Newsflash: Book 7 in my Texas Rodeo series releases in January. Comment or answer a question at the end of any post dated Oct 20 – 24 to enter the drawing for a copy of Rodeo Family. I won’t get my author copies until January, but whoever wins will get their copy as soon as I receive it. Deadline: Nov 1st, 11:59 pm central time.
This isn’t my typical romantic post, but lately so many people have asked me when my next book will release, I decided to give everyone an update. You may have seen my new cover on Amazon or christianbook.com already, but just in case you haven’t, here it is.
It’s been a long bookless year as far as releases. Since 2010, I’ve consistently had two books release every year. Last year, since my white series was repackaged into a three in one, Arkansas Weddings, technically I had three books release. This year—one. Rodeo Song released back in April. That’s all—all year.
It’s my fault. When I was writing Rodeo Song last year, my agent called me and said we needed to discuss what I wanted to do next. In other words, she wanted a new proposal to pitch for my next book or series. I whined and said, I can’t think past this book. Let me finish this book and then I’ll think about it.
She calmly told me in her soothing voice, Okay, but you’ll have a long gap in between book releases and readers really don’t like that. So I finished Rodeo Song, rested my brain for a few weeks and put together a proposal for three more rodeo books. I was thrilled when she called to say Harlequin wanted the three rodeo books, plus three more titles.
So, this year, I’ve busily written two more rodeo titles during the long gap in between book releases. But the gap is about to be over. Rodeo Family – book 7 in the series releases in January. Hopefully readers will remember Tori Eaton from Rodeo Song. It never fails, whenever I write a non-Christian female side character whose life is a mess, I always feel compelled to explore why they ended up like they did and they usually end up getting their own books. Book 8 releases in June and Book 9 releases in November. So next year, I’ll have three books release. Yippee 🙂
Unless things change—Book 9 will be the last in the rodeo series. Originally, my Texas rodeo series was only supposed to be three books: Rodeo Dust, Rodeo Hero, and Rodeo Ashes. But then, Barbour sold the line to Harlequin, and my agent talked to my new editor who loved Rodeo Hero and wanted to know if I had anything similar. I had one dangling character, Natalie. Rodeo Regrets became her book, then her sister and cousin each got a book too, Rodeo Queen and Rodeo Song.
As I was writing Rodeo Queen, I realized that when this series ended, I’d have four dangling characters. So the series continued with three more books to wrap up their stories. Two of the characters end up no longer dangling together. With only Book 9 left to write, so far I’m not coming up with any more dangling characters to continue the series.
I remember the first time my husband and I visited the Fort Worth Stockyards and Aubrey, Texas where the series is set. I thought, there’s enough here for all three books. Little did I know, the setting had plenty of character to ground all nine titles. I’ve enjoyed the rodeo thoroughly. I love each character, each story, and I’ll miss them all.
If you’d told me a dozen years back that I would write 9 rodeo titles, I’d have laughed. I barely rode horses when I was a teenager and I’m not really a rodeo fan. But when I was fourteen, my dad announced at our very small town rodeo and I worked in the concession stand. Several years later, my husband and I took our son to the Arkansas State Fair. It was there that I saw a cowboy dressed in Wranglers, Justins, and a Stetson holding hands with a girl in a pin-striped business suit and suede high heel boots. I wondered where they met and what they had in common and Clay and Rayna were born.
I plan to reunite all the heroes and heroines in the final book. Maybe I’ll send them all to the State Fair of Texas or Six Flags or a rodeo, or a wedding. Or all four.
The final three books in my contract aren’t set in stone yet. And after this contract, we’ll see what happens next. Though this writing thing can be stressful, overwhelming, and brain-frying—for the most part, it’s fun. I feel blessed to get to write books and know people actually read them and I hope to continue for a long time to come.
I’ve never met a writer who wasn’t a reader first. We write because we love books and love to read. Readers, we understand you and you have no idea how much we writers appreciate you. If not for you, we wouldn’t get to live this dream.
About Shannon: Central Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife. She lives in a town with a population of around 100, if you count a few cows. Vannatter won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award in the short contemporary category, The 18th Annual Heartsong Awards 3rd Favorite New Author and #1 Contemporary Award.
Her nine titles are with Heartsong Presents and she’s contracted for six more. Her books are available at christianbook.com, barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com, harlequin.com, and barbourbooks.com. Learn more about Shannon and her books at https://shannontaylorvannatter.com and check out her real life romance blog at https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/blog/.
Connect with her on Facebook: http://facebook.com/shannontaylorvannatter, Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/29672798-shannon-vannatter, Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/stvannatter/, and Twitter: @stvauthor.
About the book – Rodeo Family: TORI EATON IS READY TO START OVER
She’s beginning a new chapter in Aubrey, Texas, away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. As she picks up the pieces of her broken life, Tori’s surprised at the helping hand the church’s new song director, Brant McConnell, offers her, and at the warm emotions he inspires.
Brant is drawn to Tori. And as their friendship grows, so do his feelings for her. But Tori is still hounded by her past, and the walls she’s built around her heart are high. Can he convince the wounded beauty that he’s exactly the kind of man she needs—and deserves?
Question: Have you ever been to the Fort Worth Stockyards? or Where is your favorite place or tourist attraction to visit?
Come back Oct 22nd for Susan Reinhardt!
I have never been to Texas 🙁 My favorite place to visit is Holmes county, Ohio — followed closely by Lancaster & Gettysburg, PA.
My favorite tourist attraction to visit is The Great Smoky Mts.
I have never been to Texas, but as a young child spent many days at our local stockyards. My favorite place to visit is hard because there are several. I love going to Land Between the Lakes here in western Kentucky. Next would be Red River Gorge in eastern Kentucky ( actually it’s more central than eastern ).
My favorite place will always be the Smoky mountains ( Gatlingburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville). Never been to Texas but have family there! Looking forward to the next books as the Rodeo series is awesome!
Hey Mary,
I’ve never been to PA, but I have been to Ohio. We were visiting West VA once and went to a flea market. Everyone was asking where were from because of our accents. They said we get a lot of people from Uhiuh. Took us forever to figure out they were saying Ohio.
Hey, Angela,
I’ve never been to the Smoky Mtns. either. I’m family oriented, so my favorite places to visit are the San Antonio, TX area and the Atlanta, GA area since we have family in both places. One of these days I want to go to the ocean. I went to Galveston once and loved it. My sister in law said it’s not a pretty beach and we should go to Corpus Christi.
Hey Katrina,
I’ve been through KY on the way to somewhere else, but never stopped to visit any tourist attractions.
Hey Shelia,
We used to travel TN from corner to corner when we lived in GA and came to visit Arkansas before we moved here. I’ve visited tourist attractions in Nashville, but that’s all. We found an awesome mall once in Nashville. All the stores were reasonably priced and they had a wonderful shoe store with high heels in every color imaginable. I want to go back there someday. I had all the shoes I needed at the time. But some have worn out since then. I’ve been looking for purple close toe pumps for about 5 years.
I have only driven through Texas, as a young bride on my way to Ohio to meet my new in-laws!!
Stopped at a rest stop for the night, and woke up to snow on the ground and all around us!! I should have been frightened of the uncertainty of it all, but I wasn’t!! Young love will do that to you! My first White Christmas was in Ohio of that year, one that I will truly remember for my entire life. It is true what they say, You never forget your first love….
Hi Shannon. Yes, I have been to the Fort Worth Stockyard to watch our grand daughters compete in rodeo finals.It is exciting to see them win a buckle or saddle! I love the mini cattle drive and all the tourist-y stores around it. There is always something for the kids to do. The place to visit would be Michigan, hands down!!!! My parents, siblings and their families, and our daughter are all there. A white Christmas is in the plans for this year!!!!
Hey Patricia,
Fun story. We lived in Illinois when I was a kid. The only thing I really remember is the snow.
Hey Jennifer,
I lived in Michigan when I was a baby. We moved around a lot when I was a kid, but moved to Arkansas where my parents were born and raised and most of our family lives when I was 12. We’ve been here every since. At first, I thought my life was over because I was raised in the burbs. But rural life has grown on me. We live in a tiny community with a city of 7,000 ten miles away. The city of 7,000 is too big for me to live in now.
Hi Shannon!
I have never been t the Fort Worth Stockyard. My favorite place to visit so far is Washington and go to Port Townsend on the Puget Sound. Love it there. 🙂
Hey Mippy/Sabrina,
I haven’t been to Washington. That sounds nice and beachy though. I love seashells.
Hi Shannon! We go to the Ft. Worth stockyards every year! We take in all the sights and sounds as well as the rodeo and Bulls Night Out! Love it!!!!!
melback at cebridge dot net
Hi Shannon,
Congratulations on your upcoming books and contracts! I really enjoyed Rodeo Regrets, and hope to read your other rodeo books. I have been to Ft. Worth a couple of times, but never visited the stockyards. I’ve actually never been to a rodeo, but have always thought it would be fun. I’m sitting here trying to think of my favorite place to visit. I love traveling, so there are many places I enjoy–many are part of the outdoors–the Great Smokey Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Great Lakes, and Alaska. I really enjoyed Branson, MO, and I also like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN. I do love to visit Washington, DC–especially during the Cherry Blossom Festival.
may_dayzee (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
Hey Melanie,
The Stockyards is so much fun. It’s like a whole little country within itself. My son loves it there. The first time we went to the rodeo there, he was seven and it was his first rodeo. He asked me if he could be a bull rider when he grows up. I said, NO!
Hey Kay,
Thanks. And I’m glad you enjoyed Rodeo Regrets. I like the rodeo, but the bull riding makes me so nervous. I cringe and cover my eyes and yelp through the whole thing. My heroine, Rayna in the first book – Rodeo Dust was very easy for me to write. She’s afraid of bulls.
We go to Branson a couple of times a year. It’s only 3 hours away from us. In fact, we took a church group last weekend to see Jonah. It was fun. When we go, we usually see a Christian show or just shop flea markets.
I have a winner! Mippy/Sabrina won the drawing. I so appreciate everyone for reading my blog.