Julie Lence's Blog - Posts Tagged "western-historical-romance"

Hello Everyone: I hope your summer break was fantastic, as mine has been. And if your children are still at home, I hope you enjoy these last few weeks before they return to school.

As usual, the summer went by too fast. The kiddie has been back in school for over a week, and I'm back in my routine of waking at 5:30, making lunch, packing the backpack and taking my son to school. I'm also back into my writing routine and have begun working on the final installment of my Outlaws as Heroes trilogy. This one is titled Debra's Bandit. Gage is the hero, with a past that has haunted him for years and a Pinkerton hot on his trail. Debra runs the mercantile and longs for Gage to return her love and settle in Revolving Point with her. Will he or won't he? Depends on what happens when he decides to let the Pinkerton catch up to him.

Before diving into this latest book, I spent the summer at home. My nephew came to visit and we had fun showing him all the attractions that Colorado has to offer. He had a great time, shopped 'til he dropped and is now home. My son enjoyed having his cousin around 24/7, spent a lot of time in the pool and excelled on his Xbox games. The hubby worked and I took on some writing related projects that weren't my own. I worked with other authors, which is always a thrill and an honor for me, and gave my muse the rest it needed.

My biggest news for these past few months is the release of my third book in the Weston Family Series. Asylett Press released No Luck At All in June. It is currently available as an Ebook or download. No Luck At All features Creel Weston, the youngest Weston brother, and his new wife, Boston socialite Racine Somerfield. Creel is a doctor and Racine harbors scars that Creel's doctoring may not be able to heal. Look for Lucas and Royce, Creel's older brothers, to create more havoc for Creel as he tries to help his wife overcome a childhood of torment. Those two devilish cowboys are so much fun to work with.

Until next time, have a great week everyone.

Comfort Zones. We all have them, and for me, venturing outside any of mine is usually a problem. When I worked outside of the home, I enjoyed perfecting my position. Then, inevitably, the boss would come along and want to make changes. Because my comfort zone was knowing almost every detail of the job, even in my sleep, I didn't embrace those changes very well. The same can be said when it comes to the books I read.

Ninety percent of the books on my shelves at home are romance. I take comfort in knowing the hero and heroine will meet, work together to solve some sort of problem and then have a happily ever after. This past spring and summer I ventured out of my reading comfort zone to different genres; mystery, fantasy, preternatural and women's fiction. All of which, I have to say, were very good.

In my day to day work and home life, I have a schedule that I try like heck to stick to. I absolutely hate it when something gets thrown into the mix and sends my whole routine out of whack--another comfort zone broken down. On the flip side of that, doing the same thing every day gets boring. We all need something to shake things up and put a little spark in our lives. So, brave soul that I am not, I volunteerd for Vice President of the PTO at the kiddie's school.

As I sat in on the meeting this morning, several committees were vying for help. All were interesting and tugging at my heartstrings for me to get more involved, but a little voice in the back of my head kept reminding to not forget my writing schedule. So, while I took a small step to get out of the house more, I realized I can't deny every one of my comforts. I have to write. It's in my blood, which means I have to have the time to put words on a computer screen, or by the end of the week, I'll feel as though I've accomplished nothing.

Breaking a comfort zone, or more than one, is fine. It challenges us to be all we can be. But don't take on more than you can handle. As I reminded myself, be realistic, not only with your time but with what brings you comfort. The reward in the end will be that much sweeter.

Most of you know that I write western historical romance. In each of my works, I like to present something factual from life in the 1800's, even if it’s something as simple as a warming oven. I also like to have a saloon somewhere in the book. Sometimes the saloon is an important part of the story, and other times it's mentioned in passing, such as No Luck At All where Creel purchases an abandoned saloon and transforms it into his medical clinic. Which got me to thinking about the history of the western saloon, where the beer was brewed and how it was transported to the saloon, and my accuracy in portraying the local watering hole.

From what I could find on the Internet, Nathan Lyman was one of the first men to open a brewery in the United States; Rochester, NY, 1819. After him, breweries sprouted up through the century in big cities; Buffalo, Cincinnati, Chicago and Milwaukee to name a few. Ale was the first type of beer brewed, until the German migration to the United States introduced lager beer. Lager beer is lighter compared to ale and Americans liked the taste. They also preferred the new glassware introduced to saloons over the pewter mugs. While I learned a variety of facts from which of these start up breweries later became famous for the beer Americans consume today to how breweries played an important role in establishing new saloons, these large city breweries didn't satisfy my curiosity for how beer ended up in the western saloons.

In researching a bit further, I found a few threads pertaining to local breweries, though I couldn't find information as to the actual locations of these breweries. I did discover that my initial thoughts of beer being stored in wooden barrels was correct, and after happening upon some photos of horse-drawn wagons laden with wooden barrels, I did prove another thought that this was how beer was transported to saloons. Two things I didn't know pertained to some folks brewing their own beer and others purchasing beer from saloons to consume at home. Beer was carried in small tin pails known as 'Growlers'. To me, that was interesting, because I never see mention of beer being consumed at home. Only whiskey.

Now that I know the history of beer, I feel more comfortable with the saloons in my stories. They do reflect some facts, such as the polished bar and the wooden barrel, and they also reflect my imagination of the décor and the men who frequented these rough-and-tumble establishments.

Having grown up in New York, Autumn was always a special time of year. The leaves changing colors brought a vibrant array of red, orange and gold to the landscape. Mom and Dad would load us kids into the car and we'd venture to nearby farms for apples and cider donuts. Sometimes, we'd journey north. Sometimes we'd travel to the east or to the south. No matter the direction, I always enjoyed the color of the leaves.

When the hubby and I lived in New Jersey, we'd often visit our families in New York. I remember one such time, on our way back to New Jersey, the hubby and I strayed from the main highway and drove along the back roads to look at the changing leaves and to stop for apples and donuts. The trip took longer, but we had a great time and started our own tradition of taking a drive on an autumn day to see the changing leaves.

Here we are many years later and living out west. The Aspens are changing from green to bright yellow, with some red and orange and brown mixed in. The hubby and I loaded the kiddie into the car last weekend and took off for an afternoon drive through the Rocky Mountains. Driving up the pass, we went through Woodland Park and headed west to the road that winds along the back of Pikes Peak to Cripple Creek. For those who don't know, Cripple Creek is an old mining town from the 1800's. Some of the original saloons and buildings remain, most are casinos now, and there is still a working gold mine outside of town.

The drive was quiet and relaxing. Some of the Aspen were in bloom, offering a myriad of colors. Most were still green, but no matter what time of year, the scenery is always gorgeous. We entered Cripple Creek and decided to drive through town and pick up the road on the other side. Just as we passed the last casino and began to approach the outskirts of town, my son spotted a donkey beneath some trees. Looking out my window, I found there was more than one donkey and figured a nearby rancher had brought the donkeys to town for a special occasion. But then, on the hubby's side of the street, there was an open lot with more donkeys. A lady was feeding them. We decided to stop along the curb and take a video of her feeding the donkeys.

Getting out of the car, the first few donkeys the kiddie and I had seen decided they were hungry and, one by one, they began crossing the street to get to the lady. Now, this was a sight to see--donkeys crossing the road and motorists stopping to give them the right of way. One donkey took an interest in a parked car's bumper and after sniffing it, scratched his ear along the tail light--too cute! (Glad it wasn't my car.) After the donkeys had their fill of hay, they followed their leader--a grey donkey--to the next street over and disappeared around the corner of a building.

While watching this scene, a gentleman walking his dog approached. One of the donkeys stopped and eyed the little dog, but did nothing and continued on his way. I learned from the gentleman that the donkeys are wild and live in Cripple Creek. The citizens of Cripple Creek help take care of them and feed them. The donkeys know the lady with the hay. She is there almost every day to feed them, and motorists have to yield to the donkeys. It is believed that these donkeys are descendants from the donkeys that were left behind when the gold rush came to an end and the miners went back down the mountain. It's the first time since coming here in '93 that the hubby and I have ever seen the donkeys, and it sure made our day. As soon as I can get him, or the kiddie, to load the videos, you can view the donkeys on my FB page.

Happy Autumn everyone!

Last month I sat down and decided on some topics for blogs. This week's blog was supposed to be about a day in the life of an 1800's rancher's wife. Then the SWAT team ventured into my back yard last week and the topic changed.

Tuesday morning started out as normal as could be. I got up, got dressed, got the kiddie ready for school and then saw a police car drive past my house. I didn't think anything of it, thought that he was merely patrolling the neighborhood. A few minutes later, I back out of the garage to take the kiddie to school and said police car is parked just past my driveway and has someone in a blue car pulled over. I think he caught someone speeding through the neighborhood and proceed to school, where along the way, I see another police car parked along the curb. Strange, but I still think nothing is the matter.

I drop the kiddie off and go back home. The police car is still parked alongside the curb. Hmmm.... wonder what he is doing. But I forget about him as I round the curve and approach home, where the first policeman now has the trunk and driver's door of the blue car open. Great--he's searching the car. I go inside and call the hubby, tell him what's happening. He says to stay inside, so I forget about walking the dog and get to work. Minutes later, the police car is now parked in front of my house, minus the blue car, and the officer is sitting behind the wheel. I think he's filling out paperwork. But then, minutes later, he's still there. Okay, something is up. But what?

Minutes later, my neighbor directly across the street calls and ask what's going on. I say, "Oh the police car in front of the house", which has now backed up past my driveway to where he first had the blue car pulled over. My neighbor, Steve says, "Not him. The other police cars two houses up from me. There are about seven of them." (Here I should mention that I live on a curve and cannot see the house he is referring to.) I tell Steve to call our other neighbor and ask him, because I saw him outside when I came home from school. Maybe he knows something and for Steve to call me back. A minute later, Steve calls back and says our neighbor is not answering the phone. I say I'll go over and see what's going on.

Crossing the street, I see the police car, and as I make my way to the porch of the neighbors house, I can see all of the police cars--unmarked. My neighbor's wife tells me they have been here all morning and are getting out their gear and guns. Interesting that I'm still calm. I go home, call Steve to let him know and then call the hubby. Again, he says stay inside. Then my other neighbor, Dora calls. Steve called her hubby, he called Dora and Dora calls me. So I tell her what I know and we get to gossiping about what could be happening and whose house they police are watching. Then I have Dora call our other neighbor because I do not have her telephone number.

Some time, not much, passes, and the hubby calls back. I have nothing to report, except I do ask him if he has the number to the people on the side of us. He'll look it up and call back. While he is looking up the number, I see Steve leave his house in his car. I wonder where he's going, and don't have to wonder for long. He calls and says he's going to work, to let him know if anything happens. I ask where is wife is and she's home. Then I see my other neighbor leave. The hubby calls back. He can't find the number to our other neighbor's. I say I'll go over when I see one of the police cars go down the street. Then another and then a third one. All unmarked cars, until the fourth one rolls past the house and stops. I'm still on the phone with the hubby, and see the officer get out and walk between our yard and the neighbors. My heart drops--is it our neighbors?
But no, the officer gets back in his car and drives off. The hubby says stay in the house. Heck no! I have to see where they are going.

Around the street behind us, I see them. Back in thehouse, I go upstairs to the back window where I see two SWAT men. Weapons are drawn and aimed at the house directly behind me. Not good. A 70 year old lady lives there with her son. The SWAT Team approach the house, stop about midway and then back up to their car. Two more cars are across the street from the house. Now, I'm worried about my neighbor getting hurt when all of a sudden it hits me--if bullets start flying or someone runs out the back door, my house and yard are closest for escape and bullet holes.

So, I get the dog, lock up and leave n the car. I go up the street, turn around and watch. I see some of the SWAT team getting out more gear, to include their big shields, and guns and start back down the street. I think I see a police car pull into my driveway. Because of the curve, I am not sure. I creep down the street to have a look and still can't see. So I back up, park and then see another SWAT man walking up the street, searching backyards with his weapon drawn and aimed. That's enough excitement for me. I leave and meet the hubby at Target, where he says he got in touch with the neighbors alongside of us. They are hiding out in their garage and will call when it's safe to come back.

About one p.m., Lorelle calls and says it is safe to come home. So the dog and I venture back, stoopping along the way to greet the neighbors out walking and checking out the police cars that are still here, along with all three news channels. Lorelle tells me the person the police were searching for was not in the house--thank goodness for my 70 year old neighbor. Luckily, she left the house early in the morning, the police stopped her and wouldn't allow her to go home.

The story ends with the police having found the person they searched for the next day at a different house. All is well and quiet by me, just the way I like it. Someone told me I have to put this story in a book, but who would believe me? I write western hstorical romance. Then again, if I substitue the cars for horses and the SWAT team for a posse, who knows?

To see a pic of the SWAT at my fence, visit me at Facebook. Have a great week!

Last time I blogged about the closing of Asylett Press, and how, due to health reasons, the publisher couldn't keep up with the demands of the company. It was heartbreaking to see the doors close, and uplifting how the Asylett family of authors bonded together and kept each other going. Any number of us could have decided to give up, to put down our pens and forget about bringing to life the stories taking root in the backs of our minds, but that hasn't happened.

Through a hard two weeks, we've each taken a look at our careers and set our goals for the future. Some hope to find new publishers. Others an agent. And some of us have taken and completed crash-courses in publishing on Smashwords, Kindle and CreateSpace. I choose Kindle and am happy to say that Luck of the Draw, Lady Luck and No Luck At All are now available on Amazon's reading device.

Amazon's process of publishing on the Kindle is virtually painless after you've completed the process once. They have step-by-step instructions and guides along the way, especially in areas where one might not be familiar with what Amazon is asking or offering. After loading three books onto the Kindle, I highly recommend that you thoroughly check your work before you hit the 'save' button. This relieves the headache of having to go back and make corrections, like I had to. Thank goodness the hubby works in the world of computers. Zip files, saving here, resaving in a different place; if not for his expertise, I would have literally thrown the computer out onto the front lawn. And cried about breaking it into tiny pieces later.

My next course of action is to tackle CreateSpace and get my books back into print. The eyes need a few more days rest from constantly looking at text, but the one thing that has become clear to me through this rough time is that I like being in control of my work. I have learned that just because one door closes that doesn't mean an end has come to my career. New beginnings were waiting for me. I just had to look for them, make the decision to move on and have some faith in myself that I could get the job done. You can do the same in your writing. A rejection letter, a less-than-perfect critique; learn from these and move on, have faith in yourself and your work. You'll get where you want to go.

As for the Asylett authors; we are, indeed, a family. Our ties to one another were always strong. Over the last few weeks, they have strengthened and united us in ways we probably never thought about last year. We are dedicated and commited to helping each other, to lending support and cheer, and shoulders to lean on when needed. And that is something that will never change.

If you're like me, the holiday season flew past. In the blink of an eye, time went from a week before Christmas, to Christmas Day, to New Year's Day. And in between the days rolled into one long Saturday, with everyone home and enjoying their time off from work and school. The kiddie was happy--Santa was extremely good to him. The hubby was happy, as well, and for an e-book author, I finally got a Kindle. Now to learn how to use it….but that's for a different day.

Since the closing of Asylett Press back in October, I've been getting a crash course in self-publishing. Luck of the Draw, Lady Luck and No Luck At All are now available on Kindle. No Luck At All will soon be released in print edition through Amazon and Create Space. For those who may want a print copy of Luck of the Draw and/or Lady Luck, Amazon has a few copies left for sale.

Learning how to prepare interior files and a cover for print has been a challenge. For every one thing I did right, something else would mess up. My days consisted of constantly going back and forth fixing things and praying they didn't mess up at a later date. Through much perseverance--I was determined to see No Luck At All in print format--I finally succeeded and have to say the journey was worth the end result. With the help of fellow Asylett authors, and the hubby, I've broadened my knowledge of computers and can now do things I never dreamed of doing.

These past few weeks I've set goals to take me through the first half of 2012. They consist of launching a new western historical romance series. Set in fictional Revolving Point, Texas, each book features an outlaw for a hero. First up is Zanna's Outlaw, and features notorius outlaw Buck Grayson from Luck of the Draw and Lady Luck. I'm excited about this series for two reasons. First, it's fun working with outlaws for heroes, and second, I've found I like self-publishing. Being in control of my work from start to finish is rewarding. It's also nerve-wracking, but two months of hard work and perseverance, my sense of accomplishment has reached new levels.

Until next time, be safe, healthy and happy.

The Past Came Hunting is Donnell Ann Bell's first published work, and it is a wonderful mix of romance, suspense, family relationships and good vs. evil. Set in Colorado Springs, Ms. Bell's knowledge of the interior workings of a local police department really shine in her hThe Past Came Hunting is Donnell Ann Bell's first published work, and it is a wonderful mix of romance, suspense, family relationships and good vs. evil. Set in Colorado Springs, Ms. Bell's knowledge of the interior workings of a local police department really shine in her hero, Joe Crandall. Joe is a police lieutenant climbing the ladder for a promotion. He is dedicated to his job and often feels guilty about not spending enough time with his teenage son. Enter Melanie and her teenage son, Joe's new neighbors. The boys hit it off with their love for basketball, and Joe and Mel are in for quite a shock when they realize they know each other--Joe arrested Mel several years ago when she was a teenager. The sparks fly between these two as they struggle to put the past behind them and embark on a new relationship, while a threat to Mel's life looms close in the form of a villan bent on seeking revenge against her. Truly an enjoyable read, I can't wait to see what Ms. Bell has in store for us with her next work.

Hello Everyone:
I'm excited to report that I just released my latest western historical romance, Zanna's Outlaw, today on Amazon's Kindle.

Zanna's Outlaw is the first book in my new series titled, Revolving Point, TX Series.
Each book is set in fictional Revolving Point, TX and features an outlaw for a hero. First up is notorious outlaw Buck Grayson who appeared in Luck of the Draw and Lady Luck.

Download a copy onto your Kindle and find out what Buck has been up to since he was last seen in Lady Luck, and why, against his better judgement, he pins on a sheriff's badge.

In today's world, many authors have chosen to go into self-publishing. With Amazon's Kindle and Smashwords, it is now easier to publish your own work and make it available for purchase to the public. Most stores sell E-readers, and having hundreds of books on one device is appealing to a wide range of people. But there are many who prefer an actual book to an electronic gadget, and that's where Create Space comes in.

Affiliated with Amazon, Create Space affords an author a means to publish his own book in print. Once you've completed the process, your book is available for purchase thru Amazon and Create Space, and a few other outlets should you opt for that route.

Is Create Space an easy tool to use? Unless you're computer savy, you're first time might prove challenging, as it did for me. It took me a while to learn how to navigate the step-by-step process and use the tools Create Space provides, but I kept at it, because I was determined to see No Luck At All in print format. Thankfully, Create Space has a community forum and a 24/7 call center to help authors solve problems. (I have used the call center and am always fascinated by how fast my phone rings when I click the button that says "call me now".) The entire step-by-step process is designed to make your book the best it can be, and each phase must be complete before you go on to the next one.

First up is creating your account and listing your title and name. Create Space will then offer to assign you an ISBN number or you can get your own--I let them do it. The next step is polishing your interior file. You can either use the templates Create Space provides or you can format and upload your own files. I use their template, but either way, I strongly urge you to edit your file completely (spelling, punctuation, etc.) before you upload it to Create Space. Once your interior file is complete the next step is your cover. Again, you're given the option of using their tools or your own. If you design your own cover, it must meet their requirements. Once you complete these processes you can buy a proof copy before the book is released for sale--buy one and read it from cover to cover. This is another good way to catch and fix any grammar errors you might have missed during the Interior Files process before you release the book for sale.

I like Create Space and continue to work with them. (Currently, I'm working on getting Zanna's Outlaw into print through Create Space.) I am able to upload interior and cover files as many times as I want, until they meet Create Space's requirements and my own, to include after I have receieved a proof copy and decide to make changes. The people at the call center are friendly, knowledgeable and strive to do their best to resolve whatever problem(s) you are experiencing. The end product is a high quality paperback book you'll be proud of. And Create Space is always striving to update their tools and make the process that much easier.

If you're looking to self-publish in print, give Create Space a try. It might take you some time in the beginning, as it did me, but the time I invested was time well spent. My sincere thanks to the Create Space team for helping me realize a dream that was born years ago and continues to this day as I keep writing western historical romances.