Kelly Boyce – and A Long Love of the Old West

by

I have always loved westerns. As a kid, I can remember lying shoulder to shoulder on the TV room floor with my older brother as we watched Clint Eastwood shoot and snarl and glare his way through a host of spaghetti westerns. I thought he was the coolest thing on earth and couldn’t decide if I wanted to marry him, or grow up to be just like him. My mother suggested neither was a viable possibility, given the age gap and the fact that she would ground me forever if I even considered shooting my way through life. But those dire warnings did nothing to curb my love of the Old West.

My weekend viewing consisted reruns of Bonanza and The Big Valley. I then graduated to Little House on the Prairie. When they made a mini-series of Lonesome Dove, I was in heaven. Even the television series that followed staring Eric MacCormack and Scott Bairstow was must see TV for me, although it wasn’t really until they reformatted the program in the second year to “The Outlaw Years” that it really got interesting. I even watched Young Guns. If that doesn’t show my dedication to the genre, I don’t know what does.

Even now, my DVD shelf is riddled with westerns. Unforgiven, 3:10 to Yuma, Deadwood. The latest version of True Grit was probably one of my favourite movies of 2010 and I can’t wait to add that to the shelves.

My brother was no help with my addiction at all. If anything he was my number one enabler. With his Time Life Old West series and love of the great Indian chiefs, he became my go-to source for information and bedtime stories. And my brother, great storyteller that he is, had plenty of tales to tell. Sitting Bull, Custer’s Last Stand, all things Comanche. Even now, his Time-Life Old West series are my first stop for research. Thankfully big brother only lives a few streets over and is willing to lend the books out for an extended period with no late fee being charged.

I can’t say there is any one thing about the western genre that draws me, but rather a plethora of things. The way of life was gritty and harsh, the justice meted out with an immediacy that didn’t always allow for fairness or rebuttal, the landscape was harsh and uncompromising. But there was an honesty about it as well, a sense that they were building something new and important and were willing to risk what they needed to and work themselves to the bone to get it.

With all of that going for it, who wouldn’t want to write a story set in the Old West? When I started writing romance, it was even a question for me. It didn`t matter how many people told me westerns were a hard sell. I knew I loved reading them and surely I couldn`t be alone in that. Turned out I was right and THE OUTLAW BRIDE found a home at Carina Press. It seems only fitting that my dream of becoming a published author would be brought to fruition by a story set in a period that is near and dear to my heart – the Old West.

To say thanks to all of those who love the genre and keeping it alive, I`m giving a copy of my new release, THE OUTLAW BRIDE away. Just leave a comment to be entered into the drawing.

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22 thoughts on “Kelly Boyce – and A Long Love of the Old West”

  1. Hi Kelly,

    The Outlaw Bride sounds fantastic!! I just checked out your website and your other books sound just as good.

    I, too, grew up in love with the old West. Living in Wyoming I was surrounded by it, and my dad encouraged my obsession by vacations through the West with frequent stops at every historical marker and site. And if you didn’t like John Wayne, well you just might not be asked back to the Arnold house. :o) So, my writing Westerns was a natural progression, as well.

    And I loved Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years!

    Congratulations on the Outlaw Bride and wishing you much future success!!

  2. Hi Kelly! Congratulations on your book! I agree with you big-time about the appeal of the Old West. The landscape and hardships test a person’s character. My own favorite TV show was “Paradise” with Lee Horsley and Sigrid Thornton. Thanks for visiting Wildflower Junction today!

  3. There has always been something special about westerns. They were always a favorite at our house, both when I was growing up and with my own family. I don’t think I missed an episode of Bonanza. I’m afraid I go back to The Lone Ranger, Annie Oakley, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, etc. My family loved Little House On The Prairie, Dr. Quinn, Young Riders, and Lonesome Dove.
    I think the Western Historical sub-genre is stronger than most think and is growing in popularity. If true, this will be a great thing for those of us who love reading them and for the authors.

    Best of luck with THE OUTLAW BRIDE. I hope there will be more to follow.

  5. I grew up watching Bonanza, The Big Valley, Have Gun Will Travel, The Wild Wild West, Laramie, Wagon Train and that’s just to name a few. One of my favorite movies is a western, McClintock with John Wayne. I really like your cover.

  7. Congrats on your new release! I have always been a big western fan and have been really hooked on them lately. Your book sounds fabulous and I will have to check it out. You are a new author to me and I am always happy to meet new western romance authors. I can’t wait to read your book. Thanks for sharing with us today.

  8. Back in the very old days when I was young, westerns were the main shows on TV. I think we had 3 or 4 channels lol. My dad of course had control and so westerns it was. You never missed an episode of Gunsmoke in our house. I watched them all and still wax nostalgic over all those wonderful westerns. Raw hide was one of my favorites along with Bonanza of course lol.

    Congrats on your new release. Sounds like a good one.

  11. Congrats on your book! I don’t think there were all that many western series on tv when I was growing up, but I did love reading Lucky Luke comics, which are a parody of all those western cliches.

  13. Congrats on your book! Always looking for more westerns to add to my reading! Thanks for sharing with us today! 😀

  14. “The Virginian” was one of my favorites. And, does anyone remember the short-lived modern western “Yellow Rose” with Sam Elliot and Cybil Sheppard?

  16. Hi Kelly, welcome to Wildflower Junction. I too grew up on TV westerns and still love ’em. Later on, I love(d) Dr. Quinn. My college days in Nebraska and Colorado cemented everything…I love reading and writing the West. I figure why waste time doing something I don’t want to LOL.

    Best of luck with The Outlaw Bride.

  17. I loved to watch Bonanza (which my Dad was already watching when it was broadcasted the first time lol) and Little House on the Prairie! I’ve never watched a lot Western movies though. They are not shown that much here in Germany. I’m really looking forward to reading The Outlaw Bride. There are certainly not enough Western romances out there.

  18. I’m with you Kelly…I love Westerns…I grew up watching Gene Autry and Roy Rogers at the movies and then the great tv westerns like Rawhide and Maverick and on and on. Maybe that’s why I still like all things Western. Your book is one I’ll be sure to read…thanks for the info.

  19. Kelly- I feel like we are kindred spirits. I too spent much of my youth watching Clint, the Bonanza boys, The Virginian, The Rifleman…ect…ect. I love those old shows, and I never miss a rerun. Although I am sure that living in the old west was hard, I believe I would have liked to have given it a go. Thanks for keeping those wonderful memories alive. Your new book will definately be on my ‘to buy’ list. 🙂

  20. Gunsmoke was my started reading my western on tv. I Dad’s Zane Grey books when I was 8 and graduated to Romance at 12. Now I love all western romances.

  22. ‘I even watched Young Guns. If that doesn’t show my dedication to the genre, I don’t know what does.’

    LOL, Kelly! I’m exactly the same with Dark Age/medieval stuff. Can’t help myself – and don’t want to.

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