Welcome back to Patterings, Darlene!
Tell us about your epiphany moment when you decided you were going to seriously pursue writing and eventually publication.
After writing seriously for almost two decades, I decided to make the jump to write full-time. Several factors came together to make me take the plunge. I left my job of 10 years to move closer to family. With the move, I received severance pay, so I have a small financial cushion. I’ve added hours of caring for an aging mother and my infant granddaughter—so I could either work at a “real” job or write, but not do both. So I decided to write full time and so far God has blessed that decision.
Which of your books (published or upcoming) has been the most fun for you to write and which character is your favorite?
You’re asking me to choose my favorite child! I enjoyed writing the Grace Gulch (“Dressed for Death”) Series; Cici, Audie, Jenna, Dina, Cord and company became a part of me and I hated to say good-bye. Of my romances, I think I enjoyed writing Dressed in Scarlet (in Snowbound Colorado Christmas) the most. After all, how many times does the book you’re writing give you an excuse to stay at a swank hotel?
LoL. That must've been some tough research you did for that one!
What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Juggling multiple projects is a skill I am learning. My next Heartsong book (Prodigal Patriot) was due on the editor’s desk on November 1st; I had seven devotions and two blogs to submit by November 3rd. I also finished up a book proposal for an interested editor and, oh, yes, I have a novella to write ... you get the picture. I have to keep the dates and deadlines straight and not let them creep up on me.
Oh. my. That's enough to give me shivers, Darlene!
Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote?
I loved Lucy Ames’s character in my novella in Wild West Christmas. Lucy “runs away and joins the circus.” She doesn’t really run away (her father knows where she is) but she does join a Wild West show as a sharpshooter like Annie Oakley. I wish I had her skill and daring in facing down a black bear!
Are there things you put off doing because you dread them?
Starting a new book is hard. I don’t know the characters until I’ve written several chapters. Those first chapters are also the hardest to revise, because the characters and plot weren’t well defined when I wrote them. By the time I reach the end of the book, my fingers are flying and I know where I’m headed.
I won’t talk about housecleaning and running errands and ... As a friend just told me, housecleaning is highly overrated.
LoL You're right about house cleaning!
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I probably read 9 (or more) fiction books to every nonfiction book I read. Fiction I split mostly between mystery and romance. Every now and then I read a “classic” which reminds me how very much I have left to learn.
Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?
My life experiences keep popping into my books. My mother is aging and her health is failing; she had her heart valve replaced a year ago. A stroke this past summer left her with some short term memory loss. I didn’t plan on weaving that into my stories—but it’s there. The hero’s father in Prodigal Patriot (coming out from Heartsong next July) has a stroke; and the heroine’s father in Face of Mary (in A Woodlands Christmas, next Christmas) suffers from memory loss.
When is your next book due out and can you tell us about it?
Next summer, Barbour will publish Prodigal Patriot, the first of three historical romances set in Vermont. The Patriot son of a Tory father struggles to balance his political beliefs and his growing love for a lovely Patriot woman with the command to honor his father.
After that, my novella Face of Mary will appear in A Woodlands Christmas. Gabe Noël, a woodcarver, travels through east Texas creating works of art and romance in his wake. In my story, Lawyer and amateur artist Joseph Carpenter searches for the perfect woman to be the “face of Mary” for the manger scene Gabe is making for the church.
Sometime soon (possibly next year) my Rhode Island historical, Beacon of Love, will be repackaged with Master’s Match by Tamela Hancock Murray and All that Glitters by Lynette Sowell.
Wow! What a great line-up, Darlene! Thanks so much for being with us this week!
You can purchase Wild West Christmas from CBD and Amazon:
Darlene is giving away a copy of Wild West Christmas. To be entered in the book giveaway, leave a comment and check back on Sunday, November 8th to see if you've won. You can enter twice--once on each post in this spotlight. If you want to guarantee that you're notified if you win, then leave your email address in the comment, otherwise, you can just check back and email me through the button in my sidebar.
**Annoying little disclaimer: This giveaway is void where prohibited; open only to U.S. addresses, odds of winning depend on number of entrants. No purchase necessary. By clicking on the Amazon link above or in the sidebar and purchasing I will receive a small percentage of the sale.
Enjoyed her answers!!
ReplyDeleteKaren
That's quite a leap from working for 10 years, and now writing. Their loss, our gain! Great to be close to family, also.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in your contest. Thanks.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com
Karen, Linda: Thanks for stopping by! Writing full time has been a blessing. I've enjoyed these quieter months.
ReplyDeleteHi Darlene, oh what an imagination you have! You are so prolific. I can't wait for the Vermont series. I'm a West Coast girl but visiting there not long ago had me totally fall in love.
ReplyDeleteI love your books and most of all your faith. I often need that shot in the arm. oxoxoxoxox
Hope I win. I am selfish LOL
This is a beautiful blog spot.
tanhanson@aol.com
Oh, don't we all! God is good at giving booster shots for our faith!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the interview. Happy to hear about your upcoming historicals. Especially your next Christmas story in A Woodland Christmas. I just love those Christmas novellas. Thanks for guestblogging Darlene.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
Enjoyed the interview!! Look forward to reading more books by Darlene Franklin!! :)
ReplyDeleteThe Vermont series sounds wonderful!
jumpforjoy at gmail dot com
What a wonderful, refreshing post...Would love to read this book...thanks for the opportunity,
ReplyDeletekaren k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com
Don't enter me, as I have just finished reading this book. I only wanted to say that I enjoyed it very much. Sometimes a light romance is exactly what's needed, and I enjoyed each sister's story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words, Carole. And thanks to the rest of you for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteDarlene,
ReplyDeleteI only read your first Grace Gulch, which I really liked. Did I miss the "trilogy" set release or is it still pending?
I'd love to read the Wild West one. The cover is very attractive.
cathy underscore shouse at yahoo dot com
Cathy: Barbour is releasing 4 mystery repacks per year. Mine is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2011! :( You should be able to purchase the 2nd title, A String of Murders, directly from Barbour. Or you can contact me at belovedfranklin at msn dot com.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the drawing. ~Abby
ReplyDeleteabster dot rose at yahoo dot com
Enjoyed the interview. Would love to read the book.
ReplyDeletejoann4us (at)yahoo(dot)com
Another great interview, Patty! Darlene's books sound wonderfully uplifting. Thanks for introducing us to so many new authors!
ReplyDelete