The Hitching Post Hotel

BARBARA WHITE DAILLE lives in the sunny Southwest where she and her husband love the lizards in the front yard but could do without the scorpions in the bathroom. She also loves writing, reading, and chocolate. Come to think of it, she enjoys writing about those subjects, too! 

Barbara wrote her first short story at the age of nine, then typed "The End" to her first novel many years later...in the eighth grade. Now she's writing contemporary romance on a daily basis, with a current series from Harlequin Western Romance (The Hitching Post Hotel) and a brand-new series from Entangled Bliss (Snowflake Valley). 

She hopes you'll check out her stories and will drop by to say hi at any of these locations.

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The Hitching Post Hotel is set on Garland Ranch in the small fictional town of Cowboy Creek, New Mexico.  The series began as a three-book idea I couldn’t let go of, about a loving but busybody grandfather who plays matchmaker to get his three granddaughters married. Naturally, Jed Garland (the ranch and hotel owner) also wants them all to settle down close to him!

I’m so grateful that readers tell me they love coming back again and again to visit the Hitching Post and even reread the stories. Thanks to their enthusiasm—and Grandpa Jed’s refusal to give up his role of Cowboy Creek’s chief matchmaker :) —the series has taken on life of its own. In additional books, Jed has moved on to finding the perfect mates for his granddaughters’ friends and a few marriage-shy cowhands. And our matchmaker’s not done yet! I’m excited to share there are also a couple of new stories coming down the line. More on those below.

THE COWBOY’S LITTLE SURPRISE

The Hitching Post Hotel, April 2015

THE LONG WAY HOME 

A guy like Cole Slater is hard to forget. Tina Sanchez should know—for years since high school she's tried to bury the pain of Cole's cruel betrayal. But it's impossible to ignore the man she sees reflected in her young son's eyes now that Cole is back in her life—and about to meet the child he never knew he had. 

Returning home to New Mexico, Cole is determined to put his playboy reputation to rest. Especially now that he knows there's a little boy looking up to him. And seeing Tina again reignites all the feelings Cole ran from as a teen. Despite his fear that he can't be the man Tina deserves, he's determined to try. For his son's sake—and his own.

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A RANCHER OF HER OWN

The Hitching Post Hotel, July 2015

A REASON TO STAY 

Ranch manager Pete Brannigan has no interest in playing tour guide to a city slicker like Jane Garland. But spending a few days with the headstrong photographer is a small price to pay for everything her grandfather has given the single dad. Though Pete's drawn to Jane's sharp wit and striking beauty, he won't hurt his young children by falling for another woman who puts her career before family. 

Jane's seen the world through her camera…and used it to shield her emotions. With Pete, she can finally let her guard down. If only he could do the same. Despite their powerful bond, Pete still can't trust Jane with his kids or his heart. But if he keeps pushing her away, he may ruin any chance their relationship has to develop.

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THE LAWMAN’S CHRISTMAS PROPOSAL

The Hitching Post Hotel, December 2015

A husband for Christmas?  

Mitch Weston's back in Cowboy Creek, and self-proclaimed matchmaker Jed Garland has his single granddaughter Andi on his mind. Mitch is a lawman, good with the little ones and easy on the eyes. He and Andi were high school sweethearts, for heaven's sake! Why can't they see they're perfect for each other?  

Because Andi already lost one husband to a dangerous job, and now she's all about playing it safe, for her sake and her children's. Being a cop is everything to Mitch. After discovering Jed's plan, Mitch and Andi come up with their own: they'll pretend to get engaged and then break up due to irreconcilable differences. Jed's got his work cut out for him—because this match needs a Christmas miracle!

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COWBOY IN CHARGE

The Hitching Post Hotel, June 2016

TIMING IS EVERYTHING 

Single mom Layne Slater thought she'd seen the last of Jason McAndry when he chose the rodeo over her and their unborn son. Now Jason's back in Cowboy Creek and just as handsome as ever. But Layne can't give in to those feelings again. She has to protect her children…and her heart. 

Jason wants to try to make up for the pain he caused when he left. The least he can do is help Layne while he's home. Before long, Jason realizes he's finally ready to be the husband, father and man his family deserves. But can Jason prove to Layne that this time, their love is forever?

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THE COWBOY’S TRIPLE SURPRISE

The Hitching Post Hotel, March 2017

A BIG SURPRISE—TIMES THREE! 

The last time rodeo cowboy Tyler Buckham was in Cowboy Creek, he spent a steamy night with local beauty Shay O'Neill. Back in town for a quick visit, he's hoping they'll have another go-around before he heads for his next rodeo. But seeing Shay pregnant—with triplets!—leaves Tyler feeling as if his best horse has kicked him in the gut. 

Shay swore she wouldn't fall for an unreliable cowboy, and Tyler's playboy past makes him even less likely to settle down. The whole town conspires to push them together, and Tyler insists he wants to do his duty by Shay and the triplets, but Shay knows she can't count on promises from a cowboy. Besides, Tyler never once mentioned the word love…

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THE RANCHER’S BABY PROPOSAL

The Hitching Post Hotel, May 2017

HER SECRET COWBOY CRUSH 

Ally Martinez has always been known as a fun and flirty kind of gal. But deep down she's never forgotten the cowboy who left town. When her crush Reagan Chase comes home after a seven-year absence, Ally knows this is her big chance. The guy I've always wanted. Only Reagan has something different in mind… 

Still reeling from his last relationship, Reagan needs a babysitter for his month-old son. With Ally's help, he can get his family's ranch ready for sale and get out of Cowboy Creek. The problem? Ally is one seriously cute distraction. But Reagan will do whatever it takes to keep his heart safe. Even if it means losing the only place—and the only woman—he can call home.  

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ANGI’s GOTTA ASK:  Where is your favorite writing place & why?  

BABARA’S GOTTA ANSWER:  My favorite writing place is also usually the primary place I write:  my office.  I’m very lucky because we have a spare bedroom we were able to convert into the office. It includes a wall-to-wall closet big enough to hold a filing cabinet, a bookcase, and two loooong overhead shelves for reference and writing books. As for the office itself, it’s. . . shall we say. . . overflowing. And I’m not telling how many file cabinets there are in there! LOL

I love my working space because I don’t do well with conversations, television, or any noise going on in the background, and the first good thing about the office is that it has a door to close off the distractions. The second good thing is the door becomes a visual reminder to me—and my muse—to get to work. :)   

UP NEXT for BARBARA:

Grandpa Jed still isn’t ready to give up his title of matchmaker! He’ll be making an appearance in two more books from Harlequin in their Heartwarming line. I’m also working on another book about the “bad-luck Barnett sisters,” the heroines of the holiday-themed Snowflake Valley series from Entangled Publishing.

No firm titles or dates yet for these next releases, but my newsletter readers will get the big news first, so please sign up for the newsletter if you’re interested! And I love to chat, so look for me on social media, too.

BARBARA is giving away an autographed print copy of one of her Hitching Post Hotel books. (Winner’s choice.)

US Only

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Your host, Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Facebook   @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

AND OUR NEW Facebook Group: The Readers’ Spot

BARBARA WANTS TO KNOW:  I love to write readers’ (and my) favorite romance tropes and had so much fun weaving many of them into the Hitching Post Hotel series! So I would love to hear from you: which of the stories above would you choose to read first, and why? 

Hit the Trail with Harlequin American author, Heidi Hormel!

Join me in welcoming Heidi Hormel back to the blog with her latest release, The Accidental Cowboy!

COWBOY IN A KILT

When former bronc rider Lavonda Leigh is asked to guide a Scottish archaeologist through the Arizona desert, she’s expecting a fussy egghead. But then she discovers tall, strong Jones Kincaid competing at the local Highland games. She can't help her interest in him—and that's before he puts on his cowboy hat and hits the trail like a pro.

Jones is after more than he's letting on. His quest could clear a past scandal and let him live his dream—studying the old West. But as he spends time with Lavonda in this rugged landscape, he realizes that what he wants isn't just academic—he yearns for a life with her on the ranch. If she discovers his deception, this professor-turned-cowboy will lose his reputation…and Lavonda, too.

Read an excerpt HERE or BUY the book

A former innkeeper and radio talk show host, Heidi Hormel has always been a writer. She spent years as a small-town newspaper reporter and as a PR flunky before settling happily into penning romances with a wink and a wiggle.

While living in the Snack Food Capital of the World, Heidi has trotted around the globe from forays into Death Valley to stops at Loch Ness in Scotland.

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Jan Schliesman: How often do you Get Lost In A Story?

Heidi Hormel: Just this morning. I am working on a proposal for more books set in Angel Crossing, Arizona. As part of that, I am writing the first three chapters and this morning I got to typing and I was right there with my characters. I love when that happens.

Jan: What’s the best part of being a Harlequin author?

Heidi: The community of readers, fellow authors, and editors are awesome. I don’t know where else I would have found such a supportive environment to start and grow my career. (There’s also a Harlequin party that made my whole 2015!)

Jan: How much research do you do?

Heidi: It depends on the book. I usually do internet research as I hit snags or have questions but, boy, can that eat up a lot of time. I often write about careers, places, etc. that I have passing knowledge of so I only need to do research on the nitty gritty details. Take THE ACCIDENTAL COWBOY. I took an archaeology course in college, visited the Tucson area and even had a chance to see petroglyphs in the “wild.” I took all of that first-hand knowledge then did research as needed.

Jan: What do you love most about The Accidental Cowboy?

Heidi: That’s like asking me which is my favorite knitting pattern. I’m going with the magic number three and listing three favorite things: the animals (Reese the miniature burro and Cat the cat); the kilt; and Lavonda, the heroine who has helped everyone around her and finally gets to find happiness for herself.

Jan: What’s your favorite sports team?

Heidi: Sports? You mean like competitive reading and shopping? Seriously, I don’t follow sports, except my great-niece and great-nephew’s lacrosse teams. Go Ox!

Jan: Any writing rituals you follow? Celebrate a certain way when it’s completed?

Heidi: My ritual is to get up early (3 a.m. is not unheard of), make coffee, feed the cat, and sit down and write. Celebrating when the book is done?! Sleeping doesn’t count does it? I need to come up with a better way to jump and down with excitement. Any ideas? Anyone?

Jan: I know you were a journalist in your previous life. If you could go back and pick a different career, what would it be?

Heidi: Hmm … Radio Talk Show Host. I did for just a little while and always wished that had been my full-time career.

Jan: Best vacation you’ve ever taken?

Heidi: Wow, that is a toughie. I took a once-in-a-lifetime vacation with my mom to Hawaii; there was a drive from Phoenix to Northern California and back that’s stuck with me…I’ve been fortunate to travel quite a bit so it’s hard to say one vacation. I would say the three spots that still fascinate me and to which I’d return in a heartbeat are: Iceland, the Orkney Islands and Death Valley. Now, that’s a range of places, isn’t it!

Jan’s GOTTA ASK: What is your unhealthiest habit?

Heidi’s GOTTA ANSWER: Unhealthiest habit? There are so many…coffee (I would drink it by the gallon if I could); any processed sugar product; and obsessing over commas!

FIND HEIDI HORMEL:

 Contact, Website, Facebook, Twitter

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UP NEXT: THE KENTUCKY COWBOY’S BABY (Angel Crossing, Arizona), out in August 2016.

HUGE THANKS TO HEIDI for sharing her writing world with us!  She's giving away an autographed copy of  THE ACCIDENTAL COWBOY to a U.S. reader!  Please scroll down to the Rafflecopter for ways to enter and thanks for visiting Get Lost In A Story.

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Say Hello to Trish Milburn!

It's my pleasure to welcome Trish Milburn to the blog for the very first time!
Trish writes the Blue Falls, Texas series for Harlequin American Romance and has published young adult fiction with Razorbill/Penguin and Bell Bridge Books. She’s also independently published several romantic suspense and women’s fiction novels. She’s a two-time winner of RWA’s Golden Heart Award and Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Award of Excellence. She’s a fan of road trips, seeing places she’s never seen before, the beach, TV and movies, and cosplay.

Safe In His Arms

When Aimee Brandon flees from a cult’s compound into a freezing Wyoming winter, she knows she has to survive and find help in order to save her mother and protect innocents from the cult’s plans. When she collapses on the cabin steps of former CIA agent Gideon Oakes, her plans are put on hold as Gideon nurses her back to health and they wait out a wave of snowstorms. The last thing Gideon wants is to return to the outside world, the one in which his mistake cost lives. But if he doesn’t get Aimee to the authorities, he might be responsible for even more deaths. What neither of them expects is to fall for each other in such a short amount of time, but there’s no arguing with the truth. This man who wants to hide from the world and the woman who has to return to it find love in the least-expected place at the least-expected time.

(Safe in His Arms is a “snowbound” contemporary romantic suspense novelette set in a Wyoming. Story length is approximately 12,500 words.)

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK

http://amzn.to/1HrUARS

Jan Schliesman: How often do you Get Lost In A Story?

Trish Milburn: As often as possible. J Seriously, whether it’s my own story, something I’m reading, or a favorite TV show, or a trip to the movies, I love getting swept up into a fictional tale that makes me feel all kinds of emotions.

Jan: It took you eleven years and two Golden Heart wins before you sold your first book. Looking back, would you do anything differently?

Trish: Probably try to convince myself not to take rejections so personally. There were many rejections that led to me curling up in a ball and crying.

Jan: What do you love most about your current release?

Trish: I love those snowbound-in-a-cabin romances, so I wrote one. Plus, this time of year is so busy for everyone that it’s difficult to invest time in reading something big. It’s a great time of year for reading anthologies, novellas and short fiction. This story is a novelette by definition, shorter than most novellas but longer than a short story. I also love how you have people with really opposite goals falling for each other quickly, which surprises them both. The hero, Gideon, is hiding from the world, and the heroine, Aimee, desperately needs to return to that world.

Jan: It was love at first sight when I met my hubby.  What about you?

Trish: Close to it. My husband and I were introduced by one of my best friends. She knew him from a summer program in Kentucky called Governor’s Scholars. When we all ended up at the same college, she introduced us. We started dating soon thereafter and have been together 26 years now. We’ll be celebrating our 23^rd wedding anniversary in a few days.

Jan: What snacks always occupy your writing space?

Trish: I try to keep them away because I’ll munch away until I’m as big as my house. But I do love Brookside’s chocolate-covered pomegranates or, this time of year, Pepperidge Farm’s pumpkin cheesecake cookies.

Jan: Favorite sports team?  

Trish: Nashville Predators NHL team

Jan: What one book from your childhood is your favorite?

Trish: Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Jan: Where do your very best ideas for story lines come from?

Trish: I’m really inspired by good storytelling in other forms – TV and movies. Sometimes it will just be a blip of an idea inspired by something I’m watching. The final product might bear very little resemblance at all, but the idea sets me off in my own direction. Once, however, I swear an idea just seemed to fall out of the sky as I was driving through Illinois cornfields. I had to pull over and write it down before I forgot it.

Jan: Any rituals you following while writing a book?  Celebrate a certain way when it’s completed?

Trish: I tend to write while watching TV. I use a rewards system: I write X number of pages, then I get to watch a segment of a recorded program between commercials. Then I have to write more pages, and so on. It’s sort of a joke with my husband, but I do have a little “I Finished a Book” dance.

  

Jan’s GOTTA ASK: 

Trish’s GOTTA ANSWER: Chocolate followed closely by orange sherbet.

FIND TRISH MILBURN:

Contact: trishmilburn@yahoo.com

Website: www.trishmilburn.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trishmilburnauthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/trishmilburn

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1335180.Trish_Milburn

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/trishmilburn2/

UP NEXT FOR TRISH: Home on the Ranch, the next Blue Falls, Texas book from Harlequin American Romance,  March 2016.

HUGE THANKS TO TRISH FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!  SCROLL DOWN AND ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A BOOK FROM TRISH!

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Heidi Hormel, Debut Harlequin American Author!

I love nothing more than introducing new authors, especially when they are as witty as Heidi Hormel. She stopped by to share her June release, The Surgeon and the Cowgirl, and to enlighten all of us on her famous name. But first things first. Here's a book teaser to get you started:

Retired rodeo rider Jessie Leigh has one more trick to pull off: partnering with ex-husband Payson MacCormack to save her ranch. Hope's Ride offers horse therapy for children, and Payson is a pediatric surgeon at the hospital set to certify the program. Their split wasn't exactly amicable, but Jessie's determined to make it work…even if Payson's presence sends her heart racing. With a promotion on the line and a passel of kids in desperate need of Hope's Ride, Payson should be focused on prepping the program for the hospital's review. But he can't concentrate on anything but Jessie. Payson's career and Jessie's ranch are depending on each other, but will working together bring the surgeon and the cowgirl closer together, or drive them apart for good?

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK: http://bit.ly/1HtNyzy

A former innkeeper and radio talk show host, Heidi Hormel has always been a writer. She spent years as a small-town newspaper reporter and as a PR flunky before settling happily into penning romances with a wink and a wiggle. While living in the Snack Food Capital of the World, Heidi has trotted around the globe from forays into Death Valley to stops at Loch Ness in Scotland.

JAN SCHLIESMAN: How often to you get lost in a story? 

HEIDI HORMEL: As a reader, I get lost in a story with nearly every book. I love reading and will think I’ve been sitting for 20 minutes, then look at the clock and an hour has gone by. In fact, if I don’t get lost in a book, I usually put it down and move on to another—is that bad to admit?

JAN SCHLIESMAN: How long have you been writing?

HEIDI HORMEL: I’ve been writing for a long time. In junior high school, I taught myself to touch type, so I could write down the stories as quickly as I could think of them. I did not get serious about fiction writing (I had been a reporter and PR writer) until about nine years ago, when I quit my job and became a freelance writer and editor while working away on a number of manuscripts before I finally got THE CALL and, more importantly, the CONTRACT.

JAN SCHLIESMAN: You’re one of several top ten finalists in the 2013 So You Think You Can Write contest who went on to sell to Harlequin.  Was it easy for you to post that first chapter or did you have some trepidation?

HEIDI HORMEL: Because I’ve had my writing out in the wide world for a number of years, I didn’t have a lot of trepidation, plus I’m kind of a ham (get it: Hormel ham). I did have jitters when I hit send, as I had that stomach-sinking feeling that I’d missed huge grammar gaffs and forgotten essential plot points.

JAN SCHLIESMAN: I’m gonna jump right in and ask the question everyone wants to know…is Hormel your real name?

HEIDI HORMEL: I am a proud Hormel … it’s on my birth certificate and everything! The family “story” is that my great grandfather who emigrated from Germany to the U.S. was related to the founder of the famous food company. I’ve never seen a penny from all of those cans of Spam sold around the world, though! Yes, I do eat Spam! (The Hawaiian-themed can is my favorite!)

JAN SCHLIESMAN: You’re very active in community theatre.  What’s the best production you’ve been a part of?

HEIDI HORMEL: I have had three parts that stand out for me (and for audiences, too). The first was Mamie Yokum in Li’l Abner – that musical is such a hoot and I had a great time playing a bow-legged curmudgeon. Next would be M’Lynn, the mother of Shelby in Steel Magnolias. I usually play comedic roles and this one made me really stretch and dig deep to pull the audience into the character’s grief and joy. Finally, was a role in a lesser known show, Sylvia. I played the title role which is a dog (who talked and acted human like, except when she was in heat). I loved the freedom and enthusiasm that character took.

JAN SCHLIESMAN: Does your heroine have any of your character traits?

HEIDI HORMEL: She might have a smidgeon of my stubbornness (I was voted most stubborn during my first year at college).

 

JAN SCHLIESMAN: Most writers have to find their zone before the words start flowing. Describe your ideal writing day.

HEIDI HORMEL: I’m a get-up-before-the-birds sort of writer so … I’d get up before the sun, get my coffee, sit in my recliner, put on the Top 100 station, and write. And, miracle of miracles, I would not have to fight with the cat over space on the recliner (see Betsi’s morning face).

JAN SCHLIESMAN: Being a reporter in your previous life must have helped you on the road to publication. Care to share some wisdom?

HEIDI HORMEL: Deadlines are not to be broken and they inspire the muse. Or something like that. As a reporter, I had to write every day whether I was “felt” like it or not and there was no excuse (except hospitalization) for not getting a story in on time. That sort of workwoman-like attitude has kept my behind in the chair (or recliner) and my fingers on the keyboard. I also had a news editor tell me (after I’d tried to get “fancy” with an article): Just write the story. I remind myself of that advice and make sure that I’ve told the story, not just strung together a lot of pretty words.

JAN SCHLIESMAN: Do you possess geeky computer skills or are you technically challenged?

HEIDI HORMEL: I am pretty geeky with computers, and I even had a job at a printing company where I wrote out long strings of code for the typesetters to use. I still enjoy looking at the html and computer code. It’s about the only foreign language I know. Being able to read code (in a very rudimentary way) means that I’ll dig into my Website and Word documents without fear.

AND MY FINAL QUESTION:

HEIDI HORMEL: Chubby Hubby from Ben & Jerry’s (Sorry but it’s got pretzels and I do live in the Snack Food Capitol of the World where I regularly smell pretzels baking and potato chips frying). I’m also partial to soft ice cream (frozen custard) and a local old-fashioned drive-in ice cream/fast food place has butter pecan … yum! 

FIND HEIDI HORMEL:

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Heidi's next release is: The Convenient Cowboy, Harlequin American Romance, out Aug. 2015. In 2016, I will have three additional books from Harlequin American Romance, tentatively titled: The Cowboy in a Kilt, The Kentucky Cowboy’s Baby, and The Christmas Showdown.

HUGE THANKS to Heidi for sharing a little bit of her world with us!  Heidi is giving away TWO copies of The Surgeon and the Cowgirl.  See the Rafflecoptor below for all the ways you can earn extra entries.  In addtion, she'd love to know:

Do you eat Spam? And what’s your fav cooking method or recipe? I go for fried Spam on toast but one day I’ll try my hand at musubi (see pic – this is a really popular snack in Hawaii).

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