Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Tag: mary j mccoy dressel

• Time Traveling: Strolling Through Pages

  Posted at 10:50 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 28, 2023

  

  The title is somewhat misleading. You know I didn’t time travel in a physical sense. Would you believe I did mentally and emotionally? The weirdest thing happened the other day. I’m calling it unplanned procrastination. Not so weird, huh? On Wednesday, I sat down to write in the afternoon. Out of the blue, I had the urge to go through one of my email folders.

  I have more email folders than any normal person needs. The one I’m mentioning today holds personal-to-me “stuff.” This covers, for example, saved reminders I email myself on occasion, among so many other email subjects. My list of “folders” holds a treasure trove of information from: Amazon news, to holiday gifts and shipping, to Writing Research with subfolders from Writing tools to Writing Weather Research, and beyond.

  Also, through the years, I’ve saved some messages from readers who have contacted me through my website to tell me they love my books. Their words make me so happy! Even the ones who tell me to write faster. LOL.

  

  A Mom Thing

  To give you an idea of what else I found: Directions from my oldest son on how to make changes to the Excel sheets he makes for my business. Hey, I don’t know how to work Excel formulas. To avoid having to ask him over and over, I tuck his emails away under this “stuff” folder. Another example: In 2018, I searched for a poem I had written for him back when he graduated high school. A long time ago. I couldn’t find it. He had the original copy and emailed it to me. Now, it’s there with the other stuff and easy to find. There’s so much more, though.

  I like using this folder for anything important or special I want to find again.

  Anyway, I had over seven hundred—ten to a page—messages all the way back to 2009. Fourteen years of saved messages.

  See? Time Traveling.

  Some messages were nonsense, so I deleted them. Deletion became my primary goal for going through this folder. See how easy it is to convince ourselves to procrastinate? Am I the only one who does things like this?

  Friendship

  As I continued through the pages and years, I read special emails from my forever best friend. We’ve time traveled back to 2017 now. Including the email where one of her twin daughters told me she had passed away. This wasn’t an unexpected email. Another message came with funeral arrangements. These messages are far from happy.

  It’s a given… When we go back to memories of our previous years, we all have sad times intermingled with happy times. I save her daughter’s messages so I can remember the date of her death. Is it morbid if I want to remember?

  Then in the same folder, I found emails from back in the years 2013 and 2009. Email from my long-lost buddy who I’ve known longer than anyone who isn’t a relative. While strolling through the pages of years, I came across one of the first five-star reviews for Howdy, Ma’am from a beautiful Italian woman who loved the series and checked all the Italian language in the three books in the Bull Rider Series. Who could ask for more? Today, she’s a writer turned photographer.

  Precious Information

   Toward the end of 2016, my son’s fiancée, now my awesome daughter-in-law, sent me photos of her modeling her wedding dress and wanted my opinion on what shoes to wear. To connect this to their wedding, in 2017 in this folder, I came across my California son’s travel itinerary to come to his brother’s official wedding reception, which took place months after the wedding. (Only parents were invited to their small wedding.) Around this same timeframe, I found email messages from our vet who helped get our dog through some rough times.

  All Business

  Continuing, I came across correspondence with cover models who have given me permission to use their photos, and from models who sold images to me directly. One came from a cover model who asked her photographer if I could use her photo in promotional material for the book where she’s on the cover. The photographer sent me the photo with rights to use it, and to do whatever I wanted with it!

  Other emails are from the stock photo company Period Images. One message included our discussion for an exclusive photo shoot with one of their models, Jason Charchan (a Michigander too) for a book cover and promotion. Jason promoted my book with him on the cover when it came out. Now and then, when his post pops up in his Facebook Memories, he’ll post it again. Thanks, Jason! Here are two of the many poses from the shoot. With so many, I had a difficult time choosing the one for the cover. Photo manipulation in the second image is my own:

  

  

  In 2015, I saved an email from another author who gave me lifetime permission to use any of his quotes in my books. In 2014, I received permission from a song writer and singer to use a song title to one of his songs in one of my books. A younger me would never ask such a thing.

  Many more business-related emails remain in there for reference from formatters to cover artists, to editors I’ve hired and fired. They have their own folders too for more pertinent info related to them.

  Counting Down

  How many can say they saved a Promotional Direct Message on Twitter from former President Barack Obama? Please. No political comments. Please!

  Clicking Back to the Heart

  Once in this folder, I knew I’d keep going and deleting until I got to the end of the “folder,” but I forgot what I had saved so many years ago. Then, I came to the final two pages: 2010 and 2009. I found a couple messages and a lot of photos sent to me from my husband. I hadn’t seen the photos in years. In fact, I forgot them. They were sent less than a year and a half before he passed away. I must have transferred them to this account from an old email provider and stuck them in there. In the old account, I had saved many, many of our emails because after all…we met through email.

  

  All in all, I deleted over three hundred saved messages that were either outdated for me, or something I wouldn’t want others to see, like in the case of… Ah, nope. Leave it to your imagination. 😉

  During my journey through new and old email messages, I discovered one can travel through time.

  Go ahead. Start your own journey. Thanks for reading!

  ---

  Maybe you’d like to read this post for more bittersweet memories.

  Featured Image: Photo by Sharad Kachhi on Pexels.com

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Heartbreak's Reward, Meet Our Heroines | 16 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Bittersweet memories., Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Heartbreak's Reward, mary j mccoy dressel, Of the Cowboy's Own Accord, Pexels images, Romance, Time Traveling: Strolling Through Pages, western romance

• 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

• Reboot – Guarding Generations: A Writing Prompt

  Posted at 8:38 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 16, 2023

  

  Hello folks. I’m publishing this previous post from 2012 as a Reboot. It’s Thursday, but I’m not calling it Throwback Thursday. Instead of using “Press This” or “Reblog,” I made a copy of it to start fresh. Besides, all “older” comments are turned off on my blog and the original post. The first title for this post was “The End of the Story.”

  This was first written for a word prompt from a site I used to follow called Write on Edge. I don’t think they’re still operating. The site didn’t show up in a search. I’ve updated bits and pieces to bring parts of it up to date, and also because the original had a word count of 400, so I added a few more words this time. At the time of writing this in 2012, I followed a prompt from the info below:

  This week is PERSONIFICATION. The dictionary defines personification as “the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.”

  Why Reboot This post?

  I rediscovered this post when it showed up in my Stats as a click, so a visitor to my site came across it. This brought it to my attention again.

  ---

  My take on the prompt – Personification:

  Here I sit in the cold again. I’ve seen it all – cold, heat, sun, rain, and snow. But I don’t even care. You see, I’m just an old yard pump now. Oh, in my day they depended on me for water. You betcha, I’m that old. After the grandma sold the farm I went with her family to the next house where they used me for my looks. The middle son, “E.H.” and his wife, took care of me after a while because his mother thought I would look nice in his flower bed. She was right, for I looked grand.

  E.H. painted me blue. Nice! Years later, he painted me yellow. I beamed like a ray of sunshine all year long. I sat in his flower bed for a lot of years in two different homes. The family reminisced about grandma and the farm house when they sat in lawn chairs, looking at me standing there like a yard guard. Secretly, I did guard them. hehe.

  Then came grandsons. Five of them, but after five months and one day, the number dropped to four. Sadness encompassed their family. Later, the four boys went back to playing with my handle; up and down until I thought I’d break.

  Boys will be boys.

  

  E.H. tossed small fireworks in my direction at least once a year. Being a hard piece of cast iron, I guess they thought I could take it. Wrong! His wife kept weeds from overtaking me until she disappeared.

  After another while, I didn’t see E.H. much. His kids were grown and the grandkids didn’t play with my handle anymore. One day a big black car pulled into his driveway, and I never saw him again. His daughter, Mary… Excuse me, I mean her husband, because he had more strength, pulled me out of the ground, and I landed in her yard right beside the garage as you see below. Often, she’d sit on her deck top step and look at me. She cried sometimes.

  

  A few years later, and without warning, I didn’t see her anymore. Her husband called an ex now, yanked me out of the ground and tipped me over on my side for a long time! One day she appeared again and took me on a long ride. Lo and behold I had my life back in another yard. Mary had a gigantic dog at that house. Whew, I’m glad it wasn’t a male!

  Then, some years later, Mary disappeared and something bad must have happened in the house because everything got moved out. No one remained, not even the dog, the little girl, or the man who lived there with Mary. I saw the day they got married and took pictures near me, but… he was really gone. I got shoved in a cold garage on a concrete floor with some of his tools. What would become of me?

  Almost a year later she came back for me. Happiness reined! I lived again to guard Mary in a new yard. One of those boys who used to pull my handle lived there, so there I was with another generation. Again, their dog wasn’t a male! Somehow I knew she was a part of E.H., and he was a part of Grandma who started it all.

  A final word: “Somewhere along the line, I had a white paint job, so yes, the pump, aka guard, in the photos is yours truly.

  ---

  2022 UPDATE: Two moves ago when I had no place to keep “the pump” we parted ways. I hope wherever he is, he has forgiven me. MJ

  Thanks for taking the time to read. It may look like I haven’t visited your blogs, my friends, but I’ve been reading them without commenting. I hope to get back to commenting on them soon. I’m taking some “me” time and writing or thinking about writing.

  Enjoy your weekend.

  Posted in #AmWriting, Word Prompt | 12 Comments | Tagged #WritersLife, generations, grandkids, grandma, Guarding Generations, mary j mccoy dressel, memories, parents, personification, yard pump

• Let’s Get Real

  Posted at 5:28 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on December 15, 2022

  

  It’s hard, sometimes, when nothing’s stopping you, to know what’s stopping you. ~Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com

  Are you stressed in your rush to meet a goal before the year ends? I haven’t decided if I am or not. Sure, I’m stressed, but it’s not the same stress I experienced the last two years of rushing to get books out before the year ended. It’s not stress of meeting any goals before this year ends. It isn’t illness, though I’ve had my share of doctor appointments in 2022.

  This Year it’s Personal Stress

  My oldest son learned of a major eye condition. I came close to hopping on a jet bound for California. He’s going through treatment which includes shots in his eye. After the specified number of shots, they’ll determine if he needs more treatment.

  A very ill close friend I’ve know for years is having a difficult time with her health and is losing everything she has including her cat because she can no longer care for herself. Giving up her cat at this stage isn’t good for her mental health. Of all times, she needs her cat. She’s devastated.

  Another friend and I communicated with one of her family members, as we bounced ideas off of each other to find the best place for our friend to live. Her family member found a place two days ago. She’s moving in today. Through her illness, I’ve learned a lesson about doing a better job of caring for myself so this doesn’t happen to me.

  Whoever this new me is, has had a lazy year. It isn’t like I haven’t been writing, but four partially written books later, not one of them is ready to publish. It’s no different with reading books with none finished. The year started out in a new apartment, so for the next ten months, I “waited” to see where I’d be at the end of the year and dreaded making a decision on moving or staying. It’s good to know this is no longer a stressor.

  

  Back to the First Paragraph Above

  Maybe I am in a rush to see a new year arrive, but can it change me back to me? Since COVID came to my state, I’ve lived as if I’m waiting for something. Know what I mean?

  Next, it’s procrastination that has me stressed and the fact I can’t find a way to move on from it. Have you heard of Decision Fatigue? I think I’m experiencing this. Combining this with procrastination seems like a losing battle. Again, this has been common in people since COVID too.

  One of my best friends is a psychologist. The other day on the way to the hospital to visit our ill friend, I asked her about Decision Fatigue. She wasn’t familiar with the term. As I described the definition, she said she wasn’t surprised that it exists and was familiar with the symptoms. Have you heard of it?

  Here’s some info:

  “Decision fatigue is “the idea that after making many decisions, your ability to make more and more decisions over the course of a day becomes worse,” said Dr. MacLean, a psychiatrist. “The more decisions you have to make, the more fatigue you develop and the more difficult it can become.”

  Lisa MacLean, MD via Sara Berg, MS
  Senior News Writer at AMA.

  Distraction

  For the last half of this year, I’ve turned my TV on earlier and earlier in the day. To my credit, this doesn’t happen every day. This is odd for me, since I’ve never been a Daytime TV watcher since watching soap operas with my mom. It doesn’t help though I’m grateful – but my cable provider gives us the Premium Peacock streaming app as part of the package. Now, it has the Hallmark Channel on the app and free to me. Admittedly, it’s a nice distraction.

  It took two years to make the decision on when and where to get my hair cut since my regular person retired. It’s been six months now since the haircut, and I’m procrastinating and questioning where to go this time. It’s a simple haircut! Ekk.

  Here’s another article with a quiz:

  “Decision fatigue is a new term based on studies finding that the more decisions we make, the worse our judgement gets as we become increasingly worn out from, yes, the very process of decision making.”  

  Ellie Hughes via Women’s Health

  The article in Women’s Heath was written in 2013, so I guess Decision Fatigue isn’t as new as I thought. I know I’m not the only one going through this. It’s too personal of a question for me to ask, but I wonder if any of you are experiencing anything similar. Maybe it is time to set goals for next year so this doesn’t happen in 2023. Then again, I’ll need to do more than look at a goal list.

  Thanks for reading. Many of you are taking a blogging break for the holidays. Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Holiday season.

  Don’t forget to take care of you, my friends.

  

  Posted in #AmReading, #AmWriting, #WritersLife, new year | 18 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Decision fatigue, Let's Get Real, mary j mccoy dressel

• Short Snippet Saturday: In a Trance

  Posted at 10:20 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on September 17, 2022

  

  Hello all! This snippet really is short. As I searched through last years files for a short except to post on Facebook, I came across this one. If you follow my Facebook Author Page, you saw this with the same graphic as above.

  Blue Snow in the Moonlight: A Holiday Romance. We’re in our heroine’s POV.

  Sunshine burst through the conservatory. After her yoga session, she closed her laptop and squinted at the tracks left in the snow by Cullen and his son. The ladies she had led in her class giggled and pointed behind her, saying a hot lumberjack had come into her yard. They were right. Cullen had stood trance-like, holding his chainsaw—watching. It both embarrassed and thrilled her.
  ⁠
  Later, she took a hot shower, but it wasn’t the water raising her body temperature. After dressing, she strolled through the cottage. As if a ghost hung out here, the quiet bothered her now. Sadness happened in this place some time ago. He wore his pain in his demeanor. Memories of the cottage tore Cullen up inside. His family and even her uncle went along with a lie to protect his youngest. The Hollister family shared true family love.

  End of Excerpt. Thank you.

  Learn more about his book at Holiday Books in the menu.

  Available on Amazon internationally, but I’ll likely publish this one wide before Christmas. Visit Amazon now.

  ---

  Enjoy your weekend.

  Do you love fall? It’s my favorite season with spring coming in second. The colorful leaves, cooler nights, snuggling under a throw… Walks in the park. NO high bills from running air conditioning. The season makes me cuddly inside.

  

  My small town’s Fall Festival was last weekend. All the streets were blocked off except two lanes through town via Main Street, but even that took us to a detour. It’s all so much fun. Next, the scarecrows arrive.

  Blog posts relating to the second book can be found HERE and HERE.

  

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Blue Snow in the Moonlight, Short Snippet Saturday | 7 Comments | Tagged Blue Snow in the Moonlight, Blue Snow in the Moonlight Holiday western romance, cowboy, Holiday Romance, mary j mccoy dressel, Short Snippet Saturday

• Let’s Ride: National Day of the Cowboy

  Posted at 2:05 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on July 23, 2022

  

  Yesterday I wrote an introduction to this post instead of adding it here to avoid what would be a longer post. It’s already long! Grab a beverage and enjoy. The post has been updated since the original.

  The fourth Saturday in July is National Day of the Cowboy. Be sure to check out the events they plan for this day, and more at the Empire Ranch Foundation.

  

  Back in 2005, to make sure it stays that way, the organization National Day of the Cowboy (NDOC) sponsored a bill in the Wyoming House and Senate to preserve and celebrate cowboy culture and history in that state, attaching an eponymous holiday to be observed on the fourth Saturday in July…

  To read more, click the link:

  https://nationaltoday.com/national-day-of-the-cowboy/

  National Today

  #NationalDayOfTheCowboy

  Cowboy Lover that I Am

  You know I’m jumping on this! Ha, too funny! I’v learned a few things since I began writing contemporary western romance. So for your reading pleasure, I present to you my take on the cowboy on their special day. Remember, I’m focusing mainly on MY take, which may not be the same as yours.

  Mostly, I’m dealing with fiction today. However, a whole lot of facts here are true. Images are from Pixabay unless otherwise stated. Credit for the Featured Image at the top: Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com. In the shameless promotion of showing my book covers, all of my covers have been created by award winning cover designer Dawné Dominique, at DusktilDawn Designs. 

  Why I Create Cowboy Heroes:

  What’s not to love? I reckon this post is for anyone who loves a cowboy. I couldn’t create this if I didn’t love them myself. It doesn’t matter if they’re single, married, head-over-heels in love, or dads. Scowling or smiling, fists balled to protect what they love, or gently holding a child’s hand, I think they’re the sexiest men alive. That’s my opinion. I know everyone doesn’t think so. Let me have fun on this day. I hope you read this with an open mind and know it’s all in fun.

  We’ll start with the basics from the ground up:

  

  Let’s put some boots on our guy’s feet. The cowboy boot fits nicely into the stirrup. They’re sturdy for whatever jobs he has to take care of during the day or night. He has more than one pair of boots. Sometimes you’ll find his boots to be dusty and worn—his favorites, but sometimes they’ll be shiny and new. Some ranchers are now wearing lace-up boots for working.

  He’ll spill coffee on them, step in horse or cattle manure–depending on what he raises, or do a two-step on the dance floor. Hey, readers… Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. That’s why they make soap and hand sanitizer. He’s your guy. When he’s dog-tired after a long day of hard work, feel free to pull them off for him. He’ll thank ya for it. *Wink* Remember to thank him for it, when he does the same for you. He will on occasion.

  Tight jeans. Loose-fittin’ jeans. Dirty, ripped, or dress jeans… Oh, come on. Need I say more? Add a pair of chaps and my eyes will bug out.

  

  Speaking for myself

  I like an oval belt buckle holding those jeans up on their waist. However, some cowboys don’t wear belts for fear of something catching on them while working. I’m torn here, for with no belt, the jeans ride lower on the waist. When he lifts a saddle on a horse, or bends over with a hoof pick, you might be lucky enough to get a peek at that abdomen and sexy back you can’t wait to run your nails over.

  Oh, we can’t forget his t-shirt with the sleeves tight against bulging biceps. Cowboys with dad bods have bulging biceps too. Hard work, is hard work. Young or old, he’s dedicated to hard work. After giving a horse a bath, expect a little water on the shirt. Should I explain the wet t-shirt?

  Flannel shirts with the sleeves turned up a couple rolls and open in the front isn’t so bad, either. But, wow, when your cowboy wears a dress shirt and clean jeans, hold him tight when you go out. Be prepared for a lot of ogling. Don’t be surprised if he casually looks back, but don’t worry, he’s true to you. However, he might deck another cowboy for getting a little too touchy-feely with you.

  

  A hint of stubble on the face or clean-shaven works for me. How about you? Chances are, you’ll find a little more than a hint of scruff after a couple long, tired days. Concerning beards, here’s a brief conversation between my heroine and hero in a work in progress. They haven’t seen each other for three and a half years. Due to circumstances beyond their control, she is staying with him, only at the moment. Not with him per se, but on his ranch:

  He draped his flannel shirt over the chair and took a bite of his donut. “Better eat the scrambled eggs while they’re still good, or I’ll take them out to the pigs.”

  Pigs? She handed him the mug of coffee complete with milk. “You wear a beard now?”

  He laughed and wiped powdered sugar from his mustache and donut crumbs from his beard. “Not normally. I haven’t shaved in four days. Do I look like hell?”

  “More like a lumberjack, but that’s not a bad thing.” She chuckled.

  Copyright 2022 Mary J. McCoy-Dressel/Mary J. Dressel

  You might have to get used to a little whisker-burn now and then. Go without shaving whatever needs shaving for a couple days. He’ll get the picture.  😉

  Oh, readers, when our cowboy sets his jaw in confidence or stubbornness, you know he means business. But so do we, so it evens out. His attitude or mood isn’t always going to be congenial. He has bad days too, and sometimes he can be downright miserable to be around.

  This man’s smile? Mmm, how about quirked lips when he questions something you said? A side smile? I can tell you, my knees buckle when he shoots that dangerous grin my way. Ooohhhh, what about his to-die-for wanton smile? You know the one where it shows in his eyes, too? The one he gives when you wonder what he’s up to next? But, goodness, when his face lights up with that special look, it TELLS you what he’s up to next. When he smiles at you in this way, you know your feet won’t be on the floor much longer. Am I right? Sigh. Who moved my fan? (I’ll use one of my own cowboys for an example–Caulder “Hotness” McCutchen, my sexy alpha bull rider.)

  

  It doesn’t matter if those sexy kissable lips are full, soft, chapped, or sunkissed sweet. When it comes to kissing them, you know they’re a perfect match for yours.

  

  Hat Hair

  Mmm, his hair. Hair and eyes are the first things I notice. He might wear his hair on the longer side. Who has time for a haircut? He’s too busy tending to a ranch, cutting hay on a prairie, riding horses and driving cattle across a wide divide. He might be fixing fences in a dusty desert or monsoon, or trying to stay on a bull or bronc for eight seconds. Depending on his mood, he’s comfortable wearing his hair neatly combed when the occasion arises, or wind-blown messy when he’s busy. Whichever way he chooses to wear it, it’ll end up looking like hat-hair by the end of the day.

  

  Either neat and tidy or wild and free, if a shock of hair falls over his forehead, I can’t think of a more perfect excuse to get closer than to move in and brush it back. He’ll appreciate it if we leave our palm to rest on the side of his face, for a minute anyway. Whew!

  Last but not least, let’s not forget the Stetson, or any brand of cowboy hat, in off-white or black, depending on the occasion. Straw works for those hot days. If you’re wearing a hat, make sure you get the right tilt to your head in order to kiss him. Enjoy.

  

  Since it is our cowboy’s special day, we’ll continue. Let’s give him a dog and a horse or two, preferably more. After his dog and horses, we’re giving this cowboy a cowgirl, or whoever he chooses to love.

  

  Romance

  When evening comes, if he’s in by then, of course, he’ll be contented to settle in beside you, wearing a subtle fragrance whether it’s aftershave or your favorite cologne. Could be ranch life. My cowboys are sexy, hard working men, and they aren’t always going to be smelling like they walked out of a shower. Don’t let that deter you, but a little hint won’t hurt. An offer to accompany him in the shower isn’t a bad idea. ❤ ❤ ❤

  More than likely, for dinner he’ll like his favorite carryout, spicy food to match his persona, or a meat and potato meal at the end of the day. Sometimes he’ll surprise us, and prepare a delicious meal. Maybe burgers on the grill or steak with candlelight. He’ll enjoy a shot of whiskey, brandy, tequila, or Scotch, and maybe sometimes a glass of wine or a longneck. Even milk.

  At the end of the day with our cowboy, we know, besides his family, it’s us and the kids he holds in his heart…along with his dog and horses maybe not in a particular order. 🙂 Finally, when you get up Sunday morning, chances are after chores and breakfast, y’all will head to church. But think about it… At the end of the day, your cowboy is curling up next to you. The next move is yours.

  

  

  REMEMBER, this is MY take on the cowboy, and this was written for fun. I hope you enjoyed reading.

  Celebrate National Day of the Cowboy the 4th Saturday of July.

  Remember what they say… Save a horse, ride a… *Smile*

  Thanks so much for reading, and an extra special thanks if you’ve read this more than once!

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Bull Rider Series, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Double Dutch Ranch Series, national day of the cowboy, Two-Five Ranch Outlaws | 5 Comments | Tagged #NationalDayOfTheCowboy, boots, bronc riding, bull riders, Bull Riding, cattle ranch, cowboy, cowboy hats, dog, Empire Ranch Foundation, horses, mary j mccoy dressel, national day of the cowboy, ranchers, Romance, series romance, sexy cowboys, western hero

• Questions, Blunders, Blue Snow, and Writing by the Seat of My Pants

  Posted at 5:36 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on June 27, 2022

  

  Not a Series – Not a Sequel?

  I posted the image below as my regular Facebook profile STORY post, but now I’m adding it here with an explanation.

  

  Yes, it’s true. Some readers asked for more after reading the first book. Yay, thanks! Big hugs. I’m writing a second book in the fictitious small town of Sugarton, North Dakota. Cullen Hollister, his family, and Elle from “Blue Snow in the Moonlight” will make their appearances. I can’t call it a sequel, I don’t think, but it is a SECOND BOOK.

  Or will it turn out to be the first book in a potential series? When it comes down to it, I’m not certain I can dedicate time to writing another series.

  Any suggestions as to what to call two books? It can’t be a duo because they’re one book with two stories (I think).

  Little Did I know

  At the time of writing Blue Snow, my new hero’s name popped into my head out of the blue as names do with me. I never expected to say or write his name again. The few lines with his name in book one were written to break up Cullen’s train of thought as he drove to his cottage. So, yes, to me he was just a name, and there was no reason to go further with him at the time. (Sorry, dude.)

  Things can change, can’t they? It took until a month ago to decide on a second book. As I jotted down a handful of ideas for this new book and my new hero, his name started sounding familiar to me. No wonder. I did a search and found a few famous people with his first and last name. Oh, great! Famous people? Duh. If I had plans on using him in the book or a second book, I would have completed a name search then.

  Since he is already mentioned in my already published book, I had choices: 1) keep his name, 2) come up with a new character never mentioned in Blue Snow, 3) change his name in Blue Snow in the Moonlight. Um, NOPE, or, 4) write a book in the same area not related to Blue Snow.

  Fixing the Name Blunder

  

  The thing is, his first and last names are “first names.” Let’s take a first name and surname like John Roy (fictitious as far as I know). To fix my blunder, I separated my character’s first and last names with a hyphen and gave him a new surname. Lucky for me, I rarely have to mention the hyphenated name in the new book, because as it goes, he happens to hate his hyphenated name and insists on no one saying it like: “Don’t call me John-Roy! The name’s John.” Not my characters name.

  Moving On

  With this book, I’ve reverted back to writing “by the seat of my pants.” All I did was jot down a few paragraphs about what could happen, plus, I included character details. Let’s say, I finally got to know this hero. I’m looking forward to learning more. I changed my heroine’s name five or six times. Oh, I switched the spelling of her name three or four times. The poor girl is going to have an identity crisis.

  Next, I started writing. So here we are. I have no idea where the first 11,000 words came from, but boy-oh-boy was I glad when they poured out. Honestly, I’m not sure where it’ll go from here. Other than getting them to a happily ever after, of course. Did I mention I’m writing two other books? Long story there and maybe the “long story” might make it into a shorter blog post, cause this darn thing got long.

  Thanks for reading. Stay tuned to see how many more names I can change.

  

  Featured Image: Pixabay JolaKedra

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Blue Snow in the Moonlight | 12 Comments | Tagged #WritersLife, Blue Snow in the Moonlight Holiday Romance, cowboy, mary j mccoy dressel, Questions Blunders Writing by the Seat of Your Pants, western romance

• Snippet: South of True North ~ Some Things Never Change

  Posted at 12:15 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on May 28, 2022

  

  Hi! I’m sharing an excerpt from my second new December release, South of True North, featuring Cade and Faith. You’ll finally meet Faith in her POV.

  ---

  Book Description

  Townsfolk cheered when they fell in love. Then they destroyed them with rumors and lies.

  Rancher Cade Outlaw and his ex-fiancée share custody of their daughter. After a heartbreaking breakup seven years ago, they’re growing close again. Seven years ago, Faith’s ex-boyfriend’s vengeful attack on her destroyed Cade and Faith’s happily ever after. When he asks for a do-over, he vows to protect the relationship from the pain that separated them—to keep her and their child safe from their past. But how can he take a step back if he gets the chance to settle the score? Is his love for Faith and Nadia strong enough to hold on to the second chance they deserve?

  Heartbroken, pregnant, fired from her job, and Cade’s focus on avenging the assault took a toll on Faith Ribeiro. To heal, she’d left him. Years later, a Fundraising Executive and single mom, she lives with emotional and physical scars. Cade is the only man she’ll love, and she can’t deny the powerful chemistry between them. However, rekindling a relationship may invite wickedness back into their lives. What will she do this time if Cade still wants to pay back her abuser? How much will her heart break if Nadia gets swept up in their chaos after striving to keep her from it?

  They’re stronger together, though they need to overcome the challenges standing in their way of a peaceful life—hate, heartache, vengeance, and family betrayal. But how will they hang on to the profound love they once shared if they don’t come out of this unscathed?

  

  Available at Amazon.

  ---

  Setup: Faith hasn’t stepped a foot on Cade’s ranch for over seven years. Today, she put on her brave face and took their daughter, Nadia, to the Two-Five to get a school project she had started with her dad.

  A nauseous stomach overtook her as she drove up the ranch road. An unfamiliar horse to her grazed near the porch.

  “Grandma’s horse. Hurry, let me out.”

  Faith passed the porch, pulled off to the side, and stopped. “Please rush, Nadia. Grab it and come back. We have to get home.”

  “Why? Wanna see my pony?”

  “Not today. Hurry.” Cade’s horse grazed close to one of the barns. She sent a text: Are you near your house? I’m parked by the porch. A few moments later, he headed this way from the barn office. She rolled down her window.

  “Hey, is anything wrong?”

  She smiled. “Nope.”

  He leaned in to kiss her. “This is a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?”

  “Nadia needed her project. I didn’t think anyone would be here, then Nadia said that was your mom’s horse.”

  He looked back. “It is. Mom’s talking to Ronni about finances.”

  “Can you please hurry Nadia along?”

  “You’re fine here. Settle down. Nobody’s going to bother you.”

  She glanced in her rear mirror. Nadia came out the door with Ruth. Cade put his hand on Faith’s shoulder, and she placed her right hand over it. Nadia and her grandmother stood on the porch checking out the pictures on her board. “You haven’t told me what went down between you and your mom yet.”

  “Leave it alone. Some things never change.”

  As she expected. Their daughter called from the porch. “Daddy, Mom wants the hot picture of you and Mommy on the beach.”

  Cade chuckled. “I’m sorry,” he muttered to Faith, “but that kid kills me. I’ll bring the pictures tonight, but they are not to be put on her board.”

  

  “Don’t worry!” Faith winked. “Your picture is going in my secret stash.”

  “Yeah? I’d like to see your secrets.” He ran his gaze over her, his eyes lowering and lingering on her chest in a low tee.

  She glanced down. “My secrets belong to you. Go get your daughter, or let me leave.”

  “Don’t go anywhere. Come on, Nadia,” he called.

  Faith glimpsed the side mirror as his mom peered at Cade.

  “Don’t be in such a rush. Let her stay and spend time with Grandma today. We’ll go for a horseback ride. Does she have a day off?”

  “Not today, Mom. Come on, sweetheart.” Cade went toward the porch, up the steps, and took her hand and the board. “They’re in a hurry. Nadia needs to finish her school assignment.” He returned to the SUV where he opened the back door for her. “Buckle your belt.”

  She waved to her grandma. “By Granny. Love you.”

  Ruth said she loved her back. Faith hadn’t wanted to fold in on herself, but it tore at her heart that she wasn’t a part of this, though it thrilled her to see Nadia so accepted.

  Ronni, Cade’s sister and a friend to Faith, came out and stood beside her mom. “Hello, Faith! Nice to see you. Have fun with your board, Nadia.”

  Faith made eye contact with Cade. “Scoot over.” She stepped out and waved. “Hi, Ronni. Have a nice day. You, as well, Ruth.”

  She got back in, and he clutched the door frame with both hands. “I’m proud of your confidence. I’ll see you later.” He leaned in and kissed her on the mouth, and Faith wrapped her hand around the back of his warm, sweaty neck. “Thank you,” she whispered, leaving her cheek to rest against his. “I’ll see you soon. Buckled in, Nadia?”

  “Yep! I can’t wait to work on my board. Come on. Bye, Daddy. You kissed Mom.”

  Faith hooked her seat belt and met Cade’s gaze with happiness in hers. “It’s nice to see you smile. Don’t work too hard.”

  “Uh, then they’ll fire me.” He winked at Nadia, “Guess what? I’m kissing Mom again.” He leaned in the window and planted a long-lasting kiss on Faith’s lips that she thoroughly enjoyed. “See ya.”

  “Soon, cowboy.” Faith turned the SUV around, lifted her hand, and gave a subtle wave to Ronni and Ruth as she passed the porch. “It looks like you have a lot of pictures. I’m excited to look at them.”

  Nadia asked, “Why didn’t you come in?”

  End of Excerpt

  ---

  Faith’s reasons for not going inside can’t be explained to a six year old. Making it as far as the driveway is a big deal for her. Find a recent snippet for another new release, Blue Snow in the Moonlight HERE.

  Thank you for reading! Have a wonderful weekend! ~MJ

  

  About me board images: Created @ Picmonkey by yours truly with Shutterstock Images

  Posted in #AmWriting, New Release, South of True North, Two-Five Ranch Outlaws | 4 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, Imprisoned in a Cowboy's Heart, mary j mccoy dressel, Romance, Snippet: South of True North ~ Some Things Never Change, South of True North, Two-Five Ranch Outlaws

• Wordless Wednesday: Chill Time

  Posted at 12:15 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on May 18, 2022

  

  

  

  

  

  Thanks for visiting. Enjoy your day!

  Posted in #WritersLife, Wordless Wednesday | 5 Comments | Tagged #WordlessWednesday, #WritersLife, February 2022, ice sculptures, mary j mccoy dressel

• First Time for Everything

  Posted at 4:23 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 4, 2022

  

  Hi! Thought I’d let you know:

  If you’re still in the mood to read a holiday romance, this heartwarming two-hour read is now in Kindle Unlimited. This is my second ever book in KU.

  Book Description:

  Why does a stroke of bad luck happen now while on her way to Mackinaw City, Michigan on a blustery weekend? Two days before Christmas, Terra Westbrook and her young daughter have nowhere to stay. How can she convince her child that Santa will find her while sleeping in their car in a gas station parking lot—if they don’t die from hypothermia first? For her child’s sake, she accepts an invitation of a warm home from a resident in the village, but Terra soon learns, the kind person had no right to offer. However, she never expects the homeowner to be a lonely widower who hides tenderness and a big secret under his hard-hearted exterior.

  Jude Overton isn’t interested in a relationship let alone a wife. He tried marriage once. Sometimes his heart still aches. Now, if only his sister would get the message to stop matchmaking him with single women. His life is complete raising his daughter. He’s doing the best he can to make her happy. Jude accepts this as enough until he gazes into a stranger’s melancholy eyes that hold an unspoken yearning. As the big day rolls around, he expects it’ll be just another day like the past five Christmases as a single dad, but maybe this year, it’s a good thing his sister chooses to ignore his wishes.

  Secret Santa’s Rundown Sleigh

  ---

  

  This is different from the other books I write. For example:

  • It’s shorter–the low end of novella size. Two-hour read.
  • It isn’t a western romance. Don’t worry, I gave my hero horses!
  • It takes place in Northern Lower Michigan, my home state, and where, as a child, I used to spend time with my grandmother, aunt and uncle, and six cousins, and even more cousins and aunts and uncles when all of our families congregated there. Four of my cousins and their families still live “up north.”
  • It’s toned down in the heat department. Not steamy like my other books.

  Thanks for reading. Have a nice weekend.

  Posted in #AmWriting, holiday, Secret Santa's Rundown Sleigh | 3 Comments | Tagged #KindleUnlimited, amazon, Christmas romance read, holiday novella, Holiday Romance, mary j mccoy dressel, Secret Santa's Rundown Sleigh: A Holiday Romance Novella

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