So said Wellington to his mistress who was about to publish his love letters to her. Publish regardless, then wait for the chips to fall where they may.

And those chips will fall.

In Wellington’s case, he hoped she would be damned for her publications. In my own, I’m hoping for the reverse reaction, but you can never tell.

Can’t please everyone all the time – sage advice I have clung to throughout my writing career. With the first book, I published just because I had finished it and wanted a copy for myself, to see it in print and not just on my computer screen. Imagine my surprise when other people – and not just family and friends – bought it and read it, too.

Then the reviews started coming in. Another surprise framed in horror. People had read my book and now had something to say about it? Fortunately, the early reviews were mainly positive and plentiful, but, even so, I examined each of them for hidden criticism or irony.

Then the first negative review came in – and, of course, there have been several more over the course of five books. Everything from correcting my grammar, to informing me of historical inaccuracies, to just basically saying the books were boring. It’s enough to make a new writer throw in the towel or the laptop. And no matter how many positive reviews outweighed the negative, it’s the negative ones that stick every time. Which is ridiculous because they shouldn’t have more power than the positive ones, they’re individual opinions, after all. And I should be happy readers have taken the time to respond to my writing rather than ignore it – shouldn’t I?

Anyway, now Discretion or Disgrace has been released, I know what to expect when I check in to see what the verdict is – which I won’t be doing for several weeks or months, believe me. I decided quite early on that it’s better to ignore the noise and just get busy with new projects rather than agonize over every reader comment. And, by the way, I’ve accepted that reader opinions and reviews are for the benefit of other readers and not aimed directly, personally, at me, the author. Not always, anyway. A thick skin is a requirement whenever you send your own creation out into the world; otherwise, you are easily bruised.

And now to pre-empt my critics: For those of you who wanted answers or a neat ending I say: I’m working on FIM 4 even as you read this. These characters just keep on keeping on with their lives, but I have to stop somewhere. I can’t say when it will be ready but I hope it will not involve another 3 years before it is. For those of you who wanted more ‘development in the bedroom area’; sorry, you’ve come to the wrong place for that. I leave all that to your, the individual reader’s, imagination, thank you. Once those bedroom doors close, they’re closed for the evening. For those of you who would like ‘a buggy chase, at least’, the only buggy chase that I know of in Jane Austen’s work is in Sense and Sensibility, and that wasn’t really a chase, more youthful exuberance. If it wasn’t a good enough idea for Jane Austen, then it’s not good enough for me, either. And finally, for those of you who complain that ‘nothing really happens’ – um – have you read any Jane Austen?

Right, that’s me for now. I hope most readers will enjoy Discretion or Disgrace. I have done my best to faithfully replicate the lives and loves of the wonderful characters brought to life by our favorite author, and I have felt very fortunate to have been allowed, once again, to intrude into their lives and observe them as they go about their daily business.

Meanwhile, FIM4 is waiting for another chapter, as are several other ideas which I keep adding to. I’ll update as I go. Thanks for reading and have a great day.