Mary J. McCoy-Dressel Books

Tag: contemporary western romance

• #AmWriting Favorites to Read and Write #MFRWauthor

  Posted at 7:18 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 27, 2018

  

  Week 17: Favorite Romance Genre to Read or Write

  The topic for this weeks Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge says genre and not genres. Romance and romance sub-genres are my go-to favorite. What’s wrong with Happy Endings? ❤  🙂

  It will come as no surprise that my favorite genre to write is contemporary western romance. I love cowboys, horses, and the ranching and western lifestyle. This genre is something I will, most likely, always read and write.

  Can I say I like to read other genres? Maybe write them? I’m going to… Who’s going to stop me? LOL. I’m only teasing…but…

  I can see myself writing a contemporary romance novel not in the western genre because I have novels on my hard drive that are non-western romance. I do read other romance sub-genres beside western, and I like reading women’s fiction novels.

  I’ve already gone overboard with this topic I suppose, but I’m adding that while I wrote time-travel romance novels in the past, they were my favorite genre to write and read at the time, but I’ve always loved western romance. I love reading time-travel novels, but will I ever write another one? It’s doubtful. I’m too wrapped up in new projects as it is. In fact, I have a secret project coming out late next year, and believe it or not, I’m not sure if it’ll be a western, but I’m leaning in the cowboy direction. After all, it is my favorite genre to write, but I’m not limited to reading only western. Now look at that last sentence. I could’ve written a one-sentence post and been done with it. 

  

  ---

  It’s beginning to look and act like spring around here. Knock on Wood. We’re still holding our breath for decent weather. Look! Buds are on the tree in my front yard. I woke to frost on my car windows yesterday. Sigh.

  

   

  Hope you enjoy your weekend.

  In our Blog Challenge group, we have authors who write in many genres and sub-genres besides romance. However, this topic calls for romance. I’m interested to see what their favorites genres are to read and write. Let’s visit the Blog Hop by clicking HERE.

  

  Thanks for reading.

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor | 14 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #AuthorLife, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, blog hop, contemporary western romance, cowboys, Favorites to Read and Write, horses, mainstream, Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge, Ranching, time-travel romance, Victorian Era

• #AmWriting Update and Snippet

  Posted at 4:21 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 17, 2018

  

  What the heck have I been working on since the major revision of Cowboy Boss and his Destiny? Well, folks, for those of you who are interested, I’m back to working on book three in the spin off–Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series–Wade’s story. No, Wade’s story isn’t the title. The title is a whole other deal going on here in my head.

  I have three titles sitting at the top of my manuscript in fancy font looking as pretty as can be, but I can’t select the right one. They’re okay, but they don’t feel like “the one.” The other night I typed a good line… “Hmm, well, now,” I said to myself . “This could be my title.” It’s growing on me.

  By the looks of things, this might be the only book I publish this year. I had a goal of two. Of course, I’m not giving up on the goal yet, but with all the medical stuff going on in my life right now, I’m not sure what lies ahead besides more tests.

  Anyway, for readers of my spin off series, you have met Wade Emory in the first book. He works with Jake Lawton as a foreman and now owns part of Jake’s ranching supply business. However, his luck with women sucks. Isn’t it awful for a romance hero’s love life to suck? In all fairness, he hasn’t been a book hero, but I’ve had so much fun turning him into one. Wade is worthy of being called a romance hero now.

  As a secondary character in Whispers of Forever, Wade began a serious relationship with a woman in the Air Force who lived in Las Vegas, but nope, luck evaded him. In Finding Kimber, his buddy, and best friend, Dane Carlson, set him up with a, well, ahem, let’s move on, and say Wade wasn’t big on dating someone recently out of college who had a drinking problem. In this case, he made sure there wouldn’t be a second date. Oh, and then… Blah, blah,  this is the story of his life.  In his book, he takes a trip, but it isn’t for a vacation. It all boils down to… Will he have to travel four hundred miles from home to meet “the one”? Coming in 2018.

  Here’s a little tidbit from my draft:

  

  Wade hurried down the stairway, taking two steps at a time, through the lobby, and out the door. He caught the guy getting into a shuttle bus and yanked him off before he got to the second step. “You’re not going anywhere.” The smell of alcohol filled the air between them. Wade held his arm and dragged Clay back up the stairs without anything more than a missed swing from the drunk, and a few eyes from hotel patrons. Wade pounded on her door, and when she opened it, he shoved the guy inside. “Give the lady her money, or you won’t leave here walking.”

  She shoved Wade in the chest. “What in the hell are you doing?” She clasped her hands together and faced her brother. “Give me my money, Clay. You didn’t even care how me and Tanner got home. Do you think I’ll forget this?” She reached into his pocket for her money. “Get out of my life.”

  Her brother glared back and forth at her and Wade. “You’ll be sorry.”

  “I was sorry when I came to get you out of jail. Oh, if Dad were here, he’d beat you silly.”

  “I can do the job.” Wade shifted his stance and smirked.

  “You? Who are you? No, never mind.” She flipped her hand toward the door. “Would you get out of my room?”

  Wade held his stubborn ground. “Not until he leaves.”

  She glared at her brother. “You heard the man.”

  Wade shoved him toward the door and watched over the balcony railing until he staggered out of the hotel. He peered at her and shook his head, then left for a dinner he didn’t feel like eating.

   

  ---

  “Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” ~Author unknown

  Thanks for sticking around to read. 🙂

  #TuesdayThoughts

  Solitude coaxes magical things from our souls. ~Terri Guillemets

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series | 8 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, Arizona, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, contemporary western romance, first draft, hero, mary j mccoy dressel, Romance, series romance, Snippet, spin off series

• #AmWriting #MFRWauthor The Best of Seasonal Changes

  Posted at 11:41 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on September 22, 2017

  Welcome to the first day of Fall. Today autumn officially arrives at 4:02 p.m. EDT in the Northern Hemisphere. From The Farmer’s Almanac:

  The word equinox comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night).

  

   

  Week 38. The best parts of each season.

  #MFRWauthor

  

  I wrote a post for last week, but I didn’t get it posted on time. Last week the topic was Five Ways To Win My Heart. I hope you don’t mind me jotting the five ways to win my heart at the bottom of this post. Skip reading the delayed snippet if you choose. I won’t know.  🙂

  Now on to this week’s topic: The best parts of…

  Spring

  Rebirth. Butterflies. No snow. Everything outside is fresh and new. The grass is turning a pretty Kelly green. Hyacinths and crocuses bloom. Buds appear on trees. The air smells so fresh after a spring rain.

   

   

   

   

  Summer 

  Longer days. Vacation. The Beach. Blue skies and fluffy clouds. Roses. Fresh vegetables and fruit. Fireworks. No snow. Camping. People camp in anything from tents to 5th wheels or motor homes. My family has camped in ground tents, pop-up tents, a pickup camper (Remember those?), and a 5th wheel. Sitting around a campfire at night is romantic and fun for those who enjoy it.

  Summer vacation doesn’t mean to me what it used to when I worked, but I love this season. Then, summer couldn’t come soon enough. School dragged until the last day. At my last job in middle school, all the teachers stood outside at the bus stop and waved good-bye to the students. The students got a big kick out of it. Lordy, were we happy! So were the kids.

   

  Autumn

   

  Beauty. Cider Mills. Candy and caramel apples. Cooler temps. Longer walks. Less lawn cutting. Photography. The crunch of leaves. A coating of leaves as they pile up everywhere. Who doesn’t enjoy a drive during the autumn when trees put on their stunning autumn coats only to lose them too quickly? This is my favorite time of year.

   

   

   

   

   

  Winter 

   

  Holidays—Thanksgiving. Christmas, New Year’s Eve. Decorations. Christmas lights. Turkey. Cozy fire. Snowmen. Snuggling into a warm bed. The first snowfall. After the first snowfall, it can melt and not come back until Christmas Eve. Then it can melt again. Do you like sitting in front of a fireplace? I can’t imagine what the holidays will be like this year with both my kids living far away. My son is moving today.  😦

   

  Remember, folks, this is a Marketing for Romance Writers dot org BLOG HOP. Please check out the other participants HERE.

  Thanks for reading! Enjoy autumn.

  ---

  Here’s where I’m sneaking in a quick rundown of Five Ways to Win my Heart from last week’s topic.

  1. Show respect and accept me for who I am. I’ll do the same for you.

  2. Make me laugh.

  3. Flirting with other women when I’m with you, especially with a woman who is with another man, won’t earn you brownie points.

  4. How you introduce me to your friends and acquaintances says a lot. Do you introduce me as a friend, when we both know I’m so much more? Are you ashamed to admit I’m your girlfriend, fiancée, wife? Freaking introduce me properly, please. At least use my name if you can’t think of anything else.

  5. Remember my birthday and our anniversary. Flowers, candy, or gifts aren’t necessary. Yes, they are nice to receive. BUT, if you took the time to pick out a card and tell me happy birthday / anniversary, you’ve won my heart, sweetie.

  Photo credits: Coat/cowboy hat © Aldegonde Le Compte | Dreamstime.com. Christmas Boots  © Olivier Le Queinec | Dreamstime.com. Butterfly Pixabay.

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 22 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting #MFRWauthor The Best of Seasonal Changes, Autumnal Equinox, contemporary western romance, cowboy, Fall, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Romance, spring, summer, western, winter

• Meet the Heroine: Broken Yet Proud Roxanne Connor

  Posted at 2:17 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on May 22, 2017

   

  

  Roxanne Conner is the heroine in Lassoing the Last Dance. She lives up to the name of heroine, but she’s a real hero. She is sometimes called Rox or Roxy.

  

  Roxanne came to life in Cowboy Boss and his Destiny. Roxanne is Nora’s best friend. She lives in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. This is when she met Randy Drake, the savvy horse trainer who works on the Double Dutch Ranch and other surrounding ranches.

  She shared a long-distance relationship with Randy for well over a year. Was it love at first sight? She can’t allow herself to think of such things these days. Her heart is broken.

  

  Roxanne stopped communicating with Randy and swore her friends to secrecy about the circumstances that ended her career.

  Our girl grew up in Canyon Junction. Her father lives close to her now, as does her cousin, Brett Connor, who is more like a brother to her. Her mom is deceased.

  She and Nora have been friends since they were young girls. Roxanne moved back home. In fact, she bought Nora’s childhood home. Now she worries about facing Randy and will avoid him for as long as she can. (Don’t worry, he’s stubborn and doesn’t give up easily.)

  She’s a professional dancer by trade and loved dancing the Samba. She preformed in musicals, but also loved a country two-step or line dance. I’m surprised Randy didn’t deck his best friend, Zach Bryson, when he misunderstood the term professional “dancer.” Randy watched her do the Samba with a restaurant patron one night. I think he’s still drooling. However, she didn’t dance as close to her partner as this lady does in the video. But, will she ever dance again?

  
  Roxanne is divorced from Nate Evers, an abuser with a jealous bone. Moving doesn’t mean she’s escaped.

  Roxanne owns a Self-Storage business back in Broken Arrow, which gives her a steady income between shows.

  She loves children and Nora’s kids call her Aunt Roxanne or Aunt Woxy. She cares for them like they are her own.

  Roxanne struggles every day to find her way. All she asks for really is a happy, safe, and contented life. If Randy could be a part of it, her life would be complete, but…she isn’t the same woman Randy knew… She’s broken.

  In her own words:

  Weakness crept over her now, and she sobbed as she pressed her cheek against his strong and willing chest harboring a gentle heart. “That’s why…why I couldn’t, why I didn’t return your messages. I was broken, Randy—broken in all manner of living. No way could I have asked you to accept this, this change when I didn’t know if I could.”

  

  ---

  Do you want to meet Velia, Nora, Brenna, Gracelyn, Beth, and even Judy Carlson our ranch mom? Visit the Meet Our Heroines page.

  Next up is Tressa Garnett/Kimber Sinclair from Finding Kimber, book two in Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series. I’m sure hoping Zachary (Zach) Bryson, the ruggedly handsome hero in this book can help this sexy redhead find the real woman who lurks inside Kimber Sinclair. (Zach Bryson is Randy’s best friend, and wow, he is hot! He’s introduced in Lassoing.)

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  Posted in Double Dutch Ranch Series, Meet Our Heroines | 6 Comments | Tagged best friends, contemporary western romance, country two-step, cowboy, Double Dutch Ranch Series, Full Length Novel, heroine, Lassoing the Last Dance, line dance, long-distance relationship, mary j mccoy dressel, Samba Dancing, series romance, western romance

• #MFRWauthor ~LOL and ROTFL~ Week 18, 52-Week Challenge

  Posted at 12:09 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on May 5, 2017

  MFRWauthor Week 18, 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop

  I didn’t post anything last week for the blog challenge. The topic was Five Top Places I’d Like to Visit. My New Release, Lassoing the Last Dance came out last week. I had posted three posts in a row, and I didn’t want my followers to become bored with too many posts at once. I’m a blogger who doesn’t post as often as I should, so why put readers in shock.  🙂 But I’m here today!

  

   

  Topic for Week 18: What makes me laugh out loud? 

   

  

  When I’m together and laughing with my family, it’s the best time I could ask for. Watching others laugh gets me to laughing. My boys make me laugh out loud quite often, even in an email at times.

  Another thing that comes to mind is a child’s laughter. When one kid starts, it’s like a wave and it flows throughout the classroom. I don’t mean their casual laughter, which they do a lot anyway. It’s when they think something is truly funny, and the laugh comes from deep inside of them.  

  Here’s a cool example on You Tube where I found myself laughing out loud at these kids playing with Google Home.  Don’t worry, they don’t count all the way to 100 in the video. You’ll see what I mean if you watch.  Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Google Home or with anyone in the video.

   Some other things to make me laugh out loud:

  • The Blue Man Group. If you get a chance to see them, please do.
  • I have a couple male friends who always make me laugh out loud. They’re good to have around when I feel down. Sometimes my little brother does too.
  • Jokes and sometimes Dirty jokes, depending on who is telling it and the kind of dirty.
  • TV. Not the goofy comedy shows with titles I won’t mention here.
  • Some lines in books make me laugh. Even my own lines if I get caught up in a scene while writing or revising. Don’t judge!  😉
  • Animals. A dog chasing his/her tail. Penquins. My friend’s cat, Snickers.

  

  I’m sure there are more things to make me laugh out loud, but this sounds good for now. How about you? What makes y’all laugh? Let us know.

  Once again, this is a Blog Hop. Please visit the other participants.

  Thanks!

  1. Laughing With My Family—Sara Walter Ellwood	2. It’s No Laughing Matter- Wait, Yes It Is Maureen B
  3. My Life: Laughing Out Loud	4. Robin Michaela: Lol – What Makes Me Laugh Out Loud
  5. To Laugh Or Not	6. Good For A Laugh, Meka James
  7. Tickling My Funny Bone	8. #MFRWauthor ~LOL and ROTFL~ MJ McCoy-Dressel
  9. Laughter Is The Best Medicine	10. ROTFLMAO
  11. Fluffy Chickens, Shari Elder	12. Keeping a Straight Face
  13. Linda’s LOL Funny	14. I Love to Laugh
  15. Belly Shakers and Comedic Genius

   

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 19 Comments | Tagged 52-week blog challenge, blog hop, contemporary western romance, Google Home, Laughter, LOL, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, ROTFL, You Tube

• #AmWriting Short Snippet Saturday: No Guarantees

  Posted at 11:35 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on March 18, 2017

  Hello and good morning, evening, or whatever time of day it is for you. LOL. Yesterday I gave a sneak peek of the cover for Lassoing the Last Dance, book #4 in the Double Dutch Ranch Series. Today I’m giving you an excerpt. I can’t call this one a short snippet, but I’m calling it Short Snippet Saturday anyway.  🙂 

  

  We’re in Roxanne’s POV. She’s about to do something she’s put off for over eight months–something that destroyed her relationship with Randy, and there is no guarantee they’ll get it back after telling him. Slightly modified to avoid spoilers.

  Randy strolled to the doorway and extended his arm toward the living room. She sat on the end of the three cushioned, contemporary styled, burgundy colored sofa. The fireplace had a screen over the front. Above the mantel was a good-sized painting of Superstition Mountain, while three other walls showed smaller paintings of horses. One was a photograph of Randy’s stable during sunset. Another painting of the Grand Canyon sat nestled between two smaller sunset pictures. They were new since her last visit. He pulled an ottoman over to sit across from her and took her hands.

  “You have the look of pain in your eyes. What’s going on, Rox? Did that asshole hurt you again? Finally tear you down?”

  “Oh, God.” She released her hands and got up to pace, and stopped to get a better look of the picture over the mantel. The house was cool but her body felt overheated. In order to get out what she wanted to say, she took short, fast breaths until she was capable of speaking. “I’m not sure you’ll be able to handle what I have to tell you—”

  He stood in a rush, his hands clenching into fists, and he was at her side in a flurry. “You’re back with him?” he asked dryly.

  “For God’s sake, no! Nothing is the same, Randy.” Facing him, she searched his eyes. “Sweet Randy. You deserve more.” She grasped her head with both hands. Oh, how I missed you.

  “I deserve more? Then why are you even here? Why’d you come?” He didn’t wait for an answer and ambled to the kitchen.

  Back on the couch, her gaze followed after him and she waited. He looked out the window from the kitchen sink. Damn, he looked hot from the back, the way his raven hair fell over his collar. His hands shifted to the top of his head and he spread his legs to a wider stance. He looked strong, like he could take on the world and win.

  How could he know what to expect when she didn’t? At the sink, he twirled around and stood in the doorway. He gripped the woodwork on each side of him. Mr. Randy Drake looked so good from the front, too. Whoa, baby, his jeans sat low on his hips without a belt, and he wore black motorcycle boots to give him such a sexy persona. This was serious, and she shouldn’t be seeing sexy right now.

  “You know I don’t play games. I don’t try to be something I’m not. Again, Roxanne. Why are you here? Here in my house—in Canyon Junction?”

  “Why am I here in your house? Because you’re like a… Your magnetism pulled me here. But, I’m scared.”

  “Let me be the judge. Tell me what the hell’s going on, and let me make my own decisions. I’m a man, not a little boy. What are you scared of?” He came into the living room where he took a seat and straddled the ottoman.

  He was right. It wasn’t her decision to make, though she had herself convinced it was her decision to think for him. Her skin tingled as sweat formed on her arms, her face, while she built up the nerve to let it all out. First, she had to find a way to push that lump down her throat. Here goes. “I had an accident and nearly died. My reason for staying away is probably worse than you would even imagine.” She clasped his hot, calloused hands. “Randy…” I have to do this.

  He squeezed her hands and remained quiet. His gaze never faulted from staring at her eyes, her lips.

  End of Excerpt

  

  ---

  Oh, boy! That even gets my heart pounding because I know what’s coming. Thanks for reading.

  The book will be out in April IF everything goes to plan. In yesterday’s post I mentioned why I don’t do preorders, which isn’t to say I never will do one. One day, I might.

  I appreciate your visit. Thanks for stopping by today.

  To learn more about the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight, visit HERE.

   

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  Posted in #AmWriting, Double Dutch Ranch Series, Short Snippet Saturday | 6 Comments | Tagged Arizona, contemporary western romance, Full Length Novel, Lassoing the Last Dance, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, No Guarantees, rancher, Romance, series romance, western romance novel

• #AmWriting Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse: Images Speak

  Posted at 3:01 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 21, 2017

  Happy Tuesday!

  

  It’s true, I almost forgot—today is Tuesday. It’s been too long since I posted under my self-proclaimed Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse theme. What inspired me today? Well, nothing popped into my mind, so I browsed photos under the tag “Inspiration.” Why did this particular image get my attention? Oh, thanks for asking!

  

  This setting inspired a book I wrote some time ago—even before I took up the lasso to rope in those cowboys. But… Oh, such a big but… I never finished it. LOL Said book was to take place in Northern California with the lavender fields as part of the setting. Mt. Shasta would be in the distance. My son promised to visit the area to be my eyes for the book. You can bet the next time I visit him, we will visit the lavender fields because you never know when a cowboy might move. (Hah, not on my watch.)

  I found this image at Pixabay. The mountain in the distance reminds me of the mountain my son can see from about sixty-miles away. It can also be seen from the lavender fields according to pictures on their website. I’ve been to Mt. Shasta, both the mountain and city, but at the time I didn’t know anything about lavender fields. In my fictional mind, my town would be a fictitious town, anyway. I had written over 60,000 words in this story.

  Then:

  Everything changed. I’m not ready to stop writing western romance, so this book is going through a major revision to change the setting to Canyon Junction. The book, which is the second book in my new spin off series—Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love, will have the same plot and most of the same characters. Definitely the same hero, but now he’s a cowboy. The heroine will turn into a cowgirl whether she likes it or not. They both get a new home, wardrobe, and occupation. Y’all will meet the hero in Lassoing the Last Dance.

  Most of my books are hero focused, but this one is more focused on my heroine. She deserves all the attention she can get. Finding Kimber will be published before the year is over. I’ve created a humungous challenge for myself, and I look forward to figuring it all out. Wish me luck.

  Here’s one of the photos I took while on a day outing to Mt. Shasta with my California kid.

  

  Enjoy your day!

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse | 8 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, contemporary western romance, Cowboy Romance, inspiration, lavender fields, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Mt. Shasta, Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse: Images Speak, western romance

• It’s a Wrap! Hey, 2016, Don’t Let The Door… Haha Just Kidding

  Posted at 11:42 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on January 1, 2017

  Before I get to a year-end wrap-up and optimisms for the new year, just let me say thanks to y’all for hanging around for another year. You’re more important to me than you know.

  

  I started this blog in 2007 when I had no idea what I’d do with a blog other than write about my first two books. (out of print) What I do now is nothing like I did in 2007, and I’ve deleted most of those random posts. I also turned this into my website.

  My headline is kind of deceiving. For the most part, 2016 wasn’t too bad. It was up and down like a sled on a snowy hill, but I think most of it was like sledding down…the fun part.

  

  The last two months have been like walking back up the hill.

  Before starting this post, I looked at my last years New Years wrap-up post. Here’s a short list from the end of last year. I basically have the same plan for 2017 with some additions.

  Plan from Last Year:

  

  • Stay healthy. This isn’t starting out very well already.
  • Love and hug my fur baby while I can. ❤  Some of you might remember that nearly two years ago, she was tentatively diagnosed with a brain tumor, and the veterinary neurologist said my son and I probably wouldn’t have a year with her. This coming March will be two years.
  • Publish! CHECK. Christmas at Love House
  • Publish!! CHECK. Whispers of Forever
  • Publish!!! I didn’t get three published, but I started writing a new book in 2016, while finishing Christmas at Love House and Whispers of Forever.
  • Write whatever new idea comes to my muse during the year. CHECK. I have two new book ideas.
  • Begin a new series in 2016. CHECK…done and published.
  • Try to stick to a blogging schedule. Semi-schedule? A couple posts a week? At least one? LOL HALF-ASS DONE.

   NOTE: Part way through I decided not to post Short Snippet Saturday and Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse posts on a weekly basis. I did start my Meet Our Heroines mini-blog series, though. All I need now are more heroines! Beth is up next.  😉

  In addition, this year I will add:

  

  • Read more books. I hate to admit my Goodreads number of “Books Read This Year,” sucked.
  • Publish! Publish! And, I’ll try to publish a surprise third book. One of the books to be published in 2017 is a real challenge to write.
  • Publish Lassoing the Last Dance in the first quarter.
  • Write more blog posts (Here we go again.)
  • Maybe give Pinterest a try.
  • Exercise & make better food choices. I know, I know…
  • Work on getting my books in print.

  I haven’t put much thought into what else I’d add to my plan this year because I never planned on writing a wrap-up post this year. So far it looks like I’m going out on a limb, but I have a year, right?

  Not-So-Goods of 2016

  My blood boils when I think of some of these.

  • With no warning, I had to scramble to find a new editor when I was on deadline. This trickled down to rescheduling my book formatter three times.
  • Vertigo. Yes, I have vertigo and I had to take a break from writing when I SHOULD have been writing. This was my first trip to the ER this year. My son thought I was having a stroke when he came over to take the dog out. Scary for both of us.
  • Hip and back pain. Lot’s of it.
  • One and two star reviews. Ugh, my stomach is still sick over them.

  Happy Days

  At least the not-so-goods list is shorter than the happy days list. I’m sure I’ve missed some of the happy days. Honestly, being a full time writer is my dream come true, which will always be on the happy list.

  • A Wedding! My youngest son got married! I still haven’t seen the professional wedding pictures.

  • I have a terrific new editor. This was a very wise decision.
  • Blood pressure went down without meds.
  • Holiday shopping. Fun dot com shopping! ALEXA, what is…
  • Whispers of Forever reached #1 in Hot New Releases in Contemporary Western Fiction in UK and U.S. and stayed there for quite some time. As far as I know, it reached #3 in the same category in Best Selling Contemporary Western Fiction in UK and U.S. I don’t know if it went to #1.
  • Christmas Eve. Oh, oh. I’m not sure where this fits. My son came to pick me up for dinner and gift opening.  Mmm, dinner was delicious! Their house looked so pretty dressed for Christmas.

  Then…

  • I spent three and a half hours in the ER Christmas Eve. This means my son and daughter-in-law also spent three and a half hours in the ER Christmas Eve. My finger was crushed and split open from a knuckle to the nail. Do not sit on chairs that are already broken. Do not do this. They eventually collapse. It’s possible that your hand will be between the floor and the chair when this happens. I’ll spare you seeing the front side of the finger unwrapped.

  

  On top of all this, I wrote this whole post with stitches and a splint on my pinky finger! Do you know how many keys are used by the pinky finger? Including using the shift key for each new sentence and then some?  Oh, well.

  Here we go into another brand new year, which brings me to the same quote I shared last year. But, hey, it still fits, huh? Have a fabulous new year!

  How about you? Do you have a plan for the new year? How’d last years plan work out for you?

  For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
  And next year’s words await another voice.
  And to make an end is to make a beginning.
  ~T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”

   

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife | 6 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #AuthorsLife #WriterLife, 2017 Don't Let The Door, 2017 wrap-up, contemporary western romance, Cowboy Romance, It's a Wrap, mary j mccoy dressel

• Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse: Friends & Promo, Oh, My! #RLFblog

  Posted at 3:27 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on November 29, 2016

  Hi, Folks! Not long ago, Jacquie Biggar shared my book, Christmas at Love House: A Bittersweet Interlude. The other day, she shared my newest release, Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas. Well, to me, this is Inspiration for my Muse. Thanks again, Jacquie!

   

  

  Hop on over to visit Jacquie and see what she has up on her site today. My book was shared on Thanksgiving Day, but I didn’t want to bother y’all with promo on that day. Jacquie is a U.S.A. Today Best-selling Author. Jacquie has a lot of her own work in book bundles with other fantastic authors, plus, she writes novels. She writes Romantic Suspense with Attitude. You go girl!

  I’ve been cyber-traveling! Today I’m over at Romance Lives Forever Blog. This blog was created by Kayelle Allen, who is the founder of Marketing For Romance Writers.org. I think I’ll be here on December 3rd, too, but I’m not sure if that is an error.

  Yep, you got it. Today at #RLFblog I’m showcasing the same book. I wouldn’t mind having you visit. You can see who my favorite book hero is. Not my own, darn it.   🙂 Oooh, but I probably couldn’t choose my own. It was hard enough to choose another one. Guess what? He isn’t a cowboy! But, he probably ended up with a cowboy hat sooner or later.

  I won this award once when I was a guest at Romance Lives Forever. Last month I had a mention as one of the top five bloggers of the month. Goodness, but I’ve done a lot of “tooting” my own horn today. I’m sorry.  I hope I don’t lose y’all for blabbing this much about myself. I embarrassed myself. *grin*

  

  Thanks for visiting. Check out the links because Jacquie, and the Romance Lives Forever Blog, share tons of books on their sites.

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas | 8 Comments | Tagged #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, contemporary western romance, Guest spot, Jacquie Biggar, Marketing for Romance Writers org, New Release, Romance, Romance Lives Forever Blog, series, Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas

• Short Snippet Saturday: “Cowboys, Let’s Ride!”

  Posted at 12:40 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on August 6, 2016

  You aren’t seeing things. Yes, it’s been a long time since I posted a short snippet, but believe me I’ve had good reasons for not posting regularly.

  

  This snippet is from Christmas at Love House: A Bittersweet Interlude, book #3 with no spoilers. The video at the end is kind of how my bull rider feels now. As Velia says in the book, “The body of a bull rider ages fast.”

  

  Modified from its original version.

  He wrapped cold hands around his warm cup. Retirement loomed overhead. Each morning getting out of bed reminded him. For once, he’d have to give it serious consideration. It wouldn’t be like he retired. From bull riding yes, but he’d still have his bulls in the PBR, so it would always be a part of his life. Bulls surrounded his environment, so there’d be a hellion to ride almost anywhere he went.

  After the new year, maybe by summer, he’d break the news to Velia, that indeed, retirement was in the near future. This time, he felt good about it—at peace with the decision. For now, he’d set it aside to simmer.

  Stomping snow off his boots before entering, he removed them in the mudroom. Finishing his first cup, he poured another, then went upstairs to get the crew. In the middle of the hallway, he bellowed. “Cowboys, let’s ride!”

  Thanks for reading. Have a rocking weekend.

  Want to receive updates about new releases or important book updates? Click to Subscribe to my mailing list.

  ---

  NOTE: Do you know bull riders wear spurs on their boots? It can’t be anything pointy like the one in this image. I only used the image for effect. TIP: check out this video to see what a real bull riding spur looks like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY1hZ0XPdLo

  For bull riding fans: Strap on those chaps because World Finals begins in early November in Las Vegas.

  For hardcore fans like me, I just learned that Netflix is hosting a six episode Professional Bull Riders (PBR) documentary series called Fearless. I already added it to my list on Netflix. Season One is coming August 19th.  ❤

  Here’s the video I mentioned in the opening of this post.  🙂  George is the best and one of my favorite country music singers.

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  Posted in #AmWriting, Bull Rider Series, Short Snippet Saturday | 18 Comments | Tagged bull rider series, bull riders, Christmas at Love House, contemporary western romance, cowboys, Full Length Novel, mary j mccoy dressel, series romance

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