We’re kind of in between seasons. Summer is fading but autumn hasn’t officially arrived yet. I’m also balanced in the midst of two writing projects at the moment, which is unusual for me.

Normally, my work-in-progress has my full attention from beginning to end, from starting chapter one until the book is published and the blog tour over. But because I’ve been holding back It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Darcy until closer to Christmas, I’m now caught betwixt and between two books, the one that’s finished but not yet published and the one I’ve been actively working on more recently: Captain Wentworth in His Own Words. So here’s the update on both.

It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Darcy is done except for the cover, which I will be revealing soon! As for the publication date… No more intentional delays. Whenever everything is ready, it’s a go! – probably early November. For more info and excerpts, read previous posts here and here.

In the meantime, though, I’ve been working on my next novel – Captain Wentworth in His Own Words – which, at 90 pages so far, is about 1/3 done. As with my other ...in His Own Words novels (Fitzwilliam Darcy, Colonel Brandon, and Mr. Knightley), I’m taking an Austen hero and telling his full story (not just a rehash of Persuasion from a different point of view) – including a snippet of his childhood, how he wound up in the navy, his first courtship with Anne, and a taste of his navy adventures.

I hope you’re looking forward to both of these, but if you want more “Shannon Winslow” right now, you’ll need to turn to my backlist. I’m guessing there’s at least one title on it that you haven’t read yet. So, to encourage you to do just that, I decided to give away a bunch of audio books!

Here’s the thing. Everybody loves Darcy and Elizabeth, and so my Pride and Prejudice novels are very popular. But just as I love both my sons equally, I love all my book babies equally too. I put just as much care and effort into writing the less popular titles. In my opinion, they are of equal quality and just as worth reading (the reviews will back me up on that too!). So it pains me to see them overlooked.

Consequently, I’m giving 4 of my darling little wallflowers a day in the sun. Let’s show these beauties a little love!

• The Persuasion of Miss Jane Austen
• Murder at Northanger Abbey
• Leap of Hope: Chance at an Austen Kind of Life
• Prayer & Praise – a Jane Austen Devotional

Here’s how the giveaway works. Read about the books. Then contact me on or before September 27th via email – shannon (at) shannonwinslow (dot) com – placing “LOVE FOR WALLFLOWERS” in the subject line. Tell me which of the four books you want to receive AND which market you are in, Audible US or Audible UK (you don’t need a subscription to receive your free book). That’s all there is to it. And the best news is everybody wins! I will keep giving out promotional audio codes until they’re all gone!

[NOTE to Gmail users: I’ve been having trouble with the email address above in regards to Gmail. I can receive but often my reply back won’t go through. So I may need to reply to you using a different email account. Check your spam file and follow up if you don’t receive your book in a timely manner.]

This is a win-win proposition. I get a little attention for my wallflowers and you get a free book – one you might not have read otherwise but may discover you love in the end. There’s no obligation either. I will be delighted if you enjoy your gift book enough to leave a review somewhere, tell a friend, or continue on to read any of my others you’ve missed. Happy reading! And come back afterwards to let me know what you thought.

But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of goodwill which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude. (Pride and Prejudice, chapter 44)