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Over-ruled!!!

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In my upcoming book

Into the Sunset, which is such a cool name for grand finale in a series!!!

I wrote my first courtroom drama….not the whole book is a courtroom drama of course…and I think I’ve touched on judges and juries before…but this time it’s ON TRIAL!!!

I don’t always manage it, but I get a kick out of writing something I’ve never tried before.

How about we have a fight on top of a train?

How about if I actually have her hanging off a cliff?

How about an extended fistfight, not just a conk on the head with a gun butt?

How about I write a heroine who is NOT a feisty lady ranch?

How about a set a book within a cattle drive?

This time, we’re going to court.

My heroine Maeve O’Toole and my hero Dakota Harlan, are along to help out–him to shoot people…her to babysit. Oddly enough, he does a lot of babysitting and she had to shoot someone, but that’s how action books roll, right?

When Ginny finally emerges from Hidden Canyon to stand before a judge and prove herself sane…you know so she can no longer be locked up in an asylum for lunatics on the say-so of her tyrant husband…she’s got a lot of support. We’ve got a crowd coming out of that canyon. But, among that crowd are a pair of twin toddlers and an infant. They stop by the O’Tooles, folks who came west with them on a wagon train…so see if Maeve will add a set of hands to their company.

Then Dakota, who was their wagon train guide, and a good friend of Jakes (you all remember all these people right? Jake? The hero of book #1, Chasing the Horizon? The father now of those three little ones?) agrees to come along. Dakota is a tough man and just who they need to add to their company. But Dakota has trouble on his back trail, men after him, and getting away from his lonely ranch is a good idea…as long as that trouble doesn’t follow him.

Dakota and Maeve are the romance. Ginny and her husband are secondary but their confrontation pushes most of the story along.

And I had a lot of fun traveling to Wyoming and letting my lady justice of the peace stroll on stage to be the judge.

Nell Nolte, the lady Justice of the Peace from Laws of Attraction.

I’ve read some very good court room dramas. But where does that fit in my skill set which is roping and riding and shooting?

I loved tackling it.

Excerpt

>>>

The judge picked up her gavel. And before she could rap it on the desk top, Rutledge surged to his feet.
“You’re not going to judge this case. This is outrageous. I demand a real judge.” Rutledge leaned against the table, touching the top with his fingertips with one hand, and leaned forward as if he was in charge of a room full of businessmen and none of them were as powerful as he.
Horecroft remained seated but his snooty nose tipped up and Dakota half hoped the man would offer a diagnosis that the judge must be insane to think a woman could do this job.
Maybe he’d offer to lock her up.
The judge rapped the gavel, then studied Rutledge for a long moment.
“You must know that I’m a real judge. Surely, you’re aware Wyoming has women serving as judges these days. Why would you make an insulting statement right at the beginning of this trial that might set me against you? Is that wise?”

<<<

I’ve got a few more things I’ve shied away from. I considered setting a book a ship sailing around the southern tip of South America. But I chickened out. Learning about a historical sailing ship was going to be a massive amount of research. All the nautical terms, the ranks and ship parts…when you actually go to writing about it, it’s daunting. I may still to it–ship board romance, huh??? But that time I ducked it.

Anyway, here comes the judge. And here comes Dakota’s family feud. And here comes feisty Irish immigrant Maeve O’Toole to save the day. Her ma always said a woman’s work was never done, after all.

Into the Sunset…available now for preorder. Coming in October.

Has anyone got suggestions of stuff I should try and tackle? I’ve done a lot of books, and I recognize my own cowardice…which I try and face.

A setting? Or a situation? The Pony Express might be fun. I’ve never set a book during the Civil War, but I’ve had characters dealing with the aftermath.

Just some type of western book you love?

Leave a comment and get your name in a drawing for a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

https://www.maryconnealy.com/

 

 

 

 

Dime Novels: Creating the Romance Novels of Today?

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Image from Library of Congress

Have you ever heard of a dime novel? We have them to thank for paperback fiction today! By the mid 1800s, there likely wasn’t anyone who hadn’t read—or owned quite a few—dime novels. Spanning across what we now call genres, these stories had something for any reader: Sports, mystery, romance, adventures…and they were also portable, paperback, and not so large and heavy they couldn’t be put into a pocket. 

The books were bound with cheap paper, only about 100 pages, and had (usually) a colorful cover to entice a reader to choose it. 

Do you know who the largest collector of these books is? It’s the Library of Congress! They have over 40,000, including some very special ones, like this Louisa May Alcott one, one of only two copies known to exist! 

Unlike today, where there’s no stigma when it comes to reading fiction, back then there was. The reader of these books, especially for those who were middle class or middle aged, didn’t typically admit that they read these books. Dime novels were meant to be entertainment, and not considered to have any literary value in them. 

The romance titles often featured a working class woman finding romance with a wealthy man, two individuals fighting against all odds to make a relationship work, and a happily ever after. Sounds like what we are still writing and reading nowadays, when it comes to romance, doesn’t it? 

Of course, there were other beloved books as well, and in Alyssa’s Desperate Plan, reading actually plays a pretty important role in the story because one of the characters has a secret, when it comes to reading. Dime novels weren’t the only stigma when it came to enjoying a book. I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but I would love to share the first chapter! 

 

Chapter 1

 

Deepwater, Missouri 1870s

 

“Yer too small on the top. I want a bigger woman.”

         Alyssa Moore felt her jaw drop. She blinked a few times trying to collect herself, then frowned. Had she misheard? Surely, she had.

She’d traveled for nearly a week to get to the town of Deepwater after accepting a match from the mail-order bride agency. They had a success rate of ninety-four percent, she’d been assured. A match and true love was promised to her just around the corner, with one Mr. Gerald Weatherbee.

         Truthfully, she didn’t care about the true love part, she just wanted security and stability. Which was apparently being yanked out from under her feet.

         “What…did you say?” Alyssa’s voice was hushed. She wasn’t sure if she was shocked or angry or both.

         “Yer…” the man waved his hands around, mimicking a crude shape of a woman’s curves, “too small. I like my women big, like me.”

         “And what am I to do, then?” Alyssa asked. Humiliation burned through her. “We signed a contract.”

         “Ain’t signed a marriage certificate,” the man chuckled. “I’m within my right to reject you.” He checked his pocketwatch and shook his head. “I’ve got another girl coming. Good luck.” He snorted then. “You need it, as itty bitty as you are. Maybe you can find a husband who doesn’t have good eyesight.”

         “Why, I never!” Alyssa gasped as the man hefted his bulk from the chair and left the room, a rather rank smell coming from him.

         Perhaps she should be grateful. After all, marrying a pig farmer wasn’t exactly what she wanted for herself, but choices were slim, the agency apologized. Had she not been so desperate, she’d have waited longer for someone better.

         Now what was she to do? She wasn’t married, had no money beyond a few dollars the agency had given her, and was stuck in this small town.

         Alyssa closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, straightened her shoulders, and snatched up her carpetbag. “I’ll just contact the agency,” she said, sounding more positive than she felt. “They’ll set things right. Maybe this time, I’ll find someone better. Who knows, this might turn out to be a fortunate situation.”

         The idea filled her with fortitude, and she strode out of the small shed that served as the stage station, and headed to the town beyond.

       Then she stopped.

       Who could help her get a message to the mail-order bride agency? How did they send letters in this town?

         Biting her lip, she looked around. Thankfully, though the area was filled with tall pines and oaks, there was enough of a clearing where the town was so everything was out in the open. Deepwater wasn’t large. She could likely find where to go.

Alyssa studied the area. Nearby appeared to be a café. A general store was close to it, as was a dressmaker and a shoemaker. There were other small buildings and she wasn’t sure what they were, but they had signs out and large shop windows.

         Taking a deep breath, Alyssa slowly walked down the street. She was so busy looking into each of the windows, hoping to spot a post office inside, she bumped into someone.

         “Oh! I’m sorry,” Alyssa said.

         “Not a problem,” a man replied.

        He started to walk away when Alyssa called to him. “I need to send a letter. Do you know where I can do that?”

       “Sure, we’ve got a post office,” the man said, and pointed to a row of buildings.

       Alyssa bit her lip. “I…I’m sorry. Which one?”

       “The one with the blue door,” the man said.

       Nodding, Alyssa said, “Thank you,” and continued. When she reached the building, there was a paper on the door. She squinted at it, then tried the handle. The door was locked. Frowning, she looked around.

       “He’ll be back soon, love,” a woman called as she headed to the café. “Peter usually takes his lunch about now.” She pointed to the sign. “He’ll be back in about a half hour.”

       “Thank you,” Alyssa said. She sighed in frustration. “Fine. I guess a half hour won’t make much difference.”

       At the other end of the street, she could see a small patch of trees, and what appeared to be a stream. It looked like a nice place to rest. It was certainly better than hovering outside of the post office and drawing attention to herself. She was feeling self-conscious after being rejected.

       As Alyssa walked toward the stream, in the distance she saw the man who’d just insulted her and put her into this unexpected position.

      Anger bubbled up, fueling her steps with a speed she was surprised she could do in her long skirts. The stream drew closer in her anxiousness to hide, and she wondered if the water would be cool enough to calm her heated face, and clean enough to drink.

      She was so focused on the water, Alyssa didn’t notice anything else but the large, flat rock where she set her bag down. She knelt, leaning toward the water, and dipped her fingertips into the stream. It was just as she’d hoped. Cool and clear. It would likely taste that way too. She moved closer and was about to reach her cupped hands into the water when there was a shout, and she felt herself grabbed from behind.

      Alyssa screamed, twisted away, and pitched forward. Just before she fell into the water, a pair of arms wrapped around her middle and pulled her back, dragging her onto the bank.

      “Let me go!” she shrieked as she tried to regain her footing. “What are you doing?”

       Alyssa struggled and then broke away as the arms loosened, and the bewildered expression of a man stared at her. He blinked and his mouth opened and closed, but nothing came out.

       It was all too much. First, she’d been rejected. Now, some crazy man was trying to throw her into the stream! What was with this town? The sooner she got out of here the better. Alyssa’s face grew hot with anger, and she crossed her arms over her chest. Her too small chest, evidently, and scowled.

      “Well? I’m waiting for an answer,” she snapped. “Why were you trying to push me into the stream? Is everyone in this town going to be horrible to me?” 

 

If you’d like to keep reading, and find out what happens to Alyssa, who the man gaping at her is, and just how important reading is to this story, you can find it by clicking right here on this underlined sentence, to head to Amazon. 

 

And since we are talking about books, what’s one you are reading right now? 

 

My Favorite Things-Music

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Okay, yeah, everyone loves music! But do you play an instrument?
My latest series, The Brides of Fiddler’s Gap centers around a group of orchestra members who head west to start a music school. Half of them make it as far as an area about eight miles south of Baker City, Oregon. Their conductor and his wife die there, and their son and some others decide that’s where they’ll settle. The other half of the orchestra members continue on.
I’m a flute player, I sing, and I’ve been around music all my life. I was an opera major with a flute minor in college. People are surprised I still play. I have a flute with me here in California so I can play between writing scenes. Since discovering a lot of free music on the internet, I’ve been having a ball!

I write to music, and can have a scene locked in my head well before I ever write it, simply by building it to music. Months can go by, and when I want to write that scene, all I have to do is play the music I built it to in my head, and it pops up and starts playing like a movie. It’s like flipping a switch, and you’re watching and listening to the characters, and writing as fast as you can to keep up. I learned this trick back in college when I took some music therapy courses.

I’ve “jammed” with other flute players from the Portland Symphony, I’ve played with the top 1% of musicians on the west coast when I was younger. Why I never thought to write a series of books about musicians after all these years I don’t know. But at least I finally got around to it!

 

I haven’t been in a choir for a long time and used to sing with one my little hometown has. My little home town also has a band and an orchestra, and you’d be surprised at the caliber of musicians in it. From beginners to virtuosos! There’s one violin player in her eighties that still knocks everyone’s socks off when she plays.
If you have something you love, keep it up, especially if it brings you joy. I remember playing six to eight hours a day sometimes. I’ve attended month long music camps with some of the best conductors in the country. Best of all, I was with so many others whose favorite thing was music, playing, being part of something that created something beautiful.

 

As I’m caregiving for someone, (in another state no less) I can’t play with a band or orchestra at the moment. But once I get back to Oregon, I’ll be dipping my toes into the orchestra again. In the meantime, I’m having fun writing about men and women in the old west enjoying one of their favorite things. Music! My town of bachelors want virtuous women who are also virtuosos! Unfortunately for some of my bachelors, their brides aren’t very musical, but they make the best of things. There’s some action and adventure in these books, and of course lots of romance. 

Do you play an instrument or sing? If so, what instrument do you play? Are you an alto, soprano? Do you have a family member that does? I’ve giving away one e-copy of any of my books to one lucky comment!

What Fishing Was Like in the Early 1900s

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Good morning, everyone. And I’m sorry to be late with this blog. I admit, my calendar failed me (which is better than saying I forgot).

You may remember from a previous blog post of mine, I’m working on a new historical story. That means, for me, I have to stop every few pages and research something to make sure I got it right. In this book, my heroine is fishing for trout in a creek. Seems simple enough, yes? But no. first research item – were there trout in the area where I’m setting my story during 1915. Turns out there were, so I’m good there. Second item, do I call what she’s using a fishing pole or a fishing rod? Well, who knew there’s a difference?

Turns out, she’d use a fishing pole — which is basically a long stick from which a string is tied and seems to have been around for at least four-thousand years. A fishing rod is more complicated and sophisticated. It has ringed guides along the pole and a reel to store the line. My heroine would definitely not have that. But from my research, reels did first start appearing in the 1600s.  In those day, it was mostly a loop of wire attached to the end of the pole. An improvement, nonetheless, and the string didn’t get so tangled.

I also learned that most fishing poles and fishing rods, at least until the 1900s, were home-made by people. There were even books published about how to make your own fishing poles, such as Iziak Walton’s “The Complete Angler (1676). I wonder if my local library has that. Tackle shops which sold manufactured fishing equipment have only been around for a hundred years or so, which is probably when innovations to fishing rods really took off and we got the modern tools anglers use today.

There are other ways of fishing besides with a pole or rod. Early man used spears, sometimes setting traps or bait and standing in the water waiting until a fish approached. A more primitive version of the pole was to simply toss a line into the water, anchor it with a heavy rock and wait for a fish to take the bait. Large nets were also used, sometimes requiring two or more people.

All this is probably more than you wanted to know about early fishing and more than I needed for my one scene in the book when my heroine is fishing. But I always enjoy learning something new. I didn’t bother researching hooks, figuring that was going a little too deep and readers probably would care. But now I’m thinking, maybe that would be interesting…

A History of Cotton Candy and a Giveaway!

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It’s Fair Time!

It’s fair season, and right now, the California State Fair is happening. My son is here for a visit from New York City, and he’d like nothing more than to go to the fair. Me? I’m hoping I don’t melt if we do! It’s going to be in the triple digits most of the week.

That said, you start to think of all the things you’ll miss out on if you don’t go. I love all the exhibits and livestock. My son Troy loves the food! So, I picked a popular fair food and decided to blog about it!

Cotton candy has been a staple of American fairs for over a century, bringing back sweet childhood memories for many. But how did this sugary treat become so popular? It all started in 1897 when dentist William Morrison and confectioner John C. Wharton teamed up to create a machine that could spin heated sugar into a fluffy, cotton-like texture. The fact a dentist that invented cotton candy still floors me. But density back then wasn’t what it’s like today.

Seven years later, the duo unveiled their invention, now known as “cotton candy,” at the St. Louis World Fair in 1904. With attractions like a Ferris wheel and circus, the fair drew in over 20 million visitors who were captivated by the new treat. By the end of the fair, Morrison and Wharton had sold over 68,000 boxes of cotton candy for a quarter each, making just over $17,000 in profit.

Their success led to the formation of the “Electric Candy Company” and a patent for their machine, preventing competitors from entering the market until 1921. In the meantime, dentist Josef Lascaux entered the industry and coined the name “cotton candy.”

Hand rolling cotton candy in candy floss machine. Making candyfloss

In 1949, Gold Medal Products introduced a spring-loaded base for more efficient production. Since then, there have been developments such as fully automated machines and unique flavors. Despite these changes, one thing remains constant: cotton candy’s popularity around the world. There’s even been some books written about cotton candy and its history!

 

From its humble beginnings as a small-town delight to an international sensation with endless possibilities for flavors and creations, cotton candy is here to stay. And who knows what creative inventions will be   added to its legacy in the future!

Whether you’re a cotton candy fan or not, tell me what your favorite fair good is? Aside from cotton candy, it’s the caramel apples for me! Oh, and don’t forget the elephant ears! I’m giving away a free e-book of mine of choice to one lucky commenter!

Where do you get your ideas?

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It’s strange what little thing will spark an idea.

I’m driving along, minding my own business…well…on a trip…looking out the window

I have, several times now, had hidden canyons in my books. I’m not sure why the idea appeals to me, but it does. Hidden Canyons or high mountain meadows that no one realized were there.

I once had sisters living on a mountain top, in The Brides of Hope Mountain. The trail down caved off, and they were up there for years and years before they saw another human being.

I had a caldera once, in the Kincaid Brides Series. A caldera is a long gone volcano that blows the top off a mountain and leaves behind this valley…again, hidden. Over the centuries, the valley grows up to grass and trees and becomes this beautiful, lost paradise.

There was a canyon where outlaws hid stolen cattle in Wild Flower Bride.

Calico Canyon was a canyon with a hidden entrance that snowed shut all winter long, trapping the family inside…which to the boys meant NO SCHOOL! They loved it.

I usually have this image in my head of a solid rock wall, or a jumbled of rocks that look impassable.

But driving along. I saw this dip between two mountains. I think it can be called a DRAW. Although a draw may be something else, but this makes me think of that word.

I looked at this and the land seems to just be difficult to cross and nothing to see here folks…move along.

And this….

And this…this one looks especially difficult. Could a horse climb that? A mountain bred mustang?

I’ve often pictured my hidden canyons as having a hidden entrance but not one you needed to climb. I guess in The Husband Tree she had to climb into her high mountain ranch.

But seeing this gave me a different angle on the next series I’m planning to write. I’m going to send my hero home. He needs help and he’s in big trouble. Wounded, with other wounded men with him and with trouble coming after him. And home is up a slope like this. A slope most people wouldn’t even think of climbing. But I looked at that and wondered, ‘What’s on top of that mountain? What’s on the other side of that mountain?’

Now, I’m going to find out.

I’m thinking the second picture is more what I have in mind, but this third one is so daunting. Who would think that, on top of this steep slope is a lush spread of acres with a stream and belly deep grass. Where the eagles soar and the wind makes the tall grass bend and dance as if God Himself is running his hand across it.

Ah, yes. I’m doing it.

This is for the next series, somewhat inspired by the Hidden Canyon my hero and heroine in Toward the Dawn are desperate to escape from.

Do you ever see places like this that spark ideas or dreams, even if you aren’t a writer? Tell me about places you’ve been that take hold of your heart and live with you forever.

I’m giving one lucky commenter a $25 Amazon gift card.

Toward the Dawn just made the ECPA Bestseller list.

Click Here to buy Toward the Dawn

FAVORITE WESTERN MOVIES PART 2 by Cheryl Pierson

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Hi everyone! I’m back to talk about MORE western movies–faves, and not-so-faves. This is Part 2 of this blog series, so if you missed Part 1 last month, here’s the link! https://petticoatsandpistols.com/2024/06/17/favorite-western-movies-part-1-by-cheryl-pierson/

Last month, we talked about The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Purgatory, The Magnificent Seven, and El Dorado–all favorites! And…the not-so-favorite, which was The Searchers.

But gosh, there’s a lot more ground to cover! I know a lot of you mentioned Tombstone, with Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Michael Biehn, and Sam Elliot. What’s not to love, in this re-telling of one of the most famous gunfights that ever happened—the OK Corral.

 

Kurt Russell is just simply wonderful as Wyatt Earp, and he and Val Kilmer have spectacular chemistry together in this movie. I don’t think there’s ever been a better Doc Holliday than Val Kilmer’s portrayal. The casting was wonderful in this movie, and though it’s a story we are already familiar with, the actors involved bring it to life in a fresh, exciting way that has stood the test of time. One of my favorites, and when I’m scrolling on TV, I cannot ever pass it up. This is one of my favorite scenes.

Another favorite, though much different than most westerns, is Cowboys and Aliens. Now, some may disagree with this one, and at first, I wasn’t so sure about it, but by the end of the movie, I was loving it. Even my husband, a die-hard western fan, enjoyed this one and recorded it to watch it again. (Color me SHOCKED!) Cowboys and Aliens boasts and all-star cast including Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Adam Beach, and Olivia Wilde.

Because they do it so much better than I do, here’s the Google synopsis of the film:

Bearing a mysterious metal shackle on his wrist, an amnesiac gunslinger (Daniel Craig) wanders into a frontier town called Absolution. He quickly finds that strangers are unwelcome, and no one does anything without the approval of tyrannical Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). But when Absolution faces a threat from beyond Earth, the stranger finds that he is its only hope of salvation. He unites townspeople, outlaws and Apache warriors against the alien forces in an epic battle for survival.

There is so much more to this movie, though—the development of the interpersonal relationships is one theme that, of course, can’t be allowed enough space in the synopsis to go into, but this is really worthy of watching, and in our house, watching more than once.

One of my favorites for many years is the original True Grit with John Wayne, Kim Darby, Dennis Hopper, and Glen Campbell. The original movie stays very true to the book by Charles Portis—and in my opinion, that book was a real masterpiece. I will say the same for the movie, even though Glen Campbell was not the best actor that ever graced the screen. But the other characters, and the scenery, as well as the close detail to the actual book, overcame Campbell’s (at times) wooden acting abilities.

True Grit is the story of Mattie Ross, a young teenage girl, who shoulders the responsibility of going after her father’s killer and seeing him brought in to face what he’s done. She is definitely no-nonsense and determined to see justice done.

After hired hand Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) murders the father of 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Kim Darby), she seeks vengeance and hires U.S. Marshal “Rooster” Cogburn (John Wayne), a man of “true grit,” to track Chaney into Indian territory. As the two begin their pursuit, a Texas Ranger, La Boeuf (Glen Campbell), joins the manhunt in hopes of capturing Chaney for the murder of a Texas senator and collecting a substantial reward. The three clash on their quest of bringing to justice the same man.

Version 1.0.0

 

 

My not-so-favorite candidate this week is Once Upon a Time in the West. I know, I know. It was very artsy and very well-received and highly acclaimed. But…it just went on and on and on forever. I honestly tried to watch this about three times and never could make it completely through in one sitting. It bored me to tears, and just seemed to go on forever. Stars include Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Jason Robards and Claudia Cardinale.

 

 

 

What’s your favorite “outside the box” western? I mentioned Cowboys & Aliens this week, and last week I talked about Purgatory. I love these kinds of stories. Anyone else got one to talk about? If not—just talk about one of your favorite westerns. And remember it doesn’t have to be famous, just one YOU liked.

CHERYL’S AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:  https://tinyurl.com/2k7xeddt