Welcome to Cowboy Kisses 2021 ~ Julie Lence

Greetings Cowboy Kisses readers!

Despite all the rules and social distancing Covid has brought to our lives, I hope everyone had a wonderful 2020 holiday season.  For me, the holidays weren’t much different than past holidays. It’s usually hubby, kiddo, and me since most of our family reside in New York, unless you count the real Christmas tree. We haven’t had a real tree in 30 years because I hate the mess from the needles, but hubby and kiddo wanted one so I gave in. (I really had little choice since Fed Ex delivered a tree stand from Amazon, lol.)  But now that the celebrations are behind us and the decorations are put away, I’m ready to dive back in to writing, and part of that includes Cowboy Kisses.

In 2020, Cowboy Kisses said goodbye to some authors and welcomed others. Currently, we have tremendous talent on this blog and I urge you to get to know our team better by checking out their author pages.   

In other news, if you haven’t already, I invite you to join our Facebook group. Membership there grows almost weekly, and everyone enjoys the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday prompts for all members to participate. Our Facebook link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CowboyKisses

We’re also on Twitter and you can catch our tweets here: https://twitter.com/CowboyKisses1

The Cowboy Kisses authors will continue with Excerpt Sunday, which is also located on our Facebook page. We will also host our annual round-up this fall. Last year we held the round up on our Facebook page and it was a success. Unlike the previous year, guests were able to comment without encountering Facebook issues, so we will again hold this year’s party on the group page. And last, but certainly the best, the Cowboy Kisses blog passed over 1,000,000 hits in 2020 since it’s conception. That is a thrilling milestone and one we certainly couldn’t have reached without you, our loyal readers. The Cowboy Kisses authors and myself Thank You for your support and your loyalty, and we look forward to sharing another year with you.

Hugs,

Julie 

Welcome to 2020 By: Julie Lence

Hello & Welcome to Cowboy Kisses 2020. I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas celebration and a joyful New Year’s Eve celebration. Both of mine were quietly spent with hubby, kiddo, and Harley, who enjoyed the treats Santa left in his Christmas stocking. With today marking the beginning of a new year, and decade, it’s time for me to bring you up to date with the Cowboy Kisses team.

First off, you’ll notice our mascot has a new banner. I love the blue hues and think the scenery represents all of the Cowboy Kisses authors' stories.

Second, you’ll notice we’ve said goodbye to Maggie Carpenter and Lauri Robinson. The team and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Lauri was alternating months with Paty Jager. Danni Roan will now take over Lauri’s shared spot with Paty beginning this month. As soon as Danni’s old slot and Maggie’s slot are filled, I will let you know.   

We do have a new author to Cowboy Kisses. Please welcome Sable Hunter to the team. She’ll begin blogging this month. I invite you to get to know more about Sable by visiting her website. The link is located on the right side bar.  

In addition to recruiting authors, I’ve updated this page to reflect our Twitter feed, so be sure to see what the Cowgirls are Tweeting each day. Excerpt Sunday has been incorporated into the Facebook group and readers like stepping into the pages of the Cowgirls’ stories. And as always, the Facebook group has prompts for everyone to participate on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.

This year we will host our 6th annual Round-Up. Time and date will be announced later in the year, but I’m thinking some time in November. To let you know, this past year Facebook was very wonky with allowing folks to post comments to the party. And it just wasn’t the Cowboy Kisses party that had this problems. Others did, too, and I’m hoping Facebook corrects the issue before this year’s round-up.

In closing, I thank the Cowboy Kisses Team for their continued support of the blog and group pages and me. Without them, Cowboy Kisses would’ve ceased to exist a long time ago. I also thank each and every one of You for your continued support of the Cowboy Kisses blog and its authors. Hugs to everyone and all the best in 2020!

Julie

Social Media and Blogging in the Old West

Dateline: Late19th Century


A quick trip to the past proves that at the core, blogging and social media are nothing new.

It isn't as portable as a laptop, but a good sized wagon can carry a small press and allow an itinerant printer to set up shop. For a modest price businesses can print handbills. Lawmen can spread wanted posters. And activists can print pamphlets expounding their opinion without being shut down by a newspaper publisher with advertisers to please. 

Tweeters have nothing on telegraphers who have to pay by the character.

Salesmen carry news and gossip as well as sample bags across the country. Of course, you can't rely on the veracity of the information received, but that's nothing new. As Mark Twain said: "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."

Live chat is popular, especially at the general store. Just pull up a chair by the pickle barrel. If you're a good customer, you might even get a cup of coffee.