Monday, August 2, 2010

Giveaway and Author Interview: Seaside Romance

Welcome to Writing for Christ, Darlene Franklin! Thank you for being with us today.
Tell us a little about yourself!
My writing reflects my passions. A contributor to Kids Ministry Ideas and On Mission, I draw from my experience in children’s ministry and missions. God’s love fuels my fiction, including my first book, Romanian Rhapsody (Barbour Publishing, 2005). And my latest release Gunfight at Grace Gulch, a cozy mystery from Heartsong Presents Mysteries.

1: How long did you write before you were published?

I had a devotional published after I had been writing for two years; however, my first book didn’t come out for another twelve years!

2: When you held that first book in your hands, what was your first thought?

I loved the cover! In general, I love Barbour’s covers. Of course I couldn’t stop smiling—and wanting to get another one pub lished as soon as possible!

3: What are you working on now?

Beautiful cover!!
I am finishing up my third historical romance set in Vermont for Heartsong, Love’s Raid. Constable Daniel Tuttle investigates a bank robbery. Are they Confederates, like the ones who robbed in a bank in nearby St. Albans, in the northernmost skirmish of the Civil War? Or are they copycats—someone a lot closer to home? The first book in the trilogy, Prodigal Patriot, was just released in July.

4: Where can readers find out more about your books?

They can check my author’s page at amazon.com. I also have a blog (darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com) and contribute to thebookdoctorbd.blogspot.com. Every month I run a book giveaway on my blog, so check it out for more information.

5: What message(s) do you want to be clear to your readers?

The bottom line behind writing romance is that God’s love underlies and identifies everything that is holy and beautiful about human love. His love is enough. In each and every circumstance, time or place. I have lived that in my life, through abuse, divorce, suicide—and my characters do too.

6: What are two things that people wouldn't normally know about you as a writer and or person?

I worked a brief stint as the society editor of a small town newspaper decades before I considered writing as profession.

I spent a summer in Mexico City as a summer missionary.

Thank you for being with us today. Any final words for readers?

Thanks for having me today! I love getting to know my readers. When you read my books, I hope you are entertained and inspired.

Check out my most recent book—Seaside Romance, a set of three stories in historical Rhode Island. My book, Beacon of Love, tells the trials of a lighthousekeeper’s daughter and a doctor afraid of the sea during the “Great Gale of 1815.” (1816?)

Readers here is your chance to enter to win this novel! Leave a comment with your email address. IF I DRAW YOUR NAME AND THERE IS NO EMAIL ADDRESS YOU WILL NOT WIN!

For extra entries:
~be a follower
~be an email subscriber
And a NEW one:
~Follow Darlene's blog HERE

(to FOLLOW Darlene's blog: visit her page, copy and paste her blog URL, visit your blog dashboard and go down to your list of blogs you follow. Click on "ADD", then follow the directions. Viola! You are following Darlene. : )

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items of said prize.
Thanks for coming by to enter!

Contest ends on August 14th.

69 comments:

  1. Darlene,

    The cover of Seaside Romance is lovely! :) How neat that you've had a devotional published--and how great that you remained dedicated to writing even 12 years after that!

    I would love a chance to win this book!

    I'm a follower. :)

    ~Amber

    stokes[dot]a[at]suddenlink[dot]net

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  2. Seaside Romance looks like a great book. (Love the cover). Thanks for giving away a copy. Would enjoy reading it.
    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  3. What a beautiful cover for Seaside Romances. I would love to read the book. Please enter me in the giveaway.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

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  4. I would love to win this book I just can't keep enought books to read. I can't drive anymore so rarely get out of the house except for church on Sunday morning so I read all the time. Thanks for giving me the chance to WIN this great book! ybutler@oppcatv.com

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  5. I subscribe to Writing for Christ by e-mail. Thanks ybutler@oppcatv.com

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  6. Public follower on Google Friend Connect. Thanks for all the extra entries ybutler@oppcatv.com

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  7. I also follow on GFC on Dalene's blog Thanks ybutler@oppcatv,con

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  8. thanks for the opportunity to read this fabulous novel :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  9. i'm an email subscriber :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  10. Would love to win!
    I checked out Darlene's blog, but don't see anywhere to "follow" her. I did leave a comment though.

    I am a follower and subscriber for you!

    Doreen
    priviesandprims@ yahoo .com

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  11. Oh, I love to cover of this book.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  12. I'm a gfc follower
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  13. email subscriber
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  14. I couldn't find a place to follower Darlene.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  15. Hello everyone! There is a tab at the top of my blog that says "follow". It's as simple as that.

    I agree, it's a GORGEOUS cover.

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  16. Love the cover too, makes the book more inviting to read. Would love to win this one, if not, will certainly look for it. I live in Oregon, have dreamed of getting up the Rhode Island, PA, etc., sometime in the future. Got as far as Mt. Rushmore, will push harder next time. Juanita
    whisper97304@yahoo.com

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  17. Will see if you have a share button, want to put this on my facebook to help advertise for you. Juanita
    whisper97304@yahoo.com

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  18. Please enter me! :)

    I am a follower.

    I am now a follower of Darlene's blog.

    pinkdaddysgirl@msn.com

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  19. Seaside Letters sounds like a delicious summer read, please include me in the drawing.
    worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

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  20. I follow Darlene's blog.
    worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

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  21. Hi, Darlene & Casey!

    Darlene, I've said it before, I absolutely love the cover of "Seaside Romance" - it just beautiful! I didn't realize you had been a society editor before, that's really interesting.

    Casey, I follow both blogs (Darlene and yours) and am a subscriber to your post.

    Blessings to you both!

    Beverly
    bgrider2@cox.net

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  22. Oh, the cover of this book is absolutely beautiful. I am always drawn to a books cover and this one definitely has 'draw' appeal. Seaside Romance sounds like a wonderful read. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

    Smiles,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  23. I am a GFC follower.

    Smiles,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  24. I am an email subscriber.

    Smiles,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  25. Juanita, You'll have to make it past Mt. Rushmore sometime ... and I need to make it further west than Utah. :) It's been to see a lot of familiar friends here today.

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  26. Hi, Darlene, Enjoyed your interview and can't wait to read your books. Thanks for coming by to chat.

    I am GFC Follower
    I am email subscriber
    Can't find were to subscribe to Darlene's website.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  27. Kallie, There is a follow tag at the top of my web page. Casey suggested a different method in the blog as well.

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  28. This looks like a great read! Love the cover! Please enter me to win.

    cluedn[at]embarqmail[dot]com

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  29. I am a follower :)

    cluedn[at]embarqmail[dot]com

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  30. Seaside Romance sounds like fun. I don't ever remember reading a book set in Rhode Island.

    Please enter me for a book.

    A J Hawke
    ajhawkeauthor ]at[ aol ]dot[ com

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  31. Please put my name in the hat!
    Ann_Lee_Miller@msn.com

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  32. Please enter me...I would love to win a copy of this book!

    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  33. I am a blog follower!
    http://darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com/

    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]comcom

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  34. I subscribe to this blog!
    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  35. Thanks for the giveaway! Sounds like a great book!

    Amy S.
    artsyrockerchick at aim dot com

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  36. Beautiful cover. I would love to read this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  37. Do enter me for this giveaway.

    estherym[at]yahoo[dot]com

    + I am a follower
    + I subscribe via email

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  38. I love these kinds of books! This author and this book both sound fabulous!

    Thanks for the chance!
    Blessings,
    Mollydedwards AT yahoo DOT com

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  39. I follow OEA!!

    Blessings,
    Mollydedwards AT yahoo DOT com

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  40. I subscribe to OEA!

    Blessings,
    Mollydedwards AT yahoo DOT com

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  41. I follow Darlene's blog!

    Blessings,
    Mollydedwards AT yahoo DOT com

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  42. Hello everyone! Wow, thanks for having me as your guest.

    I look forward to hearing more from all of you as the story of the Tuttle family continues through two more books.

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  43. Thanks for the chance to win!
    Carman sent me.
    dymesich(at)juno(dot)com

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  44. Please enter me.
    naburcaw@gmail.com

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  45. I am a follower.
    naburcaw@gmail.com

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  46. I follow Darlene's blog.
    naburcaw@gmail.com

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  47. I agree with you about the book covers they are wonderful.
    Theresa N
    weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  48. Thank you for the lovely interview and giveaway! I would love to read this book :)

    showcasesisters at gmail dot com

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  49. I'd like to enter:
    socialbutterflysli@yahoo.com

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  50. I'd love to read this!

    Janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2010/08/seaside-romance.html

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  51. This would be so fun to read.

    pucktricks6802 at yahoo.com

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  52. Carmen sent me.
    Please enter me
    cparkins14 AT teancum.net

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  53. I am a new follower of this blog. cparkins14 AT teancum.net

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  54. I am a follower of Darlene's blog now.
    cparkins14 AT teancum.net

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  55. I am an e-mail subscriber now too!
    cparkins14 AT teancum.net

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  56. After reading this excellent interview and seeing the appealing cover of Darlene's book, I have several comments to make and I'm glad that I've been allowed those chances.
    I relate to what Darlene said about her life's circumstances being used in her characters and books. I too have lived through many traumatic and dramatic happenings in my life that I have a yen to write about. Darlene, you have given me encouragement to start writing to see what happens.
    Thank you. Please add my name to this giveaway.

    Grace & Joy in Christ,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  57. I've just visited Darlene's blog and am now a follower. I'm wondering if Darlene's devotional is still in print and where can I find a copy?
    Thank you for this chance to win this giveaway.

    Blessed Be in Christ,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  58. I am a follower of this blog. I like what Darlene said about the bottom line behind writing romance is God's love underlies and identifies everything that is holy and beautiful about human love. I can't wait to read her writings, she's such a lovely person.

    Blessings,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  59. I am an email subscriber to this blog, and enjoy receiving them all. Thank you for the chances to win in this giveaway. I want to mention that the cover of this book is very appealing and lovely. I would pick up the book to look at because of it's cover.

    Grace & Peace,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  60. Seaside Romance sounds wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Thank you.

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  61. I love the cover, would love to read this book, and so appreciate the interview. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  62. I subscribed via email. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  63. Mmmmm, Seaside Romance! Sounds intriging!! :-D Count me in!

    legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

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  64. How absolutely love to hear from all of you! Thanks for checking out Seaside Romance (and me). I look forward to getting to know several of you on my blog.

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  65. I'd love to enter for a chance to win!

    kate[at]atentforthesun[dot]com

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  66. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  67. please enter me in the drawing.

    avidreader(at)middleswarth(dot)net

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  68. Please enter me in the drawing.

    I'm a email subscriber!

    Loved the interview.

    dancealert at aol dot com

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  69. the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous!! And who doesn't love the thought of a Seaside Romance!!!??

    thanks for the contest!

    inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love to hear from those who traffic my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)