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What was the first Western historical novel you
remember reading?
Forgiving
by LaVyrle Spencer—second book the next day, Hummingbird
by LaVyrle Spencer. I was sucked in and blown away. I wondered how
she managed to spin such a lively story and get all those words onto
the page, in such brilliant order *g*.
When did you know you were hooked on Western
historical novels?
During my second day of no sleep, while refusing to
put down LaVyrle Spencer’s books until I’d finished them. ;-)
Oddly enough, I didn’t read another romance novel for nearly seven
years. I knew I’d be an addict and I simply didn’t have the time.
I had babies instead, hyperactive boys who didn’t give me a moment’s
peace—but were the ultimate joy. When my rascals started school, I
decided it was time to find a career (other than the fulltime
volunteer mom *g*). I went back to college, bought my first
computer, and during my first semester of American History, I
started my first western romance novel—it was then I started reading
like the obsessive compulsive maniac I am—that was about six years
ago ;-)
What do you like about Western Romances versus other
genres?
I have a passion for rugged, dusty westerns. So, in
many ways, setting dictates the storyline for my western historical
romances.
The
wild, wild, west…..what’s not to love? In a lawless untamed setting,
the sky is the limit—
there’s
such an elemental connection between a western setting and my heroes
and heroines. It’s the adventurous spirit of the characters, their
sense of purpose, determination and loyalty that is a major draw for
me.
My mind is constantly searching for ways to submerge my characters
in the beauty and grandeur of the American West. While writing my
first western, Bride of Shadow Canyon, I discovered that an
adventurous setting with ever-changing untamed scenery is a driving
force of my imagination.
What part of the writing process do you enjoy most
when you write—the research? creating the characters? developing the
plot? providing the historical context?
Honestly, I enjoy all of it! The characters, the
research, the pl—oh wait, plotting is not one of my favorites. *g*
Definitely the characters and the research, and the TERRAIN. I love
the landscape of the American West! Particularly Utah, Arizona,
Colorado, Wyoming and California—the tough country where the cowboys
are rugged and the women are wild. ;-)
You live in California near
the Sierra Nevada Mountains. That must help in writing
western historical romances. Can you tell us how?
I’ve spent a lot time camping and adventure seeking
in the Sierra Nevadas. I live just over an hour from Yosemite and
the inspiration is endless. The biggest help has been imagery and
getting a feel for the landscapes, the scents, the sounds, the miles
of seemingly endless beauty.
Tell us about your book, Mustang Wild,
published by Harlequin Historical.
For me, Mustang Wild is a fun western romp.
;-) These characters were so much fun to write. Here’s the blurb:
No smooth-taking man is going to outwit her!
With the deed to her land and kid brother to
protect, Mustanger Skylar Daines shouldn't have tangled with the
likes of Tucker Morgan. His stolen kiss scatters her senses, and
quicker than a whirling dust devil, they're wed!
What had started as a joke is now Tucker's
worst nightmare. He's keen to fix the marital slip-up--then he
tells Skylar the deed she holds belongs to him, and him
alone. Perhaps Skylar shouldn't be so fast to have their marriage
annulled. She's not about to be swindled out of the one thing she
yearns for most--a home.
First they'll have to beat her father's
murderer to Wyoming. Hearing the killer is after his ranch, Tucker
teams up with a woman who has no trouble taking control of his
mustangs--or his desire.
How did you get the story idea for Mustang Wild?
I had just finished my Mountain Series (which is now
my BRIDE series) and I was in the mood for a change of hero---the
hero in Bride of Shadow Canyon is rather gruff (though tender
on the inside), and I wanted to shoot for a light-hearted jokester
sort of hero who could be tough when he needed to, and always got
the job done, but put a great deal of effort into having a good time
while he did it. That hero became Tucker. I also wanted him to
suffer a bit of humility, not taking himself too seriously, and I
had this vision of an opening scene where he’d get knocked out with
a frying pan. Then I began to think of the kind of heroine it would
take to whip Tucker into shape….which is probably one reason Skylar
carries a bullwhip. :-)
If you were to choose two actors to play Skylar and
Tucker who would they be and why?
Oh wow—that’s hard. I don’t use movie stars as
character models, and was really worried about my cover for this
book—but the art department captured Skylar perfectly! The cover
model could totally play her part in the move. As for Tucker, I
suppose you can’t go wrong with a Stetson man—Mathew McConaughey
could pull off the wiry and playful Tucker Morgan, while supplying
plenty of charm and sex appeal. :-)
What
is your newest release, Bride of Shadow Canyon, Harlequin
Historical, about?
My first completed western--this series has been a
blast!
Whatever he believes about the saloon girl’s past,
Jed will protect her future with his life!
Pulled off a train in Nevada by the
henchmen sent to drag her back to Missouri and the Nightingale
Saloon, Rachell prays for deliverance. A stranger appears from the
shadows and frees her from her captors. Once in the care of her
reluctant hero, Rachell wonders if she is any safer in the arms of a
man whose eyes make her pulse quicken and gentle hands dare her to
believe in the fable of love.
Jed knows he's in for trouble when the widowed
boarding house keeper he's come to retrieve turns out to be a
scantily-clad saloon girl. He vows to protect Rachell and get her
safely to California, after he takes care of the trouble on her tail
by luring them to Shadow Canyon. As they face the feral wilderness
of Utah and the man determined to keep Rachell’s voice in his
saloon, it is Rachell's innocent passion that becomes Jed's greatest
threat, threatening to bring the light of love into his shadowed
soul.
What are some of your favorite western romances by
other authors?
These are the first that spring to mind:
Hummingbird by LaVeryl Spencer
All of Dorothy Garlock’s westerns
The ONLY Series by Elizabeth Lowell
One Wish by Linda Lael Miller
TEXAS series by Jody Thomas
They say western historical romances aren’t popular
anymore and, of course, we at lovewesternromances.com don’t agree.
But any advice for authors of western historical romances?
You can’t fight the market. The best thing you can
do is to stay informed-- KNOW your market and KNOW yourself, what
you’re willing to write—are you willing to tweak your work to fit
the market? If so, how far? If not, can you be patient enough to
wait out the market? No matter what---KEEP WRITING!
When I started submitting five years ago, my agent
told me I came onto the western scene two years too late. While I
had editors interested in my westerns, their hands were tied, they
couldn’t buy them, no matter how much they liked them—that’s how the
market works. About the only westerns being bought by the major
houses were erotic—nothing wrong with that, but it wasn’t what I
write, or what I was willing to write. So I sidelined my westerns
(begrudgingly) and focused on light romantic suspense,
contemporaries with western flair, but I still tossed the historical
westerns into a contest here and there, never giving up hope. Last
year, I finalled in the Golden Heart with a Single Title RS and also
one of my long historicals, Mustang Wild. I was just getting
ready to aggressively market my RS manuscripts. At the same time, a
friend of mine had sold her roman-set historical to Harlequin
Historicals and told me they still put out a western each month and
were looking for new western authors. I didn’t even dust off my old
manuscripts, I just submitted my best two—three weeks later they
bought the first book of both my series. I still plan to market my
RS, but over the past year I’ve been tied down with historical
western contracts—and loving every minute of it. :-)
I do see some changes coming down the line for
westerns—some of the big name authors have been given historical
western contracts for the coming year—hopefully the start of a new
trend. But for now, the major ST houses are still closed to new
voices in the historical western genre, and I imagine it will take a
couple of years of putting out new westerns by established authors
to change things—but that’s just *MY* take on the major market.
There are exceptions to every rule, and that exception could be YOU,
so never give up hope and KEEP SUBMITTING!
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