More Mr. Darcy? Yes, please.❤️
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that it’s practically impossible not to fall in love with Mr. Darcy. Firth, McFadden, or the OG novel version, he is hard to resist.
I fell in love with Mr. Darcy around 1998. I was a little late to discover the ‘95 BBC adaptation but wasted no time catching up, watching it numerous times over.
Then I found the world of Jane Austen fan fiction.
I was hooked!
Seeing Jane Austen’s characters reimagined in new settings is so much fun. Same great characters, but with exciting new adventures. I’ll take more of that.
One of the early JAFF (Jane Austen Fan Fiction) authors I came across was Heather Moll. I read all the books Heather had released and promptly connected with her, informing her that we were now friends (in my defense, this was during the very early Instagram days when we truly were a tight-knit community of readers looking to build friendships).
Heather let me rope her into said friendship and here we are many years later still online friends.
Although Heather and I have never met in “real life,” we’ve been text, Zoom, and meme-sharing friends for years.
I love JAFF so much, and I wanted to share that love with all of you. I couldn’t think of anyone better to introduce you to than Heather since she is a librarian turned JAFF author.
Please give a warm welcome to my friend Heather, who is here to share her story of how she stumbled into becoming an author.
💌A note from Heather…
How does one go from being a librarian to writing Jane Austen variations? It was an unpredictable journey partly my husband’s fault and partly to blame on me liking to research stuff.
I was a librarian until I had my son and decided to stay home. Even though it was what I wanted, transitioning from working professional to stay-at-home mom was a tough adjustment. Once we settled into a routine, I felt isolated and questioned what defined me. Was I just ‘Mom’, and was that enough? None of my friends had children yet and the days sometimes felt long.
My husband had introduced me to Pride and Prejudice about five years before that. He thought seeing the 2005 movie would be a good date night, but I had never read the book—and what good librarian sees a movie without first reading the book? So, I checked it out from the library. And I fell in love. I adored the dialogue between Darcy and Elizabeth. I loved Austen’s wit and the romantic ending for two flawed characters who became better people and then found true happiness together.
I liked the book more than that adaptation. I soon discovered variations and sequels online and in the library catalog. But JAFF and Pride and Prejudice weren’t enough. I read literary criticisms, Austen’s letters, joined JASNA, read everything about Georgian England, and I bought multiple copies of Austen’s works just for their unique introductions and annotations.
Fast forward to being a stay-at-home mom stuck at home during naptime, wondering what to do with my new life. And one nap time I thought, “I could write a short story Austen variation just for fun.” That short story turned into a full-length book. I had planned to write one book just for myself and never share it with anyone—and now I’m publishing my own Austen variations. I love researching the era and plotting rich stories and finding new ways for Darcy and Elizabeth to deserve each other. I currently have ten books out with another one out in March.
I’m fortunate I get to use my background in archives and records management and my love of Austen and the regency era to create stories that people love to read.
Thank you, Heather, for sharing your journey to JAFF with us!
I would love to know, have you explored the world of Jane Austen variations? If you haven’t yet, are you intrigued to try one?
Here are a few of my favorites from Heather releases…
Can a Derbyshire meeting lead to love or will Pemberley be plunged into mystery?
In the rainy summer of 1812, Mr Darcy returns to Pemberley with a large party in the hope that coming home will help him recover from his disappointment. He lost Elizabeth Bennet’s good opinion, but Darcy did all he could to rectify his errors. Meanwhile, Elizabeth hopes that travelling with a newly-wed Jane and Bingley will raise her spirits and distract her from thoughts of Darcy.
When a misunderstanding causes the Bingley party and Darcy’s to spend a fortnight together at Pemberley, both Elizabeth and Darcy wonder if the other could love them. When the season’s wet and cold weather causes flooding throughout Derbyshire, Darcy’s attention reluctantly shifts from his guests–and Elizabeth–to managing the tragedy.
But when someone drowns and Darcy refuses to believe their death was an accident from the storm, he and Elizabeth must work together to uncover the truth before his houseguests leave, and before anyone else gets hurt.
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Content note: mature content, mild violence.
Click HERE to check it out.
A disastrous proposal. A fresh start. Can this tentative duo forgive the past and make each other promises of forever?
Elizabeth Bennet worries she’s been too hasty. Distressed after reading her rejected suitor’s passionate letter of self-defense, the agitated young woman agonizes that she’s put a scoundrel on a pedestal and scorned a worthy man. And when they meet again during an unexpected morning call, her heart pounds with a wave of relief when he quickly accepts her clever apology.
Fitzwilliam Darcy regrets his quick judgments. So after a shockingly cordial exchange renews his hopes, the gentleman strikes up a cautious friendship with the object of his affections. But though the woman he adores seems willing to grant him a second chance, he fears her kin’s reckless behavior could still smear his reputation.
Confused by her father’s disapproval of her prospective match, Elizabeth’s dreams turn to dismay when a corrupt soldier tempts her sister into a scandal. And as Darcy does his best to protect his beloved’s family, honor demands he put his life on the line.
As a tentative friendship blooms into romance, can this proud gentleman and witty lady overcome a life-threatening crisis?
This is a 105,000 word second edition of His Choice of a Wife, a slightly steamy Regency romance.
Click HERE to check it out.
**An IPPY bronze medal winner for romance 2023**
Are love and affection enough to overcome the pain of grief and anger?
In the spring of 1812, Elizabeth and Lydia are the only Bennet daughters still unmarried after the death of their father. Elizabeth’s health and spirits worsen as she moves among relations as an unwanted, dependent sister. She returns to Mary and Mr Collins at Longbourn to learn that the neighbourhood gossip centres on the reclusive Mr Darcy.
Darcy and his sister live an isolated life in a small rented lodge near Netherfield after the events at Ramsgate. As Georgiana’s health is failing, Darcy has his own regrets to bear. He tries to keep them secluded, but a young woman arrives who is determined to befriend his lonely, ill sister.
When Elizabeth receives disastrous news, she makes a daring plan to find happiness for herself while she still can. Misunderstandings and secrets abound for them both but in the end, Darcy and Elizabeth will find greater strength together than they ever had apart.
Content note: mature content, secondary character’s miscarriage off page, secondary character death
Click HERE to check it out.
She’s forbidden to wed a nobody. He’s nothing in society’s eyes. Will their desperate schemes backfire before they find a way to be together?
Northanger Abbey. Eleanor Tilney can’t bear her lonely life any longer. Distraught when her tyrannical father throws her friend out of the house because the girl lacks an inheritance, the long-suffering general’s daughter decides anything is better than a future all alone. So in a frantic bid for freedom, she puts aside her tender feelings for a man of no standing to pursue a wealthy husband.
Philip Brampton understands that fortune is against him. And he tries gallantly to bury his distress and support his lonely beloved, even after she starts pursuing an arrogant buffoon. But when he catches the fellow about to kiss her, their resulting harsh words cause a heartbreaking rift.
Stiffening her spine in a world that refuses to acknowledge her value, Eleanor attempts to navigate the impossible situation without quashing her desires. And though his shy nature abhors a scene, Philip braces himself for a confrontation with her cruel and abusive patriarch.
Do these childhood sweethearts have any hope of achieving lasting happiness?
This is a full length forbidden love regency romance inspired by Jane Austen
Click HERE to check it out.
Many of Heather’s books are also available in Kindle Unlimited. I hope you will check them out!
(NOTE - this is a bit on the longish side so head to Substack to enjoy the full post)
Posts to check out
is sharing how she is approaching her reading in 2025 and I love her thoughtfulness about it. is sharing insight into annotating. I haven’t shared the practice yet, but I did just have another conversation about with on our Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Community livestream where my fellow hosts Marigold and Mindy are fully embracing their annotating era.
And
is got you cover with so many recommendations about all things bookish.
☕📖✨Grab a book and check out The Tea Shop for some of my favorite teas paired with Jane Austen novels.
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I haven’t read any Jane Austen fanfic, but I do love modern day retellings of Jane Austen stories. My favorite is Sonali Dev’s series about an Indian American family based on Pride and Prejudice.
I've gotten into Austen retellings over the past few years but haven't read any fanfic. Thank you for the shoutout! I also enjoyed Christi's annotation guide.