From Spy Thrillers to Saddle Sagas: How I Ended Up Writing a Western Romance

[Kirk]

So, here’s the truth. I write spy fiction. My first novel, Double Exposure, is a thriller told through the eyes of a photographer who just happens to be a spy. It’s fast, tense, and full of secrets.

But then someone said, “I bet you can’t write a romance.”

Challenge accepted.

I’ve been a professional photographer for over forty-five years. Most of my work has been capturing people, especially high school seniors...showing who they are in that perfect moment. Turns out, that’s not so different from writing romance. It’s all about light, emotion, and timing.

Still, I wanted Boots and Stilettos to be something my family could read. So I set out to write a love story that felt real, emotional, and completely G-rated. No shock value, no explicit scenes... just honest chemistry, stubborn hearts, and the kind of tension you can feel even when nothing “happens.”

The story follows Annie Contadelucci, an Italian heiress sent to Montana to learn the family business, and Jake Spyker, a rugged rancher who has no idea what to do with her fancy shoes or her silk blouses. She’s out of place. He’s out of patience. And somehow, love finds a way between pink and dust.

I’ll be honest AGAIN, writing this one stretched me in ways I didn’t expect. I traded car chases for cattle drives, secret agents for strong women, and learned that romance is its own kind of suspense...only this time, the mission is of the heart.

Thank you all for welcoming me into the Western Romance family. I may come from the world of spies and cameras, but I’ve fallen hard for wide skies, slow dances, and second chances.

Kirk Voclain

Kirk Voclain