When I finish a book, I usually feverishly try to catch up on much neglected chores.  One of those (usually futile) exercises is an attempt once again to cull my books.I blogged once before on an effort to find books to sell at a community-wide garage sale. After two days of searching through several thousand books, I ended up with less than ten discards. Those ten have since been replaced fifty fold. So another attempt was in order.

Isabella was a spinster who traveled around the world. She made an extended tour of the Rocky Mountain area of Colorado when she was on her way back to England from the Sandwich Islands (now the Hawaiian Islands), During her lifetime she also traveled to Canada, India, Tibet, Japan, the Malay Peninsula among many others.   She established hospitals in Kashmir, Punjab, China and Korea. She was the first woman ever elected a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in England.

And she did all this traveling alone. Amazing to me. I’m always filled with awe when I read of her travels. But my favorite of her travels was her months long journey through the Rocky Mountains, most of the time alone. According to the forward of “A Lady’s Life,” she didn’t go to see the curiosities or the sights. She was more interested in discovering what it felt like to live in other places. “She had an amazing capacity quickly to become a resident.” And so she did in the Rocky Mountains.

My copy of the book has numerous passages underlined. I love her descriptions of the shape and color of place. You feel like you’re there with her, riding along as she meets ordinary (are there any?)and extraordinary people.

One of her adventures was ascending Long’s Peak.   Remember there were no roads then, and it was a harrowing effort.   This is her initial impression of the peak: “It is one of the noblest of mountains, but in one’s imagination it grows to be much more than a mountain. It becomes invested with a personality. In its caverns and abysses one comes to fancy that it generates and chains the strong winds, to let them loose in its fury. The thunder becomes its voice, and the lightnings do it homage. Other summits blush under the morning kiss of the sun , and turn pale the next moment; but it detains the first sunlight and holds it round its head for an hour at least, till it pleases to change from rosy red to deep blue; and the sunset, as if spell-bound, lingers on its crest.

“The soft winds which hardly rustle the pine needles down here are raging rudely up there round its motionless summit. The mark of fire is upon it; and though it has passed into a grim repose, it tells of fire and upheaval as truly, through not as eloquently, as the living volcanos of Hawaii.”

She was guided up the mountain by “Mountain Jim,” a notorious desperado and “as awful-looking a ruffian as one could see.” But she had been told, “Treat Jim as a gentleman, and you’ll find him one.” So he did, and she described meeting the man’s dog, “Ring, said to be the best hunting dog in Colorado, with the body and legs of a collie, but a head approaching that of a mastiff, a noble face with a wistful human expression, and the most truthful eyes I ever saw in an animal.” Later, “‘Jim’ or Mr. Nugent, as I always scrupulously called him, told stories of his early youth, and of a great sorrow which had led him to embark on a lawless and desperate life. His voice trembled, and tears ran down his cheek.   Was it semi-conscious acting, I wondered, or was his dark soul really stirred to its depths by the silence, the beauty, and the memories of youth?”

She mentions courtesies extended by men she meets along the way, then adds, “These men might have been excused for speaking in a somewhat free-and easy tone to a lady riding alone, and in an unwonted fashion. Womanly dignity and manly respect for women are the salt of society in this wild West.”

And so she continues with tales of people she meets and places she’d been with such eloquence that you want to read some passages over and over.

About one homesteader, she wrote:”Mrs. H lays aside her work for a few minutes and reads some favorite passage of prose or poetry as I have seldom heard either read before, with a voice of large compass and exquisite tone, quick to interpret every shade of the author’s meaning, and soft speaking eyes, moist with feeling and sympathy.   These are our halcyon hours, when we forget the needs of the morrow, and that men still buy, sell, cheat, and strive for good, and that we are in the Rocky Mountains, and that it is near midnight.”

I love her eloquence and empathy for people and the land.   I greatly admire her grit,  curiosity and unquenchable good nature that made friends of everyone she met, even “ruffians” and desperadoes.

What a great heroine!

I’m holding a small contest.   Do you have a favorite real life heroine?   Past or present?   Tell us why.

I’ll send a copy of “A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains” to the one of those who reply.

Quilt Lady, you won a copy of Michele Ann Young’s book. I need you to send your address to me at SaintJohn@aol.com

thanks

Ladies, we have a brand new contest set to begin Tuesday, the 15th.

Sizzlin’ Summer Stampede of Prizes!!

But, you can’t start entering until Tuesday so quit your fidgeting. You’re worse than these durn mules here! They have their heads hanging over my fence, just raring to get into my vegetable garden again. I swear to my time! Don’t know what I’m gonna do with the crazy things. Don’t know why they don’t go pester some of the other Fillies. Miss Charlene has one of the best gardens anywhere. And Miss Pam and Miss Cheryl planted rows of turnips, radishes, and cucumbers. Some mighty good eatin’ here in Wildflower Junction if I say so myself. These durn mules tend to agree.

But, back to you. This time we’re gonna have three winners instead of the usual one. And the prizes will knock your eyes out. We’ve filled the pantry back up with tons of nice things.

So mosey back over here on Tuesday and get your name in the Stetson!

First of all, let me give a Texas-size THANKS to all the wonderful authors of Petticoats and Pistols for having me as a guest blogger. I’m in very good company here.

Now, on to cowboys and more specifically cowboy stories. QUESTIONING THE HEIRESS is my latest Harlequin Intrigue and will be my 23rd published book. That includes two historicals, two romantic comedies and nineteen Intrigues. I have eight more books in the publishing queue that’ll be out this year and next. The one thing ALL those 31 books have in common? Texas cowboys and cowboy cops. Yup, cowboys are my passion. Take a look at this cover and you’ll see why. Sigh.

My love of cowboys started early because I lived on a working ranch/farm until I was eight. I wish I had grand stories of riding horses and helping with the cattle, but truth is, my brother and sister called me Prissy Pants. And hey, I worked very hard to earn and maintain that title.  LOL   I wasn’t much of a hands-on kid when it came to livestock (fear of stinky smells and poop) but I used to sit back and watch. Better yet, I remembered, and I think those early experiences add some authenticity to my stories. I hope so anyway.

Seven years ago right after I made my first sale to Harlequin, my cowboy passion went up a notch when I met several bona fide Texas Rangers in San Antonio. I asked so many questions and took so many notes that I’m pretty sure they considered slapping me with a restraining order. That day, my own Rangers were born. The result was the first Silver Star of Texas trilogy that I wrote with the easiest-going authors on earth, Rita Herron and Mallory Kane. Now, the second trilogy is out, and QUESTIONING THE HEIRESS is the second book in the trilogy. It’s the story of Sgt. Egan Caldwell, who has four dead bodies on his hands and live heiress who’s the killer’s next target. Egan’s married to the badge and has no room in his life for an heiress. (Or so he thinks.) And yes, he looks pretty darn good in that Stetson and wet shirt. Hubba hubba!

Backcover for Questioning the Heiress:

She’s a beautiful heiress with amnesia, and only one Texas Ranger could keep her safe…from everyone but himself.

It was just a day’s work for Texas Ranger Egan Caldwell. Except this time the victim of the crime was rich, beautiful heiress Caroline Stalllings. Egan and Caroline couldn’t be more different – she was upper crust, he was a lawman. Yet this woman stirred feelings in him that refused to be ignored. Problem was, Caroline’s memory had gone the way of Egan’s willpower and her amnesia had attracted a killer. Ensuring her safety was something he took very seriously.

But giving in to their distracting, combustible attraction was the only chance Egan had of uncovering the secrets hidden in Caroline’s mind…before someone else did.

To celebrate the release of “Questioning the Heiress,” I’d like to give away three copies of my March ’08 Intrigue, THE HORSEMAN’S SON. All you have to do is post and tell me if and why cowboys are your passion. Or if you prefer – take a long hard look at the cover for “Questioning the Heiress” and see if you can spot what’s wrong. (Don’t let that wet shirt distract you.) The winners will be chosen from the posts so I’ll be reading them all.

‘Til later!!

You can contact Delores through her website at: www.dfossen.com  or email her at df@dfossen.com

   To order from Amazon, click on the cover.

Hello Darlings! Just a friendly reminder to get out your best dress and hightail it over here tomorrow.

Delores Fossen arrived on the noon stage and she’s resting over at the hotel now.

She’ll be talking tomorrow at the meetin’ hall about some of our favorite subjects. She’ll be wantin’ you to tell her why cowboys are your passion so get on your thinkin’ caps. For some of us, like me, we don’t need to think about much about it. We already know why those sexy men get our rope all in a tangle. Boy, do we ever know! It’s making me hot as a firecracker on the Fourth of July just thinkin’ about it.

So, if you don’t have anything better to do, hitch up your buggy and ride over here tomorrow. You’ll have a chance to win some prizes too. Yee-haw!

Stories have lives of their own.  Some spring into being and race to completion.  Others follow their authors around for years, demanding to be told.  My January Harlequin Historical, ON THE WINGS OF LOVE, is the second kind of story.   I’d like to share it with you here.

      For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by flight—especially the men and women who first ventured into the sky.  About fifteen years ago I came up with an idea for a story with a hero and heroine, Rafe and Alexandra, who are drawn together by their passion for flying.  I loved it.  From the very beginning I knew it was the book of my heart.

      I jumped right into the research, reading a whole stack of books.  I even took a flying lesson in a Piper Cherokee.  The cute young  instructor did the takeoff and landing, but I got to handle the plane in the air, turns and all.  It was an exhilarating and terrifying experience—white knuckles all the way.   Even though I’d love to try it again, I don’t think I’d ever have the self confidence to solo.

      I wrote a proposal and sent it out.  It came back again and again and again for two reasons.  First, nobody wanted a story set in the early 20^th Century.  Second, nobody was neutral about Alex, my strong-willed heroine.  A few editors loved her, as I did.  But most didn’t “get” her.   I’d created a woman with the stubborn, reckless nature needed to venture into the sky.  In ordinary situations, these qualities could work against her—and  often did—which, for me, was what made Alex so compelling.  I didn’t want to change her.

      After I started writing for Harlequin I tried the story again.  The senior editor almost bought it but changed her mind at the last minute.  “I loved the chemistry between Rafe and Alex,” she said, “but the time period is too modern for our historical line.”

      Years passed, editorial policies changed.  I sent the story to my new editor.  “Interesting time period,” she said.  “But I can’t stand your heroine.”

      More time passed.  I had a different editor, and suddenly Harlequin Historicals was looking for new settings.  I sent my story in again.  Finally… it sold!

      Even then the saga wasn’t over.  I’d conceived the book as an epic, covering the early days of flight through World War I.  To fit the Harlequin format, I had to cut, and cut, and cut.  Every lost word was painful.  But I got to keep Alex with all her faults.  The final result was a thrilling love story that I’m still proud to call the book of my heart.  

Those of you who write, do you have a “book of your heart” either written or unwritten?  Have you ever had to fight for a goal that was close to your heart?  Do you have a dream you hope to accomplish?  I’d love to hear about it. 

To order one of these books, click on an image. 

Calico Canyon: Lassoed in Texas, Book 2 (Truly Yours Romance Club #24)The winner of a signed copy of Calico Canyon is Maureen D. Maureen if you’d email me at                         maryconnealy at hotmail.com             I’ll get the book in the mail. Thanks everyone for all the hilarious comments today. If you’d like to buy Calico Canyon, click on the link above and it’ll take you to Amazon.

Our Saturday guest this week just happens to be Delores Fossen.

The Fillies are proud and excited to have Miss Delores. She’s written some humdinger books about a slew of Texas cowboys and cowboy lawmen. We do love to talk cowboys, now don’t we! Hee-hee!

Mosey over to the meetin’ hall to see what Miss Delores has to say about the Texas Rangers and other brands of cowboys. Don’t be late because she’s gonna be giving away some prizes. Hope to see you here bright and early. Don’t forget now.

Calico Canyon is the story of the prissy Miss Calhoun from Petticoat Ranch and her forced marriage to Daniel Reeves the father of her most unruly students.
Five little boys who are as horrified to have her for their new Ma as she is to find herself stuck with the Reeves men.

She got his boys expelled from school.

He got her fired.

And then a completely innocent compromising situation forces them to marry. I mean sure she spent the night with him. Sure she’s in her nightgown. Sure he slept with her, but…nothing happened.

Daniel cannot get the parson to believe that.

 No two people could be more unhappily married.

 Calico Canyon is in bookstores now. To find out more, check here:

http://www.maryconnealy.com/

In the meantime, one of the responses I’ve been getting about Calico Canyon, similar to Petticoat Ranch, is ‘How’d you get inside a man’s head so well?’

All I can say is…”who knows if I did?”

How can any of us really KNOW if we’ve figured out men?

And what’s with the word MEN, like they’re not individuals, with their own hopes and dreams, personalities and behaviors.

CAN we figure out MEN-plural? We can maybe…eventually…figure out A man, one we know personally, but is it fair to paint with such a broad stroke?

Here are some Man cliches….

All men are after only one thing.

All men are alike.

My husband says, Men think things through. Women talk things through.

Literature says, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.

A jump rope ditty I remember goes:

Boys are rotten, made out of cotton

Girls drink Pepsi to get more sexy

Boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider

Girls go to Mars to get more candy bars

George Carlin says: Men are from Earth. Women are from Earth. Deal with it.

Nicole Hollander: Can you imagine a world without men? No crime and lots of happy fat women.

Mary Poppins: “Though we adore men individually, I agree that as a group they’re rather stupid.”

Marge Simpson: Most women tell you that you’re a fool if you think you can change a man- but those women are quitters.

I’m going to mention here that if you think there aren’t a bazillion woman bashing jokes out there, you’re livin’ in a dream world.–here’s a good example:

Q: What’s the difference between a woman having her period and a terrorist?
A: You can negotiate with a terrorist.

What I’d like to hear from you is ‘guy stories’.

Can you think of a story with your son, your boyfriend, your co-worker, your brother, your husband that just makes you say, “He is SUCH a guy!”

And anyone who leaves a comment today gets their name in the drawing for a signed copy of Calico Canyon.

So leave a comment and tell me your ‘guy’ stories.

Click on the covers to buy Calico Canyon, Petticoat Ranch and Alaska Brides on Amazon