Hello, Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me here to discuss my latest short story.  My Beloved Witch is my retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma.

This short story, however, was not the one I set out to write.  When chatting with Plot Whisperer about writing a paranormal Jane Austen, she suggested a version of Pride and Prejudice featuring shapeshifting creatures and vampires.

I was like, uh…?

She started describing what she envisioned. She wrote. And wrote. And wrote.

I had to start working and yet she continued to write.

I said nothing, but let her go on as she immersed herself in the story.

I was in awe.  She remembered all the major plot points of P&P –— as well as many of the minor ones — and by the time she was finished, she had a hell of a story.

Quietly, I pointed out this was supposed to be a 15k SHORT STORY.

She sat back and thought.

I did something I’d done several other times when she’d truly been invested in a story.  I offered it to her.  To this point, her response had always been the same: Nope. I created this plot for you.  It’s not for me.

This time?

A very long silence.

Then she asked for twenty-four hours to make a decision and went to bed.

I waited impatiently because I knew — I KNEW — this would be such an amazing story.  But not a story I was meant to tell.

She came back a day later and said yes, she was going to keep the plot.

I was elated.

That was the easy part.  It took the better part of a year of me cajoling and encouraging and poking for her to get the story written.  Eventually, she found the courage to share with me.

OMG — it’s brilliant.

Now I have to figure out how to get her to publish.

But…that left me without a story.

She said, ‘Oh, Emma’s a lesbian witch.’

I was like…HUH?????

She elaborated — provided me a brilliant story that, again, hit most of the plot points for Emma.  Only instead of Mr. George Knightly, I had the super powerful witch, Maeve Knightly.  Who has been in love with Emma for a long time but has held her silence.

Now, in my very liberal version of Regency England, witches abound and being queer is normal and even celebrated.  So to say it’s loosely historical would be accurate.

I love the story.  I think Plot Whisperer whispered the perfect plot, and I was thrilled to be included in this new anthology.

And yes, there is, I believe, in another story, a vampire.  But he’s not gay.

One day, I will get Plot Whisperer to publish that book.

Anyway, that’s the tale about the story I wasn’t meant to tell.  Thank you for allowing me to visit, Delilah!

Contest: As a thank you to your readers, I would love to give away a copy of my sapphic novella, I See You.  Just let me know, is there a classic you would love to see take on a paranormal twist?  If you want, let me know which twist you would like.  Random will choose a winner. Good luck!

Sense, Sensibility, and Shifters
(A Paranormal Jane Austen Retellings Collection)

Jane Austen’s timeless love stories take on a supernatural twist in Sense, Sensibility and Shifters, a captivating anthology of paranormal romance.

Step into a world where Darcy’s pride hides a dark secret, and Elizabeth’s prejudice may cost her more than her heart. Each story in this anthology brings an iconic Austen romance to life in a thrilling new way.

From the mysterious moors of Northanger Abbey to the haunted halls of Pemberley, Sense & Sensibility and Shifters invites you to experience classic love stories with an otherworldly edge.

Perfect for readers who adore the elegance of Austen and the allure of the paranormal, this anthology will whisk you away to a world where love is ethereal, powerful, and worth every risk.

Authors:
L Mad Hildebrandt
Bianca White
Roslyn St. Clair
Ann C. Orlandi
Angela Kady
Gabbi Grey
AK Nevermore
Ariel Dawn

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/tnrc2025sensesensibilityshifters
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Sense-Sensibility-Shifters-Paranormal-Retellings-ebook/dp/B0DK5DFH1B
Add it to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220472194-sense-sensibility-and-shifters

My Beloved Witch by Gabbi Grey

Emma Woodhouse is the consummate matchmaker. No one in Highbury is as talented as she is in securing happiness by bringing couples together. Her latest task is to find a match for her new friend, Harriet Smith. If Emma isn’t careful, though, she might fall in love herself.

My Beloved Witch is 10k word loose retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma set approximately during the Regency period, but in a world where being queer is celebrated, and being a witch is no big deal…

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

The post Gabbi Grey: The Story I Wasn’t Meant to Write first appeared on Delilah Devlin.