Welcome to the 2018 author interview series. Author interviews will be posted every Friday throughout the year.
I am honored to continue this series with author Darlene Foster.
For those of you that have read my interviews in the past, you’ll find a new set of questions in this series. You can catch up with all of my past author interviews (nearly 200) on my Author Directorypage.
If you’re an author interested in being interviewed in this series, I still have limited spots available for 2018. You can email me at don@donmassenzio.com
Now, please enjoy this interview with Darlene Foster:
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I try to do a bit of both. I certainly want to be original but not to be so out of touch that nobody will read my books. On the other hand, I am not interested in writing about zombies, even if that happens to be the current trend. I have to write what I´m comfortable with. There aren’t many books for kids about travel and I believe that by throwing in an adventure and/or a mystery, the books appeal to today’s tweens. I recently got this email from a young reader which was very encouraging; Hi Darlene my name is Kynn and my auntie gave me three of your books and they are some of my favourite books. Please keep writing and she will keep buying.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Be patient and believe in yourself. When the time is right, you will get the words down on paper and you will be published. I didn´t ever really believe I would be a published author one day.
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
I have a problem calling any book under-appreciated, as there is always someone who appreciates it. But I do wish more people would read The Winter Pony by Iain Lawrence. I loved this heartbreaking story of Captain Scott’s fatal journey to the South Pole, told from the point of view of one of the ponies he took with him. It is history told from the heart. I rate it up there with my childhood favourites such as Black Beauty, Old Yeller and The Yearling. Recently this talented writer won a prize for another of his books, so perhaps the world will know of him and this book will not be under-appreciated.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I do read my book reviews as I believe you can learn from them. I celebrate the good ones and often thank the reader. I take note of the bad ones and see if there is something to be learned from them. I never contest the review or try to defend my work. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and I realize we all have different tastes in reading. I appreciate all reviews.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
Actually, I do. I use names and include events that only certain people will understand the significance of.
Do you Google yourself?
Occasionally. I am on Google alert. It´s great because it alerts me to articles in newspapers and magazines mentioning me that I may have missed. It is good to see what other people see if they Google me. So far it has all been good except when an obituary showed up, which was initially disturbing. Apparently there is more than one Darlene Foster. Who would have thought?
What is your favorite childhood book?
This would be a tie between Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. I love them both because of the feisty young female main characters. I’ve read them a number of times and never tire of them. I like to think Amanda has some of these traits.
If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
I can’t say read more because I read a lot as a child and teenager. My mom was often annoyed at me for reading instead of doing my housework. Perhaps I could have had more belief in myself. Oh and learn to type. I still write my books on the computer with two fingers. But I´m pretty fast with two fingers.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
It takes me from 12 to 18 months to write one of my Amanda Travels books. I wish I could become faster at writing a book. My books aren’t very long, about 100 pages, but I do a lot of research and tons of rewriting. I’m not a fast reader either and my TBR pile is huge. I’m also a perfectionist which is deadly for a writer and really slows me down. If someone knows of a cure for perfectionism, please let me know.
Darlene’s Books:
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Foster/e/B003XGQPHA
Connect with Darlene:
Website www.darlenefoster.ca
Blog https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/
Reblogged this on Stevie Turner, Indie Author. and commented:
I’m right there with you Darlene – I can’t write about zombies either! Enjoyed this interview – thanks Don Massenzio.
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Thanks for reblogging, Stevie.
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You’re welcome.
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Thanks for sharing this Stevie.
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You’re welcome.
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thanks for sharing this.
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I too, would love to be less of a perfectionist, but would I like myself afterwards?
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Thanks for reblogging! Oh, I think you would like yourself all the more.
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Thanks, Don for featuring me on your blog.
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It was a pleasure. I hope you are happy with the results.
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You have a knack for making me look good!! Thanks.
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It’s all about the quality of the subject.
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Reblogged this on Darlene Foster's Blog and commented:
I´m pleased to be featured on Don Massenzio´s blog today. Pop over and say Hello.
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It was a pleasure to feature your interview. Thanks for sharing this with your followers.
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Thanks for sharing this Charles
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You’re welcome.
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Reblogged this on Anna Dobritt — Author.
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Thanks for sharing this Anna
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What a lovely interview and I am adding The Winter Pony to my ever growing TBR list. Thanks, Darlene!
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You will love the Winter Pony. Be warned, you may need a kleenex at the end. I made the mistake of finishing it on the bus. Makeup ruined, heads turned to see what was wrong with me, almost missed my stop. Glad you enjoyed the interview!
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What a great interview! I’m glad that Darlene doesn’t fall on the trend wagon!! I’ve had it about up to here *reaching really high over my head* with zombies and superheroes… Just too much.
I LOVE Iain Lawrence’s writing. I understand that calling a book ‘under appreciated’ really does have negative connotations. These books aren’t under appreciated, sometimes books just need a little push into the public eye because they need to be NOTICED before they can be appreciated!
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Thanks for stopping by.
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Thanks so much! Nice to meet another Iain Lawrence fan. I love how you explained underappreciated. I guess that’s what we all want, for readers to notice our books so they can be appreciated.
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I relish learning more about you with the author interviews that appear here. It’s intriguing that you hide secrets in your books. And I haven’t Googled myself in a long time, so I’ll do that now. (Tee Hee)
Thank you, Don and Darlene!
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Thanks Marian. Appreciate you stopping by.
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Thanks, Marian. Glad you enjoyed the post. It’s fun to Google yourself from time to time.
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Great interview Darlene. 😊
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Thanks, Ari!
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Nice knowing Darlena better, Don. Thanks, Darlene.
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Thanks for stopping by John.
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😀
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Thanks, John. Don asks great questions.
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And you gave great responses.
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He does for sure.
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Enjoyed learning even more about you in Don’s interview, Darlene. As for me, I’ll leave the vampire tales to other writers too… 🙂
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Thanks, Bette. We all have subjects we are most comfortable writing about. Now maybe if Amanda visits Transylvania……..
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Great interview!
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Thanks, Jennie!
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You’re welcome, Darlene!
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Thanks for stopping by Jennie
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A pleasure, Don.
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A lovely author interview with Darlene, Don. I also love Little Women and Anne of Green Gables and, of course, I am also an Amanda fan.
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Thanks Robbie.
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And you are one of Amanda’s favourite fans!! Thanks so much.
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Thank you, Darlene. Hugs.
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Pingback: The 2018 Interview Series Featuring Darlene Foster | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life
Thanks for sharing this.
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Good, intelligent, interview. It’s encouraging to hear that not all serious writers dash things off quickly and get by using just two fingers on the keyboard! There’s hope yet!
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Thanks so much! Dashing things off quickly just doesn’t work for me. Plus I tend to get sidetracked when doing research.
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Reblogged this on The Write Stuff and commented:
Check out Don Massenzio’s lovely interview of Darlene Foster. Darlene is a familiar face around here, and it’s great to get to know her better. Thanks to Don for this wonderful series of interviews, and to Darlene for being such a warm and gracious interviewee!
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Thanks so much Marcia!!
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My pleasure, Darlene! It’s a lovely interview! 🙂
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Thanks for sharing this.
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I really enjoyed it, Don, so it was a pleasure to pass it on. 🙂
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Great interview. I am a big fan of Little Women and I taught myself to touch-type when I was young, and you are right, it has proven very useful in later life. Thanks, Don and Darlene.
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Thanks, Olga. I should have done that. I took other courses that I found more interesting in high school and couldn’t fit in typing class. I have become very fast with two fingers though.
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I really enjoyed learning more about you Darlene. I’m with you on the Google alerts! 🙂 x
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Google alerts is great, unless it´s about your demise! There is always something to learn about another author. Glad you enjoyed it!
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Agreed, and thanks Darlene.
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thanks for reblogging!!
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Thanks for sharing this
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Great feature Darlene…great interview Don!!
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Thank you Kirt
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Great questions and great answers! Good to see you here, Darlene! Sorry I’m so late in responding. Still catching up!!
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Thanks for stopping by
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