Cowboy Kisses

 Living part-year in Jackson, Wyoming, it’s fairly easy for me to pick up magazines concerned with the West on any newsstand.  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. Mainly dealing with 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.  Book 2, City Boy, Country Heart, will soon be out continuing the story. Happy reading!

When New Yorker K.C. Daniels heads to Wyoming for a summer job, she wants nothing more than to fit in with the staff of the Lazy S Ranch. Yearning to be independent of her mom and dad, and have a taste of the west before she starts her Master's degree, getting involved with a cowboy is the last thing on her mind—especially when she’s greeted with warnings about ‘Bad Boy’ Chay Ridgway.

High School dropout Chay Ridgway sees summer as his time to be a rodeo star and win a girl in his life, while facing the responsibilities he has for his father. Although working to bring in cash to help his dad, he's never had a problem finding a woman who's happy to be that summer love—until K.C. Daniels appears on the scene.

As two different worlds collide in a season that will end all too soon, is this going to be another summer romance or a love that will last for years?