Linda Berdoll

Berdoll self-published Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife in 1999 out of Texas, an explicit continuation of Pride and Prejudice that answers the question Austen conspicuously does not, and sold enough copies out of her own car boot to be picked up by a publisher. Austen societies disliked it loudly, which sold more. Two sequels followed. She had worked in advertising and had no academic connection to Austen, and has said she wrote the book because she wanted to read it.