Darlene's Digest

“Did Anne Bonny’s papa love her?” “As I recall the tale, he did. Sit here next to me and I will find out.” He set her next to him and, reclaiming the book, flipped a few pages then smiled. “See here, Mattie? It’s a picture of Anne Bonny sitting on her papa’s lap, just as you sat on mine. Yes, according to Captain Johnson, he ‘had a great affection’ for the child, but he dressed Anne as a little boy to fool his wife, who’d heard about the birth of a daughter that was her husband’s child. He began living with Anne’s mama and then took them to Carolina where he prospered.” “Was he a pirate in Carolina, like Blackbeard?” “No, a merchant and a lawyer, though given those two professions, he may have had some of the pirate in him.” “I am wondering if this is the best bedtime reading for a child,” Lydia said. He looked down at Mattie. “Well, child? Is it a good bedtime story?” She nodded vigorously. “Yes! I want to hear more about Anne and her pirate ways!” --THE PIRATE'S SECRET BABY (Hig...

“I find that singing makes the time pass, Doctor. Not gloomy songs, but cheerful ones. Don’t you know any songs? Isn’t there some Scotsman named Brown, or Bowen who wrote some songs?” He stopped cleaning the fish and looked at her with an expression of deep pain. “Might you be referring to Rabbie Burns, the bard of Scotland?” “That sounds right. He wrote a song about a red rose, and one about a hag.” Her brow scrunched. “Though why someone would want to write a song about a hag is beyond me.” He closed his eyes, then opened them and looked at her. “Not a hag, Miss Farnham, a haggis . A haggis is a dish enjoyed by the people of Scotland.” “Really? What is it?” Dr. Murray described, with loving detail, the inner workings of the mysterious haggis. Daphne looked at him, speechless for a long moment. “I would think raw fish a treat after that!” -- CASTAWAY DREAMS (High Seas, #2)    January 25 is celebrated as Burns Night in Scotland, and by people everywhere who appreciate good wh...

My newest French edition, Coeurs au large ( Castaway Dreams [High Seas #2]) is now available for pre-order from J'ai Lu pour elle . I have so much love for this beautiful cover! It captures the spirit of my romance about three castaways on a desert island, two free spirits and one curmudgeon. No, Pompom isn't the hero...or maybe he is...but this adorable doggy on the cover dancing with Daphne is exactly what I envisioned when I wrote this book. Coeurs au large will be on sale 3 November, but you can purchase the first book in the "Tourmentes" series, A la merci du corsaire ( Sea Change [High Seas #1)] and the English editions are available in ebook and print from all the usual vendors. Merci beaucoup !

“If I climbed I could gather more gourds, and some fruit also.” He looked at her sternly. “There will be no climbing.” Daphne stopped smiling and straightened her sore back, because she had been thinking about this all day. “I am not sure I should have to always do what you tell me to do, or not to do, Dr. Murray. I know you are a natural philosopher and learned, but in America they let men vote equally, the stupid ones as well as the clever. Not that I am stupid, I am just not as learned as you are. While we are here on this island, just the two of us, we should be voting as equals, don’t you think?” He looked at her in astonishment, setting down the gourd. “I am amazed, Miss Farnham, that a properly brought-up Englishwoman would take the riff-raff in America as her model for appropriate behavior. No, this is not a situation calling for some anarchic form of democracy. Your vote is not equal to mine. “Our situation here is akin to being aboard ship where there is a commander. I am he....

When she turned back to him, Dr. Murray had a chest of instruments open and was examining them. “Is that what you will take with you?” He held up a lancet, wiped it on his coat sleeve, then examined its edge in the light. “My chest is the most valuable item I own. If there is time to take any one thing with me, this is what I will take.” He put the blade down and looked at her. “Again, abandoning ship is a last resort and I do not expect that to happen. It is always best to be prepared for the worst situation, though. If it happens, you are ready; if it does not happen, you can count yourself pleasantly surprised.” --CASTAWAY DREAMS I wanted to post some more pictures from the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum  in Savannah because it had so much cool stuff, or at least cool to someone who writes about scurvy and scabies and surgery below decks. This chest on the right is a surgeon's chest of the kind that would have been used by Alexander Murray in Castaway Dreams or Charley Alc...

“Jacob was an American who signed on with the Magpie after the war, and he called this ‘ The Liberty Song .’” She hummed for a moment and then began to sing: —— “Come, join hand in hand, brave Americans all, And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty’s call; No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim, Or stain with dishonor America’s name.” —— Daphne sang two verses and the chorus before she realized Dr. Murray was staring at her, and the only way to describe the expression on his face—there was no way to describe the expression on his face. She’d never seen anything quite like it before. “There are more verses,” she said helpfully. “Miss Farnham!” He shook his head and started again. “Miss Farnham, that was the most treasonous piece of trash I have ever heard. Do you know what melody that is? Heart of Oak ! Heart of Oak , Miss Farnham! I implore you, never, ever sing those lyrics around a navy man, for I could not answer for the consequences if you do.” -...

Daphne turned and walked blindly back to her cabin. Pompom greeted her and jumped into her lap when she sat on her bunk, staring at the empty covers of the bunk across from hers. He licked her hand and she put her head down next to the warm body snuggled into the crook of her arm. “At least you love me just the way I am, Pompom,” she whispered to the bichon. -- Castaway Dreams (High Seas #2) I posted pictures of my favorite puppy, Diva Dachshund Dodi, on #NationalPuppyDay, but I forgot to mention my second favorite puppy, Pompom from Castaway Dreams   (High Seas #2). In honor of Pompom and all the good doggos out there, I'm discounting the ebook edition of Castaway Dreams , 50% off at Smashwords with code UM65Q through March 31. Stock up now for your summer beach reading!

“Do you not want to cut a dash in society? Never mind, I do not know why I even bother. If I said I needed a new hat you would say, ‘You only have one head, why do you need more than one hat?’” “I am perfectly willing to acknowledge you need a warm hat for winter wear and a straw hat for summer. This conversation is nonsense. I do not need to change my ways to catch a wife. I have money saved, and all of my limbs and my teeth. I am a man of abstemious habits. I cannot imagine how having a waistcoat of daffodil satin would make a bit of difference in my prospects.” Daphne perked up. “Now you are putting your brain to work!” She pointed her finger at him. “With your coloring daffodil satin would be a handsome choice. Not for a coat though, that would be a bit much. As you say, for a waistcoat. I had no idea you were taking fashion so seriously.” “I am not taking this seriously, for a very good reason. That statement about my wearing something as ridiculous as daffodil satin was ...

During hurricane season all eyes are on Florida, and I receive a lot of comments and tweets from folks hoping we'll weather (heh) the latest climate disaster without too much drama. Now it's my turn. When I see friends posting screen shots of temps in Chicago, Minneapolis, Millwaukee, Duluth, colder than what's recorded on the surface of Mars (Seriously. Heard that today on #NPR) it's my turn to say, "Y'all take care of yourselves up there! It's an excellent day to hunker down with a bowl of hot soup, a nice fire and a fully charged Kindle . " Of course, I recommend reading a hot romance set on a tropical island (*koff* Castaway Dreams  *koff, koff*) to remind you that soon it will be warm again. In the meantime, take care of yourselves!

“If I climbed I could gather more gourds, and some fruit also.” He looked at her sternly. “There will be no climbing.” Daphne stopped smiling and straightened her sore back, because she had been thinking about this all day. “I am not sure I should have to always do what you tell me to do, or not to do, Dr. Murray. I know you are a natural philosopher and learned, but in America they let men vote equally, the stupid ones as well as the clever. Not that I am stupid, I am just not as learned as you are. While we are here on this island, just the two of us, we should be voting as equals, don’t you think?” He looked at her in astonishment, setting down the gourd. “I am amazed, Miss Farnham, that a properly brought-up Englishwoman would take the riff-raff in America as her model for appropriate behavior. No, this is not a situation calling for some anarchic form of democracy. Your vote is not equal to mine." --CASTAWAY DREAMS Be like Daphne! Get out there today and exercise your ri...

“Please keep an eye on them. I’m going down to the beach for more water.” “What if they try to escape?” He handed her his stick. “Bash their little heads, Miss Farnham. They’ll behave.” She looked at him skeptically, but took the stick. Pompom sniffed all around the valise, then flopped down next to her, eyeing the pot with his head on his paws. Alex returned and added water to the pot, careful not to let it fall below a boil. Eventually, after some whining (the dog) and grumbling (Miss Farnham), he pronounced the crabs ready for consumption. He extracted the crabs by using his stick to flip them into the air. “Catch them, Daphne! Quick, before the dog grabs them!” Holding the valise open, Miss Farnham dashed about, catching the manna as it fell from the heavens. The dog barked, and she laughed, and Alexander felt almost lighthearted. He put it down to hunger. --Castaway Dreams I've always felt it's important to count your blessings as often as possible, but Thanksgiving ...

“What should I do to prepare for the storm, Doctor?” He still watched her, and his eyes changed. He didn't smile at her—she could not imagine that happening. Instead, his look was, if not approving, at least less censorious. “A very good question, Miss Farnham.” He straightened up from his labors, wiped his hands on a cloth and then covered the bowl with it. “The Magpie is a sound ship, and the captain and crew are experienced. But if I were you, I would pack a valise. It should be a bag you yourself can carry. In it, only put those things that are absolutely necessary, or those things you would preserve at all costs.” “One bag?” Daphne stared at him. “But…but it is impossible. I could not pack everything necessary to me into one bag!” He cocked one of those accusatory eyebrows at her. “Impossible? That is too bad. Let me tell you what will happen if the worst occurs and we have to abandon the ship: you will grab the first thing at hand and cling to it. It might be a bo...

"Do you know what I miss the most?” “Your frivolous hats?” “No, I mean food I miss. I miss my morning chocolate. I would have chocolate and a small sweet roll every morning when I arose.” “That is not a breakfast,” he said dismissively. “Good hot porridge, thick enough so a spoon stands straight up in the center, with plenty of cream and honey, now, that is a breakfast that gets your bowels moving so you can start your day.” His face grew red when he’d realized what he said to her, russet enough to match his hair. --Castaway Dreams Stranded without chocolate? Horrors! One of the key items in my "go" bag is a bar of dark chocolate, because if you have to bug out fast, you'll want to have chocolate. Happy #WorldChocolateDay!

"I am not sure I should have to always do what you tell me to do, or not to do, Dr. Murray. I know you are a natural philosopher and learned, but in America they let men vote equally, the stupid ones as well as the clever. Not that I am stupid, I am just not as learned as you are. While we are here on this island, just the two of us, we should be voting as equals, don’t you think?" He looked at her in astonishment, setting down the gourd. "I am amazed, Miss Farnham, that a properly brought-up Englishwoman would take the riff-raff in America as her model for appropriate behavior. No, this is not a situation calling for some anarchic form of democracy. Your vote is not equal to mine." -- Castaway Dreams Fie on thee, Dr. Murray! July 4 is Independence Day, a day for all of us in the United States to celebrate our freedoms, our hard-fought liberty and the creation of a new type of nation:  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created ...

My Aspen Gold winning historical romance, Castaway Dreams , is back in print and available from your favorite bookseller. Check out the romp that All About Romance rated a "'Desert Island Keeper'... Castaway Dreams is remarkable." Need more?  "Alexander Murray knows one cannot exist without a brain, yet Daphne Farnham may be the exception. Her head contains nothing but rainbows, shoes, bonnets, pink frills and butterflies. Even her fluffy dog is useless. But the war with Napoleon is finally over and the surgeon is certain he can put up with cloth-headed Miss Farnham until their ship reaches England. Did that naval officer have his sense of humor surgically removed? It is bad enough Murray has no fashion sensibilities at all, never smiles at her like other men do, and doesn’t adore her darling pup Pompom. He had the gall to proclaim her “useless” when everyone knows it’s Daphne Farnham who’s the best at picking out just the right ensemble for any soci...

Alex returned and added water to the pot, careful not to let it fall below a boil. Eventually, after some whining (the dog) and grumbling (Miss Farnham), he pronounced the crabs ready for consumption. He extracted the crabs by using his stick to flip them into the air. “Catch them, Daphne! Quick, before the dog grabs them!” Holding the valise open, Miss Farnham dashed about, catching the manna as it fell from the heavens. The dog barked and she laughed and Alexander felt almost lighthearted. He put it down to hunger. --Castaway Dreams I've always felt it's important to count your blessings as often as possible, but Thanksgiving gives us a special focus on being grateful for the little things--food, shelter, puppies, and people who love us. I'm especially grateful for each and every one of my readers. When you take time to drop me a note saying you enjoyed my stories, it recharges my batteries and gets me back to the keyboard. Thank you. I couldn't do this...

“I am not sure I should have to always do what you tell me to do, or not to do, Dr. Murray. I know you are a natural philosopher and learned, but in America they let men vote equally, the stupid ones as well as the clever. Not that I am stupid, I am just not as learned as you are. While we are here on this island, just the two of us, we should be voting as equals, don't you think?” He looked at her in astonishment, setting down the gourd. “I am amazed, Miss Farnham, that a properly brought-up Englishwoman would take the riff-raff in America as her model for appropriate behavior. No, this is not a situation calling for some anarchic form of democracy. Your vote is not equal to mine." -- Castaway Dreams Fie on thee, Dr. Murray!  In America we support the right to vote to elect all sorts of people, even if we sometimes scratch our heads afterward and say, "What were they  thinking  in the voting booth?" July 4 is Independence Day, a day for all of us ...

She knew from his expression that she'd fallen even further in his esteem, if such a thing were possible. “It was more in the nature of a suggestion, Miss Farnham. I knew better than to ask,” he sighed. “Return to your cabin. I will see to it.” Daphne turned and walked blindly back to her cabin. Pompom greeted her and jumped into her lap when she sat on her bunk, staring at the empty covers of the bunk across from hers. Pompom licked her hand and Daphne put her head down next to the warm body snuggled into the crook of her arm. “At least you love me just the way I am, Pompom,” she whispered to the bichon. --Castaway Dreams Who else gives us such unconditional love? Our dogs are always there for us, greeting us on a bad day as if we're the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to them (other than a red ball flying through the air to catch, or maybe some extra treats in the food dish). Show your love for our fictional friends by voting for...

"Would you care to dance as well?” Light-footed Captain St. Armand was standing behind Daphne, smiling down at her, but before she could answer Alexander said, “Mrs. Murray was about to favor me with a dance, Captain St. Armand.” “I was?” “Indeed you were,” Alexander said, helping Daphne to her feet. She cocked her head to the side, listening to the music. “That music is in waltz time, Dr. Murray. Do you know the waltz? It is my favorite!” “Then it will be my favorite also.” Daphne looked up at him as he took her into his arms, a quizzical grin on her face. “What a charming thing to say, Dr. Murray! I vow, you are becoming quite the gallant.” Alexander said nothing to this, concentrating on the music. Yes, he'd waltzed when ashore. On occasion he'd been invited to balls and assemblies, even a surgeon being a useful man to have when the navy was expected to provide gentlemen at entertainments. But he'd never felt the music, the dance had never mattered so mu...

“Do you have everything you need?” Daphne looked at the items in front of her and ticked them off on her fingers. “I gathered the driest wood and plant shreds I could find. Here is your piece of char cloth. I have my twigs ready and more dry wood. I prepared the firepit.” “Then stop humming and listen, Miss Farnham.” Daphne couldn't help it. She was so excited at learning how to make a fire the humming was springing out of her like the water burbling up to the pool. Why had no one ever realized how much she loved learning new things? Why had she never realized it? Daphne vowed when she returned to England, she would make it her goal to learn one new thing each day. Maybe learn a new word like “gravitas,” or how to build a fire, or how to help gruff surgeons smile. That last one needed further work.             --Castaway Dreams I'm often asked, as so many authors are, where I get my ideas. Part of the id...