Linda Nightingale visits today with her newest release, The Texas Cowboy. Do you ever wonder what inspired an author to write a story? Here's Linda to tell us what prompted her to write The Texas Cowboy.
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Diane asked me about the inspiration for writing The Texas Cowboy. I lived in Texas for fourteen years. I could claim that some incident like going to RodeoHouston or meeting the wagon train that comes into Memorial Park each year to be in the parade that officially opens the rodeo inspired me to write this book..
But unless it was some subconscious inspiration, that’s not
it.
The Texas Cowboy started life as a novella written for an
anthology of stories set in the imaginary town of Clark’s Folly, Texas. The book was called The Cowboys of Clark’s
Folly. The publisher subsequently went out of business. When my rights were
returned, I left the story Return to Folly, sitting in my computer.
The Wild Rose Press (I have 7 books with them) had a series
called the Wylder West, and I decided to modify Return to Folly, lengthen it,
and go for it. I renamed the book The Wylder Years. I went to Wylder, Wyoming from Folly, Texas,
but TWRP didn’t like the beginning of the story, wanted me to delete the
prologue, and begin about ¼ of the way into the book. They rejected it. I now
had a book sitting in my computer.
I write paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy romance, not western, so
I had no idea where to send the book. Then one day, I received an email from
Magnolia Blossom Publishing, the new romance imprint of DSP Publishing, a
well-known publisher of westerns. I sent her Return to Folly, and the first
chapter of Cardinal Desires, a paranormal (vampire) book. In a Zoom meeting
with my new editor-to-be, I described The Cowboy Duke.
Almost immediately I received an offer for a 4-book
contract. They changed the title from Return to Folly to The Texas Cowboy and
have used Return to Folly as the series title. I’m now closing in on the final
chapter of The Cowboy Duke, the sequel to The Texas Cowboy.
So, the inspiration was, I suppose, a call from a friend who
wanted me to write a western story for an anthology. I thought what if we had a
born Texan raised in England who inherits a ranch in Clark’s Folly, Texas. Does
that make What If the inspiration for the story?
Title: The Texas Cowboy
Book
One, Return to Folly Series
Author: Linda Nightingale
Publisher: Magnolia
Blossom Publishing
Tag Line: A British raised Texan returns to take over the ranch he inherited. What could possibly go wrong? Maybe a pretty, sassy cowgirl with her own agenda?
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QP4C5NZ
BLURB:
When Ash Colter was twelve, his mother divorced his cattle
baron father and whisked him away to raise in her native England. Sixteen years
later, when his father dies, he inherits Marathon Ranch. Running a 1,000-acre
spread famous for the best Black Angus cattle in the great state of Texas is
the biggest challenge he’s ever faced…until he meets a pert, pretty, and sassy
ranch hand who seems to have her own agenda for his ranch. Unfortunately, she
makes his spurs go jingle-jangle-jingle like no one else ever has!
Trish Owens is a real cowgirl, a loner, and, though she’d
never admit it, a little lonely. When the “English Cowboy” appears on the
scene, her entire way of life is threatened, not only her job, but her beloved
Quarter horses. She’s sure he plans to import his thoroughbreds from England. Worst
of all is the chemistry sizzling between them. He makes feelings she thought
long dead awaken.
Can these two unwilling allies set aside their differences
to put Marathon Ranch in the Winner’s Circle…and to fall in love?
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EXCERPT:
Trish ignored his
joke about taking care of her. “Well, thank you,
Miss Whatever-your-name-is.” When she shot him a glance, he saw the sadness
in her eyes before jealousy evaporated it like the morning dew. He couldn’t
allow Trish to think he’d made love to her last night, knowing Dorothy would
arrive today. Or thinking he’d sleep with the other woman tonight. Embarrassed
as well as annoyed, he flushed to the roots of his hair. Dorothy leapt into his hesitation, offering
Trish a handshake.
“I’m Dorothy Applewhite.”
The Duchess stared down from her superior height of five-six. “I arrived with
the horses, more or less.”
“I’m Trish. Nice
to meet you.” Nothing could sound less like the truth.
He looked from one
woman to the other. “Dorothy, how did
you happen to arrive minutes after the horses were unloaded?”
His ex-girlfriend
winked, squeezing his arm against her breast. “Trev mentioned the name of the
transport company. I rang them and, using your stable name, was told the
shipment would arrive this week. You’d given me the name of the town. I
consulted my travel agent and here I am. I wanted to surprise you. I’ve missed
you, Ash-Dahling.”
“Ash-Dahling has
been busy managing this big old ranch…” Trish batted big innocent eyes and
continued in a honeyed voice, “I imagine, that is.”
Dorothy simply
stared at the other woman, probably trying to decide if the cowgirl in a red
Marathon shirt and figure-hugging jeans was competition. Not Trish’s usual barn
clothes. Had she dressed to impress him? Maybe before the horses were unloaded
and the duchess arrived. Now, she only wanted to impress one thing upon him. Go
to hell.
Trish cast a
meaningful glance at Ash, then attacked her opponent with fine-edged sarcasm.
“Your white studded jeans are just the thing for the wild west.”
“Thank you.”
Dorothy smoothed a hand down her shapely hip. “I ordered them from an American
western wear store just for this trip. The shirt, as well. Do people really
wear these small string ties?” She flipped the ends of the Bolo, and Ash almost
choked trying not to laugh.
Must be hysteria.
This was no laughing matter.
“I don’t
personally.” Trish leaned closer, pretending to admire the pearl snaps on
Dorothy’s western shirt. “Yeah, really nice.”
“I haven’t seen a
lot of people—in fact, not even one—wearing a Bolo.” Ash shoved his hands into
his pockets. He felt naked, exposed, and a feeling he hated--vulnerable. “Maybe
Sunday for church.”
“Church?” Trish
barked a laugh.
Frowning, he
suggested, “A country and western bar?”
“I prefer dives,
sir. Country music, with or without a worn flag painted on the floor, lots of
beer, and the Texas two-step.” Trish was no longer laughing, nor did she look
very sassy. Was she angry enough to cry…or hurt enough to be angry?
“You two don’t get
in an argument about my little tie. You may have it if you like.” His former
girlfriend slid a possessive hand around his elbow. “I have Ash here. Dear, my
bags are in the boot. Will you ask someone to take them to your room?”
Ash squared his
shoulders. “I’ll ask Danita to prepare a guest room.”
“Are you still
redecorating the Master Bedroom?” Trish was digging his grave deeper with a
guileless smile.
She did not
mean the redecorating question to be helpful, but he could turn it around on
her. Though after the funeral, he’d moved into the Master Suite, he’d been too
busy to make many changes. Marathon was a jealous lover.
“I am.” He looked
from one to the other. “Still redecorating.”
The two women
frowned. Each one affixed her chilly gaze to him.
Ash wanted to
squirm, but a good rabbit knows that any movement only incites the hawk. “Let’s
get you settled. Trish, if you need anything, call me. As I said, you’re very
welcome to stay here.” Please.
“Will do, Ash.”
Trish placed warm emphasis on his name, but the look she leveled at him gave
him frostbite.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After 14 years in Texas, Linda returned home to her
roots in the South Carolina red clay. She has eight published novels, four of
which are available in audio from Audible.com. For many years, she bred,
trained, and showed the magnificent Andalusian horses. So, she’s seen a lot of
this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer. She won
The Georgia Romance Writers’ Magnolia Award for Excellence, the Raven Award, and
the SARA Merritt. In real life, she was a legal assistant. She loves to dress
up, use the good china and crystal, and host formal dinner parties. She has a
fondness for sports cars like her current ride, Zippy Z.
LINKS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LNightingale
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaNightingaleAuthor
Web
Site: http://www.lindanightingale.com –
Visit and look around. There’s a free continuing vampire story.
Blog: https://lindanightingale.wordpress.com/
- Lots of interesting guests & prizes
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4839311.Linda_Nightingale
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lbnightingale1/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Nightingale/e/B005OSOJ0U
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-nightingale
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linda.nightingale.52/
