A Hail Mary and the Gun That Never Was
I get asked this question a lot: Why Westerns? That’s a darned good question that has an ironic answer woven into its fabric. Short answer: I took a class and came up with the idea there; hint: there was a gun involved. A couple of years ago, one of the writers from my accountability group suggested a class called The Fearless Writer, taught by Laura Baker, and a handful of us took it with her. Honestly, my expectations for myself were low at that moment in time. I didn’t have much to lose and a whole lot to gain as I was in a stagnant place. The class had a…
My WIP feels like Bessie the mule
I had this novel written in my head for months. I had a good idea of what I wanted to happen and where I wanted it to go. Then I had some personal setbacks that slowed my progress. When I tried to return to the MS, the characters told me they had other plans. As did my Ego. My Ego kept telling me that I was doing it all wrong because this wasn’t the same process as Charlie and Annabelle’s story. It was also taking much longer. Irony: no one but me really knows how long it took the write The Reluctant Bandit, yet I still run that comparison. As…
Pinkerton
I love that today’s word of the day is Pinkerton! I’m currently plotting out my third book in the Lawlessness & the Law series featuring Travis, the U.S. Marshall. His heroine is a Pinkerton agent and isn’t what Travis expects her to be or judges her as. She’s also a strong woman, not to be controlled. Travis is her complete opposite–he was the controlled and exacting character introduced in The Reluctant Bandit, Book 1 Lawlessness & the Law. He’s instrumental in helping Charlie and Annabelle in Book 1 as well as Charlie’s brother, Jimmy, in Book 2. Soon to be released. Book 3 of the series has an enemies to…
Scene idea, abandoned towns, and the telegraph
In The Reluctant Bandit, Wanted posters aren’t giving Sheriff O’Donnell the answers he’s looking for or needs. He has to find a different way to procure information that’s quick. Enter the telegraph. It may seem odd or somewhat implausible that the telegraph would make its way into a vast and sparsely populated expanse such as the Arizona territory, but it did. It was a boon for both the military as well as for the territory’s growing economy. Mail could take months to arrive but with the telegraph there were instant or nearly instant responses. The news could change by the time a piece of mail arrived. In many cases it…
Print Version Available!
Hello! Just a quick note to say that the print version of The Reluctant Bandit arrived on Monday. Yes, I’m late to posting. I was too wrapped up in trying to figure out some aesthetics. Things I had plenty of time to do while I was drumming my fingers waiting for the print copies to arrive. Live and learn, people. Live and learn. I wanted a nice way to thank you for your purchases as well as include an ask. I’d love for you take pics of yourselves wearing the purple bandanas included with your book either sending the pics to me so I can share on my social media…
Book Release Tomorrow!
Tomorrow is the day of the digital release! I’m so excited. I’ve had some technical difficulties with this manuscript along the way, so here’s 🤞🏼 that all will go smoothly when I hit “purchase” which equals “publish” at Ingram Sparks. It’s already up on Goodreads as of last night, but for some reason it’s not showing the cover. 🤔 I also don’t have an author page approved, yet. I have a very nice and patient lady who’s been helping me with this. Although crazy as it is, my dissertation is listed there as well. Who knew? A little light reading for you 😂. I wrote that just after my father…
National Book Lovers Day & an Excerpt
Hello! Just a reminder for those who don’t receive my newsletter, I posted my cover on Instagram. If you’ve come here via Instagram–thank you and welcome! Finally, if you don’t receive my newsletter, why not? 🤷🏻♀️ I tell funny stories there! Purple mailboxes and boots that take tours of the town–it’s every Friday, and it’s reflective and slightly irreverent. I’ll do another cover reveal, in this week’s Friday’s Tomfoolery (because this is a party and we’re supposed to like surprises AND it’s release day! Friday Tomfoolery, August 14th!!!)–sign up for my newsletter and see where my cover’s been on the internet and what it looks like! I’m so excited! 🥳…
My Birthday Gift
This year, my friend Melissa gave me an awesome, thoughtful gift. Thoughtful is her normal, but this one was so timely and planned. She had a cowgirl drawn up, holding my novel, The Reluctant Bandit. It’s supposed to be a caricature me, but she didn’t tell me that until later. The artist has never met me–Melissa just described me. She was so pleased with the outcome. One day, my oldest, Big Monkey Max, picked up the art I had propped against my books, asking, “What’s this?” He looked at it, then looked at me. “This looks like you!” I had to laugh. I didn’t make the connection, immediately. When I…
Oatman, Arizona
One of my many obsessions is with horses and donkeys. Last fall break, I convinced The Chia (my younger son) to go on a road trip with me to Oatman, Arizona. Oatman is known for its wild donkeys, descendants of the donkeys prospectors released when mining dried up (simplified version). According the man running the jail “tour,” Oatman was a ghost town 2 times over. At any rate, these creatures roam around the streets doing what they want. Have you ever seen the Honey badger memes, the narrated videos of actual honey badgers? These donkeys are the equine counterpart to that–they don’t give a 💩. At any rate, the rest…
