Writing Winter Stories

Until last year when I wrote The Calling Birds, I'd somehow missed writing a story set in a cold and snowy winter setting...which is odd because I grew up in a location with very cold and snowy winters (northern Alberta, Canada). And even though I now live in a place with a mild climate that almost never gets snow (Victoria, Canada), I know cold and snow.

Winter is lodged deep inside me—in my childhood and adult memories. 

So this year it was interesting to return to the snowy location of Noelle, Colorado while writing my new December release, Robyn: A Christmas Bride (click here if you missed that book reveal last week).

What is it about winter and the events it brings? It's arrival often hits like a jarring surprise, then there is the slow lead up to Christmas, then quickly the New Year arrives, followed by the long wait for spring...

Seasons (and the transitions within them) have moods. Winter creates complications, but it can also bring people together.  

I decided to do a search of the words "winter" and "snow" in both of my winter stories and found the following...

From The Calling Birds (Birdie Bell and Jack Peregrine's story)...

WINTER: used 5 times
SNOW (or its variations: snowy, snowstorm, snow flurry, snowbank, snowpack): used 45 times 

Despite a grueling journey up a mountain in a snowstorm—that had only been possible in wagons specially fitted with sleigh runners, Birdie’s possessions had arrived safely in Noelle. As had she and the eleven other brides under Mrs. Walters’ care.
~~~
Jack limped out of the Golden Nugget Saloon and half-ran, half-hopped down the street. He gritted his teeth against the jarring of his stump against his wooden leg and the pull of the deepening drifts slowing him down. He squinted through the pelting snow. He couldn’t see a solitary person. Where was Gus?
~~~
Her gaze clung to Jack as she crossed the threshold of Peregrines' Post and Freight. Despite leaving the chill outside, she shivered as she leaned toward the heat radiating from him. “Winter is an old friend, so the cold doesn’t bother me all that much especially since I made this coat.”
~~~
Her mother’s words rose from her memories along with a dusting of snow disturbed by her strides. Sewing while upset often results in unwelcome creations.
~~~
As soon as the general store opened, she must claim her snowshoes. She’d traded the curtains for them, and she needed them more than ever now. The snow would be deep where she’d be going.

From Robyn: A Christmas Bride (Robyn Llewellyn and Max Peregrine's story)...

WINTER: used 3 times
SNOW (or its variations: snowy, snowsquall, snowdrifts, snowflake ): used 17 times 

Driven by a fickle wind, Max's world spun faster than the snow outside the window. Robyn couldn’t be gone. Not in such a storm. Not when he needed her, when they all needed her. She was the thread that held everything together. 

~~~
A second bang of the door and flurry of chill winter air heralded the arrival of another diner. In the doorway stood a tall fair-haired man with a red beard. Not bright red but still red. A warm shade of cinnamon that had become her favorite. Robyn's heart skipped a beat. Max had come to Noelle.

~~~ 

Only the daft, the desperate, or the devil traveled the wilderness after dusk. In a big city with many streets, she’d never failed to find at least one that led home. While here in Noelle, surrounded by so much snow… Her shivers returned. “It’s getting late.”
~~~
Max stared at the blindingly white but beautiful snowy vista around them. “Until now, I never gave anything but hauling freight my focus
~~~

Her mind scrambled for a different topic. A small one. Which wasn’t difficult. Every subject felt like a tiny snowflake under the cloud of what Max would tell her. And what she must tell him. 

~ * ~ 

From the wordcounts above, it shows I used the word "snow" a lot more in The Calling Birds. But that story started in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. A snowstorm that was agreed upon by the 12 authors who wrote the The 12 Days of Christmas Mail-Order Brides series. The Calling Birds is a standalone read but also the Fourth Day in the shared world of Noelle, Colorado, which was great fun to help create...especially in the snow 😊

~ * ~ 

Fall in love with a new Old West... where the men are steadfast & the women are adventurous. 

You'll find Wild West scouts, spies, cardsharps, wilderness guides, and trick-riding superstars in my stories. Those are my heroines. Wait till you meet my heroes! My love for historical romance adventures with grit and passion came from watching Western movies while growing up on a cattle farm in northern Canada. I've been nominated for over 20 awards and won the RWA® Golden Heart® & the Laramie® but my best reward is hearing from readers who have enjoyed my stories.

Website: www.JacquiNelson.com

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/jacquinelson

BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/jacqui-nelson
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BETWEEN THE PAGES-Noelle's First Anniversary

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me~

The brainchild of Caroline Lee (Five Gold Rings)  and a gathering of authors (one real-time meeting with the majority in the room) started the process of putting together what would become a beautifully intertwined (yet stand-alone) 12 book set called  The 12 Days of Christmas Mail Order Brides.

The gold rush provided the initial creation of Noelle and real historical events--beginning with the railroad--continue to be used as fodder for the stories that in the year that followed brought new characters, new twists, and new development to Noelle.

The series has tackled most every issue of the pioneer town and yet strikes a chord with issues of the modern day. In some ways its been great to see the progress, while in contrast to how much further we really have to go regarding some issues. But , despite the obstacles, the spirit and tenacity of Noelle and its residents remains strong and at the end of the day--there is the happily ever after, or at least happily for now.

Celebrating the anniversary of the set, we decided to offer our readers a very special gift. From Dec. 17-21, we're offering each book in the set for just .99!!

Now is the time to purchase the entire set , or perhaps fill in those books you've not yet read!

The collaboration is clear when you see how the characters reappear in other books. Careful consideration is taken when writing scenes with another authors characters and that teamwork has given us as authors the opportunity for some wonderful, broader discussion about each other as people.

Don't miss your chance to own this entire set and also check out the next series continuing the drama, humor, and romance of Noelle in the next series, Brides of Noelle-Love for All Seasons.

I asked the authors to share what this collaborative project has meant to them. Here's what each had to say...

Kit Morgan (Day 1-The Partridge)

I love and enjoy working on this project because I do love working with others to create something wonderful out of nothing. A whole town, its residents, and all the things that go along with it! Collaborating with fellow authors is always a blast and readers love the results!

Shanna Hatfield (Day 2- The Dove)

The chance to work with a great group of women and the opportunity to create stories in a wonderful fictional town with meaningful characters are two reasons this was such a fun project for me. I also enjoyed writing in a setting I hadn't explored before. Many thanks for inviting me to participate!

Merry Farmer (Day 3-The French Hens)

I loved working on this project because it gave me a chance to explore different sorts of stories from the Old West, ones that aren't usually told. And it was so much fun to work together with such a dedicated group of ladies!

Jacqui Nelson (Day 4-The Calling Birds)

I’m grateful that the 12 Days project nudged me (a Canadian) to finally create my first Canadian-born characters. When (in the early stages of plotting) the group really encouraged adding diversity to the town of Noelle, I was inspired to make the villains (in the story that I was just completing) into a French-Canadian gang of thieves. Then I had their sister, Bernadette Bellamy (who became the heroine of The Calling Birds) assume the alias Birdie Bell and end up in Noelle, on-the-run from everyone looking for her brothers’ last goldmine heist in British Columbia, Canada.

That first spark of inspiration led to so much more. It’s truly been a gift to have the opportunity to work with such a talented group of authors and to connect with so many new readers who love the Old West!

Caroline Lee (Day 5-The Ring)

I've been so impressed by how hard these ladies worked to bring this series together...and how they continue to work to bring couples together in Noelle! It was really cool to watch everyone work through ideas over the year it took us to pull this series together, and I'm thankful everyone's visions meshed so well. From a personal standpoint, I was really glad to have the opportunity to write an "irredeemable" character. I loved playing with Pearl's sense of self-worth and how that would affect her secret feelings for a long-time customer. This book was one of my favorite couples!

Peggy Henderson ( Day 6-The Geese)

I loved working on this project. Writing can be such a lonely endeavor, so collaborating with other authors is very rewarding and fun. This particular project required a lot of interaction with all the authors involved, and the teamwork was amazing. Getting feedback from peers, brainstorming, and just the entire writing process was so much fun because it was a team effort, and I learned a lot from my fellow writers in the creation of this series.

Piper Hugely (Day 7-The Swan)

I'm thankful I was able to participate in this project. I won two Maggie medallions for The Swan, my own chapter's award, something I never thought would happen. The Swan also confirmed for me that I can write a novella that people like.

Rachel Wesson (Day 8-The Maid) 

I was delighted to be invited to participate in a fun project with a great group of writers. Meeting new people, authors and readers, at Christmas time was wonderful. I love history and highlighting it with fictional stories is a great way for me to learn something new. Readers seem to enjoy this too. Noelle took on a life of it's own and that has been really exciting.

Mimi Milan (Day 9-The Dancing Lady)

This project was great for a lot of reasons. For example, it was the first time I worked on a group project like this. Other multi author projects were standalone books thrown into box sets. Not much collaborating needed on those accounts. This arrangement has been a true collaboration, and a learning experience on how to work with other authors. I think that has really helped my writing grow stronger. Too, I've had the opportunity to meet new readers, and I'm always thankful for that! Ultimately, I've enjoyed watching the town grow. The characters are endearing and I feel very much like I've taken an active part in creating a town as alive as, say, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman or When the Heart Calls. Basically, it's a place I enjoy visiting often. So, here's to hoping there are many more books in the sweet town of Noelle!

Danica Favorite (Day 10-The Lord)

I really enjoyed working on this project because it's meant a lot to me to see how much this has meant to our readers. I love that we've created something people have fallen in love with.

Amanda McIntyre (Day 11-The Piper)

From the moment I was invited to participate in this group I felt the energy for this project and have enjoyed watching and helping its growth. From connecting characters and real-time historical events to the collaborative effort of creating the town map, bringing a visual life to Noelle. Then there is the enthusiastic support from the readers that continues to inspire us as authors. No matter how many more stories come from this initial project, it is clear that the little town of Noelle, Colorado and its citizens have made their mark on these authors and on readers!

Elisabeth Burke (Day 12- The Drum)

I'm so grateful to Caroline Lee for inviting me to be part of this series. I knew from the start it was an inspired idea, and the books that came from it were wonderful. I loved working with this diverse and talented group of authors. Everyone took their stories in a different direction, yet worked hard to make sure they were woven together. I'd never done that before and was thrilled with how well we all worked together and helped each other. I think the end result has been worth all the hard work.

For this week only, every books is on sale for 99 cents each.

THIS IS A LIMITED TIME OFFER!!

A gift of reading is never wasted!

Snag a set for yourself and one for a friend!!

http://bit.ly/AYearInNoelle

Happy holidays from all of us  & Happy Reading!!

New Release! ROBYN: A CHRISTMAS BRIDE

Who's the perfect match for a flame-haired Welsh tomboy who loves driving wagons? 

A new release is always a time for celebration in an author's life. And it feels like I haven't had one in a while - and not since I joined the Get Lost in a Story blogging crew this summer.

But I've been excited about Robyn: A Christmas Bride (now available on Amazon and also Kindle Unlimited) for a long time.

In the summer, when I wrote my first blog with GLIAS introducing my guest blog series North of the Border, I used myself as my first guest (to test the waters) and shared some of my inspiration (a Welsh Monmouth cap) for Robyn and Max's story. To read that blog CLICK HERE. You can also read more of my inspiration (including The Gift of the Magi and My Fair Lady) by CLICKING HERE.

But before you read my behind-the-scenes inspiration, I hope you'll read Robyn: A Christmas Bride's STORY BLURB and EXCERPT below...

ROBYN: A CHRISTMAS BRIDE ~ STORY BLURB

Who's the perfect match for a flame-haired Welsh tomboy who loves driving wagons? 

Raised by three free-spirited older brothers, Robyn Llewellyn has learned to fight for what she wants—and now she wants to transform her boss and best friend, Max Peregrine, into a lifelong partner. Determined to become the image of what a marriage-minded man wants, Robyn trades her trousers for a dress and heads to Max’s hometown of Noelle, Colorado. But changing who she is with the help of the now happily married Brides of Noelle puts her friendship with Max at risk.

Who's the perfect match for a work-addicted Denver business owner who loves his independence? 

Defying his brother and grandpa’s wishes for him to stay with them in Noelle, Max Peregrine has created his dream job—leading a highly successful branch of Peregrines’ Post while working beside the only person who makes him smile every day. But when Robyn leaves without a word, Max follows her to Noelle where the choices they both must face could make it impossible for them to stay together beyond Christmas day.

Inspired by My Fair Lady, The Gift of the Magi, and the spirit of gift giving, Robyn: A Christmas Bride is a classic Western historical love story set in a small town high in the mountains during Christmas 1877.

ROBYN: A CHRISTMAS BRIDE ~ EXCERPT

Dresses were menaces. The dratted skirt caught on the saddle and nearly upended Robyn as she dismounted from Caradoc. She landed with a curse and a flurry of fabric. The usually unrufflable Clydesdale snorted, sharing her surprise. Her Noelle endeavor suddenly loomed a thousand times larger than her usual jaunts around Denver hauling Peregrine freight. 

She’d never regret taking the old road to Noelle rather than the train. She’d always wanted to experience the iconic trail that Max had hauled freight up and down so many times in the past.

But perhaps she should’ve waited to don her new attire until after arriving in Noelle. Her eagerness to begin her transformation as soon as possible might not have been wise. She’d misjudged a dress’ unique challenges. Wearing a skirt was hard work. Why did women consent to do it? 

In trousers, she could’ve sprung from Caradoc’s back in one smooth leap. No frustration. No fuss. No flash of petticoats, like a flag announcing her arrival. Her unladylike dismount brought stares, whistles, and even catcalls from the men on the street between the train depot and Noelle’s Peregrines’ Post and Freight office. 

Her expletive about foul-smelling goats shocked them into silence. Not very ladylike either but effective. Would apologizing for her lack of grace been the correct response? 

She’d have to ask Noelle’s married ladies. Giving the men a final glare, she spun on her heel to tie Caradoc’s reins to Peregrines’ hitching rail. Before she could, the office door opened and Birdie stepped out and enveloped her in a hug. “Voilà, you’re here! And how delighted we are to finally see you in Noelle.”

Trying not to squirm like a gangly gosling under a mother’s wing, Robyn patted Birdie’s shoulder. Coming from a family of brothers who seldom hugged, she often wondered how Birdie—who’d grown up with brothers whose dishonorable deeds had forced her to assume a false name and live a life of hiding until she came to Noelle—had become so open with her emotions. 

Then a man who resembled Max—except with wilder hair, a blonder beard, and lighter eyes—appeared and she understood. Birdie released Robyn and stepped into the circle of her husband’s arm. She flew to him like a bird to a nest. Love had changed her.

It had changed Robyn as well, but only her heart. Noelle and its women were her best hope for changing all of her. Then she might win her own love.

🎄  Available now on Amazon US | UK | CA | AUS  🎄

Or read for FREE with your Kindle Unlimited subscription 

~ * ~ 

PEREGRINES' POST ~ IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR

Robyn: A Christmas Bride is the sequel to The Calling Birds, Jack Peregrine (Max's brother) & Birdie Bell’s story in Noelle, Colorado—which took place one year earlier in Dec. 1876. 

In both stories, the Peregrine brothers' absent-minded but lovable grandfather plays a big part as he tries to help by giving lots of advice.  

This is how Grandpa Gus greets Robyn after she arrives in Noelle (in the paragraphs following the above excerpt)... 

“Hallelujah!” Grandpa Gus burst out of the freight office, straightening his flat cap and smoothing his carrot-colored hair as if preparing to greet a princess. “My favorite Llewellyn has arrived.” 

Both of my Noelle books are standalone stories but also part of The 12 Days of Christmas Mail-Order Brides series and the Brides of Noelle series. 

And from, Dec 17 to 21, all of the 12 Days stories (including The Calling Birds) are

on sale for $0.99 each on Amazon! 

* This $0.99 sale price is an Amazon Countdown deal available to United States residents only *

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from the Peregrines' home in Noelle, Colorado 

and from my home in Victoria, Canada ❤

~ * ~ 

Fall in love with a new Old West... where the men are steadfast & the women are adventurous. 

You'll find Wild West scouts, spies, cardsharps, wilderness guides, and trick-riding superstars in my stories. Those are my heroines. Wait till you meet my heroes! My love for historical romance adventures with grit and passion came from watching Western movies while growing up on a cattle farm in northern Canada. I've been nominated for over 20 awards and won the RWA® Golden Heart® & the Laramie® but my best reward is hearing from readers who have enjoyed my stories.

Website: www.JacquiNelson.com

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/jacquinelson

BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/jacqui-nelson
Join my newsletter & receive a free story: www.JacquiNelson.com/Newsletter.html

E.E. Burke's New Release: Jolie, A Valentine's Day Bride

Meet Jolie, the most unexpected bride in Noelle...

Purchase on Amazon

Jolie LaFemme has been a working girl at La Maison for four long years...ever since being betrayed and left penniless, grieving and adrift. She’s jaded, distrustful and blind to the possibility of love. As far as she's concerned, being the madam of a popular sporting house is the best she can hope for, and nothing will convince her to give up the coveted and lucrative position. 

Hank Donavan arrives in Noelle with a plan to ensure his sister's financial security, and regain his pride. He’s a man in his prime, handsome by any measure, but an accident ruined his vision...and his future. Now, he travels with his dog, Bear, and sells beautiful handmade Valentine’s cards. His big opportunity comes when he gets a chance to invest in the town’s richest silver mine. There’s only one catch: he has to be married first. 

Who would marry a blind man with little to recommend him when there are plenty of hale and hearty men to go around?

Here's an excerpt:

A knock sounded at the front door.

“I’ll get that,” Jolie called out. She paused to check her hair in the mirror and smoothed down wayward strands. She hated the garish yellow it turned after she’d tried to make it golden, and her face was as pale as a corpse. She bit her lips and pinched her cheeks, which didn’t really help, then grimaced at her reflection before she turned away. Hopefully, it was no one important. The regulars knew better than to call before noon.

If it did happen to be a customer, she’d call down one of the other girls to entertain him. That was one advantage of being the madam, not having to work upstairs in order to make a living. The worst part of being in the business was putting up with men that were, in a word, repulsive.

Jolie opened the door and sucked in a gasp.

The least repulsive man she’d ever seen stood on the front porch. Arresting blue eyes framed with dark lashes; rich brown hair, clean and shiny and just long enough to tempt a woman’s fingers to comb through it; smooth-shaven face with strong lines, yet too classic to be called rugged. He wore a clean, pressed suit—which put him in the minority in the rough mining town of Noelle—and he held a large case, closed with leather straps. Next to him sat a huge brindle-colored dog.

A smile tugged at Jolie’s lips. She hadn’t seen a dog that large since she’d bid goodbye to her beloved childhood pet, Soldier. For a heartbeat, she couldn’t decide whether it was the man, or the dog, who was a more welcome sight.

“Good afternoon.” The man’s rich baritone sent shivers down Jolie’s spine. His gaze appeared to be trained on a spot a bit to the right, as if he were looking over her shoulder. She glanced back to see if Angelique stood behind her. No, no one else there.

“It’s not quite after noon,” she pointed out.

“Is this La Maison?” He appeared uncertain.

Could he not read the sign? She’d paid dearly to have a new one painted, and had even asked the French-speaking artist to create an image of a chateau. The idiot had painted a hat. Chapeau, he’d proclaimed proudly. It would’ve cost too much to repaint it, so maybe that’s what had confused the man standing at her door.

“Yes, this is La Maison. May I ask your business?”

“Yes, ma’am…or is it Miss?”

“Neither. It’s Jolie.”

His remarkable blue eyes shifted to her face and narrowed in a way that suggested he was evaluating her features. “As in très jolie?”

Ah, a smooth-talker, or he was having a joke at her expense. Either way, she didn’t appreciate it. “No, just Jolie.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Hank Donovan, but just Hank will do. May I come in, Jolie?”

“Yes, of course, just Hank.”

His lips twisted in amusement. How nice to know he could take a joke, as well as deliver one. Too many men were sadly lacking in humor, and she’d borne the bruises to prove it.

She moved out of the way so Hank could enter. Business was business, after all. She didn’t turn down a chance to make money, and neither did the other girls, especially when a customer looked as nice as this one.

Purchase on Amazon, or read it for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

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My inspiration board for Jolie

Where is Noelle? 

Our fictional town was actually inspired by a real place: Leadville, Co. We've taken a few liberties, but for the most part we've stayed true to the history of that area where the richest silver strike in the state was accidentally discovered! 

Does Hank have a seeing eye dog?

Not exactly, but... After World War I, a doctor in Germany noticed the protective behavior of his dog around patients and set up some experiments, then the first recorded training occured in England. That's not to say there weren't blind people who discovered how smart dogs were long before that. Hank, being a very smart man, connects with Bear, a very smart dog, and the two learn from each other. Yes, I'm taking liberties by having Hank "train" Bear, but I don't think it's so far off to be unbelievable. Initially, the formal schools didn't accept the idea that dogs could be trained, but eventually the dogs showed them it could be done!

What were the attitudes toward prostitution in the Old West?

"Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em." That pretty well sums it up. In the mid-1800s, men, primarily single, younger men, fanned out across the frontier and prostitution (the oldest profession, as they say) followed. Men wanted access to women for all kinds of reasons (not only sex, also a sense of female companionship they sorely missed). Women entered prostitution for all kinds of reasons (abandonment, abuse, to avoid starvation, for the lure of easy money, etc.). But these were Victorian times, and a woman who expected to marry was also expected to remain "pure." Men put "pure" women on pedestals. They used the services of whores, enjoyed being with them, but most would not marry one. That isn't to say it didn't happen. Some men did want to marry their painted ladies. In quite a few cases, well-off working girls or madams didn't wish to be married because it meant giving up their relative "freedom" and handing their husbands power over them. In Jolie's case, it takes a very special and unique man to convince her to leave behind her hard-won position, the only security she knows, and take a risk on love.

Why did you pick a "fallen woman" as a heroine?

Simply put, she was the one character in the last series I thought most needed her own love story! She's resentful of the brides when they arrive and really gives them a hard time. Saying she's jealous doesn't really get at all the emotions behind her reaction to being evicted from her home to make room for a passel of new brides.

When I first conceived this story, I was a little concerned about featuring a prostitute as the heroine because I wasn't sure readers would be able to "relate" to her. Although this is a "Sweet Romance," I didn't sanitize Jolie. I did try very hard to humanize her and explore emotions that we can all, as women understand and appreciate. I thought her story would be fascinating to write. Finding her perfect hero, now that was a challenge!

Purchase on Amazon

Brides of Noelle will feature brides for every season, starting with Valentine's Day. My book and Kit Morgan's latest, Ophelia, A Valentine's Day Bride, kick off the new series. 

This series came about as a result of the wonderful response to our Twelve Days of Christmas Mail-Order Brides and will feature stories set in the same fictional town of Noelle, Colorado. 

We'll be following many of the characters you met in the Christmas stories along with some new arrivals.
In March, Amanda McIntyre will release Norah, A St. Patrick's Day Bride.

💖💙💚💛💜

Find out more about our series by joining our special Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1625057007540555/

Check out my other books! www.eeburke.com/books

If you're familiar with Noelle, whose story would you like to read next? If not, what kinds of characters would you like to meet in Noelle?

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