I am very excited to welcome Brigid Huey to Diary of an Eccentric for the first time today to celebrate the release of her new Pride and Prejudice variation, A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods. Please give her a warm welcome!
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Hello Anna and readers! Thank you all for welcoming me to Diary of an Eccentric. Today I would love to share a bit about my inspirations and creative process for A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods.
I love a strong woman. I also love the classic damsel in distress story. I’m a sucker for a knight on a white horse. I swoon when a strong man marches in to save the day. But I detest reading about helpless women. Oh dear, what am I to do?
Read Jane Austen, of course! But you knew that already.
One of the reasons I love Jane Austen’s works so very much is how she manages to create stories where the heroine is in distress, yet is also incredibly strong. Jane Austen writes a character that stands up for herself and her beliefs, but then also graciously accepts help from the man who loves her. Tally ho, Lizzy!
In Sense and Sensibility, Elinor quietly keeps her family from financial ruin while missing her true love. Far from being rescued by her knight, she forgives him his stumbles and rejoices in her own happy ending. I love it!
So while I sat watching my son play outside on a blustery day, I started daydreaming about Mr. Darcy riding in such weather (why not?) and how perhaps as he rode he would come upon Elizabeth. That kernel led to picturing Lizzy trying to keep her bonnet on in such wind, which soon became a storm in my mind. Now I had Darcy on horseback and Lizzy without a bonnet. In a storm. Oh, and in the woods.
I couldn’t stop thinking about that scene. And so I decided to write it down. To my surprise, the rest of the story seemed to be tucked away in my mind. I am happy to share it with you all, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
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About A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods
A surprise meeting
A baby alone in the woods
And a second chance at love
Fitzwilliam Darcy returns to his beloved Pemberley with one thing on his mind ̶ to forget Elizabeth Bennet. Riding ahead of his party and racing a storm, he happens upon the very woman he wants to avoid. To his astonishment, she is holding a baby whose name and parentage are unknown.
Elizabeth Bennet never dreamed she had wandered into Pemberley’s Woods on her afternoon walk. But when she finds an infant alone in the storm, she turns to the last man in the world she wants to see ̶ and the only one who can help them both.
As the mystery of the baby’s identity intensifies, Elizabeth finds Mr. Darcy to be quite the reverse of what she expected. But when the child’s family is discovered, will the truth bring them together, or tear them apart?
Buy: Amazon U.S. | Amazon U.K.
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About the Author
Brigid has been in love with Jane Austen since first seeing the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice as a young girl. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two kids, and spends her free time reading and writing. This is her first Pride and Prejudice variation, though many others live in her imagination.
Connect with Brigid: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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Giveaway
Meryton Press is giving away 8 ebook copies of A Chance Encounter in Pemberley Woods as part of the blog tour. You must enter through this Rafflecopter link. Good luck!
Thank you, Brigid, for being my guest today, and congratulations on your new release!
You’re right about how Austen’s heroines tend to have a spine of steel under their gentility. Fun learning how the story came about.
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Thanks Sophia 🙂
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Interested to see what happens with the child at Ppemberley when the Bingleys turn up if they do
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Can you imagine Caroline Bingley’s reaction? 🙂
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Thanks, Anna for hosting today. I am so excited to read this book. I love that cover… it is amazing. Poor Darcy. Thanks to Brigid for the generous giveaway. I have this book on my wish-list. Maybe I’ll win a copy. Blessings on the launch and success of this work. I look forward to seeing how this plot bunny works out.
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Thank you! Good luck in the giveaway. I truly appreciate your warm wishes.
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Thank you for your inspiration. I agree that I like reading books about strong women, but also women who can accept help.
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Thank you! I think the process of learning about give and take makes a great addition to romantic stories.
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Thank you for sharing your inspiration! I am thrilled that you wrote it down. No need to enter me in the giveaway, I bought one already. Loved this story! Congratulations, Brigid!
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Thanks Nicole!
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Yes! Jane Austen created some memorable, strong female characters while living in a world where most women had so little control over their lives. Thanks to Anna for hosting, and Brigid for her post!
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Thank you Kelly!
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Thank you for having me today, Anna! I appreciate you welcoming me onto your blog to share more about my work.
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Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your creative mind, Brigid. I totally agree with you that Jane Austen has a knack for writing a strong heroine or two in all her novels. They don’t always depend on men to help them out in distressful situations. Look at Anne Elliot, taking charge of the situation when Louisa Musgrove had a terrible fall and Captain Wentworth in a state of shock and unable to offer help at the crucial moment.
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Yes! That is a great example. I love Persuasion, and that is one of the pivotal moments of the book.
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Loved how you took those thoughts and wrote them down and look where you are now! Congratulations and looking forward to reading it! Thank you for a chance at the giveaway!
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Thank you! Good luck with the giveaway!
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Thank you, Anna and Brigid, for this great giveaway! I’ve added it to my blog’s sidebar. The book sounds wonderful.
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Thank you very much!
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Strong women and knights in shining armour–fun stuff. Thanks for the post!
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Good post, Brigid. I’m so glad that you wrote down your thoughts that day! 🙂
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Thanks for hosting, Anna!
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We can really get inspiration from everything and everyone. Thanks for sharing your story!
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That is just what I think. Inspiration can come from the strangest places sometimes!
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I have added this book to my TBB (to be bought) list. I have read the tease and the description and am so looking forward to winning a copy. Even if I don’t, it will seek it out on Kobo or Kindle and I know I will enjoy it ever so much.
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Thanks for sharing your inspiration for this story. Congrats on the release!
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I almost missed this one!
I love how you got the inspiration for this story, such a talent – I wish I had even half as much!
Love the cover and love Darcy’s reaction and subsequent actions!
Luckily I have this book as I no longer bother trying to use Rafflecopter! So frustrating!
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I’m really behind on reading, but this sounds good.
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I’ve enjoyed this wonderful blog tour! 🙂
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