WHAT IS IT ABOUT A HERO? by TRACY GARRETT

Dear Readers,

 

What is it about the heroes we write that keeps you coming back for more? Cowboys, ranchers, Texas Rangers, Sheriffs, Marshals…

Today we remember many, many real-life heroes who sacrificed so much to save so many lives. Sixteen years ago, I was enjoying my first cup of coffee when my phone rang with the news that a plane had flown into one of the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. I didn’t believe it, at first. Remembering the events of that day still feel a bit surreal.

 

 

And the stories that came out in the days that followed of a friend who was running late for his meeting at the top of the Twin Towers and was climbing out of a cab as the first plane hit; of a friend’s daughter who missed her usual train because the baby was fussy and emerged into the aftermath; of another one’s son who, though he didn’t drink coffee, was so groggy that he decided to go to the commissary for a cup just before the plane plowed into his desk at the Pentagon.

 

The police & firefighters that rushed into the buildings, the passengers on American Airlines Flights 11 and 77 and United Airlines Flights 175 and 93–those were heroes. Dona eis requiem sempiternam!

 

 

Though I write fiction, when I create a leading man for my stories, I try to embody him with some of those traits that make him heroic. The willingness to do whatever it takes, the iron will, the honor to stick by what is right no matter the cost to himself. And the humanity to learn to love that one special person.

 

 

 

Cain “Wolf” Richards of WILD TEXAS HEARTS is my latest HERO. He first showed up in my debut novel, TEXAS GOLD (aka Touch of Texas), riding with a notorious gang of outlaws. He had good reason to be on the wrong side of the law and he tried to minimize the damage the outlaws inflicted. But, when given the opportunity, he came down on the side of right, saved Ranger Jake McCain–and himself.

 

 

 

A broken man…

Revenge has driven Wolf Richards since the brutal murders of his wife and young daughter. Returning home with his son, Cal, he faces memories and loss at every turn. Raising Cal alone seems to be more of a challenge than he can handle. He can never replace his perfect Emily—until a rough-edged female falls into his arms—and living becomes a new adventure.

An unlikely woman…

Lizzie Sutter is as rough as a cowboy and as compelling as a stormy sky. Dressing as a man allows her to hire on with a cattle drive, only to be discovered and set adrift near Civil, Texas. When she stumbles onto an abandoned cabin, she makes herself at home. Then the owner of her newfound home shows up and Lizzie discovers just what’s missing from her life—and her heart.

Two wild hearts tamed…

Lizzie hasn’t a feminine thing about her, yet she calls to something deep inside Wolf, something he can’t deny.  Being a woman has always left her feeling lacking, until he shows her their WILD TEXAS HEARTS belong together…

 

Readers, what is it about a hero that draws you in, that makes you fall in love? Leave a comment and I’ll choose one of you to win an e copy of WILD TEXAS HEARTS! Meanwhile, here’s an excerpt to whet your appetite for more! 

 

WILD TEXAS HEARTS

The sun was setting when they rounded the last bend. The little house looked the same, almost eerily so. The yard was swept of leaves and debris, the porch looked freshly swept, and…

“Pa?” Calvin guided his little horse closer to his father’s side, fear and confusion in his voice. “There’s smoke comin’ from the chimney.”

Wolf had seen the wispy white trail more than an hour ago, but had convinced himself it was lack of sleep that had him imagining things. But if Cal could see it, it must be real.

Squatters. Some low life had moved into their home. “Whoever it is, they won’t stay long once we get there. Get behind me, son.”

He checked the load in both revolvers and his shotgun before bumping his horse in the ribs. As they neared the house, he spotted the lazy freeloader, on the roof of the barn. What the hell was he doing up there? When Wolf saw fresh patches, he realized the squatter was fixing the holes.

That made no sense. All the squatters Wolf had encountered moved into an empty structure and made use of what was there until they were forced out again. He should know. He’d made use of his share of empty houses while he searched for his children.

But the evidence was before him. “This should be interesting,” he muttered. Motioning Cal out of sight, he slid a revolver free and rode up to the barn, stopping just out of the shelter of the eaves.

“What the hell are you doing to my barn?”

The intruder spun around, forgetting his precarious perch. Wolf spotted the flash of sun on a barrel, but before he could react, the man lost his footing, let out a squeal, and started sliding off the roof.

Wolf was moving almost before the realization hit. The curve of hip, the narrow waist. He snagged the falling body just short of the ground.

“Damn it. You’re a woman.”

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Tracy

 

http://www.TracyGarrett.com

Facebook: TracyGarrett.author

Twitter: @TGarrett_author

Goodreads: Tracy Garrett

 

 

 

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19 thoughts on “WHAT IS IT ABOUT A HERO? by TRACY GARRETT”

  1. Good morning Tracy- yes 16 years ago I’ll never forget, as we all never will whom-lived through that horrifying day. I remember I was at work unloading 3000 baby pigs when my truck driver told me that a plane had been flown into the World Trade Center, a few minutes later my supervisor arrived to tell me a second plane hit 2nd tower and then the news came at the towers were falling. I was scared to death, because I could not see in the news and I did not know what was happening. To me a hero is someone who is not afraid to sacrifice their own life to save others who gives his or her all. They know that the dear Lord will protect them even, if they should perish the dear Lord will take them to a better place. Your book sounds amazing I’ve never read anything by you, yet. You have a marvelous day!

    • Tonya, you are spot on about a hero. Mornings are my writing time so I hadn’t turned on the tv. When my mother called I didn’t believe her at first. That day introduced me real heroes.

      Thanks for stopping by.

  2. Oh yes, I think we all have that day burned into our memories. Such scary and sad ones and then the miraculous stories that came out! Lovely excerpt, thank you for sharing. I love loyalty in my heroes and that is what makes me fall in love with them.

    • Hi, Susan P! I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt. Loyalty–can you have a hero without it? Thanks for stopping by this morning.

  3. I think a hero’s loyalty is what draws me in. It’s hard to believe that 9-11 took place 16 years ago. It almost feels like yesterday. To me it was the beginning of a bad time in my life. Not only the memories of 9-11 were there, but I lost my job a few weeks later when I left early to put my cat to sleep. He had cancer. I got divorced in November and my step-father had a stroke in October. He was left paralyzed on one side of his body. The good thing about losing my job was that I could drive out to my mom’s house every day and drive her to the hospital to visit my step-father. He was in the hospital and then moved to rehab where he spent about 6 months. My mother needed my help at the time and if I was working, I wouldn’t have been able to help her.

    • Janine, it’s good to “see” you again! I’m sorry for the hard path you had to walk at that time. But you came out on the other side.

      Loyalty–such a vital quality for a hero.

  4. 16 years ago I was in the academy for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice when we noticed that our rank was acting strangely and they were in the office for a meeting. They emerged and told us what had happened, at this point it was just the first building. We were asked if we all wanted to go home and we could make up the day on a Saturday. All state facilities were closing. We chose to stay in class so we wouldn’t have to make the day up because after all we were in a prison community in the middle of nowhere Texas and weren’t in danger. We ended up just watching all that unfolded that day on tv. One lady did leave because she had a family member that was on a flight and it could have been the highjacked plane. It was. What are the chances, being from small town Texas, that her husband would be on that highjacked plane.
    My favorite kind of hero is one that does things out of respect and manners and he doesn’t even realize he’s being heroic. A person that just does the right thing in all that he does, stands up for what’s right. It’s easy to fall in love with a person like that.

    • I forgot to say this sounds like a very good book and I’ve never read one of your books and I’d love the opportunity to add you to my go to authors list. I’m on my 78th book since October aftee spending decades not reading. Have a great day!

      • Stephanie, 30 years without reading? I’d have lost my mind by day three!

        Respect and manners. Something that must be taught to be truly understood. And I agree–it’s easy to fall in love with a hero like that!

  5. My ideal hero has great strength and character that shows itself in honor, loyalty, courage, skill, resourcefulness, bravery and humaneness. Don’t want much, do I?

    I’m really intrigued by WILD TEXAS HEARTS and would like to read it, but I confess I’m a holdout on getting an e-reader, so I wish all of the other posters good luck in getting to read what sounds like a terrific story.

  6. Well, Tracy you know how much I love this book, right? LOL You have created some unforgettable characters and I know there are more coming that I’m sure looking forward to.

    You know, I always think about Sir Lancelot in the musical “Camelot” when I think about a hero. He was really so full of himself when he was singing about what a “knight of the Table Round” should be: A knight of the Table Round should be invincible/ succeed where the most fantastic man would fail/ climb a wall no one else can climb, cleave a dragon in record time, swim a moat in a coat of heavy iron mail…” (I think these are the right words–it’s been a while!) And of course, there’s more. Makes me smile every time I think about it. Of course, we know there is so much more than that to being a hero. And usually, they are NOT going around bragging about their accomplishments as Lancelot was doing. LOL

    We lost many heroes on 9/11. I will never forget that day as long as I love–we’d been through the Murrah Bldg. bombing just 6 years earlier, and of course, didn’t know “what was coming next” in either case–so the kids, being the ages they were, were really traumatized by going through something that was similar in their minds and seeing the news coverage constantly. My daughter told me that one thing that really struck her, working where she does, (she teaches acting classes among other things) was that the kids that are coming in to class weren’t living during that time for either of those events and some don’t even know what happened. That is really sad.

    Best of luck with this new book of yours, Tracy. Love your characters and what a story!

    • I know, Cheryl. It’s hard to believe we have a generation entering high school that weren’t taught that part of our recent history–eith the Murrah Bldg or the 9-11 events.

      I loved that song in Camelot, although it really drove home Lancelot’s character–in both senses of the word. lol

  7. We will certainly never forget what happened 16 years ago. The many brave and courageous men and women,then and now. For me, when thinking about a hero, I want to read about one who is strong and selfless and passionate about what he believes in and what he lives by.

    • Melanie, thanks for stopping by. I like how you think–although selfless sometimes takes a little time to get to, at least for our characters.

  8. Heroes come in all shapes and sexes. It takes strong moral character to do what’s right. It was proven 16 years ago and continues on through history. Thank you for sharing how you were impacted those years ago.

    I do love your heroes and your writing. The latest is calling my name ever since it arrived on my device. Dang life, just when you want to read. Doris

  9. Hi Tracy…..Waving madly!!! I’m so glad you came to visit. How have you been? Congratulations on the new book! Looks like you’re keeping busy. That’s good. The world needs more Tracy Garrett cowboys. To answer your question about what draws me to a cowboy…it’s the way he treats a lady and children. If he doesn’t show kindness or caring then he’s not a hero.

    Don’t stay away so long. Come back often. Wishing you tons and tons of success!

  10. The hero’s loyalty and steadfastness are two qualities that draw me in.
    I’m new to your books but they sound really good!

  11. Tracy, first of all this book sounds awesome. Looking forward to a great read–just got it on my Kindle as I’ll read it on the plane to MT/SD and Wyoming. Great excerpt. What is a hero to me? Someone brave, never hesitating to put their life on the line in a second, yet has empathy,sympathy and campassion. Oh my…..

    911 for me hit hard. I live in NYS; 9/11 is my birthday: as a Public Health Nurse for the county, I was heading out to see home care patients when our gov. line on TV on our educator’s desk showed the first building going down. Our office of fifty became fell silent. It didn’t take long for a number of us to join Homeland Security for the medical end. Our daughter-in-law was to attend a meeting at the towers–thank God she had to reschedule. We lost numerous friends that day. But we also gained hundreds of new ones who are the real heroes. Wishing you much success with this one.

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