Back to the Beach and an early release giveaway.

Hola! Jolene Navarro here, checking in from my back porch in the Texas Hill Country. This morning I had to stop as I rushed through the kitchen on my way out the door. The sun threw unreal colors across the sky. The oranges and purples had me in awe of the world God created for us. 
I wanted to settle in and write, but it's the first week of school and I had to get to work. 
I did take a picture so I could try and capture it with watercolors in the studio. If you didn't know I teach art in San Antonio. I have the best of both worlds.

I try and do the same thing in my writing. Take the images from the real world that inspire me and share them with the reader. I want them to see the world that I see as I write. For us to share the dream.

The Texan's Surprise Return, the second book in the series of The Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch will be out Oct 15. It's available for pre-order now.   

The series takes place around a ranch on the Texas Coast. One of my favorite places to visit.
Last time we were there the weather was moody, with dark skies. We had the beach to ourselves as we walked. We even found a sealed bottle with a message inside. 
It was from the Cayman Islands but they had not included a date or their names.

That had me thinking of all sorts of story ideas. 

There is so much inspiration for art and writing on the beach.

This is a mix of manmade items tangles with nature. 

His greatest Christmas gifts…

“Is that you? You’re…you’re alive.”An unforgettable family reunion for the holidays.

For three years, Xavier De La Rosa’s family thought he was dead. Now Xavier is back home in Texas for Christmas, and finds a wife he can’t remember and adorable triplets he never knew existed. Can Xavier reclaim his memories and the love he left behind…before he returns to the job that nearly killed him?

 This is my first amnesia story and my first story with triplets. They were so fun to research. I have several sets of twins in my life but I only know one couple that had triplets. These boys stole my heart. Especially the youngest, Oliver. (he is also named after one of my students. :) )

The Texan's Promise next in the series.

This is Belle De La Rosa's story. She has been the one that stayed on the ranch to hold it together.  She's raising two daughters on her own, like she has done everything else in life.  Quinn, the single father of twin girls and a young son, moves to the ranch and shakes up her world. 

It's available for preorder and will be in stores Feb 18. 2020. Cover coming soon. 

Sometimes finding common ground is easier said than done…

He’s in town on a mission…Will she change his mind?

When a lightning storm lands Quinn Sinclair on single mom Belle De La Rosa’s ranch, she finds herself drawn to the handsome conservationist and his children. Belle isn’t looking for love—not while she’s trying to sell part of her ranch to developers to stay afloat. But when she discovers that Quinn’s purpose in town is to stop the sale, can she trust him…with her heart?

Cowboys of Diamondback Ranch


This story was inspired by the work that is being done to protect the coastal lands that run 400 miles along Texas.

Texas is home to many endangered marine species. There are four types of turtles that call it home at least one time out of the year. 

So The Texan's Surprise Return is an amnesia story with triplets and The Texan's Promise is an enemy to lover's theme with a blended family.  

Is there a story type you get excited about as soon as you see the blurb? 

Tell me your favorite theme and you could win a copy of The Texan's Secret Daughter or an early copy of The Texan's Surprise Return...your choice. 

In with the new, by Myra Johnson

In my January blog, “Out with the old,” I wrote about going through drawers and closets and generally getting rid of anything—whether tangible or emotional—that no longer proved useful. At that time, my husband (“Project Guy,” as he’s affectionately known) and I were in the early stages of contemplating a major move, and paring down our possessions was a necessary first step.

Moving day--loading up in NC on March 13

As of mid-March, our move became a reality. Our North Carolina home sold quickly, and we’re now settling into brand new (to us) digs back in our home state of Texas! We had been away for 13 years, and I couldn’t be happier to be living in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country, where we once again have several family members close by. We are more than ready to embark on this new phase of our lives!

Texas bluebonnets!

But “new” also means change, and we’ve had a lot to adjust to. We’ve downsized a bit, and I’m having a terrible time finding spaces for all the bookcases to shelve the boxes and boxes of books I brought along! (Project Guy keeps telling me I need to pare down my collection, but really? Get rid of books???)

My new office--before I started getting it arranged (looks a lot better now!)

And that’s just the beginning. We’ve had to memorize a new address, zip code, and phone number. We’re learning new streets, restaurants, and shopping areas. We need to find new health care providers. We’re working hard to remember the names of our friendly new neighbors, and we’re looking for a new church home. 

Poppy & Penny explore their new backyard

Letting go of things that were familiar and comfortable to make room for new possibilities is both exhilarating and scary. That’s exactly what the heroine of The Rancher’s Redemption, my latest Love Inspired romance, finds herself faced with. Single mom Erin Dearborn seeks a fresh start after ending her abusive first marriage, but the challenges of striking out on her own soon overwhelm her. It’ll take a lot of faith, along with the encouragement of kindly but quiet rancher Kent Ritter, to rebuild her self-confidence and open her heart to another chance at love.

Have you stepped out of your comfort zone recently to try something new? How did it feel? What did you learn from the experience?

* * * * *

Native Texan Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. She’s currently at work on a new Love Inspired mini-series, Hill Country Haven, with returning characters from Her Hill Country Cowboy and Hill Country Reunion. The first book in the series, The Rancher’s Redemption, releases next month. Book two, Their Christmas Prayer, will be out in October.

Also look for the updated editions of Myra’s earlier romances:

Autumn Rains

Romance by the Book

Where the Dogwoods Bloom 

The Horsemen of Cross Roads Farm (3-book collection)

Myra is a three-time Maggie Awards finalist, two-time finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards, winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction, and winner in the Inspirational category of the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. After living five years in Oklahoma, then eight years in the beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband are thrilled to be back in the Lone Star State enjoying spring bluebonnets, Tex-Mex, and real Texas barbecue! The Johnsons share their home with two very pampered rescue dogs who don’t always understand the meaning of “Mom’s trying to write.” They’ve also inherited the cute little cat (complete with attitude) their daughter and family had to leave behind when they moved overseas.

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Twitter: @MyraJohnson and @TheGrammarQueen 

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New for December from Our Love Inspired Suspense Authors

Jean C. Gordon here with three new must buys from our Love Inspired Suspense authors. Just click on the cover or retailer links to purchase it. And to learn more about the authors, click on their names.

Military K-9 Unit Christmas
by Valerie Hansen and Laura Scott

Danger lurks during the holidays
in these two Military K-9 Unit stories
In Christmas Escape by Valerie Hansen, veterinary assistant Rachel Fielding and her niece spend the holidays hiding from a killer with her boss, Kyle Roarke, and a capable K-9. And in Yuletide Target by Laura Scott, someone’s gunning for Senior Airman Jacey Burke and her trusty K-9. But Staff Sergeant Sean Morris will do anything to keep her safe for Christmas.

Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | Kobo | Google Play | AppleBooks

Lone Star Christmas Witness
by Margaret Daley 

To protect a child witness
Lone Star Justice must prevail
With a killer at large, Texas Ranger Taylor Blackburn must safeguard little Ben Markham—the sole survivor of a mass shooting. But allowing Ben and his beautiful aunt, Sierra Walker, into his life is riskier than Taylor imagined. While he can distract Ben with Christmas planning, Taylor can’t ignore how Sierra makes him feel. The only thing harder than protecting them is guarding his own heart ...

Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | Kobo | Google Play | AppleBooks

Bodyguard for Christmas
by Carol Post 

Someone’s after his little boy.
She has one chance to save them both.
When his young son is nearly kidnapped, assistant district attorney Colton Gale needs a Christmas refuge—and a live-in bodyguard. Though former military police officer Jasmine McNeal fights to shield them 24/7, she refuses to get attached. But growing close to the little boy and his father might be her only shot at keeping them alive—and becoming a family beyond the holidays.

Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | Kobo | Google Play | AppleBooks

New for November from Our Love Inspired Contemporary Ladies

Jean C. Gordon here with four new must buys from our Love Inspired Contemporary authors. Just click on the cover or retailer links to purchase it. And to learn more about Leigh, Patricia, Jolene, and Roxanne, click on their names.

His Amish Choice
by Leigh Bale 
 
He came back home…but will he stay?
A Colorado Amish Courtships novel
When Lizzie Beiler’s fiancé cast her and his Amish faith aside to pursue an Englisch education, she vowed never to marry. Now he’s back and helping on her father’s farm. And though Lizzie’s unsure she can ever forgive him, she finds their love still lingers. But is Eli finally ready to build a family with Lizzie…or will he return to his Englisch life?

Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks

An Amish Wife for Christmas
by Patricia Davids 

Will marriage save her family?
Christmas with the North Country Amish
Bethany Martin has until Christmas to prove to the Amish community that she can raise her siblings—including her mischievous brother—without a husband. Then handsome newcomer Michael Shetler arrives, winning over Bethany’s siblings. He might be the answer to their prayers, but Michael has a troubled past. Can Bethany love a man with secrets…even if it’s the only thing keeping her family together?
Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks

Lone Star Christmas
by Jolene Navarro 

The Cowboy’s Christmas Reunion
A Lone Star Legacy Romance
Determined to restore the historic buildings in Clear Water, Texas, Jackie Bergmann needs permission from the property’s new owner—her ex-boyfriend. And though Max Delgado agrees to give her access, he has one request: that she help him care for his orphaned brothers. But when she starts to fall for Max again, can she convince him not to sell his family’s ranch…and stay home for Christmas and forever?

Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks

Montana Misletoe
by Roxanne Rustand 

Wanted: a Nanny for Christmas
A Rocky Mountain Ranch novel
The only job Abby Halliwell can find in her Montana hometown is temporary nanny to two mischievous little girls. But it’s on her ex-boyfriend Jess Langford’s ranch. Jess needs help raising twins suddenly left in his care, so he and Abby are determined to be professional. But between unexpected holiday happenings and two mischievous matchmakers, will their business arrangement turn into something more?

Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks

Another Side to the Ladies of Love Inspired Romance

Many of the Ladies of Love Inspired Romance write more than their Love Inspired Books. Here are some of this month's other new releases. Just click on the covers or buy links to purchase them. And to learn more about the authors, click on their names.

Exposed

by Mary Alford, Virginia Vaughan, and five other authors

HALLOWED GROUND (Mary)
After a terrorist attack claims the life of her partner, CIA Agent Erin Sandoval would not have survived Blake's death without the help of fellow agent, Jax Murphy. When Erin's unit is deployed to Afghanistan to find the elusive terrorist the CIA believes responsible for taking Blake's life, the mission proves to be a setup, wiping out almost the entire team. As the only survivors of the attack, Erin and Jax must cut through a wealth of lies and misdirections to uncover the killer's identity. Yet nothing prepares them for the truth, and the biggest threat to their survival might prove to be their growing feelings for each other. When you're running for your life, the most dangerous place to fall is in love.

FOR LOVE OR MONEY (Virginia)
Amy Sullivan left everything familiar to meet an aunt she didn't know she had. She's searching for a family connection, yet gets much more when she's named sole heir to her aunt's fortune. But someone in this sleepy, southern town doesn't want Amy to live long enough to collect that inheritance. Deputy Tate Mitchell is determined to discover who wants the money for themselves--and who is willing to kill Amy to get it.

A Christian Romantic Suspense Boxed Set Book Bundle Collection

Buy: Amazon 

Amish Christmas Wishes

by Mary Alford

DANGER IN AMISH COUNTRY
In the shadow of the Mission Mountains of Montana, a nightmare is about to come to life.

Facing her first Christmas since her father’s passing, Hannah Christianson must put aside the desires of her heart to one day have a family of her own in order to take care of her younger brother and sister. Yet when an unexpected stranger comes into her life, he possesses the power to rekindle all those longings.

Mason Lambright is the grown up version of the boy who has haunted Hannah’s dreams since she was a little girl. From the moment Mason stops in at her family’s café, Hannah feels a connection to him.

Banned Amish dairy farmer Mason Lambright is running from allegations that brand him a murderer. Desperate to reclaim his place in the Plain world once again, he ends up at the Mission Valley Community searching for a new beginning. But Mason’s unexpected appearance brings with it a hint of something far darker when another man arrives in the valley shortly after Mason. Everything about the intimidating stranger makes Hannah fearful. Who is this man, and why has he come to her peaceful Mission Valley community? The answer will be far more deadly than anything she could have imagined.

Haunted by a recent the fire that took the life of his mother, Mason recalls a similar one when he was a young boy. The little girl with silver hair that he saved from that fire. The mysterious man running away who warned Mason to keep his mouth shut. The feeling that something evil lurked nearby waiting to pounce.

Mason is struck by how much Hannah reminds him of that young girl from childhood. He is convinced their lives are connected in spite of the impossible. Hannah has never lived anywhere but Mission Valley.

With Christmas just days away, will Hannah and Mason unravel the secrets from their joined past and find the love they’ve both been searching for? Or will their dangerous history take away their chance at happiness…along with their lives?

Buy: Amazon 
 

Faithful Women: Legacies of Grace

by Belle Calhoune, Cate Nolan, Leah Atwood, and Christina Lorenzen

Four Christian romance novellas inspired by legendary Biblical women.
Eve: Eve Douglass has worked hard to recover from opioid addiction. In doing so, she's reinvented her life in Bay Shore, Cape Cod and held fast to her dream of one day opening her own bakery. When she meets handsome veterinarian, Flynn Samuels, Eve finds herself struggling with her attraction to him. Ever since the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend, Adam, Eve has steered clear of relationships. But Eve knows God wouldn't want her to walk through life alone. As she and Flynn begin a relationship, Eve struggles with the knowledge that she still needs to make amends to those she's wronged.

Hannah: Can God bring together what man has torn asunder?

Hannah and Kane Winthrop had it all—until the challenges of infertility drove a wedge between them and threatened their marriage.

Like her biblical namesake, Hannah is a woman of prayer, and she never stopped praying for a child.

Sometimes God answers our prayers in unexpected ways, and for Hannah that means a chance to be the guardian of two young children while their mother is deployed.

Will this opportunity give Hannah and Kane a chance to rebuild their marriage, or will it reinforce their differences and drive them apart forever?

Ruth: Ruth Baker has lost her husband. Unsure of what the future holds, she clings to her faith and her six-year-old daughter, Mara, when she travels to her grandmother’s beachside home in Pebble Shores.

Eli Hamill has felt the pull to put down roots. After years of buying and selling houses, he’s doing something he’s never done before – living temporarily in the beachside house he bought from an elderly widow. The last thing he’s looking for is an instant family.

Can an old house filled with loving memories and a sweet little girl show two lonely people what the future can hold?

Mari: A chance encounter in the aftermath of a storm takes Mari Armfield on a path of discovery that leads to a newfound faith in God. As her faith grows, she realizes that her life can’t stay the same. She has tough decisions to make, including the future of her relationship with her boyfriend Steve.

Steve doesn’t believe in God, but he’ll support Mari in her new walk. As her faith deepens, his concern grows. How can their relationship survive paths that aren't compatible?
Mari is a fictional novella inspired by the biblical woman at the well.

Buy: Amazon

A Match Made in Williamstown
by Jean C. Gordon

Ellie Alexander is In love. And the only thing sweeter would be if Libby, her unmarried, unattached granddaughter, could find the same happiness. Maybe with a little help from her and her beau Blake Parker …

Libby Schuyler has avoided dating since her break-up with college-sweetheart Jack Parker. Out of nowhere, Jack shows up claiming Ellie is swindling his grandfather, Blake, through a travel agency partnership they’ve formed. Libby and Jack team up to protect their grandparents and get to the bottom of Ellie and Blake’s business and romantic relationship. While Libby and Jack fight their reignited attraction, Ellie and Blake conspire to bring the two together.

Inspirational Romance Novella

Buy: Amazon | B&N |  Kobo | iBooks 

To Love
by Laura Scott

Eager for a fresh start, Jazz McNally throws herself into renovating her grandparents’ mansion in time for the grand opening of the McNally Bed and Breakfast. When vandals strike, she accepts help from drifter Dalton O’Brien. Dalton is willing to lend a hand, until it’s time to move on. But when danger escalates, Dalton soon realizes that protecting Jazz is a threat—to his heart.

Inspirational Romantic Suspense
The McNallys Book One 


Buy: Amazon | B&N |  Kobo | iBooks 

Runaway Princess Bride
by Lenora Worth

After making a serious misjudgment about the man she was about to marry, Cara escaped to the one place she always felt safe–her family’s ranch. She wants to evade the paparazzi and hide her near disastrous mistake from her family, while she tries to figure out what’s next.

In need of peace after a tumultuous year supervising the building of Castle’s first technology store, Aidan Castle escapes to the Double L Ranch. When he enters the den, he’s shocked to find a woman sleeping in a wedding dress. Worse, he recognizes her as the beautiful socialite he kissed at Castle’s costume ball. He’d felt that night was special and when Cara left, he’d lost a little piece of his heart.

Cara has no place to go, and Aidan’s not sure he wants to kick her out. When a winter storm traps them in, their attraction and bond become undeniable. Cara opens up and Aidan can’t resist playing white knight and offering to scrub all details of her secret love life to save grace with her powerful brother. But then, he discovers secrets that make him question everything. Can he trust her?

Sweet Romance
Castles of Dallas 

Buy:  Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play

 

Spring has arrived in The Texas Hill Country

Jolene Navarro, checking in from the Texas Hill Country. Driving up 10 to Kerrville this weekend I saw the first signs of spring. Texas wildflowers are blooming. Our famous Bluebonnets kick off the new season.
Of course, this means I have a mission for my walks. Lots and lots of pictures of flowers. Since it's my turn to visit the blog I'm sharing one of my favorite seasonal changes with you.

Pull up a rocking chair and join me as I sit on the porch enjoying the cool breeze. We can take in the beautiful landscape and flowers.

I love the beauty that God created and creates daily all around us. Watching the sunset never gets old. It used to be my dad's favorite time of day.
I have so many memories of sitting after a busy day and listening to the creek below my parent's house.  We'd sit on the porch, not saying much and watching the sun slip down behind the hills.

And we need to rest up because soon Fiesta will hit San Antonio and it is a two-week party. River parades, pageants, incredibly decorated hats, stunning dresses art festivals, music, food, more parades and did I mention food?

So if you're looking for spring, come join me. If you want to read more about the Texas Hill Country you can pick up any of my books.  Right now you can get a digital copy of Lone Star Bride, my historical romance, for 1.99

https://www.amazon.com/Lone-Star-Bride-Inspired-Historical

Or you can visit Clear Water, Texas in the heart of the Texas Hill Country

  

What are the first signs of spring do you look for around your home?

If you leave me a comment, I'll put your name in a drawing for a free ebook of your choice.

New for December from Our Love Inspired Historical Authors

Jean C. Gordon here with two new must buys from our Love Inspired Historical authors. Just click on a cover to buy one. And to learn more about these talented ladies, click on their names.

Once Upon a Texas Christmas
by Winnie Griggs 

PARTNERS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Abigail Fulton is determined to find independence in Turnabout, Texas—and becoming manager of the local hotel could be the solution. But first, she must work with Seth Reynolds to renovate the property by Christmas—and convince him she’s perfect for the job. If only he hadn’t already promised the position to someone else…

Ever since his troubled childhood, Seth yearns to prove himself. And this hotel is his best chance. But what does someone like Abigail know about decor and furnishings? Yet the closer the holiday deadline gets, the more he appreciates her abilities and her kindness. His business ambitions require denying Abigail’s dearest wish, but can they put old dreams aside for a greater gift—love and family?

Would Be Mistletoe Wife
by Christine Johnson

MISTLETOE MATCH
Worried she might lose her teaching job if funding is cut for her boarding school, widow Louise Smythe must consider marriage. But the only prospective groom in town is lighthouse-keeper Jesse Hammond, and he wants children—something she may never be able to provide. While Jesse waits for the ideal woman to make his wife, though, Louise can’t help but long for something more than his friendship.

If he wants to be promoted to head lighthouse keeper, Jesse needs to find a wife suited to his rustic lifestyle. But as he and Louise partner to give the town’s homeless orphans a joyous holiday, he’s drawn to the petite woman. Will the light of Christmas finally inspire them to trust in each other’s hearts?

Make it work...by Allie Pleiter

One of the themes that keeps showing up in my books is resilience. The ability to find a “Plan B” when our first plan gets scuttled. It’s my personal believe that God shows His providence and imagination on our Plan B’s. I can recall many times where His plan (because it’s really only Plan B from my perspective, isn’t it?) turned out far better than what I had in mind.

The same is true for Tess Buckton. She’s come home to the Blue Thorn Ranch thinking everything has fallen apart, only to learn things are falling into place. Cooper Pine is struggling to put things right in his world for his daughter. Like all great love stories, they have to go through a lot to realize how much they need each other. But it all works out in the end, and The Texas Rancher's New Family wraps up the series with heartwarming perfection.

Us authors have to show a bit of resilience, too.  If you remember from the post on August 29, Belle Calhoune and I went through a mix up of our own. Belle received the large print copies of my book while I received the large print copies of hers. When we discovered the issue, we were happy to realize that a “swap” could solve the problem. But why leave it there? Let’s have fun with it, and each give away the other’s book.

So that’s what we’re doing. In August Belle gave away a copy of my book. So now, I’m giving away a copy of hers. Leave a comment along with your email and I’ll put your name in a drawing for a copy of Belle’s His Secret Alaskan Heiress.

Turn our predicament into your prize!

You Can Take the Girl Out of Texas, but...

You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the girl!

Yep, I was born and raised in the great state of Texas and proud of it. Lived there (except for seven short months in 1976) from birth until 2011. Then, after living in Houston for 13 years, my husband and I decided we’d had enough of the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes—not to mention a couple of hurricane scares. So we packed up and moved to Tulsa, where friends living there said we’d enjoy the “milder” climate.

Fast-forward five more years, and we were ready to leave Oklahoma’s “mild” ice storms, tornado threats, and 110-degree summers behind! By then, one of our daughters was living in North Carolina, and the other daughter thought her husband might also be transferred there (it didn’t happen). Still, with the possibility of living near all the grandchildren, we relocated once more.

For the record, North Carolina is by far the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived. And yes, the climate really is mild, with four seasons but comparatively few weather extremes, at least in the six years we’ve been here. We have good friends, a church we love, and at least one half of the grandkid generation to enjoy. (When they’re in town, anyway. Another long story—this daughter and her family are dedicated to mission work, and they just left on another lengthy overseas assignment.)

But Texas . . . ah, Texas. Nowhere else can you find those amazing fields awash in bluebonnets every spring. Nowhere else can you find authentic Tex-Mex or real Texas-style barbecued brisket. Besides the longtime friends and extended family we left behind in the Lone Star State, those are the things we miss most.

Texas is definitely a state of contrasts—the lush farmland of the Rio Grande Valley (where I grew up), the piney woods of East Texas, the high desert beauty of Big Bend Country, the flatlands of the Panhandle that seem to go on forever, and—one of my favorite areas—the rugged, rocky Texas Hill Country.

I don’t get back to Texas much anymore, bur I revisit every chance I can through my books, and the latest is Her Hill Country Cowboy, my September release from Love Inspired. With longstanding family ties in the Texas Hill Country, plus fond memories of horseback riding on my brother’s ranch, how could I resist setting my story there? About an hour’s drive northwest of San Antonio, the fictional town of Juniper Bluff is home to Serenity Hills Guest Ranch, a small operation run by (of course) a handsome cowboy.

Naturally, there’s a pretty girl in the story, exactly the right woman to heal this cowboy’s wounded spirit and fill the empty place in the lives of his motherless children. And while she’s falling in love with the cowboy, it isn’t long before this quiet little Texas town starts feeling like home, and all the people there like old friends.

Here I am several years ago in Texas taking my grandson for a horseback ride.

Is there a place where you’ve lived or traveled to that remains dear to your heart, no matter how far away life takes you? What makes it special? Do you return often . . . or wish you could?

Award-winning author Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. Myra is a two-time finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards, winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction, and winner in the Inspirational category of the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. Originally from Texas but now residing in the beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband love the climate and scenery, but they may never get used to the pulled pork Carolinians call “barbecue”! The Johnsons share their home with two very pampered doggies who don’t always understand the meaning of “Mom’s trying to write.” They have also inherited the cute little cat (complete with attitude) their daughter and family had to leave behind.

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Twitter: @MyraJohnson and @TheGrammarQueen 

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Heroines that are Stronger than they know.

Hello, Jolene Navarro here and I have a question.

Do you have a certain type of heroine you like? I have always loved the stories of the old west, stories of the women in my family.

Strong, independent and leaders. Women of faith that rode horses, took care of the land along with raising children and caring for a home.

The part of history we don’t see as much is the woman that mastered the tools of the cowboy trade such as ropes, spurs, knives, rifles and branding irons.  They rode beside the men of Texas. Some even before Texas was Texas.

Life was not easy as they carved out a home from the rock of the Texas land. They didn’t back down and they didn’t give up.

I was just reading about Bess Colemn.

She had a dream but as a daughter of a Cherokee father and an African American mother no one expected her to achieve them. Coleman defied all odds when she became the first black woman aviator (as well as the first Native American woman aviator).  It didn’t come easy. It was during World War 1 and she couldn’t find any one willing to teach a woman or an African American to fly. Undeterred, Coleman took a language course in French, and then sailed to France where she earned her pilot’s license at the age of 29. Unfortunately it would be just five short years later she was killed in a plane crash. She was a passenger when the plane malfunctioned in mid-flight.

But she changed the way people thought of women as she traveled across the country as a “barn stormer” or exhibition pilot. She didn’t follow the script someone else gave her.

Women in my family loaded up and headed to the unknown land of Texas in the mid-1820s. They ran ranches and farms, faced booms and years of devastation.

They loved their families and the possibilities in this wild untamed land. The heroine of my upcoming historical (My first with LIH and my last) LONE STAR BRIDE was influenced by stories of the women that helped build Texas.

https://www.amazon.com/Lone-Star-Bride-Inspired-Historical-ebook/dp/B01NBAA8OL/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1495021614&sr=1-2&keywords=Lone+Star+Bride

She wanted to help her father – growing up she was allowed to work with the cattle and excelled at the cowboy skills. After the death of her mother and brother she thinks it is a perfect time for her to step up and become a partner in the ranch.

But her father has other plans for her, to prove to her father she is more than capable, she dresses up as a boy and help drive the cattle to New Orleans.

To call her feisty and stubborn might be an understatement. She was inspired by the history I read of my own family. I loved writing her and as we get word that the LIH is being discontinued I think about the determination I put into her to success and live out God’s plan even as other events and people try to stop her.

She perseveres and stays true to herself and God’s plan for her, a plan only she can fulfill.  It didn’t go the way she planned, but it rarely does. Our characters come from us, from our experiences or from the people that inspire us. We create from deep inside us. The characters I develop never seem to know how strong they truly are until they are forced to change and find their essence.

Finding your essence is never an easy path. When I look back, I see that some of the scariest moments of my life ended up taking me in a new direction I would have never even know – a direction that was greater than anything I could have planned.

Have you had a time that didn’t go as planned but looking back you wouldn’t change a thing? Reminds me of the Garth Brooks song: The Dance.