Monday, May 10, 2010

Darlene Franklin's Gunfight at Grace Gulch


We're happy to have Darlene Franklin with us today talking about her book, Gunfight at Grace Gulch. To learn more about Darlene and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
When I decided to write a mystery in a small town, I had no hesitation about the setting: Oklahoma, in a place settled during one of the land runs. When the people of Grace Gulch reenacts the most famous gunfight in town history, one of the actors falls dead of a real gunshot. A brief newspaper paragraph about a vintage clothing store inspired my heroine, Cici Wilde. She provided the costumes for the actors, her sister handled the prop guns, and her old boyfriend shot it. She had plenty of reasons to want to solve it!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
My first book (Romanian Rhapsody) came out in 2005. As proposal after proposal was rejected, I began to fear I would be a one book wonder. When Barbour opened the Heartsong Presents: Mysteries! line, I gained new hope. Susan Downs gave me a lot of guidance as I submitted two rejected manuscripts before Grace Gulch sold.
On a bittersweet note, I received my advance copies the week my daughter died in 2008. A year later, my second mystery (A String of Murders) was released as part of the final shipment of Heartsong Presents: Mysteries! books. The third Grace Gulch novel (Paint Me a Puzzle) is currently scheduled for release in 2011.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m a huge sports fan—I miss my Colorado teams, here in Oklahoma!
My favorite colors are yellow and red.
I was on the Howdy Doody show when I was a kid. (That dates me!)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just finished the rough draft of a manuscript that has been requested on spec. Huge relief. Now I’m starting on my next contracted book, book 3 of the historical Vermont series. Love’s Raid was inspired by the northernmost battle of the Civil War—St. Albans’ Raid. When the bank in Maple Notch is robbed, Constable Daniel Tuttle doesn’t if the work of Confederates—or someone much closer to home.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for having me on your blog, Dawn! I love a good mystery and was delighted in the opportunity to create my own heroine!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I have two blogs: http://www.darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com/ and http://www.thebookdoctorbd.blogspot.com/. I also have an author page at amazon.com.

21 comments:

  1. This book sounds great! I love small town mystery books. Please enter me. I'm a subscriber. Thank you.
    carlyberd[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love these kind of books.. please enter me

    ohboystrus1@hotmail.com

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  3. I am an email subscriber to your blog!
    I love the small town of this book and
    the time period is one of my favorites.
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  4. i'm a subscriber

    aimymichelle[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love mysteries. Please enter me. Thanks.
    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Susie sooze1008@yahoo.comMay 11, 2010 at 8:27 AM

    Please enter me!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Please enter me. Mysteries are the greatest.
    Thanks so much for the giveaway.
    wandaelaine at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am a fan of Darlene and would like to read this mystery. Please sign me up.
    Deborah M.
    debbiejeanm[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  9. The book sounds interesting and the cover just makes me want to read it!!
    Please enter me!!
    janet at janetstreasures dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Howdy Dudey... awesome! Love a good mystery. Thanks!

    estrella8888 at roadrunner dot com

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  11. love mysteries especially christian ones. I used to watch the Houdy show.agreatdayin2003@yahoo.com

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  12. Please enter me for a chance to win this book. You were in the Peanut Gallery? What fun!!
    I am a follower of the blog!
    Maureen
    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks to everyone for stopping by!

    You can leave a comment on all my posts during the month of May at my blog (darlenefranklinwrites@blogspot.com) for another opportunity to win one of my books.

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  14. I love the love heartsong books. add me to this drawing please.
    Thanks.
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  15. I confess I don't remember the show, but Mom told me I went. Oh, Mom, how many of my memories ... (she died this past February). Thank to all of you for stopping by and reading and leaving a comment!

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  16. Sounds like a good mystery.
    wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com

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  17. would enjoy reading this fabulous book...thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  18. A book set in my home state of Oklahoma - how could I not want to be entered in a drawing for that? The whole premise of the story piques my interest & sounds like a wonderful read. I'm sorry to hear that the advanced copies arrived during a sorrowful time in your life. I don't remember the Howdy Doody Show, but my husband does & loved it.
    Thank you for taking the time for the interview and thank you, K. Dawn for bringing Darlene to us!

    Beverly

    bgrider2@cox.net

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  19. I am a follower through my email and would love to win a copy.

    Thanks.

    MyHandbagHabit@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Would love to win this book. Sounds like a winner to me!!
    hanns3@sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  21. crystalrichards74@yahoo.comMay 18, 2010 at 12:11 PM

    I am in Oklahoma as well, NorthEast!!
    crystalrichards74@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

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