Stories that Matter

Writing

Meet Author Darlene Franklin!

Nov 16, 2012 | 4 Comments

Who are you? I am from Ellis Island and mystery, high school sweethearts and faith hope and charity. I am from strong women, three mothers and loneliness. I am from poodle cookies and chocolate glazed mayonnaise cake. I’m from red velvet dresses and braided rugs. I am from rocks and hills, crashing waves and fog…

It Isn’t Always “Happily Ever After” by Marlayne Giron

Nov 15, 2012 | 5 Comments

Like many other women in their early 30s I have experienced the emotional pain, envy and agony of being unable to conceive. Our only means of adopting was through the county and all I had heard were horror stories. I was terrified to go this route but my husband wanted to be a “daddy”. He…

A Heart, Not an Outcome by Amanda Dykes

Nov 13, 2012

Adoption can be a road etched with uncertainty for everyone involved. At every turn, hearts are on the line, and at every turn is a chance to take another step, to trust a little more, to love. For my own story, I was on the adopting end. My husband and I knew going into it…

Nov 10, 2012 | 8 Comments

I’ve read lots of articles, blog posts and books about adoption. Primarily, they’re from the point of view of the child who was adopted, or the parents who adopted the child. Very rarely do you come across one written by the birth mother. There’s a reason for that: It’s extraordinarily difficult to explain how you…

I Had To Find My Mother To Find Myself by Catherine Leggitt

Nov 8, 2012 | 8 Comments

At two weeks and one day old, I rode home with my adoptive parents. Of that first family plane ride, I remember nothing except the joy and excitement my parents expressed each time they told me the story—joy and excitement that never diminished, no matter how often I requested the telling. Through their eyes, I…

Rejection – The Unwanted Guest

Nov 5, 2012 | 10 Comments

Ever had somebody show up at your door uninvited? Depending on who that person is, this can be kinda cool, or really awkward. When my kids were little, we lived in a constant state of toys on the floor, dishes in the sink, socks stuck to the curtains…you get the idea. If anybody stopped by,…

A Visit with Christine Lindsay – Birthmother

Nov 3, 2012 | 15 Comments

Sitting in the hospital bed, I held Sarah, my tears splashing onto her tiny face. My counselor softly said, “Christine, she’s your baby. You can keep her if you want to.” But I wanted a daddy for my baby. And I felt this promise from God—if I stuck to the adoption plan, He would reunite Sarah…

November is National Adoption Awareness Month!

Nov 1, 2012 | 3 Comments

Welcome! This month, in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, I’m thrilled to be devoting my blog to all those affected by adoption in some way. I put out the call some time ago, and have received wonderful posts from adoptive parents, adoptees, and birth mothers. I can’t wait to share them with you! There…

Oct 24, 2012 | 17 Comments

Today we’re doing something a little different! My friend and super amazing author Katie Ganshert, is here to talk to you, and I’m over on her blog! Cool,huh? Why are we doing this? Good question! Well, as you know, I’m an adoptee and I love talking about adoption. Katie and her husband Ryan are in…

Oct 23, 2012 | 2 Comments

The winner of Hidden in the Heart is… Luggage Lady! Please contact me with your mailing addy! Coming up on the blog… Tomorrow I’m doing a blog swap with my friend, author Katie Ganshert. We’re both going to be talking about adoption, so stop by and see what she has to say, and then visit…

The Next Best Step

March 25, 2019 |

The one sure thing about life, the one thing you can pretty much count on, is that it won’t always be easy. You know this. You’ve already been through some tough stuff. And you’ve survived. Maybe even triumphed. But then it all comes back for a second round. Or a third. Maybe you’re getting hit…

Write, Straight Up

May 7, 2018 |

Not on the rocks. Not with a splash. Maybe a twist, that’d be fun. But don’t water it down. Write what you want to say, write from you heart, and write, for the love of everything, like you mean it. If you don’t mean it, don’t waste your reader’s time, or yours. After 20 something…

Family Matters

October 28, 2016 |

I grew up an only child. As much as I was loved and probably (okay, definitely) spoiled by my parents, I think part of me missed not having a sibling. There were times when it was lonely. Times when I had to use my imagination to create the extra people I thought I needed in…

Fun Friday Five!

June 24, 2016 |

Answering five questions from my readers today! Want to get in on the fun? Send me a question and I’ll answer it next time!

So My Mom Wrote A Book…

June 14, 2016 |

Hey, everybody! This is Noah. (I’m the adorably handsome dog in the picture). I’m hijacking my mom’s blog today, because, quite frankly, enough is enough. I’m used to getting all the attention around here, seriously, and lately? Well, my mom wrote this book. And it’s getting AAAAALLLLLL the attention. That’s my Mom. That’s her book.…

And This Is Why The Words Matter …

May 19, 2016 |

So I wrote a piece about Guarding The Writer’s Heart – and it’s true. It’s tough out there. You’re going to get criticism no matter what. It’s just a given. Kinda like running for President. But not. And we won’t go there. But you know . . . this year so far . . .…

Remember When?

April 4, 2016 |

How many conversations start with that question? Probably more than we remember. Yet it’s an immediate pull back into the past, back to an event or shared memory that somehow binds people together, often whether they like it or not. The biggest events in history have turned strangers into friends. V-Day. The assassination of JFK.…

Conversation in A Coffee Shop

February 18, 2016 |

I see her there. This sad reflection of myself. Sitting. Alone. Alone only with her thoughts and the icon flashing fierce on the blank screen. Cautiously I slide into the seat opposite her. Offer coffee. And a smile of recognition. “Hello, writer.” She looks up, bleary eyed. Befuddled. “How did you know?” The question sighs…

Why Do The Words Matter?

January 19, 2016 |

There will be those who simply refuse what you’re giving. They will scorn, belittle and reject. And okay, sure, that might hurt. But that doesn’t mean you stop trying.

More Coffee … Need

January 11, 2016 |

Yeah, okay. But it’s Monday morning and I just spent two hours working on changing up this blog, and five minutes ago I sat staring at this screen in full out panic mode, thinking I’d just deleted the ENTIRE THING!! So I need more coffee. Because this is pretty much me in the morning. And,…

Meet Author Darlene Franklin!

November 16, 2012 /

Who are you?
I am from Ellis Island and mystery, high school sweethearts and faith hope and charity. I am from strong women, three mothers and loneliness. I am from poodle cookies and chocolate glazed mayonnaise cake. I’m from red velvet dresses and braided rugs.

I am from rocks and hills, crashing waves and fog horns. I am from “ayuh” and Hahvahd Yahd. I’m from biting black flies and chirping chickadees. I’m from lilac bushes in spring and bouquets of wildflowers in summer. I’m from riding bicycles around the block and long walks along the coast line. I’m from Yaz and the Big Cat, marching band and Number 7. I’m from three-room schools and Chizzle Wizzle.

I am from “Do not ask what your country can do for you” and “I have a dream” and “Old Enough to Fight, Old Enough to Vote.” I am from My Boy Bill and Bach and the Beatles. I’m from Dr. Seuss and Nancy Drew, Charles Dickens and Dick Francis. I’m from “those were the days” and Walton’s mountain.

I’m from the Other Son of Man and “if it was Greek, I’d understand it.” I’m from Vacation Bible School and “In the beginning.” I’m from Sunday night hymn sings and “Wonderful Grace of Jesus.” I’m from “Why?” Doesn’t Matter Anymore. I’m from neither height nor depth and from the deep, deep love of Jesus.

Where are you now?
In a short, non-poetic answer: I currently am a resident in a nursing home in Oklahoma. I’m a writer, with twenty books currently out and six more coming next year. And I’m a proud mother and grandmother!
Where are you going?
I am working on a book of devotionals based on the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul.” For my answer, I will give you the last two stanzas of this beloved hymn:
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so—it is well with my soul.
I look forward to the coming day when I see my Savior face to face in the place where there is no more pain, and reunite with my mother and daughter, who have gone on ahead of me.

About Darlene:

Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin lives in Oklahoma near her son’s family.
Darlene loves music, needlework, reading, and reality TV. She has published several titles with Barbour Publishing, including her two latest releases, A Bride’s Rogue in Roma, Texas, and Merry Christmas, With Love, in Postmark: Christmas. She has also written two books in the Texas Trails series with RiverNorth Fiction, Lone Star Trail and A Ranger’s Trail. She’s a member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers.
You can find Darlene online at her Website and on Facebook.

Inheriting a steamboat from a father she’s never met leaves Blanche Lamar in a quandary. Add to that a likeable rogue, Ike Gallagher, and the water muddies even more. Can she and Ike successfully navigate through love, or will they abandon ship?