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)
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.
24 comments:
Welcome Marin,
I forgot its Superbowl weekend.. so lots of people will be busy getting their provisions in for the big game.
But, welcome to my blog.
Nan
Nancy, thanks for the welcome and thanks for having me on your blog! I'm off to a book signing today at the famous Glendale Chocolate Affaire in the Phoenix valley but I will be back tonight to check in. If you're an aspiring writer and targeting Harlequin or the American Romance line I'll do my best to answer any questions you have!
OH Chocolate and romance- two things that really go together. I hope you have many sales. I'm sure there are lots of questions. Have fun today and you can answer questions tomorrow, we'll make it a weekend blog.
Nan
Hey Marin! Love your post and am looking forward to more great cowboy books.
Leigh
HI, Leigh,
She does write some of the best doesn't she? I'm looking forward to her next release. I'm looking forward to the return to Stagecoach Arizona. I loved her blog on women bull riders. This looks so interesting to me.
I'm so glad you came by today. Thanks so much for making a comment. I hope you'll swing back by soon.
Nan
Ok I'm going to post a few questions about American Series. I see that they want stories between 55k and 60k. So we are looking at setting our story line for about 250 pages?
Hi Leigh--thanks for stopping by Nancy's blog! I just returned from the Glendale Chocolate Affair multi-author book signing and met Cathy McDavid--our fellow American Romance author and Stacy Connelly who writes for SEE...great gals and we had lots of fun gabbing. Sold a few books...but the best part was getting my picture taken with Jimmy...a male romance book cover model :-) Will post pics soon!
OH my gosh half the known female population of the world is going to be insanely jealous!
Nan
Nancy, thanks for asking about the length of American Romance books. The page length comes out to about 217 in the printed book and around 243-253 manuscript pages. The shorter length makes for a much faster-paced book. I prefer the shorter length...both to write and to read. I think it forces the author to write smarter.
And manuscripts are now double spaced? I was doing some reading today and noted that they do say you can have friends, family, etc. Do you limit yourself to no more than 3 secondary characters?
Happy Sunday everyone! Nancy, yes, the manuscripts should be double-spaced and I don't limit myself to a certain number of secondary characters. I use as many as needed to tell the story...just make sure the secondary characters don't over shadow the main romance or steal the show from the hero or heroine :-)
Morning or should I say moooing. My cows are up at the fence telling me they need hay. Good to know that we can let the story unfold in a natural sense when it comes to secondaries. I know when I read usually one secondary stands out and I hope that person will become the next focus for the author.
Nan
Hello Marin!
I grew up surrounded by cowboys in rural Oklahoma. I have been crushing on those guys since I was little. I left OK many years ago so I have to get my cowboy fix from books.
I think cowboys make the best heroes. I am really looking forward to all of your upcoming books!
geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com
Hi Stacie D welcome. Oh I envy you growing up around cowboys. Mine were the ones on TV. Very few close to the Atlantic Ocean.
Nan
Hi Stacie! Yesterday at the book signing a woman told me her daughter lived in Wyoming and was surrounded by cowboys and I just sighed with envy. Maybe one day you'll get back to Oklahoma...in the meantime you join many, many women who get their fix through cowboy romances...there's just something about hearing a man drawl the word..."Ma'am" that gets me every time! Thanks for stopping by, Stacie :-)
Welcome, Marin!!! Great blog post! I'm up here in Green Bay (wasn't born here, but ended up here). Congrats on the books! And thank you, Nancy, for having her here!
HI Markee, Great having you here today. Glad you could stop by and leave a hello.
Marin, I was in envy of Markee. She went to Texas this summer and visited the Alamo. I was just green with jealousy. Not a good color on a blonde by the way. :oP
Nan
LOL, Nancy! And it was a BLAST, too...went by train from Milwaukee (drove there) for a 34+ hour trip. I LOVED TX!!! :) I can't blame you, Marin, for getting out of WI. LOL!
Markee, glad to meet you and thanks for stopping by! San Antonio is one of my favorite places along with all the small Texas Hill Country towns1 I've been to the Alamo a couple of times and strolled along the Riverwalk...just love ebing down there. There's so much history in Texas and darned if those Texans don't just brag about themselves all the time, LOL!
As much as I'm glad to be in a warmer weather, I really miss taking drives in farm country and watching the fields go from rich, black dirt in the spring, to green corn, to brown corn in the fall, to white snow in the winter.
Hi Marin,
I always enjoy tour Cowboy blogs. Your book sounds great. Can't wait to read it.
I have been watching the Puppy Bowl today on Animal Planet. Not sure if I will watch the Superbowl tonight.
More power to ya, Marin, on the snow. LOL!
The Riverwalk is one of my all-time places to go. Did you know that Carol Burnett was born in the hospital right beside the Riverwalk? We took the boat tour...fantastic!
I really miss TX. LOL! I've lived in PA, NC, KS, and now here, and I have to say, I'd LOVE to move south. LOLOL! But I bet I'd miss the farm country, too...grew up in Lancaster, PA, filled with farm country.
Hi Tammy,
Glad you came by! I'm sure nearly everyone this weekend is turned to the Superbowl. I hope your team wins.
Nan
Hi Tammy, thanks for dropping in! I've had three relatives email me about the puppy super bowl, lol! We are a family of animals lovers so I taped the program and told myself if I get my page count done today I can watch the show :-) Oh, and I didn't watch any of the Super Bowl commercials they've been showing this past week so I'm excited to see them tonight!
Happy Monday! Popping in to announce that StacieD's name was drawn out of the hat and Stacie, you've won a an autographed copy of Arizona Cowboy! I'll be in touch to get your snail mail address.
Nancy, thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog, it's been a lot of fun!
Happy Trails everyone...
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