Pride and Prejudice: Reader’s Choice is a collaborative, original Pride and Prejudice variation the Austen Authors are writing. Following a typical “round robin” format of storytelling, every week a different Austen Author writes an installment to the story, continuing the threads begun by the previous authors. The twist is that at each turn, it is the readers of our blog who decide what path the story will take!

How it began:  On January 14, 2013 we offered three possible scenarios to begin the story. Each were clever alternatives to the classic novel by Jane Austen that would – in the hands of a creative writer – change the immediate or long term course of the story. Readers voted over three days, and this was the winning alternative–

The Bennet Brother

Elizabeth has an older, very protective brother. Returning to Hertfordshire after a time away, he is not pleased to learn of his favorite sister being insulted by Mr. Darcy! Will he confront the emotionally-conflicted Darcy? Does Lizzy’s brother know Mr. Darcy, or heard rumors of him? Or perhaps vice versa? And what about this mysterious brother, anyway?

On Wednesday, January 30 the story  officially launched,
the opening scene written by Abigail Reynolds!

Because this is Pride and Prejudice: Reader’s Choice, every weekly segment ends with a mini-cliffhanger or crossroad. Three to four different story options will be presented, and visitors will have one day to vote on their favorite. As soon as the poll closes, the next author will begin writing. The Bennet Brother will continue, week after week, for as long as we need to bring Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy to their happily-ever-after.

You can follow the mysterious Bennet family member on Twitter @EdwBennet and look for info using the hashtag #hotBennetBrother

Scene dates, author, and direct link (once posted)

January 30 – Scene #1 by Abigail Reynolds
February 13 – Scene #2 by Jack Caldwell
February 27 – Scene #3 by Diana Birchall
March 6 – Scene #4 by C. Allyn Pierson
March 13 – Scene #5 by Sharon Lathan
March 20 – Scene #6 by Marilyn Brant
March 27 – Scene #7 by Diana Birchall
April 3 – Scene #8 by Jane Odiwe
April 10 – Scene #9 by Nina Benneton
April 17 – Scene #10 by Regina Jeffers
April 24 – Scene #11 by Shannon Winslow
May 1 – Scene #12 by Colette Saucier
May 8 – Scene #13 by Sharon Lathan
May 15 – Scene #14 by Sally Smith O’Rourke
May 22 – Scene #15 by Maria Grace
May 29 – Scene #16 by Susan Mason-Milks
June 5 – Scene #17 by Alyssa Goodnight
June 12 – Scene #18 by Regina Jeffers
June 19 – Scene #19 by Abigail Reynolds
June 26 – Scene #20 by Jack Caldwell
July 3 – Scene #21 by C. Allyn Pierson
July 10 – Scene #22 by Diana Birchall
July 24 – Scene #23 by Sally Smith O’Rourke
July 31 – Scene #24 by Maria Grace
August 7 – Scene #25 by Abigail Reynolds
August 14 – Scene #26 by Sharon Lathan
August 21 – Scene #27 by Susan Mason-Milks

The Bennet Brother is also posted in The Writer’s Block  in the P&P: Reader’s Choice topic thread. There the installments flow in sequence for easy reading – after the new scene has been posted on the blog and voted on.