Best-selling author Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She lives in Oklahoma, near her son and his family, and continues her interests in playing the piano and singing, books, good fellowship, and reality TV in addition to writing. 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. Her historical fiction ranges from the Revolutionary War to World War II, from Texas to Vermont.
How to connect with Darlene...
Website: http://darlenefranklinwrites.com
Blog: http://darlenefranklinwrites.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Poet.Darlene.Franklin
Twitter: @darlenefranklin
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Franklin/e/B001K8993A/
Purchase:
Tobagganing for Two
An Advent Journey through Matthew
Author Re:Interview | Darlene Franklin
Share a writing-related milestone with us?
...I had a surprising, neon-writing in the sky, experience last month. I was ready to give up writing—it had become terribly hard and didn’t seem worth the effort.
...Then on one day, for the first and probably only time in my career, I had three books at #1 in different categories. I was in the top 50 authors in ebooks on Amazon, and in the top 100 authors in two different categories in print books.
...I got the message--and went back to work with renewed enthusiasm.
How do you balance your time between writing and other actives? Any helpful tips, tricks, or suggestions?
...In a nursing home, I have no control over my time. And while it’s fine for me to wait up to an hour for help, aides don’t want to wait two minutes for me to finish something (they dash away to help someone else).
...I say that not to complain, but to say, I know what it’s like to have to fit writing around unpredictable events. One thing I do is to choose which home activities I participate in. I go to church and group exercise. I usually go to one activity an afternoon, mostly because I tend to isolate myself. I’ve chosen to eat in my room, because that takes half an hour instead of the hour and a half in the dining room.
...God has also recently challenged me to pray when I’m left waiting in the bathroom and to exercise while I’m in the shower!
How do I write?
...I write in short spurts (15-30 minutes). If I wait for a lengthy period of time, I’ll never get any writing done. I write even when I’m expecting something to take place, but they rarely happen on time. I set daily goals, which I try to complete before TV starts for the evening.
...I’m persistent and consistent—I write six days a week. That’s my best suggestion.
Your Writing Tell us a little bit about your book.
...Laura Evans moves to Plymouth, Nebraska, to take care of her aunt and her paralyzed sister. Dr. Jay Andrews has come to Plymouth to escape his work among those wounded during the Civil War—only to be faced with a paralyzed patient. Laura and Jay clash as they face fears from their past. Will a midnight toboggan ride bring them together, or push them further apart?
What was one trial you faced when writing it? One success?
...In the middle of writing the story, I didn’t feel very well. No matter how hard I tried, my writing slowed down to a trickle. I told my editor that I would write for one hour a day, whether I wrote 10 words or a thousand, and stop worrying about the deadline. I did finish the book about two weeks past my original deadline, but my copy editor put a rush on it and I was able to turn it in on time.
Who is your favorite character and why?
...I identify a lot with Laura, the heroine. She’s one of the more autobiographical characters I’ve created, complete with a few less-than-desirous traits.
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...God will help us heal from any emotional wounds.
You
Favorite writing snack?
...Anything chocolate!
Book you’re reading right now?
...As usual, I’m reading several books. I just finished Daily Reflections on the Names of God by Ava Pennington—a year-long devotional which has been life-changing. Now I’ve started The One Year Walk With God Devotional about wisdom. I’m also studying Be Strong by Warren Wiersbe. For pure fun, I just finished Even Now by Karen Kingsbury. Now, there is an amazing writer! I’m starting a 600+ page book on Extraordinary Patriots. If the brief biographies don’t captivate me, I’ll probably drop it for something shorter.
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Thanks so much for being my guest Darlene! I'm happy to have you here. Your suggestions about writing whenever possible are so true! I often want to wait until I have a chunk of time but then I could find myself waiting for a very long time... I also admire you for your persistence in patience while waiting on things you can't control. I'm with you on the chocolate as well! I made pumpkin bread this week and had to add chocolate chips to it. I mean...it's a must! Thanks again Darlene and readers make sure you leave a comment for her to enter a chance to win Tobagganing for Two.
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