Cowboy Chow

Chuck Wagon Recipes

A little while back on my blog All My Heroes are Cowboys I talked about Cowboy Chow and posted a few chuck wagon recipes.  In response to that blog I had several readers share with me their personal "cowboy" favorites.  With spring upon us and summer picnics looming on the horizon I thought I'd share two of the recipes that I've tried and rated Five Stars! 

From Virginia C.

Cowboy Beans

1 ½ lbs. ground chuck,

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 (14 ½ oz.) can kidney beans

1 (14 ½ oz.) can pork & beans

1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce

½ c. brown sugar, packed

1 tbsp. steak sauce

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Brown beef with onion and green pepper in a 12' skillet; drain. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Delicious as a main dish served with grilled Texas Toast.  Lefto0vers make great hot dog chili.

*****

Cynthia from Mesa, Arizona recommends the following salsa recipe from the food network.  Cynthia swears by the Tyler Florence concoction so I tried it.  It was a lot of work but I made a huge batch and it lasted forever!  If you're entertaining a big crowd this is the salsa to make!

Salsa Roja

Ingredients

1 dried ancho chile, stemmed and seeded

1 dried Anaheim chile, stemmed and seeded

2 dried chipotle chiles, stemmed and seeded

1 tablespoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 tablespoon coriander seeds

1 cup hot water

8 plum tomatoes, quartered

1 medium Spanish onion, sliced

3 garlic cloves

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 sprigs cilantro

1 tablespoon sugar

1  lime, juiced

Directions

Tear all the chiles into large pieces and toast them in a large dry skillet over medium heat until they change color a bit, about 2 minutes. Add the spices and continue to toast for 2 to 3 minutes until everything is fragrant. Remove from heat and carefully add about 1 cup of hot water to just cover the chiles. Turn the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes. Preheat the broiler. Put the quartered tomatoes, sliced onion, and whole garlic cloves onto a roasting tray, spreading out evenly. Drizzle with plenty of olive oil and season well with salt and pepper and sprinkle with cilantro sprigs. Broil until everything is nicely charred, about 10 minutes (you want lots of deep rich color so don't be afraid if some of the edges get pretty black).

 Add the chili mixture to a blender and puree. Remove the tomato/onion mixture from the roasting pan and carefully add it to the blender, (it will be hot). Blend until smooth (you may need to work in 2 batches). Once everything is pureed, pour the mixture back into the pot over low heat adding a little water if the salsa is too thick. Stir in the sugar and lime juice and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a large serving bowl and serve.

  *****

If you've got any great "cowboy" recipes please share them! I'm always looking for something new to take to family gatherings.

Happy Trails!

Marin
Arizona Cowboy (Feb 2012) BUY!

A Cowboy's Duty (Aug 2012) Pre-ORDER!
Beau: Cowboy Protector (Nov 2012)
Happy Ever After...The Cowboy Way

Technology...How Did We Ever Live Without It?

IPOD's. MP3 players. Smart phones. Laptops. E-readers.

What would our lives be like without all that? Nowadays, could you even imagine a world without microwave ovens?

Without home computers?

My grandmother could.

Grandma, who passed away a few years ago, was born very close to the turn of the century. Not this century, of course—the previous one! And according to my favorite online encyclopedia, she was born before all of the above.

Also before the jet plane.

Before the airplane.

Before TELEVISION!

That's hard to believe, isn't it?

In a relatively few decades, so many new things have been invented that have changed our world forever. In just a few short recent years, technology has evolved so rapidly that even my twentysomething nieces and nephews were born before many of the inventions listed above.

Sometimes, I'm not so sure that "new" necessarily equates to "new and improved"—but I do know there are some things I can't imagine living without.

Number One, no doubt about it, is my desktop computer.

As a full-time writer who spends most of her day alone in a room with the imaginary characters from her books, I'd have to say my computer's a lifeline. I'd be lost without it!

How about you? What piece of modern technology could you absolutely not live without?


All my best to you,

Barbara

~~~~~~

Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille
https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille

Critters, Babies and Mid-Year Resolutions!!

Hubby and I at Easter dinner . . . 

In Los Cabos, because Little Terry was working as the waiter!!

What a week!!!  Let's see, in the past seven days we've done taxes, had a super sick kiddo (thank goodness she's now on the mend), discovered a new critter gnawing his or her way into our house, had a prom to find a suit for, celebrated Easter at a Mexican restaurant, got Daisy trimmed for warmer weather, discovered our two-year-old stove is breaking and four-month-old fridge is on the fritz, said some pretty major hellos and goodbyes, toss in a sprinkling of family drama, and in case that wasn't enough, today, on what was supposed to be me and Hubby's fun afternoon casino date, we both left the Osage as big sad losers.

In the midst of all of that, I managed to squeeze in some writing, but not nearly as much as I'd've liked.  Part of being a writer is tackling lots of questions--where do I get my ideas?  How long does it take to write one of "those" books?  Are you rich?  And the one I struggle with the most--how do you summon creativity and romance on demand?

Each New Year's Eve, when I'm trotting out my tried, true and often failed resolutions, along with losing bunches of weight, I always vow that this will be the year I don't let outside issues interfere with my writing time.  Why am I bringing this up now instead of back in January?  Because it's only April and here I am, already sweating the little and not-so-little things that take up valuable space in my mind!!

Meanwhile, poor Tristan needs me to help him come to grips with his ex's remarriage and cross-country move with his son.  Then there's Brynn--feeling thirteen months pregnant while single-handedly raising a sullen six-year-old and dealing with the fallout of her murdered superstar baseball-playing hubby having hidden secrets more devastating than she feels capable to bear.  Their problems make mine seem silly, so why can't I put their issues front and center?  Why does yet another squirrel or raccoon dining our house take center stage in my head when Brynn's baby is due any second??!!  See?  I must learn to set priorities, people!!

Okay, so I'm taking a deep breath and vowing that next week my fictional characters are going to feel far more real than the usual chaos ruling our home.  If an appliance breaks, I'm not going to let it get a rise out of me.  If anyone has drama, they'll need to make an appointment!!  As for all those pounds I'm supposed to be losing, I'm already down twenty . . . should I go for twenty-five? :-)

              

Superstitious?

I am!  Those around me will tell you I am one of the most superstitious people they know.  If I say “knock on wood”, you can rest assured, I will physically knock on wood.  When I sit down at a table to eat, the blade of my knife must face away from the plate.  I will casually flip it over before my patootie ever hits the chair if it doesn’t.  And, my grandmother taught me, if you enter someone’s home, you must leave through the same door, or bad luck will strike.

I do have my limits.  I don’t throw salt over my shoulder for fear it will get in my dog’s eyes.  But if I see a black cat cross before me, I will turn around and go in the opposite direction. 

Triskaidekaphobia defined me perfectly.  That is the very real and morbid fear of the number 13.  So, it’s ironic that my very first blog for Harlequin American Romance is today, Friday the 13^th.

Just to give you an example of the extent of my fear, a few years ago when I finished planting my spring flower beds, I stopped to literally smell the roses.  I counted 13 rose bushes.  That couldn’t possibly be right.  I counted and recounted.  How could this happen?  I’m more careful than this!  In a panic, I called my mother.  “I can’t believe I planted 13 rose bushes!”  Her response, “What do you want me to do?  Drive over there and pick you up so you can get some more?”  YES!  And she did.  I couldn’t trust myself to drive.  I already tempted fate by planting 13 bushes.  Who knew what would happen if I got behind the wheel of a car.

I have gone to unbelievable extremes to avoid the number 13.  Yet somehow, in a bout of extreme exhaustion, I submitted my first manuscript to Harlequin on December 13^th.  I didn’t realize my error until March 13^th, when I received THE CALL from my wonderful editor, Kathleen Scheibling.  When I looked back and saw my submission date, I nearly fainted.  Could it be the ever evil 13 wasn’t so bad after all?  A few days later, when Marin Thomas asked me to blog for American Romance, I was over the moon.  She asked me to choose a monthly blog date and low and behold, the 13^th was available.  

I firmly believe everything happens in threes.  Being here, with all of you on Friday, April 13^th completed the circle.  My irrational fear is replaced with confidence and positive energy.  I know this is sending a fit of laughter through those who know me best.  I would never even leave my house on Friday the 13^th, let alone celebrate the date.  That CALL was one month ago today – so now every 13^th reminds me of what I’ve accomplished so far.  And to boot, my first book, tentatively titled Double Trouble, will be out in the first half of 2013.  Too bad they don’t release books on the 13^th of the month.


While I’ve overcome my Triskaidekaphobia, I do have other superstitions when it comes to writing.  My biggest one…I Love Lucy must be playing on television when I write.  I can barely hear it, but it has to be on.  If it’s not, I can’t concentrate and I feel my work won’t be any good.


Yes, I’m quirky, but what writer is perfectly in their right mind?  But I’m also curious – I can’t be the only one out there with writing superstitions.  I’d love to hear about yours.


Happy Friday the 13^th


Amanda Renée
www.amandarenee.com

Cue the Marching Band

You’d think that I’d be used to it by now. After all, Rodeo Daughter is my third book for Harlequin American Romance. Yet, I can’t deny it. When I open the front door and see a box from Harlequin on the porch, I get goose bumps. Truly. Goosebumps. I only wish I'd known the books were on their way. I'd have hired a marching band to accompany the UPS man on his way up the sidewalk.

Opening the box, pulling that first copy of a book—my book!—from it. Well, that makes my tummy all a-flutter. What’s the first thing I do? Yes, I know. I should start contacting reviewers and sending them advance copies--that's why I get these books ahead of time, after all.

But for a few minutes, I can't resist. I fan the pages and inhale deeply. There’s nothing like the smell of a freshly printed book. Especially when you’ve poured your heart and soul into it, the way I did with Rodeo Daughter.

I guess that’s because Amanda and Mitch’s story included so many aspects of my own life. No, I’m not a lawyer. Or the divorced single parent of a four-year-old. But growing up on Florida’s east coast, I looked forward every year to the big Silver Spurs Rodeo in nearby Kissimmee. I spent the intervening months mucking stalls at a local riding stable. Each weekend, I plodded down dusty trails on horses that wouldn’t know what to do in a barrel race. But at night, I dreamed of becoming a rodeo star.

Rodeo Daughter is the closest I’ve come to achieving that dream. The heroine of this book, Amanda Markette, rode her way to a gold buckle in Las Vegas before walking away from the professional rodeo circuit to earn a degree in family law. After spending years performing in one arena after another, Amanda longed to put down roots. She swore that, if and when she ever married, home and family would be her number one priority.

His career is lead prosecutor Mitch Goodwin’s number one priority. He stands on the brink of achieving all he’s ever wanted when the DA plans to name Mitch as his successor. But the last person Mitch expects to represent his ex-wife in a custody suit for his adorably head-strong daughter is none other than Amanda Markette, the girl he fell head-over-heels for one summer at rodeo camp. And when a playground mishap forces Mitch and Amanda to spend time together they walk an ethical tightrope as old feelings come to the surface again.

I hope you enjoy reading Amanda and Mitch’s story as much as I loved writing it. Rodeo Daughter is slated for release in early June.

HAPPY EASTER!!!

HAPPY EASTER everyone!!

We had a big family Easter yesterday. Today we’ll go to
church and have a quiet lunch at home to recuperate from all the sugary treats.
I had my marshmallow chocolate egg, well, maybe more than one. So I’m good.

I don’t have much to blog about except to congratulate Tanya
Michaels for her RITA^® nomination for A Mother’s Homecoming. My book,
The Texan’s Bride, was also a finalist so I’m happy happy. It’s a Super Romance though. Still happy. Our wonderful Senior Editor Kathleen Scheibling edited both books. Yay for Kathleen!! Wish us luck on July 29^th at the Romance Writer’s of America conference in Anaheim California.

Enjoy the holiday! And the treats.

Linda

www.LindaWarren.net

Short Trips of Fancy

Hi, all.
I don't know what it's like in your part of the country, but St. Louis has a reputation for changeable weather. It wouldn't surprise me to hear this is where the famous saying, "Don't like the weather? Wait five minutes" originated. This winter and spring have lived up to that rep. We've had "winter" days so warm, windows were open and shirt sleeves were short. On Monday, we were in the 90s; now I'm in my winter pjs and fuzzy slippers.


So we treasure those brief glimpses of pleasant weather, and tend to run after them, as joyful as children catching bubbles. I dragged my mom to the Missouri Botanical Garden for the orchid show. It was a lovely day, in the high 70s, and windy enough to whisk us off our feet. Fortunately, the show itself was inside. There are more pix on my FaceBook page if you're interested.


My next mission is to meet my critique partner at the St. Louis Zoo and walk around all day, brainstorming and soaking in the sun. Of course, that'll have to wait until the good weather returns.

And you know I have to say it -- can't wait to catch a game in person!

One of my recent "mad adventure" days saw my husband and I at Crown Candy Kitchen. We've always wanted to go there, the sun came out, and off we went. It made perfect sense at the time. This place is a landmark for good reason. A small candy store from 1913, it became a soda shoppe in the 1950s. The booths are intimate and the food is to die for. Almost literally.
I had to try the Heart Stopping BLT, with roughly a pound of bacon, plus tomato, lettuce and Miracle Whip on toast. No kidding: see the bacon? Then the lettuce, tomato, and atop bread slice. And that pic is only half the sandwich. I had to take out a bunch of bacon just to pick it up! And yes, I teamed it with a chocolate shake. The shakes come with a challenge--can you drink five in thirty minutes? The answer is no. Trust me. They are huge.

Now that we've been talking raving about CCK, several friends have mentioned wanting to go for their first time or return again. I'm game, although I may try some other temptation. And of course, there's the candy...

So, is there someplace you've been wanting to go "someday?" Do you have a "mad adventure" day and jump in the car? Where do you wind up on those luscious sunny spring days?

Megan

www.megankellybooks.com

Try Something New... Continued

In February, I blogged about trying something new. Here’s my latest unusual experience. The other night, I was invited to a very interesting party. Included in the guest list was an honest-to-goodness medium named Jeffrey Marks. I have always been interested in metaphysical occurrences, those experiences that transcend the five senses, and have experienced a number of paranormal experiences first-hand. I’ll bet many of you have, too.

When it comes to mediums, though, I remain a skeptic. However, I do love good entertainment, and was excited to see Jeff at work. Plus, I just might write a book someday that includes a medium. Oh, how that gets my creative juices flowing. Just imagine what might happen if… But I digress.

I arrived at the party with all sorts of preconceived notions–Jeff would be an expert at reading body language and facial expressions. He would take his cues from the way others responded to him. These things may well be true. Face it, we all do take our cues from the way others respond to us. Some of us are better at it than others, and a good medium is surely among the best.

But the evening unfolded in completely different ways than I imagined. Jeff handed out blank cards and invited everyone present to write down a question, specific or general, include their name, and place the card in a bowl. He then drew out the questions one by one, invited the writer of the question to join him in front of the others, and did his thing.

He explained that he didn’t want any information from the person he worked with–only a yes, no or maybe–because talking engages his left brain, and this work requires the use of predominantly his right brain.

Jeff’s process was fascinating to observe. Each mini-session began with him holding the person’s hand for a few seconds in order to connect with their energy. His eyes darted back and forth, never looking at the person, instead seeing the unseen, what I assumed was the energy swirling around. Odd body movements and gestures followed, and continued throughout each mini reading. Sometimes he used a white board to convey crudely-drawn images of what he saw in his mind. Sometimes he got the information wrong and sometimes he was dead-on. Occasionally the wrong person came through, someone who wasn’t related to or involved with the participant. When that happened, Jeff took hold of the person’s hand again and started fresh. He was self-effacing, honest and engaging without being egotistical. At times he had us all in stitches. There were also moments my heart ached for the person he was working with.

All in all, it was a fascinating and wonderful evening. For more information on Jeff, visit http://www.spiritualexploration.com/sitting.html.

What about you? Have you ever worked with a medium? Do you believe in what they do, or are you a skeptic like me? Please share your thoughts and experiences.

Thanks for joining me, and until next month,

Ann… lover of new and different experiences

www.annroth.net

www.annroth.net

MARCH WINNER!!!

CONGRATULATIONS CRYSTALGB! You’re the March winner. To receive your free autographed books please contact Megan Kelly and Julie Benson through their Web sites.

To enter the contest simply leave a blog comment and your name will go into the drawing. Simple and painless. And FREE BOOKS.

Growing closer to readers

One unexpected effect of the Internet—social media, epublishing, author websites, etc.—is that readers have become closer.

In the past, for an author, readers constituted a big blur. When my first book, a Regency romance called Lady in Disguise, was published in 1983 in hardcover, all I knew was that it was being sold primarily to libraries.

The main feedback I received came from professional publications such as Library Journal, which called it “…a spirited romp … witty dialogue will help keep the reader hooked.”

That’s nice, but was anyone—beyond a few letter writers--actually reading it?

Now, I’ve reissued Lady in Disguise as an ebook, and all that has changed. Not only can I see how many have sold each day on Amazon, I can also find readers’ comments. On most of my books, they’re positive. Of course, this system also opens an author to negative reviews, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes idiotic (of the “I wouldn’t want my boyfriend to act like the hero so I’m giving it a one-star” variety). Or even the drive-by diss that Barnes & Noble allows, where someone can anonymously post one or two stars without any comment. Grrrr!

By the way, if you like a book, please be kind to the author by posting a favorable review, however brief, or a positive rating on B&N. Those do affect sales.

And if you know anyone who thinks it’s clever to “buy” an ebook, read it quickly and then return it for a full refund, please let them know that the author can see this, too.

Back to the fun part. I enjoy meeting readers through Twitter, where I’m @Jacquediamond. I’ve also met readers through sites such as Good Reads and Wattpad.

Plus I appreciate the review websites. The Baby Dilemma, my April Harlequin—the eighth book in my Safe Harbor Medical series—began receiving enthusiastic reviews in late March.

Sometimes there are unexpected benefits. Anne Glover, who writes fascinating historical blogs and Regency reviews at anneglover.wordpress.com, praised Lady in Disguise but didn’t like my cover. She introduced me to Kelly at customgraphics.etsy.com, who designed my new Regency covers including the one shown here.

Authors of previous generations never imagined such one-on-one contact. Despite a few drawbacks, it’s a great boost for authors. And, I hope, for readers, too.

Springtime DIY

It must be spring because for the past week I’ve been itching to get started on a DIY project. I’m also being inspired by the heroine of the book I'm finishing, The Daddy Project (December 21012). Kristi is an interior decorator and if you read my last book, The Christmas Secret, you might remember meeting her there.

What I have in mind is to convert my cluttered back porch into a well-organized mudroom. And when I say “cluttered,” I'm afraid you will have to take my word for it because I’m too embarrassed to post a photo of it in its current state. I’m also too busy to roll up my sleeves and dive into this project right now, but I have started to compile my mudroom wishlist.

Because the porch/mudroom is the transition to our back yard, I’m thinking it needs a nice fresh wall color, like Benjamin Moore’s Woodland Hills Green.

Green is such a calming color, especially compared to the hideous mustard yellow that's on those walls right now.

Along one wall I’d like to install beadboard wainscoting with hooks above for coats and umbrellas and shopping bags.

There will have to be a built-in storage bench, along the lines of this one from This Old House, for stowing footwear and the recycling bin...

…and a shelf over the window, similar to this one I saw on Pintrest.

Finally, I would love to swap the boring old ceiling fixture for something more nature-inspired, like this Whoopsie Daisy chandelier from The Land of Nod. Isn't it pretty?

So, what do you think? Do you have a springtime DIY project in mind? Please share, if you do!

Until next time,
Lee
www.leemckenzie.com

The Appeal of the American Cowboy

BUY!

If you're a regular reader of Harlequin American Romances then you must be a lover of westerns and cowboy-rancher heroes.  I've always been in awe of the American Cowboy and never tire of writing about the men who wear Wranglers, Stetsons and scuffed boots.  I love the old west as well as the new west!  For those who haven't dropped by yet, I invite you to check out my Sunday blog All My Heroes are Cowboys where each week I blog about a topic that relates to cowboys and the west. 

I think this pretty much sums up why cowboys are so popular in romance novels: 

"America needs the Cowboy both to remind us of how far we have come and to bring us back to the simplicity of the values he represents. He is also needed because he is a piece of who we are as a country. He represents a lifestyle and a time period that is a cherished part of our History. Little boys want to grow up to be him and the little girls want to grow up to marry him." ~cowboycrew.com

When I'm writing my cowboy stories I often turn to my file of "favorite photos" that I've collected over time as inspiration for my characters. 

This photograph melts my heart…each time I envision one of the heroes in my books becoming a father I think of this picture.

 This is what I picture when my heroine gets her first glimpse of my rodeo cowboy hero…

And this picture is my inspiration when I create a "Geezer" for one of my stories.  Each line in his face tells a different story about how he tamed the west. 

Even though I don't write inspirational romances, I believe "Faith" is a core trait of the cowboy and when I imagine my hero struggling with his internal conflict I recall this photo and it helps me get deeper inside his character.

And this photo is your reward for reading the blog…a little cowboy eye candy!

Tell us what you like most about reading cowboy romances set in the American West!

Marin

Arizona Cowboy (Feb 2012)

A Cowboy's Duty (Aug 2012)

Beau: Cowboy Protector (Nov 2012)

www.marinthomas.com

What's Cooking for St. Patrick's Day?

Are you Irish today? (smile) On March 17th, everyone's entitled to celebrate this grand holiday.

My family's a good part Irish, and when I was growing up, St. Patrick's Day was always a special holiday in our house.

The highlight of the day was gathering everyone together for our big dinner. Of course, you know what we ate. Corned beef. Cabbage. Carrots. And potatoes.

I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

There are various recipes, but the simplest is this:


Put corned beef (3-4 pounds) in a pot, toss in a couple of bay leaves*, and cover all with water.

Bring water to a boil.

Cover pot and lower heat to a simmer for about 3 hours, or until corned beef is fork-tender.

Remove beef from pot and reserve on a platter, covering beef with foil for 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, to the water in pot, add a head of cabbage, quartered; carrots and potatoes (about 5-6 medium of each), peeled and cut into pieces.

Cover and simmer for approximately 20 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.

Slice the beef and dish up the vegetables.

* After cooking, discard bay leaves. Do not eat.


And you're done.

See? It's so easy, anyone—Irish or not—can enjoy this traditional dinner. I hope you will. (smile)

And I'd love to hear if your family celebrates with this or any other special foods or traditions.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

All my best to you,

Barbara

~~~~~~

Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com/
http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille
https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille

Doppelgangers

A little background. Soon after we married, my hubby agreed to take me and two of my girlfriends to a Neil Diamond concert. Personal quirk, I have to be early to those things. So we’re sitting in our lower balcony seats and he’s got the binoculars watching people, girls probably. Suddenly he stops and looks at me, hands me the binoculars and tells me to look on the tenth row back. Wouldn’t tell me what I was looking for, just that I’d know it when I saw it. I scanned and suddenly stopped breathing. There was a girl who looked so much like me, I couldn’t believe it. Auburn hair, same style cut. She was even dressed in emerald green, my favorite color at the time. Obviously, made an impression.

But over the holidays, I’ve been thinking about how certain actors resemble actors from earlier generations. It started when my mom was watching an old episode of Jag. She’s addicted to the star, David James Elliott. I never watched the show, but Mom was also a huge Rock Hudson fan and she pointed to the screen and said something along the lines of, “There hasn’t been an actor that good looking since Rock Hudson.

So I started thinking. Scary, I know.

The obvious - Brad Pitt. Anyone except me see the close resemblance to Redford?

And speaking of Redford, what about Newman? Matt McConoughey?

A Cover Story

Ah, firsts...They play an important role in our lives, don’t they? From the moment the stick turns (pink? blue?), the newly expectant wait anxiously for that first stir of life. We wonder if that first word will be “Ma-Ma” or “Da-Da.” Parents watch with camera in hand for their child’s first step. Grandparents fly in to watch their grandchildren head off for their first day of school, the first prom, the first graduation.

In Rodeo Daughter, my June Harlequin American Romance, four-year-old Hailey’s first horseback ride becomes a pivotal moment in the blossoming romance between former rodeo star, Amanda Markette and Mitch Goodwin, a stern prosecuting attorney who—thanks to a playground accident—struggles to regain custody of his daughter while earning Amanda’s love.

What child doesn’t love that first chance to ride a horse. I’m tipping my cowboy hat to Harlequin’s Art Department for capturing that excitement for the cover of Rodeo Daughter.

Recently, I ran across this picture of one of my firsts—my first horseback ride.

Yes, that’s me riding Biscuit. What a thrill! I just knew I was going to grow up to be a rodeo star like Amanda in Rodeo Daughter. I didn’t, but from that moment through my late teens, my sister and I spent most weekends at the local riding stables where we groomed horses in exchange for rides. And just a couple of years ago, when we wanted to celebrate a significant milestone, sis and I went on an all-day trail ride.

How about you? Have you ever been horseback riding? Was it a pivotal moment in your life?

Procrastinate or get it done early?

Recently, I spent almost a week in California, taking care my adorable granddaughter while my daughter and son-in-law got ready to move to Seattle. If you’ve ever moved, and we all have, you know what a huge undertaking that was.

Like me, my daughter prefers to get things done in advance. She started packing weeks ahead of the move date. My son-in-law is the opposite—he works best under pressure. He didn’t really get into move mode until several days before the move, then worked basically round the clock to pack his stuff and finish what was left.

Regardless which type person you are, both ways get you to the end result of completing your task. But the getting there is what can cause irritation. My daughter and son-in-law seem very compatible and accepting of their differences.

Which got me thinking. How do people cope when a spouse, partner or other family member works in ways that are different from theirs?

Some people work best under pressure. Others like to complete their projects in advance. Which are you—do you prefer to complete projects in advance, do you work best under pressure, or do you fall somewhere in-between? How do you deal with the people in your life who are the opposite of you?

Until next month,

Ann… the advance planner (unless I’m not :-) )

www.annroth.net

FEBRUARY WINNER!!!

Congratulations KRIS!! You’re the February winner. To receive your free autographed books please contact Marin Thomas and Trish Milburn through their Web sites.

To enter the contest simply leave a blog comment and your name will go into the drawing. Simple and painless. And FREE BOOKS.

Creating a series

I recently signed a contract with Harlequin American for three more books—bringing the total to twelve--in my Safe Harbor Medical miniseries. While this is great news, for me, it’s a challenge, too. Although I’ve written several series before (among a total of 93 books sold), the longest encompassed five books. Twelve? That’s new territory for me.

Initially, the plan called for three books. Then six. Well, the eighth book, The Baby Dilemma, comes out in April, and the ninth, The M.D.’s Secret Daughter, in September. Then I discovered I wasn’t done yet.

I don’t ever want to grow stale or predictable. That’s hard in a long series set in the same town, and in a hospital that focuses on pregnancy and fertility issues. Despite some similarities of theme, each book has to feel fresh to me—and especially to the readers.

Characters are essential. If I “plant” a future hero or heroine in an earlier book, I make sure that person is a genuine part of the community, not just a pretty face waiting for a turn on stage. In addition, I create offbeat and/or older people, like volunteer Renée Green and sarcastic anesthesiologist Rod Vintner. Having important secondary characters adds texture and richness.

What else does it take to write such a long series? Being organized! My list of characters runs to forty pages, my list of settings to nine. Plus I’ve drawn maps of the town and floor plans of important buildings.

And so I’ve begun writing book ten. Already, the characters are refusing to do what I expected. They’re taking me along on a ride of their own, and that’s exactly as it should be.

If you’re curious about the series, I’ve put together a web page with the covers, an overview and brief summaries. I hope you’ll visit http://www.jacquelinediamond.com/news1.html

Name That Character!

Here I am, sitting at my desk in snowy Calgary...

...writing the second book of my Coffee Creek series, and the story is flowing. The hero and heroine have just had an argument and parted on tense terms. The hero (a vet) leaves the heroine’s ranch and starts driving toward another property, thirty miles away, where a lame cow requires his attention. Suddenly a call comes in from his office. He patches in the Bluetooth and--

Full stop.

I have to halt writing at this point, because I need a name for my hero’s office receptionist, the person who is about to tell him that an emergency requires his immediate attention. I know a lot about this character already. She will be married, with four children. She is one of those super-organized people who not only keeps his large-animal vet office running smoothly, but also tries to run his personal life too. Because she is happily married, she believes everyone should be happily married. This includes the hunky man she works for, of course.

But what is her name?

Some people might think naming characters is one of the fun parts of being a romance author. I used to think so. But now I know the truth. Having to stop and choose a name for a new character is terrible for momentum. Especially since picking names is harder than it seems. I have several “Baby Name” books--but these are not as helpful as you’d think. I’ve heard that some authors used to turn to the phone book (before they became archaic) to find names. Not me. Too overwhelming.

Over the years, I’ve come to rely on two sources for finding good names. One is magazines. The other are the obits of my local newspaper.

If my character is fifty or older, I tend to turn to the obits first. You heard it first here, folks. My novels are full of dead people.

For younger characters, I look at the editorial board of various magazines for inspiration. My definition of “magazines” also includes the program for the Calgary Stampede. God bless the mothers of cowboys. They sure know how to name their babies.

Now that you know my evil, name-stealing ways, I must redeem myself, at least partially. I rarely use the first and last name of any real person. So Candy Smith and Sally Jones becomes Candy Jones. Who says I can’t be creative?

Okay, time to get back to my writing...And that pesky receptionist? I’ve just christened her “Liz Moffatt” (Compliments of a woman mentioned in Cowgirl Magazine and the author of a book that is sitting on my desk.)

Tell me--if you were writing a book, what name would you choose for your hero or heroine? I’ll send out an autographed book from my Superromance backlist to one randomly selected respondent.

Happy Leap Year everyone! (Did you know that leap years that are divisible by 100 don’t have an extra day? It’s complicated...check Wikipedia.)

CJ Carmichael

Teen Celebrity Crushes

We've all had them, those crushes on the famous and oh-so-unattainable guys we saw on the Ed Sullivan show, whose movies we swooned over at the Saturday matinee, or whose records we listened to over and over again. You know the guy I mean.

At various times I had several teen crushes. James Darren as Moondoggie in the Gidget movies. I was too young to have a crush when the movie came out but when I saw it on TV in the '60s, I was in love! George Harrison, my favorite Beattle, and Herman from Herman's Hermits.

We lived in a small town in 1967 and I remember begging my parents to let me and a girlfriend go a Herman's Hermits concert in the city. I might as well have asked to go to the moon.

Instead I had to settle for listening to their records, over and over again. I knew all the lyrics, and I used my babysitting money to buy Tiger Beat magazine so I could pour over all the tantalizing details of Herman's life.

Last year, almost forty-five years after surviving the disappointment of missing the Herman's Hermits concert, my mother and I went to see Peter Noone (Herman) perform.

It wasn't the concert I so desperately wanted to see in the '60s but it was fun, and I even got my old LPs autographed.

I haven't played these records in years, but I did have a look inside the covers before I went to the concert. I'm so glad I did, because look what I found.

Two drawings I made of Herman when I was about thirteen.

They were drawn on looseleaf paper, no doubt while I supposed to be doing homework. Peter/Herman was a good sport and signed them for me, asking if I'd become any better at drawing over the years. Sadly, no! But I did discover that while I got over my crush, I'll always be a fan.

Okay, now it's confession time. Who was your teen crush?

Until next time,
Lee
www.leemckenzie.com
The Christmas Secret ~ available now
A Christmas present with a hidden past
The Daddy Project ~ December 2012

Giving Away Copies of Arizona Cowboy!

As most of us authors are doing with February releases…I'm out and about promoting the latest book in my Rodeo Rebels series…Arizona Cowboy.

BUY!

From the back cover…..

Last Cowboy—Or Cowgirl!— Standing...

Rachel Lewis is a bona fide city slicker. Still, when her estranged father asks for her help, she ends up in dusty Stagecoach, Arizona, to manage his rodeo company for the summer. Being clueless about rough stock is nothing, though, compared to the confused feelings Rachel has for sexy ranch foreman Clint McGraw... because he's also her main competitor for her father's affections.

Clint can hardly believe it when his boss hands over the reins to his long-gone daughter. What the heck does a spoiled city girl like Rachel know about rodeo? Why, she's crazy enough to offer a competition event to women bull riders! And for sure she's going to nudge her way back into her father's heart—leaving Clint high and dry. Even so, he can't help falling hard for Rachel. But only one of them can be the head honcho of this round-up!

 

Following are 5 ways you can win a copy of 

Arizona Cowboy

 1) Sign up for my Newsletter.  Each month I run a Wild West Trivia contest and select a winner from all the correct answers turned in. 

At the end of each month I'll send a copy of Arizona Cowboy to someone who…

2) Follows my blog  by email All My Heroes are Cowboys..

3) "LIKE"s  my Facebook page… 

4) Enters my GoodreadsGiveaway!  For the month of February only I'm giving away 5 copies of Arizona Cowboy.

5) And I'm also offering a copy of Arizona Cowboy to one lucky poster at the American Romance Blog.  Linda Warren will announce the winner at the beginning of March.

I speak for all of the Harlequin American Romance authors when I say "Thank You" for your continued support...buying our books, helping us spread the word about new releases, taking the time to post online reviews and stopping by our blogs to chat!  Our Fans are the BEST!

Happy Reading!

Marin

Arizona Cowboy (Feb 2012)

A Cowboy's Duty (Aug 2012)

Beau: Cowboy Protector (Nov 2012)  

Happy Ever After...The Cowboy Way