A RIVER’S BEND DUO ~ WANTED: THE SHERIFF & NO LESS THAN FOREVER are Available Now

 
I’m really excited to have these two stories released in one volume, since it's how I think of them--intertwined.  Originally released in the Lassoing a Groom & Lassoing a Bride anthologies, these stories take place at the same time—exactly the same time.

That timing, I admit, was an accident.  I was writing WANTED: THE SHERIFF, Matt & Martha’s story, and suddenly, in the middle of it, a young woman was brought to Martha’s brother, the doctor, for treatment.  While Matt & Martha were busy making calf eyes at each other, Dr. Franz discovered the love of his life. And pretty Rebekah Snow Redman turned out to be a fireball in spite of her fragile appearance. 

A RIVER’S BEND DUO

Wanted: The Sheriff

Martha Bittner may be considered a spinster at twenty-seven, but she’s not planning to stay that way. For four years, she’s wanted the sheriff of River’s Bend, Missouri, to notice her as more than a friend and a really good cook. With the first annual spring dance only weeks away, Martha decides to announce her intentions — and declares the sheriff a wanted man.

Sheriff Matthew Tate always thought he was better off a bachelor. Growing up in Boston society, where marriage is a business transaction and wealth his greatest asset, he’s learned to distrust all women’s intentions. None of them even catch his eye anymore — until pretty Martha Bittner tells him exactly what she wants… and he wonders why he ever resisted capture.

No Less Than Forever

Doctor Franz Bittner is satisfied with his life as it is. He has a good practice in a place where he is respected, in spite of his German birth. He has good friends and enough income to provide him with a few comforts. A wife would only complicate things. Then a tiny blond stranger is pulled from the river and everything changes. With one smile she captures his attention—and steals his heart.

Rebekah Snow Redmann barely survived her abusive husband’s attack. Though she was given to him to pay her father’s debts, she’d rather die than go back. Then she ends up in the care of the handsome local doctor and he stitches up more than her wounds—he mends her soul. With him, she discovers everything that she believes she can never have...a love that will last forever.

TO BUY THE E-BOOK:
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Tracy Garrett

www.TracyGarrett.com

NAMES. LOVE 'EM OR HATE 'EM?

By the English Rose.

Do you like your name? Or do you hate it? So many people who I know really don’t like their given names, myself included.

I was given the name Gillian, no middle name, that’s all I got and I hate it, so mostly I get called Jill or Gill depending if it’s spoken or written (except by Mum and my two sisters, who insist on giving me my Sunday name!) If I could have, I would have changed it to something I liked more. I used to wish I had a middle name so I could at least choose which one I liked best. Mum and Dan had two names and they gave my younger sisters two, so why not me? I want to have a tantrum!

I used to like the name Dawn, and when I was sending manuscripts off to publishers, on the return envelope I used to put G.D as my initials, thinking that the D would symbolise a new ‘dawn’ in my writing life! It never did. So I dropped the D.

My sister is called Viki Helen, and the Viki is just that, it’s not short for Victoria as so many people seem to think, but she has always been called Helen and she hates that, so much so that she has changed it to Helan, no idea why, as it is still pronounced the same way! I’d have wanted to be called Viki as it’s more unusual. My friend, Janice, has always wanted to be called Susan, and my friend Shirley wants to be called Marie.

My Auntie Doris had a little girl a year or so before I was born, and they named her – Doris! Which was fine when she was small, but as she grew they got called Big Doris and Little Doris!  As soon as she was old enough, she legally changed her name to Christine. I don’t blame her at all, who the heck wants to go through life being called ‘Little Doris’, it sounds very Dickensian!

As I am a huge lover of Scotland and consider it my spiritual home (it is actually my ancestral home) I once decided I wanted to be called Shona, a good old Scottish name, meaning Jane or Joan, but no-one would use Shona as they had got so used to calling me Gillian, or Jill for so many years. Darn it!

                                                           My altar ego, Shona.

What is it that makes us hate our name? Is it because we had no freedom of choice over it, because we were ‘given’ it by someone else? Maybe it’s because it isn’t strong enough, or poetic enough, or Romantic enough?

Do you think our characters like the names we give them? Do those names really ‘fit’ the characters? I know that in the days most of us at PRP are writing about, a huge amount of people changed their names on a regular basis for a variety of reasons, the only problem with it is, if we did decide to allow our characters to do that, the readers would get very confused! So would the writers probably! I’ve been lucky up to now, all my main characters seem to have liked the names I chose for them.

Have you ever written a character with one name, then changed it after the book was finished? If you have changed a character’s name part way through a story, why? And does that alter the way you write the character? My WIP has a bad guy who I am calling Mike at the moment, but I’m having some real trouble with him, every time I write about him he kicks against the name, it’s got to go soon! But what he’ll end up being called, I guess that might just depend on exactly how nasty he turns out to be!

                                                           The real me. Jill.

I chose to change my name for my books because I don’t really like my ‘real’ name, so for my traditional shoot-em-up Westerns for Hale in England, my author name is Amos Carr, and for PRP of course I am Gil McDonald. It would be hard to fit my full name on a book really!

So what do you think? Do you like or hate your name? If you had to change it what would you change it to and why? Plenty of food for thought here, I will be interested to see your comments.

It’s a Dog’s Life

By Kathleen Rice Adams

I’ll let you in on a little secret: Few authors are in control of their own lives. Many of us have families who make unreasonable demands for things like an occasional meal and clean clothes. We also have editors and publishers (even if we’re self-published) who are unhealthily devoted to deadlines. Some of us have friends who enjoy spending time with us every once in a while…just not too often. After all, nobody wants to be seen with the clearly certifiable. That’s how rumors get started.

None of those individuals are The Bosses, though. For a good many authors, that role rests firmly in the paws of four-legged fiends…I mean friends…who evidently believe we are in desperate need of supervision.

Today we thought we’d introduce you to a few of the overlords at Prairie Rose Publications—just so you know we don’t act like loons of our own volition. We’re under orders.

Co-owner Livia Washburn Reasoner is kept in line by a menagerie.

Nicki (left) and Nora are Chihuahua Min Pins. They may be small, but they rule the Reasoner household with iron paws. Nicki is wearing a floatie in order to keep her from chewing on stitches after recent surgery. She is not at all happy about the fashion statement.

Ranger (left) is a Doberman mix and looks after Dash, a mystery puppy (possibly Great Dane and Mastiff) who most likely will be the size of a Yeti by the time he’s grown. Sammy is a Great Pyrenees-Shepherd mix, adorably furry, and long-suffering. Ranger and Sammy were rescued from an animal shelter that kills pets not adopted within a very brief time, and Dash was thrown out like trash to fend for himself in cold, rainy weather.

Snake Eyes, a leopard gecko, has a habit of disrobing in public, so it’s probably best not to encourage the behavior by giving him a lot of attention.





Co-owner Cheryl Pierson has only one master to whom she must bow, but Embry is so big that more than one would be overkill.

Embry is a Great Pyrenees. Here he is with Cheryl’s daughter, Jessica. Even as a full-grown woman, she’d barely make a snack for Embry, who also was rescued from a kill shelter when he was a puppy. His mother was an “owner surrender” and pregnant at the time her owners gave her up. Embry had eight siblings, all named for characters from the Twilight books, which were popular at the time. He has learned to tell time over the past couple of years: He usually expects brunch at 10:30 a.m. and supper at 6:30 p.m., and he tracks down Cheryl or her husband within ten minutes of his expected meal time.

Me? I’m in constant danger of lynching at the paws of tiny-but-enthusiastic outlaws known as the Hole in the Web Gang.

Dog and Underdog (top row, from left) came to live with me because they’re not “show quality.” Ed (bottom row, left) was abandoned in a cardboard box, and Li’l Ol’ Biddy was dropped off at a shelter because she’s old. Yes, I do tie a rock around Ed’s neck when the wind blows.

What about y’all? Are you owned by furry, feathered, finned, or scaly family? Tell us about them in the comments! If you’ve got a picture, send it to kathleen@prairierosepublications.net, and I’ll add it to this post. Let’s show the world what unconditional love looks like, shall we?

Reader Pet Gallery

Gabriel (left) and Gabriella own Prairie Rose Doris McCraw.

Roxie is Angela Crider's spotted tabby baby. She loves playing fetch with her Chewbacca mouse.

Cindy Jones's kids. The two on the top row appear to be criminals.

Prairie Rose Kaye Spencer's critters. Let's hope she hasn't infected them with her warped sense of humor.

Both of Prairie Rose Sarah McNeal's furry children—Lily the Golden Retriever and Liberty the cat—are rescues. (She says they rescued her.)

Mason-Dixon (left) and Daisy Duke are the Welsh Corgis who own Prairie Rose Shayna Matthews and her family. They protect the back yard from squirrels and buzzards when they're not chasing their ball.

Somewhere under the pile of fur is Prairie Rose Angel Drew, whose cats evidently believe she bears watching. She does get a mite rowdy from time to time. A third cat is skulking around out of the frame to Angel's left.








Labrador Retrievers Lily (top) and Ranger have things firmly under control at the home of Prairie Rose Kristy McCaffrey.

Rest in peace, Bob (left). Cathie Dunn and her family were honored to share your life. Toby (top) and Tiger, don't worry about that dog-adoption threat. We're sure they'll get your permission first.

10 Tips for Writing Taglines for Book Covers

1) Make it short and punchy.  A bunch of text on a cover looks tacky. You're not telling the novel, you're selling it.

2) Try to keep it 10 words and under.

3) Do not use names of characters. That's a waste of your space.

4) Don't repeat the title of the book. It's already there for the reader to see.  

5) Tell something about the character but keep it short.  A lone cowboy... A handsome sheriff...

6) Focus on the main thrust of the book, whether it's romance, action, mystery, etc.

7) A short blurb from another writer can sometimes work even better. You can use a shorter quote from the blurb if the one an author sends you is a little long.

8) You are better off with no tagline rather than a bad tagline. A good tagline should help you sell books.

9) Work as much information as possible in those 10 words.  You'll notice in Witch Got Your Tongue? that the series name, A Tongue Tied Witch, is worked into the tagline. In Tinseltown, you know it's a romance, suspense, historical and the location just from the tagline.

10) Now, last but not least...there are always exceptions. 

Using Psychology to Develop Story Characters by Sarah J. McNeal

Psychology to Develop Characters

I’ve noticed many of the authors at Prairie Rose have talked recently about their research—and believe me, I’ve been there, too. But the research I’ve been doing in the last few weeks has taken me to a whole other kind of rabbit hole. While I started out with the intention of developing characters by using the Myers-Briggs Personality Types, I not only discovered a whole new way to create villains, heroes, and whatever lies between, I accidently found enlightenment and validation.

Many of you may remember taking the Myers-Briggs Personality Test in high school for the purpose of helping you choose careers based on your character traits. Mine was INFJ (I’ll explain the personality types further down.) Already, I feel like I might be exposing who I am down deep just by telling you what my result was. But I can be fearless. Now that I’m more mature (hopefully), I can see where people make not only career choices based on their personality types, but they also choose friends and life mates the same way—except it’s all in the subconscious. I consider subconscious goings on as scary business. I don’t like the idea of doing things I have no control over.

It may seem like a waste of time to hang out on Pinterest, but I have found so much information there, I could spend the day doing nothing but Pinterest. Besides, for my personality type, Pinterest research is my energy recharge.

Here is the basic test and what the results mean. You may be astounded by your results. I certainly was.

MYERS-BRIGGS PERSONALITY CHART

Extravert                                (energy)                                   Introvert

initiating                                  E vs I                                       receiving

expressive                                                                                contained

gregarious                                                                                intimate

active                                                                                       reflective

enthusiastic                                                                             quiet

Sensing                                   (information)                           Intuition        

concrete                                   S vs I or N                               abstract

realistic                                                                                    imaginative

practical                                                                                   conceptual

experimenting                                                                         theoretical

traditional                                                                                original

Thinking                                (decisions)                               Feeling

logical                                      T vs F                                      casual

reasonable                                                                               open-ended

critical                                                                                     accepting

questioning                                                                              accommodating

tough                                                                                       tender

Judging                      (lifestyle)                                             Perceiving

systematic                   J vs P                                                   casual

planer                                                                                      open-ended

scheduled                                                                                spontaneous

early starting                                                                           pressure-prompted

methodical                                                                              emergent

                                                                                  

When I took the test, I learned I was an INFJ (same thing as an IIFJ). I’m a daydreamer and a night thinker, an idealist, and get my energy from being alone. It’s hard for me to be around extroverts and large crowds for an extended period of time because I feel drained of my energy. Introverts tend to give energy to others and have to be alone to recharge. Extroverts, on the other hand, are rejuvenated and inspired by the energy of others. I always thought introverts were withdrawn, but it turns out that is not the case. They just have a limited source of energy they can only regenerate by themselves so they keep to their own space. Their silence isn’t an insult, but is often taken as such. They just don’t speak unless they have something to say. They feel like it’s their duty to cheer up those who seem to need it. So much of what weighs them down is not their burden to carry. They don’t realize they’re drowning because they are everyone else’s anchor. The most important desire an INFJ wants is for someone to understand them. I think perhaps many writers fit into this personality type. Just sayin’…

Just using this example, I can see where an INFJ or INFP hero or heroine might chose a friend or life partner who was their complete opposite like an ESTJ (direct, confident, aggressive, and unfeeling) to create story tension. I have used the Zodiac signs to create characters in the past, but I see where Myers Briggs is far better in building characters because it’s more detailed about the inner workings of each personality type.

Okay, so here is the Myers Briggs personality types and their basic characteristics:

ISTJ     put together, reserved, serious, judgmental

ISFJ     level-headed, sweet, submissive, overly cautious

INFJ    kind, reflective, withdrawn, overly sensitive

INTJ    intelligent, serious, impersonal, aloof

ISTP    independent, down-to-earth, undiplomatic, disconnected from others

ISFP    unique, carefree, overly sensitive, close-minded

INFP   dreamy, caring, spacey, overly sensitive

INTP   rational, pensive, critical, isolated

ESTP   fun, confident, superficial, aggressive

ESFP   entertaining, spontaneous, vapid, superficial

ENFP  charming, enthusiastic, thoughtless, unreliable

ENTP  innovative, energetic, insensitive, scatterbrained

ESTJ    direct, confident, aggressive, unfeeling

ESFJ    friendly, helpful, bossy, controlling

ENFJ   energetic, diplomatic, unrealistic, overly sensitive

ENTJ   put together, ambitious, intimidating, aggressive

I already figured out my family and friends. I can’t help it. I just had to see where they fit in these personality types, bearing in mind, it’s only my perception of them. I have a family of mostly extroverts, and my few friends are introverts. They do fall into different categories after that. Isn’t this fun?

Characters and their Myers Briggs personality type.

So, you can plot out your characters by using Myers Briggs. Here is a list of MB personalities and their vocations.

ENTJ the Executive                   

INTJ the Mastermind                   

ENTP the Originator                    

INTP the Scientist

ESTJ the Overseer

ISTJ the Examiner

ESTP the Persuader

ISTP the Craftsman

ENFJ the Mentor

INFJ the Perfectionist

ENFP the Advocate

INFP the Dreamer

ESFJ the Supporter

ISFJ the Defender

ESFP the Entertainer

ISFP the Artist

When a writer is developing a criminal, it would be wise to incorporate the kind of MB personality that would commit such a crime. I wish I had known this a couple stories ago. So here is a list of MB personality types and the kind of crimes each would potentially commit.

     

I found quite a few jokes about the Myers Briggs personality types, especially between Spock from Star Trek and Sherlock Holmes, including the responses of their sidekicks, Watson and Bones.

I’m ashamed to say I didn’t get this when I saw the Star Trek film. But it sure is funny now that it has been pointed out to me—probably by an observant, intelligent INTJ type.

 I wrote the personality types, their typical vocations and potential crimes in my journal to use in my story development. To quote Spock, “I found it fascinating.”

Sarah McNeal is a multi-published author of several genres including time travel, paranormal, western and historical fiction. She is a retired ER nurse who lives in North Carolina with her four-legged children, Lily, the Golden Retriever and Liberty, the cat. Besides her devotion to writing, she also has a great love of music and plays several instruments including violin, bagpipes, guitar and harmonica. Her books and short stories may be found at  Prairie Rose Publications and their imprints, Painted Pony Books, and Fire Star Press and Publishing by Rebecca Vickery. She welcomes you to her website and social media:

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WISE QUOTES TO INSPIRE and a FREE GIVEAWAY TO ONE LUCKY READER........Gail L. Jenner

Writers are voracious in their appetite for inspiration! For me, one of the things that I find inspiring is the wisdom passed down from the most famous writers --- those individuals who have made a "big splash" in the world. Not only do I enjoy reading their stories --- classics that never fade with time --- I enjoy hearing them speak to us, as writers.

As I was browsing through a recent list of inspirational quotes, I found a number I thought worthy of sharing. Perhaps they will inspire others.

For example, the prolific and dynamic Stephen King wrote:
I try to create sympathy for my characters then turn the monsters loose. - Stephen King
 

Not just obstacles or antagonists or issues and foibles....but monsters? A great inspiration....I have never thought about turning monsters loose in my stories, but why not?


And how often have I struggled to figure out where I'm going in a story, but E. L. Doctorow provides an alternative:
Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow 

Along with that..... Faulkner says:
Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.– William Faulkner

So --- does that mean don't fret? Don't worry so much about trying to make the story "good" before its time? Leave the critical part of the brain on the shelf until later?

And who can resist listening to Mark Twain? Do we speak the truth or are we liars, one and all???  He insists:  Most writers regard the truth as their most valuable possession, and therefore are most economical in its use. – Mark Twain 

And Anton Chekov says it beautifully, reminding us that:  My own experience is that once a story has been written, one has to cross out the beginning and the end. It is there that we authors do most of our lying.

In other words, the truth comes as we move through the story --- letting that inner voice or muse direct our hand. Mayhap that is why the beginning and end are so often vague or redundant or anti-climactic? Some other worthwhile thoughts include the following:
Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.
– Barbara Kingsolver

I like Kingsolver's remarks: It reminds me that I am not just writing for a "market" or sale. I'm writing to say something -- hopefully something that resonates with the reader, something that is unique or timely or universal.

Ayn Rand wrote:  Words are a lens to focus one’s mind.

I agree! It's AS I'm writing that elements of the story become clearer to me: the conflicts or the internal issues my character(s) must overcome seem to percolate as I move through scenes or when I introduce new characters or problems to be solved.

Likewise Conrad makes it clear that: 

A writer without interest or sympathy for the foibles of his fellow man is not conceivable as a writer.  – Joseph Conrad

Isn't it through story that much of what we observe about human life and experience comes to the forefront, driving us as writers and driving our characters through their created universe? Perhaps, as Sidney Sheldon wrote:  A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it to be God.  Does that mean we need be grateful we are not demi-gods in the real world? I think so. We do not have the ANSWERS to life, but we surely must ask the QUESTIONS!

Hemingway also speaks about being a writer and the perception that others may have. I wonder if he spoke "tongue in cheek" when he said: 

 It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.



Also speaking to the issue of quality and value of writing, Herman Melville wrote:
                  To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.   – Herman Melville  Ray Bradbury spoke about the importance of letting characters have their way. Perhaps a reminder that we cannot always control the direction of our stories or our characters' choices in life! He wrote:   First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!
Finally, on the issue or necessity of revision, John Irvin writes:  Half my life is an act of revision.  Hmmmm -- the ugly truth raises its mighty head! REVISION -- the art, the power of it is what makes our stories shine. More reason to leave the critical part of the brain until it's time to begin revising... Well, time for me to return to my sanctuary! But the trip through the mind's eye of great writers really does give me pause and reminds me that writing is more than just a calling...writing well is a craft and requires attention and dedication. Such is my goal.  THANKS for stopping by......Leave a comment....I will be awarding one lucky reader a free copy of JULY'S BRIDE, my novella recently released from Prairie Rose....           -------------------------------------- Gail L. Jenner, a past history and English teacher, began writing at age 9. Inspired by so many writers, one of her greatest thrills is having WON a WILLA Award for Best Softcover Fiction from Women Writing the West, for ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS, re-released by Prairie Rose Publications in 2013.    For more, visit: www.gailjenner.com OR: http://www.amazon.com/Gail-Fiorini-Jenner/e/B005GHR47O Her newest releases from Prairie Rose include JULY'S BRIDE and JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS! She is the author of several stories that have also been included in the PRP anthologies, PRESENT FOR A COWBOY, LASSOING A BRIDE, and COWBOY KISSES. She is the coauthor of 5 regional histories and edited and contributed to ANKLE HIGH AND KNEE DEEP, an anthology of Western rural women's stories.