Fun project for a great cause! by Paty Jager

My story in the anthology

I believe I've talked about Wild Deadwood Reads here before. It is an author/reader event held in Deadwood South Dakota in June. Last year was the first year. I took my niece (assistant) and her mother. We took our time driving from Oregon to South Dakota, stopping at the Little Bighorn and seeing sights.

Once we arrived there were fun events hosted by authors spread out over the weekend with a booksigning One of the events I sponsored was the PBR rodeo.This year they have taken the whole rodeo event to a higher level of entertainment. The VIP rodeo event package starts on Saturday with a bus picking up the people who purchased the package at the hotel at 4:45 pm.  It takes everyone to the rodeo grounds were they are taken on a behind the chutes tour of running a bull into the chutes and cowboys will show us how they prepare to make the ride. There will be the announcer and the bull fighters to answer our questions. Everyone receives an official Deadwood t-shirt and swag bag. A dinner prepared by Number 10 Saloon will be served in a special VIP tent on the rodeo grounds. After dinner we'll take our VIP seats to watch the action. The bus that brought everyone to the rodeo grounds will take us to Number 10 Saloon to party with the PBR cowboys afterwards.

Most of the authors who are hosting the Rodeo VIP package are also featured authors in the Wild Deadwood Tales Anthology.

 Rodeos and romance, Old West adventure, and even a few ghostly tales. Deadwood's wild past and exciting present come alive in seventeen original short stories written by USA Today and Amazon bestselling authors to benefit the Western Sports Foundation. Contributing authors: E.E. Elisabeth Burke, Zoe Blake, Paty Norman Jager, Teresa Keefer, Megan Kelly, Sylvia McDaniel, Amanda McIntyre, Peggy McKenzie, Angi Morgan, Nancy Naigle, Jacqui Nelson, Terri Osburn, Ginger Ring, Maggie Ryan, Lizbeth Selvig, Tina Susedik and A.C. Wilson

Proceeds from this limited edition collection go to benefit the Western Sports Foundation, an organization providing critical assistance to athletes competing in Western lifestyle sports. Whether they need help recuperating from an injury or planning for the future, WSF is there for them.

website: http://bit.ly/DeadwoodTales

The book is available for preorder now and will be publish May ^st, and you can purchase autographed print copies at the PBR Rodeo in Deadwood, SD on June 8^th and 9^th.

CASH’S CLAIM

Zoe Blake

She was his...and it was past time he staked his claim.

Jessamine Cooper was determined to stay independent and run her late uncle's ranch on her own. When she shows up in Deadwood with an ill-advised plan to win the money she needs playing poker, Cash decides it is past time for him to stake his claim.

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UNEXPECTED CALAMITY

E.E. Burke

A friendship that never died.

Calamity Jane is drawn back to Deadwood by a force more powerful than death, and becomes an unexpected savior in the midst of an epidemic.

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SAVING DALLIE

Paty Jager 

Everyone deserves a chance.

When a miner tosses his daughter into the pot at a poker game and the winner is a brothel owner, Beau Gentry is determined to keep the young woman out of the man’s hands.

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THE GAMBLER AND THE PREACHER’S DAUGHTER

Teresa Keefer

Can a preacher's daughter play poker with a gambler and win?

Leticia Chasteen was always getting dragged into situations she didn't want to be in. Rusty McGraw the gambler was always coming to her rescue. Who will end up with the winning hand?

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A RISKY PROPOSAL

Megan Kelly

He loves her. She loves him. A proposal should be good news, right?

Callie Jones never wanted to date a bull rider. Now she’s fallen in love with Rome Anderson, who’s intent on winning the PBR Championship buckle. When he asks her to marry him, she has to decide: Does she break his heart with a no or doom her future with a yes?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LOVE ACROSS TIME

Sylvia McDaniel

Is it possible to love someone in another time? Are dreams real?

Sadie Mae Miller is hanging up her barrel racing crown and beginning a new life. But when her grandmother asks her to sleep under a new wedding ring quilt with promises of visions of the love of her life, she doesn’t quite believe her. Until she falls asleep. Only problem is, he lived in 1880. Does time separate the lovers?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ONCE UPON A DEADWOOD DREAM

Amanda McIntyre

Sometimes to find your future you must face the past.

Past and present meld together in Deadwood when a woman who discovers true love must fight to escape a deadly twist of fate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE BROTHERHOOD

Peggy McKenzie

Sometimes, love is hiding in the most peculiar places.

Major Lucas Hamilton, widower and father of four boys, insists on the disciplined order of a regimented household. But when a bumbling young woman falls at his feet, will he take a chance on her or send her packing before she burns his house down to the ground.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MAVERICK SEDUCTION

Angi Morgan

Teenage crush or true love. You decide.

Sean Maverick is on a charity auction block until a beautiful woman from his past buys him for the night. Em Stone believed in love at first sight even if she had to lasso and knock Sean off his feet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Nancy Naigle

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride? Never say never.

Kendra is fine with being a bridesmaid. She hung up her wedding hopes and dreams eight years ago when her cowboy chose the rodeo over her, but when these two cross paths in Deadwood it looks like the timing just might be right for a reconciliation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RESCUING RAVEN

Jacqui Nelson

In a gold rush storm, can an unlikely pair rescue each other?

Raven wants to save one person. Charlie wants to save the world. Their warring nations thrust them together but duty pulled them apart—until their paths crossed again in Deadwood for a fight for love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFTER THE FALL

Terri Osburn

When it comes to love, sometimes falling is the easy part.

Aspyn Fielding blames Tucker Stargill for not talking her brother, Colt, out of riding bulls. When Colt is gravely injured during a ride, Aspyn is hopeful Tucker will finally see things her way, but Aspyn is the one who has a change of heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BEST RESULTS

Ginger Ring

Finding the perfect results from one simple test.

Orphaned at a young age, both Adam and River yearn to find a living relative from either of their families. After finally deciding to put down roots in Deadwood, a simple DNA test brings a result that is more than they ever expected.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A GIFT OF GOLD

Maggie Ryan

There may be gold in the Black Hills, but Bennett had his eyes on a far more valuable prize.

Not one to be deterred by the dictates of society, Lorelai Samuels had a dream to open a restaurant in the bustling new town of Deadwood and no one was going to stand in her way, especially not the infuriatingly handsome and stubborn Bennett Redding.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOTTA HAVE FAITH

Lizbeth Selvig

Win or lose, she’s about to take on the big boys.

Faith “Rabbit” Redmond forms an extreme plan at the Deadwood rodeo to convince a champion bull rider that women can excel at the dangerous sport. If she wins his respect, she might also win his love. .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE SCHOOL MARM

Tina Susedik

Can a schoolmarm with dreams of a better life, fall for a disreputable man?

Suzanna Lindstrom travels as a schoolmarm in fledgling Deadwood. Having left her parents’ struggling farm, she dreams of a better life in Deadwood with a man who’s struck it rich in the gold fields. Fresh off the stagecoach, she meets Kingston Winson, whom she disregards as disreputable. Is he who she thinks he is? What lesson will she learn?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRICKS

A.C. Wilson

Tricks inspire courage and new love while daring others to dream.

Pushed to choose a direction for her life, Tandi discovers that some crossroads are necessary. Surprisingly, each marker leads her to an arena of spectators with her talented horse and a handsome guy who gives her hope to do the impossible.

Here are the links to the book to prerorder at the various retailers. It is available May 1^st.

Amazon http://bit.ly/WDTales
universal Link https://www.books2read.com/WDTales

Apple  http://bit.ly/WDTApple

Nook  http://bit.ly/WDTBN

Kobo  http://bit.ly/WDTKobo
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/…/sh…/39739914-wild-deadwood-tales

April is National Autism Awareness Month by Susan Sheehey

April is National Autism Awareness Month.

But it’s every day in our house, every month of the year.

Our 9yr old was diagnosed when he was 4.

April 2^nd is the official World Autism Awareness Day. Coincidentally, I was sitting in the parking lot of the developmental pediatrician’s office that morning, waiting to go in to have our second child assessed for ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

I understand this month is supposed to bring awareness and acceptance to the world for those who suffer from ASD. And this post is quite different than what I normally share.

But I actually have something important to say.

First and foremost, I love my boys. I will do anything for them.

But I don’t celebrate my eldest son’s autism.

Autism is not like it’s displayed in the movies.

Those are clichés. Or extreme rarities, like the savants.

Our Autism is hard. I won’t go into specifics. That would take FAR too long. Your eyes would glaze over, and you’d probably move on to the next email in your inbox.

But sitting in the parking lot of the developmental pediatrician’s office for my younger son’s evaluation was extremely difficult.

Because I know where this path goes.

We’ve lived it for years.

There is nothing more personal.

My younger son just turned 4. If he does end up on the spectrum, he has completely different symptoms than my eldest son. Different areas that effect how he interacts with the world. Or lack of interaction.

But of all the research I’ve done, everything we’ve experienced, every therapist/ doctor/ expert I’ve spoken to in both the medical field and educational field…

It’s hard to sit in that car and not cry.

But I can’t cry. My son is in the backseat. I don’t want him to freak out. I don’t want him to think I’m taking him some place that will hurt him. Because why else would mommy be crying in the front seat?

April is National Autism Awareness Month. I know many Autism mothers, fathers, grandparents that celebrate it, and enjoy getting to share their lives with the world. I am all for spreading awareness. I congratulate those parents and individuals for having that optimism and that enthusiasm. For reaching that point.

I know even more Autism Warrior parents that do not celebrate it. Because it’s freaking hard. I would use another F word if I could. There are things we see and deal with that is extremely jarring to ‘outsiders.’ It’s heartbreaking. Because the only thing I want to do is help my son lead the most full and loving life he possibly can. Some days, the world is viciously unkind. Some days, the world is just too much, and we struggle to help make it smaller for him, or less painful.

So, for this National Autism Awareness Month, I guess the only piece of advice I would ask everyone is don’t judge. Not the child, nor the parent. You have no idea what these kids are going through, what their parents are going through, and you have no idea what it’s like living

their lives. Don’t make fun. Don’t judge, and certainly don’t apologize.

Try to include. Try to understand. If you can’t understand, that’s fine, too. Then at least, try to

help. Any small gesture. If you see a child having a tantrum in the grocery store, don’t give them

strange looks or place blame. Offer to help the parent. (Not the child, the parent is focusing on their needs). If the parent seems testy, don’t take it personally. It’s weeks and week and months and months of stress coming out at the wrong moment. Honestly, we’re not used to people offering to help.

So, it’s April 10^th, now. And he has another assessment (6 total over the course of the month). Here we go again.

I hope you all have a great week.

To all my fellow warrior parents:

Learning Curves - Writing

Learning Curves –

In writing, as any other profession, there are things you need to learn. But, unlike most other jobs out there, there’s not a set training regimen. When I worked as a teller for a Credit Union, I had a checklist for skills that I needed to learn. Classes I had to attend to learn about Computer Programs specific to the EFTs and Debit Cards. There was a method to the madness.

Not exactly the same for authors. Sure, there are classes. Lots of classes. And many of them are really good, but a lot of what I’ve discovered in writing I’ve either stumbled over it as an issue, or had someone clue me in on what else I have learn.

This last week’s lesson for me?

Series Bibles –

And no, if you haven’t heard the phrase before, it’s not meant to knock or belittle the actual Bible. A Series Bible – holds all of the pertinent information on Characters, Locations, Events in a book series.

And it’s mostly to help the author keep track of the W’s in a series. Who What When Where

I used to use just a word doc – but it’s harder to keep the facts that I need straight

I’m starting a Contemporary Romance Series next year –

So far I have Character sections and Locations sections in the Excel Sheet.

Characters - Name, Unit, M/F, Job, Race, Eyes, Hair…

Locations – Name, Business/Home, Character

Later on, I’ll add more information ‘columns’ as I realize what’s needed. I’ve done something similar for a Sweet Western Series that I’m writing… that’s what makes Excel the best possible method for keeping track of all of the facts I need. It’s much easier to drop in a column or a row instead of trying to add pieces to a word document.

Are there better ways to do all this work? I’m sure… but this is how I’m figuring it out for now. :D

So… do you have a better idea?

Do you know a program that would handle this better?

Diversity... by Carolyn Hector

Diversity...

There’s a lot of talk going on since RWA announced their finalists for the Ritas and I’m kinda sad. Sure, I didn’t final, but some fantabulous ladies did not either and when you’re an #AOC you sometimes have to question it.

 Did they not like my book? Like, seriously, you didn’t like it or you didn’t want to like it or didn’t want to give it a chance and so you scored it low. Did you even read it?

And the kicker for me was … the day before the announcement, I renewed my membership. which is half the cost of the entry fee for the contest.  

So RWA sent out a memo about inclusivity and it has sparked a lot of conversations.

I came across a well meaning woman who assumed that for the Harlequin Kimani line, she always assumed they were meant for Black people only. I am not upset with her. I recommended as many  Kimani authors I could tag in my space for her to check out a few. 

Seriously folks... POC fall in love the same way.
We all have the same tropes we devour.
Billionaire moguls? Athletes?
Here are two I'm reading right now
Sheryl Lister's Family Saga, Still Loving You (The Gray's of Los Angeles)
Reese Ryan's  Savannah's Secret (The Bourbon Brothers)--the heroine is trying to get back what rightfully belongs to her family. And she's from West Virginia... so I'm hooked there.

Want something hilarious? Check out Phyllis Bourne and her latest book, Feud.

That's just a couple... but there are so many out there. Please don't confuse what the brick-and-mortar folks put on the shelves. It seems like who ever puts books out places all the people of the same hue on the same shelf and/or section. If the word THUG, HOE, MISTRESS, is in the title, it is not the kind of romance you're used to reading. It is not the romance I write.


I am still sad about the closing of Kimani. I submitted something to my dream line, Presents. I still haven't heard anything. They just put out a statement about being sincere about a diverse representation.


I'm sorry this post isn't the usual bubbly self. I am just so disheartened by what's going on in romancelandia.

What's the last book you read by an Author of Color?




. The Bachelor and the Beauty Queen -📘 1amzn.to/2scNncj
His Southern Sweetheart -📙 2-http://amzn.to/2bqYaVb
The Beauty and the CEO -📒 3-http://amzn.to/2d4L9E8
A Tiara Under the Tree -📗 4- amzn.to/2riM3PM
Tempting the Beauty Queen -📒 5-http://amzn.to/2yF0HbR

PS.. you don't have to be a beauty queen to read these!

Favorite Authors, and a #CoverReveal @JacquieRogers #westernromance

Which Authors Do You Love? 
by Jacquie Rogers

Writing is hard--and it sure makes me appreciate my favorite authors because now I know the dedication it takes to allow a story to bloom.  I'll tell you about the blooming of my latest book, Much Ado About Mail-Order Brides (Hearts of Owyhee #6), in a minute, but first I'd like to indulge in one of my favorite topics...

Awesome Writers 

These are my A-List authors.  These are the writers whose books made a lasting impression on me.

William Shakespeare

To be honest, I didn't much care for his writing style when I was 12, but I always loved his stories.  It seems that he's penned a story for every stage of my life.  My favorite comedy was (still is) Much Ado About Nothing.  What a mix-up!  And mistaken identities.  Of course, that's why I named my Hearts of Owyhee titles "Much Ado About M..."  In each, there's a mix-up or misidentified character--sometimes a major character and sometimes not, but they're there.  I can't say my stories rival old Will's, but he did give me inspiration.  Don't worry about me following in his footsteps and writing tragedy, though.  I'm still mad about Romeo and Juliette.  They really should've had a Happily Ever After, dang it all.

Mary Renault



I loved Mary Renault's books so much that I haven't read her last one.  She died and I know if I read the last one, there will never be another.  Her work was first introduced to me in my college mythology class, where we were assigned to read The King Must Die.  I loved that book so much I read all the others in that series--except the last one, The Nature of Alexander.  It's on my keeper shelf, waiting for me.  Her books brought Greek mythology to life for me, and I've been enthralled ever since.  I wonder if I could get away with writing a series with Greek gods in the Old West.  Hmmm.  Rick Riordan wrote his in contemporary USA, so maybe that would work.

Louis L'Amour

Louis L'Amour introduced me to western historical romance, which is a subgenre I love.  Most people don't think of him as a romance writer but have they read Hondo?  Yes, it's a romance through and through.  Only thing is, once he got to the good part, he backed off and that frustrated me to no end.  I'm not talking about sex scenes--I'm referring to the build-up of the romance and the next thing you know, the woman is serving the main character coffee in the morning.  He skips right over the part where they actually make some sort of commitment.  But I enjoy reading his books--they have great action scenes and he's not above penning a cheap joke, too.  So of course I was hooked.  I've read several of his books and short stories, and have several more on my Kindle waiting for me.

Caroline Clemmons

The first book I wrote was a time-travel to the future.  I'd always enjoyed time-travels so decided to write one.  My second was a western historical romance.  In between that book and the next, I read Caroline Clemmons's first published book and I've been her fangirl from that day forward.  I wore out two copies of  The Most Unsuitable Wife (The Kincaids Book 1) studying the characterization and structure.  Now I'm looking forward to reading the first book in her new series--and OMG it's a time-travel!  Yay, one of my favorite genres.  The new book is titled Texas Lightning (Texas Time Travel #1).  And it's waiting on my Kindle now--it'll be my reward for finally finishing my current book.  I know before I read the first word that I'll love this book because Caroline can't write anything that I don't love.  She's definitely and Awesome Writer.

Cover Reveal!

So far, this book is half-again as long as it was supposed to be and it's still not finished!  Nothing like being two months behind schedule.  But it's coming along and I only have about five chapters left to write, so I'm hoping it's done by the end of next week and ready for the editor.

Much Ado About Mail-Order Brides is the sixth book in the Hearts of Owyhee series.  All these books are in Kindle Unlimited so if you're a subscriber, you can read them for free.  Better get caught up!

And on that note, I better get to writing.  And writing, and writing.  See you next month, and Happy Reading!

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WHETHER WEATHER WORKS

By Caroline Clemmons

April is the month when showers bring May flowers. I apologize to those who are still surrounded by snow. Spring has arrived in North Central Texas.

My mom's favorite flower, iris

Iris and daffodils are in bloom. Our hyacinths have finished. This is the time of year I vow to plant more bulbs in the fall as well as a couple of forsythia bushes.

However, this post is about weather and whether it works as one of the characters in a book. I say it does—for some books. For instance, in several of my romances the weather plays a major part of the plot.

In my first published romance, BE MY GUEST, the heroine was trapped with the hero in a flood. In THE MOST UNSUITABLE COURTSHIP, a dust storm isolated the main characters, one of whom was an asthmatic child. (Thanks to Beth Trissel for her help with the herbal treatments in that book.) In LORRAINE, a tornado had the hero and heroine seeking protection in the kneehole of a desk. Cozy, right?

In my latest release, TEXAS LIGHTNING, you can guess that lightning plays a part. In MURDOCH’S BRIDE, snow isolated the human characters. In fact, I’ve used snow in several books.

My theory is that a character doesn’t have to be human. Authors use whatever they need to develop the story and make it as entertaining as possible. Sometimes that includes using the weather to move the story forward.