When I think of cowboys, it’s hard not to romanticize and fantasize about the lonesome man on the open trail rather than the ranch hand or the rodeo cowboy we often see in fiction. Does BA like a certain type of cowboy, and what does she find sexy about them?
Cowboys are my weakness.
I have to tell y’all, I’m a Texan to the bone. My daddy is a cowboy, my brothers are cowboys and my wife swears that I’m a cowboy to the bone. Now, I can tell you, my daddy’s position is, “never never marry with a rodeo cowboy and never sleep with a working cowboy. Find yourself a rancher and marry one of those.”
I tend to write a Texas cowboy because the voice is as familiar as breathing. I love the lyrics of Texas, the colloquialisms, the rock-and-sway of our syntax. The lingo of Texas and of cowboys fascinate me.
As far as ranch hand versus old west cowboy versus rodeo cowboy? I do love me an adrenaline junkie with my whole soul, and, especially in the m/m world, it’s much easier to write a gay rodeo cowboy, simply because it’s a challenge to write a believable gay love affair in rural Texas/Oklahoma and there’s something yummy about ‘traveling partners’. That said, I am exploring the challenges of writing working cowboys more and more often and, now that I’ve moved to the high desert, I’m writing more and more in the New Mexico/Colorado vein.
Also, I’m starting an western murder mystery set in the 1890s, so you’ll get the lonesome cowboy riding the trail, too.
Thanks ever so, y’all, and much love.
BA
What happens when rodeos start to get too tough for humans to compete in? Midnight Rodeo, of course, where supernatural creatures like shifters and vampires work for the prize money, and for the awe of their audience.
In Welcome to the Pack by BA Tortuga, when head bullfighter Denton is killed by a demon bull, his twin, Denver, comes back to take his place. Denver was gone for years, working mundane rodeos and missing his twin. He’s not sure the pack can heal him since the other bullfighters challenge Denver at every turn. All except Blaine, who’s an outcast himself, and who knows Denver is like no one he’s ever met.
In Oklahoma Rain by Kiernan Kelly, psychic Blaze scouts locations for the rodeo company, Darque and Knight, where he finds another psychic talent, Zack, who’s hot as the Fourth of July. Zack is complicated, though, thanks to his sidekick, Mikey, a damaged kid. Blaze invites the pair back to the rodeo, but not everyone is as happy as Blaze to have them there.
In Big Bear, Little Bear, by Julia Talbot, bear shifter Ben is returning to the rodeo after a long injury recovery. Big bear shifter Ozzie is the barrel man and clown, and he’s been waiting for Ben to come back to the big show. But is Ben ready to ride again, let alone be the lover Ozzie is ready to take on?
Buy Links: Torquere Press | Amazon Kindle
About the BA Tortuga:
Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
Social Media Links: Website | Blog | Facebook Page/Author Page | Twitter | Email
About Julia Talbot:
Julia Talbot lives in the great Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been published by Torquere Press, Ellora’s Cave, and Changeling Press. She believes that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved.
Social Media Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook
About Kiernan Kelly:
Kiernan Kelly lives in the wilds of the alligator-infested U.S. Southeast, slathered in SPF 45, drinking colorful tropical, hi-octane concoctions served by thong-clad cabana boys.
All right, the truth is that she spends her time locked in the dark recesses of her office, writing gay erotic romance while chained to a temperamental laptop, drinking coffee, and dreaming of thong-clad cabana boys.
Sigh.
To date, Kiernan has over a dozen novels in print and ebook, and a plethora of short stories in both formats.
Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Email
The Giveaway: An E-copy of Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming
Congrats on the new book! Nothing like a Texas Cowboy in a tight pair of Wranglers. :-)
Looking forward to this read!!
Thank you for the chance to win! The books sounds great!
I love me some cowboys, can’t wait to read your stories BA, Julia, and Kiernan!