An interview with Micah and Amelia

Love in the Bargain, my first full-length novel, was released in September 2022. It's a story very dear to my heart, and it endured numerous rewrites. A marriage of convenience story that brings together Micah Kelly, a carpenter with an orphaned niece and nephew, and a spinster heiress, Amelia Scott. Micah has had a soft spot for Amelia ever since they were children. It just so happens that he is an ex-convict who believes that he is not the right man for her.

Here is a chance to get to know Micah and Amelia a little better.

Q: Micah, where did you grow up?

Micah: I grew up here in Scottsville, with my folks and older sister. Live was good, until Pa died. Ma followed shortly afterward. Then for a few years it was just us, Emily and me. Pretty as Emily was, she managed to draw attention wherever she went. Unfortunately, not all of that was favorable, but she had me to protect her.

Q: And you, Amelia? Did you grow up in Scottsville as well?

Amelia: Since Grandfather founded the town, I spent my entire childhood here. When I was older, Grandfather sent me to live with my aunt and uncle. I loved living with them, but missed home terribly. Once I learned about Grandfather's health, I hurried back home.

Q: Is it true that you two were childhood friends?

Amelia: Micah’s sister, Emily, was my best friend. Since he was younger than us, I wasn’t really interested in him.

Micah: I made sure nobody bullied them. (Micah shrugs.)

Q: Micah, did you like Amelia then?

Micah: (Folds his arms, a smile twitching his lips.) I liked her. I always thought she was real pretty.

(Amelia grins in response.)

Q: What do you think of her now?

A: (Micah dips his head but I see his grin broadening.) She’s fascinating. Even when she’s too stubborn for her own good.

Amelia: Do you still think I'm pretty?

(Micah chuckles and nods.)

Q: Amelia, did you like Micah then?

A: Oh. Well, I thought it was charming, the way he protected Emily. And his protection just always seemed to include me.

Micah: And do you like me now?

Amelia: Absolutely. I think more than I ought to.

Q: Micah, why did you marry her?

Micah: We were both in a pickle. She needed a husband and I had Pearl and Oliver. (I don’t say anything but there’s a distinct flush creeping across Micah’s cheeks.)

Q: Amelia, when you learned about your grandfather’s ultimatum, why did you ask Micah?

Amelia: I felt safest around Micah, and I loved his niece and nephew. It made sense for us to get married.

Q: What do you like most about Amelia?

Micah: Amelia is resilient. And she’s not afraid to fight for what she believes in.

Q: And you, Amelia, what do you like most about Micah?

Amelia: Micah is loyal and consistent. I don’t know how to explain it, but once he’s in your corner, he is there for life.

It was so nice chatting with the two of you. 

For readers interested to read Love in the Bargain, it’s available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

 

 

 

Dr. Bates?

 

Post (c) Doris McCraw aka Angela Raines

Photo (c) Doris McCraw

Before 1900 Denver had two women doctors with the same name: Dr. Mary Bates. Although there is still so much to learn about these two women, their stories so far are still the stuff of legends. The stories can and will lead to so much more.

Putting their stories into context, Colorado became a state in 1876. The early days of Colorado were filled with people seeking gold and other minerals to be found in the high mountains. If they weren’t searching for gold, remember the 1859 “Pikes Peak or Bust” slogan: they provided services and goods for the searchers. There also was an influx of people who found the Colorado climate beneficial for their health. This combination led many women to brave the new territory to practice their medical skills.

The first Dr. Bates arrived was Mary Helen Barker Bates (b.1845-d.1934). She was the daughter of Dr. Ezra Barker who had a practice in New York. This Mary graduated from the Woman’s Medical College in Philadelphia. Before she moved to Colorado she practiced in Salt Lake City, Utah, where some of her patients were the family of Mormon leader Brigham Young. (The family site said she was “Brigham Young's Family Physician”. There she met and married George Bates in 1876. Two years later in 1878, at the age of 33, she and George moved to the mining town of Leadville, Colorado, where George was an attorney and Mary practiced medicine.

Leadville, image from Wikiwand

Leadville for those who don’t know sits at 10,152 feet above sea level in the Colorado Rockies. During the 1870s-80s it was a booming town. It was here the Guggenheims, Horace Tabor and others made their fortunes in silver. Even Doc Holliday spent time there.

While there one source says Dr. Bates founded the Ladies Relief Hospital. In 1881 she and George moved to Denver for his health. When Colorado started licensing physicians in 1881, Mary was one of the first women licensed by the State. (Her license #271). She took a special interest in Woman’s Suffrage, children, and education. She introduced the Colorado Law for the Examination and Care of Public School Children which went into effect in 1910.

Our second Mary, Mary Elizabeth Bates (b.1851 d.1954) arrived in Denver in 1891. Prior to arriving in Colorado, she was the first woman intern (1882-1883) at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, after a grueling exam in which she beat out a number of male candidates. She studied in Vienna from 1883-1884. Upon her return, she was a professor of anatomy at the Woman’s Medical College in Chicago from 1884-1889. After moving to Colorado she also was involved in the Woman’s Suffrage movement. She was part of the group that affected the passage of the 1893 referendum which gave Colorado women the right to vote. This Dr. Mary Bates also was a champion of the strict adherence to the liquor and gambling laws of the state. Her other passion was animal rights and prior to her death in 1954, she created the Mary Elizabeth Bates Foundation for animal care.

If anyone is interested you can also read or sign up for my weekly Thoughts and Tips newsletter: Thursday's Thoughts and Tips

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy.

Doris

It’s Fun to Research Western Romance by Jan Scarbrough

Before writing The Dawsons of Montana, I surfed the Internet for the setting and found a dude ranch in Southwestern Montana near Yellowstone National Park. I had also researched professional bull riding for an earlier book. Most of the setting for my fictitious dude ranch was made up and, of course, so were the characters.

When my husband and I had a chance to go out west in 2016, I wanted to go to a dude ranch. After Internet research, I discovered The Covered Wagon Ranch in Gallatin Gateway, Montana. We made reservations and planned our trip for three days in July.

OMG! It was fun—two days on horseback riding into the mountains, gourmet meals prepared by a professional chef eaten in a rustic dining room with other friendly “dudes.” The owners, wranglers and staff were super friendly. Like many of the returning guests, we felt right at home at the ranch.

And yes, there were real working cowboys, men and women who make a living wrangling horses and caring for us city slickers. Their knowledge, love and respect for the land, and their devotion and caring for the horses impressed me.

I was given my own horse for the two-day stay. He was a six-year-old Tennessee walking horse named Mr. Black. He didn’t trot but performed a running walk. We never got up enough speed to go that fast because we were climbing up the sides of mountains! The view from the top looking down over the ranch property was scary. Believe me! 

I could have had more fun trail riding but acquired a case of altitude sickness. The 6000+ feet of southwestern Montana mountains were very much higher than the 500 feet Ohio Valley where I live. I began to feel better on the second day, just in time to leave. 

We also took a day trip to Paradise Valley, the actual setting of the Dawson ranch in my series, and ate lunch at a place called Chico Hot Springs near Emigrant, Montana.

On the trip, I got to see firsthand the mountains, canyons, and valleys that make this part of Montana so beautiful. Sagebrush is real. And so are lodgepole pine trees and aspens with their green and silver leaves shimmering in the wind. Of course, I came home pondering another Western series set in this beautiful part of the United States of America.

If you were going to research and write a Western novel, where would you like to visit?

Introducing Sam Johnson from The Johnsons of Junova ~ Raine Rochelle

Greetings!  

The second book in The Johnsons of Junova series, Heartbeat, is still a work in progress, but I thought it would be a good time to meet the main character, Sam Johnson. To that end, I’ve had a brief interview with him to give you an idea of the sort of guy he really is:

For such a handsome cowboy, Sam doesn’t come across as the most confident guy in the coffee house. He gives me a shy—but totally breathtaking—grin as he nears the table where I’m enjoying a cup of tea. I watch him pick up a shawl that has fallen from an elderly lady’s chair, and his smile isn’t lost on her as he hands it to her. Arriving at our table, he removes his hat before reaching out to shake my hand. His manners are impeccable, and I hide a gasp as he takes the chair opposite me.

“I hope I haven’t kept you waiting,” he says, with sincerity in his gorgeous eyes.

I assure him that he hasn’t, and the waitress brings him a coffee before I start with the questions.

So, you met Lydia at the hospital where your father was being treated following his heart attack. Was she a patient at the time?

He nods, a dreamy look emanating from his whole face. “Yes. She has arrhythmia, which means that her heart doesn’t keep the usual, steady rhythm. At the time she’d just been helping her family move house to Brightside and may have been overdoing things a little. Her heart was beating too fast so she’d been taken in while they monitored it and observed her.” With a little laugh he adds, “Though they didn’t observe her all that well as she kept sneaking off the ward whenever she wasn’t wired up to machinery. She said she got bored and went off to explore the rest of the hospital.”

What first attracted her to you?

He laughs, looking a little sheepish. “She’s very beautiful. But I was really taken by the way she was so upbeat about everything. So positive. We got talking and she really made me feel quite optimistic about my dad, who’d had a recent heart attack, as you probably know. She even made me laugh at times when I thought my whole world was about to come crashing down on me. Dad didn’t make a lot of progress at first, and the family were all real concerned about whether he’d pull through.”

How did Lydia cope with her own health situation?

Sam gives me an incredulous look. “The same way she copes with everything—with positivity. She’s lived with her condition all her life, but it’s just recently that it’s started to become a problem. She knows her family worry about her, but she wishes they wouldn’t fret so much. Lydia’s a sensible girl; she takes her meds regularly and tries to live a healthy lifestyle. The last thing she wants is to be treated any different from anyone else. She doesn’t see arrhythmia as an illness or anything, it’s just something she lives with.” He smiles. “She’s amazing.”

Is she ‘the one’?

He beams. “You’ll have to find that out for yourself. Love never runs smoothly, but I will say that’s she’s an incredible and very understanding woman. You can’t help but love her.”

 

Looks like we’ll have to wait for the release of Heartbeat to find out more, but I hope this gives a little insight into the guy himself. I’ll let you know as soon as I have a launch date organised.

Stay safe and well until next time,

Raine

The Johnsons of Junova is a continuation of The Billionaires of Brightside Ranch that can also be read as a standalone series.

Book 1 in the Series, Heartstrings is available HERE.

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

Character Interview with Camille Prescott ~ Julie Lence

 

Last month our interviewer sat down with Burke Montgomery from All I Want for Christmas Is You. This month our interviewer is sitting down with Burke’s heroine, Camille Prescott. She’s lived on a farm her entire life with her parents and older sister. Her father took ill not too long ago and passed, leaving Camille, her mother and sister to take over his chores and keep the farm going. Even before losing her father, Camille knew she never wanted to labor in the fields or chop wood. Watching her sister don a man’s coat and trousers and struggle to keep up with their father’s chores solidified her determination to find a man wealthy enough to ensure the future she wanted. But, as Camille and I settle around the table in her kitchen, a pot of tea and a plate of cookies before us, you’re about to discover that the best laid plans are always susceptible to change.

 

Thank you for meeting with me, Camille. What can you tell me about Burke Montgomery? What did you think the 1^st time you saw him? The first time he came to the farm was with Landry, to help Slade put a new roof on the barn. Slade’s an outlaw and married to my sister. Landry is Slade’s brother. He’s also an outlaw and owns the saloon in Jackson Creek. Burke is his bartender. I only caught a glimpse of Burke that morning as he and Landry rode across the front yard toward the barn. Ma snuck up behind me and yanked me away from the window, bade to mop the floors. From what I remember, Burke sat upright in the saddle and didn’t wear a hat.   

What was your 2^nd thought? I really don’t know. I guess I thought him handsome enough, (she answers, adding a dollop of cream to her tea.) His shoulders are a lot broader than Doug McCallister. Doug is my sister’s ex-fiancé and wealthy. He had enough men working on his ranch to guarantee I’d never work in the fields. He seemed to like the way I brushed up against; I was sure he’d propose marriage to me before the end of the year. (She wrinkles her nose.) Burke has the nicest eyes, but he didn’t have the wealth to keep me from blistering my hands the way my sister blistered hers when she took over Pa’s chores… before Slade came along and took control of the farm.

How did you go from having an interest in Doug McCallister to having an interest in Burke? Doug and his father fell on hard times and moved away. Before that, Ma insisted on several occasions that Burke join us for the evening meal. He was quiet those nights and had impeccable manners. (She pushes the plate of ginger cookies toward me. ) Have one.

I can’t resist; fresh from the oven, they smell heavenly. Thank you. (I bite into the cookie. Mmmm… they taste every bit as heavenly as they smell.)  So, it was during one of those meals that you began to have feelings for Burke?  Good heavens, no.  His chiseled cheeks may have been enticing, but he was still Landry’s bartender, and bartender’s don’t make a lot of money. (She breaks off a bite of cookie.) Besides, it was right before Doug moved away that Glen Stafford came to Jackson Creek to help his uncle enlarge the Stafford property. Glen has pretty eyes, and gossip around the church yard hinted he had just enough wealth to afford me the lifestyle I wanted. Then Sarah Jane stole him from me. (Camille pouts.) I was heartbroken. (And brightens.) But then, Burke happened along and that’s when I had a change of heart regarding him and his work.

What do you like most about Burke? Where do I start? (She bites down on her fingernail for a moment.) He’s loyal, kind, caring. He loves me, and when he holds me in his arms—arms that are more sinewy than any man I know—I feel cherished and safe, happier than I’ve ever been.  He’s a good man, and I’m a lucky girl.

How would Burke describe you? Smug, sassy, bold… He likes that about me. (She smiles fondly.) He’d also say I’m a good cook, the prettiest girl in all of Texas, and the only girl he’s ever loved.

And you love him? More than anything in the world. 

To find out just what caused Camille to have a change of heart and determine she loves Burke, grab a copy of their Christmas story and read today. Available only at Amazon.

www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDGFKF7N

 

    

Love on Target and the Pink Pistol Sisterhood

Last autumn, I was approached by a friend to be part of a project I just couldn't turn down. It involved Annie Oakley and her amazing legacy, a gun that traveled through generations, and my pals from Petticoats & Pistols.


Together, we've created a new series that is woven together by a one-of-a-kind pink-handled pistol originally gifted to Annie Oakley. The pistol comes with a legend, one promising that whoever possesses it will find true love. Annie passes the gun on to one of her students and sets the whimsical journey in motion that starts with In Her Sights by Karen Witemeyer.

The books release every ten days, beginning with Karen's story on March 30.

In Her Sights

1893 – Caldwell, Texas

Tessa James secretly loves Jackson Spivey, but trying to gain his favor only pushes him away. Since Jackson’s life revolves around guns, Tessa decides to take up shooting. Seeking lessons from famed markswoman Annie Oakley provides more than technique instruction, however. Tessa comes away with a pistol that will change the course of her life forever.

Purchase here.

My contribution to the series is Love on Target. It's book 2 and it will release on Monday, April 10.

Love on Target


1894 – Holiday, Oregon

A pistol, a mule, and a promised mining job lure Rena Burke to Oregon. She might wear trousers and work with men, but Rena secretly longs to be appreciated as a woman. Too bad the man she admires believes her to be a dangerous influence on his young daughter.

Purchase here.

We've also put together magazines that give a tip of the head to the old western magazines from the thirties and forties.

The first two magazines have been released and are filled with author interviews, recipes, games, original short stories, and excerpts from the books.

These magazines are completely free and we hope you'll enjoy them!

Download Here

Download Here

Connect with Shanna online at her website.

Story Archaeology

 

By Kristy McCaffrey 

How do writers find their stories?

The great mythologist Joseph Campbell stated in The Hero With A Thousand Faces: “Throughout the inhabited world, in all times and under every circumstance, the myths of man have flourished; and they have been the living inspiration of whatever else may have appeared out of the activities of the human body and mind.”

Stories live within us, whether we acknowledge them or not. A writer’s job is to excavate this terrain and bring it forth into the world. The act of experiencing a well-told tale, via a novel or a film or a bedtime story, will activate this internal landscape, sparking a recognition deep in the psyche.

A writer uses any number of tools at his or her disposal—intuition, dreams, research, imagination. Shaman and dream archaeologist Robert Moss says that stories are hunting for the right person to tell them. If a story is pressing on you to be told, and you ignore the call, the narrative will find another outlet for expression. This has often been called an artist’s muse, and many a writer has lamented when their source of inspiration has left them.

How to invite the stargazer, the fantasizer, the daydreamer to remain close? In Women Who Run With The Wolves, Jungian psychologist Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes says that (for women) the Wild Woman is necessary for all that is needed and known. Wild Woman is a vehicle to our instinctual nature, bringing us close to the wild terrain of our most primitive self.

“It means to establish territory, to find one’s pack, to be in one’s body with certainty and pride regardless of the body’s gifts and limitations, to speak and act in one’s behalf, to be aware, alert, to draw on the innate feminine powers of intuition and sensing, to come into one’s cycles, to find what one belongs to, to rise with dignity, to retain as much consciousness as we can.”

One way to excavate is through story collecting, an excellent device to fill the creative coffers. The more story bones acquired, the more tools that are at hand in creating the ‘whole’ story. 

Natalie Goldberg, in Writing Down The Bones, offers other ideas: carry a notebook with you at all times, practice timed writing with no editing (first thoughts aren’t controlled by the ego), write consistently to strengthen the storytelling muscle.

But anything we do fully, we do alone. This is especially true with writing. And while writing for others can be motivating, while story hunting may be fueled by the desire for accolades, always remember that the process isn’t simply to trigger an awareness and a change within the reader, but also to grow the vast reservoir of the soul-terrain of the writer herself. Goldberg says, “Writing is a path to meet ourselves and become intimate.”

“That’s very nice if they want to publish you, but don’t pay too much attention to it. It will toss you away. Just continue to write.” ~ Katagiri Roshi