It seems readers love cowboys! They plow through
these stories, some at the pace of several books a week and then search for
more.
What is the appeal of the cowboy and why are readers
so anxious to devour their stories?
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| Working cowboy. |
Many people are quite taken with the dynamic, fascinating,
much-admired, and often misunderstood time period. They choose to immerse
themselves in it, studying it in the most intimate way—through a romance novel.
I can relate to this in small ways, as I am sure a
lot of us can. Nostalgia is as American as apple pie, and I’m no exception. The
American west is my greatest inspiration, near and dear to my heart. I was
raised in the west, and I feel lucky, invigorated, and inspired every time I
look out the window in my home and see beautiful Arizona mountain ranges
outside. I’m not quite ready to give up my computer and car (let alone my
lovely home) to live the life of a frontier woman, but I’m one of many who is
wowed and inspired by this period in American history. And my readers agree.
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| Working a bronc in the pen. |
Americans take a lot of pride in their Western
frontier ancestors, and they always have, even when it was a fairly recent
past. The Western was the most popular genre of Hollywood film from the early
20th century all the way through the 1960s. Though their massive popularity
dropped off in the latter half of the century, these films and the time period
they represent remain major influences for popular directors like Quentin
Tarantino.
What is it we find so fascinating, so compelling,
about this time period? For one thing, it was a time of great hardship. The men
and women of the frontier were building lives from scratch, with little social,
economic, or political support. These were people of discipline, strength, and
ingenuity, who when faced with a challenge, had no choice but to work hard and find
a solution. Any one of us would have a hard time if we were dropped into even
the most advanced and thriving metropolis of the late 19th century. On the
Western frontier, people had it even harder.
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| Taking a meal break. |
They were tough, rugged people who endured lives
more difficult than what most of us can imagine, and even so, we associate
these people with honor, integrity, and deeply held values. These people, for
whom survival itself was such a challenge, still had the emotional strength to
be good to one another, to keep their word, and to cultivate virtues, not for
any kind of reward or recognition, but simply because that is what was done.
These days, a lot of people feel we’ve collectively
lost our way, and that we as a society, and as individuals, are suffering a crisis
of morals. Our values and virtues are not nearly so clear or strong as they
once were, and so we look to other times for inspiration and guidance.
That is the crux of our admiration for the people of
the western frontier. Men and women of discipline, honor, and independence are
so very appealing to readers, whether they live on the early western frontier
or a modern city or town.
Today, virtues are not the cultural cornerstone they
once were. However, we can count on our ancestors. We can count on the past to
show us examples of good people, surviving and thriving, and doing so with
kindness and grace.
I hope my stories provide readers with characters
that exemplify these qualities. Dixie Moon, book four in the Redemption
Mountain Historical Western Series, weaves a story of romance, adventure, tough
choices, and honor.
Dixie
Moon, book four in my Redemption Mountain series.
Gabe Evans is a
man of his word with strong convictions and steadfast loyalty. As the
sheriff of Splendor, Montana, the ex-Union Colonel and oldest of four boys from
an affluent family, Gabe understands the meaning of responsibility. The last
thing he wants is another commitment—especially of the female variety.
Until he meets
Lena Campanel...
Lena’s past is
one she intends to keep buried. Overcoming a childhood of setbacks and obstacles,
she and her friend, Nick, have succeeded in creating a life of financial
success and devout loyalty to one another.
When an
unexpected death leaves Gabe the sole heir of a considerable estate, partnering
with Nick and Lena is a lucrative decision…forcing Gabe and Lena to work
together. As their desire grows, Lena refuses to let down her guard,
vowing to keep her past hidden—even from a perfect man like Gabe.
But secrets never
stay buried…
When revealed,
Gabe realizes Lena’s secrets are deeper than he ever imagined. For a man of his
character, deception and lies of omission aren’t negotiable. Will he be able to
forgive the deceit? Or is the damage too great to ever repair?
Dixie Moon
is available through these vendors:
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