Bio: Best-selling author Darlene Franklin’s
greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She is
an active member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, American Christian
Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Network. She has written over fifty
books and more than 250 devotionals.
I grew up in New England —a
Yankee and proud of it—but moved west and fell in love with it. At the moment,
I live in Oklahoma ,
near my son and his family. My first book, Romanian
Rhapsody, was published in 2005. And after twenty years in Denver , I am mighty happy
that the Broncos won the last Super Bowl!
I came to know the Lord during Vacation Bible
School
That was a well-deserved win at the Super Bowl, a wonderful game to watch. I absolutely loved Romanian Rhapsody when I read it back in
2005. It made me want to connect with the author. I’m so glad I did. I treasure
our friendship. How did you become interested in writing?
I wrote stories based on my favorite TV series as a child,
and even wrote for a newspaper for a couple of years. But I began writing
seriously in the wake of my divorce. I felt compelled to share the lessons God
was teaching me. Next I turned to fiction, and I was hooked.
What compelled you to
write a book on the subject, The Cowboy’s
Bride?
That’s easy. My publisher (Barbour) asked for novella
proposals about cowboy brides. Since I’m not an expert on the cowboy life, I
made up a heroine a bit like me, an easterner uncomfortable with cowboy ways.
She sets out to reform them by holding a class “Learn How to Become a Gentleman.”
Love that. What is
the main theme or point that you want readers to understand from reading your
book? Are there any other themes present in the book?
The theme verse for the book encapsulates the theme: “Now
this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted
ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with
integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on
worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.” (2 Corinthians 1:12) God has to open
Millie’s eyes to what true godliness is—and how to look past the outside.
Of course, there’s the issue of Wes’s skirting with a lie—he
hasn’t told Millie he’s a cowboy. He signs up for the class on becoming a
gentleman—under a different version of his name.
Are there some
specific lessons you hope readers will learn and apply to their lives after
reading your book?
Make integrity, sincerity, and God’s grace the foundation of
your relationships. Easier said than done.
Oh, that’s a tough one for me. People tell me my books are
sweet, that I create strong characters, that I incorporate scriptural truth
naturally into the story. I’ve also been told I make my characters suffer.
That’s not so true of Millie and Wes in The Reformed Cowboy.
How does the book
intertwine with God’s call on your life and how you are currently serving Him?
I often start out to do one thing and find God leading me in
another. I have to make an effort to look past the uncomfortable parts of
person’s character to the person God loves. One aide in the nursing home where
I live drives me crazy with his sense of humor. He thinks it’s funny to make
fun of me, which draws up a lot of hurt for me. Then this morning, he poured
out his heart for ten minutes, honoring me with his pain. Now, that’s what an
example of God helping me to look beyond worldly wisdom.
Do you have a
favorite Scripture verse?
I usually quote Romans 8:38-39. But recently this verse has
caught my heart: “I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling
spring that never runs dry. You’ll use the old rubble of past lives
to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll
be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and
renovate, make the community livable again.” Isaiah 58:11-12 I can’t think of a
place much emptier than a nursing home, and here God promises to use all the
ruins of my past to build my future.
That’s awesome,
Darlene. I have watched you as you grow and thrive there. You’re an inspiration
to me. When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Do you have any
hobbies?
Now that I have a Kindle—I am reading voraciously. I do a
lot of word searches and keep up with the outside world on Facebook. I also
play piano at church services here, which brings me a lot of joy.
Do grandchildren count as hobbies?
When we are with our
grandchildren or great grandchildren, they hold all our attention, so I guess
that could be a hobby. As we close, is there anything else you would like to
add?
March is the birthday month for both my children and my
oldest granddaughter. A happy shout out to all three!
Where can my readers
find you on the Internet?
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Cowboy's Bride - Christianbook.comThe Cowboy's Bride Collection: 9 Historical Romances Form on Old West Ranches
- AmazonThe Cowboy's Bride Collection: 9 Historical Romances Form on Old West Ranches - Kindle
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