Darlene's Digest

Hey! I'm 20 years younger than it says on my driver's license! This was an accurate reflection of how I feel mentally, despite the bad knee and sagging bits: You Are 31 Years Old Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax. What Age Do You Act?

Thankfulness I'm thankful that I have both my boys in for the holiday, even if the elder son's plane was delayed by three hours and involved a late night drive to Orlando. That's a small upset in the universe compared to being with your family. I'm grateful that the younger son's enjoying his college days at UF. I'm grateful that my husband turns 60 this year, having survived cancer and a heart attack. I'm also grateful to my husband for the long hours he works to make sure we're taken care of, and for many years ago being smarter than most of his peers and planning well for retirement. I'm thankful that my hardworking agent snagged contracts overseas, and I'm thankful that that muse of mine who keeps falling asleep on the job is finally getting her act together. I'm grateful for my good health and the continued health of my family. I'm glad that I hate shopping and have zero desire to go out tomorrow to see what's on sale. And as...

Is it just what I'm reading, or has the entire concept of writing a scene in one POV flown out the window? I admit that in one or two scenes of mine, usually when couples are making love, I might switch point of view at the end, but I avoid going back and forth jumping inside heads. To me that's just lazy writing. If you don't have the skill to convey all you need to say while within one character's POV, maybe you should re-write the scene. The mistress of this skill was the late Dorothy Dunnett. She wrote her classic Lymond Chronicles, six books, never showing anything from the hero's POV except for one sentence when the hero realizes he's in love with the heroine . That's it. Everything you know about Francis Lymond is from other people's impressions of him, yet if you ask any fan he or she tell you that Lymond is one of the most fully fleshed out characters in modern lit. And a great romantic hero. There's an exception to every rule, of cour...

Got some writing done on the 4th book yesterday, but not enough. Part of the problem--and this has happened before--is the next book I'm thinking about writing keeps intruding. When that happens I jot down the ideas and dialogue from what's tentatively book #5, but I get frustrated with myself because I don't want to think about those nameless characters just yet, I want to stay focused on Jack and Sophia, the characters in my WIP. On the other hand, I did uncover the dialogue where Sophia finally tells Jack she loves him, right after she shoots him. Now all I need to do is fill in the 200 or so pages in between where I am now and where that happens and I'm done.

4 Stars from Romatic Times for Captain Sinister's Lady ! CAPTAIN SINISTER'S LADY by Darlene Marshall RT Rating: 4 Stars Category: HISTORICAL Setting: 1820 High Seas and Florida Publisher: Amber Quill Press Published: December 2006 Buy Now at Amazon $13.26 Marshall's third book showcases the author's growth and increasing talent. The not-so-young hero will appeal to over-30 readers as well as any woman who yearns for a man to sweep her off her feet. The romance and sensuality are hot enough to fire a ship and tender enough to bring tears to a romantic's eyes. Summary: Widow Amanda Stephenson is on her way to America to take her place as a semi-servant in a relative's household before starting her own business. Her marriage had been a good one, based on friendship, but now she wonders if there could be more. Her curiosity is stretched to the limit when she meets Morgan Roberts, aka Captain Sinister, after the ship she's traveling ...

Ah, the glamorous writing life! Today was a good writing day. I got a lot done on my WIP, and it's moving along, which makes me feel great. The words were flowing, the ideas were popping out, and all in all, it was a day well spent. Now, this also means I look like something the dachshund dragged in. It's nearly suppertime and I haven't showered or changed out of the t-shirt and running shorts I threw on this morning to take the dog for her walk. I also didn't get done any of the errands I had on my calendar, but they can wait until tomorrow. I may not always have the muse at my beck and call, but when she shows up, I know enough to hogtie the little twit and sit on her until I'm done for the day.

George Elliot is not the kind of writer who usually makes me laugh out loud, but thanks to Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels , I followed this link and read Elliot's essay "Silly Novels by Lady Novelists". Gosh, I've read way too many books that match these descriptions. And most of them were written in the last 50 years. Barbara Cartland, anyone?

Fun, but weird What Is Your Battle Cry? L o! Who is that, running amidst the fields! It is Darlene , hands clutching a jeweled meat hammer! And with a spectacular howl, her voice cometh: "This one's for you, mom! I slice through beating hearts like a four-year-old on a sugar rampage!!!" Find out! Enter username: Are you a girl, or a guy ? created by beatings : powered by monkeys

L.A. con photos Here's a photo of me from the 2006 Hugo Awards ceremony at L.A. con IV. This is likely the closest I'll ever come to owning a Hugo, holding it for someone else, but it's a nice one.

Romance readers respond The Washington Post and The New York Times responded to complaints by romance readers and writers that The Greater Washington Initiative, a DC business group devoted to attracting investment to the area, put up posters on the metro system that dissed romance readers. We are tired of being treated like the readheaded stepchild of genre literature, and we're speaking out. Getting coverage in major papers, even snarky coverage like this, helps spread the word that our work has value. And much of the credit for leading the charge goes to Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels , who live up to their name.

Dog, 1, Armadillo, 0 The dachshund of doom took on an armadillo last night. Around 11 p.m. I heard frantic, high pitched growling and barking from the back yard and ran out there. Sure enough, the 13 lb. dog had grabbed an amadillo by the tail and was holding on for dear life. The armadillo looked resigned, but then, that may be its normal expression. While I was trying to separate Yofi from her prey with a broom (I'm no dummy--dogs bite and armadillos scratch), I was reminded that dachshunds are serious hunting dogs. Really. They're called "badger hounds" for a reason. Her front haunches were bulging with muscle and force as she dug herself in, not letting that evil critter escape. I finally got them separated and kept Yofi at bay with the broom until the 'dillo could hightail it under the gate. Then I wrapped the shaking dog in a towel and carried her inside. There was blood in her mouth, but I think it wasn't hers, and some nasty but not deep scratch...

Romance in Germany Seems there's a romance convention in Germany , and it's at a time I could go. Hmmmm...I'm not going to Worldcon in Japan this year, so I could probably justify the expense. Somehow. It will all depend on when Heyne is publishing my German edition novels. I'll know more when I hear back from my agent.

You may recall that I won third place in the Lories competition for best Single Title, and this is the banner they sent me for posting at my blog. So here it is. I know 3rd isn't as spectacular as 1st place, but when I remind myself that I won out of my category (historical) and was competing against some really fine books, I feel better about it.

More Reviews I must have done something right this week, 'cause this is the second review I've come across: All About Romance gives Smuggler's Bride a "B": "The story is full of gentle humour and affection... with a number of secondary characters that play their part well....To slip into some context-appropriate jargon, Smuggler’s Bride is a darned good yarn." -- Kate Cuthbert Read the full review here: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRe view.pl?BookReviewId=5870

4 Stars for Captain Sinister's Lady In honor of International Talk Like A Pirate Day, here's a snippet of a new review of Captain Sinister's Lady: Historical Romance Club Reviews 4 Stars--"A Must Read" " Captain Sinister’s Lady is a wonderful, fast read with an endearing couple who want nothing more than to find a “safe harbor” in each other’s arms while braving the most dangerous adventures and villains that have graced the pages of a novel since Jewel of the Nile ." To read the full review, go here.

Have you hugged a pirate today? It's International Talk Like A Pirate Day and I'm taking my cue from Jean Lafitte, who according to his biographers was eloquent, funny, charming and bright. Winston Grooms in his excellent Patriotic Fire--Andrew Jackson and Jean Lafitte at the Battle of New Orleans, offers this example: Lafitte was visiting various plantations, whose owners hosted him while he was avoiding Louisiana Gov. Claiborne, who'd issued a warrant for Lafitte's arrest . While visiting at Elmwood, a carriage pulled up with another guest--Gov. Claiborne's lovely wife: "The horrified mistress of the manor sent away all of her servants except for one who was 'told to address Monsieur Lafitte as Monsieur Clement'. Lafitte was much amused by this ruse and entered into it 'with all his ease and natural grace.' Throughout the afternoon and evening Mrs. Claiborne was charmed and coquettish, never realizing that the man she was flirting with ...

I got a fan email today. I loooooooove getting fan emails. They just make me want to do a Snoopy dance all over the office and scare the dog. I hope this never changes, and I don't become one of those highly successful, rich, jaded authors who forgets the little people... OK, I'll take the highly successful and rich part, but I promise never to become jaded about it. Honest. Keep buying the books, and keep those cards and letters coming, folks.

Aaarh! It's that time again! Tuesday, Sept. 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. If you feel unprepared, here's a video to help teach you in easy lessons how to convince your friends you're one salty scoundrel.

I've entered Captain Sinister's Lady and Pirate's Price in the historical romance category for the 2007 Eppies. The Eppies are awarded by EPIC , the professional organization for ebook writers, editors and publishers. I didn't enter Pirate's Price when it was first published, and since a new edition came out this year from Amber Quill, I could enter it for the 2007 awards. The competition for these awards is tough, but winning would be sweet. I'll update this as we get into the finals.

Worldcon was great fun and I spent time with friends old and new. I believe my two panels went well, based on the audience response and the feedback afterwards. Guilty Pleasures was enhanced by the last minute addition of NESFA megafan and editor Priscilla Olson, who admitted to being a Yankees fan in Red Sox territory, and if that's not a guilty pleasure, I don't know what is! Eric Hoffman talked about his love of cheesy monster flicks, and Fiona Avery added to the mix as we kept a lively discussion going over what does or doesn't constitute guilty pleasures in fandom and in general society. I was quoted in the con newsletter the next day for opining that celebrity slash isn't as squicky as it sounds 'cause it's not about real people, just celebrities. Our Paranormal Romance panel generated discussion about inroads being made in sf by readers and writers who value a good relationship at the core of the story, and whether the "happily ever after" ...