Hi friends! It is a special day – author J. Dawn King is here visiting Austenesque Reviews! 
Joy is here to share about her new release which came out a few days ago – A Gentleman’s Treasure!
And this Pride and Prejudice variation sounds like an epic adventure – the type with exotic locations, perilous situations, and romantic developments. 
Joy brings with her a Q&A sharing why this book is so important to her. 
We hope you enjoy!
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Thank you, Meredith. I am delighted to be here.
Why is this a special story to you?
John and I were married seven months when he was offered a job on an ocean-going towboat. For 20
years, he sailed to exotic locations in the Pacific Ocean. Several times, Jennifer and I sailed with him, or we would fly to meet him in port.
It’s been 25 years since John sailed the ocean blue. Although he left the sea, it never left him. Or me. We are still drawn to the ocean. In fact, when I am stuck in the middle of a story, we often rent a room with an ocean view that inspires me.
Also, the sea has many moods, as do Darcy and Elizabeth. It soothes and stirs. What better place to put them?
Why the Mediterranean?
I traveled to Italy in 1978. It was love at first sight. (Or love at my first bite of pasta!) I always wanted to go back. We never did since there were so many other places to visit.
Another reason is the rich history of the British Empire in the Mediterranean during the Regency period. England’s diplomatic presence blended cultures to the point that it would have been an easier time of it for our beloved characters to travel.
And in my dreams, I’m sitting on a rooftop deck in Santorini with a cool glass of water, eating olives and fresh fruit with the breeze blowing through my long, gray hair. Or sitting next to one of Rome’s beautiful fountains with water spraying my face typing like crazy.
In A Gentleman’s Treasure, Colonel Fitzwilliam has a love interest. How did that work out?
Poor Richard! At the beginning of the story, he was merciless when teasing Darcy for being in love. I believe he even stated, with complete confidence, that he would never be twitterpated by a woman. Well, I decided to accept this challenge. Prudence Bell was his match in every way possible. Sparks flew! And when Richard fell, he fell hard, much to Darcy’s delight. The colonel is usually Darcy’s perfect wingman. In this book, he insisted on his own story.
Was this an easy story to write?
The first draft was a piece of cake. I think I was done from start to finish in two months. 120,000 words. Then I reread it, instantly chopping 20,000 words of ridiculously boring content. Rewrites were horrid. They took almost ten months. I’ve never had a story that fought me this hard. In the end, I pulled out Colonel Fitzwilliam’s, Mrs. Bennet’s, and Lydia’s stories and tucked them at the end of the book. I also cut the Nile River scene where Darcy and Elizabeth tour the Pyramids and Sphinx. Rather than post it on my website as an additional chapter, I placed it right before “The End”.
What is your favorite part of A Gentleman’s Treasure?
Hands down it is the romance between Darcy and Elizabeth. Darcy is already in love with her on page one. Before they reach Gibraltar, Elizabeth is beginning to see him in a much friendlier light. She is charmed by Darcy’s constancy, his dignity, his bravery, and his devotion. Early in the tale, we understand why Elizabeth is the one for him.
What was your biggest surprise?
Mr. Bennet. In Pride & Prejudice, he’s not my favorite character. In fact, I don’t like him at all. In A Gentleman’s Treasure, he blossoms, becoming his absolute best self. By the end, I wanted to hug him when he finally stepped back on England’s shores.
Changing subjects, at the end of your latest Christie Capps novella, you mentioned you were out of ideas for these shorter stories. Does this mean you will not write them anymore?
No, it means that the next several books that I have plots for are all longer stories. There may be more novellas in the future. However, I’ll be 70 years old soon. How much longer I plan to write, I have no idea. We shall see.
I hope the words continue to flow as freely as the seven seas that surround the earth! ⚓️
I loved learning about your own special connection to this story! 📖
Thank you so much for sharing, Joy! 🫶🏼
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~ Book Description ~
From the drawing rooms of Hertfordshire to the ancient sands of Egypt — some treasures are worth crossing the world to claim.
Elizabeth Bennet is certain the invitation her father received from a Cambridge professor is a jest. A treasure hunt. Across the Mediterranean. In pursuit of the Lost Library of Alexandria. Yet, she knows her father requires a practical companion to accompany him on this journey—and she has always yearned for a life beyond Hertfordshire’s gentle hills. This is her moment of discovery.
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy rejects the same invitation until he learns Elizabeth will be there. Bound by a secret vow to protect her, Darcy casts aside his pride to follow her into the unknown. Accompanied by Colonel Fitzwilliam—who misses nothing, least of all his cousin’s fumbling attempts at courtship—they embark on a voyage where the stakes are life and death.
Set against the sweeping backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, this thrilling reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice carries them from the fountains of Rome to the Grand Bazaar of Constantinople and the silent majesty of the Egyptian pyramids. As their ship battles stormy seas and French warships, Elizabeth and Darcy must unravel centuries-old clues while navigating the tempestuous currents of their own hearts.
In a race against the treacherous George Wickham and a shadowy traitor known as The Shadow, they will discover that the greatest treasure of all is the love they were never meant to find.
This epic variation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice is a slow-burn Regency romance with a protective Mr. Darcy, an intelligent heroine, Colonel Fitzwilliam, forced proximity (on a ship), second first impression, high seas adventure that takes our travelers to Italy, Greece, Constantinople, and Alexandria while searching for the lost Library of Alexandria.
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Joy has put together a lovely gift package based on Darcy and Elizabeth’s Mediterranean travels. Colorful scarves, journals, and a cameo are an important part of the tale. The giveaway is open wherever mail is delivered safely.
To enter this giveaway, leave a comment, question, or some love for Joy below.
She wants to know where you would like to travel if you could go anywhere in the world.
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Caroline!
- This giveaway ends July 15th.
This book sounds amazing fun! I’d love to see the good Colonel twisted up in love just a little. I love to travel. I’ve been to England,Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, The Netherlands, and Belgium. And of course Mexico and Canada. I’ve been so lucky! But the one that got away?? Italy. Sigh. I just turned 70. The brain is still pretty active…the body just wants to rest a bit more. Thanks for this amazing giveaway, but most of all your amazing stories.
Even at our age, we still want to see and do more, don’t we? Thank you for your comment and your kind words, Terri.
Thank you for this Q&A. This story was so rich with geographic, cultural and historic details, I wondered about the research our dear author had done. It will make a wonderful audiobook (hint hint…)
Congratulations!
I am delighted to tell you that Stevie is working hard on the audiobook right now. She is amazing. This book requires many different accents/languages. She is up to the challenge. Thanks for your comment, Sam. Happy reading!
This sounds like a beautiful and exciting epic adventure for Darcy & Elizabeth! I look forward to reading all of J Dawn Kings books and was excited to see this one come out. I also love traveling and have many places left on my list. Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Iceland and New Zealand are places I’ve been wanting to explore.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity; these are some lovely prizes!
Kaidi, I appreciate your comment and for sharing your travel wish list. I hope you are able to visit these places soon.
This book should be such fun to read because I have already traveled to the places mentioned in the book blurb. I have also been fortunate to have traveled to all 7 continents. Every place has been unique. I would like to travel to Japan to see the cherry blossoms and experience their culture.
WOW! Go, Eva! I hope you make it to Japan. I’ve never been. The cherry blossoms are definitely on my wish list. Thanks for your comment.
I enjoyed hearing about the personal backstory which inspired the extensive travel of this JAFF. I imagine traveling around the Mediterranean might have been more difficult and complicated during the Napoleonic Wars. Amazon is offering triple Kindle Points during Prime Days this week, so I will certainly be looking for this book or others by this author during the week.
Thank you, Catherine. Triple points? That’s amazing! Happy shopping/reading!
J Dawn King, Darcy and Elizabeth, travel, and a mystery–say no more–I’m in! I took an Eastern Mediterranean cruise a number of years ago which included many of the places mentioned plus Greece and Israel; the history was incredible. The primary place left on my wish of dream places to visit is the UK. Congratulations on publishing another book.
Awwww! You are so kind, Jeannette. How fortunate you are to have traveled in the Mediterranean. Did you happen to see Darcy or Elizabeth while you were there? Or the colonel? I hope you make it to the UK.
Wonderful back story and book description. Looking forward to another great read! ♫
Thank you very much, Jennifer. I hope you enjoy the story. Happy writing/reading!
Love the notion of Elizabeth and Darcy’s love story developing in Italy. Looking forward to reading this variation! Thanks.
This was a delight to write. I have a friend touring Tuscany today. She promised pictures but she is so busy that she has not sent them yet. It’s a lovely country. My favorite is the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is the place of dreams. Perhaps I’ll have Darcy and Elizabeth travel there in a future book. Thank you for your comment.
Thanks for the Q&A! I just finished the book and loved it! I have so many places I would love to visit but high on the list would be the locations for the Pride and Prejudice movies.
Wonderful! I’m so glad you liked it. Maybe someday we will meet at Chatsworth or other locations used for filming, Cynthia. It’s harder to travel now that I’m older but we still enjoy it. Happy reading!
I loved the premise and the adventure of this novel. Darcy was swoon-worthy and Elizabeth came to have the same opinion! Mr. Bennet surprised me too! I loved what he bought in Italy! Well done, Mr. Bennet and you! As to where I would like to travel…back to the Scottish Highlands! Been to Ireland and N. Ireland several times as we have family there. Went in 2008 and loved everywhere we visited. However, there is still so much left to see! New Zealand and England(follow in Jane Austen’s footsteps) are two other countries I would love to visit. What an adventurous life you and your family have lived. All the best!
Thank you, Carole. Your review brought happy tears to my eyes. I was in Ireland in 1978. Being from Oregon, I thought I had seen every shade of green possible. Ireland revealed how little I knew. Then we spent time in the Amazon jungle. Now, they have shades of green completely unique to there. I hope you get to see Scotland again. I have been loving following the Tartan Army on social media as they visit sites for the FIFA World Cup. They are a hoot. Happy reading, Carole.
Woo-hoo! I am absolutely up for this adventure! Bring it! Lol. ❤️
Coolness, Amy. The story is in Kindle Unlimited and the audiobook is in production. I hope you can read or listen to it soon. Anyone who is up for adventure is a friend of mine.
Sounds like lots of fun! I am Cambridge born and bred so I like a book when it gets a mention. I also finally made it to Athens for the first time last autumn. Congratulations on your new release.
Janey, I always have Darcy going to Cambridge. I’m not sure why. Athens is close to the top of our bucket list. It will need to wait since it is looking like our next trip will be to Boston and New York for research purposes. I’d also like to fly to Missouri and drive the Oregon Trail back home. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Maybe someday!
I have loved reading J. Dawn Kings books for years. I can’t wait to read this one. On my bucket list is a trip to India. I want to see all the colour’s and smell the spices.
Thank you for your kind comment, Lynn. India is also high on my bucket list for the same reasons. I hope you make it soon.
Thank you to Meredith and Joy for the giveaway. I’m looking forward to reading A Gentleman’s Treasure. It’s intriguing to imagine Elizabeth on this type of adventure.
I’d love to visit Ireland or Scotland and see some history there. It would be interesting to see places I would not necessarily like to live.
What a great comment, Amanda. I completely agree about visiting places far different from where I live. I would like to go back to the UK to see the places filmed for the 1995 and 2005 Pride & Prejudice series/movie. Now, that would be an adventure.
I would love to visit England and visit all the Jane Austen sites.
Me too! We need to get a group together and go. If only Mr. Darcy and the colonel could join us so they could carry our luggage, right? Thanks for your comment.
This book is amazing! I love this protective Darcy especially when Elizabeth realises it! They’re together on a ship and eventually love blossoms! This isn’t a spoiler because that’s obviously going to happen! Colonel Fitzwilliam teases Darcy relentlessly until he too gets bitten by the love bug! I’ve read this twice now and loved it both times! 🙂
Dear Glynis, thank you very much for your support. You truly are a dear. I am grateful that Darcy and Elizabeth allowed me to send them far from home since I don’t know if I will ever be able to go on that journey in real life. It stinks getting old. However, reading about our favorite characters keeps us young, doesn’t it? Best wishes to you, my friend.
The location does beckon. Added the book to my list. I have Scotland in my sights.
Mary, it was an absolute delight to research sailing to these locations. You should see my computer screen. It has a collage of photos with gorgeous sunsets and sunrises, azure seas, and cloudless skies. I hope you make it to Scotland soon. My daughter went and loved it. Happy reading!
Love the setting for this story–it sounds wonderful!
denise
I was in love with the settings before I even wrote the first words, Denise. Many times I dreamed about this story. Of course, it was me as Elizabeth Bennet in my imagination. And Darcy looked very much like my husband when we were much younger. I hope you get a chance to read A Gentleman’s Treasure soon.
This sounds like it’ll be an amazing adventure for ODC! Thank you for the chance to win a copy!
Pam, both Darcy and Lizzy will have memories for a lifetime after this journey. You are very welcome. I hope you get a chance to read it soon.
Man, a romance and an adventure?! Count me in!
Christina, I had to force myself to remember that this was a romance since the adventure part drew me in. In fact, when my daughter (Jennifer Joy, author) read the first draft, she said I missed all the feels. The rewrites were a joy since I could focus on the growth of their relationship. In so doing, the dialogue between them was precious. Swoon! That Mr. Darcy!!! I hope you can read it soon.
I can’t wait to read it and was so excited when I saw the post in the P&P Audiobook FB group that Stevie Zimmerman will be doing the audiobook!!! I really can’t wait for that but I will!
Stevie finished the files yesterday, Glory. She is such a pro that there are very few changes, which is amazing since she had to have a Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, Greek, Egyptian, and French accent as well as all the character voices including a 10-year-old boy. Her talent stuns me. After revisions, which should be finished today, it will only take as long as Audible takes to make it available.
I love a good adventure story and I am looking forward to reading this one. There are lots of places I would love to travel. The two I want to most is Scotland and Croatia due to ancestral ties.
I hope you get a chance to read this soon, Kathryn. And visiting places with ties to our family is the best. May you be able to pack your backs and set sail soon.
Sounds very interesting. I love when Mr. Bennet ends up a better person/father than usual. Can’t wait to read about the places they will see. I’ve never traveled “all over the world” but my husband has. He is in the oil industry and has great (and some not so great) memories of his travels. I would go back to Alaska IN A SECOND. Been twice and both times it was amazing.
When you read the story, I hope you love Mr. Bennet as much as I did, Elizabeth. Many times we met gentlemen traveling to the Middle-East or South America to the oil fields. It must be an exciting life (and dangerous too, as you mentioned). I, too, love Alaska. My sister-in-law has lived there for almost 50 years. Each part of the state is unique. My first trip was to King Salmon by Katmai National Park. We saw one brown bear. It was massive. It would be lovely to return. Maybe later this summer.
Hi J. Dawn King,
I’m excited about your new novel… who wouldn’t? Adventures in the style of Indiana Jones with ODC!!
As I live in Europe, I find Mediterranean civilizations very interesting with so many fascinating episodes in History like the Lost Library of Alexandria so your novel will be my cup of tea!
I’m willing to put my hands on this story so thank so much for the giveaway as well as the gifts added by Joy. You’re really generous with these goodies!
I would like to travel to Scotland in search of Nessie, the south of England to track King Arthur’s legend and the places where Atlantis is supposed to be ( for example Gibraltar and south of Spain). All very Indiana Jones stylish! LOL
Anyway, I wish you luck in your release!
Thanks Meredith for hosting J. Dawn King
I love it, Teresa. Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam as Indiana Jones. Our daughter and my niece traveled to Scotland to find Nessie. Unfortunately, they failed to see him. Best wishes to you. Thank you for your kind words.
As usual, I look forward to reading your new story. All I require to my that decision is to see your name as the author.
Thank you for all the pleasure you’ve given me over the years.
Hugs,
Betty
Great big hugs to you, Betty. You are so very kind. Thank you!
Sounds like another great adventure for Darcy and Elizabeth. I love how Darcy is in love from get go, hopefully not up long for Elizabeth to catch up. Through in Colonel Fitzwilliam and you have a winner. Added to my TBR list
I hope you enjoy it, Marsha. Hint: they don’t even make it to Gibraltar before Elizabeth starts seeing him differently. Gibraltar was an eye-opener for her.