My guest today is a cowboy loving romance author, Victoria Vane (aka Emery Lee). Slow hand is the first in her western romance series, Hot Cowboy Nights.
- Did you try other genres before you hit with this one?
Although
many readers still haven’t heard of me, SLOW HAND, the first book in a hot
contemporary Western series, is actually my fourteenth published novel. My
debut in 2010 was THE HIGHEST STAKES (writing as Emery Lee), a work of romantic
historical fiction set in the world of 18th century horseracing. I followed
up with a sequel called FORTUNES’S SON, set in the gambling world. In 2012 I
made the decision to switch gears and write steamy romance. When A BREACH OF
PROMISE found an enthusiastic audience, I decided to stay the course. Over the
next two years I published eight more hot historicals (The Devil DeVere series
and THE SHEIKH RETOLD). But after three years of writing with critical acclaim
but only modest success, I have decided to take a leap- three centuries to be
exact!
- Why this genre instead of another? What excites you about this genre?
I decide to try contemporary
romance, as it’s the most popular genre. And since most romance readers
gravitate to certain kinds of heroes, I started looking at what readers like
best. I then considered which kinds of heroes I was most attracted to. The
answer was a no brainer for me- cowboys. I've loved them my entire life. I’d
just never thought to write about them, but as a lifelong horse lover, it only
made sense.
I’m most excited about this
adventure as I think I bring a new twist to the genre. While cowboy romances
are certainly nothing new to readers, each of my stories has a unique tone and
theme. In all four books (SLOW
HAND, ROUGH
RIDER, SHARP
SHOOTER and SILVER TONGUE) my heroes are modern day cowboys facing very
real and relatable struggles. Wade (SLOW HAND) is burning the candle at both
ends between a rural law practice and a struggling family ranch. His brother
Dirk (ROUGH RIDER) is a former bull rider, rancher and wounded vet. Reid (SHARP
SHOOTER) is also a vet, a marine and back-country hunting guide. Keith (SILVER TONGUE) is a Native American struggling between two vastly different worlds.
These stories are all hot and
sexy but still have well developed plots and emotional depth.
Although this new endeavor
marks a distinct departure from historical romance, readers will find that my
trademarks still remain—well researched, scorching hot, emotionally compelling,
character-driven stories.
- How much do current events play into your writing?
Very much!
That’s what I feel makes this series unique. I am a true research geek so most
of my story ideas have sprung from things that I read. In setting my series in
contemporary Montana and Wyoming, I began following various local newspaper and
my stories grew out of news reports that I read.
In SLOW HAND,
the two Knowlton brothers are divided over the family ranch. Wade, is
increasingly resentful that his law practice is the only thing that’s keeping
the ranch afloat, while his brother, Dirk, a wounded vet (ROUGH RIDER) feels
the ranch is all he has left. They face the same economic struggles that all
ranches are dealing with.
SHARP SHOOTER
is truly unique as is features a former marine scout sniper/hunting guide from
Wyoming and a wolf biologist as the heroine. At the core of the story is the
wolf conservation controversy.
Lastly, SILVER TONGUE takes up another
controversial issue - wild mustangs. Most of America is unaware that we
currently have almost 50,000 of them stockpiled in government holding
facilities which means there are almost twice as many “wild horses” living in
captivity than out on the range!
- What inspired this series or characters?
My characters were very much inspired by real people. Nikki from SLOW
HAND shares many experiences from my personal life, while her sister Shelby is
an amalgamation of my two sisters. Wade was named after my first cowboy crush!
- Do you people watch when you’re out and about? Does this help with creating your own characters.
Victoria, thank you for taking time from your busy writing schedule to answer a few questions. Wishing you the best with this new endeavor! It's a pleasure to have you visit.
Thanks so much for having me on your blog today, Sia. I appreciate the chance to talk about my new contemporary series.
In rural Montana…
Wade Knowlton is a hardworking lawyer who’s torn between
his small-town Montana law practice and a struggling family ranch. He’s on the
brink of exhaustion from trying to save everybody and everything, when gorgeous
Nicole Powell walks into his office. She’s a damsel in distress and the breath
of fresh air he needs.
Even the lawyers wear boots…
Nicole Powell is a sassy Southern girl who has officially
sworn off cowboys after a spate of bad seeds—until her father’s death sends her
to Montana and into the arms of a man who seems too good to be true. Her
instincts tell her to high tail it out of Montana, but she can't resist a
cowboy with a slow hand…
Victoria Vane is a multiple award-winning
romance novelist and history junkie whose collective works of fiction range
from wildly comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance. Her books have
received more than twenty reviewer awards and nominations including the 2014
RONE Award for Treacherous Temptations and
Library Journal Best E-Book romance of 2012 for The Devil DeVere series.
Victoria also writes historical fiction as Emery Lee and is the founder of
Goodreads Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers and the Romantic Historical Lovers
book review blog.
