Darlene's Digest

"...It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." --President Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address (November, 1863) 150 years later, the words still ring true and still carry a deep meaning to all Americans. Today is Memorial Day, the day to recall our honored dead and celebrate the freedoms we enjoy because of their sacrifices. I'll spend the day relaxing, taking a walk in the sunshine, going to the movies. But each time I see...

The Martian by Andy Weir My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is the kind of science fiction I don't read often enough--people using courage, education, mad science skills and duct tape to save the day. Mark Watney is the Martian--one of a handful of Earth astronauts to walk on the surface of Mars, and now he's going to be the first human to die there. A freak storm battered him and damaged his telemetry to where his life signs flat-line, and his crewmates (rightly) presume him dead and head back for Earth. He's not dead. Now Mark has to figure out 1. how to survive 2. how to let NASA know he's survived. Fortunately, Mark is both an engineer and a botanist (each astronaut had to bring expertise in two fields to the flight)and will use his skill set to stay alive, one day longer. He will also learn to appreciate 70s sitcoms and loathe disco. I loved the movie Apollo 13 for the same reason I liked this book--if you start with the premise that failure is not an option, then yo...

I've been tweaking the website at darlenemarshall.com , and today added "Should I Read Your Books In Order?" on the "About" page. The answer is, "You don't have to, but here's how various books connect." All my books are now available in NOOK editions . This makes me happy, and I hope Kobo will catch up soon. The Goodreads Giveaway is still running through May 31. I'm giving away four signed copies of The Pirate's Secret Baby , and it's easy to enter to win. I've been blogging quite a bit this month. You can read my post on "Bad Girls" at Heroes and Heartbreakers , and on "Bad Boys" at All Romance Cafe . In addition to all of that, I'm working on book #8, "Mattie's Story". More on the WIP as it develops. Whew! Busy month. I'm hoping to take some time Sunday to attend the Florida Folk Festival, then it's back to work after Memorial Day.

I was eating lunch on my back porch, as I do most pleasant days here in North Florida, when two red-tailed hawks began tussling over what appeared to be a squirrel. They dive-bombed each other with a great deal of squawking before perching and glaring at one another. Their lunch seems to have taken it on the lam. The "chickenhawk" nesting season runs through June, so it's possible these were two dads each competing for lunch for the brood. I'll tell you one thing though--while these raptors sat there having a pissing contest there was a marked absence of songbirds and rodents in the yard. When our diva dachshund was a pup in the range of 5-7 lbs., I'd accompany her out in the back yard and do some glaring myself up at the trees. I had no doubt that from the air she looked like she had a large bull's-eye painted on her back. Fortunately, she outgrew the danger within a few months. I wouldn't mind if the raptors put a dent in the rodent population now tha...

Saga, Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan My rating: 5 of 5 stars Another winner for Saga, the best graphic novel I've read in years. The story continues as our star-crossed lovers attempt to find safety in a universe conspiring against them. There are lots of lovely little moments, but the one that moved me most is when child sex-slave Sophie is confiding her dreams to Lying Cat (Lying Cat is most amazing side-kick ever , btw). I can't wait for Saga, Volume 4! View all my reviews

Today was a horrible writing day. I had excellent intentions, but my brain felt like tapioca, and nothing was working. I did get about 1,000 words ahead in Mattie's Story, the WIP that's a follow-up to The Pirate's Secret Baby , but it wasn't nearly as productive as I'd hoped it would be. Then I went for a walk this afternoon. Somewhere in the daily two mile constitutional, my brain kicked into gear, and suddenly I had an important piece of Mattie's backstory. Of course I had my small notepad and pen with me, so I paused to make notes (which I just put in the computer) and resumed walking. Now I have a great starting point for tomorrow's work and more importantly, I feel psychologically recharged!

Dreams of the Golden Age by Carrie Vaughn My rating: 4 of 5 stars I enjoyed this follow-up to After the Golden Age , dealing with the aftermath of Celia's marriage and the breakup of the Olympiad. The book's focus is on her teenage daughter, and the difficulties all teens have figuring out who they are. In Anna's case, this is complicated by her potential superpowers and what that means to her and to her family. The interweaving of real life, ordinary family situations, and spandex clad supies in capes was thoughtful and well done. I hope there will be more books in this series by Ms. Vaughn. View all my reviews

In Want of a Wife by Jo Goodman My rating: 4 of 5 stars Jo Goodman is on my shortlist of best authors writing western historical romance. Each book of hers that I read convinces me of this, and In Want of A Wife is definitely a keeper. Morgan Longstreet and Jane Middlebourne are the kind of quiet characters who make a huge impression on a reader. Their love story unfolds in a rational and mature fashion as they get to know one another, despite their unromantic beginnings when Morgan sends for Jane as a mail order bride. The drama at the end builds beautifully, and the secondary characters (many of whom are familiar from other Goodman westerns) add to the richness of the story. I'd give this 4.5 stars if Goodreads offered that option. View all my reviews

One of the questions I'm asked most often is, "What do you do when you're writing, and you get stuck?" The answer is simple. I take a walk. Each day I try to fit a two mile walk into my routine. I don't listen to music or chat on the phone. I do carry a small notepad and pen with me, because the walking helps churn ideas and create new dialogue. Now a new study supports what I've known for years: walking helps keep your creative juices flowing . We've known for years that walking is good exercise for your body, now we have confirmation that it's good for your mind and your creative soul as well. So what are you waiting for? Push yourself away from the screen, lace up your shoes and get out there! Who knows? You might have pirates lurking in your unconscious, just waiting for a little creative opportunity to be unleashed from your mind and onto the page.

The Algerine Captive by Royall Tyler My rating: 4 of 5 stars Royall Tyler's "Barbary captive" narrative has the distinction of being known as the United States' first novel, and it's still a good read today for its take on events in the early republic. Supposedly it's the tale of a young New England doctor named Updike Underhill, who unknowingly signs aboard a slaver as ship's surgeon, only to end up captured by Algerian pirates and sold as a slave himself. Royall Tyler uses the novel format as an opportunity to make statements about the horrors of American and African slavery, comment on life as a Christian in Muslim North Africa, and poke fun at some of the political and educational standards of his time. For a writer of historical fiction, these works contemporary to the period in which one is writing can be a valuable research tool. I would recommend The Algerine Captive to anyone interested in the history of the early American nation. View all my...

The Slaves' Gamble: Choosing Sides in the War of 1812 by Gene Allen Smith My rating: 4 of 5 stars Excellent history of an overlooked part of American history and US/British conflicts. I knew about the Patriot War in Spanish Florida, and the role Blacks, Seminoles and Maroons played in driving back invading American forces, but I wasn't familiar with many of the other events involving slaves and free Blacks during the War of 1812. View all my reviews

Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett My rating: 4 of 5 stars I enjoyed this Roaring 20's paranormal set in San Francisco. The characters were engaging, the mystery was solid, and the "woo-woo" factor was a good plot point without overwhelming the story. I especially enjoyed the research into the little tidbits that made the story of Chinatown, Prohibition and wealthy bootleggers come alive. I'm looking forward to the next Roaring 20's historical by Ms. Bennett. View all my reviews

My spiffy new website is finished, and it's just in time for the Goodreads Giveaway of The Pirate's Secret Baby , happening now through May 31. And in case you missed the news, Amber Quill Press is discounting the related award-winning novels ( Sea Change, Castaway Dreams ) through April 30. Now that the website's done and TPSB is out and about, my goal for May is to begin writing book number eight, with the working title of Mattie's Book. If you've read The Pirate's Secret Baby (and you know you want to read it!) you'll understand the title. In the meantime, there is some actual spring cleaning going on at my house, much as I've tried to avoid it. It's so difficult to pick up that mop when my TBR shelves are groaning under the weight of all those books just waiting to be enjoyed. Ah well, they'll be my reward for clearing out the dust bunnies and getting ready for summer. Enjoy your springtime, but don't forget to take time to read...

You can enter the Goodreads Giveaway to win one of four signed copies of The Pirate's Secret Baby , published by Amber Quill Press. The contest runs through May 31, but if you want it right now , you can purchase TPSB through AllRomance ebooks , Amber Quill Press or Amazon . So enter the contest! You know you want hot pirates for your summer beach reading!

The Rebel Pirate by Donna Thorland My rating: 4 of 5 stars Donna Thorland's second "Renegades of the Revolution" novel is another winner in dealing with a period of American history not appreciated nearly enough by folks on both sides of the pond. I liked how this second novel of the American War of Independence dealt with small ships. Think of the 13 Colonies as a long island, because almost all commerce and travel moved on the water. Shipping was vital to the war effort and to daily life, and Thorland's focus on the pirates, privateers and merchantmen of New England is an important story. All American schoolchildren learn about Gen. George Washington and the land battles at Lexington & Concord, Paul Revere's ride, the winter at Valley Forge, the final battle at Yorktown, but not enough teaching material focuses on the need for sea power to win independence. I also liked how Thorland's research library overlapped so neatly with my own.[g] If I could, I...

The Wedding Ring Quest by Carla Kelly My rating: 3 of 5 stars This won't go down as my favorite Carla Kelly, but I enjoyed it. It's a romance about comfort food...and comfort. Capt. Ross Rennie and his young son are traveling to Scotland when they meet Mary Rennie at a coaching inn. Mary is a distant....waaaaaaay distant cousin on a quest: to find a fruitcake with a missing wedding ring baked inside it. No kidding. Ross and Nathan are getting to know one another again after Ross' years at sea battling Napoleon, but when Ross meets Mary there's an instant connection, and it's not cousinly. As this unlikely trio travels around Northern England and Scotland, the reader is drawn into their lonely lives--the naval captain who can't leave war behind, the spinster who longs for a bit of adventure, the boy who wants to know his absent father and have a real family. Like most Kelly novels it's a gentle weepfest about good people, and her fans are sure to en...

My publisher, Amber Quill Press , overhauled their website and added some great new features to make shopping easier and more enjoyable. From the website:: Changes and additions include... •   Wireless eBook delivery  to your Kindle or Kindle App!   •   A  Wish List  feature   •   We are now accepting  PayPal  along with all major credit cards   •   Our new  Log-In Feature  will retain basic "check-out" information so you'll no longer have to enter your name, address, credit card info, etc. every time you make a purchase.   •   Now you can explore our  Genre Pages  using new filters:  Book Length ,  Paperback Availability , and Series Books . Additionally, you can select how many products will display on each genre page, as well as the order in which books will appear: whether alphabetically by title or by name of author, from the newest to oldest ti...

City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn My rating: 5 of 5 stars It's hard to describe what makes City of Jssmine so entertaining without giving too much away, but I loved this book. If you like larger-than-life adventure with spys, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" style relics, handsome desert sheikhs, nefarious villains, Brits with upper lips so stiff they could be used for 2x4s, Restoration England poetry, parrots, imperialist politics, eccentric aunties, and last, but not least, a couple absolutely made for each other, then this is the book for you. There was even a wink and a nod to characters from Ms. Raybourn's previous novels. I found it City of Jasmine vastly entertaining and enjoyed every minute of reading it. A good, old fashioned rousing tale of adventure, romance and derring-do. View all my reviews

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion My rating: 4 of 5 stars Many of my friends had recommended this novel, and I'm glad they did. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Narrated by Don, a hero who's firmly on the Asperger's scale, knows it, and utilizes that knowledge to make his life work for him, has a project: he's going to get married, and to make it as scientific as possible (he's a highly regarded geneticist), he's going to survey potential mates about very specific likes, dislikes and habits. It's science, so what could go wrong? Enter Rosie. Now, anyone who's seen Bringing Up Baby , or Ball of Fire or other classic screwball comedies knows exactly where this is going, and you're correct, and it's still a heck of a ride. Sweet, thought provoking, very funny with some genuine LOL moments. I understand it's also been written as a screenplay, and I'd love to see this gem from Australia made into a movie. View all my reviews

People always want to know what an author is working on now. Sure, I had a new book come out this month, and the reviews of The Pirate's Secret Baby have been gratifying, but I can't rest on my success. I still have fake people talking in my head. The newest people conversing while I'm cooking, or walking, or sitting staring at my screen are Mathilde St. Armand, aka "Marauding Mattie" and Anthony Woodruff. Mathilde's figuring out her place in the world. It's not easy being the illegitimate daughter of a pirate and a prostitute in the best of times, but in Victorian England, it's a whole different level of difficult. Anthony's just trying to keep Marauding Mattie from using him for shark chum. More on this as it develops. And it is developing. I'm doing #1K1Hr sprints via Twitter to get the story rolling, and its beginning to come together. In the meantime, if you haven't yet read The Pirate's Secret Baby , rush out and get a co...