Monday I was a guest at Authors & Appetizers, the blog that combines good food, good books and the latest from popular authors in all genres. Besides the blog post, which I am reposting below, you can find a picture of me riding a stuffed bull, my great-aunt’s recipe for cowboy cookies, and information about Kentucky Cowboy.
Here’s my blog post.
You’ll find several popular themes in romance novels—themes such as reunion stories, secret babies, twins, marriages of convenience, bad boys, and of course—cowboys. When I decided to write a cowboy hero, I began doing research. After all, I’m from Kentucky. I’ve been out West, for sure, but at the time, I didn’t feel qualified to set a story there.
One group I learned about during my research was the Professional Bull Riders, Inc., called simply the PBR. Check their website. You’ll learn what they are all about: “This is not a rodeo. We don’t rope calves, and we don’t chase barrels. This is bull riding, and the first rule is just to stay alive.”
It’s not “if” you get hurt in bull riding. It’s “when.” My husband says these cowboys are crazy. But he goes with me anyway to do firsthand research. We’ve driven to Nashville, Lexington, and watched PBR events several times in Louisville. I even had my picture taken riding a “stuffed” bull. Ha! Ha! Too cute!
Bull riders are from everywhere. The PBR website explains:
“More than 1,200 bull riders from the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico hold PBR memberships. They compete in more than 300 bull riding events per year on either the elite tour, which is the Built Ford Tough Series, the Touring Pro Division, or the PBR International circuits (PBR Australia, PBR Brazil, PBR Canada and PBR Mexico). The ultimate goal for PBR athletes each year is to qualify for the prestigious PBR World Finals in Las Vegas where the coveted title of PBR World Champion is decided.”
So, when I started to pull together ideas for Kentucky Cowboy, I thought why couldn’t my cowboy be from Kentucky? And why would he come home? Family, of course. And what if he meets his old girlfriend, the one who dumped him so many years ago?
That’s how stories start—with the “what if?”
In the book Folklore on the American Land, Duncan Emrich makes the point that the cowboy is “a symbol of what we as a people and nation have wished as our way of life. He is a projection of our hopes and desires, a projection of our best code of ethics, of our wished-for mores.”
Americans have always been attracted to cowboys for what they represent: individualism, independence, freedom, courage, loyalty, and much more. Bull riders are gaining popularity. Why? The PBR website sums it up: “Professional bull riding is a fierce, rough, and grueling sport with roots deeply imbedded in American culture. It’s America’s original extreme sport.”
Hi! Your book sounds really interesting. You’re right I’m attracted to Cowboys even still at my age. Growing up with riding horses, being a Cowgirl/Cowboy, I always wanted to marry a Cowboy, still do, lol! I grew up with four brothers and neighborhood full of boys, so I was a tomboy so that’s why I put Cowboy. I own a horse growing up and I rode for a stable jumping their horses for them. When I turned 16 got a job through school, so between job and school I had to give up my horse. Bull riding is a great sport but to me it’s a dangerous one. I knew there was a lot of Cowboys that rode bulls but I didn’t know the numbers are that high. Would love to see a picture of you riding the stuff bull! What about a mechanical bull, would you try one? I always thought I would like to try one, that was when I was younger. I agree with you that Cowboys are represented as individualism, independence, freedom, courage, loyalty, and much more. Bull riders are fierce, rough, and grueling sport with roots deeply imbedded in American culture. I hope it never dies! Let’s just hope the generation now and the future keep it alive.
For the past year I have been riding again but as Therapy Riding. I’m disabled since 2005, the riding does help with therapy, the physical, motion, strength and emotion. It’s been proven that riding horses does help with therapy. I love it! I don’t get to go much, like I would, I’d be there everyday, but I don’t have the money. It’s been over 40 yrs since I rode, but it’s like riding a bike, you never forget.
I forgot to mention I would love to read this book. Congrats on the book! Love the cover too! Going over to the blog and check it out now. Thanks!
Donna, I volunteered at The Luci Center until is mysteriously closed this summer. It provided therapy riding for adults and children. I loved doing it. Every week I try to get a horse fix – even at my age. That’s why I continue working the day job!