Showing posts with label Darlene Franklin. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
MERRY MATCHMAKERS (MATCHMAKER MIXUP) - Darlene Franklin - One Free Book
Welcome back, Darlene. Let�s do some fun questions first. What song most closely resembles your life?
Yesterday at church I heard an old hymn that describes my life�s journey very well, �Day by Day (and with each passing moment.)� I love these words from the first verse: �He whose heart is kind beyond all measure/gives unto each day what He deems best/lovingly its part of pain and pleasure/mingling toil with peace and rest.�
Do you have a favorite Bible verse? And why is it a favorite?
Here�s another recent discovery, from the passage in Lamentations that starts with the exclamation �Great is thy faithfulness!�
Later in the paragraph, Jeremiah says, �When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don�t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don�t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The �worst� is never the worst.� (Lamentations 3:28-30, Message).
I love the phrase �wait for hope to appear.� The word �hope� (which also happens to be my middle name, lol) has been popping up over and over again. Don�t fuss, don�t question�just wait for hope to appear. Because it will.
I love that, Darlene. One of my favorite verses from The Message is Romans 15:13:
�Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!�
What is the one thing you wish you could go back and change in your life?
Oh, that�s a tough one. If I think about all the things I�ve done wrong in my life, I�ll end up with a long list of regrets�but they have made me the person I am today. Lately I�ve wondered �what if� I had switched to a music theory major as my professors suggested, when I failed to as a candidate for a Master of Music in piano. Instead, I switched to a Master of Arts in religious education.
What is the most important characteristic for a good friend to have?
Listening! When needed and without judgment.
What extracurricular activities did you participate in when you were in school?
I was in band and choir and also participated in the math club and the Spanish club. A real nerd.
What is your favorite movie of all times?
Field of Dreamsand It�s a Wonderful Life never disappoint.
Tell us about why you wrote this book.
The origins are unclear. I thought we were writing a sequel to the highly successful Christmas Traditions series published in 2014. My publisher suggested a matchmaking theme which replaced the sequel idea. But my book combines both threads: the twin daughters who appeared in An Apple for Christmas became matchmakers for each other.
So why? I love writing Christmas stories and this was an opportunity that will hopefully sell well. A story that felt silly and foolish while writing it turned funny and charming when I read it.
Please give us the first page of the book.
MATCHMAKER MIXUP
Maple Notch, Vermont
Pippin Cortland lingered by the wall of the University�s gymnasium, trembling in anticipation. Why she had ever agreed to her twin�s hair-brained scheme? How could they possibly get through the evening without their escorts discovering their duplicity?
For a moment she thought she saw her twin, Margil, with Ned Hawkins, and her heart stuttered. But her date for the night, Clint Keller, didn�t notice them, and she relaxed. Her sister had accepted two dates to the homecoming dance and insisted that Pippin go with Clint, who�d asked first, so Margil could attend with Ned when he finally got round to asking. �Besides,� Margil had said, �it�s our senior year. You have to go to homecoming at least once.�
The band played �Good Evening, Carrie.� Clint turned to Pippin. �Would you care to dance, Marg?�
Before she could answer, Clint swept her onto the floor. According to the twins� plan, Pippin and Clint would dance during one set while the other enjoyed refreshments or took a walk. They were wearing identical outfits, something they hadn�t done since childhood.
The dance was nothing like the nightmarish images Pippin had conjured last night. Long ago dance classes proved valuable as Pippin slipped into a lively two-step for one the year�s most popular songs. �Was you dreaming �bout me, Carrie?� Clint was an excellent dancer. Her fears of having her feet stepped on in Marg�s uncomfortable heels proved unfounded. Also, dancing minimized talking.
They stayed for a second song. Clint had the physique of a football player, a talent for baseball, but the glasses of a scholar. When he smiled, Pippin wished he were smiling at her, Pippin Margaret Cortland. But of course he believed her to be Margil Rose Cortland.
�Marg.�
That single word threw cold water on her spirits.
�I�m glad you agreed to come with me. I was afraid you would politely decline, as your sister has many a time.� He pushed his glasses back up his nose, something Pippin�s mother often did. Even with the glasses his brown eyes sparkled at her.
Pippin blushed. She had indeed turned him down on numerous occasions, not believing a man with his handsome features and fondness for sports could be seriously interested in a wallflower such as herself. Her mouth stayed closed as she searched for an explanation. How ironic, that Clint finally had the woman he had pursued for years but didn�t know it.
They danced for a moment before she said, �I�m curious as to how my sister is perceived. I want her to find happiness in this world, and not only in her fantasies.� She smiled and twirled the curls around her face, the way Margil did.
�How rude of me to mention her.�
I�m liking this already. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Twitter: @darlenefranklin
Thank you, Darlene, for sharing this new collection with us. I'm eager to read it, and I know my readers will be, too.
Readers, here�s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Merry Matchmakers: 10 Christmas Novellas (A Merry Matchmaker Novella)
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you�ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you�re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here�s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Friday, September 2, 2016
MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS BRIDES (DRESSED IN SCARLET) - Darlene Franklin - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I�m thrilled to feature this book today. Mountain Christmas Brides just released yesterday. It�s a Barbour novella collection with stories from 9 of their most popular authors. I�m blessed to be included in it along with my friends. I�m interviewing one of my long-time author friends from Oklahoma
Welcome back, Darlene. Let�s do some fun questions first. What song most closely resembles your life?
Let�s see. Special music at church yesterday was a classic hymn I haven�t heard for years, but it describes the truth of my life so well. �Day by Day (and with each passing moment.)� �He whose heart is kind beyond all measure/gives unto each day what He deems best/lovingly its part of pain and pleasure/mingling toil with peace and rest.�
I love so many of the classic hymns. Do you have a favorite Bible verse? And why is it a favorite?
One of my latest discovery is from Lamentatians 3:28-30 MSG:
�When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don�t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don�t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The �worst� is never the worst.�
I�ve been reading, memorizing, meditating, and writing devotions from Proverbs, Jeremiah � Ezekiel, Hebrews � 1 Peter for an upcoming devotional project. This verse comes from a longer passage that includes the familiar �great is your faithfulness� phrase,
I love the phrase �wait for hope to appear.� The word �hope� (which also happens to be my middle name, lol) has been popping up over and over again. Don�t try to force it. Face trouble. Hope will appear. And in a place (nursing home) where troubles show up on a regular basis, I need all the advice I can get.
That certainly is a verse of encouragement. Thank you for sharing it with us. What is the one thing you wish you could go back and change in your life?
Oh, that�s a tough one. A part of me wishes I had agreed to change to a major in music theory and completed my master�s degree in music when they said I couldn�t continue in piano. If I think about all the things I�ve done wrong in my life, I�ll end up with a long list of regrets�but they have made me the person I am today.
And I love the person you are today. Your inner beauty shines like the noonday sun. You are an inspiration to me in many ways. What is the most important characteristic for a good friend to have?
Listening! When needed and without judgment.
What extracurricular activities did you participate in when you were in school?
I was in band and choir and also participated in the math club and the Spanish club. A real nerd.
What is your favorite movie of all times?
Field of Dreamsand It�s a Wonderful Life never disappoint.
I love It�s a Wonderful Life, but I�ve never seen Field of Dreams. I�ll have to change that. Tell us about why you wrote this book.
Oh, I remember the thrill of when I first wrote Dressed in Scarlet. Within the Barbour community, many authors started by writing a novella and then moved on Heartsong novels. I wasn�t even aware of the novellas until after they published my first book.
Then I was invited to take part in a four-person historical novella with Susan Page Davis, a fellow Mainer and good friend, Tamela Hancock Murray, who became my agent, and you, Lena . Even better, I got to write about my beloved Colorado ! And now it's included in this new collection.
I discovered the joy of writing historical romance, which has become my niche; writing novellas; and writing Christmas stories. At first, I couldn�t imagine writing a Christmas story every year; now the season feels incomplete without a new story for the season. So far I�ve written ten of them.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Fabrizio Ricci glanced around the garage at the Brown Palace
No one would drive anywhere tonight in the storm that hit Denver yesterday. More than twenty-four hours later, the snow had not even slowed down. Anyone would be a fool to drive in weather like this. Even the trolleys that he sometimes took had stopped running. It was a good thing he kept a pair of Nordic skis in the garage. If he didn�t leave soon, he would have to spend the night at the hotel, or longer, if the snow kept up. As the only son remaining at home, he knew his parents depended on his help.
Fabrizio changed his work shoes for boots and strapped on the skis. He hadn�t planned for the cold, but he didn�t think that would be a problem, not with the long woolen scarf knitted in green and yellow by Mama. He would dress like that character in the Christmas story. What was his name? Bob Cratchit, that was it. A Christmas Carol had to be one of the best stories in the English language. Not as beautiful as Italian, of course, or that�s what Papa would say.
Fabrizio looked out the window at the swirling snow, wishing he had taken the time to go to the kitchen for a last cup of hot coffee before he left. Too late now. The snow danced in the air before landing gracefully on the ground. Bella neve. Beautiful snow.
Wrapping his scarf around his nose and throat before winding its length around his body, Fabrizio pulled his cap as far down on his head as it would reach and turned the collar of his coat up over the scarf. He hadn�t brought any mittens, but his work gloves should do the job. He pulled them on and hoped the oil stains wouldn�t get on his clothes. Mama complained about his soiled work clothes; four sisters created enough laundry without him adding any more.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Twitter: @darlenefranklin
Purchase Matchmaker MixupThank you, Darlene, for helping share this new collection to my readers.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Mountain Christmas Brides - Christianbook.com
Mountain Christmas Brides: Nine Historical Novellas Celebrate Faith and Love in the Rocky Mountains
- AmazonMountain Christmas Brides: Nine Historical Novellas Celebrate Faith and Love in the Rocky Mountains
- KindleComments Starter Questions: Do you look for Christmas novels each Christmas? Do you like reading the Christmas novella collection? What are some of your favorites?
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you�ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you�re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here�s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Friday, June 3, 2016
THE VALIANT HEARTS ROMANCE COLLECTION - Darlene Franklin - One Free Book
Welcome back, Darlene. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?
Writing was one of five dream jobs I wanted when I was ten. Having said that, it fell far below my life�s ambition: I believed with all of my heart that God wanted me to be a music missionary to Mexico
Then life happened. Without going into all the circumstances, my ex-husband and I failed in full-time ministry in the states before we ever went overseas.
When we separated, I started to write and never gave up.
How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
I don�t write very that quickly. I spent all of April writing two novellas and most of May editing them, and I still have about two weeks of work left to do before publication. At that speed, over a month for a novella from first draft to final edits for a novella. My editor does it in two weeks.
For a short novel (Heartsong length or cozy mysteries), about 3 months. For a longer book, it could take me as long as 6 months. In planning, I also allow for periods I can�t write. I can�t afford to wait until the last minute to meet a deadline, and then fall sick.
But even so I�m writing more than ever. In 2016, I expect to finish five novellas and two cozy mysteries.
How do you come up with themes for your stories?
I always choose a Bible verse that I expect to impact the story. Sometimes the story takes a different direction, and I have to choose a different verse.
Some books are theme-driven. Calico Brides, the collection where Buttons for Birdie, first appeared, grew out of my passion for missions. (All four brides found a missions project close to home.) A Ranger�s Trail was about forgiving enemies and Tobogganing for Two looked at forgiving yourself.
But where do the themes come from? They�re integral to the story. I don�t start with a theme to write a story; I start with a story which sometimes dictates the theme. The actual events of the Mason County �Hoo Doo� War in Texas
Do you have a schedule of when you write?
I have daily writing or editing goals, but I don�t have a schedule. On my best days, I get in an hour before lunch and then the bulk of my work in the early afternoon. I never know when I�ll be interrupted by a visitor, a doctor, or fighting sleepiness (an ongoing problem). Supper refreshes me for another short burst.
I have learned to write when I have the opportunity and energy to do so. That�s how I�ve continued to be productive in spite of my change of circumstances and unpredictable health.
How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?
I answered that a little above. By writing when I can.
Finding balance has always been a challenge. I tend to be reclusive. I go to church services here twice a week but I eat in my room. I rarely go to activities�they either take place while I have a shower (mornings) or when I�m down to the final push to reach the day�s goal (afternoons).
But I have restorative therapy which helps keep me physically active, I am spending more time with the Lord, and I take breaks from writing to read, visit on Facebook, watch TV, do word search puzzles, and adult coloring books. I play piano at church and talk with aides at length, using my spiritual gifts.
I found adult coloring when I was trying to find things to take to rehab after my second knee-replacement surgery for the times I wasn't doing physical therapy. I�ve loved it since. What elements do you think make a great story line?
Well-rounded characters. A clear tension that can�t be easily resolved. A story where the characters must change to find resolution. To some extent, the unexpected.
What was the hardest thing about writing a book?
Pushing through even when what I�m writing feels like junk. I recently finished my Christmas book for this year (Matchmaking Mix-Up). While I was writing it, I told my editor I wasn�t even sure if it was worth publishing. (I rarely get that discouraged.)
Lo and behold, when I went through the edits, I realized it was humorous, light-hearted and fun, and didn�t prolong the tension too long. How long could the twin pretend to be her sister? It turned out just right. Tell me if you agree when it comes out.
That�s my most recent example of learning to trust the process.
How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?
I have written forty-six different stories, some of them not yet published, but those have been packaged in sixty-nine different collections. Between Barbour and Forget Me Not, I look even more productive than I am.
You�re asking me to choose a favorite child! I will always be proud of my first book Romanian Rhapsody, and even the second that proved I wasn�t a one-hit wonder (Gunfight at Grace Gulch). But of all the books I�ve written? Oh, that�s so hard. I�m thankful for Dressed in Scarlet�that collection was where we first met. When it finaled in the Book of the Year contest, I decided maybe I could write historical fiction after all, and my career took off.
Yes, and I�ve enjoyed sharing in more than that one collection with you. We have another one coming up in September, Mountain Christmas Brides. Do you have a favorite character?
I love the characters in my Dressed for Death series. I rarely get to visit with the same characters in more than one book, so writing the mystery series was a hoot. In fact, I may revisit Grace Gulch for a second series, with the youngest Wilde sister (Dina) as the sleuth.
Tell us about the story.
Birdie Landry, recently delivered from the life of a soiled dove, is determined to make it on her own without help from anyone�especially a man. She has found purpose in seeking to help others in the life to escape, but she lacks the funds to make it possible. How can storekeeper Ned Finnegan overcome her barriers and win her heart?
Please give us a peek at the first page of the book.
Birdie Landry smoothed her gloved hand over the sign one of her sewing circle friends had made for her: Fresh Eggs Cheaper by the Dozen. She could picture it now, sitting inside the window of Finnegan�s Mercantile, drawing customers in to buy her eggs from Ned.
I�m doing Ned Finnegan a favor. Gerard�s, the other general store in town, didn�t offer eggs. Birdie could have danced for joy when Miss Kate agreed that she could raise chickens on the property. She figured she would have enough eggs to pay for her room at the boardinghouse Miss Kate ran in addition to the diner, and then sell the extras for cash at the mercantile.
Those two-and-a-half-dozen hens represented the first step in bringing Birdie�s dreams for her mission project to life. She hoped and prayed that Ned wouldn�t hold her past against her.
No, Birdie told herself. Her friends�imagine, calling the daughter of a pastor a friend�kept reminding her that she was a child of the King. As in the fairy tales she had loved when she was a girl, that made her a princess. Unlike the stories, she didn�t expect Prince Charming to ride up and save her.
Mr. Finnegan treated her with respect, like any other woman who frequented his store. Mr. Gerard had frequented the Betwixt�n�Between on more than occasion, although he had never requested Birdie�s services.
Every day, Birdie was reminded of her former occupation as she walked the streets of Calico. No matter what route she traveled from the boardinghouse, she passed one of her former clients� homes. Mrs. Fairfield, the pastor�s wife, encouraged her to pray for the men and the families involved. She called it heaping coals of fire on their hands.
Like the pretty white house standing to her right. The bank president lived in that place. Birdie kept her eyes open as she prayed, hoping to imprint the image of new summer grass and children at play on the lawn over the sight of the man in his long underwear.
The door to the house opened, and Birdie crossed that street. She tugged her sunbonnet forward and kept her gaze focused on her feet. No one else appeared in her line of vision as she turned onto Main Street
Spotting the deputy sheriff heading down the street, Birdie ducked into the doorway of the mercantile. Mr. Finnegan smiled at her as he unlocked the door. His slight build and kind face matched his occupation.
He opened the door wide and stood back so she could enter. �Good morning, Miss Landry! You�re up and about early today.�
He said that every time she came, although he must guess her reasons for the hour. She shifted the bag holding the sign from one arm to the other and prayed for courage.
�I see you have something in your bag already. Are you wanting to trade?� He walked to his register and leaned forward on his elbows.
I am eager for my copy of the book to arrive. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
Twitter: @darlenefranklinThank you, Darlene, for introducing this new book to us. I always love having you on the blog.
Comments: Have you read any romance collections? If so, which kind of collection is your favorite?
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Valiant Hearts - Christianbook.com
The Valiant Hearts Romance Collection: 9 Stories of Love Put to the Test
- AmazonThe Valiant Hearts Romance Collection: 9 Stories of Love Put to the Test - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you�ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you�re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here�s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
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