I’m delighted to visit Petticoats and Pistols and check in with all my friends. After twenty-five years under contract, I took a year and a half away from writing to care for and nurture a new grandbaby. During that wonderful and exhausting time, I refreshed my mojo so that I could write with renewed energy. I also promised myself that from then on, I would only write books I love. And that’s what I’ve been doing.
One of the things I especially like to do is take a character out of their place of comfort and put them into a new and difficult situation to see how they react. This is exactly what I did when I created Raylene Cranford, a gently-raised Southern belle whose new husband and father were killed in the brother’s war. She and her childhood friend survived through the winter in the burned-out remains of her family home, living on acorns and scrawny rabbits, and eventually made their way north to safety.
Determined and resourceful, the two are able to turn a family member’s home into a boarding house to support themselves. The system of male-dominated households existed to protect the weaker gentler sex. All Raylene knows how to do is maintain appearances and reputation, and to perfect the feminine graces—like modesty, piety and meekness—qualities that made a Southern woman the center of attention.
Here’s an interesting article about how the war left these young women at a loss with no way to fulfill the roles they’d been primed to fill:
https://daily.jstor.org/life-really-like-southern-belles-civil-war/
Raylene’s behavior does not go over well with the gaggle of more practical, capable and single women of Twin Springs, Colorado. Nor does her exaggerated drawl endear her to the former Union Army captain who spent months in a confederate prison.
But Tanner Bell has bigger problems. He’s just become solely responsible for a newborn. He owns a livery, where he lives in a tiny back room. His current arrangement will not do for taking care of a newborn. The most convenient solution is to rent a room at the boarding house. Also convenient is asking his industrious new landlady to help him care for the baby.
All Raylene knows is the past. Tanner is focused on the future. It might seem they have nothing in common, but the more they come to know about each other, the more similar they truly are. Both have faced loss and endured hardships. Both are acutely aware of racial injustice and are making a difference by helping change lives and hearts in their community. Both want the best for the tiny girl who has won their hearts.
Raylene’s journey is one of self-discovery. I enjoyed unwrapping these characters to get to the heart of matters, and I hope readers will enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Have you ever been out of your comfort zone and having to learn how to reinvent yourself? I’m offering three e-books from the choice of my backlist!
Thank you so much to all the Fillies for the warm welcome, and a big howdy to all my friends!
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Thank you to everyone who stopped by today to talk about how men and women communicate differently. I appreciate all your wonderful comments. The laughs you gave me were priceless, and as we all know, laughter is the best medicine.
There are more ways men and women communicate differently, but I’ll leave those for another time. Today’s giveaway is a Warrior Not Worrier Cozy Sleeve and a copy of Home On The Ranch: Colorado Rescue. To be entered in the random drawing, leave a comment about the way men and women communicate differently or your thoughts on my cover or the backcover copy. Basically, just leave a comment and talk with me! 
such as King Dalai Llama, the leader, along with Prince Barack O’Llama, Duke Como T. Llama, and Earl Bahama Llama. There are a total of seven male pedigree llamas on the 10-acre private ranch and wedding venue.
Since 2018, the Brucato family, including Tommy’s wife Jenni, have hosted llama-themed weddings, along with fun, fact-filled llama lessons and walks, where guests and llamas enjoy a serene stroll along the Enchanted Forest TraiI was born and raised here in Texas and never even imagined there being a majestic Irish castle in the state much less a llama ranch.
To one lucky reader who leaves a comment, I will give you your choice of an eBook copy of my newest Kasota Springs romances or a Bath and Body Works gift certificate.
PROUD WOLF’S WOMAN is back in print after being out of print for nearly 25 years. This is recently re-edited and is the 25th Year Anniversary special edition of one of my most popular books. It was the 3rd book I wrote for AVON/HarperCollins and is a companion book for LAKOTA SURRENDER. The paperback will be on sale for $9.99. My paperbacks are usually $13.99, but with all the strangeness in the world nowadays, I’ve dropped the pricing of the paperback to $9.99. The e-book is on sale for $4.99. This book is on sale at Barnes & Noble, KOBO, Itunes and Amazon. It is also on sale at many different libraries worldwide.
I don’t have to remind you all these last few months have been trying on all of us, but I want to share some good news from my family. I have two grandsons who graduated, one from high school and one from college. Although neither got to walk the stage or have a senior prom. They are both okay with it, each for different reasons.
he cared about was getting his diploma. Now here’s the exciting turn of events. His PawPa wasn’t able to walk the stage when he graduated college, since he was on his way to Vietnam. His mama got his diploma in the mail. Alex was in town on business last week and his diploma was mailed here. It arrived about ten minutes before he got to the house and his PawPa got to present him with it. It was a very special event for everyone.
