June HH release: Kidnapped by the Cowboy by Pam Crooks

TAKEN!Callie Mae Lockett had once trusted TJ Grier, cared for him even, but then her brother was killed and TJ took the blame. Now he wants a chance to clear his name, even if that means kidnapping Callie Mae….REDEEMED?Alone in the wilderness with TJ, Callie Mae should feel afraid. Instead, she is attracted to this rugged cowboy and begins to believe in his innocence. But the truth will be dangerous for both of them and, with time running out, can TJ clear his name and claim his woman?

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Kidnapped by the Cowboy

HH October Release: A Western Winter Wonderland

Christmas Day Family by Cheryl St.John
Marvel Henley thought she was content until the new handsome doctor Seth Paxton and his adorable kids crashed into her life! Suddenly she began to yearn for things she had long stopped wishing for....
Fallen Angel by Jenna Kernan
When Abby March is accidentally shot she and her young boy are taken into a rugged stranger’s care. Dark and mysterious, Ford Statler hides a softer side and offers much more than just a Christmas to remember....
One Magic Eve by Pam Crooks
Chet Lattimer is attracted to Sonja Kaplan despite local gossip, and he finds himself asking Sonja for help with his motherless little boy. With Christmas on the horizon and magic in the air, their lives may just change...forever!

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A Western Winter Wonderland

Pam Crooks on The Cattle Drive

There are few things that smack of the Old West as much as a cattle drive and all that one entailed--cowboys, drovers, rowdy cowtowns. Remudas of horses and thousands of head of longhorn cattle. Dust and sweat--and fortunes made at the end of the line.
But one lesser known facet of the era is the cattle queen, that rare and intriguing breed of woman who owned her own ranch and herd. A hard life made harder without a man at her side.
I had long wanted to build a story combining those parts of America’s history, and UNTAMED COWBOY was born.
But once I had the plot in mind, my creativity stalled. What did I know about cattle drives--besides almost nothing? So I hit the Internet and found some lovely rare book sites. Along the way, I uncovered some intriguing tidbits of information. I’ll share a few with you:

1. The horns on longhorn cattle had a spread of up to seven feet wide and were strong enough to rip bark off a tree.

2. The average size herd during the peak of the cattle drive era was 3,000 head. It took a remuda of 75 horses and 7 - 10 cowboys to drive the herds. Trail bosses were paid $100/month, the cook $50/month and each cowboy, $30/month. Minimal expenses for herds that when sold netted their owners $100,000 for a trip that took anywhere from several weeks to several months. Do the math. That’s a hefty profit for the time.

3. The usual fare for cowboys was beans, bacon, hard biscuits and strong coffee. Ironically, though they were surrounded by beef, the outfits rarely killed a beef on the trail because only a smart part of the meat could be eaten before it spoiled.

4. In dry country, thirsty cattle could smell water ten miles away.

5. Lightning was the most common cause of death on the trail. During a storm, the cowboys would hide their silver (metal spurs, knives, even six-shooters) to avoid being struck.

For those rare times when beef was available, the camp cook would make his own version of “Sonofabitch Stew.” Here’s one yummy-sounding recipe:

2 lbs. lean beef
Half a calf heart
1 ½ pounds calf liver
1 set sweetbreads (thymus gland)
1 set brains
1 set marrow gut
Salt, Pepper
Louisiana hot sauce

Kill off a young steer and cut up beef, liver and heart into 1 inch cubes. Slice the marrow gut into small rings. Place in a Dutch oven or deep casserole. Cover meat with water and simmer 2 - 3 hours.

Add salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste. Take sweetbreads and brains and cut in small pieces. Add to stew. Simmer another hour, never boiling.

I’m writing the sequel to UNTAMED COWBOY now, and it should be out next spring. Stop by my website to learn about my upcoming book, a Christmas anthology, out in October. While you’re there, sign up for my newsletter, too. It’s free!
www.pamcrooks.com/

July HHRelease: Untamed Cowboy by Pam Crooks

Carina Lockett is tough—she lives only for her ranch and daughter. So when her girl is kidnapped and the cattle demanded as ransom, Carina stands to lose everything! She needs the best there is to help her, and that's Penn McClure—a mysterious, darkly handsome cowboy….

Penn is hell-bent on revenge, and Carina's cattle will lead him to it. As they ride the trail together, they share more than a passion for justice—Penn has made Carina feel like a woman again. But with all that's at stake, can she save her legacy and tame his heart?

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An Interview with ....Pam Crooks

Pam Crooks writes well-received Westerns. Recent novels have included Her Lone Protector and Wanted. Wanted is currently out in the UK. Pam has taken time out of her busy schedule to speak with the Harlequin Historical Authors blog.

What attracts you to your chosen time period?

I grew up in the sandhills of western Nebraska, and it’s ranch country out there. Cowboys and farmers everywhere. Lively celebrations like NebraskaLAND Days and Cheyenne’s Frontier Days are held annually. Their rodeos, country music and tons of good, family fun still help keep the Old West traditions alive.

What is it about the heroes from that time period that excites you?

There’s something about the cowboy and the code he lives by. The way he honors a woman by removing his hat in her presence. His fierce devotion to the land. His willingness to work hard and get dirty to fight the elements. Watching a cowboy on the back of a horse is appealing, too!

What is the worst thing about being a writer?

Deadlines. Ugh. That pressure to let life go by without you while you strap yourself into the chair and write the necessary number of pages to meet your goal. I’m easily distracted, and if I didn’t have a deadline, most likely the book wouldn’t get written. At least, not on a timely basis.

Although many writers know they want to be a writer from an early age, was there something in particular that made you decide to pursue your dream?

When I was pregnant with my first baby 30 years ago, my mother gave me a copy of THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER. The romance genre was just taking off back then, and that book sucked me in, made me want to devour more. And the more romances I read, the more I wanted to write some of my own.

How long after you first started submitting, did it take for you to have your first book accepted?

It took me a long time. Nine years, unfortunately. I hit every roadblock a writer could hit--lost manuscripts, agents who didn’t submit my work (I went through 3 agents during that time.), editors who left and so on. But I wanted to be published more than anything, so I stuck it out. Thank goodness, I had a life back then. Through all the long months of waiting and rejections, I raised four little girls and stayed active in my RWA chapter.

What is the biggest challenge you face when you are writing a book? The beginning, middle or end?

The beginning is always hard. And writing the synopsis for the book’s approval is hard because the book isn’t written yet, and I don’t know what’s going to happen yet. (I’m a seat-of-the-pants kind of writer.) Every book needs a strong beginning to set up the story for several hundred pages of conflict.

Then, of course, the middle is hard because it seems like I’ll *never* get to the end. Thankfully, the end goes fast when I get there and is very satisfying because I’d managed to pull it all off.

When you are not writing, what do you do?

I work fulltime in the emergency department of a medical center. At some point, I hope to write fulltime, but with retirement in my next decade, I want to make sure the 401(k) plan is good enough. I love spending time with my little granddaughter on the weekends, too.


Who are some of your favourite romance authors?

Suzanne Brockmann, Nora Roberts and Linda Howard, hands down. But I’ve recently discovered Linda Lael Miller--she’s great with details and gives a wonderful western feel to her books.

What does your writing cave look like?

I have a nice big room downstairs, painted in pretty lavender with my book covers hanging on the wall. My office is my home inside my home. I love it. The only thing it lacks is a window. As if I need something else to help me procrastinate!

Can you tell us about your future books?

I’d love to. UNTAMED COWBOY is coming in July. I’m writing its sequel now, which will be released sometime in Spring, 2008. In between, though, I’ll have a Christmas novella out in October, 2007. My story is titled ONE MAGIC EVE, and I’ll be in with Cheryl St. John and Jenna Kernan. Writing this Christmas story was great fun--maybe my favorite so far.

Of course, I’d love everyone to visit my website: http://www.pamcrooks.com/ Be sure to sign up for my newsletter, too.

M&B H April Release: Wanted! by Pam Crooks

He’s looking for revenge…
Tough, rugged, and a dead-eye shot – Ross Santana is the kind of man a woman wants at her side…and in her bed. She’s a wanted woman…
Respectable, refined, her town’s virtuous bank-teller – Lark Renault hides a dark secret.
And he wants her for himself!
Their new passion heals old scars: but the bounty-hunter and the outlaw must find a way to work together against the danger on their trail!

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