Writing The Undercover Cowboy was a wild adventure—kind of like trying to ride a bull without any practice. There were challenges, unexpected twists, and plenty of moments where I had to hang on for dear life. If you’re curious about what went into creating this story, let me take you behind the scenes!
The Bull Rider Who Couldn’t Ride Let’s start with Nash Miller, our undercover investigator who finds himself pretending to be a bull rider. Now, I’ve never ridden a bull, but I did spend more time than I care to admit watching YouTube videos of bull riding. I learned that bull riding is 8 seconds of sheer terror, and it was only fair that Nash, a rookie, felt every bit of that terror.
In the first draft, Nash’s attempt at bull riding was a complete disaster. Picture a grown man flailing about, trying to hang on for dear life, while the bull—who is probably wondering why this guy is even here—gives him the ride of his life. I had to tone it down a bit (because, you know, heroes should have some dignity), but those early scenes were comedy gold.
Dolly, the Social Media Guru (Or: How I Learned to Tweet Like a Pro) Then there’s Dolly Keller, the social media whiz who has the unenviable task of making Nash an online star while keeping his true identity under wraps. Writing Dolly’s character meant I had to dive into the world of hashtags, followers, and viral content—things that, let’s just say, don’t come naturally to me.
I spent a lot of time pretending to be Dolly, crafting fake tweets and imagining her Instagram posts. I even tried to figure out what kinds of memes would make Nash go viral. Let’s just say my search history got weird, fast. But hey, anything for the sake of authenticity, right? Luckily, I had Donnan – a special Highland cow to fall back on.
Plot Twists and Rodeo Clowns The plot of The Undercover Cowboy took more twists and turns than I initially planned. Originally, Nash was supposed to be smooth, suave, and always in control. But as I wrote, I realized he’s actually a bit of a fish out of water in the rodeo world, and that made him much more fun to write.
There’s a scene where Nash nearly gets run over by a bull (don’t worry, he’s fine!). That wasn’t in the outline, but the bull fighter who saves him? That guy is getting his own book in November. Check out Christmas Baby for the Cowboy for Taylor and Loretta’s story.
A Romance with a Side of Sass One of the best parts of writing this book was the banter between Nash and Dolly. Their back-and-forth was a blast to write, especially because they’re such opposites. Dolly’s not afraid to bend the rules, while Nash is all about following them. Watching them clash, compromise, and ultimately connect was like watching a fireworks show—lots of sparks, some loud noises, and a beautiful display in the end.
The Great Rodeo Research Rabbit Hole
I learned more about the dangers of bull riding, the art of rodeo clowning and bullfighting, and the intricacies of cowboy hats than I ever thought possible. But the real joy came from weaving all those details into Nash and Dolly’s story.
A Wild Ride Worth Taking Writing The Undercover Cowboy was a wild ride, full of surprises, laughs, and a few moments where I seriously questioned my life choices. But in the end, it was all worth it to bring Nash and Dolly’s story to life. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it (and trust me, no bulls were harmed in the making of this book).
So, if you’re ever at a rodeo and see a cowboy who looks like he’s in over his head, just remember: He might be undercover. Or he might just be having a day like Nash Miller. Either way, he’s in for one heck of a ride!
About the Author.
USA Today bestselling author, Jamie K. Schmidt, writes erotic contemporary love stories and paranormal romances. Her steamy, romantic comedy, Life’s a Beach, reached #65 on USA Today, #2 on Barnes & Noble and #9 on Amazon and iBooks. Her Club Inferno series from Random House’s Loveswept line has hit both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble top one hundred lists. The first book in the series, Heat, put her on the USA Today bestseller list for the first time, and is a #1 Amazon bestseller. Her book Stud is a 2018 Romance Writers of America Rita® Finalist in Erotica. Her dragon paranormal romance series has been called “fun and quirky” and “endearing.” Partnered with New York Times bestselling author and former porn actress, Jenna Jameson, Jamie’s hardcover debut, SPICE, continues Jenna’s FATE trilogy.
I enjoyed learning more about this book. I loved it.
Looking forward to reading this story. Love learning more about bull riding.