June News 2022

Today is the first day of Summer - my favourite season...

And I have some exciting news to share! Edits and proofing are done on Derailed Hearts and the release date is September 28, 2022. I love the cover!

Single father and ER doctor, Ethan Marley, is ready to put down roots. He and his daughter embark on a train adventure across Canada from west to east coast. Boarding the train, he meets a woman who steals his breath, and he learns that she too is headed to Redford Falls. He is intent on maintaining a friendship only, but Jenn makes his heart race faster than the train.

Fashion designer, Jenn Martini, travels by train to Redford Falls to visit her father. Her plan for a solitude escape derails after meeting Ethan and his daughter. Sharing a confined-spaced cabin sparks an immediate attraction, and by the end of the trip, she longs to be a part of their family. Only as she opens her heart to love, do the scars from her past begin to heal.

With more in common than relatives in Redford Falls, is their love strong enough to overcome the truth behind the accident…and save their future?

If you spent time in Redford Falls, you might recognize the last name, Marley. Derailed Hearts dives into the eldest of five brothers, Ethan. I am excited to have you meet Ethan, his daughter Avery, and Jenn Martini, who also has a connection to Redford Falls.

I've been having fun writing the next story in Redford Falls - Jade's story. The words are coming so much easier than most stories. I'm not sure if it's the characters or the whole premise, but this story has definitely returned my passion for writing. I don't know how it will do in the world of self-publishing - which won't be until 2023 - but I'm enjoying writing about Jade and Eric.

After a short break from painting - because life just seems to get busy and the days pass too quickly - last weekend, I finally did my first Dancing Universe painting. This theme was inspired by artist Olga Soby. I watch  her YouTube videos as soon as they are uploaded. I have an obsession with space, so as soon as she started this series, I knew what I wanted to paint next - the Moon. I don't have a photo to share yet as I have to do some final hand touch-ups and a few coats of varnish. I hope to share a photo in my next newsletter. I want to continue this series with a painting of the Sun and one of Earth. I'm planning to design another video of other paintings I've done. This collection will include my silhouettes and bands. So, check out my YouTube channel in a couple of weeks for that!

We don't have any trips planned for this summer. Gas is too expensive to travel, and most cottage rentals are booked through the summer. We will take a few weekend trips to visit my aunt, and we're thinking about several day trips. We want to visit a Wildlife Park near our area as we haven't been there in a few years. There is also a farm we want to visit and a discovery centre. Both spots are local, but we've never been there. I'm mainly looking forward to relaxing in our yard to enjoy all the hard work we put into its renovation.

And in closing...in October, I will finally get to see one of my favourite music artists, Michael Buble. His concert was supposed to take place March 2020, but the pandemic arrived, resulting in the concert being cancelled. Fingers crossed third time is the charm!

Until next time... Enjoy a safe and happy Summer!

Darlene

May News 2022

It's hard to believe it's the end of the month! May has flown by!

I've been so busy writing, editing, painting, gardening, reading, and setting up a shop for my paintings that the days just come and go.

However, we're approaching my favourite time of the year...Summer! And I intend to reward myself by taking many lazy summer days sitting in the yard lounging and reading.

Writing...

I returned the last set of edits to my editor for Derailed Hearts on May 18. My editor sent me an email on the 27th stating that my manuscript was returned from the proofreading department earlier than she expected. She requested two changes, which I returned to her. The final galley should be sent to me this week. I have my fingers crossed for a release before the end of this years, so it looks like it might happen! I'll share the cover as soon as I receive a release date.

I've been working on writing Jade's story and submitted chapter four to my beta group last Friday. I've had such ups and downs with this project. I want to write the story, but I get these days of heavy doubt about continuing to write anything. Will self-publishing be just another let-down? My zoom group helps me stay positive, so I continue to write. And I am really enjoying this story, so I will keep going until I get to type The End. Will it then actually be the end, or will I continue with Max's story? Only time will tell.

Painting...

I finished several more painting that are ready for sale. The paintings I sell are on a thin 9 x 12 canvas which is cheaper to mail. I need to update my painting web site to add three more pieces. I've also been painting just for myself. I've wanted to try a flower blow-out to place on the wall in the bedroom. I decided to use two canvasses, but paint as though they were one. This is the final piece which I am so thrilled with the outcome.

I love this painting!

Next, I want to try a Dancing Universe painting, inspired by artist, Olga Soby. I want to do a moon in space. I was also inspired to try another flower, but this time a sunflower. I want to try the chain technique again and also the glue gun. I watched videos by two artists and I'm going to combine both of their techniques into one.

I uploaded a video on my YouTube channel of some of my gradient paint pours. Here's the link, but I will also load it to this site very soon. https://youtu.be/xTkdr_W5vpA

Gardening...

We reconstructed our side yard. I wanted to move the rock garden from the centre to allow more of an open space. This was a huge undertaking. I had to dig up and transplant all the flowers and bushes before they started to bud. We also had to dig up the umbrella clothes line pole and place it in a new spot. Then we had 6000 pounds of gravel delivered. The truck extended a boom from the road and shot the gravel into the yard. The project was a lot of hard work, but the final outcome looks great. All my flowers and bushes survived the transplant and thriving in their new spots, with the exception of my winter heath. Two of the three are doing well, but I'm afraid I might lose the third one.

This is the mound of gravel in front of our shop.

Reading...

I received a lot of priority reads through the magazine. So many that I had to stop writing for two weeks in order to make the set deadlines. I am on a role with reading some great books. I don't think I've given a review lower than 4 stars. I have three new priority reading requests, but I'm slipping in a few regular reads into the pile before the regular reads get out of control.

New site...

I placed four of my paintings on Etsy. I don't think I will maintain this shop for too long as there are so many fees to run it, but I'm hoping the site will give my paintings some exposure and lead people to my website where they are available for purchase. And even if my paintings don't sell, I might be disappointed, but not that much. I paint because of the enjoyment and escape it provides. And when the den becomes too crowded with art work, maybe someday I will sell them at a crafters market. 

June 02 Update: Etsy Shop Closed.

My husband and I also celebrated our thirtieth wedding anniversary. We got dressed up and my daughter took lots of photos. We even recreated a few poses from our wedding day.

I almost forgot to mention the awesome exhibit my daughter and I went to this past Saturday. My daughter treated my to Beyond Van Gogh. The art exhibit was amazing! The production was so well done. I could have stayed in the main room and watched the display for hours. 

This is one of many photos my daughter took. She also took a few videos that show the movement of the exhibit. I hope to upload a video soon.

After weeks of rain, cloud, and cool days, we finally have some nice weather. Today actually hints at summer! I went outside after lunch and picked lilacs. The house smells so good! I don't remember my lilac tree blooming so early in the year. They tend to bloom in June because I always brought a bouquet to my mother on her birthday. Lilacs were her favourite flower and today's two bouquets sadly but happily remind me of her.

Until next time, take care.

Darlene

April News 2022

I have some news to share, so before I start the next round of edits received by my editor on Derailed Hearts, I will chat about my new endeavor.

After being told by several people I should start selling my custom paintings, I decided to give it a try. And...I now have a website for my paintings! 

On this site you will see a lot of my completed paintings. Some are available for purchase, while other paintings are just to show you my work. There are 'Order Requests' paintings, which are paintings you can order for a replicated design or a similar design but with colours of your choice. As well as art work that is 'Available Now', which are custom paintings available for immediate purchase. 

Some of my paintings are designs straight from my head, while others are ideas I've seen, but I changed the design to make it my own. All of my paintings are custom art designs, where no two are exactly alike.

Art work can be purchased from my website, but I will also soon have an Etsy shop that will include art pieces that are available for immediate purchase. I'll add the link to my Etsy shop once it is up and running.

Check out my art website! https://www.dfcustomartdesigns.com/

As if I'm not busy enough with painting and setting up a website, I also started writing a new book. This book is part of a multi-author project. There are seven of us and each book will be a stand-alone title but with one common object. My story will be about Jade Parsons, who has been mentioned a few times in previous books in my Redford Falls series. I am still excited yet still nervous about this project as it will be a return to self-publishing.

Speaking of writing, my editor just sent another round of edits for Derailed Hearts, so I'd better get editing.

April showers bring May flowers, and since we've had a lot of rain so far this month (more than showers), we should have a lot of flowers blooming in May! Take care.

Darlene

March News 2022

On this last day of March I remember I hadn't written my newsletter. I don't have much news this month, but I'm sure I can think of a few things to talk about.

This was a sunrise my husband caught last weekend.

First, the weather! It's finally spring, but it sure doesn't feel like it. The weather has been cold and rainy all month, but thankfully no snow other than flurries. Our shovels are still out, but I don't intend to use one. I'd have my husband put them away, but I'm afraid we'd have a snow storm, lol. Tomorrow is April, so maybe they can finally go in the shed for the next several months...fingers crossed.

I started writing a mystery romance, but stopped. I then returned to my Redford Falls books, but stopped. I keep rethinking my future in writing. Thankfully, I don't write for the money because I'd have stopped long ago. I write because the stories in my head need to get out. I decided to take a few months away from writing (other than edits on my contracted book). My magazine has a ton of priority books to read and review, which will keep me busy through May. Reading is not a bad way to spend my afternoons!

But the author group I am a part of threw out an idea of the seven of us writing stories. The books would all be stand-alone titles, but each have a common object within the stories. We would then self-publish them and have the subtitle link our books. I was hesitant to join in, yet interested as well. As we talked more about this project, I thought it would be the chance to give Jade Parsons (from Redford Falls) her story. I'm still hesitant, but with the publishing date agreed to be next year, I'm on board the writing train again. (Slaps hand to forehead).

So, I have many books to read and review and a new story to write. AND on top of all that, I am (with the help of my daughter) in the process of opening an online store for my paintings. I have been encouraged by a lot of people to do this, so I am going to give it a try. I keep asking myself 'who would want to buy my paintings?' But I won't know until I put them out there. Fingers crossed!

We attended our first big event after two years dealing with the pandemic. We went to see Blue Rodeo in concert last weekend. It was my daughter's first live concert. We went out for dinner first then a chilly but nice walk along the waterfront before heading to the concert. Did we have fun? Let's just say I was exhausted the next day from all the woohooing, lol. The concert was awesome! 

That pretty much wraps up March. See you in April! Take care.

Darlene

February News 2022

Where has this month gone? Technically, I'm happy that it's almost over (I don't like winter) but the

days are flying by. February has been a cold and dreary month on the Atlantic Coast. We've had below normal temperatures and several storms. However, our storms are anything but normal this winter. Each time they call for snow, there's a warning of freezing rain mixed into the storm. The ice from the beginning of February just melted this week. We are under another storm warning for today with snow starting around the lunch hour. But at least this storm doesn't have any rain mix. 

I am patiently (okay not so patient) waiting for winter to be over. I know March can be a miserable month too, but at least it will be officially Spring and we can say goodbye to winter. We have a few outdoor projects I am anxious to begin. We currently have a rock garden in the centre of our side yard, but I want to reconstruct it by moving it somewhere else in order to open the area. This is a big projects as several plants have to be moved and I'm hoping they will survive the transplanting. We also have lots of larger rocks that will need to be moved to another spot in the yard. I am still thinking about where to put them. We just need the ground to thaw, milder temperatures, and lots of sunshine.

My new book, Finding Home Again, released on February 07. I had small book tour with several stops, which I hope resulted in some interest in my book. Finding Home Again is still on NetGalley until the 28th, so if you haven't checked it out, be sure to head there before Monday! Finding Home Again also received some great reviews! 

In other writing news, Derailed Hearts has been contracted and I am working with my editor. This book is the first Redford Falls sub-series titled 'The Marleys of Redford Falls'. I hope Derailed Hearts will receive a release date for this year. I have the cover art, but I'm waiting to share it until I get a release date. I am also writing the second book in this series, Stable Hearts. Last month, I wasn't sure about my writing future, but once I started Stable Hearts, I remembered why I write...because I enjoy it. I love seeing the characters come to life on paper instead of screaming in my head, lol.

I hope you've taken a moment to check out my paintings. I try to paint a new project at least once a week. I am so enjoying fluid art so much and I've been incorporating hand-painted images into some of the art pieces, such as The Rolling Stones tongue and the Balloon Daisy. This is an art piece I painted for my eldest niece who is a fan of the Carolina Panthers. I completed a few more projects, which I will share on my blog and website over the next week. 

Also watch for a new project I'm working on...I am very excited to design a video of my completed painting projects. And I'm hoping to find time to design book trailer teasers for my catalogue of books. 

Somewhere in my already busy schedule, I find time to read. Be sure to stop by Still Moments Magazine's website to check out my book reviews. 

I have to run, as I am in the middle of chapter three with Stable Hearts and Max is about to get a big surprise. Until next month... take care!

Darlene

January News 2022

Happy New Year everyone!

Okay, I'm a little late into January, but better late than never. I haven't written a news post in quite a few months and I have lots of stuff to share, so let's get right to it.

Writing

Where to start... 

On February 23, 2021, I signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press for the fifth book in my Redford Falls series, titled Finding Home Again. This book is my first attempt at adding suspense into the romance, and I think I nailed it. If you want a sneak peek, here's the link to a video teaser: https://youtu.be/2_STxHh37A4 

Finding Home Again is now available for preorder and officially releases on February 07, 2022.

My ice cream themed story, Cherry Red, released on September 06, 2021, under my publisher's One Scoop Or Two themed series. This book is one of my top three favourites. It was so much fun to write and it takes place Halifax, which includes many of the city's historical landmarks. The tag line is: 'She creates ice cream. He radiates heat'. Cherry Red received great reviews. Check them out on Amazon and Goodreads.

On November 04, 2021, I signed a contract with TWRP for my tenth book! Derailed Hearts is a sub-series spin from my Redford Falls series, titled: The Marleys of Redford Falls. This series will focus on the five Marley brothers, but will include many of the characters from the first five books. Derailed Hearts is currently in the editing stage, so it will be a while before a release date is received. I'll keep you posted on its progress.

I started writing a new romance suspense series, but I've paused that series to focus on The Marleys of Redford Falls. During the holidays, I took a break from writing and did a lot of thinking about my future in the publishing industry. I'm a slow writer, so I don't push out several books a year. I also don't have many hours per day to write. Sometimes I feel rushed to write a chapter, which only makes the writing more difficult. I'm not good with writing under pressure or with deadlines. I'm also terrible with marketing. I get lost in all the new apps that many authors are on. I don't have the patience or time to learn them. 

So, right now I'm feeling a little lost in the business. I can't keep up and I'm not sure I want to. 

Then there's the royalty return...yes, I'm talking about money. The return is minimal - definitely not enough to consider writing a full time job. Some authors put $$$ dollars into marketing and promotion, but I don't see the investment as a huge payback. And while that might work for some authors, it's not happening for me. I thought the more books I publish, the better the return, but that's not the case. I love writing and I have so many stories to share, but I've lost the drive to put in so much time and energy. 

Maybe it's because I'm getting older (another birthday passed by last week) and I have other things I want to do. I also really enjoyed the relaxing days throughout the holidays where my days weren't rushed to turn on the computer and write. I have a full spreadsheet of books I need to read for Still Moments Magazine, and I've returned to one of my favourite hobbies - painting. It's been years since I've picked up a brush, but last month I discovered fluid art painting and I'm hooked. Check out the tab 'Paintings' for pictures of my recent art pieces. Also, on the left side bar is a label 'Paintings' where I talk about the inspiration for each design.

Will I continue writing? I don't think I can stop, at least not for a while. However, I won't be rushing to push books out. I am focusing on the next four books in the Marley series, which will all be novellas. Once that series it done, I will consider my options to continue or retire.

I had more to chat about, but this newsletter went into overtime, lol. 

Be sure to visit often as I will continue to host guests, share my paintings and pencil drawings, and chat more about writing. I gave my blog a fresh new look for 2022 with a new background (one of my paintings) and a beautiful header. I also updated my web site http://darlenefredette.blogspot.com/ Both sites will focus on my writings as well as my art work.

What is your focus for 2022?

Until next month...

Take care, Darlene