Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Day One With Darlene Franklin

Neuschwanstein Castlephoto © 2008 pr1me | more info (via: Wylio)


Years ago, while zooming down the interstate somewhere in Tennessee, I spotted a castle on a mountainside. I snapped a picture of it and always wondered what is a castle doing in the middle of the American countryside?

I never did uncover the story behind that castle, but when I decided to write a story about two hopeless romantics, I decided my hero had grown up in a castle. His father had built the castle for his English bride. The legendary (and fictional) Cameron Innis holds a place in knightly lore equal to the Knights of the Round Table.

Poor Joe Knight, raised by a knight and protector, feels more like a bumbling squire when robbery interrupts not one, but two, different dates.

Michelle Morris, my heroine, is a hopeless romantic. She and Joe are made for each other - except for details like jobs, long distance dating, and robberies.

Plainsong is a fun collection of "what ifs"? What if a couple did fall in live at first sight? What if she hates the town where he lives? And he hates her home? What if his every attempt to act like a knight turns into failure?

Joe and Michelle must struggle through a lot of baggage before they can claim their own happily-ever-after.

Do you ever play the "What If?" game in your head?

8 comments:

  1. Robin PatchenJune 28, 2011

    The "What if" game is my favorite! My first manuscript is all about "what if." What if a famous actor met a homeschooling mom on an airplane. What if the homeschooling mom led him to Christ. What if they fell in love? What if she were threatened by a stalker... Well, you can see where this is going. That's what fun about reading fiction--you can see how people deal with all the "what ifs" in their own lives.

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  2. Love the "what if" game!

    This book sounds so great!

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  3. My daughter and I love to brainstorm story plots, and we're always saying "what if." Castles are a favorite subject of mine (although I wouldn't want to live in one!) This does sound like a great story.

    Donna

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  4. AnonymousJune 28, 2011

    Most stories start with that "what if?" game . . . And Donna, I wouldn't mind living in a castle if it came with all modern amenities the way the castle in Plainsong does!

    --Darlene

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  5. Oooh, what if I lived in that castle in the picture?? Love it! Or what if a family hid in a little corner of that huge building and lived there for years and years and no one knew it? Like stowaways...

    Can't get tired of what if questions!

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  6. Yes, I play the what if game too.

    Love the premise of the story!

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  7. AnonymousJune 29, 2011

    Erin, I'd love to see one of those stories!Lacy, this book was fun to write.

    --Darlene

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  8. I play that game all the time. What if this and what if that. It can really get your mind thinking. Sometimes you can come up with some pretty good ideas.

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