Today's Blog Tour Tuesday features Cowboys and Calico by Kirsten Osbourne, Amelia C. Adams, Cassie Hayes, Kristin Holt, and Margery Scott.
What happens when you get five western romance authors together and ask them to compile an anthology? Well, in our case, you get a great collection of sweet love stories sure to sweep every reader off their feet.
Considering that I am one of the participating authors, it's difficult for me to offer an unbiased review. I happen to think it's an awesome collection, but you don't have to take my word for it - there are 70 reviews on Amazon right now that are mostly five star. (I don't mean to sound braggy, even though maybe I feel a little braggy. It's just fun to do something that people are enjoying so much.)
Here are the blurbs for each story:
MAIL ORDER MIDWIFE by Kirsten Osbourne - Widowed midwife Patsy Lawrence
spent too much time working and not enough with her young daughter. She
knew Emily's childhood would be over before she realized it, so she
responded to an ad for a mail-order bride, hoping for a better future
for them both.
Dr. Wesley Hardy needed a wife to complete him, so he sent a letter
to a mail-order bride agency back East. When he received a letter from a
widow with a young daughter, he was thrilled with everything but her
profession. Could he live with the fact that his new bride was a
midwife? Or would they be destined to live without love for the rest of
their days?
A BROKEN WING by Amelia C. Adams - Bored beyond all reason while
riding a train from Missouri to Colorado, Trinity Scott amuses herself
by imagining things about the passengers around her, including the
handsome man sitting across the aisle. With his dark curly hair and warm
brown eyes, he’s certainly intriguing, and the fact that his arm is in a
sling makes him all the more a curiosity.
But when three dangerous men board the train, her desire for
adventure and excitement takes a sinister turn, and she must call on her
inner strength to do what’s needed to survive.
THE MARSHAL’S REBELLIOUS BRIDE by Cassie Hayes - U.S. Marshal Curtis
‘Griff’ Griffith is on the trail of a wanted man. The last thing he
needs is to be distracted by the newest resident of the Dalton Brothers
Ranch. So why does he keep returning? It’s certainly not to see the
beautiful-but-bullheaded Catherine James.
Catherine has no interest in men or marriage, but there aren’t many
choices for single ladies to earn a living on a remote Texas ranch. When
she discovers that she holds the key to capturing the outlaw — and
collecting some of the reward — she doesn’t hesitate to force Griff’s
hand.
Will they kill each other before they find the murderer, or will they risk their damaged hearts for a shot at a new life?
COURTING MISS CARTWRIGHT by Kristin Holt - Courtship, by the book, is supposed to be easy…
As the daughter of an unwed mother, Felicity Percival is accustomed
to rejection. Her mother was her only family ... until she is summoned
to the reading of her father's will. To learn he was a married preacher
with a second daughter horrifies her. The stipulations attached to her
inheritance infuriate her. The last thing she expects is the emergence
of truths that destroy her life-long beliefs. The last thing she wants
is to feel the blush of first love for a man she can't have.
The road to Happily Ever After should not be rocky, especially for
level-headed, rule-following Rocky Gideon. His courtship of the
minister’s daughter is successful and on track, surviving everything
life throws at them … except the appearance of the preacher’s other
daughter. Felicity asks too many questions, forces him to evaluate his
carefully constructed plan, and somehow steals his heart.
Rocky desperately needs a solid marriage that will go the distance … so why does he yearn for the wrong sister?
WANTED: THE PERFECT HUSBAND by Margery Scott - Sybil Franklin needs a
husband—fast! In order to keep her ranch, she must be married within
thirteen days. Devin McGregor meets all her requirements and comes
highly recommended, but he has no interest in marriage.
Devin McGregor had a ranch once, a fiancée, a future. He made a
mistake, and it cost him everything. Now, even though he’d love to own
his own land again, he’s afraid to risk failure.
Sybil decides to post an advertisement for the perfect husband. As
Devin tries to protect her from being taken advantage of, his feelings
for her grow, but his fear of failing her won’t let him accept her
proposal.
Both Sybil and Devin have choices, but making the right choice means they could both lose everything.
This anthology is only available until November 1st, but the good news is, it's only .99. After November 1st, the books will be released again, but separately at full price.
About the Author:
Amelia C. Adams has been having far too much fun lately researching horrible diseases and how to treat them for her Nurses of New York series. (You never know what authors will find fascinating.) She's also been bonnet shopping (see visual evidence to the right).
She spends her days frittering and her nights writing and editing. You can learn more about her at www.ameliacadams.com.
Showing posts with label clean romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clean romance. Show all posts
Monday, August 29, 2016
Friday, February 5, 2016
WANTED: Midwife Bride
by Kristin Holt
Can you imagine living in a time when doctors and accredited midwives were a rare commodity in the Old West? Picture an era when a few doctors hung their shingles and practiced medicine in dusty western settlements but virtually all hospitals were still on the east coast or in metropolises such as Chicago. Many such towns didn't have a doctor and any "doctoring" happened by the most experienced; cowboys generally knew how to manage treatable injuries (do a fair job of setting broken bones and stitching shut slashes caused by barbed wire). Women banded together to assist one another through childbirth. People toughed it out. A lot of folks died.
I'm so excited about this new book...
I'm giving away a copy!
Read on!
I'm an amateur historian, and a Registered Nurse. I have the utmost respect for physicians practicing medicine in the nineteenth century. Significant breakthroughs had occurred that made a lot of difference, but these brave pioneers still were forced to rely on their own knowledge, their eyes and ears and rudimentary tools to diagnose and to treat. Today's physicians have it comparatively easy with blood tests and CT-scans and state-of-the-art surgical suites. I wonder what would happen if a doctor from the late 19th century was transported forward to today's medical world--what would he think? But I digress... that's a story for another book.
When preparing to write my new release, WANTED: Midwife Bride (contained within Mail Order Bride: A Timeless Romance Anthology), I already knew exactly who my hero would be: Joseph Chandler, MD. In a familiar-to-me frontier town of Evanston, Wyoming Territory (1888). It didn't take long for me to realize why Doc Joe would send for a bride-- not only was he lonely and ready for the next stage in live ("conjugal felicity" which simply means marital happiness and a phrase most common in U.S. newspapers and publications of the day), but he needed help.
In 1888, Evanston (a very real place) was a bustling railroad town with all the expected medical challenges: nearby mines with typical miner's problems with their lungs and injuries and cave-ins, Chinese immigrants working for the railroad, railway injuries (everything from crushed fingers when coupling cars to derailments), births, deaths, and all of life in-between. Having driven past the long-closed Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston, I could easily picture the grand campus in relation to Front Street and the original rail depot.
I could easily believe Doc Joe (my fictional hero) would have a hard time finding a qualified business partner to help him with his practice, especially with the Wyoming Territorial Government hiring every willing doctor and nurse to work in the large state hospital to open the following year. At the time of my story, the hospital was under construction and the superintendent, Dr. William A. Hocker, MD, of Evanston was also in charge of construction that began the month my heroine (Dr. Naomi Fairchild Thornton, MD) stepped off the train more than two thousand miles from her point of origin in New York City.
Doc Joe needed someone--anyone--who could help him in saving lives. Using the best means available to him at the time, he placed an advertisement for a trained midwife in (my fictional periodical) Midwifery Circular, in hopes of finding a bride who wouldn't faint at the sight of blood. He wanted a bride to fill the vacancy in his life and in his heart, and banked a lot on his plan to install her as a productive helpmate within his medical practice.
WANTED: Midwife Bride
Frontier town bachelor doctor, age 30, seeks experienced midwife for business partner and marriage. Must be pleasant, cooperative, companionable, and prepared for long hours. Midwifery training and experience more important than age. Prefer age 35 or younger, as children are desired.
Reply to Doc Joe, Evanston, Wyoming Territory.
When he meets Naomi, she has solid reasons to withhold the entirety of her education, after all, she can safely deliver babies...and when Doc Joe learns his bride-to-be is a medical doctor, he's elated...but she doesn't know that (yet) and is certain he'll send her away. She knows he will. Not only has everything in her life and training to that point convinced her all men see female physicians as an abomination, but that was the consensus throughout the United States in that era.
I had a bit too much fun throwing Joe and Naomi together and watching the sparks fly. The entire anthology, including my novella, is "sweet" (wholesome, clean, "proper") romance.
BLURB:
Dr. Naomi Thornton thinks she has it all: a beautiful house, a loving
husband, and a fulfilling career. But when everything she holds dear is
ripped away, Naomi has no choice but to start over. What will she find
in the wild and untamed Wyoming Territory? Dr. Joe Chandler has waited
years for a wife with the knowledge, skills, and tender heart he yearns
for in a medical colleague and lifetime companion. When a midwife
arrives with more expertise and secrets than he counted on, Joe quickly
discovers there’s more to love and marriage than a simple mail order
contract.
My story, WANTED: Midwife Bride is just one of six short novellas (15K words or less) contained within the box set Mail Order Bride: A Timeless Romance Anthology. The whole set of six short novellas runs 322 pages according to Amazon. The set will be available on all major eBook retailers' websites on release day: 2-9-16. As of today, the book is available for preorder on Amazon and may be read on any kindle or virtually any device with the kindle app. This title is available in eBook format only (for at least six months), is published by Mirror Press, and this title is #16 in the Amazon #1-ranked series in Clean Romance.
I'm giving away one free KINDLE edition of this title, to be delivered via email (through Amazon) on the morning of 2-9-16--release day! (It's not possible to buy a copy as a gift until then). The drawing for one free (my gift to you) copy closes tonight (2-5-16) at midnight PST. All you need to do to enter this drawing is to COMMENT and state one thing you enjoy about Mail Order Bride Romances. (After all, given the prize, why enter if you don't like this kind of book?)
The winner will be announced, also in the comments section, tomorrow morning 2-6-16, by 8 AM PST. You may do well to check the box "notify me" so you're aware if YOU are the lucky winner when I post the name I draw. The winner must be willing to provide their email address to me, Kristin Holt, in order to receive their gift copy of this $4.99-value anthology.
For a SECOND CHANCE TO WIN, please revisit Sweet Americana Sweethearts Blog (right here!) next Tuesday, when this box set enjoys a turn on the Blog Tour Tuesday stage, with more of a focus on the entire anthology...and ONE MORE lucky winner will take home a FREE copy of this $4.99 set! (If YOU win and already own this title, the $4.99 e-gift will be easily substituted on Amazon for anything else...so don't hesitate. Pick up this title! It's sure to please selective readers who enjoy sweet/wholesome western historical romance.)
The winner will be announced, also in the comments section, tomorrow morning 2-6-16, by 8 AM PST. You may do well to check the box "notify me" so you're aware if YOU are the lucky winner when I post the name I draw. The winner must be willing to provide their email address to me, Kristin Holt, in order to receive their gift copy of this $4.99-value anthology.
For a SECOND CHANCE TO WIN, please revisit Sweet Americana Sweethearts Blog (right here!) next Tuesday, when this box set enjoys a turn on the Blog Tour Tuesday stage, with more of a focus on the entire anthology...and ONE MORE lucky winner will take home a FREE copy of this $4.99 set! (If YOU win and already own this title, the $4.99 e-gift will be easily substituted on Amazon for anything else...so don't hesitate. Pick up this title! It's sure to please selective readers who enjoy sweet/wholesome western historical romance.)

Please stop in at www.KristinHolt.com for frequent fresh articles (blog posts) about all things nineteenth century with special focus on the Victorian American West.
My current series of articles are about the TRUTH (and historical accuracy/inaccuracy) behind the popular Mail Order Bride-Trope in Romance Fiction:
Copyright © 2016 Kristin Holt, LC
Friday, August 7, 2015
Five Things I learned From Writing THE MENACE TAKES A BRIDE
A Sweet Historical Mail order Bride Romance
set in Liberty, California, 1895
The Husband-Maker Trilogy, Book One
The Husband-Maker Trilogy, Book One
Garth is willing to wait
for the right woman to come along.
His father isn’t.
1. RICH OLD MEN
We're all familiar with the few great fortunes made and kept in the California gold fields near Sutter's Mill. Less familiar are the fortunes made in timber and logging in northern California. Both contributed significantly to new wealth early in the latter half of the 19th century. Single, young men flocked to California, lured by the dreams of quick riches, and my fictitious character, Luke Wakefield fit right in. It's all back story, as his French mail order bride, Cadence, brought her family's legacy of fine chocolate-making. Luke and Cadence had one child who survived to adulthood, Garth Wakefield, my main character in The Menace Takes a Bride. The timeline works splendidly such that Garth, a son of a successful gold miner is pushing age 30 when this book opens. Luke and Cadence's mail order marriage worked out beautifully, so Luke is confident his son Garth's will as well.
Frequently Asked Question: Why is Garth a Menace? Or... Why is the title The Menace Takes a Bride?
Answer: See the opening two paragraphs of the book.
Frequently Asked Question: Why is Garth a Menace? Or... Why is the title The Menace Takes a Bride?
Answer: See the opening two paragraphs of the book.
LUKE WAKEFIELD GULPED WEDDING CHAMPAGNE, but he was in no mood to celebrate. “Any unmarried man over twenty-five years of age is a menace to society.”
He glared in Garth’s direction. His son danced with the Hollis woman, holding her too close, his lips brushing her temple. As if he intended to ask for her hand. Ha! Luke would never live to see his only child safely wed.
Copyright © 2013 - 2015, Kristin Holt, LCAnd there you have it. The reason why Luke (a grumpy "old" man, has decided his son is a "menace").
2. CALIFORNIA'S GRAND CHOCOLATE HISTORY
Domingo Ghirardelli, an immigrant who dreamed of striking it rich in the great Gold Rush, eventually founded a confectionery company in 1852 that would become the Ghirardelli Chocolate company.
Ghirardelli played a central role in introducing chocolate to American consumers, from its San Francisco factory. It seems only natural that a rival company, (my fictitious) Cadence Chocolatier would be founded in my (relatively nearby, also fictitious) Liberty, California. Originally a kitchen and shop, Garth's mother, Cadence, developed a thriving business which he inherited. Garth's immediate problem, as The Menace Takes a Bride opens, is his meddling father (Luke) has forged Garth's signature on a paper marriage document, signing over complete control of Cadence Chocolatier--multiple factories (as the Industrial Revolution has assisted large-scale production), original shop, bank accounts, leadership of the company, and the Whitfield mansion--to the bride Garth doesn't want.
![]() | ||
| Ghirardelli Square Clock Tower |
3. VICTORIAN COURTSHIP
The American west most certainly had a Victorian Era. Many expectations from the United Kingdom (where one might more fully expect Victorian culture to prevail given that's where Queen Victoria reigned), but it's apparent a big fight (The American Revolution) to break free from the British didn't go so far as to abandon all interest in society, fashion, and culture. Victoria's coronation came roughly 60 years after the beginning of the American's battle for independence yet the United States, especially once women moved west and brought civilization with them, adhered quite closely to Victorian expectations of morality, behavior, etiquette, courtship, entertainment, and marriage. Connected couples exchanged love letters. And yes, the wealthy (like the Wakefields) did present diamond rings upon engagement.
Garth gives Mitzi the courting gift of chocolates in trademark Cadence Chocolatier seafoam green boxes... but not quickly enough nor heartfelt enough to please his father. Thus Luke assists Garth in courting his wife.
Garth gives Mitzi the courting gift of chocolates in trademark Cadence Chocolatier seafoam green boxes... but not quickly enough nor heartfelt enough to please his father. Thus Luke assists Garth in courting his wife.
Luke had lived through two wars and survived a gold rush. More importantly, he’d been a husband for twenty-two glorious years. A pang of loneliness tightened about his heart. He’d been around plenty long enough to understand how a courtship ought to progress.Garth may have ordered him to stop giving presents, to stop meddling, but Luke knew better. Besides, ice cream didn’t count. It was food, not a bauble and certainly not meddling.On the porch, he heard Mitzi’s moans of pleasure. Luke grinned at her little-girl delight. Until tonight, the poor thing hadn’t ever tasted ice cream.Imagine that. Ice cream. He shook his head, amazed at the simple life she’d lived.Silhouetted against the setting sun, Luke watched with pleasure as Mitzi rested her head on Garth’s shoulder. From this distance, he couldn’t quite hear what they talked about, but they were talking. That was good enough to ease an old man’s concerns.Cora stepped up to his side, her tread light on the kitchen floor. She folded her arms and watched the young couple for a minute, perhaps two. “You did a good thing, Luke. A very good thing.”Yes, he had. The more he saw of Mitzi and Garth together, the more he knew he’d done the right thing.They looked like a husband and wife, and the image made Luke grin.A husband. He’d made his boy a husband.He wanted to jump up and down, hoot and holler with the thrill of victory—but that would interrupt the most domestic, tender thing he’d ever seen going on out on the porch swing.An idea came to mind, a most exciting thought. It wasn’t a gift, he rationalized. Merely her due. Mitzi was a Wakefield, not a nun. She deserved more than a plain gold wedding band. If Garth had found Mitzi on his own, he would’ve wooed her with a diamond the size of a quail egg.If Garth knew how to court properly, he would’ve bought Mitzi a diamond already. The boy would appreciate a little help getting the shopping done.“I need a woman’s opinion,” he said to Cora.“Oh?”“Tomorrow morning, you and I are visiting the jeweler.”
Copyright © 2013 - 2015, Kristin Holt, LC
4. LATE 19TH CENTURY INVENTIONS
Many new developments occurred in time for the well-to-do Wakefield family enjoy them in the time-frame of this book (1895)... and made Mitzi (raised in an orphanage in crowded Chicago) take note. Wakefield House sported a built-in bathtub with running hot and cold water plus a flushing, indoor toilet. One of the 'mean girls', Helen, receives an over-the-top birthday gift from her doting millionaire father--a motorized carriage (automobile). Yep. Perfectly historically accurate, for the 1%, particularly near the busy San Francisco port.
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| Daimler Motorized Carriage, 1886 |
5. SOMETIMES LOVE COMES AFTER MARRIAGE
Yes, it's traditional for couples to meet, court, fall in love, decide to marry, and tie the knot. I think that's why I'm fascinated with mail order bride romances. It's so backwards to marry first (or after a little long-distance courtship through letters), court a little more in person (or not), and eventually, maybe, fall in love. In Romance, we expect our main characters to fall in love, to win their hard-won happily-ever-after through much difficulty, challenges, and proving they deserve one another.
I particularly enjoyed the development of Garth and Mitzi's romance, showing key scenes wherein they fall in love, admit it to themselves and eventually to each other. For them, love most certainly came after marriage. I do hope you'll enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
The Menace Takes a Bride is one of my four current mail order bride-themed titles (out of six total). Many more are on the way. Book 2 in The Husband-Maker Trilogy, The Cowboy Steals a Bride, is also available. Book 3, The Doctor Claims a Bride is due out soon.
All books by Kristin Holt are currently FREE Reads with kindleunlimited.
Interested in a book description for either of these The Husband-Maker Trilogy titles? Click on the boxes above to read the blurbs on Amazon, OR visit my website for blurbs of The Menace Takes a Bride and The Cowboy Steals a Bride.
I enjoy connecting with readers. Please stop by for a visit:
www.KristinHolt.com
Contact me through my website here
For info on new releases, exclusive content, prizes and more, please sign up for my newsletter.
My blog, with 3 fresh articles weekly (topics of interest to Western Historical Readers)
Twitter: @KHoltAuthor
Facebook Fan Page: Kristin Holt-Author
Facebook Profile: Author Kristin Holt
Pinterest: Kristin Holt
AND Kristin Holt Blog Posts
Copyright © 2015, Kristin Holt, LC
I particularly enjoyed the development of Garth and Mitzi's romance, showing key scenes wherein they fall in love, admit it to themselves and eventually to each other. For them, love most certainly came after marriage. I do hope you'll enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
The Menace Takes a Bride is one of my four current mail order bride-themed titles (out of six total). Many more are on the way. Book 2 in The Husband-Maker Trilogy, The Cowboy Steals a Bride, is also available. Book 3, The Doctor Claims a Bride is due out soon.
All books by Kristin Holt are currently FREE Reads with kindleunlimited.
Interested in a book description for either of these The Husband-Maker Trilogy titles? Click on the boxes above to read the blurbs on Amazon, OR visit my website for blurbs of The Menace Takes a Bride and The Cowboy Steals a Bride.
I enjoy connecting with readers. Please stop by for a visit:
www.KristinHolt.com
Contact me through my website here
For info on new releases, exclusive content, prizes and more, please sign up for my newsletter.
My blog, with 3 fresh articles weekly (topics of interest to Western Historical Readers)
Twitter: @KHoltAuthor
Facebook Fan Page: Kristin Holt-Author
Facebook Profile: Author Kristin Holt
Pinterest: Kristin Holt
AND Kristin Holt Blog Posts
Copyright © 2015, Kristin Holt, LC
Thursday, July 9, 2015
The Teutonic
by Shanna Hatfield
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to cross the ocean in a grand ship like the Titanic?
In Crumpets and Cowpies, the first book in my Baker City Brides series, Oregon rancher Thane Jordan reluctantly travels to England to settle his brother’s estate. He arrives to find he’s inherited much more than he could possibly have imagined, including a niece and nephew he didn't know existed. They live with their incredibly beautiful and maddeningly proper aunt.
Lady Jemma Bryan has no desire to spend a single minute in Thane Jordan’s insufferable presence much less live under the same roof with the handsome, arrogant American. Forced to choose between poverty or marriage to the man, she travels across an ocean and America to reach his ranch in Oregon. The solicitor that handled Thane's brother's estate happened to book them first class accommodations on a ship called Teutonic.
Sister ship to the Majestic, both keels were laid in 1887 as part of the White Star Line. The Teutonic was built under the Auxiliary Armed Cruiser Agreement. An extremely fast ship, she set a transatlantic crossing record twice. Teutonic was the first armed merchant cruiser and one of two White Star Line vessels ever armed with guns. The Teutonic was one of the first ships in the White Star Line to offer second class accommodations. The ship was in service from 1889-1921.
This staircase reminds me of Titanic (also a White Star Line ship). Teutonic sailed on the route from the home port of Liverpool, England, to New York City. Each week a ship sailed from Liverpool on a specific day, commonly Wednesday or Thursday. From there, they would stop at the small port of Queenstown, Ireland, to pick up more passengers. As many as eight hundred Irish immigrants might board in the single stop. After Queenstown, the ship would then begin the long voyage to New York, almost 2,500 miles of open sea. Once passengers were disbursed at either the White Star Line pier in New York or the immigration center at Castle Garden, the ship would be prepared for her return voyage.
And this was the first class dining saloon. In the story, this is where Thane, Jemma, and the children took their meals, unless they ate in their room.
Here's a Second Class Menu card from 1907.
I confess, I spent hours and hours admiring photos of the Teutonic.
It was an amazing, beautiful ship.
A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a bestselling author of sweet romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor. In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.
Find Shanna’s books at:
Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple
Shanna loves to hear from readers! Follow her online:
ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Tidbit Tuesday: Work In Progress
Sweet/Clean authors who write historical novels set in North America during the years of 1820 through 1920, share a 100-200 word tidbit from your current work in progress
in the comments section. On Wednesday I will share this blog post with
its comments containing your tidbits on several appropriate Facebook
pages plus they will show up in Google+. Please include the working
title of your novel and your author name.
Please read yesterday's post which you can reach by clicking HERE.
Do you contribute to three or fewer group book/writing blogs? (This does not include your personal blogs.) Does your writing fall within the sweet/clean/proper criteria listed in the Sweet Americana Sweethearts Guidelines? If so, and you are interested in joining Sweet Americana Sweethearts as a contributing author who will commit to a monthly blog post on your assigned day of your assigned week, please contact the blog administrator. Details are at the bottom of the Guidelines.
For those interested sweet/clean/proper historical writers who already contribute to four or more group blogs, please wait until September. If there are open slots at that time, I would love to add you. In the meantime, consider contacting the blog administrator about a guest post on unassigned days.
If you have an upcoming blog tour for a novel or novella that fits in the Sweet Americana Sweethearts setting and time period, either strictly using blogs or in conjunction with a Facebook/Google+ event, please note that we schedule those on Tuesdays along with the tidbits. Contact the blog administrator if interested.
Please read yesterday's post which you can reach by clicking HERE.
Do you contribute to three or fewer group book/writing blogs? (This does not include your personal blogs.) Does your writing fall within the sweet/clean/proper criteria listed in the Sweet Americana Sweethearts Guidelines? If so, and you are interested in joining Sweet Americana Sweethearts as a contributing author who will commit to a monthly blog post on your assigned day of your assigned week, please contact the blog administrator. Details are at the bottom of the Guidelines.
For those interested sweet/clean/proper historical writers who already contribute to four or more group blogs, please wait until September. If there are open slots at that time, I would love to add you. In the meantime, consider contacting the blog administrator about a guest post on unassigned days.
If you have an upcoming blog tour for a novel or novella that fits in the Sweet Americana Sweethearts setting and time period, either strictly using blogs or in conjunction with a Facebook/Google+ event, please note that we schedule those on Tuesdays along with the tidbits. Contact the blog administrator if interested.
Monday, June 29, 2015
New Blog to Feature Sweet/Clean Historical Authors
During a recent online marketing discussion among the Prairie Rose Publications family of published writers, it was agreed that one of the most effective means of reaching our reading audience is through group blogs. These blogs differ from individual blogs in that several people take responsibility for writing and publishing a blog post on a regular basis. These posts are not strictly for the purpose of "hard selling" a book. The contributors offer short articles with information of interest to potential readers of the kind of books the author writes.
Preferably, these posts include
a generous number relevant images.
Several authors I know write not only for the Prairie Rose Publication family of blogs, but they write for other blogs geared to their interest groups. Many of these are considered either western romance or historical western romance. This blog is intended to include historical western romance, but is geared to a slightly different reading audience.
First, let me explain how I came up with the name:
As for the sweet designation, I'm aware that readers who prefer novels free of graphic sex scenes and excessive profanity like to know that their reading material falls within that category. We don't like to get into a novel only to discover it has "too much information." This blog is designed to feature SWEET / CLEAN / PROPER romance only. The intended audience is those readers seeking books with that kind of romance.
On the other hand, other readers may consider sweet romance too tame. If authors prefer to write romance that is more spicy/steamy/sexually explicit, I encourage you to create and join a group blog designed to feature your work to the reading audience which prefer that heat level in their romance novels.
If you are an author of sweet/clean/proper romance set in the Americana time period of 1820 through 1920, and you are interested in participating in a group blog once a month, please read the Sweet Americana Sweethearts Guidelines. If your work falls within the guidelines and there are blog dates open, please contact the blog administrator. The details are toward the bottom of the Guidelines.
The portrait used on the blog banner was taken from an early family photo of George McKinley and Laura Agnes Echols. These sweethearts were married when she was barely sixteen and he was still fifteen. They died within months of each other after fifty-seven years of marriage. The background image was taken in the Genoa, NV museum and the flowers are from my garden.
Zina Abbott is the
pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels. Her novel, Family
Secrets, was published by Fire Star Press in October 2014 and her
novelette, A Christmas Promise, was published by Prairie Rose Publications
in November 2014. The first two novellas in the Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, Big Meadows Valentine and
A Resurrected Heart, are now available.
Preferably, these posts include
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| Mountain Men of the West |
Several authors I know write not only for the Prairie Rose Publication family of blogs, but they write for other blogs geared to their interest groups. Many of these are considered either western romance or historical western romance. This blog is intended to include historical western romance, but is geared to a slightly different reading audience.
First, let me explain how I came up with the name:
- Sweet covers writing described as sweet / clean / proper.
- Americana is defined by dictionary.com as: "...books, papers, maps, etc., relating to America, especially to its history, culture, and geography." (origin 1835-45, Americanism)
- Sweethearts refers to the romance elements in the novels written by our featured writers.
Because I enjoy reading and writing about historical topics (including American Civil War stories) outside the approximately fifty year period from 1850 through 1900 set in the "old west," I chose the time period of 1820 (mountain men and rendezvous era) through 1920 (post World War One/flu pandemic era). I also chose to include the entire North American continent.
Union Soldiers - colorized photo
As for the sweet designation, I'm aware that readers who prefer novels free of graphic sex scenes and excessive profanity like to know that their reading material falls within that category. We don't like to get into a novel only to discover it has "too much information." This blog is designed to feature SWEET / CLEAN / PROPER romance only. The intended audience is those readers seeking books with that kind of romance.
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| World War One bond poster |
On the other hand, other readers may consider sweet romance too tame. If authors prefer to write romance that is more spicy/steamy/sexually explicit, I encourage you to create and join a group blog designed to feature your work to the reading audience which prefer that heat level in their romance novels.
If you are an author of sweet/clean/proper romance set in the Americana time period of 1820 through 1920, and you are interested in participating in a group blog once a month, please read the Sweet Americana Sweethearts Guidelines. If your work falls within the guidelines and there are blog dates open, please contact the blog administrator. The details are toward the bottom of the Guidelines.
The portrait used on the blog banner was taken from an early family photo of George McKinley and Laura Agnes Echols. These sweethearts were married when she was barely sixteen and he was still fifteen. They died within months of each other after fifty-seven years of marriage. The background image was taken in the Genoa, NV museum and the flowers are from my garden.
Zina Abbott is the
pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels. Her novel, Family
Secrets, was published by Fire Star Press in October 2014 and her
novelette, A Christmas Promise, was published by Prairie Rose Publications
in November 2014. The first two novellas in the Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, Big Meadows Valentine and
A Resurrected Heart, are now available.
Zina Abbott Author Links
Purchase Links for Big Meadows Valentine:
Purchase Links for A Resurrected Heart:
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