Don’t you love my new blog. I’m so pleased with the entire website. My designer captured my essence. My latest heroine is so not me. I thought it would be fun to share a comparison between me and her. Comment or answer the question at the end of any post dated April 4 – 7 to enter the drawing for a copy of Winning Over the Cowboy. Deadline: April 15th, 11:59 pm central time.
Landry is outdoorsy. I hate bugs, sweating, and getting dirty.
Landry loves farm animals. I like a sturdy fence between me and them and I really don’t even like to get that close.
Landry is willing to help birth a calf. Gross and I’d have to get on the same side of the fence with the cow. There’s manure out there and I’m kind of afraid of cows.
Landry is a chef. I hate too cook. And if it has a page long list of ingredients, I refuse.
Landry went to college to be a chef and minor in marketing. I hate school and when I finished high school, I was done. I did go to cosmetology school, but I never had a desire to go to college and haven’t regretted that decision.
Landry thinks nothing of unstopping a toilet with her hand. She had a long glove on. But still, gross.
Landry was hurt by a past love and is wary of men. I married my high school sweetheart.
Landry likes to fish. I’m afraid of fish hooks, don’t like worms, and fish slime grosses me out.
Landry helps clean at the dude ranch. I hate to clean. My house is neat, but usually needs dusted.
Landry is certified as a lifeguard. I can swim, but it’s definitely not smooth or pretty and I doubt I could very far. I can’t imagine swimming well enough to save someone’s life.
A few similarities:
Landry is afraid of heights. I’m not overly comfortable with them.
Landry is determined. Once I set my mind on something, I’ll die trying to achieve it.
Landry doesn’t like hunting, but still eats meat. I’m the same way.
Landry is empathic. I am to a fault.
When I was a pre-teen, I had just moved to rural Arkansas and started at my new school. I always tried so hard to pay attention in class, buy my mind always wandered. So one day, I was daydreaming. Suddenly, I realized that practically everyone in the class was crying. Even the boys. I had no clue what happened, but I started crying anyway.
After class, I learned that the teacher had announced he was leaving. I barely knew him and didn’t really care, but there I’d sat crying right along with the rest of them. I felt really stupid and tried harder to pay attention after that. But it still didn’t work. Daydreaming was a lot more fun.
Here’s an excerpt of Landry in action. Earlier in the book she and Chase had argued about turning the dude ranch into a hunting ranch. His idea, Landry hates to think about wild animals being hunted and killed:
Various birds chirped and sang as they strolled the thirty yards to the river, shrouded in a comfortable silence. Once they reached the bank, they set their gear down and went to work baiting their hooks.
Landry chose a fat worm, slid it onto her hook.
“Impressive, Malone. Apparently you have no qualms being party to an earthworm’s death.”
“They’re slimy and gross.” She scrunched her nose up.
“Let me guess—the same reason you have no problem contributing to the death of fish.”
“Exactly. And they taste so good.”
“Full of contradictions, aren’t you?”
“Shh, you’ll scare the fish away.”
He chuckled, baited his hook, moved up the river from her a bit.
As the distance widened between them, she started breathing easier. Why was Chase giving her such mixed signals?
He didn’t even like her. Did he?
She didn’t know about him, but she liked this new Chase. Maybe too much.
About Shannon: Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife/award winning author. She once climbed a mountain wearing gold wedge-heeled sandals which became known as her hiking boots. Shannon writes inspirational contemporary romance and it took her nine years to get published in the traditional market.
Shannon hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as her characters struggle with real-life issues. Their journeys, from ordinary lives to extraordinary romance through Christ-centered relationships, demonstrate that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her family, flea marketing, and doing craft projects. Learn more and connect:
Shannon’s Website Shannon’s Blog Shannon’s Facebook
Shannon’s Goodreads Shannon’s Pinterest Shannon’s Twitter
About the book – Winning Over the Cowboy:
The Rancher Stakes His Claim
When she inherits half a dude ranch after losing her best friend, Landry Malone is determined to see Eden’s legacy flourish. That is if her friend’s broad-shouldered cowboy brother will give her the chance. Chase Donovan isn’t happy that his sister left their family business to an outsider—and he’s determined to test Landry’s mettle, hoping she’ll give up her claim. Soon Chase is impressed by Landry’s ability to rise to every challenge he puts in her way—and worried that his attraction to the perky spitfire seems to know no end. Finally working together to ensure the ranch’s future, will their business partnership be the foundation for something more?
Question for Readers: What about you? Are you more like me or Landry? In what ways?
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
I have a winner! Melanie Backus won the drawing. I appreciate everyone for following me to my new site.