When did you know you were hooked on Western historical novels?

First, I’d like to thank you for having me here. The story of why and how you started this site is inspiring in itself and I wish you many wonderful years ahead. It is a pleasure to have a place to go that showcases western romances.  

I’ve been hooked on western historical novels ever since I was a teenager and my mother gave me Ramona, a classic by Helen Hunt Jackson. Then later I found the works of Jodi Thomas and Rosanne Bittner.

I’ve enjoyed western historical stories for years too. When very young I was “roped” into watching movies like McClintock with John Wayne and The Big Country with Gregory Peck and that began a life-long love affair with the Western. My favorite of all time “westerns” actually took place in Australia—The Man From Snowy River, but it has a great romance at its core.

What do you like about Western Historical Romances versus other genres?

The Western Historical Romance, because of its rugged, challenging setting, needs characters that are larger than life, colorful, and tough. I love the strong silent type of hero and westerns have those in spades. The stories often are morality plays with the good guys against the bad guys, and the good guy always gets the girl. Since I grew up in the southwest, these are the legends of my homeland. I have a special affection for the Latino/Spanish hero, the hill country of southern California and the history there. 

What part of the writing process do you enjoy most when you write—the research? creating the characters? developing the plot? providing the historical context?

Does typing “the end” count? The whole process is very intertwined for me, but I’d have to say the research is most important because as I dig into the research, my imagination sparks with ideas for clothing, plot, characters, and events. The most enjoyable part is when after a few chapters the characters suddenly “become real” for me and take ownership of their own story. Then I can’t wait to get to my computer to see what new things will develop. It’s a very strange occurrence that perhaps only other authors can appreciate and understand. 

Tell us about your new book, Texas Wedding for their Baby’s Sake.

Love to!  This book begins where my last one ended—in the summer after the fall of the Alamo in Texas. It is the story of the younger of the two brothers. Brandon is idealistic and the war leaves him battling his own inner demons. When the woman he loved appears in Texas “in a family way” (as polite society then called a pregnant woman), she challenges him to overcome his fears and embrace life again.

The idea came to me as I was researching my first book and learned that when Santa Anna marched north with his 7,000 troops to squash the rebellion at the Alamo, he brought no physicians for his soldiers. (He did have his own private one.) Because of this, he would let the doctors of the Texians live in order to tend the Mexican injured. But I wondered what that would do to a young altruistic man—how would he cope after the war? I wanted to explore his journey.

If you were to choose two actors to play Caroline and Brandon, who would they be and why?

It always helps me to visualize my characters when I start a new story (and besides it’s fun searching for the perfect ones for each story.) I envisioned Brandon Routh playing Brandon. He has a certain air of vulnerability that fits the part. And Caroline would be portrayed by Katherine Heigl who can pull off a determined heroine well.

What has been the most surprising aspect of this journey into the realm of published author? And what aspect has been exactly as you expected?

Without a doubt the most surprising aspect has been the support and camaraderie of other writers in romance. This is the most giving, generous group of people I’ve ever imagined.  Case in point—your own decision to promote western romance and start this Love Western Romances website! I’ve heard over and over again how other genres don’t have the same dynamic. It really is one large family.

I expected that getting published would only wet my appetite to write bigger, more exciting stories. It has.

Can you tell us a little about your next book?

My next book takes me full circle back to southern California and is a sequel to my very first published book-The Angel and the Outlaw. In that story, an isolated young girl and a misfit teenage boy become friends. This next book with the working title of Coronado Gold is their story when they are adults. I’m excited about the time in San Diego’s history—Wyatt Earp ran three saloons in town, the town was going bust, and yet it was the year that the (now famous) Hotel Del Coronado opened with a flourish.

What are some of your favorite western romances by other authors?

Thunder on the Plains by Rosanne Bittner is on my keeper shelf, along with The Rascal by Lisa Plumley. I also enjoyed LaVerle Spencer’s The Fulfillment and Elizabeth Lane’s The Stranger. I’ve just started reading Linda Lael Miller and can’t get enough of the McKettrick Series.  So many good books, so little time… 

And finally, western historical romances are unique to the American experience. Any lessons we could learn from those who tamed the Old West?

Definitely!

Men of the west “looked out for their own.”  They were men who took care of their family and their homes no matter what, men who lived up to a personal honorable code of responsibility. I would like to see more of that attitude in today’s man. Heroes have it and we all need more heroes.

 “Going green” is a popular catch-phrase now, but more than that, I’d like to see respect for the land, which is part of “the code of the west” become more of a priority. Growing up, I enjoyed so many summers camping in Yosemite and hiking through Bryce Canyon. Things like maintaining our amazing state and national parks for future generations is important. Simple things like not littering, disfiguring rocks or destroying natural habitats—caring for this land—means a lot to me. We are so blessed with natural beauty here in the U.S.