With my latest book, A Reason to Sin, I bring the Forrester brothers trilogy to an end, which was both exhilarating and incredibly sad.  After spending two years with the Forresters, it was difficult to let them go but also wonderfully gratifying to give them each a woman who could love them and bring them happiness.

When I began bringing to life the Forrester brothers, I really wanted to make one of the brothers be a gambler.  I’ve had different story ideas with a Bret Maverick type hero but for one reason or another, the plot wouldn’t come together.  But with “A Reason to Sin” the bare bones background of Slater Forrester was already set up–orphaned at a young age and placed in a children’s home with his younger brother.  This gave the foundation for our wounded hero Slater.   Since it was only a couple years after the War Between the States ended, maybe Slater had been involved in the War, and maybe because of the role he played, he was damaged even further.  What if he’d been a Yankee spy and was captured and thrown in the infamous Andersonville prison?  Now I was really excited to write Slater’s story.  How can a man who’d faced so much adversity and donned a bitter façade, find a happily ever after?

In steps Miss Glory, a saloon singer and dancer who never in her sheltered life imagined she would enter a saloon, much less sing and dance with the rowdy men who frequented such establishments.

However, it’s love for her infant son that brings her to such sinful ways in the Scarlet Garter.  Back in the 1800′s widows with children had few options.  If they remained single, how could they support their families?  The wide diversity of jobs open to women nowadays was not the case then.  With little education, maybe they might find a job as a laundress or a seamstress, but those were few and far between.  They could marry again…and often did quickly because there were few “good” women to be had in the western frontier.  However, often the new husband didn’t want a readymade family and the woman had to give her children to a relative to raise, or leave them in a children’s home.  It might seem like those mothers who did that were heartless creatures, but the fact was in most cases their only other choice was to work in a saloon or parlor house, which meant condemnation of their souls.   

Consider a woman like Rebecca Glory Bowen Colfax, who was raised wanting nothing, who then lost her parents, married the first slick talker who came around, then found out he’d gambled everything away and left her, alone, penniless, and expecting a child.  Without family, Rebecca had to give up her child and she becomes obsessed with finding her husband and getting her infant son back.  She will do anything to regain her son, including work in the Scarlet Garter.  The problem is, she never expected to meet a man like Slater Forrester, a gambler like her husband.  However, despite the similar professions, Rebecca senses there’s more to Slater than his gambling persona.  Much much more…

I’m equally attracted and repulsed by the conditions in which women had to live in the 19^th century.  While I admire strong, independent women, I realize that in that day and age, strong and independent were characterized by taking care of family and home.  However, when they lost those things, where did they turn?  What did they do?  It’s those women I prefer to write about.  Those women who because of one reason or another have found themselves in dire circumstances and must search deep within their souls to find the strength to do what they must in order to survive, and just as importantly, to find love and thrive in these new conditions.  I believe that tragic conditions often times act as a crucible, exposing the true person beneath the masks we each wear day after day.   And isn’t love all about truth and baring one’s heart and soul to another human being? 

Currently I’m working on another western romance proposal, although my next book out is a romantic suspense titled Where There’s Fire.  Although I truly enjoy writing the romantic suspense, I have to admit I’m never as comfortable in that world as I am with the American West. 

But then, where I live, how could it be any different.  As you can see with this last picture, taken from our front door, the West is a part of my life each and every day.

Maureen is giving away autographed copies of the trilogy–the three Forrester brothers books–to one lucky winner!  A Reason to Live, A Reason to Believe and A Reason to Sin will being to one reader who comments this weekend.  Gee, that was a great reason to drop by today, wasn’t it?

 ORDER MAUREEN’S BOOKS FROM AMAZON

In case you’ve forgotten, Missus Maureen McKade will be entertaining us tomorrow.

The dear sweet lady will tell us why she reads western romance and why you should too. Do you have a list of reasons? Do you need a list? You’ll get a chance tomorrow to share your thoughts.

 Missus Maureen will also be talking about her newest book, “A Reason to Sin.” Ah already know quite a few reasons myself! Hee-hee!

So, if you don’t have anything better to do, join us for some rollickin’ fun. And if you do have something better you need to do, postpone it! Maureen will appreciate it and the Fillies will be oh so obliged if you stop by.

With each book I write one prop tends  to stand out as a research favorite.  In THE GUNSLINGER’S UNTAMED BRIDE Lily’s chocolate pot led to my chocolate pot fetish. I was fascinated by these decorative chocolate servers of the 1800′s. The chocolate pot doesn’t have a huge role in the book and yet finding just the right image for this prop played a big role for me in developing Lily’s character.

While writing my current book the hero’s stove became an item of focus, a prop I had to see to really set my mental scene. While searching for the perfect stove for Garret’s kitchen I found some fascinating images and information on the evolution of the stove, which rekindled my appreciation for the convenience of our era!

High-teck cooking of  the early 18th Century:

The hearth was heart of the home for early American families and the swinging crane was a revolutionary invention.  ”It allowed the cook to move pots in and out of the fire without lifting them, to stir, add to or check the dish without straining one’s back or risking hot spills, and offered a more comfortable away-from-the-heat environment in which to work. Now the pot adjustments regulating cooking temperatures could be both up and down as well as in and out. Moreover, no longer limited to the number of trammels, there was an increased amount of hanging space and thereby increased possibilities for the number of pots and the complexity of the meals.” Found this gem of information at http://www.journalofantiques.com/hearthapr01.htm 

That’s not to say they didn’t have cast iron stoves. In 1740, Benjamin Franklin improved upon the design of stoves by creating the “Pennsylvania Fireplace”

The cook stoves of the 19th Century ~ a new evolution in cooking.

As early as the 1820′s the Step-top cook stove design (above) was seen.

Check out the lovely work of art below–this is an 1840 Box Stove. The detail is beautiful complete with fancy door to the fire box and ornate tray to catch the ashes.

The manufacture of cook stoves and ranges flourished during the latter half of the nineteenth century, as few houses were being built with fireplaces. Below is an Easy-Step Oven of 1870 – extremely complicated by today’s standards! 

As we move into the 1880′s and 1890′s, stoves begin to take a more familiar form.

I loved this quote about the influence of cook stoves on early American families (not so unlike some views on the influence of television in later years *g*):  ”This is not to say that all change was always thought to be for the best. The cook stove, for example, was blamed for the demise of the American fireside and the decline of the family. No longer did everyone sit together around the hearth in the evening, cozily telling stories and discussing the day at the fireside. And the food was not always as good—roasted meats, for example, suffered in the iron monster.” 

Roasted meats do sound scrumptious, but I’m quite partial to my digital stove and sadly…my microwave!  But some of my fondest memories were made in my mom’s and grandma’s kitchens–around their gas stoves, which took over households in the 1920′s. I enjoyed watching/helping as my mom and grandma’s pickled, preserved and baked…jams, cobblers and chicken and dumplings…ah, the scent of happy memories  

How about you?  Is your kitchen the heart of your home?  Have any favorite stove or kitchen memories you’d like to share?

We are in the midst of remodeling ours, the new kitchen will actually be at center/heart of our house and will be open to the new living room and dining room–I can’t wait!!

In Bookstores Now!

The Gunslinger’s Untamed Bride 

What a great time I had talking about our favorite movies today!  Here’s the list with the rest of my favorite movies.  Well, okay maybe not all the rest, but 100 is a lot, and a girl just has to stop somewhere…right?

* Hope Floats
* Sommersby
* Return To Me
* The Con
* Bounce
* Quigley Down Under
* The Love Letter
* Winter People
* Far & Away
* Phenomenon
* Mrs. Winterbourne
* Paradise
* High Road to China
* At First Sight
* Notting Hill
* Indecent Proposal
* The Fulfillment of Mary Gray
* A Star is Born
* While You Were Sleeping
* The Substitute Wife
* Calamity Jane
* Sweet Home Alabama
* Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
* It’s a Wonderful Life
* A Christmas Carol
* Pride & Prejudice
* Emma
* Anne of Greene Gables
* Anne of Avonlea
* The Quiet Man
* Steel Magnolias
* When Harry Met Sally
* French Kiss
* Love Comes Softly
* Pirates of the Caribbean
* Some Kind of Wonderful
* Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
* Wuthering Heights
* Ghost
* Green Card
* Sweet November
* Last of the Mohicans
* Beauty & the Beast
* Kate & Leopold
* Gone With the Wind
* Four Weddings & a Funeral
* Face Off
* The Bone Collector
* Sabrina
* Titanic
* Yentl
* Last of the Mohicans
* The Way We Were
* King Arthur
* Chocolat
* Grease
* The Truth About Cats & Dogs
* Pretty Woman
* The Notebook
* At First Sight
* Arthur
* Sixteen Candles
* Who’s That Girl?
* Earth Girls Are Easy
* Romancing the Stone
* Coming to America
* An Officer & a Gentleman
* Hairspray
* Desperately Seeking Susan
* Crocodile Dundee
* Dirty Dancing
* Saratoga Trunk
* The Wedding Singer
* Shrek
* Boat Trip
* From Here to Eternity
* Moonstruck
* Dances With Wolves
* Pretty in Pink
* Roxanne
* City of Angels
* Mulan
* Music & Lyrics
* A Beautiful Mind
* It Happened One Night
* A Walk in the Clouds
* The Runaway Bride
* Ever After
* You’ve Got Mail
* Never Been Kissed

And now a gift for you!

I love movies. Old movies, new movies, funny movies, romantic movies, suspenseful movies—okay you get the picture. Movies inspire me. I love the dialogue and the expressions. I study movies to learn how to make stories emotional and engaging. Every so often I hear someone say they don’t watch movies—or can’t stay awake through one, and I just can’t imagine it. I love movies nearly as much as I love books. And of course, romantic movies are among my favorites.

Let’s look at a couple of scenarios.

Someone who has never seen a movie is visiting you. Let’s say, just to make this believable, that they’re from another planet. (Why else would they have never seen a movie? Okay, then.) So Intergalactic Janet will be staying with you while she recuperates from a broken antenna. To keep her occupied, you get out your ten favorite movies. What are they?

You see where this is going, right?

Or—let’s say you have a week to live. You can’t visit the Himalayas or skydive because it’s raining and you have a bunion, so you’re spending your last seven days watching movies. Which ones will they be?

Or—you’re stranded on a deserted island with a big bag of popcorn, M&Ms, a big screen TV and Netflix. What’s in your cue to watch until you’re rescued?

I love lists. And I really tried to do this. I tried to select only ten. It was impossible, so I have alternates. Here are probably—most likely—gee this is tough—my top favorite romantic movies of all time:

* Hope Floats
* Sommersby
* Return To me
* The Con
* Bounce
* Quigley Down Under
* Pay it Forward
* Winter People
* Far & Away

* Phenomenon

And 10 more I have to list because they’re also in my watch-all-the-time bin:

* Mrs. Winterbourne
* Paradise
* High Road To China
* At First Sight
* Notting Hill
* Indecent Proposal
* The Fulfillment of Mary Gray
* A Star is Born
* While You were Sleeping

* The Love Letter

You might think this is strange, but Face Off is another of my favorite movies. It’s character driven, and John Travolta’s character is a wounded hero. I just love it.

Another is The Bone Collector. I watch it all the time. And I can keep adding to this—The Truth About Cats & Dogs, Music & Lyrics, The Substitute Wife….

Okay I confess: I have a Top 100 list of my favorite romantic movies.

I’ll post it after you’ve posted your top ten, because I want to see how many we have in common.

STOCK UP NOW FOR YOUR NEXT INTERGALACTIC VISITOR

  Are y’all ready for another guest? The Fillies sure are!

This Saturday we’re oh so delighted to see an old friend, Missus Maureen McKade.

Maureen will list her reasons for reading western romance. Ah can think a few hundred myself. Just give me a man in denim, boots, and a Stetson and I’m slobbering all over myself. Ah purely can’t help it. Ah simply melt when a man looks at me with those clear eyes and calls me “ma’am.” One of these days old Felicia is gonna lasso her a cowboy and take him home! Now, where did I put my rope?

Anyhow, get your wagon hitched and get your rears on over here on Saturday. I guarantee you won’t regret it.   

Good morning! My name is Pam Crooks, and I’m an online class junkie.

There. I said it.

It’s an addiction of mine.  With eleven books and 3 more coming, you’d think I’d have this writing thing down, wouldn’t you? But the truth is, I’m always looking for that secret formula, some special weapon that would take away the uncertainty, sweep away the fears, and make my stories easier to write. So easy to write, I could do it blindfolded.

Ain’t gonna happen. At least, it hasn’t so far. Every book is agony. Every one scares the heck out of me. What if I fail, fail, fail?

So I turn to online classes to keep learning. Fourteen books doesn’t make anyone an expert, certainly not *me*, and I have learned great things from some of these classes. I marvel at the instructors who can nail down aspects of the craft that are only a haze in my mind.

Or maybe, it’s just pure instinct. I’m not sure. I manage to muddle my way through to the end of every manuscript, and maybe it’s the tidbits of information I glean from all these classes I take that get me there.
Firstly, online classes are the greatest invention since sliced bread. One doesn’t need to get into a car and drive to a classroom. No need to dress up. No need to watch a clock. No books to buy, no pencil to sharpen.

Every lecture drops into my Inbox to be read at my leisure. I can print them out, or I can delete them. I can participate in the discussions, or I can lurk. Cost is minimal—and in my case, a tax deduction, too!

For you RWA members out there, I belong to the Kiss of Death chapter, and their online classes are fab. It was through them I took my very first one, the reason I’m hooked. www.rwamysterysuspense.org. I take several classes a year, sometimes more.

In the past couple of years, I discovered Writer’s University. www.writeruniv.com. I’ve met Margie Lawson, one of their very respected teachers. She’s great fun, and her courses are incredible—the lectures are more than 200 pages long. I’ve signed up to take Mary Buckham’s class next spring on Pacing, and she’s awesome, too.

It was through Writer’s U in early 2007 that I discovered Gwen Schuster-Hayne’s class on Introverts and Extroverts, a course on marketing strategies based on one’s strengths. She so inspired me that I pulled together a group of western romance authors and formed a ten-author blog devoted solely to what we write.  I think you’ve heard of it–Petticoats & Pistols.

The blog’s success has been incredibly gratifying. Our hits are steadily climbing and breaking records. Our guest list is booked months in advance; authors return again and again. More importantly, our visitors do, too. We have a great time together, don’t we?

I never would’ve had the courage—or even the idea—if it hadn’t been for Gwen’s class. Perhaps I would never have had a book strong enough to go to auction, either, and eventually be bought by Harlequin (THE MERCENARY’S KISS) in 2004, if I hadn’t taken Suzanne Brockmann’s highly-acclaimed class on heroes, “Tall, Dark and Believable.” (If she ever teaches it again, run, don’t walk, to sign up. It’s the best class ever, taught by one of the best.)

More favorites? Tami Cowden’s Villain Archetypes. I swear by her book, Sixteen Hero/Heroine Archetypes, and the villain version didn’t disappoint.

Mary Buckham’s “Twelve Stages of Intimacy” is a great resource for any romance writer.

Though I write historical westerns, I’m fascinated by contemporary suspense. I’ve taken classes on how to disappear, sleuthing, plotting suspense, writing intrigue. I’ve taken classes on modern-day cowboys and hunky Delta Forces operatives. I’ve studied FBI agents, serial killers, kick-ass heroines and how to go undercover. And to top it all off—how to edit the manuscript once it was written.

Whew. I’m addicted, all right. And the proof of my addiction is a whole row of fat, white notebooks, neatly labeled on my shelf, close to my computer if I should need inspiration.

And believe me, I always do.

What about you? Have you taken some great online classes to teach yourself how to be a better writer? If so, what are they? Did they help? Or were they a waste of time and money for you?

If you’re not a writer, have you taken any non-credit classes through a local college just for fun?  Cake-decorating?  Flower-arranging?  Let us know!

Okay ladies, I’ve kept you in suspense long enough. I’m ready to give you the lowdown on the Fillies’ brand new contest. We’re shufflin’ things up a bit this time. It’ll make your hair sizzle!

The Sizzlin’ Summer Stampede of Prizes is officially open!

Three lucky winners will win a Grand Prize and a Second and Third Prize as well.

GRAND PRIZE LIST:

$25.00 Amazon Online Gift Card

Autographed Books from the Fillies at Wildflower Junction

Beautiful Blue Bandana

Gunfighter Ballads CD

Red Hat Pin

Canadian Lucky Penny Keychain

Bonanza DVD

Clint Eastwood Unforgiven DVD

Roy Rogers DVD movie pack

Cowboy Postcards

SECOND PRIZE:
 
2 Autographed Books from the Fillies

Tom Selleck Crossfire Trail DVD

THIRD PRIZE:

2 Autographed Books from the Fillies

Fury Classic Episodes DVD

Contest will conclude on September 15th so don’t sit there with your mouth hangin’ open. Get a move on. Just click on the link to the left.  Our pantry is full and ripe for the pickin’! 

I have to be the most blessed person on earth without a doubt. God gave me three sisters and a brother. We’ve been through thick and thin together. While all of my siblings are unique and very loved, I’m going to tell you a little about my youngest sister and why she’s my best friend.

For one thing we both love cowboys, chocolate and country music. Jan fell in love with and married Rick Sikes who had a band called the Rhythm Rebels back in the ’80′s. Rick taught her to play the guitar, sing, and write her own songs. She loves to perform and gives a hundred percent each time she steps onto a stage.

Jan is beautiful, smart as a whip and would do anything in the world for the people she loves.

Back in 2003 she took an autographed copy of my first book, “Knight on the Texas Plains,” to Shreveport, Louisiana and presented it to a good friend and amazing singer, Willie Nelson. Not only did she present it, she got an excellent picture of him opening up my book to read the inscription. That picture has been one of the most talked about things on my website. Don’t know exactly what Willie thought of the book, but getting his picture was a wonderful gift to me. Jan’s like that though. So thoughtful and considerate and generous.

From the very first when I decided I could write a book, Jan wholly supported my writing. She always let me bounce ideas off her, gave me a shoulder to lean on when I was down, and celebrated my successes. She’s been my rock and I don’t know what I’d do without her. It’s fair to say we’ve been through good times and bad. But we always stuck together. 

When we were small, everyone used to think we were twins. Where one of us was, the other was also. We were literally inseparable. And that we favor each other in looks encouraged the belief that we were twins. The fact is I’m the oldest by a few years. But don’t tell anyone.

This past May I celebrated a milestone birthday (and no, I won’t say which one it was. I’d rather keep that a secret.) I’ll just say that Jan threw me one of the best, most fun, birthday parties I’ve ever had. We had a ton of good food, some of the best live music I’ve ever heard, and lots of laughter. It was truly a wondrous, special day for me. I won’t ever forget the love that went into putting everything together for me. In three years I plan on returning the favor. I just hope I can give her a celebration that will show her how important she is to me and one she’ll remember with fondness for years to come. If only I could sing. Sigh.

         (Jan is the one on the left.) 

Are you blessed to have a special sister…or brother? I’d like to hear from you.

Our Sizzlin’ Summer Stampede of Prizes Contest kicks off today. Watch for it later this afternoon!

 Click on book cover to order “Give Me a Texan” from Amazon

 And visit me at www.LindaBroday.com 

Delores is celebrating the release of her new book by sending three copies of The Horseman’s Son to three of you lucky readers!

The names are all in the Stetson, and the winners are….

KATHLEEN

ROBYN L

PAT COCHRAN

Yee haw!  Congrats to each of you. Send your address to Delores at fossen@comcast.net and she’ll get your books right out to you.

As always, thanks to all of you for blogging with us at Petticoats and Pistols. We appreciate you.