Thank you for the wonderful welcome to Petticoats and Pistols ~Wildflower Junction! It is a thrill to be here among such gifted story-tellers. I look forward to getting to know all the fillies better and talking about books, stories, and the wild and crazy West.
I thought for
this first post, I’d give readers here a small insight into my life. Don’t worry– I’ll keep it whip-stitch short and lollipop sweet.
I live in the Midwest with my husband. My three sons have grown and are off on their own, but thankfully come home often. I do need those great bear hugs! Not a one is a real cowboy…however my youngest seems to have the cowboy spirit of independence, ingenuity, and love of adventure in the wild.
My stories are often set in southern California where I grew up. I was surprised to see my first story – The Angel and the Outlaw – published as a western because it actually takes place at the lighthouse on the peninsula in San Diego harbor. It is set in the 1870s and has a western “feel” with Spanish flavor. I drew inspiration from that lighthouse and the whaling station at its base. Of course…it did have an outlaw and guns… My next two books take place in Texas, the result of a family trip to the Alamo. I had goosebumps walking through there and discovering the history. My latest book is The Gunslinger and the Heiress which again is set in early San Diego.
In January I left my day job so that I could write more. I have so many stories
inside that are wrestling to get out. It’s a fun, exciting new page in my life and I’m so excited that Petticoats and Pistols will be part of it. Besides writing, I hope to get back to some of the things I haven’t had time for–things like quilting, gardening, traveling, and always–my FAMILY.
I’d love to have you introduce yourself and tell me where you hang your hat (I know there are some here from Australia!) and what you like to see here at Wildflower Junction. I will send a copy of The Gunslinger and the Heiress to one lucky commenter. (Name will be pulled from my Stetson.)
Cheers!
Kathryn
Hi Kathryn, I live in Texas. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit to the Alamo. It is an interesting place to visit.
Thanks for stopping by Janine! I can see why Texans are so proud of their roots and their state. It really is an amazing history.
So glad to have you join us here at the Junction, Kathryn. I, too, started life in southern California, though not as south as San Diego. I grew up in Lompoc – about an hour north of Santa Barbara – home of the Flower Festival and La Purisima Mission. I left home to go to college in Abilene, Texas, met and married my own Texas hero, and never returned to good old Cali. Now, I’ve been a Texan for longer than I lived in California, and all my kids are Texas born and bred. Guess I’m here to stay, but I’ll never forget my California roots. 🙂
Hi Karen! That’s how I ended up in the Midwest too–through college and marrying a native from Illinois. I still get back to San Diego often to see family and friends. Now that I am not tied down by my day job, I hope to make it even more. I just picked up ‘Head in the Clouds’ by you! Looking forward to reading it!
Awesome! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Hi Kathryn! I’m excited to see you here. Welcome to the line up of awesome authors! 🙂 I’m from Wisconsin, so I’m a midwestern gal myself.
Hi Faith. I love Wisconsin! I am on the Wisconsin/Illinois border so often as not I find myself in Milwaukee or Madison rather than Chicago. I will be at the Barbara Vey Luncheon (as a reader- not an author) at the end of April. So glad to have you stop by here at Wildflower Junction!
Welcome to Wildflower Junction, Kathryn! Love your California roots, and Karen W’s, too. (La Purisma is probably my favorite of the missions…I’m probably an hour southeast of there) And I went to college in the Midwest (Nebraska)…great minds think alike LOL. So glad your busy schedule is letting you spend time here in our corral! Best wishes to our new filly sister!
Hi Tanya! Wow! Lots of California roots here… I’ll have to check out La Purisma. The missions I’ve been to are San Juan Capistrano and the one in San Diego –Mission de Alcala. Such a rich history of missions in the state.
So glad you stopped by the corral!
I come from Pittsburgh, PA and we’re suppose to get snow tomorrow 🙁 I like it just the way it is here – nice variety and everyone is so friendly.
Hello and thanks for stopping by! I agree about the nice variety in weather. After growing up in a constant 70 degrees, I find I really appreciate the different seasons in the Midwest. Of course, I don’t care for the wild swings or the ice. We have really had two very harsh winters in a row (like you!)I hope next year is mild. I have many friends who have had it and are moving south to North Carolina and Tennessee.
Hi and welcome! I am from Nebraska and I have lived all of my 70 years in the same 10 square miles. I love my home state but I also love to travel. I haunt several blogs and love learning something new or conversing with friends.
Hello Connie,
I’m so glad you stopped by Wildflower Junction today! The only part of Nebraska I’ve seen is on I-80 as I traveled. It’s a lovely state!
Hi Kathryn, I live in Arizona and boy has our weather been warming up lately… almost hit 90 degrees. Looking forward to seeing what you share with us in your posts!
Hello Colleen! I have a brother in Phoenix! Once when I was complaining about a tornado going through near us in Illinois, he sent me a picture of an Arizona tornado. All it was was a deck chair on its side. LOL!
Hi Kathryn, nice to see you here and welcome. I live in Kentucky and we had a very bad winter this year and I am so ready for spring. We have had a few nice days but its still running a little cool for this time of the year. I am really glad you are coming to the Junction. I enjoy your books.
Oh Wonderful! I’m so glad to hear from a happy reader! Kentucky is a beautiful state. I drove through there a few years ago when my son was stationed in South Carolina at Charleston. Did you notice that I want to quilt now that I have a few more minute in the day? We may have to share quilt stories once I get going. Right now I think I will start with a wall-hanging that is quilted instead of tackling a huge bedspread. I’ve got to resurrect my sewing machine, which, with boys, has had very little use over the years.
I live in the Midwest
Hello Anon1001 — yes, I’ve seen your posts before 🙂 And I know you to be a peach of a gal. Thanks for stopping by!
Welcome! Welcome! Kathryn, it’s so nice to have you as a filly here at the Junction. Looking forward to getting to know you better. Love, Karen kay
Thanks Kay! I believe you are one of the original “fillies” here. What a wonderful place you have established here for readers and writers of western romance. I’m am so tickled to be a part of Wildflower Junction now. Whoo-hoo!
Welcome, Miss Kathryn! This Texas gal says Howdy and I am thrilled to meet you!
Hello Miss Melanie! I’m so glad you could mozy on by. I just enjoy hearing the genteel sound of using “Miss” with a first name. I’ll have to remember that that is the way it is at Wildflower Junction!
Welcome, Kathryn. You have picked a good place to hang your hat. These ladies are a nice group writers and as a reader I enjoy my daily visits. I never know what interesting piece of history they will talk about or what new book they will have coming out that I will want to read.
We were a military family and retired to Tennessee about 23 years ago. We were lucky enough to live in Colorado Springs, CO for 3 years. Our son was born there. From there we went to Sacramento, CA and got a taste of a different part of the West.
I look forward to your posts and reading your “take” on the West.
Hello MISS Patricia! I’m so glad you could stop by today. You have been to some lovely parts of this wonderful country! I had a friend that attended the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. I very much enjoyed my visit there. Such a beautiful place.
Hi Kathryn,
Welcome, it’s a true plesure to have you here. You are in excellent compsny with all the lovely and talented authors here ! I live in Pennsylvania. While we haven’t had as much snow this past inter e have had bitterly cold temperatures.
aia am very much looking forrd to putting in my garden and watching it grow !
Thanks for commenting Miss Deanne. Pennsylvania is such beautiful country. I did visit there once to see Gettysburg. I hope to have a garden this year too. Not big–but tomatoes and zucchini. I would really love to have a fruit tree or raspberries.
Hey Kathryn! I’ve lived on both coasts in the southern half of the US but have been in Texas for almost half my life now. Welcome to Petticoats and Pistols!
Thank you Glenda! How nice to have you visit here. I was so worried while writing my two stories set in Texas that I would get something wrong with the history or the setting. I was so surprised to have a history librarian from Texas let me know that I’d gotten it “right” with the exception of one thing…and I’m not going to say what that was… I thought if that was the only thing she could find, that I was very happy with the results.
Hello Kathryn. Welcome to petticoats and Pistols. Love the name of this blog and these ladies. Thanks for your post. I have lived in Texas and still haven’t got to visit The Alamo. I’m almost 80 and hoping one of my daughters will take me soon. Would be a shame to never see it. Would love to win your book. I think Texas is a great setting. I live in Pasadena, near Houston, TX. I have a big family including 19 great-grandchildren. I lost my husband 18 years ago. No plaaans to get married again and start over. 🙂 Please put my name in for a chance to win your book. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
Hello Maxie,
Thanks for commenting. You are up late! It sounds like you have a busy family, especially if many of them stayed right there near you in Pasadena! Best wishes on the contest.
Hi Kathryn,
Welcome to P & P! I’ll enjoy your posts like the rest of the great authors in this group. I’m from central Kansas, although have lived in NE, Marin Co. CA, and Denver a few years each for my husband’s job back in the 1990’s. Was glad to get back to rural Kansas after that! “There’s no place like home…”
Hi LInda! I’ve been through Kansas a few times. I always remember the rolling hills I saw. Pretty country. And I agree– there IS no place like home! Thanks fro the welcome!
Welcome and Cool.
Thanks for the welcome, Kim.
Howdy! from a northern neighbor.. NE. I’d enjoy reading your book, The covers are all lovely. I enjoyed your post today..
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Hi Miss Deanna,
Thanks for stopping by Wildflower Junction. I have always been happy with my book covers from Harlequin. The ones here by the other fillies are quite lovely too. Best wishes on the contest!
Nice to meet you. I’m from Texas near Houston. I love reading the posts that appear and have a great love for westerns.
Hi Miss Connie,
Nice to hear from you! I’m so glad that there are people who love the history of the west. It is gritty at times, but so fascinating to me and I love to share that with others.
I love western books. Of course I love all books period.
Thanks for stopping by Mary! I do read a variety–however I like happy endings and stories with a moral base more the rest. Two of my boys really like fantasy and I agree when it comes to Tolkien and CS Lewis. I haven’t read much fantasy beyond that.
Hello, Kathryn! I hail from the state of Indiana, but just visited San Antonio and the Alamo a few weeks ago. It really is impressive how much history is there, and it’s a beautiful city. My love of westerns goes back to growing up with shows like Gunsmoke, Cheyanne, Bonanza, and so much more. Looking forward to reading your books.
Thanks for stopping by Miss Dali! Of those, I watched a lot of Bonanza over the years! So you are a “Hoosier! Indiana is a lovely state. I’ve been boating there a few times (canoe) in the southern part of the state.