Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Tag: Howdy Ma’am

• Daily Prompt: Do It Yourself Ambitions

  Posted at 4:17 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 28, 2023

  

  Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on.

  I shouldn’t take the time right now to write this, especially when I have an unfinished prompt sitting in my Draft Folder. My blog has been lonely too long. Besides, I miss all of you. So, here goes:

  Projects

  I could have written a post for a manual labor project of remodeling a room, or rooms, an outside garden project, or installing a generator in a car. I chose something else. My first self-published book Howdy, Ma’am. The book has such a history, it took two blog posts to write the full timeline: Howdy, Ma’am: the Journey Part one and Timeline Part Two, the Journey of Book. It wasn’t my intention, but it reads like a chapter taken from my memoir, if I ever wrote one.

  

  Brain Work & Responsibilities

  When I say DIY, I mean the mental anguish work of plotting it out, writing the book, editing and revising it on my own. Proofreading and uploading it for publication. Add marketing to the DIY batch.

  Let’s not forget we have to find the time for sitting-the-fanny-in-the-chair. Do you have kids and a full time job? Good luck.

  Learning

  We could count all the studying and research necessary to do the aforementioned as a project too. Albeit, I can’t call the project in its entirety a Do It Yourselfer. If so, I would have formatted it myself, created the book cover, and edited it all myself. Big mistake on all sides – for me. I’m smart enough to know what I can’t do.

  Getting Out of Your Own Way

  This girl is creative but not talented enough to create a cover or good enough to edit my own book. Many of you do your own covers and formatting. Pat yourselves on the back, my friends. A while back, I had to learn how to format when my formatter retired. I still don’t call myself an expert. Every new book takes me through a multitude of emotions from the joy in finishing it to freaking out about preparing it, publishing it, and whatever happens next. I’ve accepted this will not change.

  So, yes, in conclusion, I still say one of the biggest DIY projects I’ve taken on is my dream job of writing and publishing a book.

  Dear friends and visitors, can you think of an ambitious DIY project you have taken on?

  Thanks for reading!

  Mic drop and out. 😎 Peace.

  Posted in #AmWriting, #daily-prompt, #WritersLife | 7 Comments | Tagged #daily-prompt, #WritersLife, book publishing, bull rider series, Daily Prompt: Do It Yourself Ambitions, DIY Project, Howdy Ma'am, mary j mccoy dressel

• A Book Title, BINGO, and a Snippet

  Posted at 4:26 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on June 24, 2020

  I missed Book Hooks Wednesday again. The post almost made it, yadda yadda yadda…

  This isn’t the snippet I had written for Book Hooks. Instead, this one stemmed from an upcoming post I trashed about Book Titles, which included Hey, Cowboy. The scene you’re about to read is why the title for Hey, Cowboy, Book two is what it is. However this scene is from Howdy, Ma’am, Book One. The snippet explains.

  In the beginning, I didn’t want either of these titles to be for the books, but in the end, they were the perfect choice. I have no regrets. 💙

   

  

  ---

   

  Caulder and Velia got to know each other before the season began. She fought the attraction forming between them, but she only fooled herself.

  Set up: Velia did her best to deny what had happened between them the night before, on their first night on the road, no less. She promised herself and him, it would never happen again. We turn the page to the day after: Modified a bit from the original.

  

  As soon as Caulder came out to practice wearing Wranglers and a shirt with the sleeves cut out, and pumped muscles filling her viewfinder, she almost choked on her own lust. “Focus, dammit!” He strutted around the arena like he owned each grain of sand. He went to every bull and talked to them. When he came nose to nose with one big, ugly critter, she had it in her sights.

  She videotaped him around the horses, patting them on the back, and sliding his hand down their flanks. Like he slid his hand down my flank. “Focus.” She got him on video when he wandered to the other side of the arena. Yes, she got one fine part of him strolling away from her—his tight and toned, nice-looking, feel good ass. She stomped. “Why, dammit, why?” Her camera dangled from the neck strap as she watched him.

  She followed and caught him inside the doorway. “Hey, cowboy?”

  

  He turned toward her with a slow glance over her body, and she was aware of the longing in his eyes. She hurried to him and slid her arms around his neck.

  End of excerpt.

  And that, my friends, is where Hey, Cowboy got its title.

  Thanks for reading. Find more on the Bull Rider Series book page.

  

  ---

  Here’s a cute story about the title for Howdy, Ma’am.

  A while back, a long while back, when this book was new, I sent a gift basket to a reader conference with this book included. Cover models were leading a BINGO game. The card squares had book titles on them. I don’t know which cover model, but I heard from the winner of the basket, that the model had a lot of fun calling my book title for this gift basket. When he drew out HOWDY, MA’AM for a spot on the BINGO cards, he’d repeat the title over and over with his deep voice and drawl. He, and the book, got a lot of attention. It made me glad to have kept the title!

  Enjoy the rest of your week!

  Posted in #AmWriting, Bull Rider Series | 5 Comments | Tagged #WritersLife, A Book Title BINGO and a Snippet, Book Hooks, bull rider series, cowboy, Hey cowboy, Howdy Ma'am, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance

• Short Snippet Saturday: An Accident

  Posted at 11:28 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on March 2, 2019

  

  I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see the end of winter this year. We’ve had so much snow. It’s hard to believe our snowfall is below average, so far. The whole country is getting slapped with awful weather. What will spring bring? Happy March!

  This snippet comes from Hey, Cowboy, Book #2.

  In the back of this book in my Note to Readers, I stated: Writing this book brought out emotions I forgot I had from joy to heart wrenching pain. I laughed. I cried. I held my breath. I loved.

  In Howdy, Ma’am, Book One, the book opens with Velia returning from Italy after attending her Aunt Dafne’s funeral. Torre is Velia’s cousin and Dafne’s son.

  At the end of this snippet you’ll see the word zio. This means uncle in Italian. I was told by the person who checked my Italian in this series, that words like zio, zia, mamma, papà aren’t capitalized like they are in English. At first, it was hard to get used to writing them without capital letters, but I wanted to be true to my heroine’s use of her language.

  A name has been changed, and a scene has been modified so nothing is given away.

  Sorry for the long introduction.

  ---

  

  Bull Rider Series 2

  “We have to get things straightened out here.” They backed Roy and Caulder against the wall while the sheriff handcuffed Rosemary. He nodded toward Caulder and said to a deputy, “He’s the homeowner, set him free.”

  “Get the handcuffs off him, he’s family.” Caulder tilted his head toward Roy.

  Sheriff Dawson instructed the deputy to release him, too.

  Velia scanned the room. Two had been shot and there were men with guns. She understood their need to secure the place.

  “Anyone else in the house?” asked the deputy who had been there previously to take a report.

  “My cousin? No!” She turned to Caulder. “Is Torre in the…safe room?”

  He gave a short nod.

  “We’ll have to get him, ma’am,” said the sheriff. “Show me where he is.”

  “But my father. Let me remain with him.” Her shoulders shook from sobbing. “My cousin is s-safe for now. He’s only a boy. Please…I don’t want him to see this.”

  “Everyone needs to be in one place until we figure out what’s going on here, and to make sure he’s okay.”

  “I’ll go,” Roy said. He directed the sheriff toward the safe room.

  The EMTs arrived, and they attended to her father while two other techs attended to the second intruder.

  Caulder picked Velia up from the floor. “Come on, baby, let them do their job.” He wrapped his arms around her and held tight.

  One of the techs worked on her father. “We have to move him now.” They rolled his listless body over and prepared him for the trip, then lifted him to the stretcher and adjusted the straps around his body.

  The sheriff returned and spoke to Velia. “Your man is in the other room with the boy and a deputy. I’ll get you to the hospital. You’ll bring the boy with you. We have to question Mr. McCutchen and Mr. Bianco before they can join you.”

  Velia placed both hands on her head. “Are you arresting Caulder and Roy?”

  “We need to question them, ma’am. This is an obvious home invasion, and it looks like you all did what you had to do to protect yourselves.”

  He directed Caulder to remain with a deputy and another one stayed with Roy. Sheriff Dawson took Velia by the elbow and got Torre from the other room. He escorted them to his vehicle.

  Velia held her cousin close against her as they walked outside. The sight of flashing lights and ambulances shattered her heart into tiny pieces. To think this boy had to go through something so traumatic once again in his life. She dropped into the back seat of the sheriff’s SUV, never removing her arm from around Torre’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Torre,” she said sobbing. “Oh, honey, I know you were frightened.”

  “Roy and Caulder told me to stay hidden. Those people wanted to hurt you. I heard gunshots.”

  Velia pulled back. “And you listened. I’m so thankful you listened to them. I’m proud of you.” She released him yet smoothed hair away from his face. His dark eyes held fear and questions.

  “What happened to your face?”

  Her face must have looked a mess. “An accident.” How many times had he heard that excuse from his own mother before she died?

  “Will zio Ric be okay?”

  “I don’t know.” She swiped at tears then embraced him. This must have brought back horrid memories for him. “Torre, I’m just so sorry. So sorry.” Please, let my father be okay.

  ---

  I switched the featured book I had started with this month back to the Bull Rider Series. Mostly, because I’d like to expose the new covers as much as possible.

  Thank you for reading. Enjoy your weekend.

  Stay warm and dry.

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Bull Rider Series, Short Snippet Saturday | 8 Comments | Tagged bull rider series, Hey cowboy, Howdy Ma'am, mary j mccoy dressel, Short Snippet Saturday, western romance

• #AmWriting Week 42: Prologue or Not? #MFRWauthor

  Posted at 2:54 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on October 19, 2018

  

  Week 42: Prologue or No Prologue?

  If last week’s topic was about Epilogues then this week must be prologues. Indeed, it is, and here we go again. It’s Friday. T.G.I.F. Friday equals Marketing for Romance writers 52-Week Blog Challenge.

  This should be simple to write. I’ve only written two books with a prologue. After revising one of them some years later, I removed the prologue and revised Chapter One to update the beginning to fit what was happening right now. That book is Howdy, Ma’am so anyone with an original copy has the prologue.

  In that book, the prologue was a recommendation from my editor. I agreed. It fit the criteria for using a Prologue. What had happened, had taken place earlier than where Chapter One originally had started.

  I’m including links for different sites I’m familiar with to explain the criteria for a prologue:

  • When to Use a Prologue Writer’s Digest.
  • Pros and Cons of Prologues from The Editor’s Blog.

  My time-travel was my first book with a prologue. It makes sense after all since Chapter One started in the present time. The prologue took place in 1882.

  When I was young, I didn’t read the prologue in books because I didn’t understand why they were there. All I wanted to do was get into the story. Once I understood them, I haven’t skipped one since.

  Have you ever skipped reading a prologue?

  It’s weird this topic comes up now because I had an “episodic hero intrusion” the other night who thinks my current WIP should open with a prologue in his POV. Unfortunately, I don’t want to write this book with a prologue. Soooo…

  I’m the boss here. If I have to tie him to his ranch signpost to make him sweat a little, I damn well will. However, it won’t be easy at four in the morning when he comes out to play in my head. I like to write hero focused romance, which means I can agree about beginning in his POV, but it will be in chapter one, not a prologue. Nope, not for this upcoming book.

  To wrap it up: I don’t use prologues now and don’t know if I ever will again. I do read prologues and don’t mind when they begin stories.

  What’s your take on Prologues?

  To me, it’s not the same answer as the epilogue post. It seems like a prologue doesn’t have the option if the story calls for one unless you want to do a lot of rewriting or write it into your Chapter One. IMO.  🙂

  Thanks for reading. You know what’s next…

  Visit my fellow author participants for Week 42 and Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge. If interested in my take on “Epilogues,” click HERE.

  

   

  I appreciate you stopping by.

   

  

  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor | 8 Comments | Tagged blog hop, bull rider series, Howdy Ma'am, Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge, Week 42: Prologue or Not? #Amwriting #MFRWauthor

• #AmWriting ~Life Lessons in Books~ #MFRWauthor Blog Hop

  Posted at 11:42 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on July 14, 2017

  Week 28 – MFRW 52-Week Blog Challenge ~ Blog Hop #MFRWauthor

  

   

  Week 28: Life Lessons in My Books

  Well, folks, this has been an awful week. Last Sunday I had to have my dog put down. She was fourteen. My son got her when she was ten months old. She’s been mine 24/7 for the last seven years. We are all devastated, but she deteriorated rapidly the last two days of her life. I miss her like crazy, and it feels like she’s pressed up against my office chair as I sit at my desk. I still look so I don’t roll into her. I check the floor beside my bed before stepping down. I wrote her into my book, Whispers of Forever, as a tribute because I knew our days together were limited. She’s on the cover, too.

  RIP my sweet girl, Kasha.

  

   

  As if that wasn’t enough, on the same day before we knew we’d be putting her down, my son and daughter-in-law told me they’re moving to Virginia. They now live seven miles from me. My older son lives on the other coast. I’m going to miss him so much. If I’m not crying over the dog, I’m crying over them leaving. Deep breath. I know life goes on. That should be my life lesson.

  ---

  So…

  I wasn’t in the mood to write a post this week but the topic is kind of important. Life lessons? How do I get the point across to readers in my books?

  Here’s an example. In my Bull Rider Series, the first book shows that my heroine, Velia, is living with an abusive husband. How ironic for her since she is on a plane returning from a funeral for her aunt in Italy who died at her husband’s hands. She left three children behind. Velia has an awakening, and begins her plan of escape and she carries it through.

  This is one life lesson I want my readers to get.

  No one needs to live in a mental or physical abusive relationship. Do I speak from experience on this topic? Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. Do I think it’s easy to walk away from an abusive relationship? Hell no. It isn’t. After a while it seems like the normal way of life. That’s all I’ll say about that. Referring to the book and in reality, I wrote a short post about Domestic Abuse.

  I’m talking for women though men are abused too in a relationship, but I know most of my readers are women.

  

  Outside of abuse, I want to let readers know through my heroines, they are allowed to be independent and have their own minds and opinions. Through my heroes, I want to show that, sure, they can get mad about something, and maybe not approve, but no matter what, they will respect their heroine, and vice versa in this scenario.

  Someone close to me wasn’t allowed this in her life. She had to live under her husband’s thumb to a certain extent. She accepted it because he provided for the family, and she didn’t feel like she deserved to have more than she’d like to have. My mother lived a hellish life with my dad, and he tried the same thing with me growing up. He realized early that I was an independent soul whether he liked it or not. He eventually embraced the idea that I stuck up for myself. I try to relay this message in my books.

  Shouldn’t everyone have a right to an opinion in a relationship?  MJ McCoy-Dressel

   

  A friend had turned all finances in their family over to her husband. He gave her a small allowance each month. I mean small, and some of the income had been her earnings. She scrimped for months to buy an outfit when her husband didn’t have to ask permission to buy a new…anything. How is this fair? Fairness isn’t an option. Is it? Am I wrong? Maybe it’s my own independent mind thinking love should be fair.

  

   

  I hope the life lessons in my books show that a person should expect to be treated with:

  • Respect.
  • Fairness.
  • As an equal.
  • Without fear of being slapped or worse.
  • Without FEAR.
  • You have a choice.
  • Independence isn’t a bad thing.
  • Love.

  Thanks for reading today.

  Remember, this is a BLOG HOP. Please visit the others.

  Week 28 – MFRW 52-Week Blog Challenge Participants #MFRWauthor

  Participants, I’ll do my best to get around to your blogs. If nothing else, I will share your posts. Thanks for understanding.

   

  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, 52-week blog challenge | 31 Comments | Tagged #MFRWauthor, 52 Week Challenge, blog hop, bull rider series, cowboys, domestic abuse, fairness, fear, Howdy Ma'am, independence, love, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, respect, Treated as an equal, western romance

• Short Snippet Saturday: Whoa There, Little Filly #AmWriting

  Posted at 1:13 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on May 20, 2017

  Hello! Today I’m bringing y’all a short snippet from Howdy, Ma’am, the first book in the Bull Rider Series. I do love the cowboy hero in this book. He and Velia sure have had a tough ride in the three books in this series.

  Set up:

  Velia divorced her first husband, Justin. Her dad accompanied her to the courthouse, along with two of the men who work for him. Justin had caused a scene in the courtroom. Because of Justin’s history of abuse, her dad sent one of his men, Roy Bianco, home with Velia after court. Caulder had been invited to dinner the next day, but there was an incident minutes before he arrived, and Velia ended up in the hospital. Roy and Caulder stay with her at home that night. She’ll soon be leaving with Caulder on the bull riding circuit.

  ---

  After Alice left, Velia went to the kitchen and got a wine glass from the cupboard.

  Caulder jumped up and hurried to her. “Whoa there, little filly, you can’t be drinking with that pain medication.” He slipped his arm around her waist.

  “I forgot.” She grasped the woodwork along the doorway.

  Roy came to assist Caulder with her, but Caulder picked her up and carried her to bed. Roy lingered right behind. “Is she okay?”

  “She’s dizzy.” He laid her on the bed and pulled the covers over her. “Maybe you should stay right here.”

  “I’m fine.” She grimaced then held her head. “Maybe not.”

  “Your pain pill is starting to work, Velia. Let it ease the pain and stop fighting against it.” Caulder rested one knee on the side of the bed and brushed the hair away from her face, gently running his knuckles along her cheek.

  She looked up at him. With the tender care everyone was giving to her, she felt more like a child than a grown woman, but the burning fire making its way over her body, reminded her she was no child. And neither was Caulder.

  “Rest while you can. We’ll be waking you soon.” He leaned forward and softly kissed her forehead.

  He stopped several inches from her face and stared into her eyes. Another heated rush fell over her. She wanted him to lie beside her and hold her in his arms. Velia closed her eyes and felt the mattress rise as he lifted his knee.

  He moved away and stood beside the bed. “Try to get some rest,” he said, as he turned to leave. Caulder whirled around at the door. “I’m sorry this happened to you.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels.

  “I’ll be all right.”

  He hurried back to the bed and put another kiss on her forehead, cupping her face in the process.

  She covered a yawn with the back of her hand, feigning sleepiness so he’d leave, but in reality, she hid the fervor in her eyes. The warmth of his lips lingered on her skin. Why would he do such a thing? Her weighted eyelids fluttered, and she fought to keep them closed. When he walked away, she opened her eyes as he went through the door. He sat in the chair positioned where she could see him from the bed. She moved to her side and watched his motions as he sipped wine and talked to Roy while they ate. Once he glanced back in at her. What’d she get herself into? Would he expect perks while on the road? Would she?

  End of Excerpt.

  I love Caulder, but oh, you have to like Roy Bianco. The dear man had a big role and a big job in Hey, Cowboy, Book Two, which proves why the family needs him. In book three, Ric Armano actually visited Velia without Roy and Nero, but he should’ve been there.

  

  Have a fantastic weekend!

  Posted in #AmWriting, Bull Rider Series, Howdy Ma'am | 11 Comments | Tagged bull rider series, Bull Riding, cowboy, Full Length Novel, hero, Howdy Ma'am, mary j mccoy dressel, Romance, series romance, strong heroine, western romance

• Short Snippet Saturday: Jerking, Bumping & Grinding

  Posted at 6:51 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on October 1, 2016

  I’m reposting this today using my iPad, which means I don’t have my computer. So many things have gone wrong this week, so please enjoy an older Short Snippet.

  
  Welcome to another Short Snippet Saturday Post. I woke up this morning thinking it couldn’t be another Saturday already, so I almost didn’t do a post today. Time flies by too fast sometimes. Am I the only one who thinks so?

  About this snippet from Howdy, Ma’am: Velia is having dinner with her landlords, AKA self-appointed grandma and grandpa. She mentions a job offer she had received earlier in the day. (Modified a bit for this post.) By the way, the print version of Howdy, Ma’am is retired for now.

  ---

  Edward fast forwarded through the recording and stopped at the first picture of Caulder as they introduced him. “That him?”

  She gulped and tried not to drool. He was one hot guy for sure. Talk about being the envy of all the women around the circuit, if she took the job. The things she’d see. She pressed her teeth against her bottom lip, not sure how to react when he rode in slow motion mode. No doubt, to her, there was something provocative about the way he moved atop the bull. She licked her lips. He stayed on the bull for eight seconds before the buzzer rang. Eight seconds didn’t seem like a lot, but with all the jerking, bumping, and grinding, it must’ve seemed like an eternity for the rider. It’s so sexy the way he moves on the bull. Warmth spread over her body, and she liked it. “How much of this do you have recorded?” she asked in almost a daze.

  “I got almost the whole season.” He laughed. “I suppose you want to watch it?”

  “Of course! If I’m going to photograph this guy I should at least know about bull riding…”

  ---

  

  Whew, Velia’s reaction could or could not have been my reaction when I watched my favorite bull rider. 🙂 And maybe or maybe not still is when I see him ride. Update: My fav is retired after many years on the pro circuit. 😒

  Bull Rider Series #3 is now available. ❤️

  Have a great weekend.

  Thank you for stopping by today.

  Mailing List signup to be notified of new releases or important book updates.

  Works in Progress

  Posted in #AmWriting, Bull Rider Series, Short Snippet Saturday | 4 Comments | Tagged bull rider series, Bull Riding, cowboy, Full Length Novel, Howdy Ma'am, mary j mccoy dressel, Photographer Heroine, Short Snippet Saturday, Short Snippet Saturday Jerking bumping & Grinding, weekend, western romance series

• Short Snippet Saturday: Time to Live Again

  Posted at 8:25 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on May 29, 2016

  Short Snippet Saturday posts will be less frequent. I’ve decided to post to this theme no more than once a month.

  

  You’ll still see a snippet now and then, especially with a new book coming out. Today, I’m posting an excerpt from Howdy, Ma’am. This is book one of three in the Bull Rider Series. The books in this series have been revised more than once since publication. All the back matter had to be updated, too, so I took the opportunity to revise and hire a new editor.

  In fact, my newsletter is ready to be sent to subscribers, but I’ll wait until after Memorial Day. It’s never too late to get signed up to be notified of new releases and important book updates.

  ---

  For an overview of what Howdy, Ma’am is about, and to give you an idea of why Velia ended up in Tucson in this snippet, I’ll include the Blurb.

  

  Blurb

  Bull rider Caulder McCutchen has a good chance of winning the converted buckle this year, knowing he has to ride harder, go bigger, or go home. Winning consumes him, but it doesn’t take away the pain from a tremendous loss less than two years ago. He hires a feisty photographer to travel the bull riding circuit with him for a season. A little extra publicity can’t hurt, and she’s easy on the eyes. When he finds himself passionately attracted to her, will this sassy little Italian prove to be just what his claim to fame needs—or a disastrous distraction?

  Velia Armano had the strength to walk away from an abusive husband. She moves from Chicago to Tucson, Arizona and opens her own photography studio. Six months into her well-ordered life alone, a hunky cowboy saunters in with his howdy, ma’am and flame blue eyes, offering a job any photographer would find hard to refuse. She accepts his offer and discovers they both have their own obstacles to overcome. While trying to resist his heated embraces and gentle nature, she hopes to find the right answer before the season ends—to remain in her self-appointed exile, or give in to a happily ever after.

  When the season ends, who wins the real prize?

  Just thinking of Howdy, Ma’am (The Bull Rider Series) makes me smile. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would be hard-pressed not to as a serious cowboy lover. Amazon Reviewer from Night Owl Reviews.

  ---

  Here we go:

  Velia waited in front of her new home while the movers unloaded the last of her belongings. This place would be home for now. Home until she was ready to go back on the road with her camera. In a couple days, she would sign the lease on the small building in town to start her new photography business.

  Home, until her life began again.

  She tossed her hair over her shoulder and stepped out of her car. Removing sunglasses, her eyes narrowed against the bright Arizona sun. She swiped roseate-colored lipstick across her full lips and blotted them against each other. When the movers finished, she paid the balance with a money order. Glancing around at the dry desert environment, she took a deep breath and wiped sweat from her brow.

  She stomped sand from the bottom of her flats then took a step forward, stopping in front of the broken-down steps. With a mournful sigh, she whispered, “Home.” She placed her purse strap over her shoulder and looked to the second level. Standing straight, she pulled her shoulders back and headed inside, careful not to catch a toe in the cracks of the damaged steps.

  

  Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

  Time to live again.

  When she went inside, Alice Smith, her landlady, met her at the door.

  “Please come and have some tea, dear, before you get started upstairs.” The elderly lady escorted Velia to the kitchen. “You try to get used to living here if you can. I hope a couple old fogies don’t bother you too much.”

  Velia gave a subtle smile. “I’m happy to be here.” This was peace. This was what she needed.

  ---

  Thank you for reading.

  

  Images: Pixabay

  Posted in #AmWriting, Short Snippet Saturday | 9 Comments | Tagged #Cowboy series, Arizona Sunset, bull rider series, contemporary romance, full length romance novels, Hey cowboy, Howdy Ma'am, mary j mccoy dressel, series, Short Snippet Saturday, sports romance, western romance

• Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse: Novel Lines

  Posted at 8:52 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 26, 2016

  I found something new to inspire me over the weekend. As I finished up another edit on my manuscript before the editor gets it, I came across a scene that I totally loved. Yes, I wrote it! LOL.

  

  I’ll share only a teeny tiny part of the scene in a graphic I made for Bull Rider Series #3. Teeny as in two lines. Maybe the image says enough by itself. I’m leaving out the full scene since this isn’t time for a snippet anyway.

  This scene really inspired me, making me glad I wrote this story. A third book had never been planned for this bull riding cowboy, but readers wanted it. Oh, also? Browsing Romance Novel Covers by Jimmy Thomas is inspiring enough. Whew! He does passion with a capital “PASSION.” Jimmy is the sweetest guy!  ❤ I will use him again in my new series.

  A short while ago I introduced Velia in Meet Our Heroines. This is her. By the way readers of the Bull Rider Sseries, it won’t be much more of a wait. Cover Reveal soon. As usual, my mailing list subscribers see it first.*wink* That was a lot of wording to introduce one simple graphic. 🙂

  Here are the teeny tiny novel lines.

  

  As I say on the book page:

  Let’s not look at this book as being early for this Christmas, but instead let’s say it’s late for last Christmas.

  Remember I got sick and had to relocate at the same time? This book had to go on hold. What a spring/summer it had turned out to be. So, yes, I will release a Christmas romance in springtime, but with the storyline of this book, I believe it can be read at anytime of year.

  Have a wonderful week.

  Posted in #AmWriting, Bull Rider Series, Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse | 2 Comments | Tagged bull rider, bull rider series, contemporary full length romance, cowboy, Hey, Howdy Ma'am, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Romance, sports romance, western romance

• Monday Inspiration for the Muse: Quote #2

  Posted at 11:57 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on November 30, 2015

  Before I became a writer, I was a reader. To rephrase that: I’ve always been a writer, but didn’t always know I was a writer, so let’s go with that. However, I’m still a reader.

  Opening a book for the first time and seeing a quote means something to me. When I began writing my first book, I wanted a quote too. At that early stage in my writing career, I didn’t know the rules for using quotes, so I skipped using a quote in my first two books.

  As I learned more about writing, I realized I still wanted to use a quote in the beginning of my books. My first book with a quote was Howdy, Ma’am from the Bull Rider Series. It wasn’t like I searched and searched for a quote for this book, although on occasion I’d browse. When I came across one in particular, I knew it was the perfect quote for this book. Here it is, and thank you again, Robert.

  You will not find a soulmate in the quiet of your room. You must go to a noisy place and look in the quiet corners.”
  ~ By Robert Brault

  Well, come on now… Quiet corners? Bull Riding? Yes! Readers of the book will understand this. This quote is perfect for Howdy, Ma’am. Mr. Brault, how did you know?

  A reviewer mentioned this quote in a review.

  …The hero and heroine were both hurting, with scabs not scars, and they needed healing. I loved how they provided that for one another. The absolute best part was the emotional connection between Caulder and Velia. The quote the author used at the very beginning, said so much about the story – “You will not find a soulmate in the quiet of your room. You must go to a noisy place and look in the quiet corners. By Robert Brault” (This snippet is taken from Night Owl Reviews.)

  As a writer, I have learned how important it is to ask questions whether it be for research purposes, or in this case, permission. Sometimes a writer even has to ask embarrassing questions. (That’s another story.) I asked for permission to use this quote in my book and permission was granted.

  From The New Robert Brault Reader: Robert Brault is: “a free-lance writer who has contributed to magazines and newspapers in the USA for over 40 years.”  And he gave me permission! I’m so honored. I’ve since used his quotes in other books with his permission.

  Today when I decided to use this particular quote for my Monday Inspiration for the Muse post, I visited Robert’s site. To my surprise I  found out Robert had a new book. I had already purchased his first book, so I clicked to Amazon to buy the second one. His wife has done the covers for his books.

  I’ve been a fan for quite a few years now, so I’d love to introduce you to Robert Brault’s Website and also to his books.

  Round Up the Usual Subjects

  Thoughts on Just About Everything

  [I love this book!]

  

  The Second Collection

  Thoughts and Other Writings

  

  I hope you can take the time to visit Robert’s site and read some of his beautiful quotes and other work.

  Thank you for stopping by today. Have a fabulous week.

  Again, Thank you, Robert.

   

   

  Posted in #AmWriting, Bull Rider Series | 14 Comments | Tagged #AmReading, #AmWriting, bull rider series, Howdy Ma'am, mary j mccoy dressel, Monday Inspiration for the Muse, Night Owl Reviews, quotes, Robert Brault, Round Up the Usual Subjects, The Second Collection

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