A box of my July release arrived today.
Montana Cowboy’s Baby—the third story in the Big Sky Country series. It was such a fun book to write (once I got the glitches worked out).
This book is set in Bella Creek, Montana, a fictional town based on Libby, Montana—a real town. Much of the story takes place on the Marshall Five Ranch where the crusty old grandfather plays matchmaker.
On the picture below is a copy of the note that came with the baby.
Watch for this book, soon to be on the shelves. Or order it from harlequin.com. It’s a story I think you’ll enjoy.
GENERATING IDEAS
A fellow author asked a question recently—how to generate ideas. It reminded me of a question I am often asked—where do I get my ideas.
I always say that ideas are everywhere but the question got me to thinking of different ways ideas have come to me.
1. From pictures. I found an oil painting at a garage sale one day and it makes me want to tell a story.
I can think of many pictures that trigger my imagination.
2. Songs. Listening to the song Unchained Melody resulted in the book, Unchained Hearts. I find country and western music to be especially ripe with story ideas.
3. Research always triggers ideas. A trip to Bents Old Fort in Colorado has generated a series that will be released in 2018. No titles yet.
A trip to the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn sparked a series called Montana Cowboys.
4. Titles of songs, books, etc. For instance, the title Buffalo Gals led to the creation of the series I call Buffalo Gals of Bonners Ferry. It is currently available as Brides of Idaho.
5. Observing people. One day I was picking up someone at a bus and watched a young man dressed from head to toe in brown in a typical cowboy stance—leaning against a wall, one leg bent and arms crossed. He watched several buses arrive, watched the passengers get off and obviously did not see who he watched for. There has to be a story there.
There are stories everywhere. The more I look for them, the more I find them.
What was the most unusual idea you came up with and what triggered it?
ROMANCE OF THE CALGARY STAMPEDE
The year is 1912 and the hero of the story is Guy Weadick, a man born in New York. He ran away from his boyhood home to Montana where he learned to ride and rope and talk like a cowboy. Weadick considered himself to be ‘half cowboy and three-quarters showman.’ Along with other performers, he toured with a vaudeville troupe, barnstorming across the country and even performing in England.
Enter our heroine, Flores LaDue, the stage name of Grace Maud Bensell raised in Montevideo, Minnesota next to an Indian Reserve where she learned riding and roping early in life. At a young age, she ran away from home to join the circus. A talented athlete, she was famous for roping five running horses while lying down on the arena floor. It is said Guy fell in love with her the first time he saw the petite horsewoman (she was less than five feet tall) hanging upside down from her horse while swinging her rope overhead. Flores was a little more reserved about committing to the relationship. She was an independent woman with no interest in marriage. Nevertheless, she couldn’t resist the handsome cowboy and they were married five weeks after being together. He was 21, she was 23. They were partners in a way that was unusual for that day and age. Guy treated her as an equal. After her death, Guy had these words place on her tombstone “A Real Partner.”
Their story is told in this book.
This book is available here: https://tinyurl.com/m8u3rs9
Back to the story of 1912. Guy was concerned that the cowboy skills of the West were disappearing as the flood of settlers increased. He approached the Canadian Pacific Railway livestock agent with the idea of staging a rodeo to preserve the old west. He talked some local ranchers into financing his venture and thus the Calgary Stampede was born. From the beginning Guy use this boastful brand that has continued to this day, ‘The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth.’ Guy considered Flores the business woman behind this venture. He considered himself the talker—the salesman.
Guy was determined this would be a Big show—$20,000 offered for prizes, 200 imported Mexican longhorn cattle, 300 of the meanest horses, a replica of the notorious Fort Whoop-Up and many other wonderful offerings. He didn’t want to leave out anyone and invited Treaty 7 First Nations to participate. The Stampede opened with a grand parade through the town. Among those watching the performances were the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and daughter, Princess Patricia.
Top North American cowboy and cowgirl performers came to compete. Mexican Bandit Pancho Villa even sent his best rider.
picture Courtesy of the Calgary Stampede Archives.
A number of women contestants participated alongside men in events such as steer roping and bucking horse competition.
One of the most exciting events featured a local bronc rider, a Blood Indian by the name of Tom Three Persons. He drew the bucking horse, Cyclone, a big black gelding that had rarely been ridden. People shook their heads and predicted that poor Tom was done. The horse exploded from the chute and bucked his best but Tom held on and won the most important contest of the show. The thousands of spectators erupted into a roar of applause.
Several competent trick riders gave Flores La Due stiff competition for the title of World Champion Trick and Fancy Roper but she won the prize in the end.
For some wonderful pictures of the Stampede and the people involved go to www.glenbow.org and search Calgary Stampede under the archived photos.
The Calgary Stampede continues to this day—still at tribute to the cowboy skills of the west.
My stories have never included the Calgary Stampede but do honor the cowboy life. My book, Montana Cowboy’s Baby, is out in July. It is the third book in my 6-book Big Sky Country series. It’s a story about a baby left on the doorstep of the hero with a note saying the baby is his. He knows it’s not. This series is set in Montana—in case you didn’t catch that—and features three Marshall young men, their sister and two close friends. Montana Cowboy Daddy was out in Oct. 2016. Montana Cowboy Family was out Jan. 2017. The fourth book—Montana Bride by Christmas—will be released in Oct. 2017. I am really looking forward to that story. It has many sweet elements. At least I think so. I’ve just turned in the fifth book and it’s about Annie Marshall’s friend, Carly, who is prepared to do anything to save her ranch and her home…including marrying a complete stranger. I’m hoping to be able to reveal the cover for this story in the very near future.
SEEING THROUGH THE FOG
It’s been a foggy spring off and on. I can’t see very far.
It made me think of my writing ‘method’. (Warning:avoid if at all possible). I begin with an idea. I develop characters and a plot. Well, sort of a plot. I know the beginning and the end. The middle? Not so much. In a synopsis, it reads ‘stuff happens.’ Of course, I make it a little more creative. It would read something like this: As the hero and heroine are forced to work together, they discover traits they admire in the other. As they share about their pasts and begin to confide in each other, they discover the pain in their hearts is healing. Or something like that.
Just as walking through the fog allows me to see what’s ahead, pushing through the fog of the middle of a story, allows me to see what’s happening.
Until I get to the point where I can ‘see clearly now.’
I’m hoping no one reading my books sees the fog! 
HE IS RISEN
Happy Easter.
He is risen. He is risen indeed.
He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.
BIRD SONG
The other day fog surrounded me as I walked. It was peaceful and calm. As I passed a row of trees I was startled at the volume of bird song I heard.
My thoughts went back to a little thing I wrote many years ago. I am going to share it with you today.
This is it just as I wrote it.
“I hate you. I can’t wait until I leave home.” My fifteen-year-old daughter glared at me, her black eyes snapping. “You’re not my real mother anyways.”
Thinking of how much red tape we had waded through to adopt her, I wondered why we’d bothered. No matter what we did, she continued to resist our efforts to parent her. Anger and frustration blazed through me. I had to bite back watched the words rushing to my mouth.
After she left for school, I shuffled out to the patio to have another cup of coffee. The sky was luminous and very blue, while the grass beyond the patio displayed the gentle green of early spring. The soft breeze and warm sun caressed my skin. But my heart was not receptive to the wonders around me. I ached from her words and I seethed as I recalled each rebellious thing she’d done over the last few weeks. She argued at every request. She told us how much she hated us. She said that the day she would leave couldn’t come soon enough to suit her. I felt like she was destroying me and my home.
Within me was turmoil; without, harassment.
Feeling sorry for myself, I sat there and defended my thoughts. Why shouldn’t I feel this way? After all…
As I nursed my ill feelings, I heard a bird sing. Brilliant orange flashed on a nearby bare branch. Beneath, the ground was sloppy brown mud. Patches of grey snow clung to the bushes. Three cats eyed the bird with evil interest. But ignoring the entire scene, the oriole lifted his head and sang.
As I watched and listened, his song strummed the chords of my heart. How cheerful he was in spite of the ugly conditions of the winter-scarred garden. Without concern for his circumstances, he gave his attention solely to singing.
His example challenged me. I, too, could choose to look above my situation to the beauty God had provided—the sun, the sky and the bird—and bask in the warmth of His unfailing love.
I couldn’t choose my circumstances, but I could choose my attitude.
I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into my past.
GUESS THE TITLE
This week my editor and I get to pick the title for the 5th story in the Big Sky Country series. The first two books are already out.
The third is out in July.
The fourth is to be released in Oct. 2017—Montana Bride by Christmas. (sorry, no cover yet)
Number 5 will be released Jan. 2018. If you recall, the series is about the Marshall family and the town of Bella Creek. In story 5, Annie Marshall’s best friend, Carly, is given an ultimatum by her father who has been injured. He says he is going to sell the ranch she loves because she isn’t married and he says a man is needed to run the ranch even though she has been mostly running it for several years. In desperation she goes to town to find a husband.
Sawyer has arrived in town to bring his orphaned little sister to her cousins only to discover the cousins have died.
Carly is prepared to marry a complete stranger in order to keep her ranch. Sawyer needs a family for the girl. So the two marry.
What do you think the story should be called? The editor makes the decision but I send suggestions.
THE JOY OF READING
When was the last time you read a book that gave you joy? I recently read one that did.
Paris Letters is the story of a young woman (Canadian, by the way) who began her journey by writing in a journal as recommended by Julia Cameron in her book, The Artist’s Way. Her writing led her to discover that she didn’t like her current life so she began to downsize and save in order to take a year off.
Her journey took her to Paris where sitting in a cafe writing in journal allowed her to watch a handsome butcher across the street. They had no language in common but nevertheless struck up a growing friendship. I’ll let you read the book to discover how that worked.
Eventually, the author, Janice Macleod, needed to top up her savings account and began writing her Paris letters. She painted a picture and wrote a letter. She copied these and mailed them to subscribers. I found the paintings and letters fascinating. Perhaps because I’ve been to Paris and it was like revisiting the place but also, because this woman has a wonderful way with words. Her letters are still available on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/JaniceMacLeodStudio/items?ref=pagination&page=2
Run on over and have a look at her work.
The book was a joy to read and reminded me of my delightful few days in Paris.
If I can’t go back to Paris, I can at least enjoy reading about the beautiful city.
REVEALING SECRETS
Today I get to reveal the cover of my next book (July 2017). A very sweet cover. i had a sneak peak of this cover a few weeks ago and have been anxious to share it. I wrote this book in April 2016 right after a very restful 3 day break in Banff.
I thought I would share a few more guilty secrets.
1. I basically like every kind of food except seafood. Grapes are my guilty pleasure.
2. I have a fear of heights. Actually, it’s a fear of falling from great heights. I used to have nightmares of being in a tall building, looking out the windows and the building would slowly tip. Just enough I couldn’t get footing to stop my slow-motion descent toward the windows that somehow provided no barrier. Shudder.
3. I hate making beds after the sheets have been washed. It’s a totally irrational thing. I’ve timed the job. It takes 5 mins. but I still tackle the job like it’s going to take me all day and rob me of every pleasure.
4. My first job was babysitting for 25c/hour. It took a lot of hours to earn enough to buy anything.
5. My first adult job was working at a summer resort near Banff when I cleaned motel rooms and waited tables at the restaurant. I explored all over Banff and wandered through the woods and along the river near the semi-remote resort. To this day, Banff is my favorite place in the world.
Looking over this very short list is a reminder that, despite some unsavory things, life is full of pleasures everywhere if we just open our eyes and look.
CABIN FEVER
We’ve had a looooong week of cold. I’m hoping it’s winters last hurrah. It means being indoors a lot and someone in the house is bored with being shut in.
It’s not me. I’ve been busy getting the fourth book in the Big Sky Country series ready to go. It will be on its way to the editor on Mon.
It isn’t even the guy in the wheelchair. He’s been sick, been in hospital and has been quiet at home.
No, it’s Peanut.
He’s so bored he’s begun making up his own games. He finds a string of beads, carries it across the floor and hides in beside the footstool and then he stalks it and pounces on it.
When he tires of that, he stalks the parrot. But he’s cautious around the parrot and his sharp beak.
What he doesn’t understand is that it’s March and spring can’t be far off. Spring. Flowers. Green grass. Going outside without bundling up.
I can’t wait.