for Col. Fitzwilliam). I have enjoyed your other books and look forward to reading this one. Thank you for the giveaway.

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    1. Thanks, Eva! I wish everyone could win! Having a new idea for a story burst out when one is working on another story is an odd sensation, I assure you! Since developing the outline for A Will of Iron, I have begun a file of "plot bunnies" that I can revisit. Knowing I have the file, and can add snippets to the various bunnies as needed, keeps me from being totally distracted away from whatever my main project might be. Otherwise, my brain becomes as disorderly as my office!

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  20. I am looking forward to know more about Anne' life. As for the name "Alexander" I don't mind, although I am more accustomed to Richard. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  21. Yes, I know using Alexander was a risk, but I started using it in the short story included in Sun-Kissed: Effusions of Summer anthology, and I've grown attached to it. I did make Richard his middle name, just for fun, if that is any consolation! LOL

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  22. Wow! Thanks for sharing this "journey" with us, Linda! It's always great to know how an author creates their own book! Such interesting experiences!

    newyorkgirl82(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Maria, hope you will follow along the blog tour as more is revealed (but hopefully not too much!).

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  23. Such a interesting premise. Looking forward to reading it!

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    1. Dung Vu, it is rather different, what with the main character's voice coming to us from beyond the grave. But truly, this story is about the living, and how falling in love can save your life!

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  24. I enjoy reading different perspective on P&P. Thanks for sharing.

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  25. Caryl, yes, this is a VERY different perspective, but there are plenty of happy endings, all the same!

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