Sorry I missed last week’s post, but I was . . . friend-napped! There I was, minding my own uninspired business last Thursday when “Knock Knock” came opportunity in the guise of one of my critique partners and her sister (also an aspiring author!) who was visiting from Chicago. After a great gabfest lunch, we were talking at my dining room table and boom – an invite to Chicago for a long writer weekend. A blink was followed by a “Yes!” that surprised them more than me. In 15 minutes, I was packed, and we were on our way. Why is this such a big deal? Because I am the LEAST spontaneous person on the planet. I have to have a list and a plan before I go from one room to the next. From all my books, the character most like me grew up in my favorite Western Romance series. Jack Bass was introduced as a boy in the first book of the series, TEMPTATION’S TRAIL and I knew then that he deserved his own story . . . and one spin off became a five-book series. Here’s a glimpse at a true hearted Texas hero:
It was heaven and hell.The woman in his arms was everything Jack desired – strong, brave, sweet-spirited, and beautiful. Her touch made everything inside him all hot and fluid, like the spring waters at Boquillas. She was the kind of woman a man looked for all his life, and if he was lucky enough to find her, he was smart enough to never let her go. Most of his fellow rangers were happy with the solitary life, content to roll themselves in a blanket under the stars, eat their meals out of a tin, and wash when they started scaring away game. They had no dreams beyond the moment, and most didn’t care if the future lasted fifty years or fifty minutes, but Jack wasn’t like them. He’d come from a solid family background, had seen the love between his mother and Will, between his uncle and Amanda, had held his baby brothers and sister in his arms and had known right then that he wanted children of his own. He wanted the vision Harmon had given him years ago, of looking out over land of his own, a wife and kids beside him, a table to sit at, and the satisfaction of belonging. Heaven was finding the woman to make that dream come true.Hell was having her belong to someone else.
TEXAS DESTINY was started in a notebook on my kitchen table . . . in long hand . . . and in just over three-weeks, was ready to be typed and sent in. Imagine my surprise when I got the cover with it’s half-Apache hero as a blond and his captive love interest in a frilly dress in a lush setting that was supposed to be dusty West Texas. Sigh . . . Cover aside, the series continued with TEXAS RENEGADE (and the BEST cover ever!), featuring Jack’s half-Apache step-son and his uncle’s wild daughter; WILD TEXAS BRIDE with Jack’s sister and his impulsive best friend, and SWEET TEXAS DREAMS, bringing rough-and-tumble Texans into conflict with a city slicker from New York. I’d just started a new book, that would take Harm’s restless son to the conflict in Cuba when my contract ended along with the popularity of Western romance, and I was house-hunting again. I’d just rediscovered those first few chapters and WOW! I think I might be donning the Dana Ransom mantle again someday soon with reissues with a brand-new concluding (perhaps!) book in this series that helped win me ROMANTIC TIMES MAGAZINE’s “Career Achievement Award for Romantic Adventure.”
For now, it’s back to the W-I-P Romantic Suspense world set in – Texas, after I check in with your progress!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
So much conflict and angst in that last sentence of the snippet! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I call the punch line . . . and it has to pack an emotional wallop.
DeleteGotta love those old covers LOL. Enjoyed the snippet, I can see why he was such a great character to write.
ReplyDeleteI've had some great covers! Had the pleasure of going into the NY Zebra/Kensington office and seeing my (at that time) latest in all stages of publication . . . including the cover sketches and final art. It was a once in a lifetime treat.
DeleteWow--that last sentence! I am so enjoying your trips down memory lane. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy mom had subscriptions to various romance book clubs. She had boxes and boxes and boxes of books when she passed away. We gave them away. Now I wonder how many of your books were in those boxes. :-)
Glad you said yes to the Chicago weekend!
Half the fun of writing them is having people read them and pass them on!! And the other half is having great writer friends!!
DeleteHeaven and hell is correct! It's a great beginning.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Aurora!!
DeleteThat last sentence is the sweet spot of the conflict--same as mine this week! LOL If you find that impossible conflict, then overcome it, you've got the reader hook, line, and sinker! I hope you get to finish the series! Great snippet! Tweeted.
ReplyDeleteI plan to get back into that book as soon as I finish my WIP. By then, hopefully I'll have the rest of the series scanned to repub.
DeleteLoved the emotion of him wanting the family. And your emotion of not getting the cover you wanted. It reminded me of the first design of Elissa the Curious Snail. I sent them my ideas and there was a disconnect. The artists concept was frightening. Perhaps one day I will share it with the Writing Warriors.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear your story regarding Elissa's cover!! Please post about it.
DeleteThat's my kind of man. I really like him. Your last sentence caught sure caught my attention.
ReplyDeleteMine, too! He's my favorite steady good guy hero . . . but then I always lean toward the bad boys.
DeleteLike everyone else, that last sentence really hit me hard. Talk about conflict! Sounds like you had a great weekend. You deserve a weekend off to have fun and recharge your batteries.
ReplyDeleteAnd now off to Retreat! Sure wish you'd be there . . .
Delete