About 2 years ago, I decided to try my hand at a retelling--of Mansfield Park. Just for fun, really. After tackling the problematic romance head-on, I learned a lot about Edmund, and by now I'd call him Austen's most underrated hero. And while the lovely Bertram set were a delight to write about, the core that drove me forward was the friendship between Helene (Miss Crawford) and Faye (Fanny Price.) People see them as rivals in a triangle, but I just couldn't believe they weren't good friends underneath in spite of that. Their shared feelings about Edmund alone would tell them how much they have in common. There's nothing like being interested in the same man to let girls see their similarities. I'm currently doing some final research before getting critiques. Here's a brief teaser and a picture of a girl who could pass for a clone of Faye.  

Faye Powell has never wanted for anything since coming to live with her quirky, rambunctious cousins the Havertons. Their wealthy status as a prominent banking family in the heart of industrial Illinois hasn't really kept them too stuffy for her comfort. Dashing Grover, drop-dead gorgeous Myrtle, and spunky BeBe always have more than one lighthearted scrape up their sleeves--and as for arrogant Ed, she's got her hands full to resist him even though his flippancy drives her up a wall. But could fun get a little out of hand when BeBe trusts Faye with a secret about a radio producer's son? Is Grover to be trusted with the family finances? And can Faye trust herself when magnetic, but dangerous Horace Carter comes to town with his marvelous sister? Helene and Ed are drawn like moths to each other and Faye loves to be around them both. Can she withstand Horace--and is Ed really right for her? What's a girl to do?