Stereotypes can be a pill for a writer. They can keep a book from being published, and they can keep a book from being read. Every writer knows that up front. That being the case, you would have thought I’d have concentrated my unpublished efforts on writing something currently in fashion like Chick lit or Paranormal. But no. I was in love with this series and convinced it would be popular if I could just find it a home, so I started my published career with a Western Historical romance. I just bet as soon as I typed that you all got a mental picture of a very prim and proper woman typing away at her computer, producing a story about a great love affair between the respectable school marm and the disreputable but loveable sheriff who runs the town with an iron fist. <sigh> You couldn’t be further from the truth, but that stereotype is definitely the bane of my professional existence. Used to be my Promise books were rejected because they were too edgy for the Western historical market. “Very good but not what readers would expect” was one phrase I heard a lot. Naturally, being the eternal optimist that all authors must be, I translated that to mean, “You’re ahead of your time, try back again later.” <g> I’m nothing if not persistent and eventually, I persevered. A little over a year ago I did find my books a home. A wonderful home that just embraces their uniqueness and an editor that swore their appeal would cross genre lines. And, she was, as she is with most things, right.

I thought I was shed of the stereotype once I got published, but I was wrong. Being published just means the stereotype gets to slap me around from a different angle. Initially, reviewers were hesitant to review my books fearing whatever it is they fear from Western historicals. Readers approached them gingerly, and no matter how many awards I won, every time I mentioned my genre, people took that half step back. But I had faith in the series, faith in my Alphas, and faith in persistence. And as time passed, the series grew in popularity. Surprisingly, the biggest percentage of my fans comes from the Paranormal genre. That shocked me until I started thinking about it. There are a lot of similarities in the dynamics of the two genres.

The American West was full of danger, excitement, and opportunity. Contradictions abounded and what was outrageous one day could be normal the next. Idiosyncrasies were a way of life, and everyone had a secret. The fate of good or evil could turn on nothing more than a coin toss or the timely intervention of a hero or heroine. Cultural norms mutated under the weight of necessity, and people either learned to adjust to the demands put upon them or they died. Women and men married for survival as much as they married for hope. Heroes and outlaws emerged out of the most unlikely backgrounds and anyone could be literally anyone on any given day. It was a time of endless possibility and potential. And just like with the Paranormal genre, nothing was ever what it seemed.

That’s the American West I love and write about. That is the setting in which my stories unfold. My characters tend to be as different as the stories they represent. One heroine was sold into prostitution; one into marriage and another was just plain sold out by the man she trusted. Their men are also a reflection of the times, their lives a record of the violence inherent in their day-to-day life. One’s a tough street fighter looking for a home, another a ruthless lawman looking for respect, and yet another is a bounty hunter fast losing touch with his ideals. In modern times, they’d be business moguls, veterinarians and financial wizards. In the old West, they became what they had to in accordance with the exploitable opportunities provided at the time. Which in that era and that region of the country, were not numerous and rarely legal. They grew up hard and practical with an inherent understanding of how a willingness to bend the rules worked to their advantage. They’re neither saints nor outlaws, just strong capable men able to do what needs to be done. Hot, gritty, and edgy, my Western historicals may not be what people expect when they think Western historical, but for me, they still fit neatly inside the broad parameters of what constitutes the genre. One of my readers described my PROMISE series as “HBO’s Deadwood goes Romantica ™”. I think that’s the best description I’ve heard to date. And I totally adore how it side steps the old stereotype and lays the groundwork for a new one. And if it catches on, maybe people will stay in place when I introduce myself as an author of Western historical romance.

Now let’s talk! Join in the discussion for a chance to win a signed print copy of PROMISES PREVAIL.