Hi readers! I’m excited to welcome a new author to my blog today – Abigail Sheffield! 😊
She is a NEW Quills & Quartos author AND she has a new book coming out in January 2025! ✨
Abigail is here to share the cover of her upcoming Pride and Prejudice variation titled A Shared History, where Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s relationship had a different type of beginning. 📖
…And an enticing excerpt where Charlotte proves she is as sharp as ever. 😊
We hope you enjoy! 🤗
~ From the Author ~
Hi Meredith!
My name is Abigail Sheffield, and I wanted to thank you so much for having me for the cover reveal of A Shared History. I am thrilled with how it turned out! It beautifully captures the essence of the journey Elizabeth goes through, and how she must choose which “path” she will take in her life.
This book marks my debut into writing JAFF. This story came to me the way my best ideas often do-while driving alone, letting my thoughts wander. At the time, I was reading a lot of Jane Austen Variation literature, and for the first time, I began to seriously consider writing a book of my own.
I mostly began thinking about stories I would like to see written about our favorite couple, and one particular idea kept pulling at me: what if Darcy and Elizabeth had secretly fallen in love when they were younger? What would their relationship look like if they experienced a few setbacks along the way, leaving Darcy with the task of winning Elizabeth back years later? And from that spark, this book was born.
I had a blast imagining how this story, full of yearning, longing, and passion between the beloved couple, might unfold. I hope readers find as much pleasure in reading it as I did in writing it!
~ Book Description ~
The idea of her paled in comparison to the actuality of her, and his love for the woman he had always held dear was reaffirmed.
ELIZABETH BENNET HAS A SECRET: one fateful spring in Rosings Park in Kent, she met and fell in love with Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. Their connexion was nearly instantaneous and sweet but ended abruptly and disastrously. Elizabeth was left heartbroken and nursing a grudge that she kept hidden from everyone, even her dearest sister Jane.
THREE YEARS LATER, Jane is planning her wedding to Mr Charles Bingley of Netherfield Park. To Elizabeth’s surprise—and dismay—she learns that Mr Darcy is due to attend the wedding in Hertfordshire. With her opinion of Darcy catastrophically low, Elizabeth is ready to spar with him at every turn during their awkward reunion.
MR DARCY ARRIVES AT LONGBOURN wondering if it would prove a second chance for the love with the dark haired beauty he had not stopped thinking of for three years. Alas, with Elizabeth clearly still feeling the sting of his rejection, and worse, on the verge of accepting the offer of another man, it seems all might just be lost. But might her outward animosity be reflective of the remnants of an underlying romantic connexion? Swords will certainly be drawn between the two, but could sparks fly too?
A SHARED HISTORY is a variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and includes hidden love, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance, a love triangle, and above all a happily ever after for Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet
~ Excerpt from A Shared History ~
Charlotte looked down towards the tea as she stirred sugar and milk into their drinks. The gentle clink of her spoon against the cups carried across the room as she worked meticulously. Then, setting the spoon aside, she finally broke the silence. “Lizzy, is there some sort of an understanding between you and Mr Darcy?”
Elizabeth laughed uncomfortably through the blush that heated her cheeks at the mere mention of him. “I assure you there is not.”
“He stares at you so much…I thought he surely must be ready to make you his wife,” Charlotte teased.
Elizabeth’s shrug elicited incredulity from her friend, whose eyes widened. “You must not be coy, not with me! Am I not one of your oldest friends?”
“Of course you are, you know you are,” Elizabeth said quickly, “but I do not know what it is you wish me to say. There is nothing for me to confide.”
Charlotte gave her a searching look before she gently handed her the cup of tea. Elizabeth accepted it with a small smile, then averted her gaze to the morning sunlight streaming through the windows, observing the shadows it cast on the settee across the room.
Charlotte drew Elizabeth’s attention when she finally responded. “You have always been like this, keeping matters so close to your heart. I suppose I shall not find out anything until there is an announcement.”
Some birds chirped happily from somewhere far away outside, and Elizabeth desperately wished she could be out of this room and wherever they were. She glanced back at her friend again and took a sip of tea. “Nothing has happened. He has not declared any intentions, or…or really said anything,” Elizabeth said, giving voice to concerns which had, in truth, plagued her. She believed his attentions were too marked to be anything but true regard and yet…yet he said nothing of true meaning to her. She flashed a brief insincere smile at her friend, trying to hide her dejection.
Charlotte pursed her lips a moment before asking, “Are you in love with him?”
Elizabeth inhaled sharply before admitting, “I enjoy his company very much.” It was an inadequate answer. In truth, she felt a connexion between their souls, and could not imagine spending her life with anyone less worthy, but she could not say so, not when she felt so uncertain of his feelings and whether he would speak them.
Charlotte took a small sip of her tea before placing it gently back on the saucer. “Perhaps his stares signify nothing more than absence of thought, then. He is a bit difficult to comprehend and has a stiffness in his manner that makes him difficult to approach. But all of these things could be overlooked if one was in love with him.”
Elizabeth knew what her friend was doing. How often had they provoked spirited debates between themselves by expressing ideas not their own! Charlotte wished her to leap to his defence, and in so doing, provide clues to what truly lay between them but she would not give in to that. She looked at her placidly. “Perhaps you are correct, Charlotte.”
Though tempted to defend him, Elizabeth was not provoked to divulge more. She was not one to discuss her feelings, especially those of such vulnerability. Besides, it was still early in their acquaintance. Was it so surprising she had not received an offer of marriage from him? He had never explicitly stated his feelings towards her…much to her disappointment. He is reserved, she often reminded herself. And we are rarely, if ever, given privacy that would allow either of us to speak freely of matters of the heart.
However logical such notions were, love did not always make one the most rational, and she was disappointed that the status of their connexion was not more certain and that she could not have reasonable expectations of him.
Tired of being interrogated, she took one more sip of tea before hurriedly excusing herself, glad that Charlotte had duties to the parish that would keep her and Mr Collins occupied for the rest of the day. She squeezed her friend’s shoulder, grabbed an apple from the bowl on the sideboard in the dining room, and set out before Charlotte could reply.
And without further ado….here is the big reveal!!!
(expected release date: January 6th)
Ooh I love everything this cover captures – the winter blues, the feeling of contemplation or indecision. 💭
The mild winter scene is so inviting (and the timing of this release is so perfect!) – I can feel that bit of warmth coming from that setting sun and hear the crunch of the frost on the ground. ❄️
I’m eager to explore this premise – I love the idea of Elizabeth and Darcy meeting elsewhere and having a shared history. It sounds like there will still be many challenges in their path… 💔
And to see them reunited again years later with Elizabeth being pursued by someone else will add some excitement and tension for sure! 😮
What do you think, friends? 🤔
~~~
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
The lovely people at Quills and Quartos are offering 3️⃣ ebook copies of A Shared History to 3️⃣ lucky readers who comment on today’s post!
To enter this giveaway leave a question, comment, or some love for Abigail below.
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Quills and Quartos!
- This giveaway ends December 11th
You can preorder A Shared History now!
My sincere gratitude to Abigail Sheffield and the wonderful people at Quills and Quartos for putting this special post together!
Congratulations on your first release!
A serene, yet tempestuous cover. We are joining Elizabeth on her early morning ramblings and emotional thoughts.
Thank you!
We sure are. She has a lot of conflicting emotions to work through in this one!
I can’t wait to dive into this book, sounds like a fun read!
Thank you so much. It really is, and it was so fun to write! I hope you enjoy it!
Congratulations on the debut of your book! I am so ready for the angst and banter between Elizabeth and Darcy in this book!
What an achievement! I think there are many (I hope I’m not alone in this) who read P&P variations and wonder what other scenarios ODC can find themselves in. But how many actually try? So kudos to you and wishes for all success with your debut novel.
Thank you, that is so kind of you to say. It has been a whirlwind for sure. The ladies at Quills and Quartos really helped me through this debut novel.
Lovey cover! Elizabeth seems lonely and unsure. I like that they already know each other but I do hope Darcy can improve her opinion before she accepts this other person.
It was such an interesting premise. Don’t worry–it’s always a happy ever after guaranteed with me! I am sure you will love the way he is able to gain her good opinion.
It is a very evocative cover and a most interesting plot. I hope I’m one of the lucky ones!
Thank you so much! It is lovely, isn’t it? I think you will really enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by!
Sounds interesting! I’m looking forward to reading it.
Thank you–I think you will really enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by!
I like the premise! And the cover is lovely!
Thank you! It was such a fun premise to explore. And it is so pretty, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping by!
Sounds intriguing! I love the cover.
Thank you! I think you will enjoy it!
Congratulations on your first book. The cover is beautiful…moody blues and greens make a perfect winter setting. The story sounds deliciously angsty. I look forward to reading your story.
Thank you, it has been such an exciting accomplishment. And it really is, it will be a great read for this time of year. Thank you so much for giving it a chance! I think you will really enjoy it.
This book sounds so amazing! I’m looking forward to reading it. Congratulations on your first book! Beautiful cover!
I’m thrilled that the book has caught your interest, and I truly hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.
I really appreciate the congratulations—it’s been such an exciting journey bringing this story to life. And I agree, they did such a good job on the cover!
I love the premise of this book! Congratulations on your debut novel too!
Thank you so much! It has been an incredible journey bringing this story to life. I cannot wait to hear what you think of it!
I already like this book! Although it seems to be a loded in angst one – which is totally not me! – the idea of our beloved Darcy and Elizabeth having a shared history – and a love one at that! – is extremely attractive. I feel already the book will be a blast. Which is all I wish you for having the courage to take the plounge and release a story out there! Although I am certain that you have been wonderfully taken care of by the amazing ladies at Q and Q.
Looking forward to Janyary and congratulations!
The cover is indeed lovely – i can’t wait to have it in my hands, so to speak.
Félicitations!
Thank you so much! It is a little angsty, but so worth the journey in the end! Your interest means so much and I cannot wait to hear what you think of it.
The team at Q&Q has been incredible. I feel so fortunate to have worked with them. This book would not be what it has become without their guidance. January will be here before we know it!
This sounds great, and I love the cover! Please enter me in the giveaway.
Thank you, Jennie! I agree–they did a lovely job with the cover. Your interest is so appreciated!
Love the cover. Loved the excerpt. Can’t wait to read. Thanks for the chance to possibly win a copy!
Thank you so much, Amy! I’m thrilled you like what you have seen so far. Can’t wait for you to read the full story–Best of luck!
Welcome to our community!! What made you decide to delve into the world of JAFF?! And do you have any JAFF authors or particular books that are personal favorites??
I’m on pins & needles and cannot wait to read your lovely story, it sounds like it’s going to be quite the ride! ☺️
Thank you so much, Rebecca! A few years ago, while recovering from the flu, I rewatched Pride & Prejudice and found myself falling in love with Darcy and Elizabeth all over again. That renewed obsession led me down a delightful rabbit hole of reading every JAFF story I could get my hands on—I just can’t seem to get enough of them!
Writing a book had always been a dream of mine, and the warmth and encouragement of the JAFF community inspired me to finally give it a try. It’s been quite the adventure. I’m so excited to share this story with you. I truly think you’re going to love it!
My favorite books so far are “A Folly of Youth” By Amy D’ Orazio and “The Last House in Lambton” By Grace Gibson. Do you have any favorites?
Love all the emotions illustrated in the dramatic cover. A picture does indeed tell a thousand words. Love the title and very much look forward to reading this story ❤️
Thank you, Martha! The cover seems to capture the heart of the story-it’s wonderful to hear that it resonates with you too. I think you will love the story!
Such a vivid, beautiful cover! Excited to see what this new author has to offer the JAFF world.
I’m so glad to hear the cover caught your eye! As a newbie, I am both nervous and excited to share this story with you. I hope you enjoy it!
You had me hooked with the blurb. Now I can’t wait until it releases. Congratulations on your first release!!!
I’m so glad the blurb caught your attention! It means so much that you’re excited for the release. January will be here soon!
Thank you!
I do love a good “they met and fell in love prior to book” story! This one ought to be intriguing. I shall add it to the TBR hoard.
It’s one of my favorite premises too! I hope this one brings a fresh twist! Thanks for your interest, can’t wait to hear your thoughts once you get the chance to read it.
I can’t believe this is your first JAFF book! The excerpt sounds so much like Pride and Prejudice, one might almost think Jane herself had written her own variation of her most famous story. Even the cover looks like I would imagine Elizabeth would appear on one of her walks. Welcome to the world of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, you definitely belong here!
Wow! That is the biggest compliment I could get! I was deeply inspired by both Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice while writing this, so it’s wonderful to hear that you feel I captured the spirit of Jane’s writings.
I am also so glad the cover resonates with you, I know that it was designed with great care.
Thank you for your warm welcome, I am so excited to be a part of this incredible JAFF community!
I’m very excited to read this book! I absolutely love the cover. It’s beautiful. Congratulations on the release!
Thank you, Laura! I am thrilled you love the cover–I do too! I cannot wait for you to read it- I hope it brings you as much joy as it did to me writing it!
Welcome to JAFF, Abigail. I agree with Meredith that the cover is stunning in its colors and depiction of winter. What did Darcy say to Elizabeth that made her so angry? I like the idea of a three year period when they don’t meet and three years for Jane and Bingley to marry as he is still renting Netherfield. It will be fun to read what happens during that period. Congratulations on your first JAFF. Thank you for the excerpt and giveaway.
Thank you so much for your warm welcome. I am so glad you like the cover–I really feel that it does capture the beauty of winter and the emotions within the story. As for the tension between Darcy and Elizabeth–I will leave that mystery for you to read in the book!
I am so glad you will like the premise and the setting–I truly think you will enjoy reading it. Best of luck!
Looks great, I LOVE JAFF!
Thank you for your excitement! I think you will really enjoy this one!
Congratulations, Abigail! Your cover is lovely, and your premise sounds so intriguing. I’m looking forward to reading your book when it comes out!
I am so glad you love the cover–I do too! And it is wonderful to hear that the plot has piqued your interest. I truly hope you enjoy it when it is released!
Congrats! If I’m going to judge a book by its cover, your book is going to be excellent! 🙂
That is so kind of you to say! Thank you! I think you will really enjoy this story.
Congrats Abigail! And welcome! I love the cover very rich colors, very Lizzy colors. I look forward to reading this your first foray into JAFF. I look forward to the journey you have written for ODC!
Thank you for your warm welcome! I agree-I think the color really capture Lizzy’s spirit in this book. I’m thrilled that your excited to read it–can’t wait to hear your thoughts about it once you have finished it!
Congratulations on your new release! The cover is lovely and the story sounds fantastic.
Thank you, Michelle! It has been such a neat experience. I am so glad you like the cover and that you think the story sounds intriguing. I really think you’ll love it!
I love the cover and excerpt, thank you for sharing it with us. Congrats and best wishes on your first release!
Thank you, Robin! Your kind words mean so much as I prepare for the release. I hope you enjoy the full book when it is out!
The cover is beautiful, from her clothes to the sun warming the cold winter behind her. Could frame it for the wall!
Such gorgeous colours in the cover! The premise and excerpt have certainly enticed me. Can’t wait to read the book. Congratulations, Abigail!
Beautiful cover! I’d love to read this one! Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
The cover looks lovely especially love the blue skirt and blue sky. The premise sounds very interesting. Congratulations on your first book!
Congratulations on taking your first steps into the world of publishing books. The cover is phenomenal and seems to convey that the path ahead curves and may be slippery at times. This story has a premise not often seen; Darcy and Elizabeth meeting several years prior to the events in Meryton. I’m looking forward to reding this tale.
I like how the government shows Lizzy crossing the road rather than walking along it. She is sure to have muddy hems.
Government is supposed to be cover
Cannot wait to add this to my collection. Looking at the cover made me think she had stopped her walk to just stand and drink in her surroundings, maybe a little sad. Taking a deep breathe while she examines her feelings about the turns her life is taking.
Thanks for sharing it with us all.
Congratulations on your first book! I’m looking forward to reading it, and finding out how ODC come together after so many years apart!
Thank you, thank you for avoiding Rafflecopter. I have a strong dislike for that option.
And I have a strong anticipation to read your first work, which I expect to be the first on many from you. That strong cover. . .Wow!
Congratulations on your first publication. Love the cover, I can definitely see Elizabeth scampering about the countryside in that outfit. Also loved the snippet and can’t wait to read more.
Would love to read and the cover is lovely!