A successful traditional author turns Indie

A successful traditional author turns Indie

By Darlene Franklin

Jacob’s Christmas Dream, book 1 of the Christmas Mail Order Angels series, began about three years ago with 30,000 words written of what I hoped would become a 100,000 word book. I never finished the project, pressured by other commitments.

            When I jumped into indie publishing last Christmas, I thought – 12 brides (my original intent), 12 authors – perfect for a series of novellas! So I gathered some of my close friends and made several new ones, ending up with a grand line up of authors: Susan Page Davis, Cynthia Hickey, Brandi Bobbie, Jennifer AlLee, Teresa Ives Lily, Tanya Stowe, Patty Smith Hall, Anne Green, Martha Lou Rogers, and Lynette Sowell.

            The series idea came as a slight twist on a mail order bride series. What if a mining town—as uncouth and female-lacking as most were—decided they wanted brides? What if they went back to one of the men’s home town, like Abraham sending Eliezer for a wife for Isaac?

            My hero is Jake Underwood (yes, the connection with the biblical Jacob is intentional). He’s the one with the money and the know-how to set up correspondence with the ladies in Merville, Maine. He’s a committed Christian and a well-to-do storekeeper.

            Becky Patterson, my heroine, is the pastor’s daughter in Merville. She has acted the role of the pastor’s wife since her mother’s death. While she loves the Lord, she has no interest in continuing as a leader in the church.

            When I racked my brain for an issue to separate them, I soon realized Jake must be the part-time pastor who preaches when their itinerant preacher can’t come (which is most of the time.) In fact, there is talk of ordaining him as a preacher.

            Becky has two choices: she either continues the role she vowed she would leave behind—or else she says no to Jake, the man she loves.

About the author: Best-selling author Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She lives in Oklahoma, near her son and his family, and continues her interests in playing the piano and singing, books, good fellowship, and reality TV in addition to writing. She is an active member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Network. She has written over forty books and has written more than 250 devotionals. Her historical fiction ranges from the Revolutionary War to World War II, from Texas to Vermont. You can find Darlene online elsewhere at http://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Franklin/e/B001K8993A/ and https://www.facebook.com/darlene.franklin.3

About the book:

Becky Patterson escapes the stifling life at her father’s parsonage for an exciting life as a mail-order bride. . .only to learn her potential groom is a part-time preacher, Jake Underwood. Her dreams of working alongside Jake in his store stall when an itinerant preacher wants to ordain Jake as pastor of the growing church. Will Becky accept God’s calling on her life—or will she reject Jake’s love and the future God has planned for them?