Hi dear friends! This is exciting – Quills and Quartos has a new release coming out soon and it is a debut release for a new-to-us author…and we are sharing its BEEEEAAAAutiful cover with you today. To quote Chandler Bing, “could we BE any more excited?” 🤗
Please help me give a warm welcome to Lucy Marin!
With Being Mrs Darcy I wanted to write a forced marriage scenario that started with Elizabeth and Darcy not knowing each other. In particular, I wanted a Darcy who did not like Elizabeth and who was still full of conceit and selfishness and who thinks meanly of those outside his family circle (as he tells Elizabeth in Chapter 58 of Pride and Prejudice). How would <that Darcy feel about having Elizabeth as a wife? What would it take for him to learn to admire and love her? Being Mrs Darcy explores the transformation of his thoughts towards Elizabeth, his realisation of his failings, and how he ultimately wins her heart.
Then there was Georgiana. In Pride and Prejudice, we meet her a year after her near elopement with Wickham and once she had had time to come to terms with it. In Being Mrs Darcy, we meet her much earlier. What sort of girl would throw aside propriety to run off with a man so much older than herself? Was she full of pride and selfishness like her brother? I assumed she was raised with the same principles that Darcy was. Given all of this, how would she react to her brother’s marriage?
Finally, how would Elizabeth cope with marriage to a man she does not know, and who gives every indication of not liking her? Would she decide she did not like them either and resign herself to a miserable future? Or would she try to make the best of her situation, win over her new family and aspire to be the best wife she possibly could be? I decided she would take the latter path.
Ultimately, Being Mrs Darcy is a story about people learning to understand themselves and overcome (largely) self-imposed obstacles to finding happiness. It is about Elizabeth and Darcy allowing themselves to genuinely know and love each other. Their path is not free of challenges—some of them due to Georgiana—but, as Elizabeth says in Being Mrs Darcy, “It was never going to be easy. It could not be, under the circumstances.”
When I envisioned the cover for Being Mrs Darcy, I knew I wanted it to include some sense of Elizabeth and Darcy being together, yet apart. I love the way it turned out. Most of the story is at Pemberley, which is reflected in the cover. We see Darcy absorbed in his own pleasures, and Elizabeth looking lonely. You can almost feel her wishing that he would put down his book and talk to her, just acknowledge her presence beside him, yet knowing he will not. The seaside background is perfect in that it reflects the start of the story. Ramsgate casts a shadow over all of their lives, and it is only towards the end of the book that it lifts. Cloudcat Designs did an amazing job, and I could not be more pleased.
I absolutely love the sound of this!! I can never get enough forced marriage scenarios and I love your deliberate intentions with this one! And ooo, what you said about Ramsgate is most intriguing!
~ Book Description ~
One distressing night in Ramsgate, Elizabeth Bennet impulsively offers Georgiana Darcy aid. Scandalous rumours soon surround the ladies and Fitzwilliam Darcy, forcing Elizabeth and Darcy, strangers to each other, to marry.
Darcy despises everything about his marriage to the daughter of an insignificant country gentleman with vulgar relations. Georgiana, humiliated after a near-elopement with George Wickham and full of Darcy pride, hates her new sister. Their family look upon Elizabeth with suspicions and do little to hide their sentiments.
Separated from those who love her, Elizabeth is desperate to prove herself to her new family despite their disdain. Just as she loses all hope, Darcy learns to want her good opinion. He will have to face his prejudices and uncover the depths of Georgian’s misdeeds to earn it, and Elizabeth will learn to trust him if she is ever to find happiness being Mrs Darcy.
And without further ado….here is the big reveal!!!
(expected release date: March 16th)
Oh, such poignancy. I can feel Elizabeth’s heartache in this painting! 💔
I love the two painting design of this cover. What a brilliant idea, Susan Adriani! 🖼
Elizabeth’s dress and accessories, the sea, a puppers – so many lovely details in this cover! 🐶
What do you think, friends? 🤔
~~~
~ Connect with Lucy ~
Facebook ❧ Twitter ❧ Goodreads
~ About Lucy ~
Lucy Marin developed a love for reading at a young age and whiled away many hours imagining how 
stories might continue or what would happen if there was a change in the circumstances faced by the protagonists. After reading her first Austen novel, a life-long ardent admiration was borne. Lucy was introduced to the world of Austen variations after stumbling across one at a used bookstore while on holiday in London. This led to the discovery of the online world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction and, soon after, she picked up her pen and began to transfer the stories in her head to paper.
Lucy lives in Toronto, Canada surrounded by hundreds of books and a loving family. She teaches environmental studies, loves animals and trees and exploring the world around her.
Being Mrs Darcy is Lucy’s first novel. Her second, titled Mr Darcy, A Man with a Plan will be released in summer 2020.
~~~
GIVEAWAY TIME!
The lovely people at Quills and Quartos are offering a generous giveaway of a $20 Amazon Gift Card for one lucky reader who comments on today’s post! 📚🤤
To enter this giveaway leave a question, comment, or some love for Lucy below.
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Quills and Quartos!
- This giveaway ends March 11th
*~*
You can preorder Being Mrs Darcy now!
Our sincere gratitude to Lucy Marin, Christina Boyd, and the wonderful people at Quills and Quartos for putting this special post together!
I’m not sure this cover could be any more perfect for this story—Love it! Well done everyone at Q&Q! And congratulations Lucy!
The Q&Q crew are terrific. Thanks, Jessie!
Thank you so much for hosting the cover reveal, Meredith!
My sincere pleasure, Lucy! I am so happy to celebrate with you and to get to learn more about you and your book!! Best wishes for its upcoming release!!
I really like the premise, and the cover is great! I’m going to add this to my wishlist!
I hope you like it when you have a chance to read. 🙂
It is a perfect cover. I think this may be the worst start to a forced marriage I’ve seen. I look forward to the book.
It’s a terrible start! But it has a happy ending.
The cover tells me that this is a couple that are together, but apart, with a wide gulf between them
That absolutely describes them at the start of their relationship! It is what makes the cover so right for the story.
Well said, Vesper!
A splendid cover – and so fitting for this story! Congratulations on publishing, Lucy!!
Thanks, Anniina!
The cover perfectly captures how lonely and separated she is from him. I can’t wait to read it!
I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
I have read this story over on A Happy Assembly at least 3 times. I can honestly say that I will purchase this book and will enjoy reading it over and over again. Thank you Lucy!
So glad to hear how much you love it! I cannot wait to read it for the first time! 😉
I love the cover. It fully illustrates how Elizabeth and Darcy feels.
What a great cover! BUT the FMS sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to read it! Congratulations and best wishes! ♫
Looking forward to reading it. Susan Adriani at CloudCat did a great cover!
She did an amazing job. It turned out even better than I envisioned.
Me too!! And I agree! I love Susan’s work!
Interested to see Georgiana’s earlier years 🙂 The cover is really pretty btw !!
I had a lot of fun trying to understand a younger Georgiana. Thanks!
It is a lovely cover – and so beautifully relevant.
I am looking forward to the story. Congratulations on publishing your first novel!
Thank you! It is a wonderful cover.
Oh, this story sounds soooo good. I have so many questions: how did Elizabeth help Georgiana? How and when did she meet Darcy? How did she manage to keep her spirits up, when all seemed lost? Looking forward to reading this book.
I hope you enjoy it! Fortunately, Elizabeth is a strong (err, I mean obstinate, headstrong) woman. Happy (almost) International Women’s Day.
I’ve been waiting for this release for months. It’s my favorite FMS book ever! Elizabeth is so brave in this story and when she lost any hope it was so painful to read. And Darcy’s falling in love with her and trying to win her affection was very well developed. Congratulations on the release.
The cover is stunning and perfect for this story. By the way, how m many pages does the edited version have? The original version is over 1000 pages long.
Ooh! That is wonderful to hear!! I love reading about a brave and strong Elizabeth!
I think I saw on Amazon that it is around 460 pages, maybe?
Yes! Those same questions were in my mind too! I cannot wait to learn the answers!
Congratulations Ms. Marin!! I definitely agree that Elizabeth would try and make the best of a bad situation. I can just see Georgiana being petulant, especially at that age. And the cover is perfect. Elizabeth sitting there trying to think of ways to overcome the gulf between them. A miniature portrait in front of the wider painting encompasses the story beautifully. Looking forward to reading it!
Thank you! Georgiana is definitely young in Being Mrs Darcy. She is 15, but a young 15. I thought it was reasonable, assuming she’d been spoiled as Darcy tells us he was. I hope you like it!
Congratulations on your release, Lucy! Sounds like a wonderful read
Thank you, Nicole!
Such a perfect cover for the story! I can’t wait to read this one. I love forced marriage scenarios between Lizzy and Darcy.
I love FMS stories, too. It is a popular trope. I hope you like my take on it.
That cover art is really poignant and a bit sad. Really good art choice and congratulations on your first novel!
The story does start out sad, but our darling couple ends up very happy. I couldn’t write it any other way. 🙂 Thank you!
Distressing beginning, but I’m eager to be a witness to Elizabeth’s courage rising! What could be better? The cover tells so much. Looking forward to reading this
At least you know it will all end up okay. 🙂 Thanks!
Elizabeth is very brave in BMD. I put her into a terrible situation. 😀 Thank you!
I love this cover and I love forced marriage stories and I have just realised that I read this story a couple of years ago. I read Being Mrs Darcy but didn’t know the author so I assumed this just had the same title. But reading this I’ve just realised it is the same story. I loved it and Elizabeth’s loneliness and treatment (especially by Georgiana) brought me to tears.
I look forward to reading it again.
Trying to imagine what it would be like for all three of them (Elizabeth, Darcy, and Georgiana) was an interesting exercise. They each have a trauma of sorts to overcome, and how they do it is what really drives the story. I hope you enjoy the published version. Thanks!
Love love love!!!the cover it goes excatly with the way the story is going to be!!! Sooo excited to read this book!!!
The cover really is perfect. I hope you like the book!
What a perfect cover! I can’t wait to read this. Thank you so much for the giveaway offer.
Thank you! Q&Q is fantastic about the giveaways, aren’t they?
Thanks for this lovely feature. A book that would be greatly enjoyed.
I am very thankful that Meredith agreed to host the cover reveal. I hope you enjoy the book, if you decide to give it a go. Thanks!
Isn’t that just like a detached husband! At least he knows his dog needs attention. If only he gave the same consideration to his wife!
Just finished an ARC of this story. I think it’s even better than the original on-line version.
Thank you! I had some wonderful help along the way. Amy D’Orazio provided very helpful comments, and my editor, Jennifer Altman was terrific. To say nothing of the other people whose hands touched it along the way!
Wow, thank you, Rose! I admit I was nervous about getting the story down to a publishable length, but I am very pleased with how it turned out.
What a great story this promises to be! Darcy and Lizzie have a lot to work out it seems and I’m intruiged 🙂 The cover is beautiful and I hope it goes well for you the new book!
E&D absolutely have work to do, but what else could you expect when you marry a stranger? Thank you, Jo’s Daughter!
Wonderful cover! Can’t wait to read the story!
I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
I love this story and adore this cover. So excited for you, Lucy! Thanks for hosting, Meredith!
Thanks, Jan. 🙂 And because it can’t be said enough, thanks, Meredith!
Aww! My pleasure! I am so excited to learn of this story and I am thrilled about anticipating another terrific Q&Q release! I feel like I remember you talking about this book at the time of the get together…now I am glad that its release is so close!
I read this as an unpublished variation and am now reading the published version…loving it all over again. I have to say that the way Elizabeth was treated at the beginning, even by her father, made me so angry for her. But she was determined to do all she could in being Mrs. Darcy that she would meet all expectations. Of course, Mrs. Gardiner had some good advice. Georgiana is a person one cannot love in this variation. I highly recommend this book to all. Thanks for the chance to win the generous prize.
Hi Sheila! Thanks so much for your comments. I do like putting characters in tough spots and watching them find their way out. If I ever wrote a follow up to BMD, it would be to show Georgiana’s growth in the years after.
Hey, I’d love to read that story if you ever write it!
I will put it on my list of possible stories. 🙂
Forgot to say – love the cover.
Congratulations to Ms. Marin on publishing her book. I love the cover. I enjoyed reading this story multiple times in the past. I am so looking forward reading this story. Meredith do you have any information about a paperback version? Excited for March 16th!
Shelley, paperbacks are currently available for order… it takes amazon a few days to link different versions together! If you click on Lucy’s name on amazon, both versions should show up! Thank you!
Thank you Meredith for hosting this reveal!
My pleasure!! It is so wonderful to learn about this well loved story-turned into-exciting new release.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the published version, too. I think it turned out really well.
What a wonderful premise for a story! Going on my TBR list right this moment. And thank you, Quills and Quartos, for producing book covers I’m not embarrassed to carry in public places! 😉
I completely agree about the covers. Thank you for giving my book a try!
The cover is wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
It is, isn’t it? Thanks for reading. 🙂
I cannot wait to read this book and the cover looks amazing!
I hope you like it! 🙂
I’ve read an earlier version of the story (okay, several times!) and love it! I can’t wait to see what the new version will be like. I’m sure I will love it just as much. Great description of the cover!
I hope you do enjoy it just as much. 🙂 Thanks, Sarah!
Wonderful cover. Love the story’s description, too.
denise
Thank you!
The cover is beautiful, and the premise is intriguing. Thank you for sharing the cover!
Thank you for reading about the book. It is a lovely cover; I’m so pleased with it.
This cover is a wonderful example of how a cover can give you a glimpse into the story. It is beautiful and yet so sad. I look forward to reading this book.
I hope you enjoy the story! It is sad to start, but ends up happy. Elizabeth and Darcy must end up happy; it is a rule I live by. 🙂
The cover is wonderful, and so fitting to this story. The seperation yet closeness gets to me, looking forward to reading this book!
It was a tough position for both of them (Georgiana, too). I hope you enjoy their story. Thanks!
The cover is perfect! I’m looking forward to reading this.
Thanks, Jan!
Revealing cover—he is showing affection to his dog, but none to her. I can’t wait to read this one.
Well, he has known his dog longer and chose to have her/him in his life, unlike Elizabeth. 😀 Thanks!
The premise of this book definitely intrigues me, and the cover is so fitting! I look forward to reading it someday soon.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it when you get around to it. 🙂
There is so much beautiful detail in this cover.
Thanks and good luck in the giveaway!
You said it correctly, Meredith! We can never have enough forced marriage scenarios! Can’t wait to read it, and it releases during my spring break. Happy day! Lucy, would you say this is rated PG?
PG sounds right. There is nothing explicit in it, although there are suggestions of what happens between E&D. Thanks!
Glad to hear you are as fond of them as I am! It is always interesting to see how they both fall in love and overcome their own obstacles/misunderstandings/evolutions in these circumstances.
Love the backdrop of the harbor! As in the book, the events at Ramsgate hover over the entire story.
It makes so much sense to include the harbour. Susan Adriani did such a good job. 😀
I was so excited to finally see this as a published work. I loved it when I read it as a WIP back in the day on a fan fiction forum. I have just finished reading it as an ARC and loved it all over again. Wow! You really know how to protray the teenage girl. The angst was delicious. But no spoilers. The cover is so moving and since I know the story… very appropriate. She looks miserable as he gives love and affection [albeit unconsciously] to the dog and NOT her. YEP, that’s just sad. Thanks to Meredith for hosting [hello to your Mr. Bingley] and congratulations to our author on this release. Also thanks for the generous giveaway and good luck to all in the drawing. Blessings everyone.
Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you liked the published version. 🙂 I do enjoy some angst—as long as I know E&D will end up together and happy!
Congrats on your release! Love the cover. I remember reading it as an unpublished work and enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading the publish version!
Thank you & I hope you enjoy the published version, too!
Congratulations on your first book! I look forward to the release this Friday. And thank you for using KU.
prefer covers which use paintings from the time period rather than a modern interpretation of the Regency period. I appreciate your choice.
Thank you! I’m a huge fan of KU, too. 🙂
great premise – I always enjoy angsty stories!
I love a bit of angst, too! (Haha. Sometimes it’s a lot of angst.) Thanks for commenting. Good luck in the giveaway!
I’ve been waiting for this release for months. It’s my favorite FMS book ever! Elizabeth is so brave in this story and when she lost any hope it was so painful to read. And Darcy’s falling in love with her and trying to win her affection was very well developed. Congratulations on the release.
The cover is stunning and perfect for this story. By the way, how m many pages does the edited version have? The original version is
I haven’t finished my post: the original version is over 1000 pages long.
Wow, thank you, Kate! I really wanted to explore Darcy’s turnaround. We never see it in P&P (understandably), but in BMD—given how the relationship starts—it was appropriate and necessary, in my opinion.
The published version (paperback) is 464 pages, according to Amazon. I think in terms of words and it went from about 500K to 150K.
Wow, this is a fabulous cover for a great story! I was very much moved by the detail that Darcy absently fondles the dog but ignores his wife.The sea background is also good. I remember how angsty this story is, but also the feeling that the intensity and weight of the reconciliation between the protagonists is balanced with the conflict and angst, which is why I read this story several times. I look forward to the final version!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Hi Agnes! I do always try to balance the good with the bad. 🙂 I hope you enjoy the final version!
I especially enjoyed the background painting of the cover as well as the distance between E & D and the way her shoulders slump–a very unladylike posture, but one that is so very expressive.
I always enjoy angst-y novels with a premise like this, so I can’t wait for it to be available. Congratulations, Lucy!!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
Thanks, Susanne! I do like a good, angsty story, too.
Congratulations on your book! I like reading a forced marriage, and this one is very different with Elizabeth and Darcy not knowing each other. Elizabeth looks miserable on the cover while Darcy has his back to her and giving more affection to his dog.
I was used to reading FMS stories with Darcy already admiring Elizabeth to one degree or another and wanted to explore the dynamic between them when they were complete strangers. It was fun! 😀 Good luck in the giveaway!
I’m so excited for this to come out! I love the version posted online and I’m very excited to read the published version as well. Congratulations!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy the book. 🙂
I do like FMS stories. But wow, this one sounds so heart wrenching. Beautiful cover, even though so sad. Reading the description of the book, I sensed that the ‘compromise’ was the result of Elizabeth interrupting the elopement??? I obviously don’t have the courage E. has, because after a few days of the cold shoulder I’d be marching into Darcy’s study, throwing my arms in the air, firmly stating that I wished I’d let his precious sister run off with the fortune hunter. 😉 Best of luck with this book launch Lucy, I’m really looking forward to reading this.
Hi Michelle,
Yes, Elizabeth helps Georgiana, which results in her and Darcy having to get married. Elizabeth bites her tongue a lot at the start. The reasons why are discussed in the book. 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!
Oh this looks like such a lovely book! Had to pre-order it. Thanks for always letting us know what great books are coming our way!!!
That is great! Thank you! And a huge thanks to Meredith for hosting my cover reveal and, as you said, always letting us know about new books. I have found many interesting ones that way.
I love the meaning behind this cover. Though I am saddened by the look of EBD and the nonchalant pose of FD. Poor EBD and fortunate dog.This would be interesting to know how EB truly felt.
It is a very meaningful cover. Fortunately, Elizabeth and Darcy do learn to understand each other and find happiness (and love).
I read this story a loooooong time ago. Definitely need to reread it! Love FMS.
It seems so recently that I posted it at AHA, but it really was quite a long time ago. I hope you enjoy the published version!
Our hearts go out to Elizabeth in your story. I remember how irritated I was with Darcy and Georgiana. Lovely cover. Perfect to capture the atmosphere.
I definitely placed Elizabeth in the most difficult position in this story! The cover really is wonderful. 🙂
Congratulations, Lucy, on your first book! What a wonderful accomplishment. The cover is lovely and I adore the idea of Elizabeth and Darcy marrying as strangers, with neither Darcy nor Georgiana caring for Elizabeth. I want to know what happens!
Thank you, Meredith, for hosting the giveaway and cover reveal!
I feel the same way, Lori! Thanks so much for checking out Lucy’s cover and sharing your thoughts!
It’s a beautiful cover, Lucy. I love that you tried to convey a gist of the story in the cover. The man is telling me that he prefers the company of his book and dog rather than the lady sitting beside him. I feel for Elizabeth and wish that she wasn’t forced into marriage with a selfish and prideful man. But I can’t wait to read how Darcy falls in love with his wife.
The cover did come out perfectly for the book. I was amazed when I saw the final version. Darcy finds himself in love With Elizabeth without even realizing he was falling. 🙂 Thanks for your comment!