I See My Books As Movies

While I write my books, I see them as movies and hear the music. In WALKER: THE RODEO LEGEND, I saw my wounded vet suffering in the hospital before returning to Wyoming. When he did arrive, he hung out in Markton, Wyoming, at an old motel for a few days, and ate a meal or two at a dive before contacting his older brother Jesse at the CODY ranch to let him know he was back. I think of these as my mood pieces.

Those two segments of my film didn’t make it into my final, polished creation and ended up on the cutting room floor. Neither did my title, RODEO WARRIOR. (Tears) I think maybe they were my favorite segments because, to me, they caught the flavor of this particular western, and summed up the feelings of this all American hero rodeo cowboy who’s been carrying around baggage for a long, long time.

I told you I hear the music as well as visualize the movie in my head. My first scene showed Walker lying in his hospital bed recovering from his IED wounds. His nurse, who has already fallen under his spell, comes in to take his vitals and flirt with this former rodeo hero, hoping he’ll bite, but no such luck. He’s so morose, she wants to cheer him up and turns on the radio to a country western station. Below is the song being sung by a female vocalist. (I wrote the words) When the song is over, he mutters, “That’s a flattering opinion you have of me.”

Hey rodeo fans, can you hear me? Better hold your sweetheart tight.
There’s an exciting new bulldogger coming into town tonight.
He’s hot out of the box, and he’s hot with the women,
He’ll mess with your gal, consider that a given.
Tall, dark and sexy, handsome as sin,
He’s the rodeo warrior lover who’s about to gallop in.
If you don’t want a broken heart before daylight,
Keep your gal out of sight and locked up tight.
Better put her in the barn and throw away the key,
Don’t let him near her, or believe you me,
He’ll take her for a horseback ride, And rob you blind,
Before he throws a steer, and leaves your gal behind.
He’s a charmer, he’s a talker, he’s a no-strings guy,
He’s the rodeo warrior lover, in town on the fly.

The other segment that didn’t make it into my movie shows Walker at the local dive. He’s just come into Markton. Since he doesn’t want company, he tells the waitress to find him a table away from everyone. “Right back here, cowboy,” she says before turning on the old juke box, picking the song that suits him to a T. For her understanding, he leaves her a fat tip at the end of the meal. Below is the song (again written by me)

Hey, Wanda? Bring the blue plate special, I’m eating alone tonight.

Put me in the corner, away from the light.
If anyone should ask for me, you know what to say, all I want’s the blue plate special, everyone else just stay away.
Don’t come any closer, don’t sit down with me, don’t tangle with me, honey, just leave me be.
I want the blue plate special, without the company.
Other gals have tried, much braver than you, save yourself the trouble, I’ll give you a clue. I want the blue plate special, I don’t want you.
You don’t want to be around me, you don’t know who I am, you think you have the answers, but honey, I don’t give a damn. I want the blue plate special, did you hear me? Scram!
Hey, Wanda? If anyone should ask for me, you know what to say. All I want’s the blue plate special, everyone else just stay away.

Hope you enjoyed this little insight into Walker’s psyche before he rejoined his family and met the love of his life. Read the whole Cody series and thrill to the challenges and joys of this first family of Rodeo.

Rebecca Winters

Gotta Love Those Cowboys

I used to hate cowboys.

I know that sounds odd, especially since I’ve written half a dozen cowboy romances for Harlequin American. But the truth of the matter is, I used to be the world’s biggest snob. Cowboys? Yuk. Give me a military man or a sports action hero, not someone who made his living roping steers or trying to ride bucking broncs.

And then I met a bull rider.

Honestly, I didn’t want a thing to do with the man. What kind of fool mounted a two-thousand pound animal as a way of making a living? Stupid, thy name is cowboy. But a funny thing happened on the way to the rodeo.

I fell in love.

Somehow the world’s biggest idiot turned out to the be the world’s sweetest man. And he loved animals. I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a man that’s not afraid to bottle feed a baby calf.

I married my cowboy and now I enjoy writing about them. We even moved to what I call Cowboy Country California, way up in the northern part of the state. Ten miles away from my house is one of the west coast’s largest stock yards. It’s not uncommon for them to house up to three-thousand head of cattle in a weekend. And if you follow a crow due north, you’ll bump into Four Star Rodeo, a leading breeder of bucking bulls. You might have seen some of their stock at the NFR. And, of course, one can’t forget Growney Brothers right down the road. Their bull, Red Rock, became a household name thanks to a little movie called EIGHT SECONDS.

It’s not uncommon to hear the chink-chink-chink of spurs on the sidewalk. Horses neigh and the lull of cows can be heard in the distance. The men who care for these animals are everywhere, even waiting in line at the local espresso house. Yes, cowboys love triple shot lattes, too.

I’ve learned a few other things along the way. Here’s my Top Five Things I Bet You Didn’t Know About Cowboys.

1. A true cowboy hangs up his hat…always. Failing that, he’ll set it down open side up. To place a hat open side down is bad luck…and God forbid you set a hat down on a bed. Yikes!

2. Most cowboys always leave their spurs on, yes, even with they take off their boots…and if you’ve never stubbed your toe on rowels, you’ve never experienced true pain.

3. The shape of a cowboy’s hat will tell you what kind of stock he works with and where he’s from. Low brim with curled edges—probably rides broncs or bulls. Tight crease: horse show exhibitor. Flat hat with no crease—a high desert rider.

4. Cowboys love starch, and I’m not talking potatoes. Wrangler jeans are so heavily coated with the fabric hardening substance that they can literally stand up on their own.

5. If you want to know what type of rodeo event a cowboy competes in, look at his boots. Rough stock riders wear boots with rawhide heels. Why? Rawhide is harder than leather. The abuse a boot takes from the constant spurring action causes the soft leather to shred.

And that’s it! Don’t forget to enter my COWBOY CONTEST at http://www.pamelabritton.com/. One lucky reader will win a super cool cowgirl necklace. Good luck!

Pamela

Ever since my third Harlequin American, I've been writing cowboy or rancher heroes, and I couldn't be happier. There's something incredibly sexy about a good looking man in a well-worn Stetson hat and faded jeans. A man who sits a horse with the same ease and comfort he does a kitchen chair. A man who knows how to hold a gal close as he two-steps her across the dance floor.

When my editor first approached me about being one of the authors in THE CODYS: FIRST FAMILY OF RODEO, I was understandably thrilled. I got to write about cowboys AND rodeos. What could be better? That's like getting to meet Brad Pitt at his newest film premier AND sit next to him during the showing (forgive me if I have Brad Pitt on the brain, my hero in DUSTY: WILD COWBOY is supposed to look like a young Brad Pitt - check out the cover, I think he does :)

Okay, I digress. Back to rodeos. I've been a fan of them since I was a teenager, when it wasn't cool to like anything having to do with cowboys. But I was a horse lover, a horse owner, and lived in Scottsdale, a town that once claimed to be the west's most western town (that is SO not true now ). I didn't care if none of my friends wanted to go to the rodeo, I went anyway. The biggest rodeo in Scottsdale was and still is the Parade del Sol.



Speaking of my mom, she read an advance copy of DUSTY: WILD COWBOY and loved it. Okay, she's my mom, and she loves all my book. That's not much of a recommendation. But she complimented me on my research and, I have to say, that pleased me because I did a lot for the book.

Watching rodeos is one thing. To be as accurate as possible, I had to immerse myself in the sport, particularly calf roping. Yes, it was hard and required a great deal of personal sacrifice, but I spent many hours in the company of cowboys and ropers, learning everything I could. When I wasn't getting lost in just watching them, that is .

Here's a couple pictures of the Payson Rodeo, which is the oldest rodeo in Arizona. I took them last summer when my friend and I went there to watch cowboys...I mean, research my book.





And here's a couple pictures from when I went to my first ever Professional Bull Riding event a few months ago, which wasn't quite like a regular rodeo but still fun.



As the saying goes, you should love what you write about. And I have to say, I do love cowboys. Wait, I think I already said that!

Warmest wishes,

Cathy McDavid

PS - Check out the other books in THE CODYS: FIRST FAMILY OF RODEO continuity. I had a blast participating and know you'll enjoy reading about Dusty's five siblings: Walker, Dex, Mark, Elly, and Jesse

Long Live the Cowboy

“Each year since 2005 the U.S. Senate has passed a resolution designating the fourth Saturday of July National Day of the American Cowboy.”

"Whereas pioneering men and women, recognized as cowboys, helped establish the American West...that cowboy spirit continues to infuse the nation with its solid character, sound family values, and good common sense; Whereas the cowboy embodies honesty, integrity, courage, compassion, respect, a strong work ethic, and patriotism."

What woman in her right mind doesn't love a Cowboy--the kind in romance novels, that is! Before I make my case for Cowboy Addiction I'd like to remind readers we're hosting our second One Day Only Media Blitz on July 16th



On July 16th I'll be blogging at www.harauthors.blogspot.com about Dexter: Honorable Cowboy book two in The Codys: First Family of Rodeo continuity.



Help spread the word by mentioning my book and posting a link to http://www.harauthors.blogspot.com/ on all your favorite social media sites--Facebook, MySpace, Twitter. The more places you link to and mention Dexter: Honorable Cowboy the more chances you have to win a copy of my book and some neat "cowboy stuff".

Return to www.harauthors.blogspot.com and tell us where you're spreading the word in the comment section of the blog--that way I can keep a tally of your activity. I'll post the winners' names in the comment section of the blog on July 17th--be sure to return to see if you're one of the lucky winners!

How many different kinds of COWBOYS are there anyway? Cowboys in romance novels are darn near perfect, but in real life, cowboys come in all shapes, sizes and cognitive abilities. Here are a few of those Wild West men we can't resist.

Cowboy Outlaw


Naked Cowboy


Calendar Cowboy


Old Buckaroo Cowboy

Real Working Cowboy


Urban Cowboy


Seen-better-days cowboy


Now that we've had an eyeful of Cowboy Candy….what is it that women find so sexy about the Cowboy Way of Life? It for sure ain't the food these guys eat.

Sonofabitch Stew

2 pounds lean beef
Half a calf heart
1/2 pounds calf liver
1 set sweetbreads
1 set brains
1 set marrow gut
Salt, pepper
Louisiana hot sauce
Kill off a young steer. Cut up beef, liver and heart into I -inch cubes; slice the marrow gut into small rings. Place in a Dutch oven or deep casserole. Cover meat with water and simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Add salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste. Take sweetbreads and brains and cut in small pieces. Add to stew. Simmer another hour, never boiling.

Vinegar Pie

1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup cold water
4 eggs, beaten
5 tablespoons vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons butter
Combine sugar and flour. Add the rest of the ingredients and place in a saucepan. Cook until thick and pour into a prepared pie crust. Bake in a 375-degree oven until the crust is brown

Okay, so maybe Cowboy Food isn’t romantic, but let's talk about COWBOY INCOME--how much do these rope-throwin' chaps make? The average Old West cowboy drew $25 to $40 a month--I can't get my nails done for that little money. Today, a typical salary for a cowboy in New Mexico is about $1,600 a month. Cowboys may also get free housing, paid utilities, insurance coverage and perhaps some beef. Thanks, but I'd rather be wooed with diamonds instead of a side of beef.

Okay, so we don't chase after Cowboys for their cooking or money or gifts of beef…. We do however love these guys because they practice the

COWBOY CODE OF THE WEST.
Don't wave at a man on a horse. It might spook the horse and the man will think you're an idiot.

After you pass someone on the trail, don't look back at him. It implies you don't trust him.

Riding another man's horse without his permission is nearly as bad as making love to his wife.

Never shoot an unarmed man. Never shoot a woman at all.

Always be courageous. Cowards aren't tolerated in any outfit worth its salt.

A cowboy always helps someone in need, even a stranger or an enemy.

Real cowboys are modest. A braggert who is "all gurgle and no guts" is not tolerated.

A cowboy doesn't talk much; he saves his breath for breathing.

Cuss all you want, but only around men, horses and cows.

What about Cowboy Codes of Wooing?

Here's some Cowboy relationship advice found in Just one Fool Thing After Another: A Cowfolks' Guide to Romance by Gladiola Montana & Tex Bix Bender

Just because you learned a lot from you last lover's leap don't mean you ain't jumpin' off a different cliff this time.

When a man asks a woman to share his lot, she has a right to know how big it is.

You gotta wear the boot to know where it pinches.

When you don't have a thing to worry about, you go and get married, and suddenly the world is a worrisome place.

For better or for worse means for good.

A man in love is incomplete until he marries--then he's finished.

No matter how much he loves you sometimes he'd just rather have an inch of rain than anything else in the world.

Most marital graves are dug with a lot of little digs.

When a woman makes up her mind you can always be sure she's gonna do exactly what she says--or not.

Have I made my case that Cowboys are addicting? Okay, now it's time for you to share—what do you find addicting about cowboys?

Marin