#FiveMoreThingsYouMayNotKnow About Author #DarleneFoster

/ Marcia Meara

Hi, Everybody! It’s time for another #FiveThings post, and I’m very happy to say today’s guest is author Darlene Foster. Darlene’s post has a few surprises in it, and I know you’re gonna enjoy every word of it. With that in mind, let’s get going. Darlene, that’s your cue: Take it away! 😀

Thanks, Marcia!

Number 1
I was a mother at seventeen, a grandmother at thirty-seven and a great-grandmother at fifty-eight. I look forward to meeting my great-great-grandchildren some day. It’s fun being a young grandmother and having the energy to do all kinds of things with the kids.

 Number 2
I can listen to a number of conversations at one time. A result of growing up within a large extended family where everyone spoke at once. It’s a great skill to have. I once worked in a bull pen and managed a group of cold callers. I was able to listen to all their conversations and assist if anyone needed help. It’s also good for eavesdropping at dinner parties or on the bus and perfect for collecting material for stories.

Number 3
I was raised in a German speaking home, I attended school in Canada where French was part of the curriculum, and I live in Spain for the most part, but I speak very little of any language other than English. What is wrong with me? I guess I am just not very good at learning and retaining another language.

Number 4
I have never been very good at sports and don’t enjoy participating or watching sports. However, I did try kayaking when I lived on the outskirts of Vancouver and found I rather enjoyed it. I didn’t do ocean kayaking but paddled in the quiet delta and bays. I found it relaxing until one over-zealous instructor took us into more dangerous waters. That was the end of that.

 Number 5
I have always been a bookish child and while everyone else was busy playing hockey or baseball, I preferred to have my head in a book. Once, when I was a teenager, I took a book along on a date in case he was boring. My mother was mortified. Needless to say, it was the one and only date with that fellow.

There you have it, I’ve spilled the beans. Perhaps it was more than you wanted to know about me. Thanks, Marcia for this opportunity!

Author Darlene Foster

Brought up in southern Alberta, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing stories, travelling the world and meeting interesting people. It’s no surprise that after a number of interesting jobs, she’s now an award-winning author of the exciting Amanda Travels series featuring spunky 12-year-old Amanda Ross who loves to travel to unique places. Readers of all ages enjoy travelling with Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another. When she isn’t travelling herself, Darlene divides her time between the west coast of Canada and the Costa Blanca, Spain with her husband and entertaining dog, Dot. She believes everyone is capable of making their dreams come true if they´re willing to step out of their comfort zone.

Darlene’s Latest Release

Buy You Can Take The Girl From The Prairie HERE

BLURB:

A collection of short stories inspired by growing up on a prairie farm in the fifties and sixties. Some of the stories are humorous and others sad, but all heartfelt. Stories about family life, cowboy wisdom, immigrant grandmothers, an inspiring teacher, and the arrival of a new sibling are part of this collection of tales from another time and another place. Proof that you can take the girl from the prairie but you can’t take the prairie from the girl.

 

See all of Darlene’s Books HERE:

Amazon.com Author Page
Amazon.ca Author Page
Amazon.co.uk Author Page
Kobo Books

Find Darlene on Social Media HERE:

Website  |  Goodreads | Blog | Twitter | Facebook 

 

118 thoughts on “#FiveMoreThingsYouMayNotKnow About Author #DarleneFoster”

    • It was a pleasure having you here today, Darlene, and I hope you know you are always welcome! Hope you have fun chatting with folks, and here’s to a wonderful rest of the week. 😀 ❤

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    • I suspect that comment is going to be the one that grabs the most attention, Jackie, and frankly, I can think of dates when I would have LOVED to have a book along. 😂 Glad you enjoyed Darlene’s post, and thanks for stopping by to let us know. Have a great rest of the week! 😀 ❤

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    • I can’t remember when I WASN’T a bit bookish, Jeanne, from age 5 straight through until today. I’ve done a lot of other things, too, though I really don’t enjoy sports, per se, but books have always been steady companions. (Okay, I didn’t take them on dates, or canoeing, either, but had I thought about it, I might have tucked one in my purse when going on a first date. You know. Just in case. 😁)

      Thanks for stopping by this morning and taking a moment to say hello. Hope the rest of your week is a super one! 😀 ❤

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  9. This was fun learning more about Darlene. I had to laugh at bringing a book on a date – Great Expectations? LOLOL. And like Darlene, I am well-versed at listening to more than one conversation at a time, part of my growing up experience. ❤

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    • It’s always a pleasure to have Darlene visit, Nancy, and I’m so glad you enjoyed her post. Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to let us know, and here’s to a great rest of the week! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks, Nancy. I do hope you enjoy them when you get a chance to read them to your grandchildren. One reader read them to her 3-year-old granddaughter who loved them. Later, when the granddaughter got older, she read them again on her own.

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  11. Like the others, the notion of taking a book on a date is hilarious, but also possibly a much better companion! I loved Darlene’s last book about her life as a child in Alberta. I do love these posts, Marcia! 😀 ❤ 😀

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  13. How amazing to, perhaps, get to know your great great grandchildren one day, Darlene. That’s rare and delightful. And I love the book on a date! LOL. A first. Ha ha. Another fun “things” post, Marcia. And when you get to Darlene’s new book, you’ll love it. It’s fabulous. 🙂

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    • It IS an impressive skill, for sure. I’m more like you, especially these days when I really need to pay attention to whatever I’m hearing (or DOING) and not wander off into LaLaLand!)

      Glad you enjoyed Darlene’s post, Janet, and thanks so much for stopping by to share your thoughts. Have a great rest of the week! 😀 ❤

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    • I agree, Debra, and honestly, I’ve never really tried to learn a different language, but I do remember intriguing words from other languages. I could never put together a full sentence, though.

      Glad you enjoyed Darlene’s post, and thanks so much for stopping by to let us know. Hope the rest of your week goes beautifully! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks for stopping by, Sally, and I’m so glad you enjoyed Darlene’s post. She’s been traveling, so will be responding when possible, but I know she’ll be glad to see you here.

      All of my canoeing has been on tranquil rivers, so avoiding the dangers that might be napping on the riverbank was all I had to do. I did go white-water rafting years ago and enjoyed it very much. (I was MUCH, MUCH younger, though, and never worked up the nerve to do it a second time.)

      And I promise I’ll keep on rockin’ if YOU will! 😁😁😁

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      • Pleasure Marcia.. we did some white water rafting on the Guadaloupe river near San Antonio…great fun until we had to get out of the raft to cross some rocks in the river and than get back in again quickly to go over. My leg got caught in between two rocks and I badly damaged my shin… so once was quite enough for me too… thank goodness for tequila as an antiseptic in and out lol.. ♥

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        • Oooh, sorry you were injured, Sally, but glad the tequila helped! We were rafting on the Youghiogheny River, in Pennsylvania, and even though it was summer, the water was icy cold, and we were soaked the entire trip. Every time the front end of the raft rose in the air, water poured over us. Still … it was fun, and we laughed a lot, though we never did it again. Canoeing is much more tranquil. 😄😄😄

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      • Not only have I been travelling, Marcia, but I also met up with Sally in Ireland!! What a treat to meet one of my heroes in person. She is every bit as wonderful in real life as on the page and screen.

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        • Oh, man! You and Trish BOTH have had the wonderful luck of meeting up with Sally (and Judith Barrow, for Trish) while I have to make do with CYBER-relationships! *sad sniffling, here*

          I’m absolutely GREEN with envy! So many, many lovely folks I’d enjoy meeting in person, but I’m not going to complain. (Much.) In truth, I’m very, very grateful to have gotten to know people from all over the world online, and cherish these “virtual” friendships, even if they are long-distance ones.

          I’m happy for you, though. I know meeting up with Sally must have been great fun, for both of you! 😀 ❤

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          • I know how lucky I have been to meet Sally and Judith (last year). There are so many others I would love to meet but as you say, we appreciate the virtual friendships we have formed. Like you my dear friend. xo

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            • Awww, that’s so nice of you, Darlene! Thanks, and I feel the same way back atcha. But now I know you’ve met Judith, too, and I’m feeling an attack of “GREEN” coming on again! 🙄 Oh, well. I shall try my best to be happy you’ve had those experiences and refuse be jealous that I haven’t! 😁

              In all seriousness, how lucky are we to live in an age where we can chat with folks all over the planet on a daily basis? For me, it sure makes being on my doctor-ordered “house arrest” easier to endure. And it’s fun, too!

              Thanks again for being a guest on TWS, and hope you’ll come back often. Here’s to a wonderful weekend!
              🤗❤️🤗

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    • Thanks, Sally. I have always shied away from any sports that could be dangerous. Perhaps that’s why I have Amanda do some dangerous things at times. It was so great to meet up while I was in Ireland. We probably could have chatted all day.

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  18. Pingback: Smorgasbord Blogger Spotlight – June 16th 2023 – #Guest Marcia Meara and Darlene Foster, #Funnies The Story Reading Ape, #Tribute John Howell, #Dessert Dorothy Grover Read, #YorkshireDales Judith Barrow. | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

  19. Marcia, thanks for having Darlene on the blog today. I wish I had her gift of being able to listen to more than one conversation at a time. My small family was quiet and didn’t talk much. When there’s a lot of people talking at the same time, it’s overwhelming for me. I added her new book to my reading list. Her Amanda series sounds fun too! 😊

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  20. Pingback: Five More Things You May Not Know About Me | Darlene Foster's Blog

    • Prairie boys back then didn’t read books, except maybe comics. My current hubby is British so he knew about Jane Austen and Charles Dickens etc. The first movie he took me to was Anne of a Thousand Days (about Anne Boylen). Glad you enjoyed the five things!

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  23. I’m completely blown away by you becoming a mother at age 17. My first child didn’t arrive until I was 28. And, also, what others commented on: “Once, when I was a teenager, I took a book along on a date in case he was boring.” HaHaHa

    Five More Things is very informative, Darlene! Thanks for hosting, Marcia.

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    • It was a pleasure to have Darlene join us again, and I do love both our #TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAbout me series and the #FiveMoreThings. Some of the best guest posts I’ve ever had on TWS. (Maybe you’d like to join us one day?)

      Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a moment to share your thoughts, Marian, and here’s to a great weekend! 😀 ❤

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  25. Hi Marcia, Thank you for your interesting words on Darlene. She and I share the same ‘watering hole’ near the Med. and I can confirm she is the friendliest person and always upbeat! AND she writes well…Some people! All the best to you. Cheers!

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  30. Hi Darlene, I’m totally unsporty too. Uncoordinated, can’t ride a bike. Totally opposite to my hubby in every way! Not bad at swimming especially when I was younger. Love books and reading but have inherited bad problems with eyes. So spending less time online than I used to. 🙃

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    • I hear you. Hubby bought me a bike, I fell off after a couple of outings and have never ridden it again. I never did learn to swim though. Sorry to hear about your eye problems. Do you listen to audio books?

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  32. What a blessing to have lived in different places and had such a wide range of cultural experiences. I’m sure it makes your writing very interesting. Speaking of languages, I have been mentoring some kids who live in Mexico. They grew up in a German-speaking home, of course, live in Mexico, and work with me in English. They amaze me because they speak all three languages fluently. I can speak a little Spanish (very little) and lived in Germany for a while. While I have picked up some Spanish living on the US-Mexico border, I found German very difficult and only learned a few phrases.

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    • Thanks for commenting, Donna. German is quite a difficult language to master. I do think some people are better at learning and retaining different languages. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them.

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  33. Darlene, I loved that you took a book on a date in case the date was boring. It reminded me of some time ago when a girlfriend and I used to go to bars hoping to meet a nice guy but both concluded that the interesting people were to be found in books 🙂 All the best with you expanding series. xx

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