Welcome to the Cowboys and Lawmen Blog Hop

My first perception of lawmen in the old west was from the television show Gunsmoke. Marshal Dillion always got his man and Miss Kitty was always there to help and pour him a drink. As a girl I often wondered what I would be if I lived in the old west--a farmer's wife or a dance hall girl like Miss Kitty. Of course I didn't have a clue what girls in saloons did.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a Marshal and a Sheriff? I have and while writing My Heart Will Find Yours, I decided it was time to find out. A sheriff is an elected official of the county, and a marshal is an appointed officer, either federal or state. A marshal covered a large territory and deputy marshals were placed under his command. A town could also appoint a Marshall and often deputized men to form a posse.

Typically, a sheriff would want o keep his constituents happy. And on occasion wealthy ranchers helped someone get elected and expected favors in return. How many movies have we seen where the town sheriff was in the pockets of the guys trying to take small landowner's land, tear down fences or run off homesteaders? Who did the town call on if the sheriff was crooked. A state or federal marshal.

Here is a blurb of the short time travel in PDF Format, A Marshal of Her Own. I'll be giving away a copy to one person who comments and leaves their email address.

Despite rumors of “strange doings” at a cabin in Fredericksburg, investigative reporter Dessa Wade books the cottage from which lawyer, Charity Dawson, disappeared in 2008. Dessa is intent on solving the mystery. Instead, she is caught in the mystery that surrounds the cabin and finds herself in 1890 in a shootout between the Faraday Gang and a US Marshal.

Marshal Cole Jeffers doesn’t believe Miss Wade is a time traveler. He admits she’s innocent of being an outlaw, but thinks she knows more about the gang than she’s telling. When she’s kidnapped by Zeke Faraday, Cole is determined to rescue her. He’s longed for a woman of his own, and Dessa Wade just might be the one—if she’ll commit to the past.

Excerpt:

Dessa stood still and watched as they conversed. Something stank to high heaven about this entire situation.Why were the cops chasing robbers on horseback? It’s not like Fredericksburg was that isolated. She glanced at the captured men. The boy moaned, and she made a step to go over and help him. The Marshal spun, and the expression in his eye froze her in place.

 “He needs first aid.”

 “He’s fine. The Doc will tend to him when we get to the jail.”

“You could at least call 911 and let them patch him up for you.” She nodded to the man lying so still with his eyes closed. “Your other prisoner doesn’t look so good. He’s going to die on you if you don’t start CPR or get him some help.”

“Lady, no one is going to hear a yell from out here. Never heard of any 911 or CPR.” He propped the hand not holding the shotgun on his hip and threw her a disgusted look. “Are you blind? That man is dead, shot through the heart.”

Her head swam for a moment, and she struggled not to give in to the sensation and faint. She drew in deep gulps of air. “Well...well..., what about the coroner and the meat wagon, not to mention the CSI folks? If you don’t get them to record the scene, how are you going to cover your butt? The authorities might say you shot him in cold blood.”

He looked at her like she’d sprouted an extra head. “I don’t know what the hell you are talking about woman. No one will question my authority. I’m the law in this county. Now, be quiet, or I’m going to gag you.”

A Marshal of Her Own is available now at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and other online book stores. It is the sequel to A Law of Her Own available at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.com and other online book stores. A Love of His Own, the third story in the Prairie, Texas series, and is also available at the above stores.

Visit me on May 4th on Sweethearts of the West where I'll be posting about "Tumbleweed Wagons" and the "Three Guardians".

My newest time travel is Birdie's Nest. It's available at 

http://www.amazon.com/Birdies-Nest- ebook/dp/B00CKM8GZ2

Don't forget to leave me a comment to be entered in my drawing as well as the grand prize drawing. YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

Use this link to return to Cowboy Charm so you can continue your journey.

Good luck and Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

www.lindalaroque.com

Guest Author Catherine Stang: Getting Your Story to Unfold

I'm pleased to have Catherine Stang as a guest author this week. Please leave her a comment. Remember each time you comment you are entered into the montly drawing for a PDF copy of one of my books.

Welcome Catherine!

Getting your story to unfold

I often have people ask me “how do you write?” Well, I don’t really have an answer to that. It’s a process that I’m not sure I could break down and explain. Although I have tried.

I remember in the early days of my writing that I went to workshops and conferences and listened to authors tell their method of writing a book. Some had story boards, some outlines or other organized methods. Which I admired, but couldn’t seem to do. I used to worry that I wasn’t a “real writer” because I didn’t work that way.

Then one day I went to a workshop by a famous author who was a favorite of mine. She didn’t have the answer to question of how do you write either. Like me, she wrote the story down and then made changes during the editing process.

Sitting there it hit me that there is no wrong to write. What ever works to get your story out of your head and down on paper is okay. Do what comes natural to you. Writing is an individual process whether you use outline charts, note cards, story boards or just like to write a complete rough draft as it plays out in your head. The main thing is to write. And trust your muse. Good luck!

Speaking of writing… I have a new book out. Dare To Love is the second in my Finding Home Series. (The Bargain is the first book.) Both are available from http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/ I have blurbs and excepts on my website http://www.catherinestang.com/ Also you can follow my Not So Secret Life on my blog http://www.cathystang.blogspot.com/ and discuss writing, reading and books with Dani Harper and I on our blog http://www.thesecretlifeofromancewriters.blogspot.com/

Here’s bit about Dare To Love:

Be careful what you wish for….

Jessica Monroe is up to her neck in problems when her father dies leaving her with a house full of orphans, a widow and her twins, and an ex-madam, plus a horse farm to run. She wants her brother, Caleb, to come home from the war to help her. She should have been careful for what she wished for because Caleb didn’t come back alone. With him is his band of ex-raiders turned mercenary.

Now they expect her to look the other way while they use the edge of her land as a base to commit their crimes. Well, she won’t do it. While trying to help a neighbor fend off the raiders, she ends up bringing home a wounded stranger who appeared out of nowhere to help them. Just her luck, handsome Tyler Beaumont is a marshal intent on bringing down her brother and his outlaw friends.

Finding Home Series, Book 2
Sometimes home is where you least expect it.
Available from http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/

Thanks to Linda for inviting me to blog. Have a great weekend!

Catherine Stang
http://www.catherinestang.com/