10 years of Cowboys & Christmas

by

 

Tomorrow is a big day for me.

It’s the 10th annual Cowboys & Christmas Celebration on Facebook – a party that gives me an excuse to have a day of fun with my author and reader friends while raising funds and awareness for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.

Ten years.

When I hosted the first party, I never imagined it would turn into an annual event. But it has, and I’m so glad!

It all started with a trip Captain Cavedweller and I took to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

We were at the airport, waiting to catch our flight home, and I noticed there were a lot of other rodeo attendees waiting to go home as well. The airport was a sea of cowboy hats!

As we sat there, I started thinking about how fun it would be for a rodeo cowboy to meet an uptight business executive at the airport and fall in love.

By the time we landed, The Christmas Cowboy, the first book in the Rodeo Romance series, was already taking shape.

After I began writing the story, though, I wanted to know how much care an injured rodeo cowboy would receive right there at the rodeo arena before they sent him to the hospital.

In the story, the hero is a saddle bronc rider named Tate who sustains an injury at a rodeo. In an attempt to get my facts straight for the story, I reached out to the Justin Sportsmedicine Team®. Through mobile medical centers, they provide care at more than 125 PRCA rodeos annually. Their responses to my questions were extremely helpful and I was so impressed with them, I wanted to do a little something in return.

That’s when I learned about the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.

Most rodeo athletes aren’t able to get insurance because it isn’t a matter of “if” they get hurt but “when.” Because of that, when they sustain injuries that leave them unable to compete (and earn money) for an extended time, it can leave them in a financially challenging situation.

That’s where the JCCF comes in. They give a hand up to those athletes, helping them cover their bills so they can focus on healing.  The other wonderful thing about the JCCF is that 100 percent of all donations go into the fund.

In 2013, I launched a campaign to donate a portion of my book sales to the JCCF during the month of December and held the first party to help spread the word.

In 2015, I added the month of November to my promotion, giving two months to raise funds for JCCF. Then I extended the promotion period for my Read a Book, Help a Cowboy campaign to October 1!

So from October 1 through December 24, ten percent of the net proceeds from all my book sales (eBook, paperback, hardback, and audio all count!) will be donated to the JCCF.

I hope to see you at the party tomorrow! The fun begins at 10 a.m. (Pacific Time: 11 a.m. MT, Noon CT, 1 p.m. ET). Join the party by clicking the button below. It will be a day full of connecting with some of your favorite authors, games, giveaways, and more!

And if Facebook parties aren’t your thing, you can still support the Read A Book, Help A Cowboy campaign through every book you purchase between now and Christmas Eve.

In fact, I have a brand new book coming November 30 in the Rodeo Romance series!

Will an innocent offer of help lead two obstinate hearts along the road to love?

Truitt Lucas is the guy who brings laughter wherever he goes and refuses to take life too seriously. Beneath his carefree exterior, though, he yearns for more adventure and excitement than he’ll find working on the family ranch alongside his cousin and grandmother. When the opportunity arises to assist a trick rider, Truitt eagerly lends a hand. However, he soon finds himself drawn to the perplexing woman who barely tolerates him.

Jolee Judson is living her dream as a trick rider on the rodeo circuit, using her lifelong passion for horses and gymnastics to wow the crowds. But when her partner unexpectedly abandons her, Jolee is just desperate enough to accept a good-natured cowboy’s offer to help. Fascinated and infuriated by Truitt and his shenanigans, Jolee struggles against her growing feelings for him. Falling for Truitt could spell disaster for her future and derail everything she’s worked for.

Can the two of them find common ground where trust is earned and love becomes a cherished gift?

A sweet holiday novel full of the magic of Christmas, Tricking Christmas brims with small-town humor, heartwarming moments, and wholesome romance..

If you were hosting a holiday party,

and could invite anyone,

who would you like to attend?
Post your answer for a chance to win a digital copy of the first three books in the Rodeo Romance series!

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After spending her formative years on a farm in Eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with sarcasm, humor, and hunky western heroes.
When this USA Today bestselling author isn’t writing or covertly hiding decadent chocolate from the other occupants of her home, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

46 thoughts on “10 years of Cowboys & Christmas”

  6. Hey Shanna! Now that it is fresh on my mind, I think I would like to see my full blooded Cherokee great great grandmother. I have so many questions to ask her. Can you even imagine? Sounds like a book about time travel, doesn’t it?! Heh.

    Good luck tomorrow! It’s a day I help my mother. Not sure if I can make it, but I wish you, and the fund, a great success!

    • You are so sweet, Tracy. Thank you. Oh, wouldn’t it be grand to have a conversation with her! I have many relatives I wish I could sit down and ask questions. Have a fabulous day with your mom!

  12. I would love to reunited with my daughter and son. Over time we have drifted apart and I miss them so much. As one enters their late life, family holds many regrets and wishing things could have been different. I love your many books, Shanna, and so appreciate your giving nature for injured rodeo riders. You are a blessing to them. May you receive your praises in Heaven.

  15. My friends would definitely be invited. Especially the new friends I have made since my husband went to his heavenly home in January. We are grieving a huge loss in our lives and are learning to find the joy in living again.

  16. HOW FUN, SHANNA! You’ve got a great lineup–I went over and joined so I’ll get all the “news” about it! Can’t wait–I will try to check in often tomorrow! Hugs, my friend!

  17. Hello Shanna- This is my favorite party of the year. Who doesn’t LOVE rodeo cowboys and cowgirls & what better way to help JCCF and the rodeo world??
    Buy your books. It’s a win win.

  18. I would invite my mom, who passed away 17 years ago. It’s still very hard for me. I miss her so much. I pray everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

  19. I honestly would invite all the Fillies, past and present. Many were or have become favorite authors. I have been following for so long it seems like I “know” some of you. I was lucky enough to meet Linda Broday in person on a trip for a reunion a few years ago. I was sorry I couldn’t make the Deadwood event this past summer to meet a few others. What better way to meet you all than at a holiday party.

    Also, a thank you for starting and continuing this event. Health insurance is such a difficult thing for people to afford and get. Every little bit to support this organization will be put to good use.

  20. For Thanksgiving, I would invite the family members who used to celebrate with us every year but have stopped coming.?

    For Christmas, it’s no question. I’d invite Jesus, the Birthday Boy Himself! ?

    • Ironic that both paragraphs end in question marks, especially the one that includes the phrase “it’s no question”. Probably the site doesn’t reproduce emojis and replaces them with question marks… ?

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