• Sunday Snippet: The And We’re Off… Edition

    Liz and I are headed out this morning for our twice yearly writing retreat. She’s allergy sniffly, I’m at the end of a wicked sinus infection that still shows up as a headache now and again. We should be delightful company for one another. Fortunately, we’re both pretty hardy souls and we’ll make it just fine. Retreats are our time for writing, processing out loud, sharing story, and giving opinions. I can count on Liz to tell me if something is going to work or if I’ve gotten completely off-track. I do the same for her. It’s our sister-writer time and we’re pretty protective of it. This spring we’re going…

  • Author Spotlight: Romance Author Jana Richards Is Here!

    I’m so happy to welcome my fellow Word Wrangler, Jana Richards to the Spotlight today! When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper, and they had to end with a happily-ever-after. She also knew she’d found what she was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun, she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the…

  • Sunday Snippet: The March Lists Edition

    When I’ve got nothing, which is the situation as I sit here in front of my computer this morning, pal Liz always recommends doing a list or two. I figure why not? I was thinking maybe favorites books lists would be fun. What do you think? I’ll start.  Five Favorite Childhood Books (Too easy, but also fun to think about): The Bobbsey Twins books by Laura Lee Hope–I often pretended I was Nan, the oldest girl twin. The Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene–I loved her sporty little convertible and dreamed about a boyfriend like Ned (FYI, he’s fiction). The Jennifer Wish by Eunice Young Smith–amazing stories about a family who…

  • Author Spotlight: Liz Flaherty’s in the House

    Y’all know how much I love it when my bestie comes to visit! Well, she’s here today with her new release, Pieces of Blue, Book 1 in the Colors, the Harper Loch Trilogy. Check it out–you’ll fall in love with Maggie and Sam, the little dachshund Chloe, and Harper Loch, Michigan. Liz Flaherty has spent the past several years enjoying not working a day job, making terrible crafts, and writing stories in which the people aren’t young, brilliant, or even beautiful. She’s decided (and has to re-decide most every day) that the definition of success is having a good time. Along with her husband of lo, these many years, kids,…

  • Author Spotlight: Meet Karen Kay,

    I’ve so loved getting to know “the fillies”–the authors who are a part of the Petticoats & Pistols blog that I have recently become a part of. They’ve all been so welcoming and they are all such amazing writers! One of the fillies is author Karen Kay. Amazon #1 Newest Release author in American Historical Romance, KAREN KAY is a multi-published Author of romance and adventure in the Old West, American Indian. She has been praised by reviewers and fans alike for bringing insights into the everyday life of the American Indian culture of the past. As Reviewer, Suzanne Tucker, once wrote, “Ms. Kay never fails to capture the pride,…

  • Sunday Snippet: The Another THE END & a Cover Reveal Edition

    What a wonderful feeling to be able to type “The End” at the finish line of a long arduous writing experience. I have another novel done—really, truly done! And my critique partners are on-board, one even said, “I love this story!” That is high praise indeed from a person whose writing I’ve admired for years. Help Wanted, Cowboy is out to betas right now, and I’ve been going through it in preparation for sending it to my editor next week. Since I got to THE END, how about I do a cover reveal for this book? The amazing Lee Hyat has given me another wonderful cover for Help Wanted Cowboy,…

  • Author Spotlight: Welcome Western Romance Author Sarah Lamb!

    Laura Delgado, you are Sarah’s giveaway winner! She’ll be in touch! One of the very best parts of becoming a filly on the Petticoats & Pistols blog has been making friends with new romance authors. Every one of them has been so kind and welcoming, so it’s a treat to be the one who welcomes one of them to the Author Spotlight! Sarah Lamb writes captivating characters and clean romance that’s anything BUT boring! From heartbreaking moments to heartwarming tales, get swept away in either historical or small town romance that pulls you in until the last page. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she’s married to…

  • Author Spotlight: Welcome, Shanna Hatfield!

    I’m always delighted to share new discoveries with you, and Shanna Hatfield and her books are a fab find for me! We met when I joined the Petticoats & Pistols blog and I’ve enjoyed getting to know her and the other “fillies” who are on the blog. It’s a joy to have her with me today. USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where hay fever and life lessons were always in season. Today, she blends her rural roots with a love for storytelling, crafting sweet, wholesome romances filled with hope, humor, quirky characters, and realistic heroes paired with strong, inspiring heroines. When she’s not writing or baking new…

  • Sunday Snippet: The Five Fun Facts Edition

    William Harris and Julie Syers, you are my e-book winners! My publisher will be sending you both e-books of The Cowboy’s Comeback. Thanks so much for coming by! Okay, right off, I confess I’m truly down-to-my socks tired. Between book release promotion and heading to THE END on Book 3 in the Juniper Falls Ranch series, and working on editing gigs, my brain is basically mush today. Sometimes, that happens on Sundays–whatever intellect I have left goes into hiding and even remembering how to use my new coffeemaker is a reason to stop and pause. (I remembered and I now have coffee–yay!) When that brain drain happens on a Sunday…

  • Sunday Snippet: The January 2026 Musings Edition

    How it’s already January 18? Wasn’t it just Thanksgiving? Heck, wasn’t it just summer, for heaven’s sake? Time is going by too quickly. Basically, we’re hunkered down here because the weather is so bitter, flu and Covid are rampant, and I’m doing a round of a topical chemo cream on some pre-cancerous spots on my face, which makes me look kinda gross. I feel safe in my little brick house in the Nest, but the days are are dark–not just because of the season but also because of what is happening in our nation and in the world. We watch events in Minnesota with horror, praying for the folks there,…