Usually I share a farm story here in my monthly blog, and I have a bunch of those I’d love to tell, but my Pink Pistol Sisterhood book, Pistol Perfect, is releasing in just FOUR days (on 7/10). I’m so excited about it and I wanted to share a little about it with you!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with my books, I write a lot of books set in North Dakota. Originally I thought about setting my books there because there just don’t seem to be too many cowboy romances that take place there. But, the more I researched North Dakota, the land, the people, the history, the weather, the weather, the WEATHER, lol, the more I just absolutely fell in love with it.
That’s kinda funny since I’ve never been there. Truly.
I suppose when you love something (or someone, for that matter) you want to find out all you can about it, right? I guess I did that with North Dakota. I love talking to natives, reading books written by people who have lived there and following YouTube and TikTok channels of folks who make their home in that state.
I created the fictional town of Sweet Water, North Dakota (not to be confused with the REAL town of Sweetwater, ND) and populated it with lots of fun and quirky characters, including The Piece Makers, who are matchmakers disguised as a quilting group, lots of cowboys with integrity and character, big families who work and play together, horses (of course!), cows, including Sweet Water’s own matchmaking Highland steer and some special needs pets.
There are always festivals going on, plus competitions, farm work, and farm fun! I suppose Sweet Water’s theme could be “When you’re here, you’re family!”
There’s a diner, of course, which is famous for its menu item “Marry Me Chicken.” (I can’t take credit for that. My narrator, the incredible Jay Dyess, came up with that, since he comes up with all the menu items in Sweet Water. He also makes them on his YouTube channel, and you can find the instructions for the Sweet Water diner’s Marry Me Chicken here: https://youtu.be/OGxJvl2x-IY)
It’s in this world that my book, Pistol Perfect is set. Pistol Perfect is a stand-alone book, starring Mable LeFrak, whose sister, Gladys got her own happily ever after in one of my Sweet Water series. Mable wasn’t ready for hers then, because she wanted to become a veterinarian and that takes some time. But she had a man of character who watched her grow up and waited for her to fulfill her dreams, and as Pistol Perfect opens, he’s ready to step in and sweep her off her feet with a little help from Billy, the match-making steer, and from the Pink Pistol.
This is the eleventh and final book in the Pink Pistol Sisterhood series. I’ve had so much fun talking and dreaming about this series with the other Petticoats and Pistols authors and I can’t believe that not only is my book almost here, the series is almost over! Have any of you read all ten of the books that are already out? I’d love to hear what you thought or which ones you’ve read in the comments!
I’m super excited to send my contribution to the series out in the world and introduce you all to my favorite fictional town, Sweet Water, North Dakota!
I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
USA Today best-selling author Jessie Gussman writes sweet and inspirational romance from her farm in central Virginia. Having attended, but never graduating from the school of hard knocks, Jessie uses real life on the farm to inspire her cowboy, rural and blue-collar fiction.
When she’s not chasing kids, cows and the occasional roll-away haybale, Jessie enjoys wading in Naked Creek and not cleaning her house. Most of the time her main goal is to keep from catching herself on fire…again.
If you enjoy fun stories with vivid characters showcasing strong families with a ribbon of faith tying everything together, you might enjoy Jessie’s books.
Interesting you picked North Dakota as I recall that Frank L. Balm based his description of Kansas on the state. He had not been in Kansas before the book was published.
Interesting, but not entirely surprising. We make do when we have to!
I’m excited to read this one! I love what I’ve read so far by Jessie! That matchmaking steer sounds like a hoot!
Billy is probably the most popular character in my series!
I’m looking forward to your book!
Yay! So nice to hear!
Proud to say I have read ALL ten, thus far, in the Pink Pistol series and have posted reviews on ALL of them! I hope all of you authors had as much fun writing these stories as I have in reading them.
Wow! That’s fabulous! And I’m sure we have!
I haven’t read all the books in this series but I have read most of them. I am so happy that you put this one in Sweet Water! That’s where I want to go on vacation! I had forgotten about Mable but now I can’t wait to finish it.
Haha! That’s where I want to vacation too. Maybe we’ll see each other!
I’ve also read all the books in the Pink Pistol series and enjoyed them all! I’m ready to hear all about Sweet Water, ND! As the caboose of the series, did you pick to be last? Or did it just happened that way?
They decided to do them in chronological order. Either Julie or mine could have been last. I’m not sure how I got the honor, but here we are!
By the way, I’ve read your Blueberry Beach series. I enjoyed that series very much. A lot of everyday characters with life hiccups along the way. I’ve read a few contemporary books, but my favorite is historical. I knew I had read a few books of yours, but I had to research which ones! Kinda a far piece from ranching and cowboys! I’ll have to read your cowboy stories! I’m always happy I found this site. You all have many creative ideas in your stories!
You have? That’s awesome! I’m writing the sequel series to that right now.
Jessie, I can’t think of a better author to end a series with, than you!
You have a special talent for “Happily Ever Afters”.
I LOVE all your books!
Oh, Nanci! You are so very sweet to me. Thank you!
I have read so many of your books. I’m glad to see that this book is set in Sweet Water, North Dakota. I have enjoyed that series so much, and to know that this book is part of it.
I have also read your Blueberry Beach series and loved them for different reasons. That series definitely had you realizing that life isn’t all roses. There were real life situations that you felt like you were part of – you could feel the pain that the people went through and the happiness they felt.
I’m so glad you enjoyed Blueberry Beach. Thank you for your kind words – you’ve read so many of my books!
welcome today. I so look forward to reading this book. I have it on preorder right now. your books are the first contemporary books that I have read and enjoyed. thanks so much
I’m so happy to hear it – thanks! I am a bit of an anomaly here, since most of the authors write historical.
I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read that you have written and I’m sure this book will be the same. Thanks for your books.
That’s so nice to know! Thanks!
Jessie, I have just finished “Pistol Perfect” which, indeed, is a perfect end to this series. Prior to your book, I have read two by Shanna Hatfield, #2 – “Love on Target” and #9 – “Lucky Shot”. I plan on reading the rest of this series as each of you ladies are wonderful story tellers and compliment each other very well. In “Pistol Perfect” your recap of each individual love story, near the end, was enticing enough to interest others to read the entire series as well. I have also read a good many of your other books and have been extremely delighted with the antics of Billy, the matchmaking heifer. By now you would think everyone should pay more attention to what occurs around Billy as he seems to have a “nose” for a budding romance. I really look forward to each and everyone of your reads with pleasure! You are so very talented which I also find with your ‘farm stories’ in your emails. Praying for your continuing success.
What a wonderful comment! Thanks so much for your sweet words. I’m so glad you’ve read and enjoyed my books. I think Billy is one of the most popular characters in that series!
I have enjoyed all your books and am looking forward to reading this one. I love your stories about the farm.
So happy to hear it! Thanks!
Congratulations on your upcoming book!
Jay’s recipe is not much different than other Marry Me Chicken recipes that have been around for years. Fortunately, it falls under the “idea-expression dichotomy” and isn’t a copyright violation. He can’t really take credit for inventing it, though–that credit belongs to DELISH magazine. Not be confused with Engagement Chicken–that was a GLAMOUR magazine dish based on a Marcella Hazan recipe.
denise
Thank you so much for sharing that recipe. It looks and sounds delicious. I will definitely be trying it.
I just got a new kindle and have been waiting for it to get this series. I love reading a series straight through once I start it. Once I figure out how to register my kindle (again) I can start downloading.
Congratulations on the release of PISTOL PERFECT. We have been to North Dakota, but still have many places to visit there. That whole region has its own special kind of beauty. I hope you get a chance to visit some day.
I am looking forward to reading it and the others in the series.
Happy almost book birthday. The cover is fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.