PRP ECLIPSE DAY PARTY AND HOOPLA GRAND FINALE!

THE GRAND FINALE IS HERE! FINAL DAY OF PRP ECLIPSE DAY PARTY AND HOOPLA!

All good things must come to an end, but in this case, the end is only the beginning. Today is ECLIPSE DAY—y’all be sure to get your special glasses! And speaking of beginnings, hopefully by now you have all snapped up every one of these wonderful bargains and have them to look forward to reading as things start to cool off some and summer draws to a close.

A VERY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO LIVIA AND JAMES REASONER TODAY!

And, this is also a chance for us to give you all a very heartfelt THANK YOU for all the support you’ve give PRP and IMPRINTS over the last four years!

What are we featuring today? LET’S FIND OUT…

How about SOUTH OF RISING SUN by J.D. McCall, since the “sun” is a big theme for us right now! At just .99 right now, you can’t pass this one up!

U. S. Marshal, Alistair Taggart, has spent almost seven years protecting the citizens of Bleeding Kansas from the lawlessness surrounding its push to achieve statehood. Now, Kansas has entered the Union as a free state, but the violence threatens to continue when the Civil War erupts only three months later.

During one of Taggart's regular visits to the former Kansas territorial capital of Lecompton, local rancher, James Harper, enlists the marshal's help to catch the cattle rustlers intent on stealing his livelihood. But Kansas is just beginning its reign as the wildest state in the Union, and Taggart must also deal with Jayhawkers, highwaymen, unpredictable weather and those hell-bent on revenge. Taggart finds his job further complicated by a runaway slave and animals gone delinquent, along with his own concerns that age may finally be catching up with him.

Solving the case will prove harder than Taggart ever imagined, and its resolution will cost him dearly. Sometimes, justice only comes with a price.


If you’re in the mood for something a little “weird”, try MILE MARKER 59 by B.J. Betts! It’s FREE right now, and talk about one of those books that will keep you guessing—this one certainly WILL!

In one fateful moment, Marissa Daniels loses everything—her fiancé, her best friends, and her sanity. Everyone in the small town of Cutter’s Bend, Iowa, knows about the many car accidents that happen at MILE MARKER 59…and about the sightings of a huge wolf at that very spot. But what is known as local legend is very real to Marissa—she knows what she saw at the moment her fiancé lost control of the car—the moment everything changed in her life.

Strange dreams lead her to only one conclusion: she must discover what really happened that night. With the help of the local sheriff, Michael Morris, and the victim of yet another near-tragic wreck at MILE MARKER 59, secrets are uncovered—and spells are finally broken.

Can Marissa face a supernatural danger more powerful than anything she ever could imagine? Asking Michael to help her unravel the mystery of the Sioux curse that exists in that spot could lead to his death—and hers.

The occurrences at MILE MARKER 59 are what holds this little town’s secrets in silence—and what could rip Marissa’s life apart…


Do you love zombie stories? If so, here's a thriller by Jackson Lowry. PUNISHED BOOK 1: UNDEAD is the first of a trilogy—and it will scare you silly. Where else can you get this kind of excitement for only .99?

The day the Yankees came and took everything from wealthy landowner Vincent Bayonne was a day he’d never forget—how could he live with the uncertainty of not knowing what happened to his wife and children? Forced to watch as his plantation was burned to the ground by one of the slaves, Bayonne has sunk to the bottom of the barrel. A drunkard who has only his consuming hatred to sustain him, he makes his way from Louisiana to San Francisco, barely managing to survive on the Barbary Coast.

Just when he thinks he has nothing to live for, he discovers that William Sherman, the former slave who torched his home, is alive and well—and Sherman bears a hatred for his former master to match Bayonne’s. When Sherman bests Bayonne in a fight, the once-wealthy Southerner wakes up in a coffin, prepared for a fate he could never have imagined.

Hatred fuels Bayonne’s survival, but Sherman has cursed his nemesis with powerful voodoo magic that dooms him to an eternity of only half-living in the twilight existence of a zombie. Can an old Chinaman provide the answers Bayonne needs to survive in the world of the UNDEAD?


How about some lighter fare? Have you ever read any of Sarah McNeal’s Wilding family books? FLY AWAY HEART is one that will captivate you from the very first page. Right now, this story is one of the very best bargains around—it’s FREE! Don’t pass it up!


The Great Depression…Rum Runners and Old Fears…Love Against the Odds

Lilith Wilding can’t remember a time when she didn’t love the English born Robin Pierpont, but she knows he loves another so

she hides her feelings beneath a hard veneer of self-protection.

Robin Pierpont dreams of flying airplanes and winning the heart of the one he loves, but when he gets involved in illegal rum running to help a friend, those dreams seem to turn into just a fantasy. When he is called upon to face his worst fear to save Lilith’s life, his fate may be sealed in death.





How about some western historical romance to tickle your fancy? Patti Sherry-Crews has penned a wonderful story that you will long remember. MARGARITA AND THE HIRED GUN is only .99 right now, and a better bargain you’ll not find anywhere! Snap it up while you can!

Pampered Margarita McIntosh is not used to being forced to do things she doesn’t want to do—but when her father, Jock, sends her away for her own safety, she has no choice. The long journey from Flagstaff to Durango tests her personal strength of will as never before, and the secret she carries in her saddlebag could be the death of her.

A rough Irish gunman, known to her only as “Rafferty”, is entrusted with getting her to her destination “safe and intact”—something he fully intends to do to claim the reward he’s been promised by Jock McIntosh. With a price on his head, the promised money is Rafferty’s ticket to a new life, and he’s not going to jeopardize that for anything—not even love.

But there are steamy nights and dangers all along the arduous trail for MARGARITA AND THE HIRED GUN, with deadly secrets between them that passion cannot erase. With her father’s enemies after her and the secret she conceals, will Rafferty’s protection be enough to save their lives? And will the heat of their passionate love be enough to seal their future together—if they do survive?



Here's another one you’ll want for only .99, as well! DOUBLE CROSSING, by Meg Mims, is a sweet romance that keeps you guessing. WINNER of the 2012 BEST FIRST NOVEL Spur Award from Western Writers of America AND a 2012 FINALIST for the USA BOOK NEWS Awards – for Fiction: Western!

August, 1869: Lily Granville is stunned by her father’s murder. Only one other person knows about a valuable California gold mine deed — both are now missing. Lily heads west on the newly opened transcontinental railroad, determined to track the killer. She soon realizes she is no longer the hunter but the prey. As things progress from bad to worse, Lily is uncertain who to trust–the China-bound missionary who wants to marry her, or the wandering Texan who offers to protect her … for a price. Will Lily survive the journey and unexpected betrayal?
We draw to a close with our featured books today with two anthologies—a couple of wonderful collections that are sure to give you a taste of some authors who may be new to you and some that are old favorites.

A COWBOY CELEBRATION is filled with some excellent western historical romance short stories that take place during the Fourth of July AND contains some scrumptious recipes mentioned in the stories! Right now it can be yours for only .99! Take a look!

When the Fourth of July rolls around, it’s time for a good, old-fashioned, rip-roaring COWBOY CELEBRATION! And what could be better on this steaming hot holiday than to relax with a book bursting with stories about—AHEM—even hotter cowboys and their feisty ladies? A COWBOY CELEBRATION pops and sizzles with six colorful, sensuous stories by some of PRAIRIE ROSE PUBLICATIONS’ best authors. As an added bonus, each story mentions a tasty picnic dish (with recipes included!) for your next COWBOY CELEBRATION !

Winner Takes All by Meg Mims—Cora Peterson's plan to beat her rival at a picnic auction brings about a surprising end and an unexpected love...

For the Love of Grace by Julia Daniels—Poppy travels west to find her sister—but her own happily-ever-after awaits, as well.

Brighter Tomorrows by Beverly Wells—Callie trusts no man. Chase Matlock is fearful to love again. He gets his man, she gets her adventure, and together they find it all.

Second Chance at Love by Agnes Alexander—A temporary living arrangement might lead to something else when love enters the mix.

Never Had a Chance by Angela Raines—How can a deadly trick bring two people the love they didn't know they needed?

Forged by Fire by Linda Carroll-Bradd—Can a wounded soul find solace in the attentions from a cook who nurtures through her culinary creations?


Winding down our featured books on the blog today is another great anthology chock full of rousing tales of the old west, SUNDOWN WESTERN TALES! It can be yours for only .99, so be sure and grab it while you can!

Do you love stories about the untamed days of the Old West? Well, pardner, this is one collection of short tales you will not want to pass up! From old standards like Max Brand and Zane Grey to new authors and those in between, you’re sure to find these stories to your liking. Settle back in your easy chair and get ready for ten fantastic tales of action and adventure that will pull you right in and have you reaching for your own pistol as you read!

In Zane Grey’s story, “The Horses of Bostil’s Ford”, a man’s horse means everything…

Richard Prosch’s “Storm Damage” is the tale of a man finally getting the woman he always wanted.

There’s nothing better than a dog in Big Jim Williams’s “Riding Fence”—where a loyal canine friend saves a ranch hand’s life in a blizzard.

They say there’s a fortune to be made in picking up “Buffalo Bones”. Charlie Steel’s character, Smiley, will keep you guessing.

The young son of a gallows-builder places a bet with a school chum that a hard-to-hang prisoner will meet his fate, at last, in Kyle Rudek’s “The Man Who Wouldn’t Hang”.

In “Love’s Lonesome Serenade—The River Romance”, Lane Pierce pens a tale of escape and unexpected romance between a young gunman and a soiled dove.

W.M. Shockley’s “Mordecai” is a man determined to hold on to what’s his to the very end—even if he’s not sure he wants it.

A young man is killed, and a beautiful horse is accidentally shot, changing the course of several lives in Robert Steele’s “The Good Shooting”.

The Hicks brothers stir up trouble with the wrong drifter in Gordon L. Rottman’s story, “Missing But Not Missed”.

“The Cure of Silver Canyon” is a wonderful Max Brand western short that blends plenty of drama, action, and emotion into an exciting read.

Don’t miss this new western anthology from SUNDOWN PRESS!

Appropriately for ECLIPSE DAY, we'll end our featured books blog with Celia Yeary's WISH FOR THE MOON. What a wonderful story this is!

At the dawn of the Twentieth Century, sixteen-year-old Annie McGinnis wishes for a chance to see more of the world, since all she’s ever known is the family farm in North Texas. A mysterious visitor arrives who will change not only her life, but her family’s as well. To save Max Landry from a bogus charge, she follows him and the Texas Rangers back to the coal-mining town one county over where a murder occurred. The short journey sets Annie on a path of discovery—new horizons, an inner strength, and quite possibly…love.

Thanks so much for being with us over the last four days! Happy Eclipse Day, and thanks for stopping by!


We have a whole slew of books available for FREE or .99 through MONDAY, AUGUST 21, and we’ll feature some here on the blog every day—but just remember, THEY'RE ALL ON SALE OR FREE THROUGH TODAY! JUST TAKE A LOOK BELOW!

                                     

TRUTH IN FICTION -Using real history to create fiction

Post copyright 2015 by Doris McCraw

Writing historical fiction is great fun, but it's even more fun when you can add details that create a richer reality. In many cases writers use actual people, places and events to weave their stories around. Such was the case in my current work "Never Had A Chance" in the "Cowboy Celebration" anthology. I used the town of Pueblo, Colorado, an actual lawman by the name of Patrick Desmond and Teresita Sandoval.

www.sciencebase.gov

Patrick Desmond was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1841 and died in Ogden, Utah in 1890. The years in between are the stuff of legends. At least according to some of what I found. According to the information from Pueblo, Patrick was quite the lawman. He was responsible for bringing in numerous outlaws, and was a member if the Rocky Mountain Detective Association. He arrested an Alamosa stage coach robber in Pueblo, and was involved in a stopping a counterfeit ring Pueblo. His luck was not always the best in his financial life. On Feb 1, 1884 the livery owned by Desmond was destroyed by fire for a loss of $14,000. Insurance only covered $4,500. Desmond met his demise in Ogden, Utah at the hands of Thomas Todd, a former bartender at the "Bucket of Blood" saloon in Pueblo. In an altercation Todd shot and killed Desmond, but was only given a four year sentence, which he served in the state of Utah. (Todd returned to Colorado after his sentence and continued his violent streak.)

Maria Teresa 'Teresita' Sandoval,http://bit.ly/1GXxlP9,  is an early pioneer woman everyone should know. Born in New Mexico in 1811, she married at a young age and moved to Colorado. She met Matthew Kinkead  and moved with him to Ft. Pueblo, where she helped run fort and trading business. When Kinkead left for California with their son, Teresita moved in with her daughter, Cruzita and her husband in the Arkansas River Valley. There she took control of her daughters property after the death of Cruzita's husband. Teresita died in 1894. http://bit.ly/1fby74ihttp://bit.ly/1fby74i

Pueblo, Colorado itself is a great story. Early on the area at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek, was drawing settlers. In 1806, Zebulon Pike built a stockade there when he famously tried to climb the peak that now bears his name. Ft. Pueblo was a business fort similar to Bent's fort. In 1854 they suffered the Christmas Eve Massacre, and to this day no one has learned what really happened. Wm. Jackson Palmer, founder of Colorado Springs, located his Colorado Coal and Iron company, latter known as Colorado Fuel and Iron there. Prior or WWII it was the first and only steel mill west of St. Louis, Missouri. Even in modern times, Pueblo is known as the "Home of Heroes". President Eisenhower was quoted as saying, while presenting Raymond G. 'Jerry' Murphy his medal of honor, "What is it...something in the water out here in Pueblo? All you guys turn out to be heroes!" In 1993 Scott McInnis read into the congressional record that Pueblo was the only city to have four living Medal of Honor recipients from the same hometown.

commons.wikimedia.org

Below is a excerpt from "Never Had A Chance" second in the Agate Gulch stories, found in the "Cowboy Celebration" anthology. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of the anthology in a drawing on Wednesday July 8, 2015.


                                                                **********

The smell of unfamiliar food cooking pulled Tom back from oblivion. His mind tried to process what he was smelling; a pungent, smoky smell. Immediately, his stomach started growling as though it had been empty for some time. Moving to rise and follow the smells, Tom found his left arm tied to his chest. A pain shot through his upper left chest and shoulder, followed by a stinging in his right leg; but none of those irritants compared to the throbbing behind his eyes, up through the top of his head and down the back of his neck. He took a deep breath to calm the panic he was beginning to feel.

h

Where was he, why was he restrained? That thought was swiftly followed with the question that pushed Tom into full panic.  Who was he?

Fighting the pain, Tom rolled to the right, moving to the edge of the bed. He was in a bed. The knowledge calmed him somewhat, but he still needed to find the answers to his questions. He'd almost made it to a sitting position when the door opened.

So, you are awake," the male voice stated. A voice with a Spanish accent. "I will send for the doctor; in the meantime, you lie back down," he continued, as he pushed Tom back toward the pillow. "Please, stay here until the doctor says otherwise. I do not want you doing anything that will require you to stay longer." So saying, the man quickly went out the door, closing it firmly.


BUY LINKS                   Barnes and Noble    Smashwords    Amazon: http://amzn.to/1KBu668



Until next month, happy reading and enjoy your summer, and be sure to check out "Home For His Heart" the first in the Agate Gulch series of stories.

Angela Raines is the pen name for Doris McCraw. Doris lives in Colorado and focuses on Colorado and Women's History. Currently, when not writing fiction, she is researching the women doctors who practiced medicine in Colorado prior to 1900. She also publishes a haiku and photo five days a week. You can view them at: http://bit.ly/1dVnNwO

CALL OUT FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR A COWBOY CELEBRATION by Cheryl Pierson

PRAIRIE ROSE PUBLICATIONS CALL OUT FOR SUBMISSIONS--THERE'S STILL TIME!

A COWBOY CELEBRATION

Fireworks, fried chicken, and true love…

What kind of Fourth of July COWBOY CELEBRATION is going on at Prairie Rose Publications? Well, hold on to your Stetsons, cause we’re bringing out another hot-as-a-firecracker bunch of stories that take place on Independence Day!

This collection will contain some great Fourth of July stories for everyone, along with the mention of a “special recipe” in each story. Those very recipes will also be included in the back of the book! We had great success with this in the past—and this time, we’re looking for a tasty dish that might be taken to a Fourth of July picnic—truly, A COWBOY CELEBRATION! These will be western historical romance stories that have a happily-ever-after ending, just in time for an Independence Day release!

Rugged cowboys, daring heroines, and a Fourth of July holiday in the mix are a sure-fire way to get ready for a hot, hot summer!

Your story needs to include mention of a certain food, and the recipe will need to be included on a separate document for inclusion at the end of the book. Stories should be 10K-15K in length. Any heat level is fine for this anthology. (We do not publish erotica.)

Deadline is MAY 1, 2015. Submit to prairierosepublications@yahoo.com or fabkat_edit@yahoo.com
Our general submission guidelines can be found here: http://www.prairierosepublications.com/

We’re looking forward to reading the best summer love stories you can dream up with those heart-stopping cowboys, saucy heroines, and whatever excitement you can create for them at A COWBOY CELEBRATION!

CALLS FOR SUBMISSION at Prairie Rose

In addition to accepting manuscript submissions for novels, novellas, and short stories whenever anyone wants to send them, Prairie Rose Publications currently seeks submissions for two anthologies and one series.

A Cowboy Celebration

Imprint: Prairie Rose Publications
Theme: love on the Fourth of July
Length: 10,000 to 15,000 words
Deadline: May 1, 2015
Heat: sweet to spicy (no erotica, please)

Fireworks, fried chicken, and true love…

What kind of Fourth of July cowboy celebration is going on at Prairie Rose Publications? Well, hold on to your Stetsons, because we’re bringing out another hot-as-a-firecracker bunch of stories that take place on American Independence Day.

This collection will contain some great Fourth of July stories for everyone, along with the mention of a “special recipe” in each story. The recipes will be included in the back of the book. We had great success with this in the past—and this time, we’re looking for a tasty dish that might be taken to a Fourth of July picnic. These will be western historical romance stories that have a happily-ever-after ending, just in time for an Independence Day release.

Rugged cowboys, daring heroines, and a Fourth of July holiday in the mix are a sure-fire way to get ready for a hot, hot summer.

Your story needs to include mention of a certain food, and the recipe will need to be submitted in a separate document for inclusion at the end of the book. Stories should be 10K-15K in length. Any heat level is fine for this anthology. (We do not publish erotica.)

Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2015.

Email the completed manuscript, along with a query letter (in the body of the email), to Editor in Chief Cheryl Pierson at prairierosepublications@yahoo.com. Please put COWBOY CELEBRATION SUBMISSION in the subject line.

Don't forget: All submissions must be in Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins.

We look forward to reading the best summer love stories you can dream up, featuring heart-stopping cowboys, saucy heroines, and whatever excitement you can create for them during A Cowboy Celebration.

Nine Deadly Lives: An Anthology of Feline Felonies

Imprint: Fire Star Press
Theme: Cozy mystery
Length: 6,000 to 8,000 words
Deadline: May 1, 2015

Cats...charming, lovable creatures or deadly, razor-clawed predators? This mixture of the sweet and the dangerous is one of the things that makes cats endlessly fascinating and appealing.

If you have a cozy mystery story featuring one or more of our feline friends, Fire Star Press wants to hear from you. Nine Deadly Lives, an anthology of cozy cat mysteries, is now open for submissions. Stories should be 6000 to 8000 words, with no graphic violence, sex, or language.

Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2015.

Submissions must be emailed as an attached Word document to Livia Reasoner at livia@flash.net.

We look forward to reading your submissions!

Duets Series

Imprint: Fire Star Press
Theme: The music of life and love
Length: 15,000 to 25,000 words
Deadline: November 1, 2015
Heat: sweet to spicy (no erotica, please)

Some song titles evoke memories not only of the song, but also of the time…the era…the place. They call for stories all their own, and at Fire Star Press they’ve inspired a new line of novella-length stories we’re calling “duets” because each book will contain two romantic tales.

Someone to Watch Over Me: 1940s—Paranormal

When you think of the song "Someone To Watch Over Me," you probably think of the comfort of a safe haven in the arms of your true love. But what if the “someone” was not what he or she appeared to be? What if he were a ghost from the past, or a figment of the future? What if she were an alien from another world or a shapeshifter? This novella duet lends itself to all kinds of intrigue. Stories should be set in the 1940s. We’re not looking for graphic horror or sex—just an “aha” moment and the inevitable decision: What will your hero or heroine do when they discover exactly who—or what—watches over them?

If I Loved You: 1950s—Misunderstood love

If I Loved You will contain two stories of misunderstood love set in the 1950s. This could be anything from a series of events that are misunderstood by one partner or the other to one big misunderstanding that could cloud the issue of a relationship forever. A man sees his intended bride kiss another man on the cheek and gaze into his eyes and calls off the wedding, only to discover later the man is her brother. A woman learns her boyfriend’s tumultuous break up with her happens because he’s found out some devastating news: He’s suffering from an illness that will take all his energy to battle, and he doesn’t want to burden her. The possibilities are endless.

This Magic Moment: 1960s—A revealing moment changes everything

This Magic Moment will contain two stories set in the 1960s, one of the most turbulent times in American history. "Free love," rock-and-roll, and the civil rights movement changed society daily. In these stories, a revelation changes everything. Maybe a civil rights worker must decide between his passion for his job and his passion for his woman. A Woodstock musician realizes the love he feels for his girlfriend is stronger than the music he makes with his band when he sees her leaving the festival. A preacher’s daughter becomes pregnant and her boyfriend, whom her parents despise, shows them what love truly is when he learns he’s going to be a dad. These are just a few examples of the kind of thing we’re looking for in This Magic Moment. What “magic moment” will drive your story?

Wonderful Tonight: 1970s—Can true love happen in just one night?

Eric Clapton's “Wonderful Tonight” tells the story of what happens to a couple in one single night. That’s what we’re looking for in this novella duet, set in the 1970s, with a twist. In the song, the couple has been together a while, but in these two stories, we are looking for tales about couples who may be barely acquainted, or maybe just met. An incident throws them into a situation where they find love. We’re not talking about just lust, but also a mutual caring that blossoms into the fragile beginnings of love between two people. These stories should be no hotter than spicy, given these parameters. We’re eager to see what kind of wonderful—or maybe not so wonderful—night brings your characters to the brink of true love.

I'm On Fire: 1980s—Unlikely love blossoms

Bruce Springsteen’s hit "I’m On Fire" is the inspiration for this duet of 1980s-set stories about love between two people who are a highly unlikely match. Remember Pretty Woman? Trading Places? The real-life romance of Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson? If you have a story about an interracial couple, a librarian and a party guy, a rock star and a schoolteacher, a wealthy heiress and her chauffeur—any unlikely pair for the decade—we’d love to see it. Make the story sizzle: This duet will be spicy to hot, but no erotica, please. What would make your hero or heroine say “I’m on fire”?

Wicked Game: 1990s—Circumstances aren’t always what they seem

Chris Isaak’s haunting hit “Wicked Game” makes us wonder about the things people will do for desire. The two stories in this volume will feature characters who do something they wouldn't ever have done ordinarily…but are driven to do for the love or desire of another person. Maybe the “wicked games” people play trap two people in a web of deceit. Perhaps a faulty news report threatens to destroy one or both lives, or maybe friends, family, or life itself conspire against the couple to keep them apart by playing one against the other. Could be the hero sets out to destroy the heroine for some reason, only to realize the object of his hatred is not the monster he thought she was.It’s up to you to determine the reasoning and rules for love’s Wicked Game.

If you have a novella-length story idea for one or more of the duet books, e-mail editor Cheryl Pierson at prairierosepublications@yahoo.com and let let her know your interest so she can plan accordingly and “pair up” potential stories. Please put DUETS INQUIRY in the subject line. Both published and un-published storytellers are welcome to submit.

Deadline for submissions is November 1, 2015.

The line will debut in 2016.

Here are today's burning questions:

 

Authors, which of the above sounds like the most fun?

 

Readers, what story would you like to see in any of the above? You just might inspire an author to write it!

Food Fight!

By Kathleen Rice Adams

Every time Cheryl Pierson and Livia Reasoner send out a call for submissions to a new Prairie Rose Publications anthology, folks get all excited. Regardless the theme, both old-timers and whippersnappers have a lot of fun with the group efforts.

Competition can be fierce, though. It gets rowdy with so many folks jumping up and down, yelling “Pick me! Pick me!” We also frequently see the classic elbow-to-the-ribs tactic and tried-and-true tripping. Some of us have been known to bribe the bosses with chocolate. Others make sad-puppy eyes and beg.

Occasionally, a full-fledged shootout erupts. Things get a mite tense at times like that, because we never know when Ozark Belle (Cowboy Action Shooter Tracy Garrett) is liable step in and break up a perfectly good gunfight. She can outshoot all the rest of us put together.

Right now, everyone is jockeying for a spot in the July 4-themed anthology A Cowboy Celebration. The roughhousing was going along just fine…until we realized the book will include a recipe based on a food mentioned in each story.

Everyone froze. What if we all wrote about fried chicken? What’s more traditional and Old West-y than fried chicken?

The recipe hunt was on. (I can almost guarantee no one will write about fried chicken now.)

Of course, there are the usual suspects:

 

Biscuits.

 

Apple pie.

 

Ice cream. (Is anyone else getting hungry?)

Even including fried chicken, though, that’s only four foods. So here’s the burning question for today:

If you were attending a Fourth of July celebration in the Old West, what would be in your picnic basket?

Tell us in the comments! At the very least, you’ll stop a food fight that’s about to get out of hand.

Better? You may win an e-copy of one of last summer’s PRP anthologies: Lassoing a Bride, Lassoing a Groom, Lassoing a Mail-Order Bride, and Cowboy Cravings. A commenter chosen at random Saturday at noon will receive his or her choice.

Get to commenting! Don't make me drag out the lasso.

SUBMISSIONS CALL OUT FOR NEW SERIES by CHERYL PIERSON

What? Another submissions call out? Didn't that just happen a few days ago? Well, yes it did! We put a call out for submissions for our PRP 4th of July anthology A COWBOY CELEBRATION just a few days ago. But this news is just so big we can't wait any longer to tell you about it!

Our FIRE STAR PRESS imprint is putting together a new series for 2016 based on music, and it's called (appropriately enough!) DUETS. Each of these books will contain two stories, both with the same basic requirements--but, oh...what will you do with those requirements? That's where the fun begins!

A SONG TO REMEMBER DUET SERIES CALL OUT FOR SUBMISSIONS


Remember When…The Song Remembers When…Memories…Try to Remember…Unforgettable…

All these song titles about memories gave us an idea at FIRE STAR PRESS. Some song titles evoke memories not only of the song, but also of the times…the era…the place…
They call for a story all their own, and at FIRE STAR PRESS, they’ve inspired a new line of novella-length stories we’re calling “Duets”—with two stories per book.


"Someone To Watch Over Me"--1940's—PARANORMAL
When you think of this song, Someone To Watch Over Me, you probably think of the comfort of having a safe haven in the arms of your true love. But what if the “someone” who was watching over you was not what he appeared to be? What if he was a ghost from the past, or a figment of the future? What if he was an alien from another world, or a shapeshifter? This duet novella lends itself to all kinds of intrigue. Stories should be set in the time period that this song was popular, the 1940’s. We’re not looking for graphic horror or sex—just an “aha” moment and the inevitable decision…what will your heroine decide to do once she realizes exactly WHO watches over her?

"If I Loved You"--1950's—MISUNDERSTOOD LOVE
If I Loved You is a two-story duet that will be set in the 1950’s, dealing with misunderstood love. This could be anything from a series of events that are misunderstood by one or the other partner to one big misunderstanding that could cloud the issue of a relationship forever. A man sees his intended bride kiss another man on the cheek and gaze into his eyes—he calls off the wedding, only to find out later that the man is her brother. A woman learns her boyfriend’s tumultuous break up with her the week before happens because he’s found out some devastating news—he’s suffering from an illness that will take all his energy to battle, and he doesn’t want to burden her. What kind of misunderstood love story will you come up with? The possibilities are endless!

"This Magic Moment"--1960's—A “REVEALING” MOMENT CHANGES EVERYTHING
This Magic Moment will contain two stories that will be set in the 1960’s, one of the most turbulent times in American history. It was a time when change happened daily in our society. These stories will be about something that is revealed in a relationship that changes everything. Maybe a civil rights worker must decide between his passion for his job and his passion for his woman. A Woodstock musician realizes that the love he feels for his girlfriend is stronger than the music he makes with his band when he sees her leaving the festival. A preacher’s daughter becomes pregnant and her boyfriend, whom her parents despise, shows them what love truly is when he learns he’s going to be a dad. These are just a few examples of the kind of thing we’re looking for in This Magic Moment. What “magic moment” will your story be about?

"Wonderful Tonight"--1970's—Can True Love Happen In Just One Night?
In the Eric Clapton song “Wonderful Tonight” the story of what happens to a couple in one single night is told. That’s what we’re looking for in this novella duet, set in the 1970’s, with a twist. In the song, the couple has been together a while; but in these two stories, we are looking for tales about couples who may be barely acquainted, or maybe have JUST met—and an incident that throws them into a situation where they somehow find love. And no, we’re not talking about just lust, but also a mutual caring that blossoms into the fragile beginnings of love between them. These stories should be no hotter than spicy, given these parameters. We’re anxious to see what kind of wonderful night—or maybe not so wonderful—brings your characters to the brink of true love!

"I'm On Fire"--1980's—Unlikely Love Blossoms (think Pretty Woman or Prince Edward/Wallis Simpson)
Bruce Springsteen’s hot hit, I’m On Fire, is the inspiration for this duet of 1980’s-setting stories about love between two people that would be a highly unlikely match. Remember Pretty Woman? Trading Places? Or the real life romance of Prince Edward and Wallis Simpson? If you have a story about an interracial couple, a librarian and a party guy, a rock star and a schoolteacher, a wealthy heiress and her chauffeur—any “unlikely pair” for that decade, we’d love to see it—and make it sizzle. This anthology will be spicy/hot. No erotica. What would make your hero say, “I’m on fire…”

“Wicked Game”—1990’s—Circumstances Aren’t Always What They Seem
Chris Isaak’s haunting hit, “Wicked Game” makes us wonder at the things people will do for desire. These two stories will be about something that makes the characters do something they would not ever have done ordinarily…but are driven to do for the love or desire of another person. The “wicked games” people play trap two people in a web of deceit. Maybe a faulty news report—reported by one about the other—or perhaps friends, family, or life itself conspire against the couple to keep them apart by playing one against the other. Could be the hero sets out to destroy the heroine for some reason, only to realize the object of his hatred is not the monster he thought she was. It’s up to you to determine the reasoning and rules for love’s “Wicked Game”…

If you have a novella-length story idea for one of these “duet” books, please e-mail me and let me know which one you’d like to work on—this will help in the planning stages and “pairing up” of stories/authors. We can’t promise everyone will get what they ask for, or that every story will be selected, but as always, we will try our best. If you know of someone who might be interested in this submission call-out, PLEASE FORWARD. This line will debut in 2016.

SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 1, 2015
WORD COUNT GUIDELINE: 15K-20K
SUBMIT TO: prairierosepublications@yahoo.com