Monday Morning Musing: Wild Texas Wind

 

Publication date: June 18, 2010

Amazon link

Audible

 

For the next few weeks, as I countdown to the release date for Chocolate Chip Christmas Wishes and Christmas in the Wylder County Jail (co-written with Kim Turner) I will be revisiting some of my older stories. 

~*~

All Raz Colt wants is land, a quiet peaceable existence and to put his life as a hired gun in the past.  When the chance to earn a sizable fortune by rescuing a kidnapped heiress comes his way, he seizes the opportunity.  Trouble is, the heiress doesn't want to be rescued.  Offsetting Arden O'Hara's beauty is a rattlesnake personality and shrewish temper.  Despite her claim that she faked the kidnapping so her fianc? would ride to her rescue, Raz knows someone is out to kill her.  And if anyone gets the pleasure of wringing her lovely neck, it's going to be him.

Arden O'Hara is desperate to go home.  Her fianc? was supposed to ride to her rescue, proving it's her'and not her father's money? he loves.  Instead an arrogant stranger, with weapons strapped gun-fighter low and a decided lack of sympathy for her situation, shows up spouting a ridiculous tale about someone trying to kill her.  It's infuriating when Raz Colt's claims prove true after not one but several attempts are made on her life.  She has no idea who this fast gun with the deadly aim is, or why he makes her feel as wild and untamed as the Texas wind.  But like it or not, if anyone is capable of getting her home alive, it's Raz Colt.

This week I am talking about my first published historical story, Wild Texas Wind. I know we are not supposed to play favorites among our stories, but this one holds a very special place in my heart.  Not just because it was my first historical, but because it was so much fun to write.  

 

What is it about a bad ass, take no crap, bad boy hero that we all love?  Give him a fast gun and a whole lot of attitude and I’m there.

 

Wild Texas Wind was not supposed to be written first.  It was actually the sequel to another story I was writing.  My hero was half Indian; a small-town sheriff accused of murdering a white woman.  The heroine was the wife of a man he’d just killed in a shootout. Talk about conflict!

 

His sidekick was a bounty hunter with a jaded outlook, loads of sarcasm, and a pair of very fast guns. His name was Raz Colt.  The story quickly became Raz’s story, I looked for reasons to include him. 

I had a terrible crush on him.

 

In truth, I loved him. Maybe even more than I loved my hero.

 

And then he took over.

 

The idea for his story came at me in waves that I couldn’t ignore. 

 

Wild Texas Wind opens with Raz soaking in a hot bath before preparing to sample the delights in a whole house, and savoring a job well done.  He is reflecting that he has just helped clear a friend’s name of a murder charge and taken the real killer to justice.  That references the original story—I still intended to write it, but Raz’s story was coming at me so strong I had to switch gears and write it now.

 

While at the whorehouse, he learns a young girl has been kidnapped and her father, a wealthy rancher, is offering a sizable reward for her safe return.

 

Money, as it turns out, is the way to Raz’s heart. 

 

Arden O’Hara is the kidnapped heiress.  Only she’s not a young girl.  She’s a grown woman.  Oh, and she hasn’t been kidnapped either, she set that up to test her fiancé’s affections.  Does he love her, or her daddy’s money? 

 

Arden is spoiled, obnoxious and distractingly beautiful.  She also has the foulest mouth Raz has ever encountered, worse than his own.  So when he comes to her rescue, she has no intention of going anywhere with the likes of him, it’s her fiancé Geoffrey she is waiting on to rescue her.

 

But Raz has a bit of shocking news for Arden.  Geoffrey thinks she is dead.  And, surprise, the fake kidnapping she set up didn’t happen, she has actually been taken for real. And since her daddy didn’t give in to the ransom demands of the kidnappers, there is a man on his way there to kill her.

 

Arden does what any heroine would do in her place.  She laughs in his face.  And clocks him over the head with his own gun. 

 

Putting these two on the page together was a bit like match-meets-gasoline.  They loathed one another.  They were too much alike, both used to having their own way.  But they were also very attracted to one another, even if they didn’t want to be.  But if Raz gave in to his attraction to her, he wouldn’t get the money for rescuing her.  And if Arden gave in to her attraction for him, she couldn’t marry Geoffrey.

 

And at every possible turn someone was trying to kill them.  Pretty soon she realized if there was anyone capable of getting her home alive, it was Raz Colt. Of all people.

 

I am not sure if the prequel to their story will ever be finished.  It’s hard to go back and rewrite an old story, and two sequels (Wild Texas Bride and Wild Texas Outlaw) have already come from that story, both of which I hope to complete in 2022.

The story was made even better in 2018 with an audible release narrated by the amazingly talented Dawson McBride.  He "got" the character of Raz and only Dawson, with that deep drawl of his, could have done the story justice.  I highly recommend this version! 

 

But at this point it had been a while since I’d written a shorter length story and I knew those were popular with readers.  So what to write next?

 

 

Throwback Thursday: Wild Texas Wind

Another fun blast from the past for Throwback Thursday, this time from my first historical western, Wild Texas Wind...


All Raz Colt wants is land, a quiet peaceable existence and to put his life as a hired gun in the past. When the chance to earn a sizable fortune by rescuing a kidnapped heiress comes his way, he seizes the opportunity. Trouble is, the heiress doesn't want to be rescued. Offsetting Arden O'Hara's beauty is a rattlesnake personality and shrewish temper. Despite her claim that she faked the kidnapping so her fiance would ride to her rescue, Raz knows someone is out to kill her. And if anyone gets the pleasure of wringing her lovely neck, it's going to be him.

Arden O'Hara is desperate to go home. Her fiance was supposed to ride to her rescue, proving it's her---and not her father's money--- he loves. Instead an arrogant stranger, with weapons strapped gun-fighter low and a decided lack of sympathy for her situation, shows up spouting a ridiculous tale about someone trying to kill her. It's infuriating when Raz Colt's claims prove true after not one but several attempts are made on her life. She has no idea who this fast gun with the deadly aim is, or why he makes her feel as wild and untamed as the Texas wind. But like it or not, if anyone is capable of getting her home alive, it's Raz Colt.

~~~

Arden couldn’t be certain the exact moment she realized the approaching rider was watching her. But the chill crawling up her spine was the doing of the man lying unconscious beneath her. He’d deliberately tried to frighten her.

And for the moment, she was stuck. Her chin hovered mere inches from his chest. No matter how she struggled she couldn’t free her hair from beneath his dead weight.

“Wake up.” She tried to squirm free, to kick him—anything. She reached awkwardly around to slap at his cheek, but to no avail. He didn’t stir. Only the steady rise and fall of his chest assured her she hadn’t killed him.

The rider moved closer, slowing his pace to take in the scene before him. It was too late to play dead. She had a funny feeling it wouldn’t have done much good anyway.

The metal of the .44 grew warm against her palm, but her hand, pinned awkwardly between her body and the man she lie upon, was numb and tingly from lack of circulation. The rider stopped a few feet away and dismounted. He walked closer, then stopped, studying her with a smug expression. When the corners of his mouth turned up, she had the oddest feeling he considered himself the cat to her mouse. Every instinct screamed the truth. This was the killer.

In one grand attempt to remain alive, she rolled to one side, ignoring the sting of her scalp, and freed her arm. Cocking the hammer with her thumb, she trained the gun on him. “Don’t come any cl—”

A hand on the back of her neck slammed her face down on the ground. Her finger was squeezed tight against the trigger as he—the arrogant ass she’d been unable to rouse a moment ago—closed his hand over hers. Three shots rang out almost simultaneously, the kick from the gun lurching her arm as it fired. Something warm buzzed past her ear, like the hum of a bumble bee but much too fast and much too hot. She opened her mouth to scream but inhaled a mouthful of dust and dirt instead.

Silence reigned for only a second before he rolled off her, one hand pressed to his head where she’d struck him. “Son of a bitch.”

Sputtering, Arden sat up and wiped an arm across her mouth. The rider lay slumped at an odd angle in the dirt. She turned to the suddenly-conscious stranger “You killed him.”

He stood, hand still on his head. “You’re welcome.” With a motion of his finger, he wordlessly told her to stay put. Gun in hand, he approached the dead man, then nudged him with the toe of his boot. He bent to press two fingers to the side of the man’s neck. “He’s dead.”

“So I gathered.” She noted the precision of the two holes, one square in the chest, the other right between the eyes. Either would have been a lethal shot. Another chill slithered down her spine despite the sun’s merciless heat. Who was this man with such deadly aim?

“Do you know him?”

The sight of the corpse, already taking on a chalky hue, began to sour her empty stomach. She drew her knees up to her chin, shaking her head in answer to his question. “Do you?”

He glanced down at the man’s face, cocked his head as if considering. “By reputation only. At least I think it’s him.” He rose, reloaded, and holstered the .44. with a smooth motion that told her he did it often and without thought.

Monday Morning Musing.... Marry My Daughter!

Is this straight out of a romance novelists' dreams, or what?  A wealthy Hong Kong businessman is offering a staggering amount of money ($64 million) to any man who can win over his daughter. (see video link below)

Now there are reports that the daughter is a lesbian and already married to a longtime female partner, so in order to write the story and get that HEA ending that romance novelists crave and our readers expect, we might need to change a few minor details--at least those of us who write traditional boy-meets-girl etc. romance.

But naturally the story put me in mind of the plot of my 2010 release Wild Texas Wind...but it also got me thinking.  Oh the fun I could have with that one!  It's definitely going into my "idea" file.

How about you? Does that sound like the sort of story you'd like to read--or write? Would it be a contemporary-set tale, with a wealthy father looking out for his powerful business executive daughter who just doesn't have time for romance? Or an historical tale with a difficult, hard to manage heiress who may or may not make Cinderella's ugly stepsisters look like prom queens?

Or would you rather twist the whole thing on its head and make it a wealthy socialite Mama trying to find a woman for her wealthy playboy son?

That's what I love about plots like this, the possibilities are endless!

What story would you write?

http://www.cnn.com/video/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29#/video/world/2012/09/28/pkg-chiou-hong-kong-marriage-bounty.cnn

Blog Overhaul

The sun has been rising earlier and staying around longer and the birds in the many trees around my house have been singing their little hearts out each morning.  So I've been thinking-- spring!! Even though the calendar says we still have a full month to go until it's official, I have a raging case of spring fever!

Spurred on by the songs of friends such as Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal and my favorite little black capped chickadees, I've been cleaning out closets and sorting through drawers. I also decided it was time to overhaul my long neglected blog.  I'm thrilled with the new version of Blogger that allowed me to add pages.  Some of them are still under construction but I hope you'll poke around and stay for a nice long visit.

As for that writing thing..... I'm getting there.  I'm back in the saddle and working at it every day.  Bear with me!

Best Present Ever!

Our blog hop continues today so please don't forget to stop by my friends' blogs and leave a comment for a chance to win a prize.

Caroline Clemmons

Susan Macatee

Isabel Roman

Today I'm giving away a free download of my historical western Wild Texas Wind to one lucky commenter.

So what is your best present ever? Not necessarily one you've received, after all we know it's better to give so you can answer it either way--what's your best present ever, given or received?

This one is an easy one for me.  Nine years and a handful of days ago I received the best birthday present ever.  My son!

What's even more amazing is he was a complete surprise.  Oh I knew I was pregnant, LOL, there was no doubt about that.  But practically from the first weeks of my pregnancy he was larger than average and I was told to expect him to come early.  His due date was November 19; my birthday is November 22nd.  I never once dreamed he'd decide to wait and share it with me.

About a week before Halloween after a routine exam the doctor told me to go home and make sure my bags were packed and everything was ready.  the baby was in positron and would probably come soon.

So I went home.  Packed my bags.  And waited.  Halloween came and went, and still no baby.  The first week of November stretched into the next and so on.

Throughout all this, I had terrible Braxton Hicks, or false labor pains, so when November 21 dawned and I was nauseous and twingy, I assumed it was Braxton Hicks again.  Now two days past my due date and horrendously uncomfortable, I was beside myself wondering when this baby would ever come.  Sleep was next to impossible no matter how exhausted I was (I was caring for a busy 2 1/2 year old after all).  I remember at one point looking Heavenward and saying a quick prayer for it to be soon. (Actually it was more like a desperate "Would you come on and get this baby born, I can't take it anymore!!!!")

An hour later we were on the way to the hospital with me in active labor--talk about answered prayers LOL. A little after 11 pm I was settled into the hospital bed when the nurse asked how old I was.  I glanced at the clock and said "well, give it another hour or so and that will change."  Then and only then did it occur to me that I was going to have a baby on my  birthday. That should have been a clue to me that this is one kid with a mind of his own--believe me, that hasn't changed, LOL.

Nine years later, he's still the best gift ever.  Best of all he doesn't mind sharing a birthday with his mom.  I have made certain from the beginning that he has his own cake (no cheating and putting both our names on one cake!) so he feels it's "his" day and not just "our" day.  And since I have some experience with this birth date, I enjoy showing him the ropes (rule number one: do not turn on the news that morning or you'll hear how many years ago in Dallas it was since JFK was killed. Not a great way to start your day) and have promised him even when Thanksgiving falls on his birthday, he'll still get his favorite birthday cake (yes, my mom tried the "stick the candle in the pumpkin pie" trick one year hoping I wouldn't notice that they'd forgotten to bake me a birthday cake; it didn't work LOL).

If there's a downside, it's that there is always a lot of cake in my house by the time Thanksgiving rolls around so I have a fridge full of leftover goodies tempting me.

And of course, you have to feel for my husband.  Not only can he never again claim to have "forgotten" my birthday ...but no matter what gift he picks out, he'll never top the one he gave me in 2002.

So now you've heard about my best gift ever.  What's yours?

Everything you never wanted to know.... and then some

Today is my day to post on the Sweethearts of the West blog and August is sort of a "getting to know the Sweethearts" month where we post about ourselves (gulp!!)

It took weeks to write and still feels way too long and boring, but you can learn more about me than you ever cared to know, LOL.  Stop on by and say hello!

Nic

Something to Smile About.... 4 1/2 Stars from Night Owl Romance

It's been a while since I've posted anything and that's because.... well, there hasn't been a great deal to post about. (Although I have been posting over at the Sweethearts of the West blog each month on the 22nd. My last post was yesterday.)

But surely this fits the bill!  I don't know why my Google searches haven't turned this up before, but I just stumbled across a review by Night Owl Romances from this time last year--last year!!!!

Jolene from Night Owl Reviews, I hope you know you made my summer!  Four and a half stars!  Wow!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Most of all thanks for reminding me why I loved writing this book so much!

Here is the full review:

Author: Nicole McCaffrey

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Tags: Historical Romance, Western

Reviewed by: Jolene387 | Jul 16, 2010 | 1-60154-849-4

A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW

I fell in love with this couple. Wild Texas Wind was a wonderfully romantic western tale. For anyone who appreciates a bad boy cowboy, Raz Colt fits the bill. He’s arrogant, demanding and doesn’t like to explain himself. And Arden O’Hara is a woman with a fiery temper and a sharp tongue. Wild Texas Wind is the classicTaming of the Shrew set in the old west. I had a hard time putting this book down.

Arden O’Hara and Raz Colt were at loggers head many times but they always pulled together when the threat of danger appeared. And Kip Cooper was an added bonus as a lovable conman.

I loved the whole book and was actually surprised at the ending. I look forward to reading more of Ms. McCaffrey’s books.

As Mark Twain once said...

Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. *G*

While it is true I've been hiding out, thanks to a boatload of migraines, and haven't had nearly as much time for writing as I'd like between kids' school and scout schedules and the tear-your-hair-out stress that comes with being part of the Sandwich Generation, I'm still here.

If you've been missing me, you can find me in a couple of places.  First today, I'm blogging with my friends the Sweethearts of the West.  Those who know me won't be the least bit surprised to learn that I'm talkin' 'bout... what else? Cowboys.  And I even managed to work in two of my personal favorite cowboy-hat-wearin' heroes, Raz Colt and Kip Cooper.

Tomorrow you can see me live and in person at the Ogden Farmer's Library in Spencerport, NY.  I'll be participating in an author tea with several other local romance writers.

Hope to see you there!

Hangin' with Sarah Simas

It's Friday!!!! (I survived the first few days of summer vacation--whew!) Anyway, I'm still celebrating the release of Wild Texas Wind and those great reviews.  Today I'm hanging with the always sweet, always adorable Sarah Simas over at The Lovestruck Novice.  She asked if I'd say a few words about writing to different genres and writing to please yourself.

Drop by and say hi and share your thoughts!

First Reviews Are In!

And it's.... four spurs  from Love Western Romances!!!!

Read the fabulous review here!

Thank you hugs to reviewer Kathryn from Love Western Romances for "getting" my story and for her thoughtful and insightful review.

And.... four books from Long and Short Reviews. Thank you hugs to Camellia from LASR for her amazing review!!!

Woo hoo--you ladies sure know how to make an author's day!

Tuesday Musin'

Yesterday didn't allow for much blogging time so I'm musing a day late, and since my brain is still reeling from The Crash (my desktop--which is still not home) my musing is very lame, LOL.

Lovely evening. Yesterday was one of those perfect spring days, a bit on the cool side, but sunny with blue skies. After dinner last night, I convinced the DH to take a walk with me and the dog while the boys rode their bikes. What a great way to cap off an evening (and we snuck in a little exercise to boot!)

Sandwich generation. That's what they call those of us who have elderly parents and young children. I think that's because calling it "the generation whose head is being squeezed in a vice grip until their brain explodes" would take too long.

Kudos to Darah. Have you seen the review Miz Lace got for Unmasking Zorro? Incredible. Congrats, Darah. If you haven't seen it, hop on over to her blog and check it out. It's phenomenal! But then I expected nothing less.

Cold sweat. Now that I have the release date for Wild Texas Wind, my nerves are kicking up. What if no one likes it? What if it gets bad reviews? What if it doens't sell???? What if, what if, what if, LOL. It's amazing how many ways I can find to torture myself over what's supposed to be a good thing!


Favorite quote this week: (as seen on a bumper sticker, LOL) I'd give up chocolate... but I'm no quitter!

Now if that doesn't tell you everything about my mindset (let alone where my hormones are!*G*) this week, LOL, nothing else will.

Hope it's warm and sunny where you are!

To Judge and Be Judged

A recent conversation on one of the loops I belong to got me thinking about contests. Love ‘em or hate ‘em , they’re a necessary evil in this business. And they don't stop just because you finally grasp that brass ring -- publication.

They just get more expensive. *G*

But the conversation wasn’t about post-pub contests, it was about entering contests as a pre-pubbed author. It seems that in the early days of a writer’s career, when her work needs a little guidance, the judges are kinder. But for the more seasoned writer who has polished her style and her voice, it seems the claws come out.

Developing a thick skin is a must when you’re a writer but that doesn’t mean unkind comments don’t sting. While I threw away all those old scoresheets a long time ago, there are one or two comments that have stuck in my mind over the years.

“This guy is really pissing me off.”

LOL. This was about Derek, the hero in my 2008 release The Model Man. Years away from that painful barb I can say at least my writing brought out strong emotion in the judge, LOL. But I think the reason I remember that one so clearly is because the comment had absolutely nothing to do with my writing and everything to do with the judge’s personal taste. It was really unprofessional.

Some are just plain amusing and this one has always stuck in my mind:

“Is it supposed to be day or night?”

This one was on the opening scene of Wild Texas Wind. After reflecting on how exhausted he is, how hard he’s worked, how he’s looking forward to a little R&R, my hero, upon learning the size of the reward being offered for a missing heiress, climbs out of a hot bath, hands his cigar and brandy over to the soiled dove he was planning to –er—keep company with and leaves, (telling said prostitute he’s going after that reward money). If that’s not enough to tell you how this man doesn’t give a damn if it’s night or day, rain or shine, or even if there’s a blizzard raging, I don’t know what it’s gonna take, LOL. And this poor clueless judge wanted to know if it was night or day! Oi!

Of course, it goes without saying that the nastiest comments are more than made up for by the glowing remarks of a judge who does like your story, only critiques your skill and gently encourages you on your career path. But it’s funny how some of those comments linger .

What are some of your more memorable comments –good or bad-- from contest judges?

Friday Fun: Hangin' with Isabel

Isabel Roman reviewed The Model Man on her blog on Wednesday; today she's interviewing me. Stop over for and visit!

Here are excerpts from the stories mentioned in the interview:

This Moment in Time

Wild Texas Wind

The Model Man

Happy Dancing

As some of you may have noticed on the sidebar, I have my cover for Wild Texas Wind. I'm thrilled with it, and while the cover artist couldn't find a guy with long, dark hair, like my hero, I love that she picked a guy whose hair doesn't show--and if I look close enough in those shadows around his collar, I can pretend his dark hair is there, LOL. And, I should add, the artist got everything else right. I always envisioned the cover to feature my hero, shirtless, in just a long black coat. Kudos to the awesomely talented Nicola Martinez.

What do you think? I love it!

Read on for the back cover blurb and excerpt.

All Raz Colt wants is land, a quiet peaceable existence and to put his life as a hired gun in the past. When the chance to earn a sizable fortune by rescuing a kidnapped heiress comes his way, he seizes the opportunity. Trouble is, the heiress doesn’t want to be rescued. Offsetting Arden O’Hara’s beauty is a rattlesnake personality and shrewish temper. Despite her claim that she faked the kidnapping so her fiancé would ride to her rescue, Raz knows someone is out to kill her. And if anyone gets the pleasure of wringing her lovely neck, it’s going to be him.

Arden O’Hara is desperate to go home. Her fiancé was supposed to ride to her rescue, proving it’s her–and not her father’s money– he loves. Instead an arrogant stranger, with weapons strapped gun-fighter low and a decided lack of sympathy for her situation, shows up spouting a ridiculous tale about someone trying to kill her. It’s infuriating when Raz Colt’s claims prove true after not one but several attempts are made on her life. She has no idea who this fast gun with the deadly aim is, or why he makes her feel as wild and untamed as the Texas wind. But like it or not, if anyone is capable of getting her home alive, it’s Raz Colt.

Excerpt:


“Don’t say it, Colt.”
“No one else has reason to want you dead—other than me. But if you marry him and meet up with some convenient accident, Geoffrey becomes a very rich widower.”
She lunged at him, claws bared. “Bastard.”
Raz caught her arms and pressed her against the mattress. “The sooner you face the truth, the better your chances of staying alive.”
“I won’t listen to this.” She flailed , but when she couldn’t dislodge him, she attempted to put a knee to his groin. “Let go of me.”
He straddled her hips to keep the knee from connecting. “Not until you calm down.”
“I’m not going to calm down as long as you’re on top of me, you jackass! Let me go or I’ll scream.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
She opened her mouth.
Pinning her arms, he had no choice but to muffle her scream with the only thing he had left. Leaning forward, he opened his mouth over hers.
In an instant everything changed.