Interview and Giveaway with Darlene Franklin

I am excited to have Author Darlene Franklin as my guest this week! Darlene’s latest book A Bride’s Rogue in Roma, Texas is up for grabs to one lucky commenter! More on that later. For now, let’s find out about this awesome-sounding book and the author behind it!

Here is a blurb about A Bride’s Rogue in Roma, Texas…

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.
Doesn’t that sound like a wonderful plot? I haven’t yet read this book,  but I have it on my TBR list! Now, let’s take a minute and get to know Darlene Franklin…

Hello Darlene! Thank you for being my guest this week. What was your inspiration behind A Bride’s Rogue in Roma, Texas? 

The publisher (Barbour) had asked for romances set in actual towns, so I chose Roma, Texas, as my setting. Add to the discovery of Roma’s importance as the westernmost port of steamboat trade on the Rio Grande the account of a female pilot, and I had the basic inspiration for my story. My heroine is a pilot, of course, and what self-respecting steamboat story is complete with a poker game? So my hero is the resident gambler.

Ooh, your book sounds sooooo good, Darlene! Speaking of books, what is your favorite book of the Bible and why?

Good question! Almost any one of Paul’s epistles, probably either Romans or Philippians. Romans explains our faith in such straightforward language. It also contains some of my favorite verses. Chapter 5 also speaks to me about the role of tribulations in making us hopeful. I have memorized chapter 8, which starts with the affirmation there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and ends with the promise that nothing can separate us from His love. Those verses have been lifelines for me more than once.

I agree, Darlene! Both Romans and Philippians are great books of the Bible and are so full of the riches of Scripture. I’m going to switch topics now. J  If you were suddenly given one million dollars, what charity would you like to found and why?

An unexpected question! I might set up a charity to raise awareness among the Christian community regarding mental illness and to help families with mentally ill dependents. My daughter suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. Resources for respite care were few and far between. Especially among Christians, mental illness is often misunderstood. With the statistics of one out of every four Americans struggling with it, it touches nearly every household.

Sorry about the unexpected question, Darlene! I have to admit this is one of my favorite questions to ask my guests. Your charity is definitely a worthwhile and needed charity. Thank you for openly sharing about your daughter.

Darlene, where can readers connect with you?

I have a weekly blog: http://darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com. I’m also on Facebook, and I have an author’s page at Amazon.

Thank you, Darlene, for being my guest. It is such an honor to have you here!

About Darlene: Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin lives in Oklahoma near her son’s family.

Darlene loves music, needlework, reading, and reality TV. She has published several titles with Barbour Publishing, including her two latest releases, A Bride’s Rogue in Roma, Texas, and Merry Christmas, With Love, in Postmark: Christmas. She has also written two books in the Texas Trails series with RiverNorth Fiction, Lone Star Trail and A Ranger’s Trail. She’s a member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers.

And now, readers, here’s your chance to win a copy of A Bride’s Rogue in Roma, Texas! Leave an encouraging comment for Darlene. A winner will be chosen at random. Sorry this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. If you are a subscriber to this blog, you will receive two entries.  The contest ends on October 11, 2012.