#MondayGuest: Charlene Whitman, Author of Wyoming Tryst

The author of "heart-thumping" Western romance, Charlene Whitman spent many years living on Colorado's Front Range. She grew up riding and raising horses, and loves to read, write, and hike the mountains. She attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins as an English major. She has two daughters and is married to George "Dix" Whitman, her love of thirty years. 

The Front Range series of sweet historical Western romance novels (set in the 1870s) includes Wild Horses, Wild Hearts, set in Laporte and Greeley. Colorado Promise, set in Greeley, Colorado; Colorado Hope, set in Fort Collins; Wild Secret, Wild Longing, which takes readers up into the Rockies, Colorado Dream (Greeley), and Wyoming Tryst, set in Laramie, WY.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

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About the Book:

Two ranching tycoons. A decades-old feud. A sheriff bent on ridding the town of lawlessness . . .

In the midst of the trouble brewing in Laramie City in 1878, Julia Carson yearns to be free of her parents’ smothering and wonders whether she’ll ever find a man worthy to love in such a violent town rife with outlaws.

But when Robert Morrison sneaks onto her ranch the night of her sixteenth birthday party, Cupid shoots his arrows straight and true. Aware that their courtship would be anathema to their fathers, who are sworn enemies, Robert and Julia arrange a tryst.

Yet, their clandestine dalliance does not go unnoticed, and forces seek to destroy what little hope their romance has to bloom. The star-crossed lovers face heartache and danger as violence erupts. When all hope is lost, Joseph Tuttle, the new doctor at the penitentiary, is given a letter and a glass vial from Cheyenne medicine woman Sarah Banks.

The way of escape poses deadly dangers, but it is the only way for Robert and Julia to be together. It will take the greatest measure of faith and courage to come through unscathed, but love always conquers fear.

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What’s inside the mind of a historical Western romance author?

Cowboys, horses, and love! And digging into history to accurately convey the time period to be able to immerse readers in a different way of life.

What is so great about being an author?

Using your imagination to create plots and characters is a wonderful thing.

When do you hate it?

I never hate being an author or writing.

What is a regular writing day like for you?

I only write during certain times of the year, as I work full-time editing and coaching writers. But when I do write, after I’ve thoroughly plotted my novel, I get started early (around 6-7 a.m.) and spend full days crafting scenes. I sometimes will break up the writing to half days. But I try to write 6-7 days a week until the book is done.

How do you handle negative reviews?

I ignore them. They are rare, and every good writer gets them. You can’t please everyone.

How do you handle positive reviews?

I’m grateful for them.

What is the usual response when you tell a new acquaintance that you’re an author?

I don’t ever make a big deal about it, so they don’t usually either.

What do you do on those days you don’t feel like writing? Do you force it or take a break?

I don’t believe it’s helpful to force yourself to write when the writing isn’t coming. On those days I do research. I do have to push through, as do all writers, when I’m feeling lazy or unmotivated. Writing takes discipline and hard work.

What would you do if people around you didn’t take your writing seriously or see it as a hobby?

I don’t know. I would write, regardless.

Some authors seem to have a love-hate relationship to writing. Can you relate?

Not really. I believe writers that hate writing usually have bad writing habits. Meaning, they don’t carefully plot, they procrastinate, they don’t have exciting ideas so they aren’t motivated to sit and craft scenes. If you don’t love writing, don’t do it.

Do you think success as an author must be linked to money?

Nope, it’s not.

What has writing taught you?

That creativity is a precious gift that should be honored and cherished.

Leave us with some words of wisdom.

If you’re a reader, let your favorite authors know you appreciate their books and spread the word about them. Writing is a labor of love, and writers need loyal fans! And if you join my mailing list with THIS LINK, you’ll get the first book, Wild Horses, Wild Hearts, for free!