Welcome 2026 ~ Julie Lence

 

Greetings Cowboy Kisses Readers! 2026 is here and I sincerely hope it’s a good year for everyone. As we put away the Christmas decorations and try our best to stick to resolutions made, the one thing I am asking for this year is to not break another bone. Last January, I fell on the ice and broke my wrist. This year I have promised myself to not venture outside for a walk with the pup if it is cold or snowing, even if the sidewalks are clear. I don’t relish another six weeks in a cast, weeks of PT, and basically getting back to normal.

Speaking of normal, the Cowboy Kisses authors are gearing up for another year of dazzling you with their blogs. Whether it’s something writing related, a character interview, or a fascinating outlaw or inventor from the old west, be sure to continue following this page. We greatly appreciate of your support, (more than words can express here) and invite you to interact more with us on our Facebook group page. There you’ll find new releases, sales, pre-orders, and prompts to join in the fun. Get to know more about the Cowboy Kisses authors and meet fellow readers here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CowboyKisses

Until next month, enjoy January and keep warm!

Julie

Welcome to 2025 ~ Julie Lence

 

Hello Cowboy Kisses! As the cowgirls and I usher out 2024 and ring in the new year, we thank you for your continued support of this blog. Without you, none of this would be possible. 

2024 was a good year for the cowgirls. Some of our authors released new stories and some won awards for their work. We said goodbye to a few authors and welcomed their replacements. Readers and authors both had a blast at the Round-Up party and the cowgirls look forward to hosting another Round-Up this autumn. If that seems too far off for you to catch up with the cowgirls, you can always find them on the Cowboy Kisses Facebook page. The group is a great way to stay up-to-date with them, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday offer prompts for everyone to chime in. If you haven’t already joined us, please do.

As always, I will keep you informed of any changes during the year. More importantly, I wish all of you a very happy and blessing-filled 2025. Hugs!

Julie         

A Free Story ~ Raine Rochelle

 Hello!

With the recent resurgence of Covid-19 in the UK, I’ve been kept very busy with my day job for our National Health Service. This has meant that I have been unable to complete my latest book, Heartstrings, the first book of The Johnsons of Junova series. Unfortunately, it looks like it will not be released until the New Year. Apologies to anyone waiting for it.

In the light of this, I have made the very first book of The Billionaires of Brightside Ranch FREE for this weekend (2^nd – 4^th December). I hope this will give readers the opportunity to either start, or re-acquaint themselves with the series ahead of the additional 4-part mini-series.

Here’s a little about it:

A great deal? Or just a great deal of trouble?

Chase Devereaux can easily recognise a good deal. Everything about Primefields – including its name – seems perfect. So why does the brunette beauty with lovely big eyes at the real estate agent’s appear to deter him from buying it?

Rachel Brown loves her job, but is aware that her over-made-up and under-dressed colleague, Cindy Skeritt, dislikes her. Her suspicions grow as she notices whispered conversations and surreptitious looks between Cindy and the manager.

When the handsome cowboy asks about the property Cindy will clearly do anything to close the deal.

Rachel discovers the tragic secrets behind Primefields and tries to warn Chase. But he seems to ignore her. And is still determined to buy the place.

Could he be in on the conspiracy? Does he really make his money from other people’s misery?

Something tells Rachel that’s not the case. And no amount of bullying or blackmail will stop her from getting to the truth.

https://www.amazon.com/ebook/dp/B08NCFP5R4

Don’t forget that The Billionaires of Brightside Ranch series is currently FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Hunter’s Girl 1st of the The Clayton Boy’s series ~ Ruthie L Manier

Hello, I'm Ruthie L. Manier and I'd like to extend a BIG thank you for joining me here today on my Cowboy Kisses Blog spot! March has been a crazy month for me full of birthdays, trips, and St. Patrick's Day, of course. Here is one of my favorite pictures that was professionally taken in Leavensworth, Washington as a birthday gift for me from my family. 

And now onto the Big News: my upcoming release:  HUNTER'S GIRL

Hunter Clayton is in Mr. Jeffries Mercantile when Mischief King(Cumming's is her maiden name, King is her adopted name) spots him. She's super excited to see him because she's been waiting ten years for him to return. Hunter was an outlaw on the run when he saved her from the malicious gang who killed her biological parents. Mischief was twelve at the time, and Hunter kept her with him just short of a year before leaving her with the King family after she was was shot in a crossfire. 

Over the tears, Mischief's adoptive parents have kept truths from her, but raised her well. After the tragic death of her adoptive mother, her adoptive father finds solace in liquor, eventually leading him to become a mean drunk who abuses Mischief and then runs out on her, leaving her destitute. But Mischief is happy she's rid of him, and this brings the reader to the reason for Hunter's return. 

Unbeknownst to Mischief,  Hunter has been sending money to the Kings for her care. The last three installments have been returned to him without a forwarding address. More importantly, Mischief is a grown woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after what makes her happy. She never stopped loving Hunter and wants nothing more than to be his wife. Hunter is attracted to her at first sight but does not realize the stunning woman is his little Mischief. When he discovers the truth, he has a hard time forgetting the 'girl' and embracing her as the desirable woman she's become. Will Mischief convince Hunter she's a woman? And that he's not to old to marry her? Well, you'll need to wait for the book to come out. There are a lot of twists and turns along their journey; murder, gun fights, and secret intimate moments that I'm planning to publish by the end of Spring. 

I'd love to have some advance readers before the book releases, so if any of you have the time, please contact me on Facebook under Ruthie L Manier, Twitter, and Instagram. Until next month on the 4th Monday of April be happy and kind to all you meet. xoxoxo

WRITING, SOME ADVICE FROM WRITERS

 Post by Doris McCraw

writing as Angela Raines

Photo property of the author

When thinking about beginnings and all that entails for artists I thought of all the advice we get given over our lifetimes. They are numerous and like all advice, worth what you pay for them. Still, there are nuggets that shine through, especially for me as I take the writer's journey. It seemed an appropriate time to share eight of them with all of you.

1. Elmore Leonard published a book "Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing" in 2007. While all of his ten are worth taking a look at but the one that sticks out to me is: Leave out the parts readers tend to skip. And to add a bonus 'If it sounds like writing, I re-write it."

2. George Orwell, known for "1984" and "Animal Farm" said: If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

3. Neil Gaiman, has a list of eight that are so simple, yet we don't think about them. His #1 is Write and #8 is The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you're allowed to do whatever you like ...

4. Joyce Carol Oates has something I personally relate to:  Read, observe, listen intently - as if your life depended on it. 

5. Helen Dunmore's advice: Finish the day's writing when you still want to continue.

6. P.D. James: Write what you need to write, not what is currently popular or what you think will sell.

7. Louis L'Amour's advice: Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

8. Rainer Marie Rilke, who wrote the lovely book, "Letters to a Young Poet" gave this piece of advice: "Go into yourself. Find the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write."

Most of us have favorite authors, a number of them are here at Cowboy Kisses. While advice helps, it's the joy of writing, the heartwarming feedback from the readers we write for and telling the story in the way only the individual writer can. 

For writers, please keep writing. For readers, let the authors you've read know what their work means to you. It's the conversations that add so much to the experience and makes all the hours authors spend honing the story worth it. 

Advice helps us focus, but the real work: Telling your story.

Doris Gardner-McCraw -

Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in

Colorado and Women's History

Angela Raines - author: Telling Stories Where Love & History Meet

Books: Angela Raines Books

AH JANUARY!

Post by Doris McCraw
writing as Angela Raines

It's January and a time of new beginnings. At the same time, it is also a time of reflection and looking back at the past. How many make 'resolutions' or 'intentions' based on what did or didn't happen prior to the start of the new year?

So how and what will I write about this year? I will always be in research mode, so I guess I can be counted on to share any new or exciting things I find in the 'stacks'. I am one of those who loves reading old newspapers and magazines. An author friend always goes for the advertisements first thing. It seemed odd to me until I took a look at what can be gleaned from those bits of information.

For example, here is an ad for cattle brands in the Fairplay Plume of February 12, 1880:



For writers, it may be the time you set your 'marketing' schedule for the year. Maybe you decide to finish those projects you started. There are all kinds of free and low-cost templates you can download to help keep you on track. I have a small calendar I keep by my computer to track the number of words I write on my current project. Believe it or not, it does help keep me on track to finishing the project.





Maybe it's time to set aside the funds and plan what writer's conference you might attend. January is a good time to see what might be coming that would push you to the next level. Perhaps you just want to do workshops. January is a great time to start planning.

If you are a reader, what get-togethers might you be interested in? Is there an author or authors you would love to spend time with? Sometimes they don't even know how much they mean to you. Maybe this year is the one where you contact them. There are also author events in various areas of the country. January is a great time to see what may be happening in your area that would be a chance to meet your favorites.

PPLD 2019 

Whatever you would like to have happen in the coming year, January is a great time to start looking and planning. So as you move through 2020, use the month of January to see where you might like the year to go and what it would look like to you.

Doris Gardner-McCraw -

Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in
Colorado and Women's History

Angela Raines - author: Where Love & History Meet

Books: Angela Raines Books

Angela Raines FaceBook: Click Here

Happy New Year!

Hello and Welcome to Cowboy Kisses 2018! As we say goodbye to 2017, we sadly say goodbye to some of our authors. Agnes Alexander, Krista Ames, Barbara Caitlin, and Hildie McQueen have departed from the blog, but all is not lost. They can still be found on the Cowboy Kisses Facebook Group page chatting with everyone and keeping us informed of new releases.

It is with great pleasure we announce new authors to the blog. Please give a warm welcome to Stephanie Berget, Shirleen Davies, Juliette Douglas, and Kim Turner. Each of these ladies write western romance and will begin blogging this month. Be sure to check the sidebar for their respective dates. To get to know more about them, don’t forget to stop by their author pages and their websites. Stephanie, Shirleen, Juliette, and Kim are also on the Facebook Group page. Pop over to Facebook to chat with them.

I extend my sincerest Thank You to all the authors on the blog. Without them, I couldn’t keep Cowboy Kisses alive and thriving. Their dedication to the group shines not only on this page but behind the scenes, as well. I am humbled and blessed to not only be in the company of such great talent, but to call these ladies Friends.

This year we will host our annual Cowboy Kisses party, either late October or early November on the Facebook Group page. Details will be posted late summer. When you see them, mark your calendars. This is a party you don’t want to miss. We had so much fun last year and hope you’ll join us this year.      

I leave you with some writing humor and my warmest Thank You’s to you, our readers, for helping us keep the blog going. Without you, Cowboy Kisses wouldn’t be possible. Hugs and all the best to you in 2018.

Julie

Flavoring Your Story

courtesy of: houseoflasagnanyc.com

Some people enjoy spending hours in the kitchen cooking a delicious meal. Those who do most likely have a favorite dinner they like to prepare. I have two; turkey and lasagna. About mid-morning on Thanksgiving Day, my mouth begins to water as the aroma of turkey roasting wafts through the house. The same holds true when I have a tray of lasagna baking in the oven. But unlike an hour’s prep time before the turkey goes into the oven, there’s more to making lasagna than just layering pasta, cheese, and sauce into a baking dish. 

  

courtesy of: thebestthingieverateandthensome.wordpress.com

Being 1/4 Italian and from New York, the key ingredient to a great-tasting lasagna, other than whole milk cheese and a wooden spoon, is the sauce. Many people and restaurants use sauce from a jar or cans of diced tomatoes to make their lasagna. In my opinion, that is wrong on so many counts. For that delicious, melt-in-your-mouth taste, the sauce needs to cook for days, not hours. The puree, spices, and meats need time to marry together. The longer they simmer the thicker and more flavorful the sauce. I usually simmer sauce for 3 to 7 days, refrigerating overnight. 

What does making sauce have to do with writing? More than you might think. As with any dish, too much, too little, or too many spices will sometimes ruin a meal. The same applies to crafting a western romance.
As with any dish, the right spices make your taste buds zing. The same applies to crafting a western romance. Instead of garlic and oregano, the author satisfies the reader’s appetite by flavoring in speech, descriptions, mannerisms, and the hum-drum of everyday life true to the era. If the story is set in the 1800’s, the heroine wouldn’t curl her hair with a plug-in curling iron. In modern times, she wouldn’t wear longs skirts and petticoats unless she was attending a costume party. But, as holds true with the spices you add to your food, overuse of flavoring can kill your story. Readers like to envision as much as they like vivid description.

Another way to flavor your story is by sprinkling in sounds and smells―Josh pulled his bandanna up over his nose as he stared at the carcass lying near the creek. Or with action―touching a finger to a hat brim or flicking the reins over the team of horses pulling the stagecoach keep the reader in historic times. The shrill ringing of the telephone or the sleek curves of the red Corvette keep the reader in present day.  

courtesy of: reenajacobs.com

Flavoring doesn't just apply to western romance. Many eras have their own dialect and wardrobe. If you're setting reflects the Roaring ‘20’s or Viking warriors, invest the time to learn the terminology and everyday life of your time frame. Gently fold the terms and descriptions into your story and your readers will savor your subtle flavoring in the same fashion your family relishes the meals you cook.