The Bennets: Providence & Perception by KC Cowan - Blog Tour, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway

Today I’m welcoming a new visitor to the blog, KC Cowan, who has published a book with Meryton Press, and the blog tour stops here today. The Bennets: Providence & Perception is a Pride & Prejudice sequel that focuses on a Bennet sister that many readers have a soft spot for, Mary Bennet.

I have a guest post from KC Cowan, plus an excerpt from The Bennets: Providence & Perception, plus an ebook giveaway to share with you. Let’s start with the blurb.

Book Description

Either ignored or ridiculed by her family, Mary Bennet desires only happiness—

Poor Miss Bennet—with three sisters married, she will no doubt be left “on the shelf” unless she takes steps to secure her own happiness. So, with the arrival of Mr. Yarby, a handsome new rector for Longbourn chapel, Mary decides to use her Biblical knowledge to win his heart.

Meanwhile, her recently widowed father finds himself falling for the older sister of his new reverend. But Mr. Bennet is officially in mourning for his late wife—what a scandalous situation! Unfortunately, Longbourn’s heir, Mr. Collins, has the antennae for a scandal and makes blackmail threats.

Will an overheard conversation between the Yarby siblings break Mary’s heart? Or will it impel her to a desperate act that threatens everyone’s hopes for lasting love?

Guest Post from KC Cowan – Mrs. Bennet’s Bracelet

Whenever I have the chance to talk to another writer, I always ask if they’re a “Plotter” or a “Pantser.” The two words describe the two basic ways of figuring out your plot.

A Plotter means the person usually meticulously writes down what’s going to happen in the plot, and when. It might also mean writing out descriptions of all the characters and their part in the story. A Pantser, on the other hand, is an author who “flies by the seat of his pants,” and lets the story sort of tell him or her where it’s going. This can lead to a real muddle of a plot for some, but others can’t write any other way. I know a man who writes thrillers and he told me when he starts a new book, knows the beginning and how it ends, and just follows his instinct for everything that happens in between!

I would call myself a hybrid writer. I tend to start with the characters I want to include. Then I figure out what the main plot points will be—what does the hero/heroine need? Why can’t they get it? And of course, for a romance, you very much know you need a Happily Ever After ending! But I don’t plan everything in my book as I go.

However, one thing I’ve discovered is that when an odd little idea drops into my head and I use it, I may have no idea initially why I wrote it, but somehow, many chapters down the road, I will suddenly find a significant use for it in the plot! The gold bracelet in The Bennets was like that.

Initially, I wrote the chapter where Mr. Bennet calls Kitty and Mary in to divide up Mrs. Bennet’s jewelry as just something that likely would have happened following her death. I remember doing this with my sister some months after our mother died. Because it seemed realistic I began to write the scene without truly knowing what I would do with it all. I did have one specific idea, which was to have Mary ask for a ruby or garnet cross since it would go so well with the new dress she ordered to try an impress the rector, Mr. Yarby, upon whom she has a tremendous crush.

But for some reason, the idea of there being one, last, gold bracelet left over popped into my mind and I went with it. I envisioned a thick gold band with scrolls engraved on it—very much like one I inherited. I thought it was my own secret little tribute to my mother. I wrote that Mary and Kitty would agree to “share” it and leave it in their mother’s jewelry case. And that was that. Or so I thought.

The bracelet next came back when I needed to have a reason for Lydia to confess how much in debt she and Wickham are. So I had Mary come across Lydia rummaging through the jewelry box and stealing the gold band. Mary takes the bracelet back and then gives it to her father for safekeeping. Again, I thought that was it for the piece of jewelry.

However, the bracelet made another appearance as the tool by which Mary and Kitty learn of their father’s growing attachment to Mrs. Withers. Quite a kerfuffle takes place over it, truth be told!

I suppose if I were a true “plotter” kind of writer, I might have structure that all out ahead of time as a way to build suspense and bring it to the big reveal. But it all came to me in little ideas as I wrote.

I guess I have learned to use these little things that pop into my head even if I don’t initially know why I thought of them. Over and over, though, they seem to work out in a way I don’t even think I could have actively imagined. I believe I must have some very generous “muses” who help me out! So, I guess that makes me a both a Plotter and a Pantser. Perhaps that would be a “Plotser?” Either way, it works for me!

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Excerpt from The Bennets: Providence & Perception

Mary had been most attentive to her father since the accident, spending many hours in his room, reading to him or sometimes just watching him sleep. But today, he seemed more alert and in less pain, so Mary asked whether they could have a conversation about an incident the day of the accident. When he nodded, she shut the door to his room and pulled a chair close to the bed to relate the tale of her finding Lydia rummaging through their mother’s jewelry case.

“So, I believe you should take this bracelet, Papa, and keep it safe,” Mary concluded. She held out the gold band, and he took it, shaking his head and exhaling slowly. She was struck by his expression. He had not shown such a sorrowful countenance since Mrs. Bennet died.

“Thank you, Mary. You handled not only that situation well, but I must also compliment you on the way you took charge in the chaos after the shooting. Things were in such a state, and you seemed to be the only one with your wits about you.”

Mary could not help but feel pride in his rare compliment. “What will you do, Papa? I mean, about Lydia?”

“I shall give Lydia some money—yet again.”

“It seems an endless cycle though, does it not?”

“Sadly, yes.” Mr. Bennet leaned back against his pillows, wincing slightly. “And it also, perhaps, explains something about the accident.”

Mary felt a chill come over her. “What is your meaning?” she whispered.

“That day—I have been replaying it in my mind ever since. Wickham and I had already bagged several birds. I was ready to head back, but Wickham wanted to continue and pushed us on to the far edge of the estate—the end of the large field north of us—you know the one that’s rather hilly?” Mary nodded silently. “We came to a fence, and Wickham gestured for me to climb the stile first. I thought he was being polite. I went ahead but took a misstep at the top, which made me lurch to the right. I had to grab a post to keep from falling. Then I felt the sting of shot and tumbled off.”

Mary forced herself to ask the question that had been uppermost on her mind since that dreadful afternoon. “On…purpose, do you think?”

“Every hunter knows the basics of safety when climbing or even walking with a gun, Mary; you must disengage the barrel so it cannot fire. Despite his protestations of forgetfulness”—Mr. Bennet leaned closer to his daughter—“I fear he was hoping to stage a fatal accident in order to get his hands on Lydia’s inheritance early. I dismissed the thought before, thinking my general dislike of Wickham was the only reason I would conjecture such a thing. But now that you tell me he and Lydia are deeply in debt, it does create a sort of motive, I believe.”

Mary’s hands shot to her mouth, and tears sprang to her eyes. After a moment, she softly replied, “Papa, I must tell you: I happened to see Lydia’s expression as you were brought in. She did not look at you at all but fixed her eyes firmly on Wickham’s. And her expression—I can still see it in my mind—I could not decipher it at first, but now…now I believe it was one of accusation. She knew what her husband did was not an accident.”

She took her father’s hand. “I should like to always think the best of our fellow human beings—and especially of a member of our own family. But I fear I cannot comprehend any other possible explanation of the situation you just related. You must ask them to leave at once.”

Mr. Bennet sighed. “I cannot do that. Just before Christmas? It would cause too much of a ruckus, and then Kitty and your aunt and uncle Phillips would demand to know the reason behind their sudden departure. No, I believe Wickham will be on his best behavior now that he has failed and likely knows I suspect him.”

Mr. Bennet took the gold bracelet and put it the drawer of his bedside table. He gave his daughter a wry smile.

“I can tell you this much, however. It will be a cold day in hell before I ever go hunting with him again.”

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Author Bio

KC Cowan spent her professional life working in the media as a news reporter in Portland, Oregon for KGW-TV, KPAM-AM and KXL-AM radio, and as original host and story producer for a weekly arts program on Oregon Public Television. She is co-author of the fantasy series: Journey to Wizards’ Keep, The Hunt for Winter, and Everfire. The Hunt for Winter and Everfire were both awarded First Place OZMA citations from Chanticleer International Book Awards for fantasy writing.

KC is also the author of two other books: The Riches of a City – the story of Portland, Oregon, and They Ain’t Called Saints for Nothing! in collaboration with artist Chris Haberman, a tongue-in-cheek look at saints. She is married and lives in Tucson, Arizona.

Contact Info

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Buy Links

The Bennets: Providence & Perception is available to buy now in Paperback, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.  

• Universal Amazon Buy Link • Add to Goodreads shelf

Giveaway Time 

Meryton Press will be giving away one eBook of KC Cowan's The Bennets: Providence & Perception for each stop on the Blog Tour, for a total of six eBooks. To enter, just leave a comment on this blog post by the end of the day worldwide on 30 March. Please include your name in your comment. If you have any problems adding your comment please contact me and I will add your comment for you :)

Blog Tour Schedule

Check out the other stops on the blog tour to read more about the book and have extra chances to win an ebook.

March 20 From Pemberley to Milton

March 21 Elza Reads

March 22 My Vices and Weaknesses

March 23 Interests of a Jane Austen Girl

March 24 Babblings of a Bookworm

March 27 Savvy Verse & Wit

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