If you were wondering why I hadn’t been around the blogs much recently, it was because I had an opportunity I could not pass up. I’ve long wanted to devote my editorial skills to fiction, so when Alexa Adams (whose Pride and Prejudice-inspired novels First Impressions, Second Glances, and Holidays at Pemberley are among my favorites in the genre) asked me to edit her latest novel, of course, I had to say yes! I enjoyed working with Alexa on this project, I’m proud of my contribution, and I hope it will lead to other editing opportunities in the future.
The Madness of Mr. Darcy is now available:
The year is 1832 and regrets beleaguer Fitzwilliam Darcy. All he ever cared for has been taken from him: his pride, his sister, and his true love, Elizabeth Bennet. Now, having nearly murdered a man in a fit of rage, he might lose Pemberley, too. More than just his home, his very identity is at stake. In desperation, he seeks the help of Dr. Frederick Wilson, owner and proprietor of Ramsey House, a madhouse for fine ladies and gentlemen. Is Darcy’s confinement the inevitable end to his tortured descent, or will he rediscover what he lost in the most unlikely of places?
I am excited to share an excerpt of The Madness of Mr. Darcy, and Alexa is offering a giveaway as well (see details below).
March 1813
Elizabeth could not sleep. She sat on the window ledge of her bedroom at Longbourn staring out across the lawn towards the long, irregular drive. It had been eight months since her sister, Lydia, had run away from Brighton, and they had no word of her since. Elizabeth was growing accustomed to a lack of sleep, and the long nights passed between painful contemplation and futile attempts to avoid such thoughts altogether – thoughts of what might have happened to her sister.
It was nearly a full moon, and by its determined light, she suddenly perceived movement by the drive’s end, where the palings marked the entrance to the small estate. Staring determinedly in their direction, she was shocked to perceive a scantily clad figure running towards the house. She started, and quickly confirming the truth of what her senses perceived, secured her shawl about her shoulders and raced out her bedroom, down the stairs, through the hall, and unlocked the front door.
“Lydia!” she cried at the familiar face before all similarity to her youngest sibling disappeared beneath the spectacle of a disheveled creature, thrusting itself into her arms and sobbing violently.
The house began to rouse at the noise as Elizabeth half carried, half dragged the woman she was certain must be Lydia (though she still wished to look at her face again for confirmation of that distressing notion) into the nearest parlor, where she flopped upon the couch, a spectacle for the first servants to arrive on scene, and wrapped herself more tightly into Elizabeth’s arms, weeping yet harder.
It was impossible to get her to raise her head, but Elizabeth knew it was she. She wrapped an arm around the mound of tattered fabric in her lap and began to make a shushing noise, as to a baby.
“Lizzy! What is this?” Her mother’s voice demanded.
“Shhh!” she said louder, and then in quiet but shocked tones, “Tis Lydia, I think!”
“Lydia?” her mother repeated, blinking absently while her husband, at her side, clutched the door for support and grew remarkably pale.
“My God!” he exclaimed, his wife still agape and unmoving.
“What is it, Mama?” Elizabeth heard Kitty say, though she could no longer watch the tableau her family presented, all her attention being demanded by the person in her arms. “Why is Lizzy cradling a beggar?”
“Quiet, child!” her mother replied, suddenly stirred into action. She approached her youngest, dearest child. She knelt beside the sofa and reached for the crying creature’s face with both hands, holding it up for inspection. The incessant weeping stopped, and Mrs. Bennet stared into her favorite’s face, dirty and tear-streaked. Tears welled in her own eyes as she said, “Oh, my darling,” and wrapped her arms around her, taking Elizabeth’s burden beside her on the couch. The two women wept together in each other’s arms for several moments before Lydia suddenly, and with great violence, pushed her mother away and dove back to Lizzy, holding her far too tightly. The weeping was replaced by a strange whimpering noise, rather squeaky and frantic.
Mr. Bennet helped his wife to rise from the floor, where she had very unceremoniously landed. The lady rose while holding a hand to her cheek, which revealed a smear of blood when she examined it. “She scratched me!” Mrs. Bennet said in astonishment. “What does this mean, Mr. Bennet?”
The gentleman walked cautiously towards his daughter, whose face was now easier to see where it perched over Elizabeth’s shoulder. “My God!” he said again. “She is mad!”
“It is as Mr. Collins said,” Mary interjected, thinking of everything she had ever read of womanly virtue. “It would have been better if she were dead.”
No one made any reply.
Giveaway:
There are 2 copies of The Madness of Mr. Darcy up for grabs. International readers will receive an ebook, and U.S. readers will have a choice between an ebook or a paperback. This giveaway will close Sunday, October 19. To enter, leave a comment with your email address telling me what most interests you about this novel. The winners will be notified by email.
© 2014 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
What an exciting opportunity for you! There’s no need to enter me in the contest.
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Thanks, Kathy!
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I love all your other stories and look forward to reading this one too. Sounds very interesting that both Lydia and Mr Darcy end up crazy.
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That intrigued me, too. Hope you enjoy it!
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I’m so glad for you. What a wonderful opportunity. No need to enter me. I don’t read a lot of e-books.
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Thanks, Caroline!
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Thank you, Anna! This is wonderful, and you were a pleasure to work with.
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Aw, thanks! 🙂
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I am curious to know what has happened to Elizabeth that she ends up working in the ‘madhouse’ – is it because of Lydia?
meikleblog at gmail dot com
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I can’t wait for you to find out the answer! Thanks for stopping by!
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Well OBVIOUSLY what interests me most about this novel is that YOU edited it! How very cool!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
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Aw, thanks, Jill! 🙂
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Oh I did not know! Cool 😀 I plan to start it soon
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I’m anxiously awaiting your review!
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Congratulations Anna! Putting your talents to use is always rewarding.
What an intriguing script! Mr. Darcy has far more emotion in this version than Austen allowed and I surprised myself: I like that (plus the possibility of finding what was once lost…Delicious!!)
Kindly add my name in the hat for the giveaway: this is one I’d love to delve more into and obviously review.
God bless,
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I really enjoyed reading Alexa’s take on Mr. Darcy. It was something I hadn’t pondered for him before, so I was intrigued!
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I am curious about what happen to Elizabeth. Will she recover??
My email: chiarapiccirilla@hotmail.it
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I hope you get to find out soon! Thanks for stopping by!
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What interest me the most? How Darcy and Lizzy have survived all of these years and endured their hardships. What will bring them together again?
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You’re in for a treat! Thanks for stopping by!
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What interests me most? Everything! Thank you for the contest – and congratulations!
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Thank you so much!
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Anna, what a wonderful opportunity! I hope this opens up new doors for you. No need to enter me in the giveaway.
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Thanks, Laura! Me, too.
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I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Alexa’s books. I find a dark & tortured Darcy interesting as well as how the circumstances of Darcy’s & Elizabeth’s meeting as well as the history of each affect their relationship when they finally meet. Thank you Anna for the giveaway.
skamper25 (at) gmail (dot) com
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You’re very welcome! I think her take on Darcy is very unique. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
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What intrigues me about this is how do Darcy and Elizabeth get to their HEA when they obviously didn’t get there at the time of the original. What happens to them both so that they end up at the “madhouse” and how do they get out of it?
Sound very interesting. angmardee(at)hotmail(dot)com
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P.S. And also what happened to Lydia after Brighton?
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The answers to those questions are very interesting and original. Thanks for stopping by!
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How exciting, Anna! I’m glad that you had a chance to share your fine editorial skills. I will share this giveaway in my blog’s sidebar. I am interested in learning what happens to Mr. Darcy in this version, as well as Elizabeth, too, of course!
suko95(at)gmai(dot)com
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Thanks, Suko! Much appreciated.
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It is on my TBR list can not wait to read. Thanks for the chance to win!!
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Thanks for stopping by!
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What an intriguing excerpts! Sure makes you wonder what happened to Lydia during that eight months that she went missing…
Sounds like she will be going to the mad house where Darcy is at and Elizabeth and him will encounter each other as she visit her sister there!
Looking forward to finding out what happens!
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I’m glad you’re intrigued. Thanks for stopping by!
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It’s a strange plot (strange in a good way) because whene we think of Mr Darcy we never image him in such way so I’m courious to read the book and see what Alexa Adams’ imagination have created.
My e-mail si LorenDushku at gmail dot com
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It is a different take on Mr. Darcy, but that’s what makes it so interesting! Thanks for stopping by.
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[…] about the fact that I edited this book! Check out an excerpt and an international giveaway here (closes Sunday, October […]
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This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered. The winners will be notified by email.
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