KRYSTEN LINDSAY HAGER
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Daydream Believer: A guest post by author Darlene Foster

1/22/2020

32 Comments

 
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Happy to have author Darlene Foster back on the blog today with a guest post. She writes the  Amanda Travels adventure series and today Darlene is here to talk about something I do so, so often--daydreaming! 


Daydream Believer by Darlene Foster
 
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
 
As long as I can remember I have been a daydreamer. Daydreaming has kept me from being bored, lonely and unhappy. It has also been responsible for me accomplishing many of my goals. Many of them started as a daydream.
 
Being around people energizes and inspires me. If there don’t happen to be any people around, I make some up. This began when I was a little girl living on a ranch in the Canadian prairies. Surrounded by never-ending sunshine, a huge blue sky and tons of wide-open spaces, it was a wonderful life. However, I lacked people to talk to. My parents were busy, working hard to earn a living, and my little brothers were only babies. So, I gave my teddy bears names and personalities. I created many adventures for Ted, Teddy, Toostie and Elvis. It wasn’t long until I began to make up other imaginary characters and situations. My parents called me a daydreamer, and they were right! 
 
Once I learned to read, I felt like I had reached nirvana. In between the pages of each book lived new worlds and people for me to meet. I read everything I could get my hands on. I would beg my hardworking dad to stop what he was doing and take me to the library in the city, thirty miles away, to get more books. I made up continuations of the story after I closed the book and created alternative endings. I dreamt about the characters and the places they had been.
 
My grade three teacher recognized my thirst for knowledge and adventure, and my ability to make up stories. She encouraged me to read at higher levels, to write my stories down and to travel to other countries someday. She read The Bobbsey Twins adventure books out loud to us and I loved them. I so wanted to be like them and travel all over the world. She presented me with a copy of The Bobbsey Twins in Mexico at the end of the school year for being an outstanding student. I treasured that book and still have it!
 
Not surprising, years later as an adult, I did travel to interesting places and eventually wrote down some of my stories. My writing took me back to my early days wandering around my dad’s ranch, sitting on a large stone in the middle of the prairies, making up characters in my head and giving them problems to solve and adventures to experience. I thought I had a boring life back then, but now I realize those where the seeds planted that eventually helped me become a published author. The opportunity to daydream was actually a gift.
 
Do I believe in daydreams? You bet! I don’t think anything has changed. Kids, and adults, still need time to daydream in order to exercise their mind and create. And they need to be surrounded by books, lots of books. My hope is that some will read my books and become inspired to travel the world and write stories.
 
“As an author, I’ve never forgotten how to daydream.” ― Neil Gaiman  
 
Thanks so much for inviting me to be a guest on your blog, Krysten.
 
*Always a pleasure to have you on!-KLH
 
 Bio
 
Brought up on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, Darlene dreamt of travelling the world and meeting interesting people. She always loved to tell stories and was encouraged by her grade three teacher to write them down. She is the author of the exciting Amanda Travels adventure series featuring 12-year-old Amanda Ross who loves to travel. Readers of all ages enjoy travelling with Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Spain, England, Germany, Holland and her own country, Canada. When not travelling herself, Darlene divides her time between the sunny Costa Blanca of Spain and the west coast of Canada. Darlene still finds time to daydream!
 
Her latest book, Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action was released September 2019.Her books are read the world over. They are available on all Amazon sites and wherever good books are sold.
 
Amazon author page https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Foster/e/B003XGQPHA
 
Some links where you can find out more about Darlene and connect with her
 
Website: http://www.darlenefoster.ca/
Blog: https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarleneFosterWriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/supermegawoman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlene6490/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3156908.Darlene_Foster 

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32 Comments
Darlene Foster link
1/22/2020 08:04:56 am

Amanda and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for featuring us here on your blog. May you continue to daydream!!

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Sharon Ledwith link
1/22/2020 10:57:58 am

Congrats on all your Amanda Travel books, Darlene! Best wishes for a boat load of bestsellers! Cheers!

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Darlene Foster link
1/23/2020 05:20:02 am

Thanks so much, Sharon!

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Elizabeth Gauffreau link
1/25/2020 03:32:54 pm

I, too, thought I had reached Nirvana when I learned how to read. I also am a daydream believer (although not a homecoming queen). I think I have reached that stage of life when my daydreaming is wool-gathering, but I can still spin it into yarns.

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Darlene Foster link
1/25/2020 04:54:30 pm

Happy to meet another daydream believer. I was never a homecoming queen ether. I think everyone will be humming the Monkees song after reading this. I love your take on wool gathering and yarns. xo

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Jacqui Murray link
1/25/2020 03:34:01 pm

Great take on daydreaming. You rid it of the connotative negatives and wrapped it in all the wonderful characteristics of creativity. What a great lesson.

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Darlene Foster link
1/25/2020 04:57:39 pm

My parents, being good, hardworking, practical folks, considered daydreaming to be a waste of time and I often got into trouble for it. But it did pay off in the end. xo

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Nancy Piland Walker
1/25/2020 04:10:23 pm

Always enjoy anything you write, Darlene, and it has been my
pleasure to know you for many years. I also have been reading
for many years, under the covers with a flashlight when I was
young and still at home sharing a bed with my sister, Gail.

Reply
Darlene Foster link
1/25/2020 04:59:23 pm

Nancy, thank you so much for being my cheerleader all these years. I so remember reading under the covers with a flashlight as well.

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Kirt Tisdale link
1/26/2020 01:10:05 pm

Great post hosting Darlene about daydreaming! I follow Darlene and admire her work and her motivation behind her work! Thanks for sharing!

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Darlene Foster link
1/26/2020 04:47:54 pm

Thanks for those kind words, Kirt.

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Diane Tibert link
1/26/2020 06:34:35 pm

I wonder if all writers are daydreamers. Certainly it must make writing easier. I agree that daydreaming is a gift. Not everyone daydreams. Not everyone dreams. I can't imagine a world without both. Happy daydreams.

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Darlene Foster link
1/27/2020 03:19:10 am

I am always surprised to learn that not everyone dreams, at night or during the day. But it is true. I don´t think all writers daydream but I imagine most of us do. THanks for your comments, Diane.

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Marian Beaman link
1/26/2020 07:58:47 pm

It's nice to meet you Krysten and learn more about Darlene.

In answer to the question: When I start to daydream, I fall asleep.
Too bad! Who knows what my imagination would conjure up.

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Darlene Foster link
1/27/2020 03:21:02 am

Daydreaming may be a good way for you not to suffer from insomnia.Thanks for commenting, Marian. xo

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Greenglobaltrek link
1/27/2020 01:51:33 am

I loved reading this post about daydreaming. As a child, I grew up on a hillside in South Africa and we had no neighbors for miles. Like you, daydreaming was something I engaged in all the time. I found huge rocks to sit on and made up imaginary friends all the time.

I always enjoy reading you as you are a natural and very skilled storyteller Darlene.

Peta

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Darlene Foster link
1/27/2020 03:22:33 am

Thanks, Peta. We certainly have much in common. I appreciate your kind words.

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Robbie Cheadle
1/27/2020 12:33:08 pm

Such a lovely post, Darlene. Sometimes when I read your thoughts about life and about your childhood, I think we are character twins. I also used to make up people, stories and games to play with.

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Darlene Foster link
1/27/2020 12:55:06 pm

I have often thought of that too. We didn't have a TV until I was 11 or 12 so I really did have to entertain myself. You were fortunate to have three little sisters to play with. Little brothers were not as much fun and refused to play dress up with me. xo

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Marian Wood link
1/27/2020 05:22:03 pm

I've always been a dreamer.. I just haven't always been allowed to dream. Now I'm just trying to believe that my dreams can really happen. Great post and lovely to read more about you Darlene!

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Darlene Foster link
1/28/2020 12:57:35 pm

I know what you mean. My parents, bless them, thought daydreaming was a waste of time. But, I did it anyway, even while doing my chores. In the end it served me well. xo

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Teri Polen link
1/28/2020 08:16:10 am

The Bobbsey Twins! I hadn't thought about them in years, Darlene. I loved those books and the adventures they took me on. And yes, I believe in daydreams and have several a day, lol.

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Darlene Foster link
1/28/2020 01:52:08 pm

I'm not surprised that you have several daydreams a day!! I still have that copy of the beloved Bobbsey Twins in Mexico. xo

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Dean Mayes link
1/30/2020 03:38:50 am

I enjoyed this Darlene. I'd neglected my own daydreaming habits recently but, having started walking longer distances - and reduced my social media activity - I've rediscovered my ability to allow my thoughts to wander and piece together random ideas which I can use. I think one's health can impact on daydreaming and I also believe (and have read how) social media can really hamper one's ability to allow their thoughts to roam free - in a good way.

Love this Darlene.

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Darlene Foster link
1/31/2020 02:00:21 pm

Thanks for commenting, Dean. Walking is a great time to daydream. Having a dog has given me more daydreaming time. Social media and TV can certainly interfere with free thoughts if too much time is spent. On the other hand I have got great ideas from both too. I guess moderation is always best. I hope your health is improving every day, my friend. xo

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Dean Mayes link
1/31/2020 05:06:04 pm

I'm doing better and better each day Darlene. It's been quite a transformation.

Gloria McBreen link
1/31/2020 08:42:06 am

Visiting from #SeniSal. I daydream every day! It's where I get my ideas for my alter ego blog. Tasheenga! 😀😀
Surely everyone has daydreams! It's fun!

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Darlene Foster link
1/31/2020 02:01:29 pm

It sure is fun, Gloria. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.

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Priscilla Bettis link
1/31/2020 01:24:42 pm

It's so cool that you remember your 3rd grade teacher and how her encouragement nudged you toward a writing career as an adult.

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Darlene Foster link
1/31/2020 02:02:59 pm

Miss Roll was an amazing teacher and would be hard to forget. I was very lucky to have her in my life. Thanks for commenting.

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Laura Best link
2/1/2020 01:00:19 pm

I think maybe I grew up believing that daydreaming was a sign of laziness. Teachers thought it was a horrible thing, many parents as well. I'm so glad that's not the case so much anymore. It took me a long time to realize and accept that I was a daydreamer. For the longest while, I thought there must be something wrong with me, always having conversations with the imaginary people that lived in head. Can you imagine how boring life would be without daydreams? Great post, Darlene.

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Darlene Foster link
2/2/2020 06:51:35 am

It appears we were raised in a similar environment, and I was also led to believe that daydreaming was a waste of time. I´m so glad I now know that it was the start of my amazing life!

Reply



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  • Home
  • About
  • Young Adult
    • Can Dreams Come True?
    • In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety
    • Cecily in the City
    • Stars in the City Series
    • Summer of Possibility
    • Dating the It Guy
    • The Star Series
  • Tweens
    • TRUE COLORS Book 1
    • BEST FRIENDS...FOREVER? Book 2
    • Landry in Like Book 3
  • News
    • Interviews
    • Articles & Essays
  • Blog
  • BUY
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