What’s New

A Sneak Peek

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Cover Reveal SoonThis is always an exciting yet anxious time. I’m getting ready to release a new book –  my sixth published novel! The title, which took forever to decide on, is Her Greatest Risk, and it’s a contemporary romance. Some of my books are more general fiction with romantic elements and have additional story lines. This one is pretty much straight romance with low to medium heat level.

Planning the cover reveal on Sept. 1 and the release on Sept. 11. Hope you’ll check back for both of those, and join in the celebration. I’ll be doing a giveaway or two, including a Goodreads Giveaway of paperback copies. Fun times ahead! 🙂

Here are a couple of short excerpts. Get your copy soon to read more!

  • Fascinated and shocked at the same time, Michael watched as a woman pushed against the window, shouting fiercely, her face so distorted that it reminded Michael of one of those wavy mirrors at an arcade. Will simply nodded his head as he inched the car forward. People yelled and pounded on the car. Signs blanketed the front of the windshield.

 

  • He brushed a thumb across her lips, and another thought slammed in. That call. That damned phone call from him. She said she’d call him back later. Would she yet tonight? And what would she say? Michael swallowed hard. It wasn’t something he could ask. All he could do was . . . wait.
     

Images to Tell Your Story

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pinterest-icon-logo-D4965B6748-seeklogo.comSo, I’m pinning now. You know what pinning is, yes? It’s right up there with texting and googling – new words for new phenomena of our time. I resisted Pinterest for a couple of years because I knew it would suck me in. And it has.
Can’t say I understand it all yet – why some pins have conversations and comments, why you can message some people and not others, how some boards become ‘community’ boards, etc. But I’m plodding along, discovering as I go.

So far, I’ve managed to set up 27 boards in just a week or so. The more I peruse the site, the more potential boards I think of. Have to say it feels a little narcissistic – lots of people have boards titled ‘My Style,’ ‘My Wishlist,’ ‘My Funny Bone,’ etc. – and that’s part of the fun. It’s your personal catalog, a picture book all about you and what you like! It’s a library and a shelving system and a cyber file cabinet. Kind of cool, actually. For me, it’s a little bit marketing, a little bit catalog shopping, and just plain fun.

I’m finding the site inspirational from a writing standpoint. Not just for ‘words of wisdom’ but for potential book settings and architectural features, details that I might want to weave into a setting or character description sometime. I’m also finding ways to visualize my books. I’ve found images for Dana’s lost ring, and Megan’s farmhouse, and Claire’s lemon bar recipe. I’m hoping these boards will give readers a little more insight into my books’ settings and characters – to really bring them to life, and perhaps spark more interest in them.

Too early to tell whether it will ever translate to additional book sales, but I’m connecting with people – like-minded people who love books, and bookish things, who enjoy a good cup of tea and many other things I do, including decorating sugar cookies. (Boy, has the site raised the bar on that one for me!) People who I’ve never met are liking and re-pinning my pins – people who before had probably never heard of author Darlene Deluca. And that’s a good thing.

Come join me!

Find me on Pinterest

Something Good makes the cut!

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So excited! Got word today that Something Good is a finalist for a RONE Award in the contemporary romance category. The RONEs are given in conjunction with InD’Tale Magazine to recognize outstanding work by independent authors and small press publishers. I am thrilled to be in this group.

Many, many thanks to all of you who supported me in the open voting round that made me a finalist.

Happy weekend, and happy reading to all!

Darlene

It’s all about the end!

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TransCRW2015MapleLeafAwards EndingI love a good ending. It’s so annoying to spend my time on a book only to be disappointed at the end — loose ends, unrealistic twists, character death or an abrupt stop with no resolution. So I was especially excited yesterday when I received word that my novel Something Good received a Maple Leaf Award for “Best Ending!”

I won’t give away the end of the book, but I have to agree, it’s a good one. It takes place in one of my favorite places — Laguna Beach, California. Sunshine, beach, ocean, what’s not to love?!

Something Good also received Honorable Mentions for “Best Novel,” “Best Misty Moment,” and “Best Hero!”

The Maple Leaf Awards are sponsored annually by the TransCanada Romance Writers to recognize outstanding work by published authors.

Want to get your own copy of Something Good? Click here!

Happy reading!

Darlene

 

You have the power . . .

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More good news! My most recent contemporary romance, Something Good, is nominated for a RONE Award by InD’Tale Magazine! That’s primarily the result of a great review from one of the staff’s reviewers.

And now, round two is up to YOU!

This week I need friends, fans and followers to cast your vote in support of Something Good, a romance about redemption and moving forward. Just follow the link below, and look for the category Contemporary: sweet. All you need is a computer and a couple of minutes. 🙂

Many thanks, and happy reading to all!

Darlene

VOTE Now

 

99-cent Sale!!

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HappyPageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00031] Friday, everyone! In celebration of the launch of book two in my Women of Whitfield series, I’ve reduced the price on book one to 99 cents!
You can buy a digital copy of The Storm Within at Amazon this weekend for just a buck. Download, curl up with your favorite beverage, and start getting to know these longtime friends!
Laughter, drama, suspense and friendship — women’s fiction at its best!
Enjoy!

Click here to Buy!

Launch Party!!

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P1040503Today’s the day!
Hello, everyone! So excited to share the big news — Second Wind is now available in both digital and paperback formats! It’s book two in my Women of Whitfield series about a group of longtime friends and their lives in a small, fictional town in Kansas. There’s a big dose of friendship, some drama, a little family angst, and a dash of romance — women’s fiction at its best!
I’m celebrating the release on my Facebook Author Page. Be sure to stop by for excerpts, info and giveaways! The more you like/comment/share, the better your chances of winning a copy of the book!
(click on the link to the right)

Here’s the cover blurb:
When a devastating tornado rips through the small town of Whitfield, Dana Gerard’s home is reduced to rubble and her well-ordered life to chaos. In the wake of the disaster, she finds herself in financial straits and confronted by challenges that test her limits.

With support from longtime friends, Dana begins the daunting task of rebuilding, but that’s not her only worry, and may be the least of her concerns. Change greets her from all directions – at work and within her own family. At a crossroads, Dana is forced to see her life with a new vision and to trust the one person she’s determined to push away.

Click here to purchase your copy of Second Wind!

Drum roll, please . . . here it is!

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Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00031]Here it is, the cover for my new women’s fiction novel “Second Wind!”

The cover says so much about the story, but of course, you’ll have to read it to understand how the images and title and storyline all work together.

I love the bright colors, and the sunflowers, which capture a windy day on the plains of Kansas, where the story is set.

“Second Wind” is book two in my Women of Whitfield series featuring a group of longtime best-buddies who support and encourage each other through life’s ups and downs in the small town of Whitfield.

They raise kids, manage homes and careers, run community events and organizations, laugh, live and love.

Pick up a copy of book one, “The Storm Within,” to get to know these women – people you’d want to be friends with in real life!

Read a story . . . find a friend

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Hello, everyone! Thanks for stopping by today. Darlene here. I was a guest on a women’s radio talk show this week (Plaid For Women), and the host asked me a question that made me think, and that I’d like to share. “What’s the most important thing you want people to remember about your books?”

My answer is that I want readers to know that when they open a Darlene Deluca novel, they’re going to find characters they can relate to – people they could be friends with in real life.

My books, regardless of whether they are straight women’s fiction or romance, are primarily about women, and for women. There’s often a friendship theme, but there are also situations and stories relating to women’s careers, parenting, home and family – issues of interest to women.

“Meetings of Chance” features sisters as friends. In “The Storm Within,” the main character deals with death and divorce, and it’s the love and support of her friends that get her though the dark times. In “Unexpected Legacy,” the heroine is a go-getter high school principal. You can imagine all the issues she deals with, and when love comes knocking, career and personal life are at odds. My most recent novel, “Something Good,” is a contemporary romance, but again, it’s not just about finding romantic love. It focuses on Mandi’s concern for others, her generosity, and her friendships. It’s about digging deep, as women often do, to overcome struggles and keep going even when times are tough.

My characters are well-rounded women who juggle careers and personal issues, and find love whether it’s through romance or solid I’ve-got-your-back girlfriends. Like I said, the kind of women you’d want to be friends with!

By the way, the next book in the Women of Whitfield trilogy, which features a group of friends in the small fictitious town of Whitfield, will release Jan. 10, 2015. The story focuses on Dana, and includes Mary and Claire from “The Storm Within.” A great place to find a friend!

Plaid For Women interview