The winner of the signed copy of
Montana Rose
Roberta Harwell.
And, cuz I’m in a good mood, because I saw my brother tonight
who only comes home about once every two years,
I’m giving a second copy of
Montana Rose
to Patricia Cochran. Please contact me at: mary@maryconnealy.com
And thanks to everyone who stopped by today to talk
COWGIRLS!
Just jogging your memory that the son of celebrated author Louis L’Amour, Mr. Beau L’Amour, will be here on Monday.
The Fillies have gotten all gussied up like a country bride and the Junction is spic and span. We’re ready to get this party rolling.
You all have a special invite.
Mr. Beau gives us a rare glimpse into what life was like growing up in the L’Amour household. You won’t want to miss that. It’s a real treat to have someone of his caliber visit us.
Get your questions ready and shoot from the hip!
And of course, don’t miss Louise Gouge here tomorrow.
Is Jennie Marsland! Yee-Haw!
Jennie, I’ve already got a copy of THE CATTLEMAN’S UNSUITABLE WIFE on its way to you.
The Fillies really appreciate all of you who took time to respond. Thank you, thank you!
I kept the romantic comedy with cowboys, though.
Belle Tanner buries her third worthless husband and makes a vow over his shallow grave. She’s learned her lesson. No more men.
Leave a comment about cowgirls, what’s your favorite kind.
Before the next books in the series I’ve got a Christmas romance coming, Cowboy Christmas.
Click on a cover to buy on Amazon
Hello Darlings,
The Fillies are proud as all get-out to announce that author Ms. Louise Gouge will arrive at the Junction this weekend.
We’re excited to have the dear lady. She’s going to give us a peek inside her new book called LOVE THINE ENEMY. It’s set in Florida during the Revolutionary days and she weaves lots of historical fact into her romance.
We’d love to have your help in rolling out the red carpet for Ms. Louise.
And of course, she’s not empty-handed. She’ll give away an autographed copy to one lucky person. Don’t you want that person to be you?
Set your alarms and get on over here. You’ll be glad you did!
The Fillies are getting ready to do some sprucing up around Wildflower Junction, and we’re hoping you’ll help us out by answering a quick question for us.
You might’ve noticed that our Library Page of western romance releases has been a bit neglected lately. (Time, oh to have more time.)
Or maybe you haven’t noticed. And that’s what we’d like to know.
Please take a minute and answer one itty-bitty question for us.
Do you find our Library Page helpful?
Yes (meaning I check it often and find the covers helpful when I buy my western romances)
No (meaning I’ve never clicked on that page, didn’t even know it was there, or I could care less. The blogs are enough for me.)
Your input is very valuable to us, and we hope to hear from as many of you as we can. So . . . to encourage your input to our survey, everyone who takes a moment to give us their opinion will be eligible for a copy of my latest, THE CATTLEMAN’S UNSUITABLE WIFE.
Lookin’ forward to hearing from you!
Greetings from the Wardman Marriott Hotel in Washington DC, the site of this year’s national conference for Romance Writers of America! I’m thrilled to be here. Not only is it a great chance to hear industry news and attend writing workshops, I get to spend time with friends. You know that feeling when you sit down with a group of girlfriends you haven’t seen in a while? Everyone starts talking and there’s just not enough time to say everything that needs to be said. That’s what RWA is like for me.
The conference launched with the annual “Readers for Life” Literacy Autographing. Since 1991, RWA has donated more than $600,000 to literacy charities. The totals aren’t in for this year, but the room was huge and it was packed. Before it started, I snapped a shot of fellow Filly Tracy Garrett. She’s signing copies of Touched by Love.
And here’s Pat Potter saying hi. You can’t see the Rita pins on her badge, but my mouth gaped. Pat is so friendly and so talented . . . I confess! I’m in awe.
I’m also in awe of of those serendipity moments that are unique to RWA. I had one of those happy coincidences the first time I stepped into the elevator. My roommate and I (here’s a shout-out to Sara Mitchell, my fellow LIH author) struck up a conversation with a writer wearing a pink “First Sale” ribbon. “Who did you sell to?” I asked.
“Dorchester,” she answered. “I write western romance.”
Music to my ears! Turns out I was talking to Caroline Fyffe. She’s set to blog at Petticoats and Pistols on August 6th.
My next western-flavored coincidence is typical RWA. The literacy signing and is over and I’m in the elevator. (I seem to spend a lot of time in elevators!) I look up and see a man I can’t quite place. Turns out he’s Leigh Greenwood (aka Harold Lowry). I’m beginning to wonder if the hotel put all the western writers on the same floor!
The conference is just beginning. Thursday’s schedule includes a breakfast with the Harlequin Historical writers. That’s the line where I started and I’m stoked to be catching up with old friends. On Thursday night, I’ll be getting together with new friends. The Love Inspired Historical authors will be gathering for dinner. Friday is all business. I’ll be meeting with my editor and my agent, and then attending a workshop by Donald Maass.
I’ll post other serendipity moments in the Comments section. At RWA, you never know who you’ll meet in an elevator. It could be me!
Louis L'Amour
Darlings,
The Fillies are bursting with pure excitement these days and with good reason.
None other than Mr. Beau L’Amour (yes, son of the famed author Louis L’Amour) will gallop onto the streets of Wildflower Junction on Monday, July 20th!!
Bless my hide!
You’ll probably never get another chance to shoot the bull with the son of such a renowned author. You’ll find out what it was like growing up, the kind of father Louis was, and what Beau’s life is like now.
Let me tell you, this is a rare opportunity that you won’t want to miss.
Hitch up your wagons, saddle your horses, cajole your mules, whatever you have to do to get to the Junction.
Come early, stay late and trade howdies with Beau.
My new series I’m currently writing is set in Montana, 1867, a setting and time period chose mostly because of my interest in Chief Red Cloud, one of the fiercest enemies the U.S. Army 
ever fought. He led the successful Indian Campaign known as Red Cloud’s War between 1866 and 1868. There are so many one-sided tragic battles in Native American history, and the victory Red Cloud achieved, however short lived, has been a fascination of mine. Red Cloud foresaw the expulsion of the Lakota from their land. In June of 1865 Red Cloud’s Lakota Sioux joined a coalition lead by Woqini (Roman Nose) of the Cheyenne, to attack a military post on the North Platte River.
In 1866 the military was building forts along the Bozeman Trail straight through the Lakota Territory of Wyoming and Montana—a violation of their treaty. As miners and pioneers started encroaching on Lakota Land, Red Cloud feared the demise of the Indian way of life there. He started Red Cloud’s war, which was the most successful war an Indian nation ever waged against the US Army. Through a number of battles and series of attacks on the forts over two years, he was able to drive out military troops.
Red Cloud’s victories resulted in a new Treaty of Fort Laramie by which the United States abandoned all forts on the Bozeman Trail and acknowledged Lakota possession of what is now the Western half of South Dakota, including the Black Hills, and much of Montana and Wyoming. As the Military retreated, warriors followed close behind, burning the forts to the ground.
Sadly, peace was short-lived. Red Cloud never again went to war against the USA. He made several visits to Washington, DC and undertook speaking tours in Eastern cities, lecturing in 1870 at the Cooper Union in New York City. In 1874, General Custer attacked Red Cloud. Red Cloud did not take part in the Lakota war of 1876–77 with Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and other war leaders.
Despite his peaceful ways, he was removed by the government from his position as chief in 1877, and he and his people were removed to the Pine Ridge Agency in South Dakota. Red Cloud continued to fight for the freedom of his people. At Pine Ridge, he fought corrupt Indian agents who stole from the natives. He died in 1909 at the age of 87.
Certainly all/most of these details won’t be in my books, though I do hope to give a glimpse of the struggles faced by the miners, settlers, soldiers and Lakota—all of whom are characters in my upcoming books. As a historical romance writer, I always strive to weave in bits of history that really strikes a chord in me. As a historical romance reader, I love to learn little tidbit on historical eras I might otherwise not be exposed to—sneaky history lessons.
Can you think of some historical tidbit of surprising interest you gleaned from a romance novel?
I’m really late posting winners to my Friday Post.
My family kidnapped me 
I drew two winners….
Colleen and Judy A
CONGRATULATIONS!
Send your snail-mail address to me at staceykayne@gmail.com
