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 18^th 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.

Yes. Much of my research is people watching. In writing my cowboy characters I tried to tune in closely to both slang and body language. I had a bit of trouble getting a handle on my Native American character in SILVER TONGUE so I turned to films. I've watch about a half dozen movies with genuine NA actors in an effort to nail down this character.

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…

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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.

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MONDAY MUSINGS—THE SUN IS SHINING AND ALL IS GOOD IN MY WORLD

The sun is bright and a layer of white blankets the fields and laces the trees. Here and there are flashes of vibrant blues, reds, and mottled golden browns of the birds in trees and shrubs. A huge flock of geese are flying high in the

sunlight as they move to southern wetlands. A large redheaded woodpecker is swinging on the bird feeder. In the pasture shaggy coated horses huddle together, their breath a puff of fog floating about their heads. Steam rises off their coats as the sunlight melts the snow and ice. Chardeen is curled up in a thick network of branches in a nearby tree catnapping in the sun.

In the distance a flash of hunter orange as a hunter weaves in and out around the trees on the adjoining property. This morning there have only been a few shots echoing in the hills. I know at least one bright hunter orange spot is my son moving along our fence lines before dropping out of sight over the hill. So far nothing for him. He’s not a patient hunter and I have to remind him hunting is not like an Xbox game. Real time is a lot of quiet watching and careful moving with the occasional opportunity. Jake is 19 and has only been hunting about 3 years and some years there are deer everywhere and other years they’re few and far between and it all depends upon the pattern of other hunters moving in the surrounding hills as to where the deer will end up. Ah, he’ll learn.

Not a lot of snow, thankfully, maybe a couple of inches or so, but it’s cold. Very cold—single digits, which is unusual for us this time of the year. Normally we’re in the upper 40’s in November. Gee, thanks Canada. Sure wish y’all would learn to keep your door shut and the cold up there.

I've been doing a lot of reading of late. I've read some really good books but I’ll tell you about them in a later post.

So, what’s happening in your neck of the woods this morning?