Darlene's Digest

I'm working on the first draft of my tenth historical romance, [working title] The Privateer's Bartered Bride . It's the second in an as-yet untitled series of three books: Smuggler/Privateer/Pirate, and  takes the sister of the hero in the first book on her own adventure. The problem is, I'm a "seat of the pants" or "pantser" writer so I sometimes have no idea how my books are going to shape up. She meets him, or he meets her, they're together, stuff happens, and then there's an HEA. But it's that journey to the "happily ever after" that makes the book. I've got tricks and techniques that help me along when I get stuck. Today I pulled out an old research biography, one I'd purchased when I was writing Captain Sinister's Lady some 20 years ago. As I'm reading through some chapters set in the year of my WIP it suddenly struck me what my hero's goal is, why he's sailing, where he's going...and why the ...

I just realized I was having such a good time at #Boskone61 that I forgot to take pictures! Ah well, you'll have to use your imaginations.  I'd missed most of last year's conference as a family emergency called me home, but this year all worked out well. My flights were on-time, the taxi line was short, and best of all, the weather cooperated. No snow or rain, and daily temps in the upper 40sF and evenings in the 30s meant we could comfortably walk to supper. I could even take a brisk walk out of the Westin Seaport now and then. I arrived too late in the day on Friday to be put on panels, but I did get to Registration to pick up my credentials, including the information for my panel, Crossing Genres. I also saw lots of friends and acquaintances I only see at science fiction conventions. We've all aged in the 20+ years since I started attending Boskone, but we still love to hang out and party (albeit not all night--at least not some of us.) It was also a mask-mandatory e...

It's almost February, which means I'm looking forward to flying up to the frozen north (no, really!) and seeing friends and fans at Boskone 61 , the longest running science fiction and fantasy convention in New England. I'm on one panel, but I'll be moderating this year and it looks like a good one, combining my interests as a romance author, a science fiction and fantasy fan, and as Membership Director of Regency Fiction Writers : CROSSING GENRES: Some writers stick to their guns, others cross genres or even combine them, resulting in sub-genres such as urban fantasy and "weird west." Why do some writers do that? What are the benefits and pitfalls? Other listed panelists are Michael Swanwick, Lawrence Raphael Brothers, Delia Sherman, Dana Cameron, and WBJ Williams. I look forward to a lively discussion! For more information on attending Boskone, click on the link. If you've never been to a science fiction or fantasy convention, this one is large enough t...

I'm returning to Boston on February 17 for #Boskone60, New England's oldest science fiction convention, after a two year hiatus while the world grappled with COVID. In fact, one of the panels I was on in February, 2020 discussed the new virus in China and what it could mean. That was the last trip I took until we began to emerge from isolation. I also realized it was 20 years ago that I attended my first Boskone, the infamous Snokone. A blizzard kept us stuck in our hotel downtown an extra day as the drifts piled up outside, but we had all the leftover party supplies from the con. I remember sipping single malts while looking down at the whiteout thinking, "This is hell...with benefits." But we're back, and you can attend Boskone  in person or virtually! I'll be packing my snowboots and long undies because only good times and really good friends would get me up to Boston in February. Brrr! At least I have a return ticket that says "Florida". I'll...

Woot! I'm finally going back to an in-person #Worldcon, and very much looking forward to seeing friends and fans once again at #Chicon8. I haven't visited Chicago since Chicon7 ten years ago, so it will be good to be back. I have my Program Participant Schedule, and these panels should be entertaining (and informative)! The (m) after my name means I'm moderating that panel. Look for me there, and say "Hi!" Thursday, September 1, 2022, 11:30 CDT Super Sex Darlene Marshall (m) she/her  Jeffe Kennedy she/her  Meg Elison she/they  Penelope Flynn She/Her Description: Do superheroes "bone," as a Tor.com post wondered? Certainly, but it's not shown a whole lot in TV or in film, no matter what the sexual orientation. Romance blooms, and the occasional film features a love scene, but the actual explorations of how sex would work between "super" characters—much less relationships—tends to take a back seat to violence, explosions, and origin stories. ...