Why Book #4 isn't done yet I was thinking about this during a discussion over at Compuserve's Books and Writers Forum, and other than sheer laziness, I'm sure a small part of it is fear. I'm about 2/3 through the first draft, but it's a slog. One of the things I miss is my innocence. Back when I was writing Pirate's Price I didn't know how badly I could screw up my writing, so I just wrote . Now I wrestle with demons while writing because I know more about the craft than I did three books ago. But I'm hanging in there. I know when I finish the first draft it will be a lot easier. I love revisions, because I'm working with a framework, whereas with the first draft I feel like I'm flying through the air without a net. An extremely mixed metaphor, but I rather like it. Happy New Year, one and all. Here's to more writing and great reading in 2007!
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I got a call from an acquaintance last night, a 93 year old gentleman. He wants to publish a book about his life, and wants me to write it for him. He's sure it will be a bestseller. I gently explained that I'm a novelist--people pay me to lie to them--and I wouldn't be the right person to collaborate on his autobiography. But I also have no doubt that his story is interesting. How can you live for most of the 20th century and into the 21st and not have some great stories to share? He did say he was thinking of using a tape recorder to make an oral journal and I strongly endorsed this idea. The University of Florida has an oral history project, and even if he can't find a home for his memoir there, it's still the easiest way for him to tell his life's story. I was sorry I couldn't help him. As more and more of our elders pass on, I know we're losing a treasure trove of history. Perhaps our blogs will become the journals of our generation, preserv...
I'm an Eppie Finalist! Two of my books, Captain Sinister's Lady and Pirate's Price are finalists in the Historical Romance category for the 2007 Eppie awards . The Eppies are awarded by EPIC, the organization for electronic authors and publishers. There are only three finalists in this category, so I'm thinking I better make plans to attend Epicon, the annual convention where the awards are given out. It's March, in Virginia Beach. More on this as it develops.
Today the Baltics, tomorrow, the NYT Bestseller list! I got a payment for my Estonia sale yesterday, which made me want to break out into my usual "A royalty check arrived!" dance. It's not enough to pay off the mortgage, but it's a start. And it's just cool to be able to drop into conversation that I'm romancing Estonia (with a nod to "The Daily Show" for that pun) and who knows where my pirates and smugglers will travel next?
We had a good time at Jonesberry Books last night in the Tioga Town Center. It was one of those evenings when all my brain synapses were firing and I could call up a host of piratical trivia during my talk. I signed all their Darlene Marshall stock, so if you didn't get out there and you're in the Gainesville area, stop by. The Tioga Town Center is 3 miles west of I-75 at the Newberry Rd. (SR 26) exit, and if you're traveling south for the holidays it's a great opportunity to get off, stretch your legs and do a little holiday shopping in a clean, well-lit space.
Book Signing Tuesday, Dec. 5 I'll be at Jonesberry Books, in the Tioga Town Center, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5. I'll do a talk about Florida pirates and sign books. I'll have a booty chest full of chocolate coins on hand! Tell your friends and bring the family, 'cause pirate romance novels make great holiday gifts!
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
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...