The author
John L. Stone
A writer who came to fiction later in life — and found he had a great deal to say.
John L. Stone spent decades in the world of business before a persistent idea — a story set in the England of Jane Austen's era, but entirely his own — refused to be ignored. He began writing in earnest in his later years, and discovered in the process that the patience and perspective that come with age are, perhaps, the finest tools a novelist can possess.
Born and raised with a deep love of English literature, John was captivated by the world Austen created — the drawing rooms, the country estates, the intricate dance of manners and feeling. But he was equally drawn to the lives that existed before the novels began: the parents, the neighbours, the quiet histories that shaped the characters we know so well.
"Before Pride and Prejudice" grew from that curiosity. It is not a retelling, nor a sequel, nor an authorised continuation. It is an original novel — John's own imagining of the Bennet family's world in the years before Elizabeth and Darcy's story unfolds. The book stands entirely on its own, and is in no way affiliated with the estate of Jane Austen.
John is also the author of "CHOICES: Choosing Love Instead of Fear," a work of personal reflection that explores the decisions — large and small — that shape a life. It is a book about courage, about the quiet bravery of choosing connection over self-protection.
He lives with a great fondness for long walks, strong tea, and the particular pleasure of a well-turned sentence. He is at work on his next novel.
“The patience and perspective that come with age are, perhaps, the finest tools a novelist can possess.”
— John L. Stone
His Books
Before Pride and Prejudice
An original novel set in the world of Regency England — the story of the Bennet family in the years before Jane Austen's beloved tale begins.
Learn more →CHOICES: Choosing Love Instead of Fear
A work of personal reflection on the decisions that shape a life — and the quiet courage it takes to choose love.
Learn more →Get in Touch
John welcomes correspondence from readers, book clubs, libraries, and literary organisations. He is available for interviews and speaking engagements.
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