Posted on: April 29, 2017
Today I am a guest on Teri Polen´s blog. Check out my answers to her great questions.
We’re changing it up today on Indie Author Friday. Darlene Foster is sharing her exciting collection of children’s travel adventure books. Join Amanda as she journeys around the world and experiences new cultures and a few mysteries. Aren’t these covers beautiful?
Twelve year old Amanda Ross finds herself on an elegant riverboat with her bestie, Leah, cruising down the beautiful Danube, passing medieval castles, luscious green valleys and charming villages. When she is entrusted with a valuable violin by a young, homeless musician during a stop in Germany, a mean boy immediately attempts to take it from her.
Back on their cruise, Amanda struggles to keep the precious violin safe for the poor prodigy. Along the way, she encounters a mysterious monk, a Santa Claus look-alike, and the same nasty boy.
Follow Amanda down the Danube, through Germany, Austria and Hungary, as she enjoys the enchanting sounds of music everywhere…
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Posted on: March 16, 2017
During my visit to York, I went on a ghost walk. A city with such a long and rich history is bound to have ghosts lurking about. In fact, York is known as the most haunted city in England. Our excellent guide took us to places where ghosts sightings and paranormal activity have been reported. We began the tour at the York Minster on a chilly misty evening.
One of many Ghost Walks available in York.
The York Minster looking spooky at night.
Our knowledgeable and entertaining guide.
I expected to an apparition to appear at any moment.
Some say the face of a young girl appears at the small window in this house. This ghostly child starved to death after her entire family died from the plague as no one was willing to go into the house to get her. Sad times.
Working in the cellar of the Treasure’s House in 1953, plumber Harry Martindale was terrified when a group of Roman soldiers walked past him. He noted that the figures disappeared into the floor at knee height. Later investigation revealed a roman road half a metre under the basement.
York is the birthplace of Guy Fawkes and is also where he is buried. Unfortunately, his head was buried in one place and his body in another. Apparently, he wanders the Shambles at night looking for his head. I didn’t encounter him, although I did find an inn named after him.
The ghost of Guy Fawkes is supposed to wander the Shambles at night looking for his severed head.
Mysterious splashes have been heard late at night at the site of the ancient Roman baths.
During a daytime walk around town, we found these guys hanging about.
The sign says, Here lies Fat Ken, our original shop skeleton who fell to bits because people loved him too much. Please be kind.
So why all the interest in ghosts, skeletons and creepy things? Probably because I´ve been busy doing final edits on Amanda’s next adventure, Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind. You guessed it, there will be ghosts in this story. What do you think of the fabulous cover my publisher created?
I´ve been on a number of ghost walks. They can be good fun and the guides are usually very entertaining.
Have you ever been on a ghost walk? Do you enjoy hearing or reading about ghostly encounters?
Posted on: March 10, 2017
Today I am a guest on Sue Vincent’s blog where I talk about the value of critique groups.
Never underestimate the importance of a good critique group. Without one, a writer may simply flounder in a sea of words and ideas. A critique group can make the difference between a mediocre story and an excellent piece of writing worthy of publication. Without the support of groups I’ve belonged to over the years, I would not have six books and several short stories published.
If you are wondering if you should join a critique group, here are ten things about critique groups you should know.
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Today, I am a guest on Krysten Lindsay Hagar’s blog.
How Writing This Book Kept Me Sane by Darlene Foster – See more at: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/blog#sthash.wHxhalxq.dpuf
A question I am often asked is where I get ideas for my books. In this case, I was fortunate to go on a fabulous river cruise down the Danube with my hubby and some good friends four years ago. We had a fabulous time and everywhere we visited I thought, Amanda would love this place. – See more at: http://www.krystenlindsay.com/blog/how-writing-this-book-kept-me-sane-by-darlene-foster#sthash.oAO6nKXj.dpuf
Krysten writes funny, true to life books for teens. Besides mining her teen years and humiliating moments for her novels, she is also a book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn´t like. Hop over to read my article and check out her blog and leave a comment.
Check out the trailer for Amanda on the Danube featuring some of my pictures from the trip that inspired me.
Posted on: January 4, 2017
It´s day 3 of the New Year and time to post my goals for 2017. We never know what´s in store for us as a new year begins but by setting some goals, I believe I can make it a good year.
First I want to share this great list of New Years Resolutions for Writers I found on Lynn Thaler´s blogsite.
Thanks, Lynn. These are perfect!! Check out Lynn´s blog as she writes some great posts, especially about her four dogs!
Over at It´s Just Life, Beth Ann challenges her readers to chose 3 words to focus on this year. I decided my three words for 2017 will be: kindness, strength and curiosity. I feel they will help me achieve my goals.This month Beth Ann will donate five cents to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® for every comment made on her site. A cause after my own heart as our Dot was a rescue dog. Pop on over and make a comment or two. Her posts are fun and enlightening.
My goals for 2017!
Wish me luck with these goals! I would love to read about yours.
As my son recently said, “Happy New Year. Another year to Chase Dreams and Achieve more Goals.”
Posted on: January 3, 2017
I hope you all welcomed the New Year with joyful spirits! We enjoyed welcoming the start of 2017 with our dog, eating our 12 grapes at midnight and watching fireworks from our terrace.
I just returned from a successful launch in Canada of Amanda on the Danube – The Sounds of Music. I am so happy with this book and hope the readers will enjoy this adventure through a beautiful part of the world!
2. Finish Amanda in New Mexico – The Ghost Hotel
I just finished Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind and hope to have it published by, October 1, 2017. Yes, I did change the sub-title. These things happen as you go along with the writing.
3. Do more promoting of all the Amanda books and Pig on Trial
I did a lot of promoting of all my books but still feel I could do more.
4. Connect with local schools and bookstores
I did 4 presentations in Spanish bookstores last year. Have not connected with any schools yet.
5. Continue to explore Spain, attend cultural events and write about them
I saw a lot of Spain and attended many cultural events. Of course, there is still much more to see and do.
6. Travel to Holland, France and England
I made a trip to Holland and France last year. England will be soon.
7. Work hard at making new friends in Spain
I have made some wonderful friends here in Spain. I also just recently found a writers group that meets every week. I am so excited about that and have been to a couple of meetings. Everyone has been very welcoming.
8. Attend Pueblo Ingles with friends
This didn’t happen due to conflicting schedules but we will keep trying.
9. Take time to read more
I did read more and learned how to read in the pool during the hot summer!
10. Practice Spanish
Need to work on this but seem to be communicating fine with my Spanish friends.
11. Keep learning more about writing
Thanks to the many blogs filled with writing information, I feel I have learned a lot.
12. Enjoy my more relaxed lifestyle
I am enjoying this lifestyle very much. I have learned not to get upset when things don´t happen as fast as I would like.
13. Look after my health by eating better and exercising more
We got a dog, which wasn’t on the list, and now I go for many walks.
14. Keep in touch with family and friends back home via social media and mail
This has worked out well. I even Skype on a regular basis with my 88-year-old mother. I have been sending postcards of the area I live in, to my great granddaughters. They tell me they love them.
15. Help other writers meet their goals
I have promoted other writers on my blog and given assistance to writers whenever I can.
16. Be thankful for at least three things every day.
This is now a habit. So much to be thankful for.
I think I did quite well with my list, although there is always room for improvement.
In the next few days, I will post my goals for 2017 as I look forward to things that have never been.
Whether you wrote them down or not, I hope some of your goals for 2016 were met. Or maybe a dream you didn´t know you had, came true! The best thing about 2016 was getting our dog and I didn’t even know I wanted one.
Dot at the beach on Christmas Day
I am pleased to be a guest on Rachael Ritchey’s blog where I talk about writing a series. Enjoy and leave a comment or two.
Happy Thursday! We’ve got a special guest today. Author Darlene Foster has been kind enough to stop in to offer us writers some handy advice on keeping a book series fresh and interesting!
Brought up on a ranch in southern Alberta, Darlene Foster dreamt of travelling the world and meeting interesting people. Her desire to write started when she was twelve and her short stories have since won a number of awards. She is the author of the exciting adventure series featuring spunky 12-year-old Amanda Ross who loves to travel to unique places. Her books include Amanda in Arabia – The Perfume Flask, Amanda in Spain – The Girl in The Painting, Amanda in England – The Missing Novel and Amanda in Alberta – The Writing on the Stone. Readers of all ages enjoy travelling with Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another. Darlene and her husband divide their time between…
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