When a small JAFF web site decided to offer a story contest to add to its roster of invited-only authors, little did they know the snowball effect it would have on fellow Meryton Assembly Chat Chit and author Sarah Johnson. As they hoped, she was inspired. The writing bug bit her hard, and it was not too long before she posted a huge story on that site (Darcy and Lizzy.com) and on A Happy Assembly: Leaving Bennet Behind.

Seeing the excitement of fellow Chits who had published recently, including Meryton Press’s Linda Beutler and myself, Sarah became interested in having her story published, but was advised it was too long. She and I brainstormed a little, and when I realized the core story was about Mary Bennet, a less common main character, I suggested a re-write to focus on that story, and perhaps add to the balance of the story to create another novel, or even two to make a trilogy. Sarah surprised me, and now plans to make Leaving Bennet Behind a series of five books! She’s a hard worker: she home-schools her children (she has six, though not all are school age), is constantly writing new material (in addition to the first two books in the LBB series, she has self-published three novellas), assists other authors with cover design and layout of their novels, leads an authors-only facebook group to discuss issues of concern and share information, runs a bookstore on her web site, “My Peculiar World,” and edits the newsletter “Peculiar Ramblings.”

In the March 2015 edition, I’m a guest writer, on the topic of “The Season,” and the article’s title is “Party Central in the Regency.” Check it out, and while you’re there, check out the other parts of Sarah’s web site!