Writing Westerns, Two by Two…

by Tawny

I'm SO excited to welcome my dear friend and a fabulous writer, the awesome Stacey Kayne to the Lair. I've know Stacey since the dawn of time... or way back when she, I and Beth started writing *g*. Stacey is one of the most intriguing writers I know and I'm so excited she agreed to come by and visit. And - check it out!! Two of Stacey's western releases for this year are up for Best Western of 2008 over at http://www.lovewesternromances.com/ .

BANDITAS!!!! I’m excited to be back in the lair. Thanks for having me over! Anna C., I’m still hoping you’ll record my Stacey Kayne theme song—with that Rawhide whip crack in the background *g*—so I can post it on my My Space music! I can’t look at my books without hearing your voice :-)

I’ve been doing some celebrating in the past couple weeks…I turned in the third and final books for both my WILD and BRIDE series— MOUNTAIN WILD and COURTED BY THE COWBOY (don’t let the title fool ya—it’s part of an anthology, and also an addition to my BRIDE series!). Both books will be in bookstores this summer. Excerpts on my website!

Has anyone else noticed more and more westerns on the bookstore shelves lately? In the recent RT I saw new westerns by Dorothy Garlock, Georgia Gentry, Cheryl St. John, Linda Lael Miller, Bobbie Smith and more! Here’s hoping this is a western trend that will keep on booming!!

While I was thrilled to turn in my latest books, I have to admit, I’m a tad sad to see the end of my first two series. I had a lot of fun with the Morgan brothers and the Doulan family. I have always been a huge fan of those western family sagas, and as a writer I have this habit of falling in love with my secondary characters—everyone needs a book! This last book in my Wild Trilogy was extra special, since the hero Garret Daines first appeared on the page as a twelve year old boy in MUSTANG WILD. In MAVERICK WILD a few years have pack some muscle onto his wiry frame and his teenage heart is subjected to some serious bruising when he crushes on a woman who only has eyes for Chance Morgan. My critique partners would tell you I had a hard time accepting sweet, protective Garret as the rugged cowboy he needed to become…and though it took my brain a while let go, Garret is all grown up in MOUNTAIN WILD and has found a wild woman all his own. Those who’ve followed the series might recognize her *g*.

While initially writing Kyle Darby’s story in COURTED BY THE COWBOY, I had similar troubles. Kyle also made his first published appearance as a twelve-year-old boy at the end of BRIDE OF SHADOW CANYON. But while writing THE GUNSLINGER’S UNTAMED BRIDE, Kyle stomped onto the page with a force that shocked me, shattering any lingering boyish image. He wasn’t about to be upstaged by his gunfighter cousin and reminded me he had a book waiting to be finished. I was smitten all over again and couldn’t wait to pair him up with Miss Constance Pauley…who’s not as docile as her name might indicate!

But for every door that closes, a window opens – opening just wide enough to launch a new western series for 2010! This new series will be revolve around the founding and expansion of a Montana boomtown shortly following the Civil War. The heroes of the first two books are talking to me…these two rugged wounded souls were childhood friends, fought on opposite sides in the war and still have some reckoning with each other while trying to find their place in a scarred world. That place will be established by the end of the first book in the series, and each book will introduce another couple to become a vital addition to their growing community.

I’m really excited to write one consecutive series---even better, one that will be packaged with the series title. The Powers That Be have asked for a series title that will reflect the setting…Something River, Something Mountain, Something Spring…Something that says RUGGED WILD WESTERN SERIES….only problem, I stink at titles. So…today I’ll be randomly tossing out beaded dragonfly clips to those who post a title suggestion—Help!!!!

And at the end of the day I’ll give away a western ornament and a signed copy of THE GUNSLINGER’S UNTAMED BRIDE. Big thanks to my Play Pals Tawny and Beth for being such gracious hostesses!