This Wednesday I'd like to welcome multi-author, Darlene Franklin. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I
live and write from a nursing home—so my writing space consists of my
bedside table and a library of ebooks. I recently changed nursing homes
to be closer to my son’s family. He lives less than two miles away, with
his wonderful wife and my four cherished grandchildren. Aside from
writing, I read, do word search puzzles, exercise and play bingo for
socializing.
That's great that you live so close to family. How much time do you spend researching before you write?
I
didn’t think I spent that much time, until my latest project. The book
I’m working on now (about tobogganing) took 2-3 days of intensive
research. Because it will connect with a series of holiday romances set
in Bethlehem, Texas, Loveland, Oklahoma, and Old Glory, Texas, I wanted a
town with a Thanksgiving name. It had to be in a state far enough north
to have snow in November (for the tobogganing); it had to have some
rolling ground, not the flat prairies; and I wanted it in the west, like
the other three stories. After a day or two of searching, I found
Plymouth, Nebraska. Then I had to study the history of Plymouth to
determine a good date for the story: 1871. And on from there.
I love the research part of writing almost as much as I love writing. :) Can you give us a teaser for your new story?
Becky
Patterson escapes the stifling life at her father’s parsonage for an
exciting life as a mail-order bride. . .only to learn her potential is a
part-time preacher, Jake Underwood. Her dreams of working alongside
Jake in his store stall when an itinerant preacher wants to ordain him
as pastor of the growing church. Will Becky accept God’s calling on her
life—or will she reject Jake’s love and the future God has planned for
them?
LOL. That's sounds like a lot of potential for fun and conflict and I love mail-order bride stories. Where did you get the inspiration for your latest book?
Jacob’s
Christmas Dream is the first book in the Christmas Mail Order Angels
series. Mail order brides are a staple theme in historical romance; in
this series, a pair of miners want to bring brides to a female-deprived
town. With a biblical twist, my hero, Jake, said his father insisted he
seek a wife from their hometown in Maine. Becky, my heroine, can’t wait
to leave her father’s parsonage to marry a storekeeper.
Chuckle. Sounds like your heroine is in for a big surprise. :) . Do you have a favorite scene in your newest release?
I
must say one of the first scenes is my favorite. Jake sends a letter to
the Ladies’ Aide Society in Merville. The pastor, Becky’s father, opens
it instead, hates the idea and tosses it into the fire. She, however,
is very interested, and grabs it out of the flames.
I know you got me hooked to purchase it. What do you plan to work on next?
I
am currently working on a sporting-themed novella, Tobogganing for Two,
part of the Love’s Sporting Chance series. My heroine is afraid of the
sport after her sister was paralyzed after an accident; when they move
to Kansas, they meet a doctor who treated a lot of Civil War veterans
with amputations. A tobogganing date makes each of them face their
fears.
That one sounds good too. :) How did you develop a 'love of story'?
I
come by it naturally. My mother loved stories—books and movies. She
read to me until I announced I could read myself. I remember the classic
Dr. Seuss books and later Nancy Drew but I was in the adult section of
the library by the time I was ten or so.
:) Apart from writing, what is your favorite creative outlet?
Oh, music. Just this morning, I played piano for the church service at the nursing home where I live. What joy!
What is the farthest place from home that you've traveled?
I went to Spain during my senior year of high school. What a week!
It must have been an incredible trip. If you have a day off, what's your favorite thing to do?
Since
I live in a nursing home, I love to get out! My son and grandkids pick
me up for a trip to the park, a local restaurant, shopping—my favorite!
Or I stay in, leave my room to visit with others more, watch more
television, get in touch with old friends. . .
Before we close, how can readers get in touch with you?
Twitter: @darlenefranklin
Thank
you so much for stopping by today, Darlene. If we have five commenters,
Darlene said she'll give one lucky person an ebook copy of her newest
release. So comment away. :)
Next
week, Elaine Manders will be here to tell us about her writing life.
Don't forget, any comments for the month of August will also be entered
in a drawing for the following:
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