New Blog Post Up

I'm back and I'm over at Cowboy Kisses today blogging about one of my favorite subjects -- the myth versus the reality of the Old West. I hope you'll hop over and join me. It's been a while but I'm still creaking around. ;o)

Happy reading and writing!
Devon

Raising Cane Over At Cowboy Kisses

Yep, it's that time again. I'm over at Cowboy Kisses today talking about raising cane. Actually, I'm talking about making molasses, but you have to raise a lot of cane to make molasses, don'cha? Now I'm confused. Come on over if you want to know what I'm talking about. I'd be happy to see you there! :)

Devon

The "LOOK" Challenge

I've been challenged to a new game by Kathleen Rice Adams. This one is called "Look" and the object is to find the first instance of the word "look" in your work in progress and post the surrounding paragraphs. Then, tag other people to do the same.

As I told Kathleen over on Facebook, this gives me an excuse to roll out my new cover, which I finished just last night. As most of you already know, a big name western romance author chose to use the same title I've been using for her latest book, which gave me quite a bit of pause. Finally, I decided to keep the title and tweak it just a bit. In doing so, I ended up making a whole new cover. The background is an old photo I took out in extreme West Texas more than 30 years ago. I had to enhance it a bit because the color had started to fade. With a few modifications, the cowboy and his lady are a combination of two stock photos from Hot Damn Designs and Illustrated Romance. Anyway, here are the paragraphs and the new cover for My Wild Texas Rose.



click to enlarge

 



~~~~Sample Paragraphs~~~~

Leaning down, his restless gaze traveled the length of the street outside.

What or—more likely—who was he looking for? Her brother, no doubt. Did he think she’d gone to the window as a signal to someone out on the street? Could he actually think she was setting him up for an ambush?

“There’s no one waiting outside. And no one is going to come busting through the door. I told you, I’m here alone.” Her conscience pricked her because it wasn’t exactly the truth.

When he straightened and faced her again, she could see the pinpoints of sweat clinging to the ridge of his upper lip. A faint web of squint lines accentuated the outer corners of his eyes.

Having him so close sucked all the air from the room until there was only him, leather, sun-drenched cotton, and something so unique and pleasantly male it made her head swim.

“I didn’t think you were coming.”

“Started not to,” he admitted. “I didn’t know what the hell I’d be walking into. But my curiosity got the best of me and here I am.”

Happy reading!

Devon

Cowboys Ain't Easy To Love...

Well, on second thought, the one in this picture would probably be pretty easy to love. Ya think! Hmm... wonder if he's available for book covers.

Anyway, I'm over at Cowboy Kisses today talking about those danged, ornery cowboys who threw down their gloves and walked out on the job back in 1883. Yep, they went on strike.

If you're itchin' to know what happened, come on over and join me. I'd love to see you there!

Devon

Hey, Andy!

I was sad today when I turned on the computer and learned that Andy Griffith had passed away. For some of us, he is embedded in our youth and memories of a kinder, gentler time. I won't attempt to eulogize because that's for others to do who actually knew the facts of his life. But I do want to share a picture I took of Andy, with his wife Cindy and daughter Dixie, circa 1973. He was nice enough to stop and share a little time cutting up with us. I'm happy to say that Andy was just as nice and friendly in person as he was on tv.

click on photo to enlarge

This picture was taken in Topanga Canyon, California during a parade for charity. I seem to recall it was for the local animal rescue because Earl Holliman and Joanne Worley were in the back of a pickup with a bunch of dogs, asking people to adopt them, but any specifics are gone from my memory now. Several celebrities who lived in the neighborhood came out that day with their vintage cars to help raise money. The reason I was there was because my then husband--that's him in the black hat and jacket, with his arm propped on the top of Andy's seat--was part of a western stunt group that regularly put on shows to benefit charities. At the time, my husband and the rest of the stunt guys were all sailors stationed at Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station. There were three others in the group, but they'd wandered away by the time I took the picture.

Anyway, I just wanted to share and say one last, "Hey, Andy! You will be missed."

Devon 

777 Challenge ~ I've Been Tagged!

Evenin', cowpokes. Just found out I've been tagged by Lyn Horner in the 777 Challenge. Thanks, Lyn! ( I think) ;) The challenge is to go to page 7 of your current work in progress and post at least 7 lines from the page, then tag 7 other authors and challenge them to do the same on their blogs. So, here we go.

My work in progress is a Western Historical Romance titled Wild Texas Rose. I'm afraid the sample is much longer than 7 lines but, oh well. I've included two covers I've been playing around with. Haven't made up my mind yet which one I like best, or if I want to scrap them both and start over. Would love to know what you think so, opinions, please!. This book has been a long time coming and, hopefully, it won't be much longer. Hope you enjoy the out of context sample. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Wild Texas Rose, pg. 7.

 Mattie looked at the skirt and then at Rosalie with a knowing gleam in her eyes. She wedged her hands against her hips. “Where do you think you’re goin’?”

“For a ride. I’ve got some thinking to do.” Rosalie returned her attention to the wardrobe and picked up her boots from among an assortment of slippers and button-up shoes arranged side by side on the wooden shelf.

“Ha!” Mattie retorted. “I know what you’ve got in mind and thinkin’ ain’t it.”

Rosalie ignored the remark and continued to gather the various garments she intended to wear. Mattie knew her too well, was privy to all her secrets and nothing got past her, so trying to allay her suspicions was a waste of time.

But she should have known her silence was as good as an admission of guilt. The woman was as relentless as a starving hound on the scent of a wounded jackrabbit once she picked up a hint of mischief.

“Now, you listen to me, Rose. For your own good. You stay away from that boy. He can’t help you, and you’ll only end up bringin’ trouble down on his head.”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rosalie denied.

“You know exactly what I’m talkin’ about,” Mattie pressed on in strident tones. “Trey Delaney, that’s what. If Walter ever got wind there was something goin’ on between the two of you…” She shook her head, evidently the thought of it even too horrible to articulate. “He can’t go against your father, Rose. Walter would destroy him if he even tried it. Then where would you be?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's my list of authors I tag to do the 777 Challenge:

Teresa Reasor
Amy Durham
Taryn Raye
Michael Embry
Alison Bruce
Cheri Kay Clifton
Tara Manderino

Will they do it? We shall see. I'll post an announcement on Facebook so they'll all know they've been tagged. Then, I'm ducking for cover. ;)

Happy reading and writing!
Devon

Guess What Time It Is

Howdy, friends! Yep, it's that time again. I'm over at Cowboy Kisses today. This month I'm talking about how to dress your cowboy. Yee-ha!

While I've got your ear, let me bring you up to date on what's been going on with me. For the past two months I've been dealing with some health issues that nearly put me out of commission. I'm on the mend now so you'll likely be seeing a lot more of me around here.

Now that I'm feeling better, I'm back to writing. Took a while to get my mojo tuned up, but I'm finally there and the next book is coming along nicely.

Hope you'll come visit me over at the group blog, and leave a comment if you're so inclined so I'll know you were there.

Happy reading and writing!

Devon

I'm at Cowboy Kisses Again!

Hey, y'all! I can't believe a month has flown by already and it's my turn to blog again over at Cowboy Kisses. Today, I'm talking about the little one-room schoolhouse in the hills where I started school. I hope I did the old school justice. Please come join me while I dredge up my past and, if you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask. See you there!

Happy reading!

Devon

Blogging at Cowboy Kisses Today!

Today is my first post over at Cowboy Kisses, the new group blog featuring thirteen of us western romance authors. I'll be talking about gunfighters of the old west, the myth vs the reality. I'd be tickled pink if you'd come over and tell me about your favorite gunfighter hero or just let me know you're listening.

Hope to see you there!

Devon