'Home and Gnome' Interviews Mrs. Bennet

Welcome Becky Thumann to Darcyholic Diversions!

Hi, Darcyholics!  I am happy to welcome back Becky Thumann.  She was able to find some time to speak with Mrs. Bennet of her newly released Longbourn State of Mind and is able to share that story with us today as well as providing a copy of her book for a give away. I hope you enjoy a peak at one of her characters.

Upcoming Guest Posts Are As Follows:
June 5--Sharon Lathan
June 8--Gayle Mills
June 10--Jan Ashe
June 12--Shannon Winslow
June 15--Karen Wasylowski
June 19--Krista Bagley
June 22--Stephanie Hamm
June 26--Laurel Ann Nattress
June 29--Pam Dixon
July 3--Jennifer Petkus
July 6--Karen Aminada
July 10--Marilyn Brant
July 13--Meredith Esparanza
July 17--Lori Smith
July 20--Bernadette
July 24--Barbara Tiller Cole: Christmas in July
July 27--Amy Cecil
July 31--Maria Grace
August 3--Wendi S.
And Many more to come!

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Comments on Becky's post will be entered into a contest to win a copy of latest book (US and Canada), as well as being entered into the monthly drawings here at Darcyholic Diversions.  Winners will be selected along with other June winners, at the beginning to July.  Entries will be based on comments on blog posts; but additional chances will be given for joining this site, tweeting this post, Joining this site as a member via Google Friend Connect (GFC)!, sharing this on Facebook or your blog, Friend me on Facebook, clicking 'like’ on Barbara Tiller Cole, Author's Facebook page, Join Darcyholic Diversions Facebook Page or following BarbTCole on Twitter.

Home and Gnome Interviews Mrs. Bennet

Welcome to our online weekend preview of “Home and Gnome”. We’re very excited to introduce our Saturday Socialite – Mrs. Frances Bennet. Today, we’re releasing just a snippet of our lengthy interview – the full on article will be release on Monday.

Mrs. Bennet has invited me to lunch under her garden pergola deep in the heart of Covington, Louisiana, and I can’t wait to ask her where she bought her shoes.

Our Saturday Socialite has had a rough year – an unauthorized book chronicling the family’s ups and downs has been released (Longbourn State of Mind), her husband suffered a heart attack, the Bennet land endured an embezzlement scandal, and there was a rumored sex tape floating around involving her eldest daughter, Jane.

(The family has thus far refused comment on the tape, and I haven’t quite decided if I have enough chutzpah to ask this revered and straightforward southern lady about its existence.)

After driving down their lane – which is covered by a canopy of hundred year old Magnolia trees, and encountering their statement of a home (aptly named the “Big House”), Mrs. Bennet greets me on her front porch looking radiant in a simple yellow summer dress and kitten heels.

We dive right in to a light lunch of spicy arugula salad and cherry tomatoes that she says she picked herself.

“My garden is about three steps away from the house – and my Dilly – our housekeepuh – and I go out every day and hahvest our goods. Cannin’ season is right aroun’ the cornuh. It’s always a busy time aroun’ heuh.”

She delicately drinks from her glass of lemonade and there isn’t a drop of sweat on her forehead – despite the humid and hot day. Her ankles are elegantly crossed and I realized that it was no wonder that this woman had turned out five beautiful and classy daughters. I ask her about her them and her mother’s pride easily shines through. She checks off each of her daughters’ latest news on her fingers, telling me their biggest news.

“Elizabeth has just been married – we couldn’t be happiuh with her choice o’ husband. Dahcy is absolutely a blessin’ fo’ this family. Since Thomas suffuh’d his heart attack, he has really stepped up tuh the plate.

“And the triplets are in theuh second yeuh at school – they just love it. They are always just emailin’ me with updates about who they’uh hangin’ out with and what they’uh up tuh. It’s hard not tuh miss them.

“I’m sure you’ve heard that our Jane has finally set a weddin’ date with her beau. We really enjoy him, too. He’s always aroun’ heuh helpin’ out with the stables and horses.”

Briefly, she looks beyond the garden’s edge, probably thinking that she might see one of her children riding by on one of Longbourn Ranch’s prized horses, bless her little heart.

Eventually, she turns her head back to me – almost surprised to see me still sitting there. She recovers remarkably, and asks me about my lemonade. I tell her it’s wonderful.

Leaning in gracefully, as if she has the biggest secret in the world to share with me, she tells me that there is a “hint” of gin hiding in the ingredients.

I ask her if this is her favorite summer cocktail and she looks at me like I’m crazy.

“Drinks are like men, honey. You can’t just have one favorite.”
…

That’s it for our weekend snippet. Check back in on Monday for the rest of our interesting interview – when we talk about Mr. Bennet’s heart attack, the unauthorized biography of their family – Longbourn State of Mind – and see if I gather enough courage to ask that sneaky sex tape question.

The Editors of Home and Gnome have been given two advance copies of this “unauthorized” book about the Bennets – and we’re excited to give them away. All you need to do is leave a comment telling us what YOU’RE favorite summertime cocktail is. Here at Home and Gnome, we’re sort of partial to “Panty Rippers” – equal parts coconut rum and pineapple juice.

Two winners will be chosen at the end of June along with the other Monthly drawings.

Until Next Time–

Home and Gnome

Becky's Author Page at Amazon