Darlene Franklin and Free Books!

When a tea party turns into a brawl, Mahala must choose a side. In a public debate. Against her best friend.

Before we address today's featured author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Hope in My Heart, by Alexis Gorin, is:

tumcsec@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you for your address today and we'll get your book right out to you.

I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's visit with novelist Darlene Franklin, author of Inspirational historical e-romance, Infusion of Love (Forget Me Not Romances, January 2016).

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 Wyoming to Vermont.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

--I grew up in Maine.

--I love practicing my Spanish.

--I’m hoping the Broncos win the 50th Super Bowl.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of your novel. 

When Mahala Kent’s tea party honoring her brother’s marriage turns into a brawl over tea, she’s forced out of her wealthy neutrality. A public debate on the subject pushes her even closer to her childhood friend and hoped-for suitor, Jothan Stout.

Will the arrival of a tea shipment in Greenwich push Jothan and Mahala further apart—or give them a common taste for herbal infusions?

What is it about Mahala that will make your readers care about her?

Mahala’s wealth attracts a lot of attention, but few true friends. She harbors secrets that show she is more than an heiress. In addition to her charity work, she’s the anonymous cartoonist in the local paper. Her sharp mind helps her to see all sides of a disagreement—but once she’s made up her mind, nothing will stop her.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Hmm, I could see Natalie Portman as Mahala






and Dave Franco as Jothan.









In the same vein, if your novel were made into a film, what’s one song you’d love to feature in it?

I’m showing my lack of knowledge of the current music scene. But I typed in “freedom isn’t free” and found a great song of that name (except for a couple of x-words I wouldn’t want on any film of mine) by Parker Randolph.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I finally read all the novellas in Christmas Traditions (I wrote one of them) and loved it!

I would recommend the Garrison Gage mystery series by Scott William Carter. I liked The Gray and Guilty Sea well enough to buy the next book in the series. It’s a mystery, great characters, a strong sense of setting.

What are you working on now?

I’m in the middle of three projects. I’m just starting A Taste of Honey, a historical novella about a prize-winning baker and the beekeeper who stands in her way. It’s one of nine novellas in Blue Ribbon Brides, coming out from Barbour in November.

I’m also editing the first book in a new mystery series, Case Closed in the Murder By the Case series. Carlie Cooper, a home health aide, discover her 80 year old client dead in bed—and suspects foul play. Since I want to publish the series fairly close together, I won’t release it until I get book two written.

And the project closest to my heart is a series of devotionals from Genesis – Revelation. I’ve just released Beginnings: 30 Days in Genesis – Exodus. I hope to release the second book in March.

Where else can readers find you online?

Website and blog
Facebook
Amazon author page
Goodreads
Twitter

The book can be purchased online via the following button:















Other recent releases:

Blurb from A Birthday Wish, one of nine novellas in Love Is Patient:

Gladys Polson feels led to help a crotchety widower who is wealthy in material things but poor in spirit. Haydn Keller comes to visit at his grandfather’s request and wonders what Gladys’s purpose is in reaching out to his grandfather. Will the two young people fulfill the old man’s wish?



Blurb from Tobogganing for Two:

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?

Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers? 

If you lived in 1774, do you think you would be loyalist or a patriot?

Thanks, Darlene, for visiting with us and telling us about your collection.

Readers, Darlene has offered to give a free e-copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, February 1. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Darlene's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

Also, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE.