Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Sensual western romance. Heartwarming stories. Strong family ties.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
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    • Seasoned Romance: Young at Heart Heroes and Heroines

      Posted at 11:54 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on July 26, 2019
      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Seasoned Romance Blog Post, senior couple, beach, man drawing a heart in the sand with a stick

      TODAY I’M POSTING something completely different from a regular Friday post. Writing books—romance books—featuring mature couples because I have a book coming up with a mature heroine. I suggest pouring a beverage if you plan to stick around. This is long. I wrote this post at least a month ago to fill in for a Friday post. Today is the day.

      When I say “couple” as female and male in this post or on my blog, I do so because it is what I write so it fits my blog. We all know romance and falling in love can happen to anyone and everyone no matter who you love.

      I’ve been researching the genre called Seasoned Romance. Here’s an example.

      Some websites write that the characters in this genre/sub-genre are over forty and up. Some even say thirties.

      If thirty is the case, all of my books are Seasoned Romances because none of my main characters have been under thirty except for Natale in Christmas at Love House, A Bittersweet Interlude.

      She isn’t really a main character but an important secondary character because the story is partially about her too.

      Now, at this point in my multiple series, the heroines and heroes are in their mid-thirties and beyond. My brand-new upcoming series hero in book one is forty. His sister is older than him by two years. There are three younger brothers.

      In searching Amazon, numerous books came up under Seasoned Romance. I noticed some “sponsored products” or “advertised products” showed a short description specifying the main characters as forty in those books.

      I guess I write seasoned romance. Who knew? Ha-ha.

      I’m mentioning this because my upcoming heroine is in her sixty’s. That’s right Double Dutch Ranch readers. Through the progress of the series, Judy Carlson has slipped into a new decade and a few years beyond. She’s far from old. To avoid the idea that she may be lonely, she distracts herself with her grandkids, the horses, and the ranch because she still pines for her first love, Bill Carlson.

      Nonetheless, Judy discovers much about herself while rediscovering what she’s missed for well over a decade. This lady is not beyond eyeing a hard body, or a worn ranch foreman’s strong arms from tossing bales of hay for a lifetime, or sexy eyes on a distinguished looking man with salt and pepper hair.

      My goodness, she isn’t dead! Once accepting it, she’s thrilled about her new internal and external revelations.

      My debacle is in questioning whether I can call this book a Seasoned Romance because my cowboys get a say throughout the story in their POVs.

      I can’t write her story, this story, without letting her family talk and share their own thoughts, and they have many. It’s because of their ages and their role in the story, that made me think I couldn’t call this book a Seasoned Romance.

      Research has told me it’s okay.

      This one is about Judy as the main character, but they all have their own little stories with updates about their lives going on—in their words.

      However, I don’t consider my other books to be Seasoned Romance and haven’t promoted them as such. Maybe I should.

      A year ago or more, when I mentioned writing this book to a woman some years younger than me, but still a senior, she told me she could never read about an older couple and especially an older couple having sex, so she wouldn’t buy a book in my character’s age group—my sixty-some-year-old heroine. She’s an author of steamy romance, so she isn’t against reading or writing love scenes, but this thing called Seasoned Romance would not appeal to her. I bet she isn’t alone in her thinking.

      Let me tell you…

      Like Judy, I had become a dating senior woman with two men younger than me, and then I became a wife. Honey, I’m not dead or blind, either.

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Seasoned Romance Blog, writing in the sand Marry Me?

      No, I didn’t date them at the same time! One relationship lasted for five years. The other one I married six months after meeting. I’ve lived through my own seasoned romances.

      Regroup. Ah, there we go…

      I can’t speak for all, but women in Judy’s age group and older, still crave passion and desire and have a lot to give in that department. Match that up with a lifetime of experience while still having the ability to keep on learning. I learned some new things. Whew! We’ll stop there.

      I hope this leaves you–dear Double Dutch Ranch reader and new readers–curious as to how I handled sensuality in the book—referring to Judy, of course. I wondered how I’d write it too. Once I followed the characters wants and needs, I had no problem.

      Her sons are still hot-blooded-sexy and their heroines are sexual and sensual even in their late thirties and forties. This doesn’t change in my upcoming book within their POVs. I can’t believe I said “even” in their late thirties and forties. To me, that age group is not…uh, um…for lack of a better word, senior.

      I use the words steamy, sexy, sexual, and sensual, but I don’t write erotic romance.

      To some, my books are more sensual than they’d like. To others, it isn’t enough. So, I write what is right for me and my characters.

      Most of you following my blog don’t read romance, or my romance, I should say. For those of you who do read romance whether sweet, steamy, or anything in between, would you read a romance about a couple in their sixties and beyond? Maybe, like me, you wouldn’t know until you read one.

      Sand Writing I love you, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, seasoned romance blog post,

       

      Any thoughts?

      Yes, even though I do LOVE COWBOYS and the whole western environment, I’ll read other books. Most of my Kindle and iPad books are western unless I have purchased books by fellow author friends who write different genres of contemporary romance.

      I, as a writer, still need to slip into other worlds now and then.

      At the time I read those books, I never gave a thought to writing a seasoned romance until readers asked me to write about older couples. It wasn’t called seasoned then. Maybe mature romance? Unfortunately, in a search for mature romance, what came up wasn’t what I had expected. <eye roll>

      You might find this website interesting. It features Author Nan Reinhardt. Is Seasoned Romance a Real Thing? Coincidentally, Jacquie Biggar, hosted Nan Reinhardt on her blog today.

      I have read a couple of Nan Reinhardt’s books and thoroughly enjoyed them.

      A couple of the authors at these links might be members of Marketing for Romance Writers group, but we’ve never corresponded. I came across these links while searching the topic of seasoned romance and recognized names, but I didn’t post the links because of recognizing them, but because it gave you a couple sites to take a peek at if you’re curious. Maybe you’ll take a chance on reading a seasoned romance with mature couples.

      Maybe when Judy’s book comes out, you’ll take a chance on reading one of mine.

      UPDATE: The two books mentioned in this post are now published and can be found on their own pages by clicking the LINK below. Judy’s book will be available this spring 2020.

      Find information about Judy’s upcoming book on the Double Dutch Ranch Series Page.

      New:

      Two-Five Ranch Outlaws, Imprisoned in a Cowboy’s Heart, #1

      Single Title Holiday: Secret Santa’s Rundown Sleigh: A Holiday Romance Novella.

       

      Thanks for sitting through this. Enjoy your weekend. 💙

       

       

      Images from Pixabay.

      Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Seasoned Romance | 6 Comments | Tagged Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, mary j mccoy dressel, Seasoned Romance, Seasoned Romance: Young at Heart Heroes and Heroines, works in progress
    • 2015 Wrap-UP & 2016 Optimisms

      Posted at 10:42 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on December 31, 2015

      A lot of bloggers are doing an End of the Year Wrap Up. I can’t recall ever doing this. Last year was my big publishing year with four books published. It was exciting yet scary for many reasons. But now, we’re talking about 2015. Here we go…

       

      2015 Break Down:

       

      Published:

      • Of the Cowboy’s Own Accord Bk #3
        Amazon #1 Best Seller in Contemporary Western Romance. Army Ranger Dane Carlson, the third and youngest brother at the Double Dutch Ranch—finally got his own book.Number 1 best seller OtCOA

       

       

      • NaNoWriMo: Won my sixth year and finished 50K words on the 23rd of November.

      Writing Progress in 2015: #AmWriting

      1. New western romance: This contemporary romance story came to me in a whirlwind with nothing more than an idea from a country song, although while writing, it changed direction. Completed first draft in December. Coming late 2016. (This was my 2015 NaNoWriMo novel.)
      2. Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight Began writing book #4.
      3. Bull Rider Series #3 Completed first draft in December. Coming in 2016.

      The end

       

      The Year in General:

       

      • During 2015, this lady was sick for more than two months beginning in May.
      • In addition to being sick, a book needed editing and to get published on time, all while searching for a new place to live. The book was Of the Cowboy’s Own Accord. Needless to say, my cowboys remained in limbo as writing came to a halt. It was hard for me to accept an unwanted writing break. Fortunately, I believe things happen for a reason. Once settled in my new place, I began writing again.

      • The print book for Howdy, Ma’am was retired indefinitely in 2015. Available in eBook format.
      • My cover designer helped me to create an author brand.

      Author Brand

      • Both of my sons have had a healthy and productive year. This makes a mom happy. 🙂
      • After being unofficially diagnosed with a brain tumor last March, my fur baby is doing well. Her medication helps immensely. The neurological veterinarian said we might have a year with her. (I included her in my newest book.)

      Kasha2

      • Recently, I discovered Netflix!

       

      This isn’t where my wrap-up ended in the first draft of writing my post and I could go on…and on. But, this is where I chose to cut it off.

       

      As I wrote out my year, I realized, all in all, the year had been good to me.

      Most of it isn’t necessary to share with the world, for once I start saying all the good stuff I wanted to say, a part of me knows that the boat doesn’t always float on an even keel for long, and I don’t want to jinx myself. Superstition? Nah, just reality. No, I’m not a negative person, in fact, I’m rather positive and try to live with a positive attitude, but the boat floating “off keel” has happened more times than I care to remember.

       

      The Upcoming Year?

       

      2016

       

      Plan:

      • Stay healthy.
      • Love and hug my fur baby while I can. ❤
      • Publish!
      • Publish!!
      • Publish!!!
      • Write whatever new idea comes to my muse during the year.
      • Begin a new series in 2016.
      • Try to stick to a blogging schedule. Semi-schedule? A couple posts a week? At least one? LOL

      This too could go on and on, but not today. 🙂

      Thank you for taking the time to visit.

      I’ll return tomorrow to wish you all…well, you know what happens tomorrow. *Wink*

      Happy New Year to those already celebrating 2016.

       

      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”

      If you’d like to stay informed of new releases and important book updates, please consider signing up for my Mailing List. Don’t worry. I won’t send spam.

      Have an enjoyable day!

      Posted in #AmWriting, Bull Rider Series | 11 Comments | Tagged 2015 Wrap-UP & 2016 Optimisms, Amazon #1 Best Seller, Contemporary #western romance series, cowboys, Full Length Novel, Happy New Year, Mary J McCoy-Dresel, Romance, western romance, works in progress, Year End Wrap Up
    • News, Updates, and NaNo 2012 Bites the Dust

      Posted at 8:58 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on December 3, 2012

      Winner-180x180Another year of NaNoWriMo bites the dust. This was my third win. I finished with 56,392 words. Since I was a rebel this year, I can take those words and add to my original manuscript for a total word count for Book Two in the Bull Rider Series of 73,060 total words. After major editing and revisions, I think this will still be longer than what I’d hoped for, but I won’t cross that bridge, yet. Sorry for the cliché. NaNoWriMo 2012 is over, and I’m done talking about the days and nights of literary abandon.

      Next

      Do you ever get burned out when you do so much of something, and you just want to take a break from it? I’m that way with marketing and promoting right now. Of all times, why does it have to be now when my book could be out very soon? Weird how Murphy’s Law comes into play. Maybe I should say— busy learning as much as I can about marketing and promoting. Tons of research, reading, visiting blogs, webinars, videos… The take-away-from-writing kind of research. Yeah, maybe break time is needed, for at least a couple days.

      More

      Even though this burned-out feeling has crept over me, I am excited about some future guest spots on blogs. I will do something similar here one day. I’ve hosted a few interviews with other people, but they’re tucked back in the archives. Yes, I’m looking forward to talking about my book.

      If you haven’t checked out my book page, there is a new blurb there. It’s kind of a long blurb, but my book is full length—okay—long. How can I create a short blurb for a long novel? (I do have a twenty-five word blurb) I cut almost a thousand words out of my novel before sending it back to my editor the last time. I wonder if she noticed. I wish I could post my editor’s first paragraph about my story in her last email. It almost made me swoon to see my story in someone else’s eyes. (Swoon is my new word, by the way. I have used it a lot lately.)

      For You

      For your pleasure, I will enclose a short excerpt from Howdy, Ma’am, Book One. Keep in mind this was edited, but in the final round, my editor might have suggested some changes that I haven’t seen, yet. Set up: My heroine is a photographer and is having dinner with her new, ahem, client…the bull riding hero. (Could he be the reason I use the word swoon?)

      <><>

      She saw innocence and shyness, but still something strong and sexy. His sexiness seemed natural and the strength had to come from hard work. There was so much she’d like to learn and know about him.

      She watched the hostess and female wait-staff examine his looks behind his back. She wondered if women at the shows did the same thing. Velia vowed to figure out this man and his personality, and how he fit into his world. If she did, she could capture it in her photos. Once she knew him, her photographs would be even better. She wanted to capture the real man, even the sexy part, but maybe she would keep some of those for herself.

      “Hello? Got your tongue wrapped up in a rope?”

      “Oh, no, I’m sorry.” Velia caught herself smiling while gazing into his eyes. “You caught me lost in my personal thoughts.”

      “I’d love to know what you were thinking with a smile so sensual on your face.”

      “Hmm, I give myself away too easily.” She dug into her salad when it arrived with her meal. “We’ll have to get to know each other better. I think you’ll like my photographs when we do.”

      “I hope to like them before we get to know each other because you’ll start right out on day one at the opening ceremony. It’ll be crazy and we’ll get through introductions and stats. People will be excited because the season is starting.”

      “Girls will be wishing to crawl all over you.”

      “Shucks, ma’am. They already want to. I can’t seem to shake it off. They want to get my attention any way they can. I’ve been flashed before getting on a bull. You have no idea.”

      “Should I be photographing those stunts as well?”

      “Sure, but keep those parts out of the public eye. I want some for myself.”

      Posted in #AmWriting | 0 Comments | Tagged author romance, book page, Christmas in July, dog mary j mccoy dressel, excerpt, howdy, Ma'am, nanowrimo bites the dust, other news, works in progress
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