Nancy Gideon's Blog, page 3

IWSG: Back in Time

Our Insecure Writers Support Group question for February 5th is: Is there a story or book you’ve written you want to/wish you could go back and change?
This is a tough question because of the sheer volume of backlist I’ve amassed in the nearly thirty years since I first sold – 80 published books if you need a number, along with dozens of finished but not contracted or begun but never completed novels.
As a rule, I didn’t, and still don’t, do a lot of rewriting, mainly because my contracts were so close together I didn’t have infinite time to spend with any one book. I submitted an outline, wrote the first draft, did the necessary edits (which, with the exception of my very first Regency, were usually either minor or nothing I felt strongly enough about to object to), sent the finished book in, then moved on to the next project. While working on any one of those titles, there was nothing but that work filling my concentration (even when working on several books in various stages of publication at a time!).
I saw each book more as a film than as a novel, with characters and plots weaving through a very visual backdrop of emotions and motivations. If, when finished, I could sit back with a satisfied sigh, the hows and whys of how I got there were immaterial. Being blessed with a great critique group and fabulous editors who were awesome cheerleaders was HUGE.
At this point in my career, I’ve gotten back the rights to the majority of my early works, so when getting them reissued I’ll have the luxury of time and the ability to make changes if I feel they’re needed. And I’m looking forward to that challenge!

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the February 5th posting of the IWSG will be are Joylene Nowell Butler, Louise Barbour, and Tyrean Martinson!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
 Click Here → 
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
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WeWriWa: Tell Me A Story . . . TEMPTATION’S TRAIL

I grew up on stories at bedtime . . . one of the reasons I became a writer!! My sister, who shared a room with me, and I had our mother read to us every night before bed. Fables, Dr. Seuss (which she hated because it was nonsense, but we LOVED!), books we picked out from the weekly Bookmobile, and fairytales. And sometimes, my favorite – adventure stories like Robin Hood and the Lone Ranger comics. I’m a firm believer that those nightly sessions are why I became a writer. I couldn’t WAIT to find out what happened next, so I made up my own scenarios. And those stories evolved in high school to revolve around my cadre of friends and the futures we imagined for ourselves. Overhearing them, my English teacher told me I’d become an author someday. And that prophesy, I’m happy to say, came true. Read to a child and create an endless imagination. And so it goes with the nieces and nephews of dime novel legend, Harmon Bass in TEMPTATION’S TRAIL . . .


 The Excerpt 

“Uncle Harmon!”

Immediately, three little bodies were pressing close, all grabbing for a hand or a sleeve, and his dark mood melted away.

“We want a story, Uncle Harmon,” Jeffrey demanded.

“Well, I don’t know. Your chores all done?”

A chorus of yeses. Grinning, Harmon allowed them to drag him to the steps, where they pounced upon him until he sat on the top one. He had a nephew on each knee and Sarah’s arms about his neck, and he looked ready to burst from the pleasure of it. Too old for such fussing, Jack sat cross-legged at the foot of the steps. Amanda leaned against one of the porch posts. He didn’t look like such a hard case with his lap full of kids and his face wreathed in a smile.

Not at all like a cold-blooded killer.

(. . . and a bit more . . .)

“What do you want me to read?”

“This!” 

Sidney thrust a ragged novel at him and Amanda recognized the cover at once: Harmon Bass and the Texas Rangers; or, The Mexican Stand-off.

“It’s my favorite,” the boy exclaimed.

It was her favorite, too.

After this first book, I was on a roll . . . with four more in this Career Achievement award-winning series written as Dana Ransom! I can’t wait to get them back in print!
Happy Trails and Happy Groundhog Day!!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
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WeWriWa: Like a Ninja

While I was supposed to be writing this blog post, I got pulled away by one of my favorite distractions . . . a martial arts movie. Not an All-American Chuck Norris-y film, but a poorly dubbed Japanese ninja-fest filled with implausible feats where, even after being down three quarts of vital fluids, the hero can overcome a small army of well-armed attackers . . . and still have perfect hair (well, that still could describe a Chuck Norris movie, too!). What a segue from the hot and dusty American Western romance I should be working on for reissue. But once in a while you need to break away from the familiar in order to appreciate what the unexpected has to offer.
Even an American Western romance can borrow from other cultures. My Dana Ransom’s  TEMPTATION’S TRAIL  hero (and my favorite!) Harmon Bass is no ordinary cowboy. His rugged Texas and mystic Apache worlds are as foreign to my heroine, Easterner Amanda Duncan, as sleeping under the stars and treating snake bite and bullet wounds. It’s their differences that draw them together in an unexpected relationship spanning a five-book series (even though this is the only book in which they are the main characters). Those opposite expectations are what makes this twosome work so well together . . . except when they don’t. And that’s even more fun! Here’s a taste . . .

HERO FOR HIRE
When Amanda Duncan headed West to find her missing brother, she knew she was out of her element. Her privileged upbringing in a fancy boarding school hadn’t prepared her for the perils of frontier Texas. So Amanda made a plan—all she had to do was hire a hero. But when the legendary Harmon Bass showed up, he wasn’t what she expected. What kind of hero didn’t carry a gun?
Here's a taste . . .
 The Excerpt 

Every plant in the Big Ben was a porcupine. Nature armed to the teeth, Amanda thought as she gingerly sliced into a thick-bodied cactus. Sucking on a section, she brought a handful back to Harm.

“Chew it,” he mumbled. “Don’t swallow it.” He stuffed a piece into his mouth and began crushing it for the precious juices.

Amanda did the same. She looked a mess; all sticky from the heat, with her hair in wet strings, her inappropriate clothing damp, and tender skin an angry red from burning. She talked too much. She rushed headlong into trouble. But at that moment, there was no place he’d rather be than half-dead of snakebite in a desert with Amanda Duncan.

She’d better be careful. Those desert plants can deliver a kick!
I can’t wait to bring this series back for new readers (even if it means the laborious task of scanning and reformatting my aged paperbacks since I no longer have manuscript copies). I AM anticipating the job of doing new covers and promoting them to a new generation of readers. AND I am currently working on a new book in the series which will feature Harm and Amanda’s son, Rand.
Here's to lots of surprises, amazement, and writing and reading delight in 2025!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://www.nancygideon.com//platform...

IWSG: The Strong, Silent Type – My First Hero

Our January 8 Insecure Writers Support Group question hit home with me for many reasons, many of them not realized until later in life – that understanding that comes with age and experience:
Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. When you’re young, you see just the surface things – like they’re one of those stars in your favorite TV show – larger than life, always in the know, always there, always right . . . and perfect. With the advance of years and knowledge, those opinions change, for better or worse as relationships and roles grow stronger or fade away.
My dad was my hero – the original handsome strong silent type. In a household of three daughters, each of we girls found our own way to relate to him – when he wasn’t working, fishing, hunting, motorcycle riding or building us a cabin up in Michigan’s north woods. My dad was a man’s man, an admirable figurehead to me as a child, whose response when approached was always, “Go ask Mommy” . . . until I was old enough to move out into my first apartment. After helping me drag things up three flights of stairs, I made him a Chinese meal from scratch in my new pans to thank him, something far-flung from the bland fare we got at home due to his ulcer. And, for the first time, we talked as adults. And we really, really enjoyed it.
Imagine my surprise that instead of not wanting to be bothered by we girls, he LOVED to tinker and tote and talk. Where had this quiet, funny, interesting man been all my life? He was uncomfortable because we’d all been educated far beyond what he’d been able to achieve having grown up one of five kids on a working farm, enlisting early in WWII shortly after getting married, and working two jobs to support us thereafter. He was afraid we were embarrassed by him. Jaw drop!
Due to complications from rheumatic fever as a child, improperly treated shrapnel wounds from the war, and smoking like a chimney since a teen, he never got to walk me down the aisle, to help me garden in my first backyard, or meet my sons. They would have loved him! At least I have albums of black and white photos, an American flag from his funeral, and memories to share with my grandson.
My dad was . . . and still is! . . . my hero.

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the January 8th posting of the IWSG will be are Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
 Click Here → 
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
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WeWriWa: Destined to be Together . . . TEXAS DESTINY

What else is there to do when it’s freezing outside and you’re waiting to schedule a second-round knee replacement surgery with your leg in the air? Think warm thoughts. Think of romance . . .
I’ve been going back through my older titles getting ready to start reissuing. The hold up – I get lost in the rereading! I love these books. Sigh! Historicals were my go-tos the last two times I was heavily sedated and in bed dreading that trip to the bathroom down a narrow hallway on a walker after two separate knee replacement. The romance hasn’t died out . . . but the artificial knees do wear out and that’s where I am now – hoping we can get the car started when I do get an appointment with my knee guy. So, what else is there to do but bask in the heat of West Texas with the Bass family.

DESTINED TO SAVE HIM
Wounded and left for dead by a band of savage Apaches, Texas Ranger Jack Bass thought his life was over -- until a white woman dressed in Indian clothing suddenly appeared. Before he could learn the identity of this green-eyed angel of mercy, she vanished into the night, leaving him with only the memory of whispered words and a gentle touch...
DESTINED TO LOVE HER
Ever since the terrifying day she was abducted from her husband's home and forced to live among the Apache, Emily Marcus knew she no longer had a place in the white man's world. But she couldn't forget the tender stranger she'd nursed back to life. Now, as fate conspired to bring them together once more, Emily found herself torn between honor and desire -- between vows made long ago and the love she'd risk her very soul to claim.... The Excerpt 

“I’ll get her back for you, Emily.” 

He said it easily as if it was just that simple. She was about to call him on it when she happened to gaze into his eyes. There she saw a deep, steely conviction . . . and she believed, if only for a moment.

“I’ll get her back for you and see you’re a family again.”

Emily didn’t answer that. She couldn’t, because a sacrifice would have to be made in order to return to Neil Marcus, and it wasn’t one she cared to discuss with the compassionate Jack Bass . . . something that would weigh on her soul alone and she wasn’t sure she could stand it.

( . . . and a bit more . . .)

Jack watched her. She was trying so hard to be brave as she stared solemnly into the fire. No one should have to be as miserable and alone as she looked at that moment. So he opened his arm to her and patted his shoulder with his other hand, coaxing her to settle in without a word.

He told himself he was doing it because he felt sorry for all she’d been through. Or because she was the wife of his good friend. Or because he was just a decent human being. But the truth touched on none of those reasons. The truth was, he would have done anything in the world for Emily Marcus.

Because he’d fallen in love with her.

Oh, sigh . . . I feel warmer already! Happy New Year!!!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://www.nancygideon.com//platform...

WeWriWa: A Lit Fuse . . . Dana Ransom’s TEMPTATION’S TRAIL

In my book(s), there’s no competition for my favor – I’m equally proud of all of them. Buuuut, I confess, I do have a few that coax me back into their embrace time and time again. And on the top of that literary hill is where my Bass family saga will always reign supreme. In Harmon Bass, I found my perfectly imperfect hero - an intriguing mix of juxtapositions. He’s a well-known tracker out in the wilds of West Texas with a mysterious past that haunts him in the midst of a rugged setting that has killed lesser men. His dime novel reputation brings plucky Easterner, Amanda Duncan from New York determined to hire him to find her missing brother. It’s an impossible match that somehow . . . manages to work wonders for each of these lost and lonely characters. Here’s a taste . . .

HERO FOR HIRE.When Amanda Duncan headed West to find her missing brother, she knew she was a little out of her element. Her privileged upbringing in a fancy boarding school hadn't prepared her for the perils of frontier Texas. So, she made a plan – all she had to do was hire a hero. But when legendary gunslinger Harmon Bass showed up, he wasn't what she expected at all. True, he was gorgeous beyond belief, but he was also unarmed! What kind of hero didn't carry a gun?
LADY FOR LOVE.Rugged half-breed Harmon Bass needed a job that paid well and disguised his true mission. What he got was an irritating and irresistible trail partner who could not ride, shoot or keep quiet! Yet with every move she made, he wanted her more! Maybe it was Amanda's sheer pluck...or unexpected courage...or the way her beautiful brown eyes glowed with sensual fire. Here was a woman to tempt and torment him – the woman he'd been waiting for all of his life. Now, as he and the feisty eastern beauty crossed a wilderness dogged by crooked lawmen and avenging outlaws, Harm only prayed they lived long enough to claim the love that waited at the end of . . . TEMPTATION'S TRAIL. The Excerpt 

"Miss Duncan, where I'm going, every insect has a sting, every bush a thorn, every snake a fang, the sun is hot, the water's scarce, and the ride is so hard most sane men would refuse to make the trip."

"I'm not most men, Mr. Bass."

Having traded her fancy society clothes for a sensible split skirt and white cotton shirtwaist, glossy boots replacing kid shoes, and the glorious twists of her hair braided back from the milky softness of her face and topped with a flat-brimmed hat, she looked no less feminine, no less fragile. She'd wilt within the hour and be begging for mercy by nightfall, and then he'd have to lose precious time bringing her back. 

Trying a different approach, he took a step closer so that in her boot heels, they were almost eye to eye, she, tall for a woman, built like a supple reed, easily bent, but not easily broken. "How do you know I won't take you out there where there's nothing but nothing and slit your throat?" he goaded, letting that sink in before adding with a whisper of menace, "or worse?"

( . . . and a bit more . . .)

Without so much as a blink, she smiled wryly at him. "If that was what you were planning, you'd hardly warn me of it ahead of time, would you? And then," she added with a bit more tartness, "you'd be losing out on the thousand dollars, and I hardly think a man would be willing to sacrifice that for me, so stop wasting time, Mr.  Bass." 

Critical gaze lingering over the coltish sway of her hips as she walked toward the door, he was thinking about the courageous fire in her eyes, thinking she could be wrong . . . thinking way too damned much as he strode after her.

Getting this five-book series back into print is going to be a labor of love – from getting the text rescanned and edited, to a new covers and back copy. And I can’t wait to get started. If you’ve read them before, it’s time to get reacquainted. If you haven’t been introduced, the pleasure will be all mine. Happy reading – coming in 2025!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://www.nancygideon.com//platform...

IWSG: Don’t Leave Me Hanging!

Toss me a line, someone! Don’t leave me hanging after I’ve invested my time and money. Don’t leave me stranded at the end of your story. If you do, you can be sure I won’t bother to grab the following work . . . because you’ve lost my trust.
Our December question is about the gift you get but aren’t allowed to fully enjoy because the most important part is missing:
Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turnoff to you as a writer and/or a reader?
Would you take a wild ride in your car when there is no destination? Would you pay for a haircut that’s half finished? Think of those TV series in which you invest your time and your heart . . . only to have it cancelled without the final episode. Noooooo! We don’t like to be denied the payoff! Give us closure!
The exception is a series with an overarching mystery/plot – as long as the individual episodes have a satisfying ending. I’m impatient. I don’t like to be teased. If you dangle story threads then don’t tie them up in a pretty (or even an ugly) bow . . . eventually, I won’t read you again.
Sometimes, circumstances are out of your control, i.e. your line folds, your contract is cancelled, or (god forbid!) the joy of writing escapes you. Deliver what you promise with that glossy cover, that tantalizing blurb, that breath-suspending back cover copy that teases of more to come. Don’t leave your characters falling off a cliff along with our hopes and anticipation of answers/resolutions. Just don’t without forewarning. If there is no conclusion at the end of the book, let the reader know right up front that it will come in later installments, then allow the buyer to decide if they want to invest their money and time.
It may not be Happily Ever After forever in that first book, but for happy readers, give them the gratification of ‘for now,’ at least.

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the December 4th posting of the IWSG will be are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
 Click Here → 
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://www.nancygideon.com//platform...

IWSG: Don’t Leave Me Hanging!

Toss me a line, someone! Don’t leave me hanging after I’ve invested my time and money. Don’t leave me stranded at the end of your story. If you do, you can be sure I won’t bother to grab the following work . . . because you’ve lost my trust.
Our December question is about the gift you get but aren’t allowed to fully enjoy because the most important part is missing:
Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turnoff to you as a writer and/or a reader?
Would you take a wild ride in your car when there is no destination? Would you pay for a haircut that’s half finished? Think of those TV series in which you invest your time and your heart . . . only to have it cancelled without the final episode. Noooooo! We don’t like to be denied the payoff! Give us closure!
The exception is a series with an overarching mystery/plot – as long as the individual episodes have a satisfying ending. I’m impatient. I don’t like to be teased. If you dangle story threads then don’t tie them up in a pretty (or even an ugly) bow . . . eventually, I won’t read you again.
Sometimes, circumstances are out of your control, i.e. your line folds, your contract is cancelled, or (god forbid!) the joy of writing escapes you. Deliver what you promise with that glossy cover, that tantalizing blurb, that breath-suspending back cover copy that teases of more to come. Don’t leave your characters falling off a cliff along with our hopes and anticipation of answers/resolutions. Just don’t without forewarning. If there is no conclusion at the end of the book, let the reader know right up front that it will come in later installments, then allow the buyer to decide if they want to invest their money and time.
It may not be Happily Ever After forever in that first book, but for happy readers, give them the gratification of ‘for now,’ at least.

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the December 4th posting of the IWSG will be are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
 Click Here → 
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://www.nancygideon.com//platform...

WeWriWa: Passion and Adventure on the Untamed Western Frontier – TEMPTATION’S TRAIL

Every writer has a favorite book and stories as to why. With over 80 publications on my resume, when asked if I have a book I go back to again and again, my answer is unwavering – TEMPTATION’S TRAIL. Released by Zebra Books as the flagship in my five-book Texas historical romance series written as Dana Ransom, it was this unlikely hero who launched a fan club and filled my mailbox with letters (Yes, it was THAT long ago! 30, to be exact!) demanding more. Here’s a peek . . .
AMAZON
HERO FOR HIRE.When Amanda Duncan headed West to find her missing brother, she knew she was a little out of her element. Her privileged upbringing in a fancy boarding school hadn't prepared her for the perils of frontier Texas. So, she made a plan – all she had to do was hire a hero. But when legendary gunslinger Harmon Bass showed up, he wasn't what she expected at all. True, he was gorgeous beyond belief, but he was also unarmed! What kind of hero didn't carry a gun?
LADY FOR LOVE.Rugged half-breed Harmon Bass needed a job that paid well and disguised his true mission. What he got was an irritating and irresistible trail partner who could not ride, shoot or keep quiet! Yet with every move she made, he wanted her more! Maybe it was Amanda's sheer pluck...or unexpected courage...or the way her beautiful brown eyes glowed with sensual fire. Here was a woman to tempt and torment him – the woman he'd been waiting for all of his life. Now, as he and the feisty eastern beauty crossed a wilderness dogged by crooked lawmen and avenging outlaws, Harm only prayed they lived long enough to claim the love that waited at the end of . . . TEMPTATION'S TRAIL. The Excerpt 

“Harmon.”

He hadn’t heard her approach, too caught up in the rapture of his revenge. He wouldn’t consider what this would look like to her. Her opinion didn’t matter . . . he couldn’t let it matter, not now, not when his blood ran thick and hot in the way of the Apache and his head was full of the sound of past screams and pleas for a mercy that never came. His heart was dark, beating with the full force of his rage and unquenchable hatred, driving it through his veins in a hard, primal rhythm; a current too strong to be curbed by the horror he saw in her face when he looked up.

“Get back to town, Amanda. This doesn’t concern you.”

The tight, controlled tone, the silvery glitter in his eyes; this wasn’t the man she knew. But she’d seen him before as he held a rifle on a helpless man, pulling the trigger without an instant of remorse. It was the face of a man who could kill without care . . . and she was terrified of him.

( . . . and a bit more . . .)

“Harmon.” Her voice wavered in uncertainty.

Seeing her, the cowboy turned all his pleading attentions upon Amanda. “Please, ma’am, I didn’t do nothing. Cut me loose before he kills me.”

Amanda wasn’t a woman of the West. She came from a gentle society where human life was lauded, where one did not act upon violent impulse, where such atrocities would not be borne.

“Harmon, cut him down.” It was a soft request, one she hoped would touch upon the heart of the man she knew. 

She was wrong.

Back to 2024 . . . time to get this series back in the hands (and on the app screens, this time!) of readers. But first, to convert the published text into current formats. Thank goodness I have a faithful and far more tech-saavy assistant to make that magic happen. I’ll keep you updated . . .
Happy reading from the snowy center of Michigan!!

Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
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WeWriWa: Proper Gentlemen to the Rescue, HER TEXAS HERO

I’m hopeful that once this month’s holiday gatherings are concluded I’ll be able to seclude myself in my office for a flood of new inspiration and amazing word counts. That’s the plan, anyway. For now, it’s taking everything to just boot up the computer for a quick blog post. Hope you’ll devour this new peek at HER TEXAS HERO like an extra dessert at your holiday meal . . .
 The Excerpt 

HER TEXAS HERO, Bass Family saga, Book 6, Coming soon-ish . . .

Thankfully, if anyone in the bustling rustic town was shocked by her appearance no one betrayed it. Hotel clerks and clientele were too involved with their own business to pay any mind to the trail-worn couple who edged up to the desk where a pinch-faced clerk assessed them unblinkingly.

“Do you have reservations?”

“Yessir, under Bass, for a single room with two beds, but we’ll require an additional one for the lady.” At Marti’s quick draw of breath, Carson added, “A separate room, that its.”

The shiny coin he pushed across the desk was subtly pocketed.

“And the lady will need a tub.” Carson leaned forward to whisper in a confidential tone, “She had an unfortunate falling out with her intended and my cousin and I are seeing her to her father. He’s a good friend of the family. We’d appreciate your discretion.”

Another impressive coin was tendered and palmed with a somber, “Of course, sir.”

(…and a bit more…)

Eager to earn more of that generous bounty, the desk clerk leaned forward to offer, “If the lady provides me with the particulars, I could arrange for suitable attire to be brought up for her selection.”

A quick nod.  “I insist you put the expense on our account.”

Before a shocked and shiny-eyed Martine could protest, the rather relieved desk clerk murmured, “Yes, of course, Mr. Bass. Your family’s credit is always good here.” After running a finger down several columns in the big book in front of him, he announced, “I have a very nice single room available across the hall from yours. Be assured our accommodations are secure. I’ll arrange for the owner of the dress shop to visit her there.”

Martine lifted damp eyes to her rescuer. “It’s too much . . .”

Carson cut off her quavering protest. “It’s not enough and the very least we can do. We’ll take you to rejoin your father tomorrow when you’re refreshed.”

It was glance down or dissolve into overwhelm sobs as she manage a hoarse, “You are very kind.”

The younger Bass cousin shrugged to distract from his blush as he muttered, “Happy to be of assistance . . . both me and Rand.”

Have a wonder full Thanksgiving!!!

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