Dear Abby: Your stories help me get through a month's stay while my son was in the critical care unit! My hat's off to you! I downloaded the pages and read them in the hospital. I now have a complete novel!!!!

I can re-read this any time I wish. It is a beautifully written story that keeps my wondering, what if! I wish you would write more. Many thanks to your talent

Today I've finished Abby's new pages. You will find them here

Little by little the entire site is getting its new look.

Goodness! I apologize for not checking the message forum on this site more regularly. I truly had no idea there were new comments for me to read until lovely Renee e-mailed me re: the changes in her pages and layout. (Thank you again, dearest Renee!)

Jess: Thank you for the lovely words regarding this story. Writing another story seems rather unlikely at this point, but I'm so pleased that you've enjoyed this one. I'm back at work and my children are growing, so I'm not likely to have the kind of time to commit to another fanfic. Yet, you've no idea how encouraging it is to learn that this one is still being read!

Brandy: Thanks for the warm thoughts regarding my dad and for the nice sentiments after reading "Happenstance".

Ann W: I hope your sister-in-law is faring better. After having had four tumours removed, my father has opted not to have any more surgeries and I believe he's made the best choice. In the end, I know any time I've spent with him during this time will remain with me forever.

Roberta: Firstly, I hope your son is doing better. I can't imagine how frightening it must have been for you to have a child in the Critical Care Unit. If "Happenstance" provided you with any means of escape, then I feel even more fabulous for having written it.

To all other readers of this story: Thank you for not forgetting it. It truly appears as though I wrote it in another lifetime and to learn that there are still people reading and enjoying it means everything to me. Believe me, none of your words are taken for granted.

~abby

Thank you again, dearest Renee

YW, Abby darling, Mrs. Darcy's fine circle of authors deserve a colourful and well-designed presentation!

Dearest Abby:

I Thank you from the bottom of my heart I have re-read your story and it brings a smile to my face as I read it! Yes, my son has fully recovered he looks like nothing ever happened to him just slightly trimmer! Athlete you know! The doctors were all amazed at him! Healthly is what we all should be! They used to ask what kind of report was I reading all I could do was smile! Little did they know! There was a female neurosurgeon who caught on and asked where she could check out the stories! P&P fan also So when can we expect another great story? I love the flow of your story, you did trasnport me into the world of Regency England Good luck to you in all that you do, and God Bless

hello.
I have finished your work. And I really have enjoyed.
First of all, I come from Spain. and English is not my first language.But I adore the Jane Austen work, Pride and Prejudice so I started to read your history with curiosity( it has been the first one but no the last one, I can assure you) It has been amazing, I never can imagine how can be possible to go on developing this characters ( Mr Darcy and Elizabeth) on that way, so respectfully and in a so modern way. I really enjoyed reading it and I want to give you lots of thanks, I have been able to spent so fantastic moments in the reading.

Thanks again.

Sorry for my spelling and use of english. Surely I have lots of mistakes.

esther

Abby,

I have just read Happenstance for the second time and I have to say how much I love it.

I hope thaat you have plans to write another story soon?

I really enjoyed your writing, it was so well developed and so true to the character! I have read some books in publish that are not even comprable to your work. I thank you for having written this story. The only thing I wish to impart in suggestion is that white font on a red background is very tough on the eyes!

Bis, welcome (I'm not sure whether I've seen posts from you before :D).

About the white font on a red background: I didn't have this complaint previously, and I'm afraid it's a little difficult to change it at this point. But I'll keep it in mind.

cheers
the administrator

Sorry, I meant Biz, of course!

Wonderfully entertaining and satisfying. I applaud you.

I am almost embarrassed to admit it but I read this entirely in one sitting!(about 8 hours) Once I started, I could not stop. I was in such angst all day and had to put everything else aside. (I regret, my poor family thinks I am nuts!) What a satisfying, gratifying read! Loved it-- thank you for this gift today! I can't read wait to read whatever else you have to offer.

First off, what great news about your son's restored good health, Roberta! (LOL at the neurosurgeon presuming you were reading a "report"...too, too hilarious!)

Biz, Frances, Christina, Esther & Cheryl, thank you for your comments! Even after all this time, I'm still affected by them!

Esther, your English is fine! It's more than fine actually! Well done!

No plans for a second story Cheryl, but I'm so pleased that you enjoyed this one! (Thank you!)

Thanks for reading, Biz (particularly if the red and white colour scheme hurt your eyes!)

Frances, glad you were entertained and satisfied! I must tell you, I often wasn't too sure of how entertaining or satisfying it would be while I was writing it, so your words are high praise to me indeed!

Christina, like you I've been so caught up in a story that time has wasted away. I generally haven't minded though if the story kept me interested. I hope mine did. (Sorry for the angst. It was necessary and I had already resolved to make it all better by the end at any rate). Thanks for commenting!

I really enjoyed this story....any new ones coming on the horizon?! Hope so

Abby,
I have just finished reading your story and was amazed at how much I enjoyed reading it. The reason I say that is because I didn't think I would be able to read 20 something chapters with Lizzy and Darcy hateing each other. But it really was a treat to read. I hated coming to the end. I hate it even more knowing that you will not be writing another.
You have done a great job in your writing and it is a shame we will not be blessed with more of it.

I started reading Happenstance at about 8.30 last night and finished at about 4.00p.m. this afternoon (i did go to bed for a few hours!)...
but wow! when i started reading i thought it was a crazy story, but i loved the way you managed to incorporate everything that happens in P&P but once they're already married, and keeping the essence of the characters (tho' i must say I empathised much more with Mr Darcy than with Elizabeth!). Thankyou Abby - i'm going to make my sister read it now!

Every now and then one returns to a beloved story. I just wanted to tell you that (since I am in bed)I have read Happenstance for the fourth or fifth time, I cannot recall exactly, yet I have enjoyed every bit of it.

How lovely to learn that you've re-read the story Eli! You've no idea how much it means to me.

Much much thanks to you and to all who still enjoy this story.

Finished reading Happenstance this afternoon, and I have to tell you, Abby, how very much I enjoyed it! Certainly one of my favorite ff's ever!

Mandy

Abby,
I have just finished re reading your story, and again have to say that I am truely heartbroken that you have not written another. Truely one of my favorite JA Fan Fic. Wish to read more of your writing. Please!!!

Hi Abby,

Just finnished re-reading your story....again. Still loving it as much as the first time I read it. Really I should have been concentrating on my work over the past week, but I rather enjoyed the indulgence of reading your story again, so I shall not allow myself to feel guilty!

Thanks for sharing, LisaJ

mandylu, Maria and Lisa:

Thanks so much for reading my story and for taking the time to comment and let me know you enjoyed it. It means a great deal to me that something that I invested so much time and sometimes frustration (lol)in continues to be read.

Give yourselves a pat on the back for making my Sunday night!

Abby B,

Your story was amazing. At first, I wasn't too keen on an alternate universe P&P story, I usually like the after P&P stories best. However, I think you made a believer out of me about how the story would have been if Elizabeth and Darcy were forced/highly encouraged to marry.

I am a newcomer to fan fiction of Austen's works, but for years I have enjoyed Harry Potter fan fiction. Thank you again for the wonderful escape on Mother's Day, as it truly made my day more than you can ever imagine.

Always Smiling,
Elizabeth Ann West

Yay Elizabeth! I'm so glad you were able to use "Happenstance" as a means of escape on Mother's Day! That's a fabulous compliment! Much thanks.

Keep smiling. ;)

Like every story of yours that I've read (and I think I have read them all), this was great. Your character development is so real. D&E really live. Thank you for all the hours of reading pleasure you have given me.

Sigh. I just re-read the last several chapters and found them immensely satisfying. I love the transition from guarded to trusting, from defensive to loving. Beautiful! Thanks again!

Hi Abby

Happenstance is my all-time favourite P&P fan fic story. The writing is beautiful. I think I like it almost as much as the original itself! Any chance you'll be writing another story?

Elle

Uhmm, all I can say about you're fanfiction is that IT IS SOO ROMANTIC & YES, VERY PASSIONATE..

Though they were not on the very good terms before they got married, they simply held respect for each other-- that respect grows to esteem-- grows to desire and eventually, LOVE!=)

I have finished you're fanfic and all I can comment is that you made a good job at writing it, making me laugh and making me cry.. [ i am crying right now ] .. I will always remember this, a fanfic who deeply affected me..=)

Thank you for writing this story, Abby=)
I hope you will be writing more and I will read more from you, that's all..
bye!=)

-ghela escobal=)

Wow! I've been really remiss in responding to some really nice comments. Somehow time always manages to get away from me.

barbara s - Glad you enjoyed "Happenstance" -- my only story. LOL! You must be confusing me with someone else, but since you have such fond memories, I'm totally flattered!

RachelP - Doing justice to the transition in feelings between this couple was really tough for me. I recall really worrying about it as I wrote - so your complimenting this particular aspect is so nice!

ElleP & ghela - Thanks for the wonderful praise. You are both awesome! It's highly unlikely that I'll ever write another P&P fanfic. It was just too hard and I've grown lazy. The process, however, did make me all the more thankful for all those authors who continue to churn out story after story for our reading pleasure.

Its okay, I'll wait..=)
I just wanted to read you're fics because you're older than me and you have are an EXPERT in Regency things so..

-ghela

Absolutely enchanting! I would buy a copy to re-read in a heartbeat! You must be published! Very talented!

All I can say is thank you. It reduced even me to tears of joy. I am not given to tears and my romance days are far over yet I fould pleasure in reading such a tender story.

Laura Rust: Thank you. I'm happy to hear you'd re-read "Happenstance". The good news is that you can do that for free right on this site and won't have to buy a thing! ;)

Annette: Awww...your romance days are never over! So glad you enjoyed the story.

Thanks again to all readers. It still gives me a thrill to know this story is being read.

oh my goodness! This is simply the most lovely fanfiction i have ever read. Of course it is more than just that - this work is so thoroughly well written, beautifuly constructed and researched it should indeed be that of a published author.

AbbyB this story is clearly a labour of love and i thank you from my heart for your dedication and talent!!

Wow, Abby, this story was amazing! Definitely one of the best P&P fanfic I have read, so true to characters and to the original...

I almost read it in one sitting, unfortunately I had to go to work and i plan to re-read it immediately

It's a pitty you don't plan to write another one, you sure we can't convince you?

Just noticed there were some really lovely comments that deserved a response:

Jayali, what lovely praise indeed! It indeed was a "labour of love" at the time. I was completely immersed in telling this story and I'm so glad I did it. It pretty well "ate up" my year's sabbatical, but I have no regrets. Thanks for your kind words!

Nadia: I absolutely hate when work gets in the way! LOL! Nevertheless, mine is a really long story, so it's probably just as well that you didn't read it in one sitting! ;) Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me you enjoyed "Happenstance". Even three years after I wrote it, every comment still means a great deal.

Absolutely BRILLIANT!! I have spent over 8 hours reading this today, in one sitting (give or take a few minutes break to go to the loo, make food and feed my calves) I found a link to it on a Facebook group that worships Colin Firth as Mr Darcy, and I have NEVER EVER been more pleased to read previous posts ... I have to say, I've read virtually every published P & P sequel, but this has completely blown me away ... thought it just MAGNIFICENT after a slightly weak start ... have been intensely immersed in it since 2.30 pm today (NZ time) and it's now 22:14 ..... feelng sad it's finished!!!!
Up untilnow I've joined in with most Austenite's derision at sequels ... after reading elen Halsteads Private Performance I was feeling a tad more well disposed to fan fic writers .... but this Happenstance ... it BLOWS ALL OTHER IDEAS AWAY. ABsolutely BLOODY tremendous!!! Thank you xxxxxx

wonderful fanfic!!!!
I love it!!!!

The best fan fiction I have read in a long time. Loved it.

I love this fic!!!!!!!!!!!

Wonderful history!!

:D

Hello:

I received a heads-up e-mail regarding some comments here that I haven't responded to:

Kathryn: For what it's worth, Colin Firth is my favourite Mr. Darcy, so I'm pleased a Facebook group sees him as the Mr. Darcy in "Happenstance"! . I'm blown away by your lovely words. High praise indeed!

Juliana Knackfurst (sorry if that's misspelled) x2 - Thank you for taking the time to comment twice. Lovely!

Carmen: Thank so much! I continue to appreciate every reader even though it's been such a long time that I've written this.

Thanks to all who read and comment. I wish you everything good and prosperous in 2009! oxoxox

I really enjoyed this story. I appreciate the research that went into making it more historically accurate. It was fun to read the little end notes. Thanks for taking the time to create such a well written piece of art.

This story was spectacular. I mean, wow! I enjoyed every second of it (even when I was shouting "no!" to myself in dismay). You have clearly worked very very hard on this magnificent story, and it shows. I can't really express how much I enjoyed this--just know that my heart swelled with joy upon reading it, and I wanted to read it all in one sitting (but alas, I could not). You did such a great job!!!

Abby. I can't tell you enough how much I thoroughly enjoyed your work of art. It is much better than many of the published variations and continuations that I have read (and I am almost obsessive). I love the characters of P&P unfailingly and you did both them and Jane Austen credit. I am sure she would be proud if she could read it today. Thank you for the wonderful gift you have bestowed on us. God Bless.

Again, I've not been checking this forum as often as I should (bloody real life!), but I received a lovely notice of some new comments (thoughtful, lovely Renee!!!) and wanted to once more thank readers of this story. Honestly, I had no clue this would be read beyond my initial posting of it, so you've no idea how pleasant it is to learn it is still being read at all.

Just wanted to particularly thank:

M. Davis: I enjoyed researching the little nuances of the period a great deal, so thank you for pointing that out. Sue's Regency Page really helped. (She's awesome by the way!)

Deja Vu: (I must tell you I love your screen name.) Reading this particular story in one sitting is probably not the best thing to do anyway. Much better to get up, shake your fist at how stubborn D&E became in the early to mid part of it and then settle down for their happy ending. :)

Katie: What a wonderful comment! Such high praise. :)


And to all who read and don't comment, I'm just as appreciative! :)

Hey Abby! I know you don't check this board often (as your previous post mentioned), but I have to tell you how much I absolutely love your story!

First, I have to say I was a little skeptical at first, because this is the first Jane Austen fanfic I've ever read. I was under the impression that no one could ever take any of her works or concepts and do them the justice they deserved. However, I was intrigued and eager to see how a novice writer would stand up in comparison to Miss Austen and chose your story first, because your name is the first alphabetically on this site. All of this being said, I must tell you how pleased I was with the entirety of Happenstance. It fulfilled all of the hopes I had for a P&P story, being both lengthy (who wouldn't want to read about Darcy and Elizabeth's angst for one another for as long as possible?) and well researched.

Perhaps my favorite thing about Happenstance is the fact that, although the familiar characters are thrown into a completely different situation than in Pride and Prejudice, the story ends with the same general outcome. Wickham marries Lydia, Mr. Bingley and Miss Jane Bennet rekindle their love, and most importantly, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy wind up living happily ever after. I also found that I generally liked both of the main characters significantly better in your story than I did in Miss Austen's, though I suppose this is mainly due to the double perspectives in which the story plays out and the modern style in which you write.

I also greatly appreciated getting to know Miss Georgiana Darcy better. Her sweet demeanor and naive disposition are quite endearing in your text (though, of course, I couldn't help but love how she told Elizabeth that she suspected that they weren't a happy couple when they were in London the first time). And the way Elizabeth finally told off Miss Bingley! All I can say is bravo, for you're an AMAZING writer!

And (as an afterthought, of course), I feel it is important for me to let you know how greatly I appreciated the...intimate moments...between Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. I was quite on the edge of my seat

Sorry this reply has been so long, I just feel I need to tell you exactly all I felt. Also, I'm eager to read more from you...have you ever considered writing a sequel to Happenstance? Or maybe writing a fanfic for another Jane Austen novel? Or coming up with your own? Sorry if I'm being pushy, but I adored this story so much that I can't help but want more!

Welcome to the ff madness, Eliza...your name rings a bell you know. Abby's was also one of my first ff and I loved it too. However,I am sure you will have many a pleasant time reading other fan fiction authors. Why dont you have a look at the recommendation thread? There are a thousand and one favourite stories there, and I asure you, not one is similar to the other, and yet they are all PP!

Yes, my name is familiar, isn't it? Actually, my middle name is Elizabeth, so I thought it fit with the theme of this place :)

I plan on reading more, I was just giving myself a day to absorb Happenstance before I start a new one. I was actually planning on going down the list alphabetically. That's the way I've done it every time I read a fanfic. I know, I'm weird. :D

Eliza! You are too too sweet. You should write comments for a living. You are that good!

Looking back, I think I wrote this because I had loved so many fanfics (the poster who follows your first comment is right - there are so many wonderful fanfics for you to discover. Perhaps you're in the midst of discovering them already!) and wanted to see if I could do it too. Of course, I had my favourite storyline to work with (forced marriage scenarios between rock my world), but other than that, I had nothing except for a year's sabbatical from work.

I'm afraid once the fire had been lit and I extinguished it by finishing the story, I no longer felt the yearning to do it again. Besides that, it's really hard! All consuming in fact. So "Happenstance" is it for me. For now at least anyway.

But thank you for commenting. I love reading that this story is still being enjoyed. You have totally made my weekend!

Yay you!

I'm glad my comment made your weekend! Knowing that my words made you happy actually makes my weekend! YAY!

I've read a lot of fanfics since first replying to yours, but I still have a soft spot for Happenstance, lol. I'm actually considering rereading it. Also, I've had my own idea for a fanfic, but I'm not sure when I can start it, because I'm so busy with college.

Now I'm officially beginning to consider comment writing as a career, lol.