In Honors Defense

Will Rogers Medallion

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Last month, I was honored to be invited to Fort Worth, Texas as a finalist for the Will Rogers Medallion. This contest, named for the famed cowboy, humorist, actor, and author honors western writing in all formats – fiction, non-fiction, short stories, articles, even cookbooks. One of the things that attracted to me about this contest in particular was that it honored the values of this American legend. The contest states:

*All works must represent an accurate reflection of Western Americana, or cowboy and ranch life, historical or contemporary. Historical accuracy is crucial where applicable.

*The work must remain consistent with the values and the language embodied in the works of award namesake, Will Rogers, one of America’s most beloved humorists and writers; in other words, innuendo is fine, but neither graphic sex scenes nor graphic language is in our code.

Will Rogers was born in 1879 in Oklahoma and worked on his parents’ ranch, then took on cowboy work in the Texas panhandle, traveled to Argentina, and eventually became a member of Texas Jack’s Wild West Circus thanks to his amazing roping skills, thereby getting his first gig as an entertainer. He and his roping moved on to the Ziegfeld Follies, which opened the door to movie contracts. He made over 70 films, 50 of which were silent pictures. He made a name for himself as a humorist as well and wrote more than 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns.

Here are a few classic lines from Will that make me grin:

  • If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
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  • The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket.
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  • There are three kinds of men:
    …The ones that learn by reading.
    …The few who learn by observation.
    …The rest of them have to touch an electric fence.

The award banquet took place at the historical Fort Worth Stockyards, at Cooper’s Barbecue. Yum! To honor Will, they had a trick roper on hand. They also had his great-granddaughter come to speak. She runs the Will Rogers Museum in Oklahoma, and it was lovely to have her there.

They gave a Golden Lariat Award for lifetime achievement to Craig Johnson who is the author of the Longmire series. That was fun to see.

The Western Romance category was the first category on the list, so I didn’t have to wait long for my results. Our fabulous filly sister Shanna Hatfield took the silver medallion for Henley. I was so excited for her. I tried to cheer loud enough for her to hear me in Oregon since she wasn’t able to attend.

I was so blessed to receive the gold medallion for In Honor’s Defense. My editor, Jessica Sharpe, flew down to join me for the day, and we made sure to snap a photo together afterwards with our matching medallions.

 

There was a lot of western writing talent in that banquet hall, and I was incredibly honored to be part of it. I think I’ll enter again next year.

Do you read any other western writing besides romance?
Western magazines, biographies, history, children’s books …

 

Meet Luke and Damaris

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In Honor’s Defense has officially released, and I’m so excited to introduce you to Luke Davenport and Damaris Baxter. If you’ve read the previous books in the Hanger’s Horsemen series, you will be familiar with Luke “Preach” Davenport. He’s the largest of the four, good with his fists, and deadly with a sword. He can quote scripture at the drop of hat, which is what earned him his nickname, yet there is a wildness inside him that drives him to seek danger. So when the rest of the Horsemen become domesticated family men, he’s left feeling on the outside.

When the brother of an old army buddy writes to ask for the Horsemen’s aid, Luke answers the call on his own, eager for a distraction and for the opportunity to feel useful again. He arrives in Madisonville, TX ready to curtail a gang of rustlers and ends up embroiled in a murder plot. His loyalties are tested when he meets an angry young boy with all the trouble-making tendencies he’d had himself at that age. Yet it’s the boy’s aunt who poses the most danger. Quiet and stealthy, she just might find a way to steal his heart.

Luke is a warrior, so when I first started looking for inspiration photos, I didn’t turn to Hollywood, I turned to the NFL. I based Preach’s appearance on a pair of football players–one from my generation (Howie Long) and one who is playing today (J.J. Watt).

I love strong, feisty heroines, yet I believe there are different types of strength. Damaris Baxter has a quieter strength. She’s introverted and shy, content to be invisible in most situations, yet she has a steel core when it comes to family. She will never give up on them and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe and heal their emotional wounds. When her brother dies unexpectedly, she travels to Texas to care for her nephew and does things for which she never thought herself capable.

Of all the heroines I have written, Damaris Baxter most mirrors my true self. She likes nothing more than to hide herself away with a book or a bit of needlework, my two favorite hobbies. Yet she is a nurturer at heart, and is just the woman our hero needs. Luke looks like a mountain of a man from the outside—tall, muscular, good in a fight—yet deep down he carries hidden vulnerabilities that convince him he is not worthy of being loved or having a family. Damaris is timid on the outside, but she is an emotional lioness. The two fit together perfectly, each having what the other needs to be whole.

Luke and Damaris seem to be stark opposites—he an adventure-seeking soldier used to solving problems with guns and fists; she a quiet, proper lady used to escaping problems with books and needlework—nevertheless, they share several core commonalities. They both seek belonging and family, they’re both grounded in faith, and they both have a strong, protective instinct toward those they care about. This core common ground is what serves as the foundation for their relationship.

Do you enjoy stories where opposites attract?

Do you relate more to:
Luke (a little wild, take charge, tough on the outside, soft on the inside, protective)
or
Damaris (quiet, bookish, nurturing, with an emotional strength others lean on)

Grab your copy of In Honor’s Defense today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook

The Making of a Cover

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The final installment in the Hanger’s Horsemen trilogy is coming June 7. Just around the corner! Last month I shared a glimpse into how the title came to be (here), so I thought this month, I would give you some insight about how the cover evolved. Authors working with a traditional publisher have much less say in the cover design process than authors who indie publish. The publisher’s marketing, sales, and editorial teams work together with the design team to craft a cover that will entice readers, convey the novel’s mood, and highlight details of the story itself. No easy task. I’m more than grateful to have the help. At the beginning of the process, my project manager asks me for story details, physical descriptions of the characters and setting, and any ideas I have for cover design. Yet that is where my input ends until the very last stages of the design process. Here is the final product we arrived at for Luke Davenport’s story.

I love the end result. However, this cover (like the title) went through several revisions during its journey to perfection. Below on the left is the original cover my publisher sent me. I liked the model and the background was gorgeous, but it didn’t really tell a story. It was a little too static. And having the hero’s back turned didn’t feel terribly inviting. So I asked if there was a way to create more of a sense of movement and story. They came back with Version 2. Seeing more of the hunky model was a plus, but what really got my attention was the addition of the three cowboys in the distance. Such a small thing, but it was genius. Exactly what this cover needed. Are they the other three Horsemen racing to join Preach in his fight for justice? Or are they the gang of rustlers causing havoc in Madisonville, TX? Could be either one. You decide!

The last change I asked for was in the color of his vest and hat. In the current version, the brown vest and light tan hat are nearly identical to the ones worn by the model for the first book in the series. I wanted the men to feel distinct and carry their own personalities. So in the final version, you will see that the vest is blue and the hat is a darker shade of brown. Just the type of change I was looking for! They also added a bit more vegetation in the foreground for an extra pop of color. I’m so pleased with the final product!

My inspiration for Preach’s physical appearance was a cross between two football players—one from my generation and one who is actively playing. Howie Long and JJ Watt. I think the model they found pairs well with the image I was envisioning.

Pre-orders are available now!

If you prefer print books, check out the pre-order deal from Baker Book House. Forty percent off with free shipping is hard to beat!

Pre-Order Here:

Now that the series is complete, I thought you would enjoy seeing all the covers side-by-side.

They look good together, don’t you think? Which cover is your favorite of the series?