Still my Favorite

 

I often get asked which book of the thirty or so is my favorite. While I like each book for different reasons. I would have to say that the very first book I had published, Romance Rustlers and Thunderbird Thieves, still holds the biggest place in my heart for a number of reasons. 

Obviously, I love the characters and story as well as the small town Montana setting and the humor I was able to inject into the mystery. I wrote this book with the greatest freedom I have ever written with because I didn't have a deadline and I didn't understand markets and writing toward a market. I wrote exactly what I wanted to write at the speed that was comfortable. 

The other reason I like the book is because I remember the exact inspiration for the idea for the book. At that time, I was reading a lot of Christian fiction trying to figure out what it was all about. I started to see a pattern of Christian characters who were close to perfect and who had perfect parents who always were supportive and always gave the right advice. My writer's brain and rebel spirit responded with a bunch of "what if" questions which is always a good way to brainstorm a story. What if your parents weren't perfect? What if they had done time in prison before becoming a Christian? Thus the first book in the Ruby Taylor Mystery series was born. Mind you, this is almost 20 years ago when Christian fiction was in its infancy. I think now that characters in Christian fiction tend to be much more nuanced and less cookie cutter perfect. 

The books were modeled after my favorite mystery writer Sue Grafton and her alphabet mysteries. Because I loved that she wrote her main character in first person, I did the same not realizing that that was not recommended for a first book. In other words, I broke a lot of rules with that first book without realizing that was what I was doing. I just wrote the story I wanted to write. 

The other two books that followed in the Ruby Taylor mystery series Sassy Cinderella and the Valiant Vigilante and Cow Crimes and the Mustang Menace were written in the same way. If you haven't guessed from the titles, each book also features a classic vintage car as part of the plot. That was the final bit of fun I had with the series because it has always been my fantasy to own a classic car. 

The final reason I love this book and the series is that Ruby Taylor is a tall sassy redhead. I always wanted to be a redhead and I always wanted to be someone like Ruby who speaks her mind and lets the chips fall where they may. 

How about you? If you wrote a book what would you include in it that you always wanted to see in a book. Or do you have a series or favorite author you really like and why? Please leave a comment with your email address. 

I will be giving away two hard copies of Romance Rustlers, but I also have a big announcement. Drum roll please!!!!

Starting today May 21 and for the next five days, anyone can download a free digital copy of Romance Rustlers on amazon kindle for FREE. 

Did I mention that it is FREE!!!

I hope you love the Ruby Taylor mystery as much as I do. It is a unique series with a one of a kind main character and there is even a little romance thrown into the mystery.