Tag Archives: Sweethearts of the Rodeo

Trying My Hand at Watercolors: An Artistic Experiment Inspired by Christmas Baby for the Cowboy (PLUS, a GIVEAWAY!)

November 18, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Hey, everyone! Today I wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes peek into my writing process for Christmas Baby for the Cowboy—specifically, the artistic journey Loretta’s character led me on. Loretta, as you’ll meet in the story, is an artist with a knack for expressing herself through her paintbrush. She’s got an eye for the beauty in everyday life, something she hopes to bring to her new life with Taylor and their little one.

As I was developing Loretta’s artistic side, I thought, Why not dive in myself and try painting? That’s right—I decided to give watercolors a go! “Spoiler: it’s as unpredictable and spirited as a rodeo bull on a Saturday night!”

Watercolors 101: The Learning Curve
To start, I got a nice watercolor set, a stack of good paper, and a couple of brushes. I had all these grand ideas in mind—a landscape here, a bouquet of wildflowers there. Then I discovered watercolors have this lovely habit of flowing exactly where you don’t want them to. You dab one color in a perfect spot, and it’s like, “Nah, I’m just gonna slide over here…”

Lesson One: Watercolors do what they want.

Despite the wobbly lines and accidental color splotches, I found myself having so much fun with the process! One piece started as a sunset and somehow transformed into something that looked more like, well, a blob of sherbet. But I was charmed by it! After all, Loretta’s art isn’t about perfection, and neither is mine.

Channeling Loretta’s Creative Spirit
While Loretta may be working on a piece that perfectly captures her world in Last Stand, Texas, my masterpieces were…let’s just say “abstract.” I could almost hear Loretta’s encouragement to embrace imperfection. And I have to admit, I felt more connected to her journey by being “in the messy middle” of creating, just like she is in her life.

By the end, I had a small collection of paintings—some resembling sunsets, others maybe flowers (if you squint). But each of them has its own charm, and each of them helped me understand a little more about Loretta and her world.

My Takeaway?
Watercolors are unpredictable, like love, life, and—apparently—rodeo! Much like Loretta and Taylor’s relationship, they require patience and a sense of humor. They’re a reminder that not everything goes as planned, but that’s where the real beauty lies. So whether it’s art or relationships, sometimes you’ve just got to let go of the need for perfection and enjoy the wild, colorful ride.

Watercolors, Cowboys, and a GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate Loretta’s artistry and Taylor’s cowboy spirit, I’m giving away a cuddly stuffed highland cow—perfect for those cozy reading sessions!

How to Enter:
Since watercolors are all about embracing happy accidents, share a story in the comments about a time you tried something new, even if it didn’t go quite as planned! Maybe you attempted a new recipe, painted a “masterpiece,” or went on a spontaneous adventure. I’d love to hear about your colorful experiences!

I’ll pick one lucky commenter to win the adorable stuffed cow. So go ahead, share your tales, and let’s celebrate the beauty of unexpected results together!

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.

Behind the Scenes of Writing The Undercover Cowboy: A Wild Ride

September 10, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

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.

THE COWBOY’S PRIZE: Release Day Blog Post Featuring Author Jamie K. Schmidt!

February 1, 2024 · Posted by Tule Publishing

Hello everyone!

I’m so happy that today you can read The Cowboy’s Prize.  It’s the first book in my new series, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, but it’s come a few familiar characters from my six-book series the Three Sisters Ranch.  Like all of my books, The Cowboy’s Prize can be read as a standalone, but it’s a lot more fun when you can recognize the people and places in the background.

The Cowboy’s Prize is a steamy tale of LeAnn Keller.  Fans of my Three Sisters Ranch series will remember her from A Cowboy for Merry.  LeAnn wanted to be the first woman’s bronc champion.  In this book she’s still riding broncs, but she’s turned her attention to bull riding.  Her sister, Dolly, is worried about her and hires Dylan Porter to help hone her skills and keep her safe.

There’s one slight hitch in that… Dylan and LeAnn had a one-night stand and things are a little … awkward between them.

LeAnn has three older sisters: Dolly, Reba, and Loretta.  Their parents were huge country western fans.  LeAnn was named after LeAnn Rimes and Lee Ann Womack.  The songs from LeAnn Keller’s namesakes I think that would best suit her would be:

Can’t Fight the Moonlight by LeAnn Rimes and I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack.

In addition to bronc busting, LeAnn is also a barrel racer.  Her horse’s name is Garth.  He doesn’t have any songs that remind me of him.  Not yet, anyway.  If you think of some, let me know.  My favorite Garth Brooks songs are Ain’t Going Down to the Sun Comes Up and I’ve got Friends in Low Places, which doesn’t really fit this horse.

LeAnn starts off the book, a little wild and a little desperate.  But she really comes into her own through the love and support of her family and of course, the enigmatic Dylan who is fighting his own demons and guilt about a tragedy he feels responsible for.

In 1839, the first recorded instance of a woman riding a bull was documented in Texas. Women have been riding bulls professionally since the 1970s, though. In 1994, however, an athlete by the name of Polly Reich decided that she was going to ride the same bulls as them men. She got roughed up pretty bad. Then in 2012, nineteen-year-old Maggie Parker gave it a shot. At five foot, four inches she got on a 1,500-pound bull with the goal to ride him for eight seconds. She didn’t make it, but that didn’t stop her. In 2020, fourteen-year-old Najiah Knight was the first girl to ride a bull at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  She beat all of her male competitors that day.  These fearless women and a few more determined athletes inspired me to tell LeAnn’s story.

Here’s a little snippet of LeAnn’s first bull ride:

***

Whiplash’s hooves barely touched the ground. He jumped. He twisted. He bucked. He did everything possible to throw her off. LeAnn’s wrist hurt from gripping the rope so tight. Her other arm that was wildly trying to help her stay balanced felt like it was dislocated. She couldn’t touch the bull with it. She’d lose all her points.

Her thighs screamed at her as she fought hard to stay on. Her backbone ached as it slammed down on the bull not once, but twice. She could not stay on for a moment longer. She didn’t know if it had been eight seconds, six seconds, or just one long second. She hadn’t heard the buzzer over the roar of the crowd and the roaring in her own head. Then she was airborne.

At times like this, LeAnn wished she was a cat because she knew she wasn’t going to land on her feet. It always happened in slow motion, and she heard Trent’s voice tell her how to fall. Tucking her shoulders, she rolled as she hit the ground. Somehow, she used the momentum to get back up on her feet and threw her hands up in the air in victory. LeAnn knew she would feel the pain later. But right now, all that mattered was that she had done it.

Or had she?

***

It just gets more exciting from there … and did I mention this book is steamy?

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.