AND NOW FOR A LITTLE LIGHT READING

Living part-year in Jackson, Wyoming, it’s fairly easy for me to pick up magazines concerned with the West on any newsstand there.  But back in New York, well, that’s a different matter as one can imagine.  And why would I—or any of my fellow authors writing westerns or western romance—want these magazines?  Because they are an absolute wealth of information!

Take True West. If you're writing about the historical west, True West provides a load of ideas for background, setting, and complementary historical facts.  Recent articles dealt with Wild Bill Hickok; the difference between buckaroos, vaqueros, and cowboys; General Custer; and the photographs of Edward Curtis.  It also has articles regarding lesser-known western tales, such as that of the Power brothers, jailed for draft evasion for over forty years.  In addition, if you’re planning your western explorations for the summer, it has travel information, plus recipes, book reviews, and auction listings with a wealth of info on Old West firearms.

Cowboys and Indians reminds me of the glossy magazines one often finds in resort hotel rooms. While this magazine seems to concentrate heavily on western arts and design, it is a terrific way of keeping up with what’s happening out west if you either don’t live there or don’t get around very much.  For anyone writing contemporary westerns, it proves an excellent supplement.  This month had articles on Kevin Costner’s new TV series, Yellowstone, as well as an article on Yellowstone Park itself. There’s always a list of forthcoming events in western states, and it keeps you abreast of western films and TV programs.

Western Horseman is a gem of a magazine.  I only recently discovered this one, but what a find! Not only does it have some cowboys you can drool over, but for the writer of contemporary western fiction/romance, it really is the best complement.  Need to know a cattle disease for your ranch?  How about what bit your hero will be putting on the mare he’s saddling up for the heroine? You get the idea:  it has a ton of info the non-rancher/writer can use.

There are a few others that might be of use, such as Wild West, which is similar to True West but comes out less frequently, but the above three are my personal favorites. If you’re considering a subscription, I strongly recommend ordering it through your local newsstand first.  Each magazine contains a subscription postcard, which had a lower rate than the rates I’ve found online. Generally, the subscriptions are around $29.95 a year—tax deductible to authors, I believe.

On the other hand, if your light reading happens to be a western romance novella, mosey on over to https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Boy-Big-Heart-Book-ebook/dp/B072MKG48B/ for my Bad Boy, Big Heart, Book 1 of the Heart of the Boy duo. 

(previously in Come Love a Cowboy) When New Yorker & college student K.C. Daniels meets high-school drop-out, rodeo star Chay Ridgway, sparks fly.  But is Chay the ‘bad boy’ he’s made out to be? And will this just be a summer romance or a love for all time? From InD'Tale Magazine:

". . . One cannot help but instantly fall in love with the characters, feel their connection and share the struggle they face. . . the writing is beautifully vivid and the characters likable, with a plot that any romance lover could easily sink their teeth into."  Get your copy now at https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Boy-Big-Heart-Book-ebook/dp/B072MKG48B/

And now Part 2 has just been released:  

(previously published in A Cowboy to Keep), this stand-alone novella continues the story of K.C. and Chay. Now in New York while K.C. finishes her studies, can Chay survive? Can K.C. keep a rein on Chay’s heart or will the wide-open spaces of Wyoming call this country boy home? https://www.amazon.com/City-Boy-Country-Heart-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B07DN2S3F1/