Why I Write the West

The first Western Romance novel I read was “This Calder Range” by Janet Dailey. Before that, my adult reading material came in groups. One genre kept me busy for months or years, until I moved on to another. The first genre was Science Fiction, and I read dozens over a period of a year or so. But I cannot remember one author or one title. The plots and otherworldly creatures fascinated me, but I soon selected something else. So many books—so little time! I began Willa Cather’s books, and when I’d finished all those, I selected a new kind of novel I’d not seen—women’s fiction. Maeve Binchy, Rosamund Pilcher, Belva Plain. Each author received my undivided attention until I’d read all I could find. Next, westerns. Plain old shoot-’em-ups, cattle drives, rustlers, outlaws, and lawmen. Oh, I loved these novels, and Louis L’Amour became my favorite because he often had a little love story in there.

Romance? Didn’t read it. None, zip, nada. Too trite, I’d heard—the novels always ended the same way—happily-ever-after. Same plot, boy meets girl, they fall in love, have a falling-out, make-up, get married. What’s wrong with that? I asked a cynical friend who only read literary works. And in my ignorance, I thought all romance novels were published by Harlequin.

Then, one day in 1990, I visited a used-book store and bought a paperback by Janet Dailey titled This Calder Range. I couldn’t put it down. Remember, I love Westerns, and this had the requisite HEA. I fell in love. I searched the used-book stores and eventually the library until I’d found and read all ten in the Calder series. Her latest, I believe was released a couple of years ago. From there, I discovered LaVyrle Spencer, a master of romance writing, Dorothy Garlock, Maggie Osborne, Linda Lael Miller, and Jodi Thomas—plus many more. I still search for new authors who write exciting, satisfying Western Romance.

In 2003, I sat down and began to write a story. And yes, it was a Western romance—a historical. Probably I’ll never be in the same category with other favorite authors, but each one has been an inspiration and a benchmark for me.

My first release, All My Hopes and Dreams, takes place in West Texas, in the far western edge of the Texas frontier. The year is 1880.
BLURB:
To escape an arranged marriage, beautiful, proper Cynthia Harrington from East Texas impulsively marries Ricardo Romero, a striking, sensual Spaniard who ranches on the far western edge of the Texas frontier. Innocently, she steps into a hotbed of anger, rivalry, and strong wills. As she struggles to gain a foothold in the hostile household and foreign ranch community, she finds that her biggest challenge is to make her husband love her.

Ricardo creates his own problems by marrying an outsider, angering his mother, father, and his jealous ex-lady friend. Then, the Texas Rangers arrive looking for a killer, and Cynthia saves Ricardo’s mother in a confrontation with the wanted man. Ricardo realizes that his delicate bride has more grit and spunk than he thought, and his greatest trial becomes a race to pursue his own wife and persuade her to stay with him.
Read about their adventures and how they fall in love. Purchase the eBook here:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/celia-yeary-m-366.html

Or purchase the print here: http://www.amazon.com/books-used-books-textbooks/b/ref=sa_menu_bo0_b?ie=UTF8&node=283155

Thank you, Celia Yeary

The Yellow Rose of Texas

Years ago, I sat on my patio and overheard a conversation next door. The new neighbor from Illinois and her relatives sat on her screened-in porch, discussing Texas. One asked, “What is the State Flower of Texas?”
“Hmm,” she mused, “I believe it is the yellow rose.”
“Ahhh, yes,” replied a male, “from that song—The Yellow Rose of Texas.”
All agreed and moved on to another topic. I continued reading my paper, but chuckled to myself.
Every Texan knows the bluebonnet is our beloved state flower, and I wager many from other states know, as well.
So, what does the term “The Yellow Rose of Texas” signify?
“The Yellow Rose of Texas” is a traditional folk song of Texas, and has become the unofficial state song. (Few Texans know the name of the real state song.) No one knows who wrote it, but it is a tribute to a beautiful young mulatto woman. According to legend, she was the heroine of the Battle of San Jacinto.

Emily D. West (or Morgan), a free African-American woman, was seized by Mexican forces during the looting of Galveston. According to legend, General Santa Anna was so preoccupied with the captured servant girl that he failed miserably as commander of the Mexican Army. The unprepared Mexican troops were so overwhelmed by Sam Houston and his volunteer army of Texians that the battle lasted only 18 minutes. The Battle of San Jacinto ended the Texas Revolution and made Texas an independent nation.

THE SONG: 1858 Minstrel version
There’s a Yellow Rose in Texas that I am going to see,
No other darkey knows her, no darkey, only me.
She cried so when I left her, it like to broke my heart,
And if I ever find her, we never more will part.

THE CIVIL WAR Version:
Oh, my feet are torn and bloody, and my heart is full of woe;
I’m going back to Georgia, to find my uncle Joe.
You may talk about your Beauregard, and sing of General Lee,
But the gallant hood of Texas, played hell in Tennessee.
Note: the word “darkey” was replaced with “soldier” throughout the song and chorus.

RECIPES FROM “TEXAS TASTES AND TALES”
Skillet Cheddar Cornbread (Yellow cornbread)
Combine:
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
Add:
1 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
Mix thoroughly.
Pour batter into hot, greased 10-inch iron skillet
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until cornbread is golden
(Recipe and portions of the “Yellow Rose of Texas” from Texas Tastes and Tales)

Celia Yeary
http://www.celiayeary.com/
http://celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/
ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS-a Texas Historical
Available in eBook: The Wild Rose Press
Available in print: Amazon.com, B&N

GO FOR THE GREEN

(Disclaimer: photo is not me)

Got Game? When I turned forty, I decided to learn to play golf. So, I asked my good friend and women’s golf coach to teach me the game. She said, “Sure, I’ll teach you.”
She took a small set of student’s clubs--and me--straight to the course, bypassing the driving range. “We’ll just start and see how you do,” she told me.
“I know the object is to get the ball in the hole, but what are the procedures, the rules?” I asked.
“It’s simple,” she said. “Just hit the ball, go find it, and hit it again.”
Ha-ha-ha! But she was dead serious. Some coach she is, I muttered to myself.
In a nutshell, though, that’s it.
After a couple of years of playing, I beat her almost every time. She always complained she’d taught me too well.
Years later—did I say how many?—oh, good, because I didn’t intend to—I thought to try my hand at writing a romance story. I wondered how to write a novel, and if I did, how could I have it published. I heard the words of my coach: “Write a story, send it to a publisher, then write another.” Easy-peasy.
Writing is like playing golf.
In a game of golf, the player uses drives, fairway shots, chipping, and putting to get the ball in the cup. Then, she adds her score.
In writing, the author uses plot, characterization, Point of View, pacing, and climax. Then, she submits and hopes for a contract.
Doubt will kill a golf round. The minute a player decides her ball will go in the water, I assure you, it will. When she chastises herself for making a wrong choice or missing an easy putt, she’ll add more strokes. If she decides she’s the worst player in the field, then she probably will be.
Once a writer—or golfer—allows doubt to creep in, her game and attitude vanishes.
Many pro golfers, especially the world’s number one player Tiger Woods, subscribe to the mantra, “Never lay up.”
When a player is faced with a long shot over a hazard, he has two choices: hit the ball close to the hazard, so that the next shot is easy and he will have a better chance of getting close to the hole. Or if he’s a strong-willed player and faces the same situation, he will take all the club he can, study the situation, take his stance with confidence, and…go for the green!
Each hole is a clean slate. Other holes are history.
Each new document is wide open to possibilities.
We all like to win--at golf or writing. But we’re not out to beat the field 100% of the time. We play to challenge ourselves, to best our own last score, to lower our putt average, and to lower our handicap.
Don’t misunderstand me, though. I love to win. Oh, yes, I absolutely do. Whether the prize was one dollar, or a golf ball for the week, or the quarter pot, I went all out. In past years, I even won a few tournaments and received very nice trophies, money, and gifts. Some of my playing buddies would say, “Man, you come out here to win, don’t you?”
My answer was, “Why would I come out here to lose?”
So, as it is in the game of writing and publishing, I came to play…and to win. So, what happened when I went home without a prize? Nothing. I always viewed it as a privilege few have to enjoy, so if someone else won, I’d congratulate her, go home, and I was still happy. But wait until the next time.
So it is with writing and submitting. If I must be unhappy, or angry, or jealous, I’ll do so with something important.
And so, I strive every day for a win, a contract, a prize, an award, a good review. Why would I do otherwise? But a rejection will not ruin my life.
Take my advice—go for the green. And smile.
Celia