Friday, March 4, 2011

Author C.H. Admirand, Guest Blogger

Please join me in welcoming author C.H. Admirand to Thoughts in Progress today as the special guest blogger. C.H. makes a stop on her virtual book tour.

C.H.’s latest book, TYLER (THE SECRET LIFE OF COWBOYS), was just released. Thanks to C.H. and Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have 2 copies of TYLER to giveaway to those commenting on C.H.’s post. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Visitors have until 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, March 11, to comment on this post. Be sure to include your e-mail with your comments if it isn’t included in your profile.

Here’s a brief synopsis of TYLER: “Desperate times call for desperate measures…
When Tyler Garahan said he’d do anything to save his family’s ranch, he never thought that would include taking a job as a stripper at a local ladies’ club. But the club’s fiery redheaded bookkeeper captures Tyler’s attention, and for her, he’ll swallow his pride…


And one good turn deserves another…
Emily Langley feels for the gorgeous cowboy. It’s obvious that he’s the real deal and wouldn’t be caught dead in a ladies’ revue if he wasn’t in big trouble. And when he looks at her like that, she’ll do anything to help…

Working days on the ranch and nights at the ladies’ club, Tyler is plumb exhausted. But could it be that his beautiful boss needs him just as much as he needs her …”


C.H. stops by today to answer some questions for me about her writing.

Mason - What would you say to someone who has never read western contemporary to encourage them to give it a try?

C.H. - Lovers of contemporary romance, isn’t it time you read a romance starring the quintessential American hero…the cowboy? Cowboys are the perfect hero. He is a man of the land; one who has an innate kindness and love of animals that enables him to care for his herd, whether he raises cattle or horses. He depends on his physical strength and works with his hands every day. His core set of values are what keep him going when times are hard and the Mother Nature is against him. The women who fall in love with these men are every bit as strong, perhaps stronger, because it takes a special women to want to stand beside her cowboy through thick and thin, but it’ll be worth every moment, because a man who is that strong and dedicated to making his living off the land, knows how to value the love of a good woman.

Mason - Where did the inspiration to write about a cowboy turn stripper come from?

C.H. - It was during RT in Houston a couple of years back. One
of my author friends suggested we go to a local club to support her publisher and the Ellora’s Cave models. I had no idea what I was getting in to, but used my embarrassment to get my creative juices flowing. I started to wonder (since we were in Texas) what would it be like for a cowboy to be up on stage. Not one who dressed up like one, but the real deal, a man of the land, one used to working hard for a living. Economic times are hard all over, and I wondered what would it be like for someone who only knew and understood ranching to have to look for a job and not be able to find one that would utilize his particular skills? It was the furthest thing from ranching that I could think of to test my cowboy and his love of his family ranch.

Mason - What type of research did you do for this book?


C.H. - I’ve been to Texas a couple of times, including a trip across the country with my family when I was a teenager. Life out West, and the majestic sites we visited, left a huge impact on me. I’ve been going to the Sussex County Farm & Horse Show for years…actually since it was the Branchville Fair back when I was a kid. The events range from Dressage to exhibiting horses, cows, etc. We had a pony for a few years and I learned the hard way not to tether her wearing sandals! But in my defense, I was twelve and knew everything! I grew up watching westerns on Saturday mornings: Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and silver screen legends: John Wayne and Gary Cooper, instilling a love for one of my favorite heroes: Cowboys.


Mason - What was the most difficult part of writing this book?


C.H. - Toning down the relationship between Emily and her cousin Jolene. They kept trying to take over the story.


Mason - If you could change places with any of your characters for a day, who would it be and why?


C.H. - I’d like to change places with Tyler Garahan, and spend the day living at the Circle G Ranch, working with the cattle and horses, pitting myself against the land and Mother Nature. I really hope I’d last longer than a couple of hours!

Mason - What do you want readers to come away with after reading TYLER - is there a message or just fun reading?

C.H. - I do hope that it is a fun read, but hope the readers will take a moment to be thankful for their jobs and their homes, if they have them. Many people across the US have been hit hard by these economic times and are struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis. We’ve been blessed in our house; all five of us are employed—my husband and I, and our three grown children—yes, they still live with us. I have friends and siblings who have not been as lucky.


Mason - What can readers look for next from you?

C.H. - DYLAN, Book 2 in The Secret Life of Cowboys will be released in January 2012 and I’m working on the youngest brother, Jesse’s story right now.

C.H., thanks for guest blogging here today. The idea of putting a cowboy in a most unusual job just to keep things going on the ranch is a fun and unique twist.

Now, let me give you a little background on C.H. She was born in Aiken, South Carolina and has published 9 bestselling novels for the library market. TYLER is her tenth book and her first mass market release. She lives with her husband, who is the inspiration for all of her heroes’ very best traits, in northern New Jersey. For more information, visit her website at http://www.chadmirand.com/.

What are your thoughts on unusual jobs? Can you see your favorite cowboy handling this problem?


14 comments:

  1. C.H., thanks for blogging here today and sharing your thoughts on writing. Western contemporary is an intriguing genre. Wishing you much success.

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  2. CH, I've seen men of the land do quite a few things they wouldn't normally do to keep the ranch out of the red.

    I'm lucky, for the most part, with our ranch and I'm the cow...um...person? here. I have horses, raise Great Danes, a kid or two, and bit hell now and then. But I love working with animals and raising hay. I've lost several crops of hay including all the horse hay two years running. I actually had to buy hay in February since the winter was so blasted cold. I almost felt like crying when I went to the barn and saw almost empty.

    I sat down this month and made plans on how to make next winter much easier. Yes, I break ice, feed, and all the other chores. Hubs works elsewhere and thinks I'm nuts, lolol! I can't imagine having to live off what you make on a ranch. Horse market is down too. You put so much into raising nice horses only to find there is a very skimpy market. My neighbors who are cattle ranchers find it touch too.

    Tyler sounds intriguing and kudos for you going to the club. I've been to a few Ellora Cave functions, red cheeks anyone, lol!

    Good luck with this one.

    Mason, very nice interview!

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  3. Hi Mason and CH .. love the story-line .. and your 'research' into the project. Loved cowboys on the tv growing up .. and would relish having that knowledge of the land, that feeling that you are part of mother nature and the earth ..

    Looks a really good read .. thanks to you both .. all the best - Hilary

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  4. Good Morning, Mason - thanks so much for inviting me to blog and for asking such great questions.

    Not everyone understands or loves Western Romance, but those that do will search high and low to find them. ;)

    Thanks for giving me the opportunity to sway a few non-believers to give the genre a try!

    Thanks again,
    Slainte'
    C.H. Admirand

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  5. Sia - thanks so much for stopping by. I'm intrigued by what you're raising on your ranch... Do you raise dairy cows? My favorite are the Brown Swiss cows...their faces are so beautiful.

    I'm so sorry about the hay crops, it must have been devastating. It takes a certain dedication and love of animals and ranching to do what you do. I'm glad you've come up with a plan for next winter. I'm pulling for you. ;)

    It's not at all the same, but when my husband had his own business and we had clients who couldn't (or wouldn't) pay him, we had to pray hard for a new direction, otherwise, we'd have lost everything. But the Lord works in mysterious ways and we're still here.

    Thanks for the kind words about Tyler.

    Slainte'
    C.H. Admirand

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  6. Hi Hilary - ah a fellow lover of the Old West! I've been like a kid glued to early morning TV now that our cable company has the Western Channel. My kids gave me a boxed set of Gunsmoke a while back, but I'm looking to add to my collection with the Roy Rogers Show or Cheyenne. ;)

    I really would like to spend a day or part of a day learning to work the land. I love playing in the dirt...when we moved in our house 29 years ago there was grass in the front yard and the back...it now has gardens, flowering shrubs, etc. It's like our own Garden of Eden. But to raise animals (other than dogs) would be something I'd really love to experience.

    Thanks for stopping by and the well wishes.

    Slainte'
    C.H. Admirand

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  7. Well, now since I'm a Texan, you know I have to read this book. It sounds like fun!

    Happy Weekend!

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  8. She's right - the good cowboys were real men.

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  9. Hi Carol:

    I hope you enjoy reading about my little slice of heaven...the fictional town of Pleasure, Texas. ;)

    I know there is so much more that I could have written about your great state, I hope you enjoy it!

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Slainte'
    C.H. Admirand

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  10. Hi Alex - thanks for stopping by.

    I've found that there is definitely a line drawn in the sand where "working" cowboys stand and where "rodeo" cowboys stand.

    Both have amazing attributes, but so far, the men of the land with hearts as big as Texas have my vote.

    But...I'm open to changing my mind. ;)

    Slainte'
    C.H. Admirand

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  11. C.H. seems so cute and has the most adorable smile in this picture :) I'm sure her books are equally charming.

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  12. Thanks for the kind words, Dezmond and for stopping by. I'm not sure about my books being charming, but there's a first time for everything!

    Slainte'
    C.H. Admirand

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  13. Ah, VERY intriguing, CH! I don't know too much about cowboys with unusual jobs, but it seems that many cowboys have persistence as a quality, and will do whatever it takes to get the job done, including I imagine, any number of less-than-desirable jobs! Looking forward to learning more about your writing!

    f dot chen at comcast dot net

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  14. I have never met a cowboy but I know a lot of people who are facing tough times these days so it's so believable that someone would go to extreme lengths to keep his ranch.
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.