Tag Archives: western historical

Research

Cover Image Preferences

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cowboy hat

I spent three hours yesterday looking through a stock photo site to find images for a new historical series. (I know I’ll spend an equal time today on other sites.) The setting is 1870s Texas and the genre is clean romance. So far the heroes are ranchers or cowhands, so my idea was to have a man and a horse against a background.

Although the stories are centered around a specific holiday, I didn’t want to limit the appeal by including any symbol of that–maybe just a background depicting the season.

bluebonnets in Big Bend

 

 

 

 

My quandary is the number of couples in authentic dress is limited and are used and re-used within the subgenre. And I always want my covers to be “different.” My question is, for a western historical, would you expect to see a couple? Or would a lone cowboy be enticing?

horseman with big skyI’d love to hear any and all opinions.

 

 

 

Release Promotion

Release Promotion–A Cowboy Celebration

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Because of personal reasons outside my control (3-week evacuation due to forest fire), I wasn’t able to properly announce the release of this Fourth of July anthology to which I contributed a story. From Prairie Rose Publications, A Cowboy Celebration released late in June and is available in ebook and print.

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BLURB for Forged By Fire

Ivey Treadwell, cook at her family’s boarding house, wants to accomplish something big. For now, she satisfies herself with improving on the traditional recipes for the boarders by adding herbs and spices she gathers. An incident with a broken pan causes her to see Berg Spengler, the town’s blacksmith, in a new light.

Stigmatized for his huge size and blamed for his brother’s injury, Berg has discovered being alone is safer for his heart. But when he sees interest spark in Ivey’s eyes, he decides to take a chance and approach her. The pair discovers an attraction that heats up each time they are alone together. Will Ivey convince Berg his wandering days are over and home is here with her in Comfort?

BUY LINKS

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Barnes & Noble

KOBO Books

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Other stories are:

The Longest Way Home by Lorrie Farrelly—Maddie, an orphan, is torn when her father shows up to reclaim her from her adoptive mother.

Winner Takes All by Meg Mims—Cora Peterson’s plan to beat her rival at a picnic auction brings about a surprising end and an unexpected love…

For the Love of Grace by Julia Daniels—Poppy travels west to find her sister—but her own happily-ever-after awaits, as well.

Brighter Tomorrows by Beverly Wells—Callie trusts no man. Chase Matlock is fearful to love again. He gets his man, she gets her adventure, and together they find it all.

Second Chance at Love by Agnes Alexander—A temporary living arrangement might lead to something else when love enters the mix.

Never Had a Chance by Angela Raines—How can a deadly trick bring two people the love they didn’t know they needed?

Romancing the Eight

Romancing The Eight

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As part of this promotion featured by Trans Canada Romance Writers, here are eight sentences from When My Heart Knew, a story in the Cowboy Kisses Valentine’s Day-themed anthology published by Prairie Rose Publications.

Mr. MacInnes settled his hat on his head and held out a hand. “The blasted thing is throbbing like a son of a gun. Help me up.”

Maisie averted her face, scurried across the aisle to the farthest empty stall, and grabbed an armful of hay. Her attention was focused on the conversation between the men. Although the man wasn’t truly handsome, there was something about his face that intrigued her. Could be the deep set eyes under a broad forehead or his nose with a small bump on the bridge or his strong jaw shadowed with whiskers. Like a warrior from olden times she’d seen in a fairy tale book.

Cowboy Kisses_200x300

BUY LINKS:

Amazon:  http://amzn.com/B00SA2Y6S2

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00SA2Y6S2

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cowboy-kisses-lorrie-farrelly/1121096239?ean=2940149891740

KOBO Books  http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/cowboy-kisses

Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/512926

A name will be chosen from those leaving comments on the blogs and that person wins a $5 gift card.

Check out the Romancing the 8 offerings from other TransCanada members.

Release Promotion

Upcoming release–Cowboy Kisses

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Cowboy Kisses_200x300

In Lorrie Farrelly’s tale of love and fate, a tattered old diary sends a young woman into the arms of a long-ago Texas Ranger for A Kiss in Time.

Linda Carroll-Bradd’s When My Heart Knew is the story of young Maisie Treadwell, who has never been in love before, and handsome Dylan MacInnes, who might or might not be the one.

A Westward Adventure by Kristy McCaffrey is a story of aspiring novelist Amelia Mercer, who travels to Colorado, determined to find her own adventure to write about. When Bounty hunter Ned Waymire comes to her aid, the true adventure begins!

Valentine Angel by Gail L. Jenner is a poignant story of a determined young woman who rescues a wounded lawman and then must help him fight off his nemesis.

In Gil McDonald’s story, Hearts and Red Ribbons, a feisty young woman who dresses in men’s clothes and a drifter looking for—something—are thrown together by Fate on a wet February day.

Hunter’s Gamble, by C. Marie Bowen, is a gripping tale of lost love and determination. Life is a gamble, and Hunter knows he can’t always win. With true love in the mix, the odds are stacked in Hunter’s favor!

Her Thief of Hearts by Tanya Hanson is the tale of an outlaw, an orphan, and a socialite—is this a recipe for disaster or true love?

Beverly Wells will steal your heart in her story, Hopes and Dreams. A woman on the run, a sheriff sworn to uphold the law, and one little girl’s pleas to Mr. Cupid for a new daddy!

Settle in for some mighty fine Valentine’s Day reading from your favorite western romance authors!

Available now for pre-order in advance of a January 22, 2015 release.

BUY LINK

Amazon

BLURB for When My Heart Knew

Tomboy Maisie Treadwell meets her match in cowboy Dylan MacInnes. From the moment they meet, the sparks and words fly. Of course, if she hadn’t knocked him down and caused an ankle sprain, their relationship might have gone more smoothly. To avoid damaging the reputation of the family’s boarding house, Maisie is ordered to be at the mercy of meeting Dylan’s demands. When they discover a shared interest in adventure stories, a bond is struck. Soon, Maisie can’t wait to spend time reading aloud to the virile man confined to a bed. Until the afternoon she overhears him explaining that his demands were meant to teach her a lesson. Can Dylan find a way to gain her trust again?

Release Promotion

Release Day–Cowboys, Creatures and Calico anthology

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CowboysCreaturesCalico_blog

 

COWBOYS, CREATURES AND CALICO, Vol 1–Six haunting and romantic tales from the Old West releases TODAY from Prairie Rose Productions.

My story is Wanderer, Come Home.

A recent widow on an 1874 Texas ranch, Vevina Bernhard lives with her 4-year-old son and a few hands. In charge for the first time in her life, she is frustrated she can’t get anyone to believe her land is haunted. The sight of mysterious lights at night arouses her Irish superstitious nature and she wants to learn the truth.

Kell Hawksen is a wandering cowboy just released from the Texas Rangers who is tracking a stage robber. They meet in town after her failed attempt to get the sheriff to investigate, and Vevina hires him. Over the week before Halloween, they grow close. During the Samhain celebration, fire breaks out on the ranch, and Vevina and Kell battle both the danger and the depth of their true feelings. Will a justice-seeking wanderer find solace on a ranch with a widow determined to protect her land?

BUY LINKS

Amazon ebook

Amazon print

The other stories are:

The Sheriff of Hel’n Gone by Lorrie Farrelly
The Bridesmaid by Tanya Hanson
The Legend of Venture Canyon by Shayna Matthews
The Beast of Hazard by Sarah McNeal
Wild Injuns, Wicked Trail and Cerulean Blue by Cher’ley Grogg