Writing is not an easy business. As with anything, it takes practice and dedication to improving one’s skill, and while I can not speak for other authors, I am always finding something new I’m doing wrong, things that I can do better, or habits in my writing that I try to avoid.

Creative writing can be a completely different beast altogether. While a certain measure of research goes into any writing, much of creative writing comes from within. One thing my family often struggles to remember is that I really do not like being interrupted, as I often struggle to find my mojo again when I return. There is always some difficulty when writing a book, for while sometimes the words flow effortlessly, more often I sit and consider how to tackle a scene, or struggle to know how to begin.

However, I have never come closer to throwing up my hands and swearing off it all than with my most recent project. Where struggles are not uncommon, I feel like I fought for every word of the 100,000 that comprise this story. It took me more than twice as long to write it as most of my novels do. As I said in the title, I am grateful to finally have it all out. Thus, for my what’s up Wednesday post, I thought I would give you a little taste of my next release, A Devoted Sister. The basic premise is that Jane, rather than being shy and reticent as she is in canon, is confident and forthright, though perhaps not so much as Elizabeth. She is also already married when the story starts, and is a sister to whom Elizabeth really esteems and tries to emulate, more so than Jane Austen’s original character. I hope you enjoy it! A Devoted Sister is scheduled to be released on July 13. Cover reveal and description to follow.

After the fact, Darcy could not have said anything of his dance with Miss Bennet. He had noted her upon entering the room, understood her liveliness and seen her pretty countenance. But Bingley’s behavior had preoccupied him during their introduction, rendering Darcy watchful for his friend, wishing to ensure Bingley did not make a fool of himself.

It was the fault of the youngest Bennets, girls he thought should not yet be out of the schoolroom, let alone attending assemblies with the adults. The girls had been engaged in some giggling conversation the entire time of their approach, and an especially loud giggle, accompanied by a most unladylike snort from one of them, had distracted his friend at a critical moment. While Darcy had thought to correct his friend’s understanding, Bingley, as was his wont, was making himself agreeable, speaking with every young lady and gentleman in attendance.

Always his attention returned to Mrs. Jane Harrington, and if what Darcy suspected was true, he knew his friend would make some comment or another that would humiliate him. So Darcy eschewed any dancing thereafter, trying to put himself in position to have a quiet word with his friend and warn him away from disaster. But Bingley frustrated him at every turn, for he flitted from one person to the next, making love to them all, provoking their good opinion, yet dancing on the knife’s edge of making a fool of himself. The moment when Bingley finally fell off that edge was nothing less than predictable, yet Darcy was powerless to stop it.

“Harrington!” said Bingley upon stepping away from his latest dance partner, ignoring Darcy’s attempts to gain his attention. “What an excellent evening this is! I cannot thank you again for including us in this little soiree.”

“It is no trouble, Bingley,” said Harrington warmly, but with no little sense of bemusement. “Though I will correct you on one score—as Sir William preceded us to your door, I cannot imagine he did not extend the invitation first.”

“Perhaps he did,” said Bingley, displaying no lessening of his good cheer. “But I thank you all the same, for I have never experienced a warmer welcome, or met such pretty ladies and excellent gentlemen.”

Harrington seemed to understand Bingley’s character, for he offered a grin. “And we could not have imagined such welcome additions to our parties.” Then he turned to Darcy and added: “You have all livened the entertainment tonight. I will own that I wonder at you, Darcy, for you danced once with Elizabeth and then have not danced since. Is the experience with her so profound that any other partner will now pale in comparison?”

Darcy caught the humor in Harrington’s voice and thought to respond to forward the conversation and keep Bingley away from certain topics, but his friend exclaimed before he could: “Oh! Darcy never gives the compliment of his hand to any young lady if he can avoid it!”

“I am not nearly so reclusive, Bingley,” managed Darcy. “Miss Elizabeth was an excellent partner.”

The look with which Harrington regarded him was knowing, as if he had caught some of Darcy’s behavior during the dance. “Yes, I am very fond of Lizzy, for she is one of the most excellent ladies of my acquaintance.”

“Of course, she is!” exclaimed Bingley, even Harrington’s familiar way of speaking of the woman not penetrating Bingley’s consciousness. “There are beauties aplenty tonight! I am quite in awe.”

“Aye, we have our share or pretty ladies. But do not say as much to Elizabeth, for we would not wish to increase her vanity.”

Bingley laughed at Harrington’s sally. “I will own that I saw nothing of it.”

Then Bingley spoke the fateful words, stepping closer as if to impart a secret. “Miss Elizabeth is a handsome woman, but I must own that I quite prefer her sister. I have never seen such a mix of beauty, elegance, sweetness, and charm gathered into the person of one woman.” Bingley released a lusty sigh. “Coming to know her better would be no hardship, for I suspect she will only improve on closer acquaintance.”

With that statement, Bingley presented himself as a ridiculous dandy. Mortified, Darcy closed his eyes and prayed for patience. More particularly, he hoped Harrington was amused by it all rather than offended as he had the right to be. It was fortunate, Darcy reflected after the fact, that he was an amiable sort, for rather than speaking harshly to Bingley, Harrington resorted to humor.

“Indeed, you have stated my opinion with exactness, Bingley, for Jane is an excellent woman, as I have cause to understand myself. As she has been my wife these three months, there is no one better positioned than I to sing her praises.”

Bingley’s eyes went comically wide, and though his mouth moved, no sound issued forth.