George Story's Interview with Reuben Hayes

 

 

INTERVIEW WITH REUBEN HAYES,

As Written Word for Word by George Story, Independent Reporter

 

So, Mr. Hayes, is true you’ve killed over a dozen men?

I’ve never killed anyone that didn’t need it, and don’t rightly see as how it’s any of your dadblamed business.

Okay, we’ll table that for now.

We’ll table it period.

About Miss Baylor, the senator’s daughter—

We aren’t discussing Miss Baylor. Not now, not ever.

I hear she’s a guest of yours.

Sonny, unless you want that pretty face rearranged, I suggest you drop it.

Got it.

How about telling me about your ranch. I hear you are starting a new breed of cattle. Care to tell me about that?

Oh, I’m not starting it. Brandon Wade of Silverhills’ Ranch has started the new herehorn breed. I just plan on using his cattle to improve my herd.

Herehorn?

Yeah, it’s a cross between a Hereford and a longhorn.

And what makes them so special?

They taste better than longhorn beef and they’re stronger and more resilient than Herefords.

Now, Mr. Hayes, I don’t want my face rearranged but I hear Miss Baylor has a way with horses.

That she does. Took after her ma in that respect.

And that would be—

That’s enough about Miss Baylor and her ma.

Alright, what about this Hawk character, that’s working for you?

What about him?

I hear he’s a gunslinger.

I don’t set much store by rumor and innuendo. He’s saved Sage—er Miss Baylor —on more than one occasion from grievous harm. That’s good enough for me.

And what grievous harm was that?

I suggest you worry about your own grievous harm instead of Miss Baylor’s.

Okay. Okay. I’d appreciate it if you’d remove your fist from my shirt collar. I just have one more question about your house guest.

You don’t listen very well, do you?

It’s a hazard of being a reporter. What is the daughter of a famous senator doing on your ranch?

This interview is over.

And that gentle reader was the end of my interview. Mr. Hayes jumped up so fast, he knocked over his chair. When he made a fist, I was seriously concerned about my face getting rearranged, but he just shook it at me and strode through the door. There’s a mystery here and I have every intention of getting to the bottom of it. Watch for my next column.

 

 

 

The crusty, middle-aged rancher had only ever loved one woman. And now her daughter stood on his doorstep.

 Available at Amazon

 

 

Teaming Up

Nobody Does It Alone

Writing is mostly a solitary endeavor, but publishing a novel is not! Getting your book out there for others to read takes a village. When I first decided I wanted to be a published author, I joined a team. Not the kind advertised on TV, offering to edit and publish your book while you sit back and count your royalty payments. That team is a sham. That "publisher" will ask you for money instead of sending you money.

My team was a writers' group. In my case, the Tulsa Nightwriters. They assisted me in the nuts and bolts of writing -- how to prepare a manuscript, books and magazines to check out on how to submit work to an agent or publisher, what sort of feedback to expect. I also joined a state group -- the Oklahoma Writers' Federation, Inc. (OWFI) and attended their annual conference where I met New York agents and editors. Then I joined another team -- a national one -- the Romance Writers of America (RWA) -- and another one, Western Writers of America. At their conferences I met more agents and editors and other writers, some starting out like me and others that were published many times over. Almost all of these folks were generous with their advice and support.

It's hard to explain how important these groups have been in my quest to be a published author. They taught me how to write a winning synopsis, how to write a good outline, how to talk to an agent, how to work with an editor, how to be professional when negotiating about revisions, rewrites, book covers, and cover blurbs. These are just a few items one must learn "on the fly" but I was saved from embarrassment many times thanks to "my team" preparing me so well. I knew how to write a good query letter and how much advance each publisher usually offered a first-time author.

I still rely on a team all these years later. My literary agent and her staff assist me along with my proofreader and editor. I also rely on my readers, who are a very important team. I read their reviews and take each one of them to heart. I ask some readers to look at my manuscripts in advance of publishing and give their honest feedback on what they like and dislike. I want to know these things before I allow the public to read my next book. My team always comes through for me, which I believe is one of the main reasons I've been able to release so many books.

It's scary to write a novel and then ask knowledgeable people to read it and comment on it. You can't simply bask in the affirmation of your parents or your spouse or your children. You have to take the leap and show your work to strangers. It's a terrifying thing, let me tell you. But it was made better for me because other writers in the groups I belong to had already read my manuscript and pointed out any mistakes, clumsy writing, or confusing scenes. By the time I sent my work to New York, I was confident that it was the best I could possibly do.

Reviews are very important in independent publishing. You just can't get enough of them and I think of those reviewers as part of my team, too. There are so many books released every month that professional reviewers or bloggers are swamped and have to say "no" to more than half of the requests they receive, so I depend on average readers to leave their thoughts on Amazon or Goodreads. Of course, few of the people who read my books ever leave reviews, but those that do are golden in my eyes. Reviews matter. Amazon and other publishers pay attention to ratings and the number of reviews that are left. So, if you're ever on the fence on whether to leave a review -- leave one! At the very least, give every book a star rating.

Every author needs a team. In the beginning and every day after that. Even when they are "self-published" or "independent", those authors are not alone. It takes a team, and if you're lucky, an army! 

.

Dr. Harriet Leonard

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (Photo) (C) Doris McCraw

Dr. Harriet Leonard:

Born in New York in 1829 and died in Colorado in 1907 at the age of 79 (?). She married John  Leonard, and they had seven children, with four surviving to adulthood according to the 1900 census. John died in 1895/6.

Along with Julia E. Loomis, the first woman doctor in Colorado Springs, Harriet Leonard was the first woman doctor in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Her advertisement appeared as early as July of 1878. Her ad read: "Mrs. H. A. Leonard, M.D. ELECTRICIAN. Special attention given to nervous and chronic diseases. Office in the Mineral Bath House. Manitou." This form of treatment was not that unusual in the 1870s. You can read more at: http://blog.nyhistory.org/electric-medicine/

Dr. Leonard later became the proprietor of the Bath house, a rather unusual position for a woman. Nonetheless, Harriet was constantly working and learning. There is some indication she may have gone to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (originally known as Hot Springs) for a time, but no definite proof has been found. It would not be out of the question, as the town has numerous hot springs. The springs in Manitou are mineral, and not hot springs. It would make sense given her history.

Manitou Bath House Building
Image from Wikipedia

Another difference between Dr. Leonard and the other female physicians was that she was an allopath, while Dr. Loomis, the first woman doctor in Colorado Springs, and others were homeopaths. Dr. Leonard graduated from the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons.   http://www.keokuk.net/history/1820sto.htm  Dr. Loomis, like the two other women doctors who joined these two early pioneers, graduated from the Cleveland Homeopathic College for Women.

Dr. Leonard, before the fall that led to her decline and subsequent death, was planning to open a massage parlor in Colorado Springs with both a male and female masseuse. 

For over fifteen years, I have been passionate about the study and research of these early women doctors. Stay tuned as I share more about the women doctors who practiced in Colorado before 1900.

Amazon - ebook

Until next time.

Doris

Angela Raines - Amazon

Doris A. McCraw - Amazon

The Stories We Share ~ D. K. Deters

 I’m a Western historical romance author. Another title might be wordsmith, storyteller, or wordslinger.

As a child, I thought my dad was the best storyteller ever. Dad was a towering figure at six foot three, wore a black Stetson, and had one of those voices that reminded me of a trail-tough cowboy. His stories also influenced why I write about the Old West today.

Like many kids, I grew up with the allure of the Old West through Westerns on television. The majority were reruns, but that didn’t sway our enthusiasm. These tales of frontier life brought our family together for a few hours every week.

My folks hailed from southeastern Kansas, where we lived for several years. Dad’s stories often included the Dalton Gang, the Benders, and the James Gang, making the Old West part of our family history.

What kind of stories? Well, my favorite is about my great-grandfather. He was born in 1860.

One day, when he was ten (or so), he was instructed to go down by the road and wait for a neighbor to bring the mail. While he waited, he passed the time playing with a deck of cards. It wasn’t long before a cowboy rode up and inquired what my great-grandfather was doing. As he explained, the stranger dismounted and asked if he might play cards, too. After a while, the fellow mounted up, but before he left, my great-grandfather asked him his name.

 The stranger stared back. “You can tell your friends you played cards with Jesse James.”

 Was he the outlaw Jesse James?

I suppose my great-grandfather could have made up the story and passed it down to his children. My dad may have just wanted to see my eyes get big. But I like to believe that Jesse James needed to stretch his legs and might have missed his children.

Can I prove it? Uh, no, but I always keep that simple story in mind when I’m writing.

It’s fun to picture this curious boy playing with bent cards that amounted to half a deck. I can see the ruts in the road from heavy wagons pulled by strong horses past corn fields and hedge post fences. It’s easy to imagine the disbelief crossing the kid’s suntanned face as the stranger galloped away.

This story prompts my imagination and transports me, if only for a fleeting moment, to that dusty road where I witness the card game between my great-grandfather and the infamous Jesse James.

Perhaps this narrative will inspire you to pen some of your relatives’ stories. The stories might seem mundane after hearing them for the umpteenth time, but your grandkids will love them!

Character Interview with Chip Colucci ~ Julie Lence

 

Last month, I sat down for a chat with Bailey Bennett from The Singer Ropes A Cowboy. This month, I’m chatting with her hero, Chip Colucci. A Belmont Park stable hand turned ranch hand on his way to becoming a veterinarian, I’m meeting up with Chip at a coffee shop across from Ringo’s Casino.

Good afternoon, Chip. Thank you for meeting with me today. Tell my readers a little about yourself.

“Afternoon”, he responds, removing his hat and setting it on the seat beside him. Before he can say anything else, the waitress appears to take our drink orders. He orders a coffee and I’m having an iced tea.

“There’s not much to tell. I grew up in Queens, New York. My family still lives in the same neighborhood, except for my older brother. He lives in Brooklyn. Pops busted his leg last year, but thanks to Bailey and the therapist she hired, he’s getting around much better. His old foreman might even let him back on the job site. 

And your mother? I ask.

“She went back to her job at the bank.” He pauses as the waitress sets down our drinks. “Thank you.” He stirs a bit of milk into his drink. “Mom still cooks big meals. She has to. My brother, Dominic, eats enough for two people. Maybe even three.”       

Tell me about Bailey. What did you think the 1^st time you met her? She’s prettier in person than in the pictures in the gossip magazines. People at the track leave them lying around. I look”. He shrugs.  

What was your 2^nd thought? In the getup she was wearing, she really didn’t belong in a barn. But then, she’s Bailey Bennett, country music’s sweetheart. She does whatever she wants, without thought for someone else. Sam as the she-devils at the club. He scowls. Least the debutantes never shunned Pops, like Bailey did. Hated the disappointment on his face when her goons turned him away from meeting her.    

Sounds like she wasn’t your favorite person.

“At that time, she wasn’t. But now…” A grand smile lights up his features. “She’s the best thing to ever happen to me.”    

What do you like most about Bailey?  She’s sweet, thoughtful, caring. She adores her family, including her brothers, even though they shun her.  She has a twin, Barbie. Those two are thick-as-thieves. And she loves me. Goes outta her way every day to prove it, not that I’m blind and can’t see.  

How would you describe Bailey? She’s smart when it comes to her career, and ruthless. Some say she’s snotty and demanding, but she doesn’t have time to carry on a conversation with everyone she meets. She’s loyal to her fans, tries her best to keep them happy, and she guards her feelings. Most won’t notice when something’s digging at her, but Barbie does. So do I.     

How would Bailey describe you? Tall, sometimes moody, someone who has a soft spot for animals and wants to help them any way he can. Someone who puts his family before himself. Someone who loves her and would do anything for her. The  man she can always depend upon and trust to never hurt her.     

How do you relax? Bailey has a suite at the family’s casino in Reno. She and I sneak away from her singing and my ranching duties as often as we can to enjoy a quiet night listening to music or watching a movie on the television. We did spend the new year in Italy. Maybe one day we can go back.  

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Married to Bailey, living in our own home on her family’s ranch. Maybe a kid or two. Definitely working in my own veterinary clinic and watching her sing on stage every chance I get. Did I tell you she has the sweetest voice… Pride shines in his eyes.

Thank you for chatting with me, Chip. My readers thank you, too, and know to pick up a copy or The Singer Ropes A Cowboy to learn more about you and Bailey.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW1J88PH

      

Sarah and the Horses of WWI

 

I have a new book releasing May 22. It takes place during and immediately following World War I. 

This story grabbed onto my heart and didn't let go even after I finished writing it. 

Part of the reason was due research the animals who were killed during the war. Approximately eight million horses and mules died in World War I. My brain doesn’t even want to wrap around that number.

World War I required hundreds of thousands of horses and mules to pull and pack artillery, supplies, communications, medical supplies and ambulances, and engineering services, as well as to carry the cavalry. When the war began in 1914, Europe did not have enough equines to support massive armies. France, England, and Germany looked to other nations to shore up their numbers of horses, mules, and donkeys.

British and French purchasing agents and their staff came to North America in search of horses. They selected animals based on size, breed, and type from specific regions, shipping them mainly from Newport News, Virginia, and Montreal, Canada. Ships were modified with stalls and fodder storage. By the fall of 1917, more than half a million American horses and mules had been sent to Europe for service.

When the United States entered the war in 1917, a single American Army division required approximately 7,700 horses. The AEF struggled to field adequate equine power in France. Between the U-boat threats, the urgent demand for soldiers and the supplies that had to go along with them, insufficient remounts, and an equine epidemic that came in 1917, it was hard to keep up with the demand. More than 1,000 horses were cut from divisional allotments with plans to cut an additional 2,800 more by motorizing divisional artillery regiments. To supplement the number of American horses, many wild horses were rounded up from southeastern Oregon, Nevada, and northeastern California.

One article reported an estimate of 500 American horses being shipped every day and a half in the last months of the war.

The animals faced the same hardships and challenges as the troops: miserable conditions, poor food, injuries, and poisonous gas. Because there weren’t enough ships available to haul everything the Americans needed, when a choice was made between supplies for humans or animals, the humans won, of course. But it meant that there were animals that starved to death. Animals that needed medical treatment didn’t receive it due to lack of equipment, staff, or animal hospitals.

The U.S. Army Veterinary Corps was established in June 1916 with the National Defense Act. At the beginning of World War I, there were approximately 70 veterinary officers and no enlisted men. As the war progressed, the numbers grew to 2,312 officers and 16,391 enlisted personnel. In August 1918, the American Veterinary Corps officers assumed key AEF staff and command posts in the Quartermaster Corps, combat divisions, and corps. However, there was a decided lack of American animal hospitals, veterinarians, and needed supplies.

Even before the war ended, efforts were underway to commemorate the sacrifices of the animals lost during the war. Today, there are monuments to the service of the horses, mules, and donkeys of World War I to honor the critical role they played in the success of the Allies.

I chose a Kiger Mustang for the hero in my story to bond with because the horse is unique to southeastern Oregon, and Keegan would have reminded him of home. On a fun side note, a Kiger mustang stallion named Spirit was the inspiration for the DreamWorks film “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.”

Keegan is a combination of several horses I read about that were incredibly brave and courageous during the war, like Warrior, a thoroughbred owned by British General Jack Seely. Warrior became one of the most famous horses from World War I.

If you have plenty of tissues on hand and don’t mind a heart-wrenching story, Steven Spielberg’s War Horse is a gripping and emotional movie about one horse’s journey through World War I and the young man who loves him.

Sarah releases May 22, but you can pre-order your copy today.

She desires his heart. 
He longs for her love.
Can they find common ground when he returns forever altered by the war.

In a world turned upside down by World War I, all Sarah Richards desires is to love Brett Rawlings and build a future together. After graduating high school a year early, she’s ready to dive into her dreams of college and a home filled with laughter and love. But one impulsive decision threatens all her aspirations—as well as her relationship with Brett.

As the war rages on and men head off to fight, sixteen-year-old Brett reluctantly follows his twin brother, Ben, sneaking off to France to join the American Expeditionary Forces. As the months pass, Ben thrives amidst the chaos of battle, while Brett finds himself haunted by the girl he left behind and the uncertainty of his own heart. When Ben reveals a life-altering secret, the bond between the brothers is shattered, forcing Brett to grapple with betrayal as he faces the brutal realities of war.

Brett returns home a changed man, burdened with memories too heavy to bear, yet yearning to mend the fractures of the past. Will Sarah still be waiting for him, or have time and truth forged an unbridgeable chasm between them?

Find out in this heartfelt historical romance that weaves a tale of hope, grace, forgiveness, and sweet, enduring love.

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes.

When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna is a member of Western Writers of America and Women Writing the West.

Arbuckle Mountains

By Kristy McCaffrey

The Arbuckle Mountains, located in the southern part of Oklahoma, are the oldest known formations in the United States between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. They were named for General Matthew Arbuckle (1778-1851), based on a nearby Fort Arbuckle that had been christened in his honor.

The mountains were part of the Chickasaw Nation within the Indian Territory until 1907 when the Twin Territories (Indian and Oklahoma) were combined under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Federal government to form the state of Oklahoma. Prior to that, the Chickasaw Nation had governed itself.

Arbuckle Mountains

There is a major lake in the region, Lake Arbuckle, as well as the Washita River. The Arbuckles are an important mining region for limestone and dolomite, although early settlers were mainly subsistence farmers and ranchers.

Arbuckle Mountains

In my upcoming release THE SWAN, the setting is Conleyville, a fictitious town in the Chickasaw Nation at the base of the Arbuckle Mountains.

Pre-Order THE SWAN

Amazon | Apple Books | Nook | Google Play

(it will also be available at Kobo and in paperback on release day)

Oklahoma Territory
November 1899 

Dr. Anna Ryan has been spurned by the Dallas medical community for the simple reason of being a woman. Wanting more than a rural practice alongside her mother, also a doctor, Anna accepts an invitation from a mentor to join a private hospital for disabled children in Oklahoma City. But when she falls in with a band of women attempting to liberate a town of innocents, she’ll need more than her medical training to survive.

Malcolm Hardy has skirted the line between lawlessness and justice since escaping the mean streak of his father and his no-good half-siblings a decade ago. In Oklahoma Territory he created enough distance from his family name to find a quiet purpose to his days. But then Anna Ryan walks back into his life, and his hard-won peace is in jeopardy.

The last time Malcolm saw Anna, she had been a determined girl he couldn’t help but admire. Now she was a compelling woman who needed his help to find The Swan, a mysterious figure with a questionable reputation. But one thing was clear—Anna’s life path was on a trajectory for the remarkable while Malcolm’s was not. Surrendering to temptation would only end in heartbreak.

Anna is the eldest daughter of Logan and Claire from THE DOVE. 

The Wings of the West Series Reading Order
Book One: The Wren
Book Two: The Dove
Book Three: The Sparrow
Book Four: The Blackbird
Book Five: The Bluebird
Book Six: The Songbird (Novella)
Book Seven: Echo of the Plains (Short Story)
Book Eight: The Starling
Book Nine: The Canary
Book Ten: The Nighthawk
Book Eleven: The Swan (Coming Soon) 

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