Who’s next on my North of the Border guest blog series? Today we have Kay P. Dawson, author of the RNWMP (Royal Northwest Mounted Police) - Mail Order Mounties series.
Where does Kay get her inspiration? How is Canada part of her inspiration? Read on and see...
~ * ~
I’ve lived in a small town in rural southwest Manitoba, right smack in the middle of the Canadian prairies, my whole life. We are a farming town, and most of the communities around us are all involved in agriculture. The closest city to us is Winnipeg, about a two and a half hour drive away.
Living on the prairies might have had something to do with my fascination with Laura Ingalls and everything to do with Little House on the Prairie while I was growing up. I used to run through the fields around my house with my sister and pretend I was Laura, living my own version of life on the prairies.
After high school, many of my friends wanted to branch out and head west, into the mountains where they could work at the resorts and ski hills. But for some reason, I knew being in the mountains would never be comfortable to me. I love the wide, open prairies where you can drive and see for miles all around you. To me, seeing the fields growing with crops in the summer, blowing in the wind that is always present out in the open, just makes me feel like I’m “home”.
In Canada, we’re “known” for our cold winters, and on the prairies, we likely get even colder than most people realize. But, something a lot of people don’t know is how all of our seasons are beautiful…in the spring when the fields are being planted, the leaves and grass are turning green again after the long winter; then summer when it becomes almost too hot to enjoy; fall when the crops are coming off the fields and the colors are vibrant with orange, yellow and red; then, of course, winter when everything is covered with a blanket of white snow.
When I write my books, there is always some aspect of the prairies in them when I can include it. I was involved in an entire Canadian series that was set in different provinces back in the early 1900’s. One of my favorite books in the series that I wrote was RNWMP: Bride for Andrew. That story took place in a little town in southwest Manitoba, which we modeled around my own hometown around that timeframe.
Each of our stories that took place in a province featured an animal that would be native to that area. In the Manitoba stories, there was a bison named Chip. (You’d have to read it to understand why…although if you know much about history or how they would have started fires on the trails, you’ll likely have a pretty good idea.)
In our town, we have a bison compound that is home to about ten bison. We have a place for tourists to see them and to learn about them when they’re here. While they might not be free to roam the prairies like they did so many years ago, it’s good to know they have places where they are safe and where they can be protected for generations to know about them.
My next series, which will be coming out soon, takes place just across the border in what would have been the Dakota Territories in the late 1800’s. While it doesn’t take place in Canada, everything will be based around life on the prairies. Since it’s so close to where I live, the climate and the landscape is the same and will be easy for me to bring to life in my books. I want to be able to share all of the seasons and what life is like for those living on the prairies.
I grew up listening to the stories from my grandparents and great-grandparents about the struggles of growing crops, the cold winters, and the hard life of trying to survive when you are so reliant on the land around you. They shared the tough times and what they did to get through them, and they talked about the good times when life was so much simpler. They worked hard, but family and community were everything and as long as they had the necessities, that was all that mattered.
Everything I will write about in this new series will be taken from what I’ve experienced and know myself. I’m a prairie girl through and through, so this series will be my tribute to what I love. I want to share with others the joy of living in wide open spaces, in a small town where everyone knows each other and will always lend a helping hand when needed.
The times might have changed over the years, but where I live in this small, rural town in Manitoba, life still revolves around farming, community and family. Everything I write about in my books comes from what I’ve lived and loved in my little town on the prairies.
I will giveaway one physical copy of RNWMP: Bride for Andrew, which takes place in Manitoba, to a random winner from the comments below. All you need to do to enter is comment whether you live near the mountains, the prairies, the ocean…or wherever it is you call home, and what you love about it. The physical copy will be sent to you directly from Amazon, and I will mail you a signed bookplate to put inside along with some other little goodies.
No longer wanting to be a burden on her brother, Ida agrees to let Miss Hazel match her with a Mountie looking for a wife. She knows her daughter needs a father to help raise her, but she has no intentions of letting her heart get involved. She did that once and doesn't intend to ever let it happen again. It's a practical decision—nothing more.
Andrew never even realized what was missing in his life until he meets Ida and her daughter Lily. The little girl ends up stealing his heart, and he vows to protect her with his life. However, her mother is proving to be a bit more difficult to come around.
Will Ida be able to let go of the pain she endured in the past and trust Andrew with her heart?
RNWMP: Bride for Andrew: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079PRBDY2
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ THE MAIL ORDER MOUNTIES BOOKS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, YOU’LL FIND THEM ALL LISTED AT www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BDK5DJV
*And be sure to pick up RNMWP: Bride for Theodore, which sets up the series that takes place entirely in Canada…www.amazon.com/RNWMP-Bride-Theodore-Order-Mounties-ebook/dp/B071KHMYBN
USA Today Bestselling Author, Kay P. Dawson writes sweet western romance - the kind that leaves out all of the juicy details and immerses you in a true, heartfelt love story. Growing up pretending she was Laura Ingalls, she's always had a love for the old west and pioneer times. She believes in true love, and finding your happy ever after.
Happily married mom of two girls, Kay has always taught her children to follow their dreams. And, after a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 39, she realized it was time to take her own advice. She had always wanted to write a book, and she decided that the someday she was waiting for was now.
She writes western historical, contemporary and time travel romance that all transport the reader to a time or place where true love always finds a way.
I’ve lived in a small town in rural southwest Manitoba, right smack in the middle of the Canadian prairies, my whole life. We are a farming town, and most of the communities around us are all involved in agriculture. The closest city to us is Winnipeg, about a two and a half hour drive away.
Living on the prairies might have had something to do with my fascination with Laura Ingalls and everything to do with Little House on the Prairie while I was growing up. I used to run through the fields around my house with my sister and pretend I was Laura, living my own version of life on the prairies.
After high school, many of my friends wanted to branch out and head west, into the mountains where they could work at the resorts and ski hills. But for some reason, I knew being in the mountains would never be comfortable to me. I love the wide, open prairies where you can drive and see for miles all around you. To me, seeing the fields growing with crops in the summer, blowing in the wind that is always present out in the open, just makes me feel like I’m “home”.
When I write my books, there is always some aspect of the prairies in them when I can include it. I was involved in an entire Canadian series that was set in different provinces back in the early 1900’s. One of my favorite books in the series that I wrote was RNWMP: Bride for Andrew. That story took place in a little town in southwest Manitoba, which we modeled around my own hometown around that timeframe.
Each of our stories that took place in a province featured an animal that would be native to that area. In the Manitoba stories, there was a bison named Chip. (You’d have to read it to understand why…although if you know much about history or how they would have started fires on the trails, you’ll likely have a pretty good idea.)
In our town, we have a bison compound that is home to about ten bison. We have a place for tourists to see them and to learn about them when they’re here. While they might not be free to roam the prairies like they did so many years ago, it’s good to know they have places where they are safe and where they can be protected for generations to know about them.
My next series, which will be coming out soon, takes place just across the border in what would have been the Dakota Territories in the late 1800’s. While it doesn’t take place in Canada, everything will be based around life on the prairies. Since it’s so close to where I live, the climate and the landscape is the same and will be easy for me to bring to life in my books. I want to be able to share all of the seasons and what life is like for those living on the prairies.
I grew up listening to the stories from my grandparents and great-grandparents about the struggles of growing crops, the cold winters, and the hard life of trying to survive when you are so reliant on the land around you. They shared the tough times and what they did to get through them, and they talked about the good times when life was so much simpler. They worked hard, but family and community were everything and as long as they had the necessities, that was all that mattered.
Everything I will write about in this new series will be taken from what I’ve experienced and know myself. I’m a prairie girl through and through, so this series will be my tribute to what I love. I want to share with others the joy of living in wide open spaces, in a small town where everyone knows each other and will always lend a helping hand when needed.
The times might have changed over the years, but where I live in this small, rural town in Manitoba, life still revolves around farming, community and family. Everything I write about in my books comes from what I’ve lived and loved in my little town on the prairies.
~ * ~
GIVEAWAY
I will giveaway one physical copy of RNWMP: Bride for Andrew, which takes place in Manitoba, to a random winner from the comments below. All you need to do to enter is comment whether you live near the mountains, the prairies, the ocean…or wherever it is you call home, and what you love about it. The physical copy will be sent to you directly from Amazon, and I will mail you a signed bookplate to put inside along with some other little goodies.
RNWMP: Bride for Andrew
Andrew never even realized what was missing in his life until he meets Ida and her daughter Lily. The little girl ends up stealing his heart, and he vows to protect her with his life. However, her mother is proving to be a bit more difficult to come around.
Will Ida be able to let go of the pain she endured in the past and trust Andrew with her heart?
RNWMP: Bride for Andrew: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079PRBDY2
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ THE MAIL ORDER MOUNTIES BOOKS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, YOU’LL FIND THEM ALL LISTED AT www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BDK5DJV
*And be sure to pick up RNMWP: Bride for Theodore, which sets up the series that takes place entirely in Canada…www.amazon.com/RNWMP-Bride-Theodore-Order-Mounties-ebook/dp/B071KHMYBN
ABOUT ME
Happily married mom of two girls, Kay has always taught her children to follow their dreams. And, after a breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 39, she realized it was time to take her own advice. She had always wanted to write a book, and she decided that the someday she was waiting for was now.
She writes western historical, contemporary and time travel romance that all transport the reader to a time or place where true love always finds a way.
You can connect with Kay through her website at www.kaypdawson.com
She also has an active fan group where she hangs out with her readers... www.facebook.com/groups/kaypdawsonfans
OTHER LINKS:
Newsletter: kaypdawson.com/newsletter
Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/kay-p-dawson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kaypdawsonauthor
Kay P. Dawson Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kaypdawson
~ All pictures (except for the 1st) are supplied by today’s guest with their assurance of usage rights.
I live along the Ohio-West Virginia border and I love the people here. They are so friendly and helpful. The mountains are beautiful in the fall with the changing colors of the leaves. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity and good luck everyone.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds beautiful - there is nothing better than the leaves changing colors in the fall.
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I loved reading this. I live in North Dakota on the North side of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I live in the Oil Patch of the Dakota Prairies, and have access to the Badlands area of North Dakota within 12 miles of my home. It is a beautiful area. Greening up now for summer but the fall weather is gorgeous with the golds and oranges of fall. There aren't many trees here. But the prairie is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWe drove through North Dakota a bit last summer and it was beautiful. I never made it over your way, but someday I will because we really aren't that far away from each other!!
DeleteThe first time I drove across Canada I was warned the prairies would be boring. Not so! I think those wide open spaces are terrific and the Cypress Hills are magic. Had to learn to guard the car door against the wind though. It could get ripped right off. I've driven across several times and I still find the flatlands inspiring.
ReplyDeleteYes - the wind can be a bit crazy here! And my house is sitting in the wide open right now...we're hoping to get some trees planted. But I spend every day chasing things that have blown away :)
DeleteHello Kay I loved reading this and enjoyed the pictures I live close to the Ohio River I Love seeing the country and the hills where I live it is known as The Buckeye State So pretty in all the seasons and I myself Loved reading The Little House on The Prairie Books Thank you for such an amazing giveaway I Love reading your books this one I haven't read yet!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah - the pictures were all taken from my house :) (Well, except the harvest picture which is of my brothers one fall when we were having supper in the field with them). We drove through Ohio last year on our road trip and it was beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHi, I live up on a plateau. The road up/down is very steep, but once you reach the top the view is spectacular. The only trouble is that the winter winds find us up here.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I can imagine the view would be beautiful! Thanks for stopping by to read my post.
Deletenear mountains, nice views
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thanks for reading!
DeleteHi we live in a rural area in iowa and there is not one neighbor near us. That is not so good sometimes as i am homebound and if hubby goes out of town we arrange for someone to stay in touch with me. I am sort of a mail order bride i was friends with tims ex mother in law and she wrote me for many years about this terrible guy well i flew to iowa from ca and met him it was love at first site. then it was a long distance affair for almost a year then he came out to ca ask me to marry him we went to reno got married packed what i could fit in a uhaul and waved a sad ggod by to my family as they were grown kids and didnt want to come. its been 17 yrs and they have come out and went back to ca as they said we lived in a too rural area! peggy clayton ptclayton2@aol.com
ReplyDeleteThat is such a cool story about how you met your husband, Peggy! I love living in rural areas - but I know it isn't something everyone can do. I'm glad you're happy where you are though :)
DeleteHi, Kay, fellow Canadian waving at you from sunny southern Alberta. I grew up on a farm and remember those Saturday night trips to town, getting the groceries, going to the library for an armload of books, then spending my allowance on a bag of popcorn, a grape pop and the movies. I love small town life and can relate to that everybody knows everybody community. I missed attending a one-room schoolhouse by one year and was bussed to town. I love Canada and all my stories are set here except my latest, a novella in a just-published anthology. I love the prairies, the Cypress Hills which is a dark blur on the horizon (and the setting for my trilogy) and yet I feel like I'm coming home when I get my first sight of the Rockies on our way to Calgary. When we're finally nearing Banff, well, that feeling intensifies, so I guess in my heart I'm a mountain girl. Your book rings a bell with me, so perhaps it's in my Kindle? In any case, I'm so happy to meet another fellow-Canadian author, besides Jacquie, and would love to be a lucky giveaway winner. Happy tales to you, Kay. Jacqui has invited me here next week, so I am looking forward to that chat.
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth! Thanks for stopping by! I have so many friends that went west to the mountains and never came back - they fell in love with it. I've never been to Banff or Calgary, but I do want to make my way west someday! I look forward to reading your post :)
DeleteThanks for being my guest, Kay, and for sharing your inspiration with the Get Lost in a Story blog readers! ❤️
ReplyDeleteThanks for inviting me Jacqui!
DeleteI want to say a big thank you to everyone who came to read my post and leave a comment! I wish I could send something to all of you :) But, my winner is Peggy Clayton - I've sent an email for mailing instructions! Thanks again to everyone and Jacqui for inviting me :)
ReplyDelete