Author Archives: Darrelyn Saloom

About Darrelyn Saloom

Darrelyn Saloom co-wrote My Call to the Ring: A Memoir of a Girl who Yearns to Box (Glasnevin, 2012) with world champion boxer, Deirdre Gogarty, but her pugilistic passions are confined to a keyboard. Darrelyn lives with her husband and various critters on a horse farm in south Louisiana, where she is working on a collection of personal essays and stories. To learn more, visit her website at http://darrelynsaloom.com or follow her on Twitter: @DarrelynSaloom

Sweet Talk

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Darrelyn Saloom

Mama knew how to sweet-talk people. Her magic had served her well in McAllen, Texas. And it seemed to be working in our new home in south Louisiana, where employment opportunities were plentiful. She’d even left her first switchboard operator … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Post for Tweetspeak Poetry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Too Close for Comfort

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Darrelyn Saloom

Writing sent me into the world of social media and it’s pushing me back out there again. I found it easy to fall off the grid and back into my life on the farm. We had a nice crop of … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Post for Tweetspeak Poetry | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Such a Good Girl

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Darrelyn Saloom

Happy holidays from the farm. Celebrating today (with the hens) because I have a short piece on Brevity’s blog. Click here to read “Such a Good Girl.” Also, please note that Brevity is encouraging readers to use Amazon Smile to … Continue reading →

Posted in From the Brevity Blog | Tagged | 6 Comments

The Worst Kind of Luck

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Darrelyn Saloom

In the lower Rio Grande Valley, Mama had a best friend named Billie Burnside, three young daughters, and an always-traveling encyclopedia salesman for a husband. She also had a job slinging drinks at the Circle Inn lounge. My mother usually … Continue reading →

Posted in Tweetspeak Poetry | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

In the Wake of Three Broodmares

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Darrelyn Saloom

Stormy Reply We knew she would die. Halfway through her pregnancy, a long-ago leg injury festered, and the pain made it difficult for her to stand. We never imagined she’d carry full term, but she proved us wrong. Weak and … Continue reading →

Posted in Stories from the Farm | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Finding the Words

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Darrelyn Saloom

burn·out : the condition of someone who has become very physically and emotionally tired after doing a difficult job for a long time. —Merriam-Webster Online It’s why I haven’t blogged since the Louisiana Book Festival last fall. I haven’t even … Continue reading →

Posted in Published | Tagged , , , , , | 21 Comments

A Goodbye to the Literary Life

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Darrelyn Saloom

Friend and fellow author, Sonny Brewer, called last week to say he’d join me the first of November in Baton Rouge for the Louisiana Book Festival. But it would be his last book event. His goodbye to the literary life. … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Events | Tagged , , , , | 25 Comments

Four-Star Surrender

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Darrelyn Saloom

I’d make a terrible soldier. I had this realization on vacation in Pensacola, Florida, as I toured historic Fort Pickens with my daughter-in-law and discussed turning the fort into a house. We marveled at weapons’ storage rooms but were more interested … Continue reading →

Posted in Stories from the Farm | Tagged , | 25 Comments

Is It Time to Tumble?

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Darrelyn Saloom

In school, I was one of those kids who cut classes to hide in bathrooms and smoke cigarettes. I’ve always had a hard time sticking to schedules and following rules. I grow bored. And when I do, I ramble. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Media | Tagged , | 10 Comments

June Bugs

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Darrelyn Saloom

The June bugs arrive early again. Legs good for nothing but sticking to thighs and fingers. When I pluck russet bodies from my own flesh, I set hard casings on the porch to stagger. Though some fly away. But the … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Posts for Word Candy | 21 Comments