November 1, 2010, was the official launch/release day for
Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge.Here’s a link to Rhemalda Publishing’s blog post explaining the delay in distribution of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge and the other two titles scheduled for launch today. Be sure to visit Austen Authors on November 2nd for my celebration.
Ok ... I admit it's more likea week late and a weak excuse short. Nevertheless, I'm very happy to announce the winner of my contest.
Congratulations to
Charlene/ChattyCharlene will receive a signed copy of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge plus a few other surprises.Here are the answers to my quiz How Well Do You Know Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice?
1.Westerham 2.Michaelmas 3.Kympton 4.Colonel 5.attics 6.Charles Bingley 7.Brighton 8.barouche box 9.St. Clements 10.hack chaise 11.Georgiana Darcy 12.Lucas 13.Elizabeth Bennet 14.stupid 15.War Office 16.Haye 17.attorney 18.six 19.Harriet 20.Pope>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<< Let's Do LaunchThe launch date for Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is almost here, and I’ve been reflecting on my decision to name this website/blog ‘Pride and Pre-jitters’. The months have certainly flown by since then and a lot has obviously happened. Yet, even now, on the eve of the book’s official release, proud and jittery are still apt descriptions of my state of mind. I cannot wait to actually see Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge on a bookstore shelf. Yet wait I must. Although it may appear in USA stores starting tomorrow, my book won’t be available in Canadian shops for a while yet due to a recent printer and distributor switchover. However, Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is available through various on-line sites, and you should also be able to order it as an ebook now.
Here’s a link to my publisher’s blog post regarding their first year, tomorrow’s launch, and their plans for 2011.
My sincere thanks to those who have already purchased Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge.
One of my 'pride and joy' daughters wrote a post for my publisher's blog. Here's the link to: 'J. Marie Croft - blown away by biggest fan'
Top 10
Reasons to Read
Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge
10. Healthy, wealthy, and wise-cracking characters
9. Children who say the darndest things
8. Artful alliterations
7. Prestigious Pemberley
6. Precious pets
5. Pretentious puns
4. Regency slang
3. Fitzwilliam Darcy
2. Drunk Fitzwilliam Darcy
1. Wet Fitzwilliam Darcy
Writers of Jane Austen fiction
cordially invite you to the
Launch
of
Austen Authors
and to share in our passion for her world... because there’s never enough Jane Austen.
We look forward to the pleasure of your company on Monday, September 6, 2010,
and daily thereafter.
Throughout September, during our Launch Extravaganza, there will be posts by many of your favourite Austen-related fiction writers as well as contests, quizzes, a scavenger hunt, oodles of information, spotlight guest Amanda Grange (Mr. Darcy Vampyre), new release parties, author introductions, entertainment, humour, polls, secrets, recipes, games galore, and giveaways of gifts and books from the authors and their publishers. Mark your calendar, join us, and be sure to post comments.
My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.
~ Jane Austen ~
>>>*<<<
I hope you'll join me at Austen Authors.
J. Marie Croft
 To pre-order Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge, visit the Rhemalda Publishing Bookstore. Your book will be shipped with a complimentary ceramic coaster featuring the cover art if you order by October 31, 2010. The official release date for Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is November 1, 2010.
The first copy of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge arrived yesterday, and what a thrill it was to hold a book full of one's own words. Courtesy of the publisher (Rhett Hoffmeister of Rhemalda Publishing) some novel packaging surrounded my proof copy.
 This is not my book.  It's a box.  There's my book ...  ... surrounded by real flowers.  From inception ...  ... to eighteen months later. Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge will be officially launched November 1, 2010. If you pre-order the book from Rhemalda Publishing by 10/31/10, you will receive a complimentary ceramic coaster featuring the cover art. Here's the link: Rhemalda Publishing Bookstore
Rhett Hoffmeister
Sometime, somewhere, somehow, in the back of my mind, I certainly must have associated the name ‘Rhett’ with the protagonist from Gone With the Wind. However, the literary connection was recently brought to my attention by my friend, Kathy. I hope she doesn’t mind my quoting her here, but I did warn her I might. In an email expressing excitement about my book, Kathy said, “You have: a completed novel, written as an act of pleasure, not pain, about to be published, a publisher named Rhett - how ‘Romance-Literaturally’ perfect is that? ... P.S. ‘Literaturally’ is not a real word. Maybe it should be.”
I must confess to never having read Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel. I did watch the movie once, many years ago. There is a very famous quote from Gone With the Wind, spoken by Rhett Butler; and the film version differs slightly from the novel’s quotation. It is: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” in the movie and “My dear, I don’t give a damn” in the book. I have never heard those words, or any remotely similar sentiment, from Rhett Hoffmeister, Rhemalda’s President and Publisher.
I can’t imagine being more satisfied and comfortable with one’s publisher than I have been with mine. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Rhett has gone above and beyond the call of duty time and again. He is enthusiastic, extremely helpful, approachable, and accessible (except for a few days out in the wilderness with no cell phone reception. Even then he returned to civilization earlier than expected.) It’s my understanding that Rhett was raised on a farm and is an early riser; and I know he has a very strong work ethic. I am especially grateful my publisher also has a great sense of humour, although he doesn’t always immediately catch my puns and wordplay.
A publication contract is a business transaction, yet I feel that I am part of a family in company with authors Emma Hox, J. S. Chancellor, and Walter Rhein. I probably repeated myself from a previous post, but the opinion deserves repetition. Rhemalda is a small, new, traditional publishing company. I like that and appreciate the opportunity to help them grow.
I don’t take myself too seriously; and my book is, after all, a romantic-comedy. If Rhett Hoffmeister wasn’t such a great guy, I wouldn’t feel free to tease and inflict my corny sense of humour on him.
 While working through the terms of an Author Agreement and through the novel experience of the publication of my book, it's been wonderful to find Rhett and I are most often on the same page.
~ An Author-ized Agreement ~ 
In a Perfect World’s raison d'être was that I had been reading too many angst-filled stories and needed ... romantic comedy. So I wrote it myself and admit I enjoyed the finished product. It made me smile in the midst of a family crisis. Each time I revisited the story, I tweaked it and tinkered a bit. Originally posted at the Derbyshire Writers Guild, the story was later posted at A Happy Assembly under the title Upun My Word, Mr. Darcy! Comments from readers at both sites were encouraging and complimentary.
In February of 2010 a topic heading appeared at the DWG Tea Room: “New Publisher Seeking Jane Austen Adaptations”. When I began writing in 2008, it was not with the intention of ever being published. But since Rhemalda Publishing wanted an Austen-inspired story, then I was certainly going to submit the one I just happened to have at hand. Their author, Emma Hox, kindly answered preliminary questions; and Rhemalda’s President and Publisher, Rhett Hoffmeister, was, and continues to be, absolutely wonderful.On the first day of March I emailed a submission package, which included:
- Author bio
- Promotional ideas
- Synopsis of the story
- Manuscript excerpt
- Total word count
- Intended audience
In addition to the above, I also sent a sampling of comments from DWG and AHA readers.
I was advised my submission had been sent to a team of reviewers and that I would hear back within the month. Before a week was over, I was invited to send the full manuscript for further consideration. This was emailed to the Publisher and Editor on March 11. Five days later I received a request for my postal address and was told I would receive, within 24 hours, a formal response to my submission. I believe the exact words were, “You should receive something today or tomorrow at the latest.” Well, at that point I didn’t know if the ‘something’ would be a rejection or acceptance letter; so it was a day of anxiety. I kept checking my email throughout the afternoon and evening. Nothing. I live on the East Coast of Canada and work at a music school until 9:00 most nights. Rhemalda Publishing is on other side of the continent; so there’s a four-hour time difference. At home I immediately checked the inbox. Nothing. Gah! Then the magical, nerve-racking notification of an incoming email stopped me in my tracks ... the tracks I had made while pacing. I anxiously opened it as my family gathered around. Rhemalda Publishing had forwarded an Author Agreement. Woo-hoo!!!
Publication of Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge is suddenly moving along as rapidly as a carriage driven by a member of Regency England's Four-in-Hand Club, meaning at break-neck speed. Approval of the final layout is now in my hands, and the cover art is to be unveiled on August 1st. There's not much danger of actually breaking my neck while I sit comfortably and let someone else take the reins. Yet my fingers shall not be idle, as there's much expected from the writer in terms of publicity. Today marks 100 days until the launch of three books being released by Rhemalda Publishing. As author of one of those novels, I have been invited to be a guest writer on their Blog. My posts began this morning and will continue until November 1, 2010. You do not, however, have to wait until the official launch date to purchase Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge. It can be pre-ordered from Rhemalda Publishing; and if you do so before October 31st, the book will be shipped with a complimentary ceramic tile coaster with an image of the cover art and my signature. Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge will be in stock on November 1, and the paperback price is $18.95. Link to my posts at Rhemalda Publishing's Blog. Rhemalda Publishing Bookstore link.
|
RSS Feed