The 2018 Interview Series Featuring Darlene Foster

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:

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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.

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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/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DarleneFosterWriter/

Twitter https://twitter.com/supermegawoman