E.E. Burke's Best of the West: My new release Lawless Hearts ends the Steam! series with a bang!

Now on Amazon

The Pinkerton & the Outlaw

In my new release, Lawless Hearts, a female Pinkerton detective and an Irish-Cherokee outlaw work together to find a missing agent and become entangled in a net of corruption, crime...and murder. It’s a tale of daring deception, pulse-pounding suspense, and sizzling romance, all in a Western setting that is as authentic as it is wild. 

The entire series is rooted in historical events that follow the expansion of the railroad across the American West and features numerous secondary characters from the pages of history. For my heroine, I took inspiration from the history of the Pinkerton Agency and the country’s first female detective.

A woman who made history

In 1856, a young 20-something woman named Kate Warne answered an advertisement for detectives posted by Allan Pinkerton to fill his fledgling agency. According to Pinkerton’s records, she convinced its progressive founder that women could be “most useful in worming out secrets in many places which would be impossible for a male detective.” Her arguments and determination impressed Pinkerton and he hired her over the objection of his brother Robert, who was also a partner in the business. Thus Warne became the first female private detective in the United States. 

Warne was an excellent private investigator and acted undercover, infiltrating social gatherings and events. During the Civil War, she was instrumental in saving Lincoln from the first assassination attempt. She wore disguises and changed her accent at will and became a huge asset for the agency. Later, Pinkerton hired other females and appointed Warne as Supervisor of Female Detectives. 

Two opposites defy historical norms

In Lawless Hearts, Brigit Stevens is modeled after the young female detectives mentored by Kate Warne. These were women who defied cultural norms and broke down societal barriers. In that sense, they were truly “lawless” in their pursuit of justice. 

The outlaw Brigit chooses as a temporary partner is one of my favorite characters in this series. Over the course of three books, readers have seen him evolve into a complex, contradictory character whose conscience undergoes intense reconstruction. He isn’t the devil presented on the Wanted posters, but he doesn’t perceive himself as a hero. In fact, he’s confused when Brigit treats him like one. But her determination to reform him inspires Jasper to consider changing his ways. 

After spending most of his life on the wrong side of the law, he takes Brigit up on her offer to join her on the right side. Unfortunately, there are some who have the law on their side and are using it for nefarious purposes, and they have Brigit and Jasper in the crosshairs.

Here's a short book trailer:

🚂

Have you read the Steam! series? Do you have a favorite character? Who is it, and why? If not, who is your favorite literary detective?

If you haven’t read the series, you can get started with Her Bodyguard for free if you sign up now for my newsletter on my website: www.eeburke.com

As a special offer, I’ll also give away a copy of Fugitive Hearts, which sets the stage for Lawless Hearts. Leave a comment below and enter the Rafflecopter. I’ll draw a winner Friday.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Steam! Special Edition: Fugitive Hearts from bestselling author E.E. Burke

Book 4, Steam! Romance and Rails

A lawman is determined to discover the simple truth. Justice--and love--are far more complicated.

Everyone in Parsons, Kansas, considers hotel owner Claire Daines a respectable, decent woman. Until she shocks the entire town when she rushes into a saloon in her nightclothes to confess to an inebriated lawman. “Sheriff, I shot my husband.” 

Is it an accident, as she claims? Or murder? 

As Sheriff Frank Garrity unravels the evasive widow’s subterfuge, the truth will challenge his notions about justice. The tough, uncompromising sheriff must choose between his desire to protect Claire and his duty to uphold the law.

This evocative Western romance takes readers back to Kansas in the 1870s on a wild chase for two fugitives, who inspire one man's hope for a second chance.

Buy Fugitive Hearts

E.E. Burke is a bestselling author of historical fiction and romances that combine her unique blend of wit and warmth. Her books have been nominated for numerous national and regional awards, including Booksellers' Best, National Readers' Choice and Kindle Best Book. She was also a finalist in the RWA's prestigious Golden Heart® contest. Over the years, she’s been a disc jockey, a journalist and an advertising executive, before finally getting around to living the dream--writing stories readers can get lost in.

Your stories are part of a series titled “Steam!” Does that mean they are “steamy” with lots of sex?

Let me start by saying that I write sex scenes if they fit with the storyline. I don’t do it just to titillate or fit some formula. I knew from the start that the books in this series would have sex scenes because the relationships that develop between the main characters are visceral and physical, as well as emotional. But I try to write it so that the scene is passionate not just sexual. The scene in Fugitive Hearts between Claire, who has been neglected and abused and has never experienced true physical passion, and Frank, who has withheld physical gratification from himself for so long as a kind of penance, is one of the best sex scenes I’ve ever written because it delves into the needs and vulnerabilities of these characters, as well as their strong attraction to each other. These two lonely souls, who carry around a lot of guilt over past failures, find themselves in opposition to each other, and at the same time, find solace with one another. Their struggle to heal and find peace with each other and with themselves is, I believe, one of tenderest stories I’ve written.

What is the historical setting for this book?

Fugitive Hearts takes place in 1873, during a period of transition, when the country fell into an economic depression and the Katy Railroad experienced numerous business failures, mostly due to the greedy, unethical people in charge. This book shifts its focus to the Henry’s sister Claire and the sheriff in Parsons, both of whom appeared in A Dangerous Passion. Another character who played a small role in that book, an outlaw named Jasper Byrnes, becomes more important in this book for reasons I can’t tell you without spoilers. Historically, this is the period when train robberies started in earnest—spurred on by a combination of the toxic effects of post-war violence and economic pressures. But’s it’s not only the outlaws who are crooked! 

After this, will you write more books in the series?

I’m currently working on book five, Lawless Hearts. It basically picks up where Fugitive Hearts leaves off. Right now, I envision six books in this series altogether. If readers want more, I’ll probably write more!

Steam! Romance and Rails New Edition. More adventure. More suspense. More romance. In a series you don’t want to miss. www.eeburke.com

A theme running through Fugitive Hearts is second chances. For the main characters, Claire and Frank, the orphan Billy, even the outlaw Jasper. Can you think of any books or movies you’ve seen lately that address this theme well? Do you enjoy "second chance" stories? Why?  

Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win one of the books in the series! Leave a comment and don’t forget to add your email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Steam! Special Edition: A Dangerous Passion from bestselling author E.E. Burke

Book 3, Steam Romance and Rails 

She writes about villains and heroes. Then meets a man who might be both.

Lucy Forbes heads West to help her father with a difficult assignment—one that pits him against a railroad executive reputed to be as treacherous as he is charming. She anticipates having adventure, even dangerous thrills, to add to the stories she writes. What she doesn’t expect is how quickly she gets caught up in a deadly mystery.

Henry Stevens is more than ambitious. He’s an intense, driven man, guided by principles forged during an impoverished childhood. His carefully laid plan for success takes a sharp turn when an investigation is launched against him. Suddenly, he is fighting for his job and his life. It’s not the ideal time to become embroiled in a tumultuous, passionate relationship, especially with an inquisitive writer, who pens tales about heroism and high ideals. Astonishingly, she expects him to live up to them. Even more surprising, he wants to.

Inspired by a true events, this fiery Western romance takes readers to the southwestern frontier in the 1870s, a time of triumphs and travails for the Katy Railroad and the driven man who stakes his future--and his life--on it. 

Buy A Dangerous Passion

E.E. Burke is a bestselling author of historical fiction and romances that combine her unique blend of wit and warmth. Her books have been nominated for numerous national and regional awards, including Booksellers' Best, National Readers' Choice and Kindle Best Book. She was also a finalist in the RWA's prestigious Golden Heart® contest. Over the years, she’s been a disc jockey, a journalist and an advertising executive, before finally getting around to living the dream--writing stories readers can get lost in.

Your main character is based on a real person. Who is the “real” Henry Stevens?

His name was Robert S. Stevens. They called him “Colonel Stevens.” Described as a man with “dark flashing eyes and a meticulous style of dress,” he was a larger-than-life persona in the history of the Katy Railroad. In 1870, “the Colonel” was brought in by Katy president Judge Levi Parsons to build a railroad empire that would stretch from Chicago all the way down to Mexico City. The Katy’s birth and impressive growth is largely attributable to Robert Stevens, who took a “never surrender” approach to just about everything he attempted. Many of the events in this book are based on exploits written about this fascinating man and the railroad he built.

Are there other historical events woven into the story?

Oh yes. Another historical tidbit featured in A Dangerous Passion is a series of mysterious murders that took place near Parsons, Kansas. From a period stretching between 1871 and early 1873, numerous travelers through southeastern Kansas were reported missing. There were theories as to what happened to them, including one rumor that the railroads were to blame for their disappearance.

When a well-known doctor went missing, his brother, a U.S. Senator, tore through the area on a frantic search. Authorities ultimately discovered nearly a dozen bodies buried in a field behind a cabin that doubled as a wayside inn, serving meals to travelers. I won’t tell you who was to blame (spoiler!). You’ll have to read A Dangerous Passion to find out.

What is your personal favorite book in this series?

That’s a tough question to answer. I love all of them. Though I’ll admit that this book does hold a special place in my heart. Henry starts out in the series as what appears to be a ladder-climbing opportunist. Then we get to know him a little better and we see there’s more to him. We discover what drives him and what makes him vulnerable, and, ultimately, what makes him so lovable...and so heartbreakingly sad. He’s a man who has lost touch with himself. A proverbial Beast who has forgotten his true nature.

Oh, and this cover! When I first started working on A Dangerous Passion, I pinned some images to my Pinterest board for inspiration.

Check out the one I pinned for Henry... 

Wow. The cover model is a dead ringer, right? 

No, I didn't pay Richard Armitage to pose for my cover, but if this book ever gets made into a movie, I know who I'll be asking to play the lead role!

Join me on Tuesday, July 27 for facts about Book 4, Fugitive Hearts.

In a sense, A Dangerous Passion is a Western fairytale. The beast is transformed. A prince is revealed. It’s no coincidence that the heroine is an aspiring author whose favorite books are 19th century romantic adventures. Can you think of other books you've read that are inspired by fairy tales?

Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win one of the books in the series! Leave a comment and don’t forget to add your email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Steam! New Edition: Her Bodyguard from bestselling author E.E. Burke

 

Book 1 in the Series Steam! Romance and Rails

An unredeemable man. An unstoppable woman. Will love be powerful enough to save them? 

As a wanted man, Buck O'Connor must guard his secrets when he returns to Kansas to see his brand of justice served. Then Fate—or a darker force—puts him in the path of a wealthy widow at an opportune moment. In the middle of a cutthroat railroad construction race to reach the Kansas border.

For investor Amy Langford, the contest isn’t about riches. She’s driven by her father’s dreams and haunted by his death. Now, someone wants her dead. Is it rioting settlers? Underhanded competitors? She needs a protector who isn’t involved in the race, but is stronger than her enemies...and more cunning.

Buck agrees to be her bodyguard, yet he hides his real purpose for getting close to her. A purpose that could destroy the remarkable woman who is destined to redeem him.

A thrilling Western romance set against the backdrop of a no-holds-barred railroad race across Kansas in 1870. With twists and turns that raise the stakes all the way to the end. 

Buy Her Bodyguard

E.E. Burke is a bestselling author of historical fiction and romances that combine her unique blend of wit and warmth. Her books have been nominated for numerous national and regional awards, including Booksellers' Best, National Readers' Choice and Kindle Best Book. She was also a finalist in the RWA's prestigious Golden Heart® contest. Over the years, she’s been a disc jockey, a journalist and an advertising executive, before finally getting around to living the dream--writing stories readers can get lost in. Find more about her books at www.eeburke.com.

Why did you release a new edition of this series? And this book, in particular? 

Seriously, that cover...right? No (ha ha) It's not just that awesome cover. I also went back and tweaked and revised to make it a more compelling read. The story is essentially the same. 

Would you call this a Western romance?

Technically, historical Western romance. The story is based on true events and even features numerous historical characters. It has a strong suspense element, there's plenty of action, and the passion that ignites between Buck and Amy produces enough steam to power a train.

What is the historical setting?

A great construction race between two railroads in 1870 that sparked settlers’ riots across Kansas. When I first started researching, I found surprisingly little written about this fascinating event that involved equally fascinating characters, many of whom make an appearance in my books. One, in particular, is Octave Chanute, a brilliant French-born engineer who built the first railroad bridge over the Missouri River, then went on to help the Wright Brothers learn to fly. 

The actual race had all the makings of a great epic: crooked politics, underhanded investors, angry mobs, liars, cheats and killers. It wasn’t difficult to craft a tale around the colorful characters who appeared in historical accounts. My challenge was developing primary characters as compelling as the supporting cast. Once again, I dove into the history books. The fiercely independent Kansas women who championed suffrage and equal rights served as models for Amy. The tough-as-nails, troubled survivors of Missouri’s guerrilla war gave me inspiration for Buck.

I hope readers enjoy this glimpse into an exciting era in America’s history. Although that time is far behind us, it left an indelible mark that helped shape our country into who and what we are today.

Come back next Tuesday to learn more about Book Three and the man who built the Katy Railroad. He was my inspiration for the main character, who could be a villain, a hero--or both.

At its heart, Her Bodyguard is a redemption story. Can you think of any books you’ve read recently that featured a hero who needed redeeming? What it is about these characters that draws you to them?

Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win one of the books in the series! Leave a comment and don’t forget to add your email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

E.E. Burke's Best of the West: Linda Broday's Newest Outlaw Bride

Greetings, readers! After a hiatus, I am back with Best of the West, and wanted to kick off this holiday season with a spotlight on a new release in the Outlaw Bride series from New York Times bestselling author Linda Broday.

Buy It Today

Once Upon A Mail-Order Bride

Accused of crimes he didn't commit, ex-preacher Ridge Steele is forced to give up everything he knew and make his home with outlaws. Desperate for someone to confide in, he strikes up correspondence with mail-order bride Adeline Jancy, finding in her the open heart he's been searching for. Upon her arrival, Ridge discovers Addie only communicates through the written word, but he knows a little of what trauma can do to a person and vows to stand by her side.

Addie is eager to start a new life with the kind ex-preacher and the little boy she's stolen away from her father - a zealot priest of a terrorized flock. As her small family settles into life at Hope's Crossing, she even begins to find the voice, and confidence, she'd lost so long ago.

But danger is not far behind, and her father will not be denied. While Addie desperately fights the man who destroyed her childhood, a determined Ridge races to the rescue. The star-crossed lovers will need more than prayers to survive this final challenge...and find their way back to each other again.

Meet Linda

Linda Broday is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 24 full length western romance novels and short stories. She resides in the Texas Panhandle on land the American Indian, Comancheros, and early cowboys once roamed, and on a still day she can often hear their voices whispering in the breeze. She loves research and looking for little known tidbits to add realism to her stories and is inspired by historical events

Website: LindaBroday.com 

Facebook:  http://facebook.com/lindabrodayauthor  

Twitter: http://twitter.com/lbroday

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/linda.broday/  

Let's find out more about the new release...

Who are your favorite characters from this series?

This is a hard one. I’ve loved each one I breathed life into. Each had their own set of seemingly impossible challenges. But I think Adeline (Addie) Jancy in this one had so much more to overcome. She can’t speak and has to rely on writing everything down. She’s been through sheer hell. Whipped and put in prison by her own father, kept in the dark for two years then hunted once she’s released from the penitentiary. Addie doesn’t think anyone could ever love her—until she meets the outlaw, Ridge Steele. He shows her what unconditional love and a true marriage is. From the moment he meets her, he treats her as an equal. Her wishes and dreams are just as important as his. But then Ridge is the most caring, giving one of the outlaws. And when Addie is taken, he doesn’t stop until she’s back in his arms. I just love this couple who are so right for each other.

Is this the last book of the series?

Yes, this is the 4th and final book of the series and I’m so sad to leave this special outlaw town of Hope’s Crossing. The town has been a safe place of refuge for people seeking asylum and a new start. The four original outlaws who started the town have gotten amnesty and new lives with wives and children but there’s still much to do. They see themselves as caretakers of the land and the ones to find justice for those too weak to find it for themselves. Even so, they know they’re the last of a dying breed. The world is becoming more civilized and the law is fast catching up. They’re ready to turn over the reins to the lawmen though so it’s time to end the series.  

Are you taking your characters in new directions?

I certainly have in this book. The world is changing so fast and westward expansion has put settlements in the far reaches of Texas. Ridge knows his time as an outlaw is short so he works at gaining respectability and settling old scores. He wants to clear his name and get right with the law. He’s tired of looking over his shoulder and is constantly thinking about what he has to do to protect Addie and keep her safe. I’ve never written a non-speaking character before but I wanted Addie completely vulnerable. I found out exactly how hard it is to write someone who can’t utter a word and I can say that I probably won’t attempt it again. Still, I’m glad I did it with this book.

What have you loved most about this series?

I’ve loved writing about these men living outside the law—their honor, the rules they set down for themselves, and the lines they don’t cross. They have so much heart and the sense of justice beats inside them. They’ve been wronged and harshly judged but they keep working to make better lives and finding wives to share their lot with. They want to walk tall in the sunshine and they find a way to make it happen. There is no giving up in these men. They fight hard and love with as much enthusiasm. I would be proud to have any or all stand by my side when the going gets rough. They’re the best of the best and they live inside me.   

What’s next?

I begin a new series in April 2021—Lone Star Legends. Each book will feature one of the children who grew up on the famed Lone Star Ranch as an adult. A new generation of Legends to carry on the family name. Book 1 is The Cowboy of Legend and it features Gracie Legend who is neck deep in the Temperance Movement. She butts heads with a saloon owner in Fort Worth’s Hells Half Acre. Then I’ll have Book 2, A Cowboy’s Christmas Legend, in September 2021. 

Reader Question: Have you ever found yourself committed to an unexpected situation you get into? How did you handle it?

Giveaway:  A book (print or ebook) and a 2021 calendar that I designed.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

E.E. Burke's Best of the West featuring a new release from Cynthia Breeding

Meet the gunslinger...

Abigail Clayton arrives in post-Gold Rush San Francisco as a mail-order bride to Travis Sayer, a man she’s never met, but married by proxy.  Rather a desperate measure, but a fresh start is just what she needs…  except that her new husband is dead.

Luke Cameron has been hunting the scoundrel who swindled his grandmother out of her life savings.  He’s finally cornered him in San Francisco. Travis Sayer runs a general store—no doubt purchased with fraudulent funds.  Luke intends to force him to sell, resorting to blackmail if necessary, only the man gets himself killed first. Now he’ll have to resort to a more devious plan.

What he isn’t prepared for is the lovely widow who has a plan of her own which doesn’t include selling the store or believing the concocted story he weaves.  She suspects he’s conning her and she ought to know. She barely escaped arrest in New York for doing the same thing.

Excerpt:

   Luke Cameron observed Abigail Clayton-Sayer’s reaction to his announcement. If he’d not had a gunslinger’s keen sense for an adversary’s slightest movement or shift in gaze, he might not have noticed the dilation that made her blue eyes suddenly look violet nor the quick, short intake of breath which made her breasts heave under the high-necked, proper cotton dress she wore.  Her facial expression was an impassive as a poker player and coupled with what he’d witnessed on the street two days before, he wondered again what her background was… and whether she was involved in Sayer’s scams. 

   Beautiful women often turned out to be Jezebels.  He should know.

   And then there was the fact that she’d married-by-proxy before she came West. Most mail-order brides waited until they’d at least seen their future husbands before tying the knot.  Had she known Sayer before?  Had she known about his schemes and decided she wanted to make sure she got half of what he’d swindled? 

   That she planned to stay and run the store meant she was ambitious.  Not that Luke would fault her for that, but how far did her ambition extend?  Would she be willing to collude with Sayer’s secret accomplice? 

   Time would tell. 

   But Hell’s blazes!  Did Abigail Clayton-Sayer have to be so damn alluring?  Her face was devoid of paint, nor did cloyingly sweet perfume cling to her. He caught only the fresh scent of soap and perhaps a bit of rosewater wafting from her hair. Even in the prim, high-collared calico she wore, he could detect delicate curves in all the right places. Her golden hair was pulled back in a proper chignon, although a few tendrils had escaped, no doubt from the wind on her way over.  His fingers itched to undo the pins and spread that golden halo with his hands as her sapphire eyes turned indigo with desire… 

   Luke gave himself an inward shake and refocused.  

   Right now, he had one foot in the door with his forged documents, thanks to a Pinkerton operative in San Francisco.  He doubted Sayer ever had plans to expand. The store was probably just a cover to launder money.  However, Luke’s original plan of exposing the man’s fraudulence to force him to sell the store and turn over the profits—if he didn’t want to get the authorities involved—was no longer doable. Now he had to find the accomplice, which meant he needed to have a connection to the store.

   “I’m sure you’ll find the papers in order.”  Pinkerton operatives were nothing if not efficient.

Meet the author

            Cynthia Breeding lives on the bay in Corpus Christi, Texas, with her not-at-all-spoiled Bichon.  She enjoys walks on the beach, horseback riding, sailing, and traveling across the big pond. 

            In an earlier life, she taught high school English and eventually went into educational administration, finishing that career by adjuncting at a local university.

            It’s much more fun doing historical research and writing romantic novels!

Contact Information:

www.cynthiabreeding.com

Twitter: @BreedingCynthia

Facebook: Cynthia Roepke and Cynthia Breeding

E.E.: What is your favorite fairy tale?

Cynthia: Not a fairy tale exactly, but the Arthurian legends.  I fell in love with Lancelot reading a children’s book when he rode in on a white horse to bring Gwenhwyfar to Camelot.

E.E.: What turns you off like nothing else?

Cynthia: The “F” bomb.  It is SO overused.  I think authors/screenwriters/directors who use this word for shock value are taking the lazy approach to writing.  The word is trite, uncreative, and misused as five of the eight parts of speech.  Use your imagination and come up with something better.

E.E.: What is the first story you remember writing?

Cynthia: When I was eleven years old, I penned a story about a girl and her horse (what else???) and titled it “An Award for Jo”.  Years later, I found the notebook while cleaning out my mother’s house.  Interestingly, it actually had a pretty decent plot.  I did some revising and published it (“Nostagia Road”) under the name of Cynthia Roepke.  I recently added two more books—“Down Nostalgia Road” and “End of Nostalgia Road” to make it a trilogy.

E.E.: If you could interviewing one person, who would it be?

Cynthia: Queen Elizabeth.  I’d love to hear what she would have planned as a career had she not become the heir to the throne.

E.E.: What dreams were realized as a result of writing?

Cynthia: My first book, “Camelot’s Destiny” (Kensington) won the “Heartbreaker of the Month” award with Rhapsody Book Club in 2006. Barnes and Noble also did a full window display for my book signing.  What a thrill!

E.E.: What do you do to relax?

Cynthia: There is nothing better than having a glass of wine while sitting in the cockpit of an anchored sailboat, watching dolphins play as the sun sets and listening to the water gently lapping against the hull.

Thanks for joining us today, Cynthia. Best of luck with your new release!

E.E. Burke's Best of the West: Beneath a Fugitive Moon by Elizabeth Clements

Read Today

Beautiful Jolene Reynolds is on a quest. Is there a man in this world who will love her, kiss her, and treasure her like her father does her mother? It seems that every bachelor in the territory is interested in her—and though the clock is ticking, she has to wonder…is it truly a pursuit of the heart, or is it because of what she’ll inherit? When handsome Mike Sutton rides back into her life her search is over—at least, in her own heart. Mike intrigues her with his laughing eyes and quick wit…but surely, if he felt the same interest, wouldn’t he try to steal one kiss? So…why hasn’t he?

Deputy U.S. Marshal Mike Sutton has been besotted with Jolene for two solid years—and now, he’s got her all to himself. But his honor won’t let him make the most of the perfect situation. He’s promised his best friend, Chase, that he’ll safeguard Jolene until her father’s return from his art show back East—and he’s not about to let Chase down. Though he’s faced deadly outlaws without flinching, he’s on shaky ground emotionally when he holds Jolene in his arms. Young, beautiful, and educated—she’s too good for him. One kiss could be his undoing.

Trouble that has been simmering comes to a dangerous boil, forcing Mike and Jolene to become fugitives—and depend only on one another. Can they finally be honest with their feelings and find love BENEATH A FUGITIVE MOON…

Saddle up! Author Elizabeth Clements is blessed with a true Western voice, which lassoes the reader and takes them on an emotional ride. —Deborah Macgillivray, author of the Dragons of Challon series

Meet the Author

Elizabeth Clements was hooked on books long before her parents bought a television. Every Saturday night’s trip to town found her with an armload of books from the library. She’d read a book a day and sometimes just had to finish it past her bedtime by reading under a full moon.

Gradually the books progressed to juvenile and teenage detectives, then in her later teens she discovered Frank Yerby, Georgette Heyer and Jean Plaidy and a life-long love of historical romance began.

Although she has written poems and short stories that are published in several anthologies, Elizabeth’s first novel plot came to her in the middle of cooking breakfast eggs for her four young sons. Then several books later, she fell in love with Garth Brooks’ song, That Summer, and the current Prairie Moon Trilogy was born. Although there were gaps in her writing years when life intervened, she never lost sight of her dream of becoming a published author. Thanks to Prairie Rose Publications, that dream was fulfilled.

Find out more about Elizabeth at her website: https://www.elizabethclements.com/

Beneath A Fugitive Moon: https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Fugitive-Moon-Prairie-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B07SZ4LHVS

Beneath A Horse Thief Moon: http://amzn.to/2FVunRW

Q&A

E.E. What was the first story you remember writing?

Elizabeth: This is a long answer—mainly for the benefit of writers reading this who yearn to be published or feel discouraged. Years ago, in the middle of making breakfast for my little boys, a story idea popped into my head. I went to the library and borrowed an armload of books about the Yukon gold rush. And for the next two weeks I wrote like crazy on my dining room table every spare chance I had: bits of scenes, action and reaction, romance. The scenes formed piles. Gradually I linked all the pieces together and called it my broken string of pearls: mystery, romance, Yukon gold rush history blending with the present. Then spring blossomed and the book was put aside for playing outdoors with my little men. In November I remembered my goal to finish that book before year’s end. And on December 31^st after retyping it twice, I mailed it with great hopes and anxiety to Harlequin. Three months later (the day after my birthday, thank goodness), I found a big manila envelope poking out of my mailbox. My heart sank. After I stopped bawling, I felt I had a right to know why my story was rejected because the rejection letter was so unhelpful. I not only phoned Harlequin and asked to speak to the editor-in-chief who had signed the letter, but I was actually put through to her. (Unheard of these many years later.) She said she hadn’t read my book and was on her way to a meeting but would get back to me. And wonder of miracles, she did! (and won my eternal respect.) It had gone through two reads with the conclusion it was a bit old-fashioned and needed tightening up.  I was so green that I didn’t know what tightening up meant and assumed old-fashioned meant I should have marriage first, then a love scene, which I could easily reverse. Sadly, I didn’t learn until a few years later that I’d been so close to getting accepted, but my writing style needed more work than an editor had time to spend on it. If only the internet had been around back in the ‘80’s. I hope any writers reading this who want to become published will take heart and pursue their publishing dream. I did, but sadly for many years I never submitted again, just wrote one story after another without editing it. Because editing meant I should send it out. So, to avoid rejection, I just procrastinated. Please don’t make my mistake.

E.E. What drew you to write in the genre(s) you do?

Elizabeth: I love history and I love romance—an unbeatable combination. That’s what I began reading in my late teens and love to this day.

E.E.  How did you come up with the idea for your book?

Elizabeth:  Originally, there was only one book, but I fell in love with my secondary characters. Mike Sutton was the most persistent.  He kept whispering in my ear to get him together with Jolene, who he met briefly in Beneath A Horse Thief Moon. Incurable romantic that I am, I wanted him to have his happily-ever-after and thus Beneath A Fugitive Moon evolved. Well, his friend, Josh felt slighted to be left out and Molly is so deliciously incorrigible, that I simply had to write their story: Beneath A Desperado Moon will be out next year.

E.E. Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Elizabeth: I feel it’s very important to know what readers want…and don’t like. I read lots of reviews on many authors and learn from the comments to try not make the same mistakes. I’ve been very lucky to have received such positive feedback from readers who write they are eager to read the next book.

E.E. What has surprised you the most about being published? 

Elizabeth: Reader enthusiasm. I love that they “get it” what my hero or heroine is going through. And I’m blown away by their encouragement, praise and eagerness to read the next book. That keeps me going.

E.E. What will always make you smile, even on a bad day?

Elizabeth: Butterflies, puppies, kittens, babies, kindness and my husband being wonderfully silly to coax a smile when I want to pout a little longer.

NEWS ALERT! I just found out that the anthology, Hot Western Nights is being released on July 4^th and includes my novella Diamond Jack’s Angel. You can find it here!   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T9F21B5

Thank you, Elisabeth, for your wonderful support and inviting me to chat about getting lost in a story.

Giveaway! 

Elizabeth will give away two electronic copies of her book, Beneath a Fugitive Moon and an e-book copy of Hot Western Nights. Just leave a comment and enter the Rafflecopter.

Who is your favorite Western hero (book or movie) and what do you find most appealing about him? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway