Sunday Snippet: The Anticipating Cowboys Edition
We have a winner! Germaine Corbitt–your name was randomly selected to receive the Montana goodie box! I’ll be in touch to get your mailing information so I can get this fun box of treats to you! Thanks to all who stopped by and commented–Montana’s Rodeo Cowboys are off to a fabulous start!
Hi, mes amis! Well, the release of Forever Cowboy, my very first western/cowboy romance is a month away. I’m excited, nervous, proud, and more than a little anxious to share this book with you! I took a giant step out of my small-town Indiana box to write this one, and although Forever Cowboy is still my own brand of sweet, small-town romance, it all happens in the gorgeous Big Sky country.
I wrote this first cowboy novel before I visited Montana, but pal Carol Light (a fab mystery writer) and I took a trip out West last month. Wow! What spectacular country! Mountains and hills, gorgeous rocky rivers that rush through the landscape, sagebrush that scents the air, along with pines and junipers and aspens and remarkable waterfalls. Yellowstone National Park was a wonderland of new experiences (I’d never seen hot springs or geysers before!) and we even managed a second trip back to West Yellowstone so I could find some fun little items to use as giveaways. All in in all the trip was wondrous and provided lots of inspiration for my next three Montana Born novels!
Today, I’m doing a sneaky little giveaway to whet your appetite for what’s to come next month when Jeannie Watt, Nicole Flockton, Sinclair Jayne, and I bring you the Montana’s Rodeo Cowboys. The books will release one each week, starting with Jeannie’s Unforgettable Cowboy, then Nicole’s Headstrong Cowboy, Sinclair’s Rogue Cowboy, and on September 25, my Forever Cowboy.
My book will also be book 1 in the Juniper Falls Ranch series, my new Montana Born series for Tule–four books that take place in Marietta, Montana, that will release over the next couple of years. I’m working on book 2 right now and wow, am I having fun with my cowboys and ranch life!
So I’m thinking a great way to start off all things Montana is with a fab giveaway! I’m putting together a little box of fun for one lucky commenter. It will include a signed print copy of Forever Cowboy, a gift card of some sort, a special “forever” handmade bracelet (my lake pals and I have been busy little bees), something from the swag I found in Montana, and other little goodies. All you have to do is tell me in the comments below if you’ve ever been to Montana and if so, what was your favorite thing you saw there. If you haven’t been to Montana, let me know what you’d love to see if you ever get to go.
I’ll keep the giveaway up through Tuesday evening and then I’ll draw a winner at random. Sound like fun? I think so, too! Looking forward to hearing what y’all did or would like to do in Montana!
Gratitude for This Week: Writing is going along. Weather has cooled off–warm sunny days and cool crisp nights. Boat rides. The granddogs did well on their first ride on the boat. A fun dinner with good friends and my first taste of orange Jameson–who knew? Yum!
Stay well, speak up when you can–it’s important, always choose kindness, and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful!
38 Comments
SARAH TAYLOR
I have never been to Montana but would love too some day!
Heather Farr
i live about 13 miles south of Lewistown (geological center of state), in the foothills of the Snowy Mtns. Although there are LOTS of things I love about living here, winter is NOT one of them. lol
Born and raised in Lewistown. Moved a couple times (brief periods). Have been in this particular location since 2003.
Kimberly Field
I have never been, but it looks so beautiful. I did live in Colorado for yrs and I would love to see some of the little mountain towns.
Nan
It is lovely, Kimberly! If you loved Colorado, I think you’d love Montana!
Elizabeth Young
Yay! I’ve been to Montana once when I was in high school and I remember how truly HUGE and Bright Blue the sky feels. My other favorite memory was going out to a working ranch were we had a “pitchfork fondue” rehearsal dinner for my cousins wedding! You guessed it – pitchforks with meat dipped in sizzling oil! Unique experience for sure.
Nan
How fun was that?! The sky truly is amazing there–it’s so open, you see more of everything in Montana–sky, mountains, rivers… it’s a unique place. Thanks for stopping by!
Cherie J
I have never been to Montana. If I were to go in the future I would want to visit some of the historical sites.
Nan
You totally should go. If you love history, Virginia City and Ennis are worth the trip for sure!
Patricia Barraclough
We love that area of the West. It is a special area. Montana definitely lives up to its Big Sky name. We took our grandson on a tour of the West (we live in TN) and it was an eye opener for him. We lived in Colorado Springs for 3 years when his mom was in grade school. Our best Air Force assignment. Sorry for the detour.
We stayed at the historic Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks, MT. A lovely old hotel built in 1910. Three Forks is an important point on the Lewis and Clark Trail. The headwaters of the Missouri River is here and it is where Sacajawea reunited with her brother. We visited the Lewis and Clark Cave nearby – a place neither of them ever visited. Deer Lodge, MT has the old State Prison which is now a museum. There are four related museums in this small town. Adjacent to the prison is one of the best car, truck, and other vehicle museum we have ever visited. Not glitzy, it has nsome unusual vehicle and raffles off a car every year. We also visited the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site outside Deer Lodge. It shows the history of ranching in Montana from the mid-1800’s to present day. The ranch house and outbuildings are open to tour. B. J. Daniels set several of her books in that area. It was rather nice to be somewhere she mentioned in a book, recognizing it, knowing right where a character was standing, and here they were going.
We stayed in a hostel on Whitefish Mountain. The second night was one of our favorites of the trip. It was the 4th of July and the told us if we parked at a picnic area partway down the mountain, it was a good place to watch the fireworks in town. The town had two show’s, the town’s and a private display by a resident whose show was bigger. It was a football team owner who had quest, including players, up for the holiday. What was special was what the flat, wide open spaces of Montana made possible. From out perch, we could see the firrework displays of 5 or 6 other towns spread out over the prairie. They were quite far in the distance, just little bursts of color clusters distributed over the prairie. A magical experience …..until the mosquitos drove us off.
There were many other stops in the state: Missoula for the Smoke Jumper Center, Yellowstone, and Glacier. It ws a great trip and we saw so much in the West from New Mexico north to Montana and throug the Dakotas. Plus the drive out and back. Sorry tis was so long, but it was a great trip. I spent a lot of time researching and planning the trip since it was likely to be the only time our grandson would get out there. We wanted to show him as much as we could.
Nan
Wow! What a fabulous trip! Thanks for sharing it with me, Patricia! If I ever go back, this would be a great one to follow! So happy you enjoyed the trip and the time with your grandson!
Glenda M
I was in Big Sky Montana just a couple weekends ago and we drove through West Yellowstone to get there. We actually went just for the day because the drive and area is so beautiful – that and we’d never been to Big Sky. I love Montana! (I love Wyoming and Idaho as well!) The landscapes are amazing. You did an excellent job describing them. Eastern Idaho has all that plus rolling hills and farmland with occasional creek cut gorges that sneak up on you. One of these days I want to make it to Glacier National Park.
I’m looking forward to reading Forever Cowboy!
Nan
How crazy that we were both in the same place a couple of weeks apart, Glenda! Big Sky is more ski-resort-centric than ranch-centric, but it was gorgeous all the same and when we took the drive over to Virginia City, we saw ranches and cattle. Thanks for stopping by!
Glenda M
It is pretty bizarre – especially when I saw your photo of Ousel Falls on FB. 😉 We’ve been spending summers in Teton Valley since 2021 – my husband works and I can actually go outside and not get a migraine like I do in Texas in the summer. This was the first time we’ve made the drive up to Big Sky. We are spending weekends exploring and in the woods ‘hiking’.
Nan
That was kinda crazy, Glenda! What fun to be there in Montana for summers! I’m glad the weather is more conducive to being outdoors. Hugs!
Debra Pruss
Thank you so much for the opportunity. I have never been to Montana. I would love to see Yellowstone. I have seen and read about the area, but I have never had the opportunity to go. It sounds beautiful. An author friend Danni Roan’s husband used to work at Yellowstone. She was able to live there while he worked. They are now working in Alaska. God bless you.
Nan
How cool would it be to work at Yellowstone? That’s amazing! It’s huge and spectacular. I think the vastness of the mountains is the thing that got to me the most. Thanks for stopping and blessings back to you, Debra!
DeeAnn Kraft
I would love to go to Montana.
Nan
I think you’d love it, DeeAnn!
Joannie Sico
I haven’t been to Montana. I would want to visit Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park if I did visit.
Nan
You’d love Yellowstone for sure, Joannie–the hot springs and geysers are simply fascinating!
Latesha B.
I’ve never been to Montana, but I would love to see the moountains and the real places that I have read about in stories. I also have an online friend that lives there and I would love to meet her in person.
Nan
The mountains are gorgeous and wouldn’t it be a treat to meet an online friend for the first time in person? Hope you get to Montana, Latesha, and to meet your new friend.
Roseann McGrath Brooks
I’ve never been to Montana, but I definitely want to visit because I know it will be so different than the Eastern United States, where I’ve spent my whole life. There’s a group of states “out West” that are on my bucket list.
Nan
Have fun with your bucket list–Montana is certainly very different from the East Coast, which is also beautiful but in a different way. You’d love it, I think.
Germaine Corbitt
I have never been to Montana, but if I could I would love to check out Marietta. I’ve so many books about Marietta Montana, it feels like home.
Nan
Oh, Germaine, since I’m new to Marietta as a writer, it warms my heart to hear you say that. I’ve read a lot of the Marietta books, too, so it was treat to write in that setting for the first time and I’m delighted to hang out there for another three books!
bn100
haven’t, want to see mountains
Nan
I think you’d love the mountains, BN… they are pretty spectacular.
Doris Lankford
I have never been to Montana but I would love to see the mountains and the big blue sky. Thanks for the chance. Happy Sunday!
Nan
The sky did seem bigger out there…not sure why. Everything seemed bigger, really. Thanks for coming by, Doris!
Stephanie
No, I’ve never been to Montana but it sounds like a fun state to visit . I would like to see Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks, the ghost town, caverns, and museums. Plus, I bet there are some really good eateries and shops to explore!
Nan
We found some good food–a really cool diner in West Yellowstone that had great burgers and BLTs! The ghost town we went to from Virginia City was interesting, but kinda sad… Thanks for coming by, Stephanie.
Shari B
Been to Montana once for a college baseball game but took a side trip to Yellowstone, loved all of the natural beauty
Nan
Montana is full of beauty! I was struck by the clear, cool rather shallow rivers that ran through the mountains. The water rushed over the rocks and you knew that it had been wearing away rocks for eons. Thanks, Shari!
Liz Flaherty
No entry and no, I’ve never been to Montana. I’m anxious for the books, though!
Nan
I’m glad you’re looking forward to the books, Liz! It’s been a trip writing them so far. Hugs!
Kate Sparks
Never been to that state, but to South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona..just not tmquite that far north. Summer family trips from Indiana to see national parks back in the early 60s. Long before you needed a reservation.
Would love just to see the night sky.
Nan
Everything in Montana was gorgeous–mountains, rivers, and the sky, although I’m willing to bet you saw some pretty spectacular sky in the other Western states you visited. Hugs, Kate!