A 99¢ SALE ON TABITHA'S JOURNEY!

Welcome to a 99¢ sale today through Thursday, September 9, on TABITHA'S JOURNEY, part of the Stone Mountain Texas series.

One of my favorite things is writing about characters who have been misunderstood throughout their lives. Tabitha Masterson’s father and brother have never acknowledged her worth as an individual, much less as a business woman. Now that her father has passed and her brother is in charge of everything—including her—she is faced with painful decisions.

Tobias “Bear” Baldwin is a handsome giant most people see only as brawn. He’s popular, but almost no one except his mom gives him credit for intellect.  

 

Here’s the blurb:

Would you become a mail-order bride?

Tabitha Masterson is certain whatever awaits her in Radford Springs, Texas will be better than what her brother and that awful William have in mind in Boston. After her father’s death, her brother has become a tyrant. She escapes to begin her new life in Texas, but trouble can’t be far behind. She believes if she’s married when trouble arrives, she’ll be safe. But her fiancé is reluctant to accept her as a substitute for the mail-order bride he’d courted.

Bear Baldwin is crushed when he receives a wire notifying him that the woman with whom he has corresponded for almost a year has passed him off to her friend. Do the two women believe he’s like an old shirt to be handed down? His mother urges him to give the substitute fiancée a chance, but his pride is stung and he hasn’t decided.

The Amazon buy link is https://www.amazon.com/Tabithas-Journey-Stone-Mountain-Novella-ebook/dp/B00D0C3MNC/  

 

Here's an excerpt when Tabitha visits her friend Priscilla Witt:

Tabitha sat in the Witt family’s parlor and wiped tears from her face. “I’ve never been so miserable. Prissy, what am I going to do?”

            “Are you certain he’d send you to an asylum if you resist?”

            “Yes, but I don’t know which would be worse—being married to William or being locked away. The man gives me shivers in the worst way.”

            “Me, too.” Priscilla paused and smoothed the folds of her yellow and black plaid taffeta skirt. “I-I’ve had another letter from Tobias.”

 Her attention captured and anger deflected, Tabitha leaned toward her friend intent on hearing the missive’s contents. “Did her send for you?”

            “Yes.” Suddenly, Priscilla’s face puckered as if she, too, might cry. “Oh, I don’t know what to do.”

            “Prissy?” She leaned back to stare at her friend. “What do you mean? I thought you’d accepted his proposal.”

Tabitha was half in love with Tobias Baldwin herself. Already she knew they shared many interests. Priscilla had shared each of his letters, and Tabitha had assisted Priscilla in answering them. Assisted so much, the writing became Tabitha’s heartfelt missives to him.

            “I was all set to leave, just as I said. But…oh, Tabbie, Virgil Allsup has finally spoken to Papa for me. If only Virgil had come forward sooner I never would have answered that mail order bride agency’s advertisement.” She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “You know I’ve yearned for Virgil ever so long. By now I thought he didn’t want me.”

            “What are you going to do?” Tabitha knew what she’d do. In her way of thinking, a man who dragged his feet as Virgil had all these years couldn’t begin to measure up to Tobias as a husband.

            “That’s just it. I-I accepted Virgil’s proposal.” She sobbed into her handkerchief.

            Tabitha couldn’t help her own tear-filled eyes widening in surprise. “You’re engaged to two men? Prissy, that’s—”  

“Unethical? I know.” Priscilla waved her handkerchief. “I think it’s even illegal. Breach of contract or something.” Priscilla met Tabitha’s gaze. “But don’t you see? This could be a solution for your problem.”

Tabitha sighed and shook her head. “I don’t think mine has a solution.”

“Since you hate living with David and Bertha, and you always thought so much of Tobias, maybe you’d like to take my place.” She chewed at her lip as she glanced at Tabitha.

            “Me? Go to Texas and marry Tobias?” Incredulous as the idea sounded, already Tabitha’s mind considered the option.     

 

Stay safe and keep reading! 

NEW COVER FOR TABITHA'S JOURNEY

Recently, Skhye Moncrief designed a new cover for TABITHA’S JOURNEY. Unfortunately, Amazon has not put the new cover up on their website yet. I’m sure they’ll get around to changing to the new cover soon. Still, I wanted readers to be aware there is a change in the works.

The cover model is associated with Kim Killion’s www.hotdamndesigns.com I’ve used this same model on several covers. She has the auburn hair I have always wished I had. Is anyone ever happy with their own appearance?

Sometimes characters stick in a writer’s head and just won’t leave until we write their story. That’s what happened to Bear Baldwin from BLUEBONNET BRIDE. He was only a minor character, barely a mention, but he kept nagging at me to find him a wife. I remembered a short story I’d written years ago and reworked it into a novella.

Would you have been a mail-order bride?  I’m not sure whether or not I would have. In addition to so many men heading west for gold, fame, and fortune in the mid 1800’s, the Civil War further decimated the male population. More men were killed in the Civil War than in World War II.  The combination of events meant that marriage-aged women far outnumbered marriage-aged men.

Women who did not want to spend their lives living with relatives had little choice. Work in a factory, teach school, as a servant, as a governess, or . . . sign with a matrimonial agency to become a mail-order bride.  In Chis Enss’s book HEARTS WEST, she shares the stories of a variety of women who opted to become a mail-order bride. Some were successful, some were disastrous and heartbreaking.  

I love reading mail-order bride stories, but this was the first one I’d written. TABITHA’S JOURNEY is set in 1874 in North Central Texas. This novella is part of the Stone Mountain Texas series.

Here’s the TABITHA’S JOURNEY Blurb:

Would you become a mail-order bride?

Tabitha Masterson is certain whatever awaits her in Radford Springs, Texas will be better than what her brother and that awful William have in mind in Boston. After her father’s death, her brother has become a tyrant. She escapes to begin her new life in Texas, but danger can’t be far behind. She believes if she’s married when trouble arrives, she’ll be safe.

Tobias “Bear” Baldwin is crushed when he receives a wire notifying him that the woman with whom he has corresponded for almost a year has passed him off to her friend. Do the two women believe he’s like an old shirt to be handed down? His mother urges him to give the substitute fiancée a chance, but his pride is stung and he hasn’t decided.

And how did that come about? Here’s the excerpt that explains part of Tabitha’s problems:

Tabitha sat in the Witt family’s parlor and wiped tears from her face. “I’ve never been so miserable. Prissy, what am I going to do?”

          “Are you certain he’d send you to an asylum if you resist?”

          “Yes, but I don’t know which would be worse—being married to William or being locked away. The man gives me shivers in the worst way.”

          “Me, too.” Priscilla paused and smoothed the folds of her yellow and black plaid taffeta skirt. “I-I’ve had another letter from Tobias.”

 Her attention captured and anger deflected, Tabitha leaned toward her friend intent on hearing the missive’s contents. “Did her send for you?”

          “Yes.” Suddenly, Priscilla’s face puckered as if she, too, might cry. “Oh, I don’t know what to do.”

          “Prissy?” She leaned back to stare at her friend. “What do you mean? I thought you’d accepted his proposal.”

Tabitha was half in love with Tobias Baldwin herself. Already she knew they shared many interests. Priscilla had shared each of his letters, and Tabitha had assisted Priscilla in answering them. Assisted so much, the writing became Tabitha’s heartfelt missives to him.

          “I was all set to leave, just as I said. But…oh, Tabbie, Virgil Allsup has finally spoken to Papa for me. If only Virgil had come forward sooner I never would have answered that mail order bride agency’s advertisement.” She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “You know I’ve yearned for Virgil ever so long. By now I thought he didn’t want me.”

          “What are you going to do?” Tabitha knew what she’d do. In her way of thinking, a man who dragged his feet as Virgil had all these years couldn’t begin to measure up to Tobias as a husband.

          “That’s just it. I-I accepted Virgil’s proposal.” She sobbed into her handkerchief.

          Tabitha couldn’t help her own tear-filled eyes widening in surprise. “You’re engaged to two men? Prissy, that’s—“

“Unethical? I know.” Priscilla waved her handkerchief. “I think it’s even illegal. Breach of contract or something.” Priscilla met Tabitha’s gaze. “But don’t you see? This could be a solution for your problem.”

Tabitha sighed and shook her head. “I don’t think mine has a solution.”

“Since you hate living with David and Bertha, and you always thought so much of Tobias, maybe you’d like to take my place.” She chewed at her lip as she glanced at Tabitha.

          “Me? Go to Texas and marry Tobias?” Incredulous as the idea sounded, already Tabitha’s mind considered the option.        

If you haven’t already done so, I hope you’ll give TABITHA’S JOURNEY a chance.

The buy link is: Amazon https://amzn.com/B00D0C3MNC

Thanks so much for stopping by!

WHEN RESEARCH LAUNCHES THE STORY

I have to confess the idea for this post came from Ellie James and her post on our new Smart Girls Read Romance blog at http://www.smartgirlsreadromance.blogspot.com. She posted on the 6^th about her own research for her Dragonfly series. She put me to shame with her daring. If you haven’t read her post, please do yourself a favor and read it—after you read this one, of course. ☺ (Points to image on sidebar>>)

Me doing research. Is writing a great job or what?

Most of the time I love research. With the internet we can “visit” anywhere. Sure I love to take nice drives to the locales of my books, but that's not always possible. Now there's not even a need to travel to the library bearing pads of paper and a handful of pens. With my own research books plus the world wide web, I’m usually set. I still love the library, but for pleasure reading. Writing is my business!

Paty Jager 

For my new work in progress, I have the hero and heroine travel through some places I’ve never been, so I had to get out my map, Texas Almanac, and go to the online Texas State Historical Association Handbook of Texas. Fortunately, I’ve driven most of the places on my characters’ journey, but they’re on horseback. Oops, more research required. But not from the library or the web. Time to call on friends.

I asked Oregon author Paty Jager, who has horses, how far my hero and heroine could ride in a day. (Paty is also a member of the Smart Girls Read Romance blog team and posts on the 12th of each month.) Paty told me the mileage range I needed, but I learned the answer depends on the terrain.  Great, so I have to determine the lay of the land as well as what towns were around in 1888? Okay, I’m on it. 

There are a lot of hills on this journey to slow them down. And rivers and creeks. Wouldn't it be great if they had to cross the Colorado River north of San Saba after a storm. Bwahahaha. Authors get to be mean to their characters. It's not only allowed, it's required. 

Colorado River of Texas

In my research I learned the early Spanish explorers thought the Colorado and the Brazos were the same river. The way the explorers wandered around and the way the rivers meander, is it surprising that the explorers mapping the area got a few things confused?

I love writing, and research gets me in the mood even more. I can hardly wait to make use of some of the interesting tidbits I’ve learned this week. Hopefully, they will seem organic and not as if I’m teaching a history lesson. I do love Texas history, but want the book to be an emotional journey with a satisfying conclusion.

My new hero is Storm Kincaid, brother of the heroines from my earlier Kincaid series, THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE and THE MOST UNSUITABLE HUSBAND. His book is titled THE MOST UNSUITABLE COURTSHIP. (I'm really sorry I started with such a long title in the first place, but want the series titles to match.) 

Storm is a favorite character for me and I want his book to be especially deserving of him. His heroine is Renata “Rena” Deitrich, a German immigrant whose husband was killed by the men the two are chasing.  Storm wants justice, Renata wants revenge! Who will succeed?

We’ll see how the story plays out. In the meantime, please keep in mind my current release, TABITHA’S

JOURNEY. She’s a substitute mail order bride whose fiancé doesn’t appreciate the switch in prospective brides.

Smashwords buy link is: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/319614?ref=CarolineClemmons

Amazon Kindle buy link is:
http://www.amazon.com/Tabithas-Journey-Mountain-Novella-ebook/dp/B00D0C3MNC/ref=sr_1_14?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370574040&sr=1-14&keywords=caroline+clemmons

TABITHA’S JOURNEY is a spin off sweet novella from the sensual Men of Stone Mountain trilogy, BRAZOS BRIDE, HIGH STAKES BRIDE, and BLUEBONNET BRIDE.

 Thanks for stopping by! Now, please go read Ellie James post . ☺

PROMOTE YOUR BOOK/PROMOTE MINE BLOG HOP

The purpose of this blog hop is to promote Charlene Raddon’s latest release, THE SCENT OF ROSES, as well as the work of each of the participating bloggers. Be sure to read to the end of this page so you don’t miss out on the grand prize. Also be certain you visit each blog and comment to qualify for the individual giveaways, and the big prize.

And if you go to Charlene's blog at http://www.charleneraddon.blogspot.com each day of the blog hop, you will learn about the book and giveaways of the other authors involved.

Charlene Raddon has been writing historical romance novels for over thirty years. Her work has won several awards and much well-deserved praise.

Charlene Raddon, Author

Here is what Charlene has to say about her newest release.

Any day when a new book is released is exciting for the author. I’m thrilled to announce that my eBook, THE SCENT OF ROSES, is now available.

THE SCENT OF ROSES is a sequel to my last eBook, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, but stands alone and does not need to be read in order to be enjoyed. Whip Kincaid, from The Scent of Roses, is the half-brother of Buck Maddux from To Have and To Hold. Whip also has a twin, Cale, who readers met in Buck’s story, which gives me an excuse to write a third book for this series.

The added touch of paranormal elements made THE SCENT OF ROSES a fun story to write. Who doesn’t enjoy haunted houses with hidden passageways? When I first moved to Utah, I lived in this house. No, there weren’t any secret passageways, but in every other way, my description of the old house is accurate. The third element new in this book is the subject of polygamy.

Rosalyn Delaney came to Whisky Ridge, Arizona expecting to receive aid from her estranged husband, Josiah Bullock, in escaping the crazed leader of a polygamist cult determined to have her. She’s broke and has nowhere else to go. But Josiah is dead, murdered the very evening of her arrival. The town is in uproar, searching for the suspected killer, Josiah’s business partner, Whip Kincaid. Rosalyn also learns that Josiah has taken a second wife.

Whip is innocent but to prove that, he needs to stay out of jail. He hides in secret passageways in the old house he and Josiah shared. Smythely, the elderly butler who came with the house, is the only other person aware of the passageways. Lurking between spiderwebbed walls and using the abundance of peepholes provided allows Whip to keep up with what’s going on. Sneaking out at night allows him to investigate. He’s particularly interested in Rosalyn Delaney, and for more than one reason. Besides being attracted to her, he’s sure she knows something about the murder.

 But does she? Is she safe at Rose House? Will she be safe from Whip Kincade?

I hope you enjoyed this peek into THE SCENT OF ROSES. Find it here, at Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Scent-of-Roses-ebook/dp/B00D3770I2/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370196831&sr=1-5&keywords=Charlene+Raddon

To be eligible for my contribution to Charlene's Blog Hop Giveaway, please comment on this post with your email. BE SURE TO LEAVE A COMMENT WITH CONTACT INFORMATION. AT THE END OF THE HOP, A NAME WILL BE DRAWN FROM THOSE WHO VISITED AND COMMENTED AT EVERY BLOG. PRIZE IS A $45 GIFT CARD FOR AMAZON OR B&N, WINNER’S CHOICE. Other bloggers are also offering giveaways so make sure you hit them all.

One lucky reader will win a copy of my new Stone Mountain series novella, TABITHA'S JOURNEY!

LIST OF PARTICIPATING BLOGS

May 31,  http://www.heartoffiction.blogspot.com/  giveaway

May 31  http://www.hurricanereads.blogspot.com 

June 1  http://www.charleneraddon.blogspot.com - Official blog tour for Kat Flannery (not part of PUB/PM blog hop)

June 2, http://authortammieclarkegibbs.blogspot.com/   giveaway

June 3  http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/     giveaway  

June 4  http://writingdreams.net/          giveaway

June 5  http://ciaragold.blogspot.com/  giveaway

June 7, http://peggylhenderson.blogspot.com/  giveaway

June 8, http://alisonhenderson.blogspot.com /    giveaway

June 9, http://www.pamelaforeman.com/  giveaway

June 10 http://annettedrake.com/annettes-blog/

June 11, http://elizabethdelisi.blogspot.com/  giveaway

June 12, http://www.patyjager.blogspot.com/ giveaway

June 14 http://www.wittyonlineeditor.com  giveaway

June 15  http://blog.cathymansell.com/   giveaway

June 16, www.katerobbinsauthor.com/  giveaway

June 17 http://tinafosterspageturner.blogspot.com/  giveaway

June 18  http://ccrawley210.wordpress.com/    giveaway

June 19, http://lynhorner.blogspot.com/   giveaway

June 21  http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com/  giveaway

June 22, http://www.raintrueax.blogspot.com   giveaway

June 23, http://bethtrissel.wordpress.com  giveaway

MY NEW RELEASE, TABITHA'S JOURNEY, A MAIL ORDER BRIDE NOVELLA

Drum roll, please! I’m happy to announce the release of TABITHA’S JOURNEY, a sweet novella about a substitute mail order bride. 

Sometimes characters stick in a writer’s head and just won’t leave until we write their story. That’s what happened with Bear Baldwin from BLUEBONNET BRIDE. He was only a minor character, barely a mention, but he kept nagging at me to find him a wife. I remembered a short story I’d written a couple of years ago and reworked it into a novella with Bear as the hero.

Would you have been a mail-order bride?  I’m not sure whether or not I would have. 

In addition to so many men heading west for gold, fame, and fortune in the mid 1800’s, the Civil War further decimated the male population. More men were killed in the Civil War than in World War II.  The combination of events meant that marriage-aged women far outnumbered marriage-aged men.

Women who did not marry had little choices. Women of good families were not supposed to...gasp...work for a living. In a pinch they might become a governess, a companion, perhaps teach school, or be forced to live with relatives. Those from lower income families might choose to work in a factory or as a servant, To either group, one more option existed . . . sign with a matrimonial agency to become a mail-order bride. 

In Chis Enss’s book HEARTS WEST, she shares the stories of a variety of real-life women who opted to become a mail-order brides. Some were successful, some were disastrous and heartbreaking. I love reading fictional mail-order bride stories, but this is the first one I’ve written. This one is set in 1874 and starts in Boston and them moves to Texas. 

Here’s the blurb for TABITHA'S JOURNEY:

Would you become a mail-order bride?

Tabitha Masterson is certain whatever awaits her in Radford Springs, Texas will be better than what her brother and that awful William have in mind in Boston. After her father’s death, her brother has become a tyrant. She escapes to begin her new life in Texas, but danger can’t be far behind. She believes if she’s married when trouble arrives, she’ll be safe.

Tobias “Bear” Baldwin is crushed when he receives a wire notifying him that the woman with whom he has corresponded for almost a year has passed him off to her friend. Do the two women believe he’s like an old shirt to be handed down? His mother urges him to give the substitute fiancée a chance, but his pride is stung and he hasn’t decided.

And how did that come about? Here’s the excerpt that explains part of Tabitha’s problems:

Tabitha sat in the Witt family’s parlor and wiped tears from her face. “I’ve never been so miserable. Prissy, what am I going to do?”

            “Are you certain he’d send you to an asylum if you resist?”

            “Yes, but I don’t know which would be worse—being married to William or being locked away. The man gives me shivers in the worst way.”

            “Me, too.” Priscilla paused and smoothed the folds of her yellow and black plaid taffeta skirt. “I-I’ve had another letter from Tobias.”

 Her attention captured and anger deflected, Tabitha leaned toward her friend intent on hearing the missive’s contents. “Did her send for you?”

            “Yes.” Suddenly, Priscilla’s face puckered as if she, too, might cry. “Oh, I don’t know what to do.”

            “Prissy?” She leaned back to stare at her friend. “What do you mean? I thought you’d accepted his proposal.”

Tabitha was half in love with Tobias Baldwin herself. Already she knew they shared many interests. Priscilla had shared each of his letters, and Tabitha had assisted Priscilla in answering them. Assisted so much, the writing became Tabitha’s heartfelt missives to him.

            “I was all set to leave, just as I said. But…oh, Tabbie, Virgil Allsup has finally spoken to Papa for me. If only Virgil had come forward sooner I never would have answered that mail order bride agency’s advertisement.” She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “You know I’ve yearned for Virgil ever so long. By now I thought he didn’t want me.”

            “What are you going to do?” Tabitha knew what she’d do. In her way of thinking, a man who dragged his feet as Virgil had all these years couldn’t begin to measure up to Tobias as a husband.

            “That’s just it. I-I accepted Virgil’s proposal.” She sobbed into her handkerchief.

            Tabitha couldn’t help her own tear-filled eyes widening in surprise. “You’re engaged to two men? Prissy, that’s—“

“Unethical? I know.” Priscilla waved her handkerchief. “I think it’s even illegal. Breach of contract or something.” Priscilla met Tabitha’s gaze. “But don’t you see? This could be a solution for your problem.”

Tabitha sighed and shook her head. “I don’t think mine has a solution.”

“Since you hate living with David and Bertha, and you always thought so much of Tobias, maybe you’d like to take my place.” She chewed at her lip as she glanced at Tabitha.

            “Me? Go to Texas and marry Tobias?” Incredulous as the idea sounded, already Tabitha’s mind considered the option.    

I hope you’ll give TABITHA’S JOURNEY a chance. The buy links are:

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/319614?ref=CarolineClemmons

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Tabithas-Journey-Mountain-Novella-ebook/dp/B00D0C3MNC/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1369963139&sr=1-7&keywords=caroline+clemmons

And while you're here, please let me tell you about a new blog called Smart Girls Read Romance at http://www.smartgirlsreadromance.blogspot.com that is starting June 2nd. Bestselling and award winning authors dish about books, romance, love, and life! And there will be giveaways all through June, with the Grand Prize a KINDLE FIRE HD TABLET on June 30th. To qualify to win, all you have to do is leave a comment.

Smart Girls Read Romance!

Another event is The Romance Reviews' Sizzling Summer Reads. If you click on the button on the sidebar, you'll be taken to their site for the list of participating authors. 

Whew! Isn't June an exciting month? 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

WATCH OUT FOR THAT QUICKSAND!

Most of us have read stories in which the villain or the protagonist is trapped in quicksand. My first encounter was in a Nancy Drew book, where she sank to her thighs or waist. Then, one of the villains in a Sherlock Holmes story died in quicksand. Since then, I’ve read other accounts—fictitious and authentic—in which someone became victim to the engulfing, suffocating medium.

I live in North Central Texas near the Brazos River and not that far from the Red River. As a child, we visited my grandmother just over the Red River into Oklahoma. I always wanted to stop and play on the river’s red sand and water. My parents talked of people, animals, even wagons being lost in the river’s sands. I had doubts, for I knew they didn’t want to take time away from our visit.

When my husband and I moved to North Central Texas, I heard the same tales of quicksand in the Brazos River engulfing the unsuspecting. The water appears tranquil and the banks firm. I have to admit I was a skeptic. However, now I’m a believer. I have a friend who is almost 105 years old whose mind is still sharp even though her body is betraying her. Let me share her parents’ story with you.

Her Dalton parents were married in Weatherford TX and lived there for a year with her grandparents. They decided to move to Mineral Wells, which meant crossing numerous creeks and the Brazos River. By this time, Mrs. Dalton was six months pregnant with their first child.

They loaded their belongings into a wagon and set out for their future home. When they reached the Brazos, Mr. Dalton drove the team across a low area. Suddenly, the horses started squealing and sinking. So did the wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Dalton were able to leap from the back of the wagon onto firm ground.

The Brazos River near Mineral Wells

Unfortunately, the horses, wagon, and belongings sank into quicksand and out of view. All they salvaged were the clothes on their backs and a tiny bundle Mrs. Dalton grabbed as she jumped. The couple had to walk the fifteen miles back to Weatherford and the parents/in-laws. What a blow, but at least they survived and lived to raise a family of nine. Most of their children lived at least into their nineties and a couple passed the century mark.

Since my friend told me this story, I’ve heard of other families who had the same or a similar misfortune involving quicksand at the Brazos. One family cut the harness so the horses escaped, but lost the wagon. Another involved the wagon driver sinking into the quicksand while trying to free the animals. Being a pioneer was tough!

These stories caused me to speculate, as writers always do with any new kernel of information. Because I am somewhat claustrophobic, the mention of quicksand terrifies me. Even writing about the sucking, suffocating goo that swallows up indiscriminately creates shivers and a knot in my abdomen.

Since it terrifies me, I decided to use it in my latest series, Men of Stone Mountain. So far, two of the books mention or involve quicksand. If I have to be frightened, why shouldn’t my characters, right? (cue fiendish laugh) All three books also involve poison, but that’s another article.

The three Stone brothers are Micah, Zach, and Joel. These men are heroic, loyal, handsome, and want to settle near one another. They live in or near the fictitious city of Radford Springs near the Brazos River and in the real Palo Pinto County and Palo Pinto Mountains of Texas.

In the first of the series, BRAZOS BRIDE, Micah’s cattle are dying of thirst from the drought that has dried up all the natural springs and his tanks. Hope Montoya’s huge ranch borders the river, but she is being poisoned and fears she won’t survive without help. She and Micah make a deal that gives him land between his and the river in exchange for entering a paper marriage with Hope. While their union frees her of a guardianship, the wedding makes them both targets of the murderer’s escalating attacks. BRAZOS BRIDE is available from Kindle, Smashwords, Nook, etc.

Zach Stone’s story is HIGH STAKES BRIDE. Poor Zach has been jilted for the second time, this time by mail. He vows never to speak to another woman unless she is a relative. But then Alice Price crosses his trail. She’s on the run from her worthless stepbrothers who have wagered her in a high stakes card game with the meanest man in Texas. Zach thinks he has a plan to help himself avoid his brother’s ribbing about his lost mail-order bride and give Alice a place to hide. Zach changes his mind about the ease of protecting the event-prone Alice when one complication after another arises. HIGH STAKES BRIDE is available from Kindle, Smashwords, Nook, etc.

BLUEBONNET BRIDE is Joel Stone’s story. By this time, Joel is the Radford Springs Sheriff and keeps a safe town with his by-the-book law enforcement. He is quite smitten when widow Rosalyn Dumas and her daughter Lucy step off the stage. Lucy admires “Mister Sheriff” but Rosalyn wants nothing to do with the man who could destroy her new life. Back in Pearsonville in East she was convicted of murdering her husband and only escaped the gallows due to a tornado sweeping through town. Trouble always follows, doesn’t it? Joel fights to save the woman he loves from prison. BLUEBONNET BRIDE is available at Kindle, Smashwords, Nook, etc.

Currently, my work in progress is TABITHA’S JOURNEY, a novella about six foot six Bear Baldwin and his attempt to find a mail-order bride. Tabitha Masterson leaves her Boston home to escape a forced marriage to a man she despises and arrives in Radford Springs expecting to marry rancher Bear Baldwin. Or maybe not. Their story will be available very soon.

If you enjoy series books about the Old West, please give the Men of Stone Mountain a try. They are available in print and e-book from most online sources.

Thanks for stopping by!

I WON, I WON, I WON!!!

Normally I don’t enter contests but—luckily for me—I entered the Winter Rose Contest with two of my 2012 books. As the saying goes, “you could have knocked me over with a feather” when I learned that BRAZOS BRIDE came in first in the historical category and HIGH STAKES BRIDE came in second. Even better, BRAZOS BRIDE won the grand overall prize!  You can imagine how happy I am.  Picture me dancing around the room. . . well, dancing in my mind.

Although my win still seems like a dream, I have a lovely certificate plus a beautiful silver rose necklace to prove to myself this actually occurred.

Grand Overall Winner, First Place in Historical Category,
Winter Rose Contest

For those of you who don’t know, BRAZOS BRIDE is the first of the Men of Stone Mountain series. I know there is a Stone Mountain in Georgia, but this one is in the Palo Pinto Mountains of North Central Texas.  To those from Colorado and other mountainous locales, the Palo Pinto Mountains might seem more like hills. Nope, they are genuine mountains due to the geological formation.

Modified longhorn cattle in a field
near a part of the Palo Pinto Mountains

The hazy, blue-green appearance is due to a large amount of cedar on the slopes as well as live oaks and deciduous trees. The cedar has been harvested at least since anglos came to the area. Cedar makes good fence posts and many cabins were built of cedar logs. It may have made good support posts for tipis. Certainly Native Americans inhabited this area of good springs and creeks each summer. The Gibson family, current Quail Creek Ranch owners who descend from the Henry Belding, have found evidence of Native American encampments dating back to the 11^th century in the form of middens, points, arrows, pottery, and so forth. Their ranch is at the intersection of two creeks, one of which has a spring that doesn’t dry up in droughts.

Ranch house side door between original Belding cabin, right,
and original smoke house, left. Both round
cedar log structures are a part of the Gibson home.

In fact, one of the inspirations for this series was Quail Creek Ranch, which was a part of the larger Belding Ranch formed in 1859. For you New England and European folks, that’s early for ranches here. Comanche and Kiowa, and occasionally Apache, made certain settlers knew they were not welcome on these hunting and camp grounds. The last raids were early 1870, which is when BRAZOS BRIDE is set.

Second Belding Cabin now part of Gibson's main house.
Note squared off cedar logs for this two-room cabin
with cedar beaded board ceiling.

The original Belding cabin is still intact, although now it functions as a bathroom for the Gibson family. I love that the family has preserved and incorporated the original cabin and smokehouse, The second cabin functions as a family room and a bedroom, and all the original structures are surrounded by newer rooms. This is a beautiful ranch and the owners are gracious, friendly people whose home is on a historic tour every few years. This past month was our second visit there. I feel so privileged to have seen this home. 

Second Place in Historical Category,
Winter Rose Contest

HIGH STAKES BRIDE, second in the series, is set just after the last white children were kidnapped by Comanche and Kiowa. I based the rescue referenced in the book on an actual event from this area. Three children, two brothers and their younger girl cousin, were kidnapped and taken to Indian Territory. Someday, I’d like to write a story about the children. They were only in captivity eighteen months, but the trauma they endured caused them to forget English. At last they were reunited with their families, or what was left after the raid in which they were captured.

Originally, I had intended only three books for this series. However, I’m now writing the fourth and have two more planned. TABITHA’S JOURNEY is a novella spin off from the third book, BLUEBONNET BRIDE. Sometimes characters pop into an author’s head and demand a story. That's always a good thing. ☺ Although his appearance in BLUEBONNET BRIDE was brief, that’s what happened with Bear Baldwin for TABITHA’S JOURNEY. I love Bear and his mom, Erna, and would like to keep going and going to let readers know what interesting people they are. But that’s not a story. The part of their story that has conflict and resolution is the novella. I’ll let you in on the rest in later blogs. ☺

For now, I’m celebrating my contest win and basking in happiness.

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