A BRIDE'S ROGUE IN ROMA, TEXAS - Darlene Franklin - One Free Book

Welcome back, Darlene. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I was blessed by being seven when my mother was saved. I saw the difference the Lord made in her life. Two years later, during Vacation Bible School, I raised my hand when our teacher asked who wanted to ask Jesus in their hearts.

Another factor was the fact only people who were born again could take communion. I wanted to belong to God’s family, too!

Praise God for VBS and faithful teachers!

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Oh, my. I would love to be in a retreat with Susan Page Davis. We have been each other’s critique partners, sounding boards for brainstorming, and encouragers, and working face-to-face would be lovely.

There are many writers, past and present, whom I admire. But during a retreat I would like to work and to fellowship. For that reason, I would like to include the other two members of our critique group: Cindy Hickey and Carla Olson Gade.

To round out our group, Tracie Peterson would be awesome; she’s an amazing historical author with a real heart for writers. She was also the first person to believe in my writing; she contracted bought my first book, Romanian Rhapsody.

Tracie also contracted at least six of my Heartsongs. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

Not as much as I would like. I have spoken some to local writers groups, but that has slowed as my health has declined.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I ask them what they’d like to write about, or if they’ve done any writing. I give them information about our local ACFW chapter and share my basic, always-true tip for writers: read, read, read and write, write, write.

In other words, I give them information that will help them realize their dreams without giving away my time.

I feel the worst about people who want to write but don’t know the most basic information. One lady (from my church) wanted me to read her handwritten manuscript. After I requested a typed copy, I never heard back. When I gave another lady basic formatting information, her revised manuscript was worse than ever.

Tell us about the featured book. 

This is from the back cover of the book.

Love and faith collide in a RIVER OF DOUBT.

Penniless and brokenhearted following her mother’s death, Blanche Lamar is surprised to receive a mysterious summons from a father she’s never met. Then ship purser Ike Gallagher informs her that her father, Captain J.O. Lamar, has died and left her the steamboat Cordelia as her inheritance.

In spite of her reservations about life aboard a steamboat and without other resources, Blanche agrees to travel downriver from Roma, Texas, and talk with her father’s lawyers. She soon discovers a different side to her father as she’s befriended by the curmudgeonly pilot, Old Obie. As Obie teaches her to pilot the steamboat, he also encourages her to trust her growing feelings toward Ike, something she’s resisting.

But as circumstances conspire to tear Blanche and Ike apart, they must act on faith or sink a possibility of a future together.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Salt residue marked the trail of Blanche Lamar’s tears down the front of her black twill suit. “At least I didn’t need to buy new clothes for the funeral.” A hiccup interrupted her sobs.

Dipping a washcloth in a basin of cool water, she blotted away the evidence of tears from her face and dress. She raised her face to look in the mirror. Mama always said that a lady should present a neat appearance, no matter what.

Hollow brown eyes stared out of her pale face, whiter than usual beneath her always bright auburn hair. Her black hat would cover the chignon, hiding the riot of color that had irritated Mama so.

“Oh, Mama.” Blanche rubbed her eyes, but nothing stemmed the flood of tears.

A gentle knock fell on the door, and Mrs. Davenport, the pastor’s wife, slipped in. “It’s time.” Clucking, she put her arms around Blanche’s shoulders. Mama would be mortified by Blanche’s puffy eyes. She sniffed the tears. . .and grief. . .inside.

Nodding, Blanche followed her down the hall to the sanctuary. If only she had some other family member to accompany her—a father, brother, sister, aunt, grandparent—but she and Mama had been a tight family of two. Did one person constitute a family? I’m alone. Reverend Davenport and his wife were kind, but they couldn’t tuck her in at night or tell her stories about the past. Tell her about the father Blanche had never known and now never would.

Organ music streamed through the open door of the sanctuary. “Rock of Ages.” Mama loved that hymn. Blanche bit on her bottom lip against renewed tears.

“There’s a good turnout. People admired your mother. You’re not alone.” Mrs. Davenport gestured at the sanctuary, three-quarters full of people, men and women, dressed in the same sober black as Blanche.

Except for one blot of color. A lone man, his hair nearly as red as her own, sat by himself on the back pew. His dove-gray suit glowed in the sea of black that made up the congregation. She searched her memory but couldn’t place him. What was a stranger doing at her mother’s funeral?

Dear readers, I have read this novel and loved it. I’ve been interested in riverboat books for quite a while, even contemplating writing one myself a few years ago. I learned a lot about riverboats from Darlene. I hadn’t realized that they ran on Rio Grande in this time period. I think you’ll love it, too.

Darlene, how can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me at the blog/website: http://darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com.

I’m also on Facebook under my name.

Thank you, Darlene, for sharing this story with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Bride's Rogue in Roma, Texas - paperback
A Bride's Rogue in Roma, Texas - Kindle


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