Wednesday 18 January 2012

MARIA GRACE, DARCY'S DECISION - GUESTPOST AND GIVEAWAY

Maria Grace has just released her first book (kindle and paperback) and is here to introduce you herself, her love for Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and her "Darcy's Decision" . Read her piece, leave your comments or questions , don't forget to add your e-mail address in order to get the chance to win a paperback copy if you live in the US continental or an e-book if you live in the rest of the world (please, specify in your comment). The giveaway ends on January 25th.


“As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. … I was spoilt by my parents, who, … allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own.”—Fitzwilliam Darcy,  Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen



This particular line always fascinated me. It gave so much insight as to who Darcy is, but it also begs the question: What is to be done with a man like Fitzwilliam Darcy? One who knows better but does not know how to do better? After much consideration, it came to me—you give him a mentor! So that’s exactly what I did. We meet them both in ‘Darcy’s Decision, the first volume of the Given Good Principles series. The tale is not so much a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, but rather a reimagining of what the story might have been if our hero (and in the second volume, our heroine) had the opportunity to learn how to live up to the standards they had been taught and to follow them from the beginning. Our beloved characters remain true to their essentials while they make different and arguably better decisions throughout.

Ah, but you must ask, since much of the conflict in the original story came from Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice, would there be a story left to tell if those things were dealt with before our dear couple meet? The short answer is yes, I promise there is quite a story to be told. It begins even before Darcy is born. John Bradley, long-time friend and advisor of George and Lady Anne Darcy, isa man whose wisdom is hard won, refined in the fires of personal tragedy. He stood by the elder Darcys through their good times and bad and is committed to do the same for their son. He does not lecture Darcy, but rather challenges him not to settle for the status quo, to reach for a higher standard.

Not surprisingly, the task of managing Pemberley is enough to awaken Darcy’s deepest insecurities. His Aunt Catherine and Uncle Matlock provide no help and little encouragement. So he turns to Bradley as he tries to fill his father’s shoes. An alternate version of Georgiana’s near disaster at Ramsgate and the surprising revelations that follow rattle Darcy to the core and force him to confront dark family secrets that nearly destroyed his father. The question is,of course: will Darcy be the man his father was, or will he succeed in reaching for more?

While Darcy faces his challenges, Elizabeth, too, must confront uncomfortable truths in the soon coming sequel, ‘Darcy’s Helpmate.’ I have to confess, I loved exploring their characters through the course of these tales and I hope you will enjoy it too.
Maria Grace
The Author 

Though Maria Grace has been writing fiction since she was ten years old, those early efforts happily reside in a file drawer and are unlikely to see the light of day again, for which many are grateful.
 She has one husband, two graduate degrees and two black belts, three sons, four undergraduate majors, five nieces, six cats, seven Regency-era fiction projects and notes for eight more writing projects in progress. To round out the list, she cooks for nine in order to accommodate the growing boys and usually makes ten meals at a time so she only cooks twice a month.
 The Book



Six months after his father's passing, Fitzwilliam Darcy still finds solace in his morning reflections at his parents' graves. Only in the quiet solitude of the churchyard does he indulge his grief. None but his unlikely mentor recognize the heartache and insecurity plaguing him as he shoulders the enormous burden of being Master of Pemberley.
Not all are pleased with his choice of advisor. Lady Catherine complains Darcy  allows him too much influence. Lord Matlock argues, "Who is he to question the God-appointed social order?" But the compassionate wisdom Darcy finds in his counselor keeps him returning for guidance even though it causes him to doubt everything he has been taught.
In the midst of his struggles to reinvent himself, his school chum, Charles Bingley, arrives. Darcy hopes the visit will offer some respite from the uproar in his life. Instead of relief, Darcy discovers his father's darkest secret  staring him in the face. Pushed to his limits, Darcy must overcome the issues that ruined his father and, with his friends and mentor at his side, restore his tarnished birthright.
Maria Grace can be contacted at: author.MariaGrace@gmail.comYou can find her profile on Facebook  facebook.com/AuthorMariaGrace or visit her website at AuthorMariaGrace.com.

33 comments:

Beth Elliott said...

This sounds like a story I could enjoy. Darcy is obviously a man who feels deeply and is not as confident as he should be, considering his advantages, status and education - so he makes for an interesting study.
I hope your book does well, MariaGrace.

MonicaP said...

I read Given Good Principles online and really enjoyed it. Mr Bradley is great and his guidance is just what Darcy needs. I'm happy it's being published. :)

Thanks for the giveaway!

monicaperry00@gmail.com

Sophia Rose said...

This 'what if' sounds awesome. I love the idea of exploring other paths for the on scene and off scene characters in the story.

Thank you for the share and the giveaway opportunity.

sophiarose1816@gmail.com

Maria Grace said...

Thank you Beth. I am excited about getting the second part ready to publish soon.

Maria Grace said...

Thank you Monica. I am excited too. I am glad you were able to enjoy it on line. Many hundreds of hours went into editing the on-line version for publication and it includes material not in the original on line version.

Maria Grace said...

Thanks Sophia Rose! While I was writing it, I was surprised by how much one simple change could influence so many other parts of the story.

marilyn said...

It sounds as if the subtle aspects of our hero's personality will be thoroughly explored in this novel. Great article about the book! Thanks for the giveaway.

marilyn
daniel423@centurytel.net

ayaki-chan said...

i like variation so much !!!
thank you for letting us wo this book, i live in france :)

jandia4junpyo@yahoo.fr

Maria Grace said...

Thanks Marilyn. This book does take time to explore Darcy's character as he is discovering for himself who he really is.

Maria Grace said...

Thank you ayaki-chan. I enjoy variations too and I hope this is one that you might enjoy.

Heather M. said...

Congrats on publishing and thanks for hosting this giveaway! It sounds like a really unique variation that I look forward to reading. I'm already eager for the sequel! I will try not to "cheat" and go online and start reading Given Good Principles :)

hmoll(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
I live in the continental US

BeckyC said...

I love what if's and this one (and its sequel)has me intrigued!

Congratulations!
cherringtonmb@sbcglobal.net (US)

Maria Grace said...

Thanks Heather! I will let you know that, while I am going to leave up the on line version, hundreds of editing hours have gone into the published version. It is substantially more polished and includes material not in the on line version. The on-line version is a rough draft of sorts, if that makes sense.

Maria Grace said...

Thanks Becky. I hope you enjoy this one!

Danielle said...

This sounds like a really good book. To be able to see Mr. Darcy as one who has insecurities has me intrigued and wanting to find out how Maria develops the story.

drcopeland(at)Hotmail(dot)com

Jadie said...

I am excited about this series and I can't wait to read the next installment.

jadetrekeast@gmail.com

cyn209 said...

omGOSH!! this sounds so right up my alley!!! already on my WishList!!!

thank you for the giveaway!!!

cyn209 at juno dot com

Robin Helm said...

I read "Given Good Principles" as it was being posted online, and I loved it from the very beginning. Congratulations on publishing this wonderful book, Grace!

bn100 said...

This was a very interesting post to read. The quote was a good idea upon which to base a book.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Literary Chanteuse said...

Poor Mr. Darcy! The Stress! Sounds good!E bk for me thank you for the giveaway!

Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

Laura Hartness said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Helen said...

sounds fascinating! Adding to my TBR list!

helen(at)hancock(dot)id(dot)au

ebook

oloore said...

Very intriguing! And makes me curious about dark secret of Darcy's father and "different and arguably better decisions" taken by main heroes:) I'm sure it something to enjoy!
I wonder if the second volume would be the retelling of the same plot from the first volume, just from the viewpoit of Elizabeth, or completely different plot.
Thank you for your kind giveaway!
If I were to win and choose, I would like to have ebook (I'm from the rest of the world):)

Maria Grace said...

Danielle, I have always suspected that Darcy was not nearly so secure as he might have seemed. it was interesting to explore his insecurities. Thanks for commenting.

Maria Grace said...

Thank you jade!

Maria Grace said...

cyn209, I'm thrilled that it sounds so interesting to you and that you've wish listed it! Thank you.

Maria Grace said...

Thanks Robin. The story has definitely matured and been refined since it was posted online. I'm glad you enjoyed it way back when.

Maria Grace said...

bn100, thanks. That quote has always stuck with me and made me think a lot about the character of Mr. Darcy.

Maria Grace said...

Margaret, Darcy will definitely be stressed, much more so that he has ever been. Thanks.

Maria Grace said...

thank you Helen. I hope you enjoy it when you get to it.

Maria Grace said...

oloore, the second volume is indeed Elizabeth's story, but as they are in different parts of the country, it covers roughly the same time period, but not the same set of events. The third book will be Darcy and Elizabeth's story.

Helen said...

Such a fascinating concept! Wonderful to present Darcy's background which has so rarely been covered. Volume two sounds just as intriguing! TY so much for the chance Maria and the kind donated prize Maria.

Unknown said...

It's sound interesting.. I would like having the opportunity to read it (ebook).

cinin78(at)gmail.com