Dear Readers, I just
finished reading this book by Darlene. It’s a fun read. You’ll love it.
Welcome back,
Darlene. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I don’t intentionally write myself into my characters—others
often see more of me than I’m aware of myself. In Cinderella’s Boot, I
believe in second chances. Every day is a chance to begin anew, by God’s grace,
and my heroine has to believe that after she left her fiancé at the altar.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
One of the more unusual things I’ve done: I traveled all the
way from Mexico City to Maine by bus. After a summer’s immersion in
Mexican culture and Spanish, I felt like I had entered a foreign country when
we crossed the border into Texas
and a three-year-old began speaking English with a heavy Southern accent.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
I began writing seriously, after my divorce in 1991. I wrote
about God’s promises in the midst of a difficult situation. After I finished
that book, I started writing fiction and never stopped, although my first book
wasn’t published for fourteen years.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
My favorite genre is mystery—all kinds, suspense, cozy,
hard-boiled, you name it. I also love reading the genre I write, romance,
especially historical. Good sci-fi/fantasy draws me, but I’d rather not read a
series (sorry, writers!) For nonfiction, I read memoirs, creative nonfiction, and
spiritual living books. Recently I finished Jesus,
the Obedient Son by Michael Phillips. Now I’m reading My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me by Jennifer Teege. It’s a
biography of Amon Goeth’s black granddaughter. In case you need reminding (I
did), Goeth was the concentration camp commander in Schindler’s List.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
Good question. Prayer and scripture memorization/meditation
help. Right now I’m blessed to have a weekly counseling session. Talking with
friends can help. Ongoing physical therapy helps, when I get it. (I live in a nursing
home)
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
For Cinderella’s Boot, I brainstormed
names that could be condensed to “Cinderella” and came up with “Cynthia Ellen,”
my heroine’s name. Her family teasingly calls her “Cinders,” her friends call
her “Cyn”—but only her (former) fiancé calls her Cynthia.
I chose Keith for the hero, just because I liked the name.
All the other characters, including a few animals, were given names of Facebook
friends who asked to have a character named after them. People love seeing
their names in print! I intend to ask for names whenever I write a contemporary
book—which isn’t very often, as you know, Lena .
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I am as proud of my son and grandchildren as most parents are,
but I feel I have little right to take credit for how they turned out.
Do I dare say proud? I am thankful that my faith has stayed
strong through a life with many challenges. And I’m proud of having nearly
fifty unique titles in print, plus reprints and new collections. (Cinderella’s
Boot is book #48. I expect to see book #50 published in July.)
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
A cat, of course. Because they are queens and beautiful and
friendly.
What is your favorite
food?
Potato chips and ice cream
I’m sure the sweet
and salty go together well. I have a recipe for Potato Chip Cookies that are
like that. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock,
and how did you overcome it?
Oh, Lena , I’ve had a lot of
roadblocks over the years. Perhaps the biggest problem at the beginning was the
lack of validation. I felt compelled to write but no one wanted to publish what
I had written. S-l-o-w-l-y that changed.
I published maybe one item a year and won a few awards. My first book
was published fourteen years after I started writing!
How did I overcome it? I just kept writing. I even won the
perseverance award at Colorado Christian Writers Conference. Editors certainly
knew I was serious about learning my craft.
Tell us about the
featured book?
Contemporary romance novella from the Runaway Brides
collection.
Cynthia Ellen Cooper—known affectionately as
“Cinderella”—left her wedding boot in the dust when she ran away from her
wedding to work on a sheep station in Australia .
Four years later, she’s back home—and so is her ex-fiancé, now a DVM fromOklahoma State University .
They reach a truce and work side by side in his father’s animal clinic.
Cyn soon discovers she wants more—but she has to battle bad history and a demanding pet owner for Keith’s attention.
How can Cinderella find a second chance at love?
Four years later, she’s back home—and so is her ex-fiancé, now a DVM from
Cyn soon discovers she wants more—but she has to battle bad history and a demanding pet owner for Keith’s attention.
How can Cinderella find a second chance at love?
Please give us the
first page for my readers.
Cynthia Ellen Cooper—Cyn to her friends, Cinderella to her
family—had dreamed of her wedding day all her life. The day dawned as if
delivered to order from heaven. Early May in Oklahoma hit the perfect balance between the
heavy spring tornado season and the blasting heat of summer. Not a rain cloud
or rainbow marred the horizon, naught but sunshine and puffy white clouds and
blue sky.
Grass, kept to an even six-inch height, comfy to foot and
hoof, stretched around her family’s homestead, inviting her to ride to her
wedding in style on the back of her favorite mare. The flowers of the field
matched the wildflower bouquets lining the chairs set up for the ceremony to be
held beneath a rose arch. Her wedding ensemble was designed to match the
surroundings: a short gown and veil in ivory satin and lace paired with white
heeled boots for her wedding slippers.
In all, Cinderella had a fairy tale ending to a fairy tale
romance for the cowgirl more at home on the back of her beloved mare Moonstar
than on foot.
Enjoy it, Cyn reminded herself. After today, she’d exchange
ranch chores for office duties. She’d work at the registrar’s office at the
Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine in Stillwater for four years while her prince
charming earned his DVM.
Four years trapped inside an office felt like an eternity to
a girl who spent every spare minute outdoors. After their imprisonment, Keith
would receive his degree and they would return to Mistletoe Springs.
Was she exchanging her dreams for the security of marriage? Any
marriage involved compromise. But if she could know for certain that Keith
would wait for her, she wouldn’t get married today.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
Twitter: @darlenefranklin
Purchase Links:
Readers,
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:
21 comments:
Sounds like a wonderful read! Thank you for a chance to win a copy. The cover is adorable!
Blessings,
Cindy W. from Indiana
Cindy, Didn't my editor do a great job with this cover? I love my Cinderella's sass. I can imagine her leaving her fiance behind at the altar, can't you?
Love your books, Miss Darlene! Thank you for this opportunity. Hope you have a great day!
Melanie Backus, TX
Hi Melanie, thanks! Good luck with the drawing.
What a fun cover and sounds like a great story! :D
Sabrina in Utah :D
Sabrina, Thanks for stopping by.
I love and enjoy Darlene's writing. One of the best. Would love to have a book. Thank you for allowing the opportunity of the great giveaway.
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
Barbara, you're going to give me a big head! Thanks for your support. My records indicate I sent you a copy of Cinderella's Boot on April 29th.
Wow, what a draw-in! So makes me want to read it! Thanks for the chance to win! I come from a neighbor state! Paula from Missouri. My daughter lives in Oklahoma! Sounds so cute!
I had a lot of fun with this story, Paula.
Would love to win this book and am sure I would enjoy it very much. Vivian Furbay
Vivian, Hope you have a chance to read this story!
Oh, this sounds like a super story. thanks for the chance to win live in ND
Apple Blossom, thanks for your interest.
Darlene, I have read several of your books. I enjoyed the interview - sounds like a fun book. My husband loves to eat potato chips and ice cream too!
Beth from IA
I didn't necessarily mean I eat potato chips and ice cream together, lol - glad you enjoyed the interview!
Lena, thanks for sharing Darlene's interview and the first page of Cinderella's boots. Darlene, congratulations on your 50th book soon to be published. That is a wonderful achievement!
Blessings & Happy Mother's Day!!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Connie, thanks for coming by. I'm currently writing book #50 - Mermaid's Song. It's a historical romance inspired by the original Little Mermaid's story.
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.
Sharon, Good luck with the contest!
Book sounds great please enter me.
Lourdes Long Island, NY
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