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Hello! Oh my gosh, what a busy year! From Sally’s Sailor in January to Lost Orphans coming out on Kindle December 3rd, I’ve been writing like crazy. If you’re a fan of my Oregon Trail series and haven’t tried my American West novels, why not? Tell me about it at lauralstapleton@yahoo.com because I do want to know.
What’s the difference between the Oregon Trail and the American West? Length and heat levels, mainly. I wanted the Trail stories to be as epic and intense as the landscape the settlers crossed. With the American West, my goal was short and sweet stories with happily ever afters. Some of my readers are working mothers, and I remember those busy days all too well. Since the second book in my American West-Orphan Train romances publishes next, let’s talk about that sub-series.
The Orphan Train romance subset of my American West series has been adorable to write. After visiting the Orphan Train Museum in Concordia, Kansas, and reading everything in there, I really had a sense of what the children went through. Of course, I write fiction, but I’ve based as much as possible on facts. I skimmed over the genuinely horrible conditions some children came from and went to because these are short and sweet romances. I feel like in my Oregon Trail series, I could be a lot grittier, but still be within what romance readers want in a story.
Every book I write is not only from my heart, but I also hope it touches readers’ hearts, too. My characters are real people to me, as real as any internet friend I haven’t met. If anything, I know my people so well that I forget to tell you everything about them. So, if you have questions about any of the characters in my books, email me! For some of them, like Nick Granville of Undeniable, I have an entire family tree worked out to one of my contemporary romantic suspense series. Also, if a character in one book reminds you of another in a separate story, they’re probably relatives of some sort. I love playing with genetics and family traits. I’ve come up with more fun stories with thinking, “Hey, doesn’t Joe have a cousin in Wyoming???” So, yes, Joe does have a cousin in Wyoming and I’ve probably written about him or her. If you like steamy contemporary romance, the VERY Manly series might have something you’ll enjoy.
What else is new? Lots! Let’s get to the newest book! Harry Donovan made a guest appearance as a bad guy of sorts in Last Train Home. Because I love nothing more than turning a bad guy good, he’s my hero in Lost Orphans. After all the grief he gave Jack and Alice in Last Train Home, he deserved a little torture before finding a second chance at true love in Lost Orphans.
When Harry Donovan became an adoption agent for the Orphan Train children, he’d been more accustomed to prosecuting criminals. But when his wife, Polly, died in a flu outbreak, he ignored everything except work, until his irresponsibility stared him in the face. Mollie Nelson had been helping the adopted children keep a terrible secret about their new parent’s deaths. Like Harry, she’d lost her spouse to illness. Now that the adoption agent is asking questions of the children and their secret guardian, can either adult ignore the blossoming love between them and do what’s best for the children?
Click here to read more. -> Lost Orphans.
Like potato chips or cupcakes, you can’t stop there! A friend of mine, Cat Cahill, has a new book out for Christmas, aptly titled Forever Christmas, book 5 in The Gilbert Girls series. Since my first two American West-Pony Express books went through Canon City, you know I already have Forever Christmas on my Kindle. Check out the description and see for yourself. It’s going to be a marvelous read.
Forever Christmas
Which is here -> Forever Christmas
A lonely cowboy. A young widow. A Christmas to remember.
Elizabeth Hartley Campbell arrives at the Crest Stone Hotel, widowed, and searching for the brother she hasn’t seen in seven years. Distraught to learn he’s left, she takes a job as a Gilbert Girl and befriends the other girls, finding comfort in helping the hotel prepare for Christmas.
Landon Cooper didn’t mean to stop at the hotel and stay longer than one night. After all, a job awaits him in Canon City. But it’s hard to think straight when Elizabeth is nearby and has him hanging pine boughs for her instead of riding away.
Even though Elizabeth fears falling for another cowboy and Landon knows she won’t forgive him if she knew what he had planned, can they learn to trust in love or be driven apart forever?
So, now that you’re caught up with me and have an extra treat from Cat don’t be shy! Feel free to email me how 2019 went and your hopes for 2020. I hope you have the best Christmas holiday ever and a wonderful new year.
A Guide to Claiming a Scaredy Cat
Why is it the smallest books take the longest time to write? I had a lot of fun with the characters and situations in this story. Or as much as a person can when there’s a serial killer on the loose. Want a little taste of the beginning? Sure you do!
vastly honored by being asked to participate in a box set of historical romances and it gave me the chance to rewrite a story I’d called Love’s Prisoner way back in ’92. My villain’s name was Dirk and little did I know I’d meet a real life Dirk who’s still my hero today. The menus above, the photos, the new Java enabled website I’m migrating to are all due to him. He’s the George to my Liberache, the Theo to my Vincent. I could have done it on my own, but not as fast nor as easy as he’s made it.
for publication in November as well. It’ll complete that series and while I love all my Men and have a few others who do too, I’m probably going to leave that genre alone for a while. I won’t say never, but it doesn’t get the love my historicals do.
Laura Stapleton, Author 