Sunday Salon: Cowboy Crazy by Joanne Kennedy

Sunday Salon is here once again - time for resting, relaxing and reading. Today I have a book to share that is all about cowboys, families, small towns, a current energy issue, and lots and lots of romance.

COWBOY CRAZY by Joanne Kennedy

Two brothers on opposite sides of the energy debate face off over the family ranch. Caught in the middle is a public relations specialist who doesn’t want to return to her own roots.

Working for the Carrigan Corporation, Sarah Landon has put her past behind her and created a new life for herself. When her boss Eric and his brother Lane face off, it’s up to Sarah to keep the peace and try to show the town of Two Shot that drilling is in their best interest.

All Lane has wanted to do was be a simple cowboy. He chooses to run Carrigan Ranch rather than join his brother in the oil business. Eric focuses on energy in the oil business with little interest in the ranch.

Having to return to her hometown forces Sarah to face her past and could possible lead her to her future. Lane learns there’s much more to being a cowboy than just riding bulls.

Once again author Joanne Kennedy takes readers into the world of sexy cowboys and troubled heroines. She weaves an intriguing story of romance with a look at how the energy battle effects small towns and ranches.

Kennedy’s characters are realistic and well-developed. Her protagonist is strong and determined but with soft edges. Kennedy blends just a touch of humor for a well-rounded story.

Hunky cowboys and feisty ladies make for a fun read in COWBOY CRAZY. The romance is steamy and the plot entertaining. A fun book to add to your summer reading. 

Author Joanne Kennedy‘s website is www.joannekennedy.com

Cowboy Crazy by Joanne Kennedy, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2012, ISBN: 978-402265495, Paperback, 384 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

 

What’s on your reading list for this week? Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful Sunday and if you’re already celebrating the 4th, be safe and happy.

Author Joanne Kennedy Discusses Writing And Offers A Giveaway

It’s always a pleasure to welcome the lovely author Joanne Kennedy back to Thoughts in Progress to talk about her writing and her latest release: TALL, DARK AND COWBOY.

Here’s a brief synopsis of the book: She’s looking for an old friend…
In the wake of a nasty divorce, Lacey Bradford heads for Wyoming where she’s sure her old friend will take her in. But her high school pal Chase Caldwell is no longer the gangly boy who would follow her anywhere. For one thing, he’s now incredibly buff and handsome, but that’s not all that’s changed…

What she finds is one hot cowboy…
Chase has been through tough times and is less than thrilled to see the girl who once broke his heart. But try as he might to resist her, while Lacey’s putting her life back together, he’s finding new ways to be part of it.

Thanks to Joanne and Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have 2 copies of TALL, DARK AND COWBOY to giveaway to 2 lucky visitors who comment on this post between now and 8 p.m. (EST) on Monday, Dec. 12. The giveaway is open to residents of U.S. and Canada only. Be sure to leave your e-mail address if it’s not included in your profile.

Joanne has graciously answered several questions for me about her writing.

Mason - As a published author, has your perspective of authors changed?

Joanne - Yes. I never realized how hard they work! When you’re an aspiring author, you tend to see publication as the ultimate goal. Once you’re published, you have about five minutes to dance around and say “I made it!” before you have to get to work staying published. You have to promoting your books, establish a name with readers, and most important, write another, better book to build your reputation. Getting that first offer flings open the door to a great new career, but it’s up to the writer to make the most of the opportunity, and that means lots of hard work.  

Mason - In what order do your characters come to life - name, physical description, personality?

Joanne - It feels like they come to me as whole people, with their physical appearance and personalities defined—but they don’t usually have names right away. I usually picture them in a scene—for example, I pictured Chase Caldwell of TALL, DARK AND COWBOY sitting behind the counter at his used car lot, looking very out of place. My heroine walked in, he reacted, and we were off! I develop characters as I write, watching how they respond to situations and other characters. It’s fun to watch their personalities unfold.

When I sit down to write them, I assign them names that feel right at the time—but these sometimes change. For instance, my agent once suggested that a character’s name was too much of a “good girl” name and I needed to change it.

 

Mason - Of these three elements (name, physical description, personality), which is the easiest to develop and which is the hardest?

Joanne - Names are probably the hardest for me, because they determine how a reader will see the character and everyone’s perception of a name is different. Creating the characters themselves—how they look, how they walk and talk—is the fun part for me, because it’s such a process of discovery. It’s like getting to know a new friend.

Mason - How would you encourage someone who has never read your genre to give it a try?

Joanne - I love this question, because I firmly believe that men should read more romance novels and have made it my mission to talk them into it. I stress the humor and suspense elements in my books, and mention romance writers who have made the crossover into mainstream fiction, like Sandra Brown. I have a secret weapon in the former sportswriter at our local Cheyenne paper. His first assignment when he moved to the features department was to read and review COWBOY FEVER, and he loved it. He wrote a wonderful article on reading romance from a man’s point of view.

 

Mason - What can readers look for next from you?

Joanne - My next book, COWBOY CRAZY, will be out in June 2012. It’s about a rodeo cowboy from a wealthy Wyoming oil family. He’s doing his best to “get real” and shed his privileged past, but then he falls for a small-town girl who can’t get away from her rural roots fast enough. It’s my favorite of all my books, with my hottest hero yet. I love rodeo and did a lot of on-site research for the book, which was a lot of fun!

Joanne, thanks so much for guest blogging. I love your response about getting men to read more romance. They don’t realize what great books they’re missing by not reading ‘romance’ novels. Besides, you’d think they’d be more interesting in finding out what their wives and girlfriends enjoy about them. 

Now for a little background on Joanne. She is the author of three previous contemporary Western romances for Sourcebooks. She brings a wide variety of experience, ranging from chicken farming to horse training, to her sexy, spicy cowboy stories. 

Joanne is a 2011 finalist in the prestigious Romance Writers of American RITA© Awards, for ONE FINE COWBOY. She lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she is working on her next book, COWBOY CRAZY (June 2012). For more information on Joanne and her writing, be sure to visit her website at http://joannekennedybooks.com/. 

Whether you are a writer or a reader, how would you encourage men to read romance novels? From the men out there, have you read romance novels and not told anyone about it? Remember the giveaway for 2 copies of TALL, DARK AND COWBOY ends at 8 p.m. on Dec. 12th. Be sure to leave a comment. Thanks so much for stopping by.

 

Sunday Salon: TALL, DARK AND COWBOY by Joanne Kennedy

 

The days are passing by quickly, the chill in the air is lingering and it’s time for Sunday Salon where we relax a bit to discuss the fascinating books we’ve discovered this past week.

Refill that cup with steaming coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Settle into your favorite chair. Today I’m sharing a delightful story about a cowboy and a cheerleader.

TALL, DARK AND COWBOY by Joanne Kennedy

When a woman down on her luck takes time to rescue a stray dog from certain death, you know there’s something special about her even if she’s not sure herself.

That’s Lacey Bradford for you. She’s on the run from her crooked ex-husband’s business partner but helps a stray. When she calls it Sinclair, he was hers.

Lacey heads back to Grady, Wyoming, to seek help from a high school friend who’d been a little sweet on her. She was a cheerleader and he was a farmer. She hopes he still feels favorable toward her as she doesn’t want anything to do with the ill-gotten money Trent had accumulated.

Chase Caldwell runs a used car lot not because he loves it, but because Trent Bradford stole his family’s farm. Chase also blames Trent for his father’s death and Lacey for breaking his heart. He’s torn between helping Lacey and his hatred for her ex-husband.

As the two re-connect, they discover they have changed as has their attraction for one another. Their renewed friendship is a sexy journey with a mixture of humor, suspense, and intrigue. There are lovable, zany supporting characters that add another layer to this delightful story.

Kennedy gives her characters enough problems to be realistic leading readers to feel compassion and understanding for them. There’s not so many problems, however, that readers cry, ‘not another one’ and flip ahead to avoid it. With Kennedy’s characters, readers want to savor each page to learn more about them and what drives them.

You can’t go wrong with a damsel in distress and a sexy cowboy to the rescue. TALL, DARK AND COWBOY is a quick and fun read.

Author Joanne Kennedy’s website is http://joannekennedybooks.com/

Tall, Dark and Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2011, ISBN: 9781402251443, Paperback, 384 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

I hope your Sunday is a relaxing and enjoyable day for you and your family. Thanks so much for stopping by. What was on your reading list this past week?

 

Two Reviews And A Giveaway

‘Variety’s the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour.” ….William Cowper, THE TASK (1785)

That’s what I enjoy about books, there’s so much variety to select from. And that’s what I’m offering today - a variety of genres to whet your reading appetite. I have 2 reviews and a giveaway, all from different genres.

First up, let’s head west and take a look at a western romance novel with a slight twist.

COWBOY FEVER by Joanne Kennedy

COWBOY FEVER is your typical western romance with sexy cowboys, horses, and damsels in distress. However, this story has a couple extra layers that might surprise you and give you a different take on the genre.

Teague Treadwell has been the typical ‘bad boy’ cowboy growing up. But when a person he loved went away to better themselves, Teague decided it was time to get his act together. Taking over the ranch from his alcoholic father, Teague turned it into a profitable business raising rough stock (bucking horses and bulls). In addition, Teague has taken on the role of caring for his older brother, Troy, who has Down Syndrome.

The typical ‘girl-next-door,’ Jodi Brand enjoyed being a tomboy but used her good looks to become Miss Rodeo America. From there Jodi went East to model for six years. During that time she also studied and got a degree in special education.

Jodi returns to her hometown determined to leave the glam life behind and build a successful therapy riding program for disabled children. Troy wanting his independence inspired her.

While Jodi and Teague are drawn to each other from their childhood friendship, there are several obstacles in their way to happiness. One in particular is Courtney Skelton, a spoiled, rich want-to-be cowgirl who wants Teague all to herself.

The caring and concern Teague and Jodi feel for each other give the story depth. Author Joanne Kennedy gives a new layer to the story when she addresses the issue of children with disabilities. She shares how therapy programs work to give these individuals more independence. COWBOY FEVER is a tender love story with a lot of heart, emotion and inspiration.

Author Joanne Kennedy’s website is http://joannekennedybooks.com/

Cowboy Fever by Joanne Kennedy, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2011, ISBN: 978-1-4022-5141-2, Paperback, 416 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Next we take a trip to see what evil underworld creatures are up to in a paranormal romance with a dose of humor.
 

DEMONS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND by Linda Wisdom

Working in law enforcement is hard work especially when the criminals are nefarious creatures.

But Maggie O’Malley is good at her job. She’s well trained and is a member of The Hellion Guard, a secret branch of law enforcement. Not to mention, she’s a 700-year-old witch.

Declan is the sexy owner of the Damnation Alley bar. It’s his responsibility to keep the creatures from coming through the bar’s portal and creating havoc for humans. He’s also a half fire demon.

Maggie and Declan must join forces to help protect Courtney, a teenager who is number one on the Maylan human sacrifice list. If Courtney is sacrificed, a major bad guy will be freed. While dealing with the teenager and trying to keep her safe, Maggie and Declan have to also deal with their growing feelings for each other. Fire demons and witches don’t mix well.

DEMONS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND is a delightful read with witty and eclectic characters. My favorite is Ella, the diamond encrusted Black Widow Spider with ruby eyes who doubles as Maggie’s tattoo.

Author Linda Wisdom has done a wonderful job of creating a fantasy world with lovable characters you’ll want to visit again and again.

Author Linda Wisdom’s website is www.lindawisdom.com

Demons Are A Girl’s Best Friend by Linda Wisdom, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2011, ISBN: 978-1-4022-5439-0, Paperback, 384 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

We end our journey today with a look at a fiction thriller that will be released on May 5 and is up for a giveaway.

TABLOID CITY by Peter Hamill

I’m able to giveaway 2 copies of Peter Hamill’s newest release, TABLOID CITY, thanks to Anna and the good folks at Little, Brown and Company.

Here’s a brief synopsis of the book:
In a stately West Village townhouse, a wealthy socialite and her secretary are murdered. In the 24 hours that follow, a flurry of activity circles around their shocking deaths: The head of one of the city's last tabloids stops the presses. A cop investigates the killing. A reporter chases the story. A disgraced hedge fund manager flees the country. An Iraq War vet seeks revenge. And an angry young extremist plots a major catastrophe.

The City is many things: a proving ground, a decadent playground, or a palimpsest of memories-- a historic metropolis eclipsed by modern times. As much a thriller as it is a gripping portrait of the city of today, TABLOID CITY is a new fiction classic from the writer who has captured it perfectly for decades.

Pete Hamill is a novelist, journalist, editor, and screenwriter. He is the author of 20 previous books including the bestselling novels FOREVER and SNOW IN AUGUST and the bestselling memoir, A DRINKING LIFE. He lives in New York City.

Click on the following link to hear an excerpt and/or video of TABLOID CITY - http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316020756.htm

To enter this giveaway, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Tabloid City.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. In addition, Hachette advises winners that they will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if they win the same title in two or more contests, they will receive only one copy of the title in the mail. (Winners here have always be great about letting me know if they have already won the book somewhere else so another winner can be selected. However, this announcement is something that has to be passed along from Hachette). And, just so you know, I don’t share the mailing information or use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter the giveaway for a chance at 1 of 2 copies of  TABLOID CITY (ISBN: 9780316020756), a 288 page hardcover editioin, is 8 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, May 7.

Do you like variety in your reading?

Author Joanne Kennedy Guest Blogs

Please join me in welcoming award-winning author Joanne Kennedy back to Thoughts in Progress as the special guest blogger as she makes a stop today on her virtual book tour.

Joanne’s latest release, COWBOY FEVER, is the third installment in her cowboy romance series. Here’s a brief synopsis of the book: She Thought She Had It All…

A modeling contract with Wrangler got this Miss Rodeo Wyoming a first-class ticked out of town, but somewhere along the way Jodi Brand lost her soul. When she gets back to her hometown, her childhood friend Teague Treadwell’s rugged cowboy charm hits her like a ton of bricks…

He Believed He Wasn’t Good Enough…
Teague is convinced Jodi’s success lifted her out of his reach. Now he’s got to shed his bad boy image to be worthy of the girl next door…
But whoever heard of a beauty queen settling for a down and dirty cowboy…

Thanks to Joanne and Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have 2 copies of COWBOY FEVER to giveaway to those commenting on Joanne’s post. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Visitors have until 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, April 15, to comment on this post. Be sure to include your e-mail with your comments if it isn’t included in your profile.

Joanne is here to talk about trading places with one of her characters, who it would be and why. She’s decided she shoulda been a cowgirl.

I want to be a rodeo queen. I’m a little past the proper age, and I don’t really have the skills required—but if I had my life to live over, I’d be one of those quintessential cowgirls with the sparkly hat and big hair.

At the start of every rodeo, the rodeo queens come out and gallop around the arena at top speed, waving flags and goading their horses into complicated formations. They wear sparkly shirts and tight jeans, and they ride like they were born in the saddle. It’s all part of the patriotic pageant of rodeo, as American as any apple pie.

To the uninitiated, rodeo queens might look like all the other pretty pageant princesses – but these women are skilled riders and great representatives for their communities. That’s why I made the heroine of COWBOY FEVER a former rodeo queen. When she arrives in her old hometown at the beginning of the book, Jodi Brand has already led a charmed life. With a modeling contract for Wrangler and a college scholarship behind her, she’s come home to keep the promise she made in her Miss Rodeo Wyoming victory speech: she’s going to make her hometown a better place.

But the real reason I envy this particular heroine is the way she intends to do it. Jodi has a degree in special education and she’s a certified equine therapist. She gets right down to work, building a wheelchair-friendly mounting ramp, finding calm, well-trained horses to use, and collecting a small string of clients that includes Russell, a wheelchair-bound boy who worships cowboys; Dorsey, a little girl with autism who finds confidence and joy in the saddle; and Constance, a child with Asperger’s whose determination to reach perfection in everything she does is both charming and challenging.

The scenes with these kids are based on my experiences with the Cheyenne Therapeutic Equestrian Center (CTEC) where I volunteer. Anita LaFond and her staff of teachers, horses and volunteers are truly an inspiration. If I can’t be Jodi Brand, I want to be Anita when I grow up. Not only does she help her clients gain strength, self-confidence and focus; she also uses rescue horses in the program—so everybody wins.

When I first started working with CTEC, I did it for the horses. My friend’s daughter is a rider there, and I went along as a side-walker, a volunteer who trots alongside the horses and makes sure the client doesn’t fall. I thought that would be a great excuse to mess around with animals.

But I stayed for the children. It is truly inspirational to watch these kids face a bewildering world and find joy on horseback. Faces light up. A child who rarely speaks learns to say “walk on” to get their horse to go. And best of all, a little boy who seemed isolated in his own private world gives you a big, affectionate hug. There are challenges, of course, and some sessions go better than others, but the rewards far outweigh anything else.

Of course, there is one other big reason I’d like to be Jodi Brand, and that’s Teague Treadwell. Teague is a bad boy with a good heart—not the kind of man a rodeo queen is supposed to get mixed up with. But he’s spent the last five years transforming his father’s played-out ranch into a first-class roughstock operation, raising bucking horses and bulls and striving to mend his reputation and be worthy of the town’s golden girl.

I also envy Jodi for her Wyoming roots. Her hometown has its share of busybodies and gossips—but it’s also filled with people who know her and care about her. I grew up in a small town, and I still see it as an idyllic place. I think many of us love small-town romances because we miss that sense of community.

Writing romance novels—and reading them—gives you a chance to make all your wishes come true, and COWBOY FEVER definitely answered some of my prayers. My heroine is the women I want to be, and Teague is the kind of man I love. And although they face a lot of challenges throughout the book, in the end Jodi and Teague stay true to themselves—and to each other.

Joanne, thanks for guest blogging today. It’s always fun to get background on a story. But I especially enjoy learning more about the Cheyenne Therapeutic Equestrian Center (CTEC) and the wonderful work they do.

Now for a bit of background on Joanne. She has worked in bookstores all her life in positions ranging from bookseller to buyer. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and won first place in the Colorado Gold Writing Contest and second place in the Heart of the Rockies contest in 2007.  Joanne lives and writes in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she is working on TALL, DARK AND COWBOY (Releasing in November 2011). For more information on Joanne and her writing, please visit http://joannekennedybooks.com/.

What are your thoughts on being a rodeo queen? Have you heard of the CTEC  or similar programs that help youngsters through riding?

Guest Blogger, Joanne Kennedy

Please join me in welcoming author Joanne Kennedy as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Joanne’s latest release is ONE FINE COWBOY. Thanks to Joanne and Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have two copies of ONE FINE COWBOY to giveaway (open to U.S. and Canada only, sorry) to two lucky visitors commenting on this post between now and 8 p.m. (EST) on Monday, Oct. 4.

Joanne’s book is about sexy cowboys and cowgirls so she’s stopped by today to talk about “A Lifelong Love,” but it just may not be what you think.

ONE FINE COWBOY was inspired by a lifelong love affair—not with cowboys, but with horses.

Despite the fact that my parents wouldn’t buy me a pony when I was a kid, thereby scarring me for life (or so I argued at the time), I was a horse-crazy tween, taking riding lessons, reading Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley, and playing with other people’s horses whenever I could.

Once I moved out on my own and had the space, I finally got my own horses. I wasn’t a very wise judge of horseflesh and all those horse stories had taught me to romanticize wild, intractable stallions, so I always chose critters that were a little on the difficult side. As it turned out, that was a good thing; the scenes in ONE FINE COWBOY with Nate’s feisty stallion were all written from personal experience.

I don’t have horses now, but I’m still fascinated by horse training because it teaches us so much about both animals and people. Training methods have changed over the years, and if they’re any indication of a change in human nature, we’re getting more enlightened every day. Back when horses were an essential mode of transportation, the emphasis was on quickly getting the animals to submit and training could be brutally cruel. Now, trainers use the horse’s natural responses and instincts to build a two-way partnership.

That’s one reason I decided to write a romance that focused on a horse trainer. There are so many parallels between achieving partnership with a horse and building trust in a relationship. I wanted my city-girl heroine to start from the beginning of the process, so I decided my cowboy hero would teach a “Green Horse, Green Rider” clinic where the students trained mustangs.

But I couldn’t write the mustang auction scene without experiencing one for myself. This was the first time I used my new credibility as a published author, talking the Bureau of Land Management into letting me attend a mustang sale at the Canon County Correctional Facility. The BLM holds over a thousand wild horses at this Colorado prison, where inmates train the horses and prepare them for new lives. I’m sure the horses train the prisoners in return; you can’t work with horses without empathy, sensitivity, and compassion.

So not only did I get to go to a mustang sale—I got to go to prison!

I have to admit that the thrill faded a little after I filled out my paperwork and got on the bus that would take me “inside.” I couldn’t help thinking of how many other people had ridden the same bus for a far different reason, and I have to admit it was a little chilling to enter those gates. My romance writer’s mind was creating one scenario after another: what if I’d been convicted of a crime I didn’t commit? What would it be like to enter those gates and know you might never come out?

But all that was forgotten as soon as we crested a hill and I saw the holding facility for the first time. Dozens of enclosures were filled with horses of every color, from typical wild grullas and duns to flashy paints and bays.

There were a number of things that surprised me about the experience. First and foremost was the horses’ curiosity and friendliness. This is partly because they’ve been fed by humans for the months they’ve lived in the facility—but they’ve also been captured and the stallions have been gelded, so I didn’t expect them to be so trusting.

Another surprise was their silence. Rounding up horses for loading is chaotic and stressful. They naturally want to stay with their herd, but the horses at Canon City barely made a sound throughout the process. I found out later that whinnying isn’t a preferred method of communication for horses in the wild; it’s an adaptation to being stabled and unable to see each others’ body language.

The sale was an amazing experience, but sadly, only one horse found a home that day. Most of the animals I saw will remain in holding facilities the rest of their lives. There’s a lot of controversy surrounding the wild horse issue, and no one has been able to implement a solution that pleases everyone. Meanwhile the populations on the range increase and the challenge continues.

Are you a horse lover? What have your experiences been with horses?

Joanne, thanks so much for guest blogging here today. The love of horses is something I can relate to. I’ve loved and wanted a horse since I was a kid. I finally got my first horse shortly after I met my DH. It was a Quarter Horse gelding named Canyon Son and he was perfect for me, very gentle and never in a hurry. It was always a joke (but I think he was probably serious) if we broke up, DH got custody of the horse.

Here’s a brief synopsis of ONE FINE COWBOY (in stores now): He’s got a way with horses…and with women...
Nate Shawcross is perfectly content to spend his days training wild horses. So when a beautiful greenhorn unexpectedly shows up for a seminar from the famous “Horse Whisperer” of Wyoming, all Nate wants to do is send her packing…
The last thing she expects is a lesson in romance…
Graduate student Charlie Banks came to the ranch to learn about horse communication, but when she meets the ruggedly handsome cowboy, she starts to fantasize about another connection entirely…
Nate needs to stay focused if he’s going to save his ranch from foreclosure, but he can’t help being distracted by the brainy and breathtakingly sexy Charlie. Could it be that after all this time Nate has finally found the one woman who can tame his wild heart?

For a little background on Joanne. She has worked in bookstores all her life in positions from bookseller to buyer. A member of Romance Writers of America and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, she won first place in the Colorado Gold Writing Contest and second in the Heart of the Rockies contest. Joanne lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming. For more information, please visit http://joannekennedybooks.com/.

Guest Blogger, Joanne Kennedy

Please join me in welcoming author Joanne Kennedy as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Joanne is the author of “Cowboy Trouble” that was just released this month. 

Here’s a brief synopsis of the book: Fleeing her latest love life disaster, big city journalist Libby Brown's transition to rural living isn't going exactly as planned. Her childhood dream has always been to own a chicken farm—but without the constant help of her charming, sexy, cowboy neighbor; she'd never have made it through her first Wyoming season.

Handsome rancher Luke Rawlins is impressed by this sassy, independent city girl. But he yearns to do more than help Libby out with her ranch…he's ready for love, and he wants to go the distance. When the two get embroiled in their tiny town's one and only crime story, Libby discovers that their sizzling hot attraction is going to complicate her life in every way possible…

Joanne and Danielle at Sourcebooks are giving away copies of “Cowboy Trouble” to two lucky visitors who comment on Joanne’s post between now and Thursday, April 1.

Joanne has stopped by today to talk about why she writes with a western theme instead of a straight mystery with a touch of romance. Joanne, is it romance, mystery, western - or all three?

It’s all Luke Rawlins’ fault.
 
Cowboy Trouble was going to be a mystery, but then he showed up in his cowboy duds, my heroine fell in love, and next thing I knew, I had a hybrid on my hands. The book became a little bit of a mystery and a little bit of a Western, all wrapped up in a romance.

Luke is very persuasive—just ask Libby. He’s charming and funny and sweet, and once he turned up, he became the center of the story. Libby’s struggle to fit into her new small-town surroundings and her efforts to unravel the town’s one-and-only unsolved mystery are an important part of the book, but her relationship with Luke is the heart of the story.

But I can’t blame Luke for everything. I’m partly to blame, because I can’t help but write romance. I submitted an early draft of the first few chapters to a contest in the mystery category, and all three of the judges that read it deemed it “too romancey.” That was kind of an “aha moment” for me. I realized what I was meant to do—write romance—and I’ve been doing it ever since.

But sometimes straight romance is a little too predictable. The reader knows the hero and heroine are headed for a happily-ever-after ending, so the relationship arc doesn’t hold a lot of suspense—except that there are a lot of different ways to get to that happy ending. Still, Luke and Libby’s attraction was so strong and so clear that I needed to throw a couple roadblocks in their way, and the mystery added an element of suspense that gave the book another dimension.

I grew up on the gothic romances of Mary Stewart and Phyllis Whitney, and there was always an intriguing shot of mystery or suspense in those stories. I still enjoy romances with a touch of mystery. Linda Howard, Gemma Halliday, and Allison Brennan all infuse their romances with suspense, and I love them all.

Besides, it’s natural for me to blend genres because I read so many different kinds of books. I’ve worked in bookstores all my life, and bookselling provides a great excuse to sample a little bit of everything. If I had to cite influences, I’d name a lot of contemporary romance writers I admire—Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Linda Lael Miller, and Nora Roberts, among others—but my writing style comes from a lot of different sources.

I wanted Cowboy Trouble to be a fast, fun read, where you just couldn’t help turning the pages, so I used simple language and short chapters like James Patterson. I love the way Jonathan Kellerman uses short, one-sentence paragraphs for emphasis, so I use that technique once in a while, too. I admire Janet Evanovich’s zany humor, so you’ll find a lot of comedy in Cowboy Trouble.

The Western element comes from my own interest in Western history. I’m a transplanted Easterner, but I’ve always been fascinated by the West. I’m not sure what sparked my interest—Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove, probably, and Ken Burns’ documentary on The West. Once I moved out here, the history and the landscape infused my mind with a passion for all things Western.

Oh, who am I kidding?

That’s all true, but what really gets me fired up about the West is the cowboys. I like my men manly, and wrestling a living out of this arid, uncooperative land makes a man tough and unflappable. I like to see a softer side, too, and training horses and caring for cattle brings out his nurturing side. The combination? Priceless.

And then there are the clothes. We all love a man in uniform, but we like our guys to be strong individuals too—and cowboy clothes give you the best of both worlds. The hat, jeans, chaps, and boots identify his profession beyond a doubt, but each man puts his own twist on those elements. Just go to any rodeo and check out the various styles, cuts, and colors. I doubt any self-respecting rodeo cowboy would admit to caring about his appearance, but their clothes make as strong a statement as any design maven’s career separates.

When I wrote Cowboy Trouble, I wasn’t consciously making an effort to blend genres. But this was Luke and Libby’s story, and Libby can’t help her penchant for righting wrongs. Luke can’t resist helping Libby—so it was natural for the two of them to plunge into the heart of their hometown and reveal its secrets.

Do you like your romance straight, or with a shot of suspense? What are your favorite genre-blending books?

Thanks so much Joanne for blogging here today. All the different elements in the book coming together to give your readers so many different genres in one is great.

Joanne will be dropping back by today to answer any questions you may have, as well as respond to your comments. Now a little background on her. She has worked in bookstores all her life in positions ranging from bookseller to buyer. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and won first place in the Colorado Gold Writing Contest and second place in the Heart of the Rockies contest in 2007.  Joanne lives and writes in Cheyenne, Wyoming. For more information you can visit her at http://joannekennedybooks.com/.