Mr. Darcy Takes His Wife Some More

Hang on to your bonnets,
My Pride & Prejudice continuation Number 4 is in the works!


When I wrote my first sequel to Pride & Prejudice, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, I had no idea that I invented, for better or for worse, a new literary genre - Jane Austen sequelist. I am proud to be a member of such a versatile collection of authors and aficionados.


After writing MDTAW (originally The Bar Sinister), I was content to rest on to my laurels - and dodge the bric-a-brac - with no thought of writing a sequel to my sequel. A reader asked me why I killed off some of the favorite characters from P&P. My response was that had I known I would be called upon to write Darcy & Elizabeth: Nights and days at Pemberley I certainly wouldn't have.


The success of The Darcys: The Ruling Passion, and readers' kind encouragement convinced me to take pen in hand (or fingertips to keyboard) once again. While I must apologize for being such an abysmally slow writer, I am well into the story. (At one point I had opined that I might be finished with it by Christmas - folly that.)


When last we visited the Darcys it was 1820. I take up their story in the year '35. In taking this leap, we must suppose that Darcy & Elizabeth spent the intervening years in rapturous and unfailing love.


Alas.


As we would expect, Darcy and Elizabeth's marriage prospers and they prove themselves to be good and dutiful parents. The twins, however, now on the cusp of adulthood, are determined to have their freedom. The Darcys also have a spirited fifteen year old, daughter - who made her appearance - so to speak - at the end of RP. Containing Maria's determined exuberance is a delicate undertaking - an office Elizabeth does not relish.


Because Darcy's was an excellent father, he means to enjoy the same relationship with his son, Geoff. Regrettably, they are of similar, exacting natures and are therefore doomed to lock horns. In the midst of this classic struggle, Elizabeth falls ill. Her ailment is a puzzle.


I hope to wrap it up in good time, but, as the Darcys well know: The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.


Linda Berdoll

OKLAHOMA CITY VENUE

Festivities for the first annual Jane Austin Convention have begun. They will continue 7:30 PM June 14-16 at 1613 North Broadway Ave.

On June 14: Costume exhibit and dance demonstration and workshop by Scissortail Traditional Dance Society with live music performed by Ladies at Play.

June 15: Reading of Pride and Prejudice by Erin Woods

June 16: Music by Ladies at Play, talk from best-selling author, Linda Berdoll (Darcy takes a Wife, Days and Nights at Pemberley, The Ruling Passion) who promises all avenues of scandal will be addressed.

 The event is a presentation of the Reduxion Theatre Company. Festivities begin at Tickets: $10 for a 1-night pass or, $25 for all three nights Order tickets online (no fees) reduxiontheatre.com/Tickets Or at the door For further information, please visit http://reduxiontheatre.com/austenfestival.html or contact Erin Woods at Erin.woods@reduxiontheatre.com;405-651-3191 Although I will give a talk, I will also be available for Q&A and book signing. Come one, come all!

I am pleased to announce that I will be speaking at The Jane Austen Festival in Oklahoma City June 16th. The event is a presentation of the Reduxion Theatre Company. Festivities begin at 7:30 PM, June 14-16 at 1613 North Broadway Ave. June 14: Costume exhibit and dance demonstration and workshop by Scissortail Traditional Dance Society with live music performed by Ladies at Play. June 15: Reading of Pride and Prejudice by Erin Woods June 16: Music by Ladies at Play, talk from best-selling author, Linda Berdoll (Darcy takes a Wife, Days and Nights at Pemberley, The Ruling Passion) Tickets: $10 for a 1-night pass or, $25 for all three nights Order tickets online (no fees) reduxiontheatre.com/Tickets Or at the door For further information, please visit http://reduxiontheatre.com/austenfestival.html or contact Erin Woods at Erin.woods@reduxiontheatre.com;405-651-3191 Although I will give a talk, I will also be available for Q&A and book signing. Come one, come all!

The Ruling Passion IPPY Gold Award

I am pleased to announce that my latest book, The Darcys: The Ruling Passion has been given a Gold Medal for Historical Fiction by 2012 Independent Publisher Book Award!

It has been brought to my attention that a miscreant author, Lillian M has usurped another Jane Austen sequelist's title, a second author's cover, and invented a blog under my name in order to manipulate search engines to sell e-book erotica on Amazon.

I have not read any of Lillian's work, but if she must resort to such unscrupulous measures to peddle it then it must truly be of questionable merit. If anyone knows Lillian M, I know that several indignant authors would be interested in learning how to contact her. Thanks!

Email me about this or any subject at lberdoll@aol.com

Now at Bookstores

Finally - The Ruling Passion can now be ordered in book stores like B&N. If it helps, the distributor is Baker-Taylor. The more it is asked for, the quicker it will be on shelves ;)

Now on Nook!

For those of you who have been waiting, I am pleased too announce that The Ruling Passion and Fandango are both now on Nook!