Yipee! Marin Thomas

Come and meet a dear friend, Marin Thomas, who writes for Harlequin American series.

Marin Thomas grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin. She left the Midwest to attend college in Tucson, Arizona where she earned a B.A. in Radio-TV. Following graduation she married her college sweetheart in a five-minute ceremony at the historical Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over the years she and her family have lived in seven different states but have now come full circle and returned to Arizona where the rugged desert and breathtaking sunsets provide plenty of inspiration for Marin's cowboy books.

I recently had the chance to have a cyber chat with Marin Thomas. Of course our conversation turned to cowboys. She graciously provided a few answer to some questions about her writing and up coming works. I hope you'll enjoy.

Marin has offered a copy of her latest release to one lucky guest. Be sure and leave her a comment so you'll be entered in a chance to win. So, please welcome my dear guest, Marin Thomas.


Hi, Marin, what is it about cowboys that make them an easy focus as your heroes?


I can't say it any better than cowboycrew. com (http://www.cowboycrew.com/cowboy_crew_com_080.htm)

"America needs the Cowboy both to remind us of how far we have come and to bring us back to the simplicity of the values he represents. He is also needed because he is a piece of who we are as a country. He represents a lifestyle and a time period that is a cherished part of our History. Little boys want to grow up to be him and the little girls want to grow up to marry him."

Characteristics that make the "Cowboy" appealing
Stubborn
Determined
Hardworking
Honest
Independent
Old-fashioned manners
Loyal
Helps the underdog
Patriotic
Brave
Self-sacrificing

So, how did you come up with your storyline for Arizona Cowboy?

My first three books for my Rodeo Rebels series for Harlequin American Romance did very well so my editor gave me the "thumbs up" to write more rodeo books, but she wanted a different "hook" or "angle" for the next three books. I remembered a vacation our family took in Colorado when I was 15. I met a distant uncle who was quite a storyteller. He'd been a rodeo cowboy in his younger days and he claimed to have competed in a rodeo where a cowgirl had dressed up as a man and tried to enter the bull riding competition. Of course she'd gotten caught and was subsequently booed by the crowd and sent packing. So that was it! One vacation memory…one distant uncle's story…and voila! I had my angle—women's bull riding! Hopefully readers will enjoy reading about these incredibly brave women.


I read your blog on women bull riders. Fantastic! What can we look forward to seeing from you in the coming year?

Another Rodeo Rebel book and a return to the fictitious town of Stagecoach, Arizona.
In A Cowboy's Duty (August 2012) you'll meet Dixie Cash and her six brothers—each named after a country western singer. (my quirky sense of humor) You'll get a kick out of the wild & crazy Cash brothers. But…the cowboy who will steal your heart is Gavin Tucker. He's a soldier cowboy—who's paid a high price for defending his country.
Many soldiers return from war suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as does the hero of my book. Gavin's an adrenaline junkie and rodeo feeds his addiction. The high he gets from busting broncs gives him the strength to keep on the run from his past. As long as the past never catches him, Gavin is able to keep his PTSD under control. A chance encounter with a female bull rider named Dixie Cash threatens to undermine his efforts. When Dixie turns up pregnant, Gavin must face his past before he can seek the future he'd always believed to be out of reach for him.

Then November 2012, Beau: Cowboy Protector Harts of the Rodeo—Born to Ride! This is the 5th book in a 6-book multi-author continuity for the Harlequin American Romance line. A family's ranch has hit upon hard times and in order to keep the ranch they shift away from cattle to raising bucking stock for rodeos. They acquire a prime stud horse—Midnight, who was a former rodeo champion in hopes of using stud fees to get the ranch back on solid financial ground. Of course lots of things go on throughout the six books…Midnight disappears…there's a rash of local thefts….the family is split down the middle on whether or not Midnight should be allowed to rodeo again.
Lots of family drama in each book!


Aidan: Loyal Cowboy July
Cathy McDavid

Colton: Rodeo Cowboy August
C.J. Carmichael

Duke: Deputy Cowboy September
Roz Denny Fox

Austin: Second Chance Cowboy October
Shelley Galloway

Beau: Cowboy Protector November
Marin Thomas

Tomas: Cowboy Homecoming December
Linda Warren


I know readers are very excited about your work after reading that. Where can readers find you?

May I put a plug in for the contests promoting Arizona Cowboy?

Of Course!!

At the end of each month I draw a name from the list of people who Follow My Blog by Email. (To follow my blog by email visit All My Heroes are Cowboys and put your email address in the Follow by Email box. I also run a Wild West Trivia contest in my monthly newsletter. I pose a question and chose a name from all those who submit the correct answer. Subscribe to my newsletter by clicking on the NEWSLETTER link on my website. During the month of February I'm hosting a Goodreads Giveaway and offering 5 copies of Arizona Cowboy. And finally…for all those who "LIKE" my Marin Thomas—Harlequin Romance Author facebook page during the month of February…your name will be entered into a drawing for a free book!

Back to where you can find me….
Website
All My Heroes are Cowboys (Blog)
Twitter
Facebook
goodreads
Harlequin American Romance Authors
Harlequin Books
Amazon


Wow Marin, so many ways to get in touch with your hero's. I hope everyone takes advantage of following your blog and joining your newsletter. I so enjoy it. Please make a comment and enter in Marin's Contest here today for a copy of her latest work.

Marin makes several appearances each year for book signings. Be sure to check her blog to see if she'll be near your home town. Thanks for dropping by my blog as well. I hope you'll come back soon.