Darlene Franklin's "A Ranger's Trail"

Title: A Ranger’s Trail
Publisher: River North Fiction (Moody Press)

Cover blurb: This is the fourth book in a six-book series about four generations of the Morgan family living, fighting, and thriving amidst a turbulent Texas history spanning from 1845 to 1896. Although a series, each book can be read on its own.

In 1875 Buck Morgan rode into Mason County with the Texas Rangers to quell the violence stirred up by the actions a vigilantly mob. The Hoo Doo (or bad luck) War erupted as suspected cattle rustlers were killed by an angry German mob and former ranger, Scott Cooley, gathers a gang to seek vengeance on the murders.

Suspected of cattle rustling, Let Denning's husband was murdered by the mob a year earlier. Now she is siding with the rogue ranger, Scott Cooley and refuses to help Buck Morgan stem the tide of violence. Leta prays daily that God will wreak vengeance on her enemies. Buck prays that the God of all provision will supply for the needs of the widow, her son Ricky, and her 15-year old brother, Andy. Buck lays a trap at his uncle's ranch for the suspected outlaws but the plan backfires when Andy shows up. Shots are fired and one man is down. Andy has joined the outlaw gang and is now guilty of murdering Buck's cousin.

Will their actions fuel the fire of vengeance? Or will Buck and Leta strike an accord that leads to more than just peace?

1) How did this story come to you?
When Susan Page Davis, Vickie McDonough and I brainstormed ideas for Texas Trails, we studied a timeline of Texas history for story lines that appealed to us. For me, the Mason County (Hoo Doo) War was an obvious choice—cattle rustling, range wars, feuds—plenty of drama!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
My agent (Chip MacGregor) came up with the idea of a multi-author series in a historical Texas setting. I teamed up with Susan Page Davis and Vickie McDonough. After brainstorming, we decided on the family saga format, and put together a six-book proposal. Six months later, Moody offered us a contract! A Ranger’s Trail is my second book, the fourth overall, in the Texas Trails series. Cowgirl’s Trail (by Susan) and End of the Trail (by Vickie) will come out in April and June. Then we will say a fond farewell to the Morgan family.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
This question always throws me, because I find myself a very boring person! One thing that surprised me recently was when I totaled all books sold (not including the Texas Trails series, I don’t have those yet), more than 300,000 copies of my books have sold. Thank my losing high school football team and Jimmy Connors for my love of sports. And my favorite TV is the unscripted (lesser scripted?) reality TV. My movie-producer friend considers that hilarious.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am currently working on Calico Brides, a four novella anthology of historical romances that will come out from Barbour next year. And churning out proposals for that next contract! In addition to A Ranger’s Trail, I have four more books coming out this year: A Bridge to Love has just been released as an e-book from Truly Yours. Pride’s Fall is my last Heartsong title. And A Bride’s Rogue in Roma, Texas and Postmark: Christmas will come out in September.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me! Check by my blog (darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com) for a weekly drawing of my older titles.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I’m on Facebook; and my website is http://www.darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com/

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.

Darlene Franklin's Beacon of Love

We're happy to have Darlene Franklin with us today talking about her book, "Beacon of Love."

To learn more about Darlene, please read on.

Your title: Beacon of Love

1) How did this story come to you?
I often research actual historical events to come up with ideas for stories. When I learned that a hurricane destroyed a Rhode Island lighthouse in 1816, I knew I had the setting for Beacon of Love!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Tamela Hancock Murray, Lynette Sowell and I put together a proposal for three books set in historical Rhode Island for Heartsong Presents (Barbour Publishing). Heartsong has (or will) publish 3 contemporary and 3 historical romances for all fifty states! The editor chose our proposal to represent Rhode Island. (And by the way, I’m also writing three books set in historical Vermont, starting with Prodigal Patriot this July.)

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I graduated from high school in Augusta, Maine.
I studied church music in college.
I have had almost 200 devotions accepted for publication.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently working on my second Vermont historical romance (to be followed by book #3): Bridge to Love and Love’s Raid. At the moment, I have books lined up for publication through 2012. God is good!
This summer, look for the repack of our Rhode Island stories under the title Seaside Romance.

5) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Look for me on Facebook and at darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com. I’m also a regular contributor to http://thebookdoctorbd.blogspot.com/. You can get a free critique at the Book Doctor blog—check it out.

Darlene Franklin's Beacon of Love

We're happy to have Darlene Franklin with us this week. To learn more about her, check out the interview below...

1) How did this story come to you?
I researched Rhode Island’s history in the 1810s and came across “the Great Gale of 1816” and the Point Judith lighthouse which was destroyed during the storm. I knew I wanted to write about a lighthouse during a hurricane.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Heartsong Presents has been publishing three historical romances and three contemporary romances based in all 50 states. Two other writers and I put together a proposal for historical Rhode Island and were delighted when JoAnne Simmons chose our stories.
3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m the world’s worst housekeeper (if you doubt me, let’s compare homes one day.)
Although I’ve lived most of life in states with a strong tradition of winter sports (Maine and Colorado), I have never gone skiing.
I used to be humor-challenged. Now people say I smile all the time.
4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on the second book of m three-part Vermont historical series for Heartsong, Bridge to Love. Like Beacon of Love, the story takes place in 1816 and features a a veteran of the War of 1812. However, my hero and heroine are battling the Year of No Summer, when it snowed every month, and the possible loss of the family farm.
I hope to write a third Vermont historical romance, this one during the Civil War about the “northernmost battle” of that conflict. And I will have another novella come out next Christmas, The Face of Mary in A Woodlands Christmas.
I am working to expand my writing base. A publisher has expressed interest in a longer book, same time period, about a family who moves from Maine to Ohio and becomes involved with the Underground Railroad. My devotional writing is finding a home and keeps me busy.
5) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me as your guest today! I always enjoy chatting with readers.
6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot..com