Beautiful Books || November Edition || Bethany's Story

This month's questions look great, so let's get to right to them!

1. Be honest: how is your writing going?
   
   In a word; slow. 
   I write slow, I just do, unless I'm hit by a sudden lightning bolt of inspiration. Plus, I get distracted by new story ideas very easily, so while trying to focus on "Regrettably, a Gentleman", I poked around with a few other stories these past couple of weeks.
     
2. What’s your first sentence/paragraph?
   
   
   

       “Who’s that at the door?” 

   The man nearly shoved the butler aside to see who was standing on the front step. 

      “Mr. Bennick! What was your delay? You must come upstairs immediately and talk some sense into the man!”

   
   

      “And a good evening to you, Mr. Thorndike.” Mr. Bennick replied, “I apologize for my late coming, but my last client took longer than expected. I assure you, I took a cab here as soon as I received your message.”  The young man’s calm demeanor pacified the nearly frantic Mr. Thorndike for only a moment. It was enough, though, for the butler to take Mr. Bennick’s top hat and overcoat.

   
   

     “You-you have the papers with you?” Mr. Thorndike eyed the solicitor’s briefcase as if a cobra was about to slither out of it.

   
   
3. Do you have a book cover, and/or pictures that reflect your book?
   
   No cover, but's here's a few pictures from my pinterest board.
   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   
    
4. Do you have pictures of each of your characters? If not, describe them for us! (Be as descriptive as you can.)
   
   
   

   

   Not quite Tristan and Emmeline, but close enough. :)

   

   Meredith Thorndike

   
   

   

   Jacob Drury, and basically Phillip Drury too, since they're twins.  

   
   

   

   Paris Briggs

   
   

   

   Horatio Briggs

   

   Ophelia Briggs

   

   Sapphire Briggs

   

   Octavius "Tavy" Briggs

   These are the main characters, anyway.
   
   
   
5. What scene are you most excited to write?
   
   There's a couple I'm really looking forward too, so it's hard to chose one... Anything with the Briggs family, since I haven't reached them yet, and the introduction of another character who will become very important later on.
   
   
   
6. Share a snippet or a scene that you really enjoyed writing.
   
   
     Tristan strolled back into the parlor as though nothing had happened. Miss Harrington had taken his place at the card game, so he found an empty chair within watching distance, content to be an observer.
   

     “Was that the front door just now?”

   
   

    Aunt Cora never missed anything.

   
   

     “Yes, it was,” Tristan looked over his shoulder at his aunt. “I’m afraid to say Mr. Farnsby had to make a most sudden departure.”

   
   

     “What ever was the matter?” Fredrick’s mother queried.

   
   

     “Well, with the ending of his engagement to Emmeline, there was really no need for him to prolong his stay any further.”

   
   

     At this glib statement, all attention turned to Tristan. Even the card players set down their hands. The astonished Mr. and Mrs. Farnsby looked as though they were about to faint. Aunt Cora looked as though steam might start venting out her ears.

   
   

     “What did Emmeline say to him?” she said through clenched teeth.

   
   

     “Nothing that he didn’t deserve.”

   
   

   
   
7. Now that you're writing, have any of the plot details, or the process itself, turned out different from what you planned or imagined?
   
   Not really. So far, everything is going as planned in my outline, but who knows? Some characters may have something different to say about that when I get to them.
   
   
   
8. Is there a character or aspect of your plot that's difficult to write?

   
   Tavy Briggs is suffering from mercury poisoning, aka, "Mad Hatter's Disease" because of his work in a felt factory. While I don't think it will be difficult to write, it will certainly be hard in an emotional way to describe the things he goes through with that.
   

   Just writing about the way of life of the factory workers in that time will be difficult too, I suppose, since it's a way of life we are so removed from today.

   
   
9. What’s your favorite aspect of this novel so far? Favorite character?
   
   My favorite aspect right now is all the siblings I have. Between Emmeline and her brother and sister, the Briggs family, and the Drury brothers, I know I'm going to have a lot of fun with their different interactions.
   
   Right now, Meredith Thorndike and Tavy Briggs are my favorite.
   
   
   
10. Have you drawn off of any life experiences or people you know to create your novel and your characters?
    
    Nothing specific that I can think of.
    
    
    
11. Do you have a playlist or certain song for your novel and/or characters?
    
    I have two volumes of English String Miniatures by David Lloyd-Jones & Northern Sinfonia that I like to listen to while working on this story. A few of the music pieces fit certain characters.
    
    You can listen to some of them HERE.
    
    
    
12. Let’s have some fun for a moment: imagine you are somehow transported into your book’s world. Which character are you most likely to be found hanging out with?
    
    Most likely Emmeline and Nora.
    
    
    
13. How do you keep yourself motivated to finish your daily wordcount? (Pinterest? Internet breaks? Chocolate?)
    
    I just have to sit down and do it. Anything internet related is too distracting. :)
    
    
    
14. What inspiring quote keeps you writing?
    
    I love this quote by Louisa May Alcott...
    

    “I want to do something splendid…
    Something heroic or wonderful that won’t be forgotten after I’m dead…
    I think I shall write books.”

    Not that I write to to become famous or anything, but good writing does have a lasting impression, and it's neat to think that even after my time on earth is done, people could still be reading my books (if I ever finish them).
    
    
    
15. How does this book make you feel so far? Are you laughing? Crying? Frustrated?
    
    I really ought to be more excited about this story, and I was when I started, but now the excitement has worn off and it just feels like work. It's not the research part that's hard, I love that, I just have to get focused and write!