I can remember back in high school and recall all the “cowboys” in school. We called them “Ropers” and I could count on one hand who they all were. I’m talking about every day wearing the jeans, boots and button down shirts. On occasion they’d throw in a t-shirt, but for the most part, they epitomized what a cowboy looks like. Now keep in mind, I grew up in the suburbs of Dallas. A typical middle-class neighborhood. The only horses or farms to be seen for miles was one lone hold out up the street (who ended up making a mint in the late nineties when they finally sold to the GB tollway). It wasn’t a huge area for “ropers”. Still, these guys belonged to the 4-H club—even had to get bussed mid-day to another school for that group/class. These were guys who wore it because it was a part of who they were and wanted to be. At the time, I have to admit, I thought they were a little bit out there for not trying to blend in better. Because they did get mocked occasionally. Still… they didn’t let it sway them. (me I was blender, as best as I could be—not a follower, just a “please don’t see me” … but that’s a whole ‘nother post for self esteem and whatnot)

Cut to just a few years later and wearing western clothing was “trendy”. Country music started going main-stream with the likes of Garth Brooks and then Faith Hill and her hubby Tim (okay so I am dating myself—you can probably narrow down when I was in high school). It seemed it was *cool* to wear Wranglers and boots and straw hats. I’m not knocking the wardrobe choice. When I was a kid I had the best of both worlds, I suppose. I lived in said suburbs—wore the uber-disastrous parachute pants and earlier than that my attempt at a Valley Girl at the age of eleven, I’d say it worked out to be totally tubular, but all I was rocking was plastic shoes that made me feet sweat. Then I could take off my jellies and head out to my grandparents' for the summer in west Texas and rock the boots and jeans with no fear of what the other kids at school would say. Never once did they see me.

Anyhoo, back to the trend… Right after high school I moved to Fort Worth and I can remember seeing more and more cowboys. It took me a while to figure out which ones were the real deal versus the ones who bought their shiny belt buckles in a little shop near the college. There was something about the way they moved. The not-authentic dude lacked actual cowboy swagger and little too much spending parent’s money swagger—not that I am that judgmental… LOL okay maybe I was a little, but I was a teenager. Still, by then the cowboys were everywhere. I can’t say that I was terribly disappointed, because it did bring out a culture that was otherwise ignored by folks I knew, so it did open eyes despite the fact they have been around through just about every fashion revulsion, every fad and must-have for this season since before jeans had zippers. Sure, it is still a fashion trend as much as it was a way of life. But if you watch and listen, you can always spot the real deal in the crowd.

But I’m not a plotter per se. I like to think of myself as a Ploster-a cross between an Pantser (somewhere who writes by the seat of their pants, with very little plot) and a Plotter. I do like to have the bare bones of a story, often a few major points or key interactions and I just run with it. That’s about it for me. Anything more than that and I get bored and don’t want to work on the book. Sure, I do write myself into a hole every now and again, but it’s a challenge worthy of competition.

Having said that, I love to plot. Sounds like a contradiction huh. Let me explain. I love to help my critique partners plot out their stories. I love to help construct their worlds, be it contemporary and we’re filling in the blanks of what’s what or even a fanciful other world and the minute details that make their worlds real and believable (okay, I can get hung up details at times, but still.).

What I really love is to plot the back story of my characters-before I write the book. I may not go through the extensive plotting devises some author use with thick character bios or questionnaires. But I could probably tell you what they were like as a kid. I could tell you what they felt growing up. To me it is what makes them who they are at the beginning of the book, makes them react the way they do and feel what they feel.

I love knowing those intricate details. Then when I do inevitably write myself into a hole, and my CPs are throwing suggestions out at me, I can say, “No they wouldn’t do that because.” I have plotted out the “before the book” person.

And don’t get me started on the, “that would make a great book.” that’s even more fun

I’ve been asked several times recently about using real life people for inspiration. At first I said, naw, I don’t. Then I glanced around my desk and realized, I actually have three main men. And I have them at hand all the time. Okay, I just have pictures of them as I don’t *actually* know them. Sure, one of them I have seen up close(ish) and personal, if you call standing behind him in line at a burger joint “up close”. (yeah I totally chickened out when I could have spoken to him. But truth be told the view from behind was quite nice, I must say…) I have told this burger tale many times before as it was the start of THE COWBOY PLAN. It was truly an inspirational moment for me!

He is a cowboy in heart, spirit and by his love in life. He’s also a country singer.

I have dedicated the last 5 or 6 books to him. So, okay, I only used his initials (C.C.), because again, that whole chicken side of me is afraid that he might find it odd or creepy (assuming he ever even found out) and not be thrilled. As I tend to way over-think things, I am sure this is one of the “way past the deep end of thought”. But anyhoo… I have shared that little secret with you so it’s out there now.

The second guy I don’t even know his name (kind of makes it even better—so mysterious and in a “I can make him whoever I want…” sort of way, but not in a creepy way, y’know…LOL). I have actually spoken to him, but only briefly and on behalf of my kiddo. You see, he was a “knight” at the local Ren Fair.

To watch him on horseback made every girlie fantasy sigh in the greatest pleasure possible in public sort of way! I could see him in chaps and a Stetson riding off to protect his family or land.

It was inspiration handed to me on a silver plate-d horse saddle

My child (that’s the back of #4 boy’s head with “him”) was all distraught because “his” knight was felled in the jousting competition and was convinced he was truly hurt. We went to find “him” afterwards to assure the kiddo, the man was indeed okay. The knight, as you can see, got down and spoke to my son. (He was hawt to begin with, but his talking to my son bumped him up 1000% )

The knight with his dark locks and piecing blue eyes, has the closest placement on my desk. It is such a hardship to have to see him every time I sit at my computer, let me tell you…

The third man—Alex O'Laughlin—I don’t know if he’s every played a cowboy, but watching him on TV as he tackles the wrong-doers… (sigh) Between Moonlight where he was hell-bent to protect his friends from good intentions and bad guys and now on Hawaii 5-0 where he is awesome to watch in hand-to-hand battles (big sigh) he has the kind of fortitude you want your small town sheriff to have to keep his town safe. And he’s not hard on the eyes. Okay so he’s totally hot… so again, no hardship on my part to have a pic of him sitting on my desk.

But let me clarify this all a little. I always have a pretty good idea of what my characters look like so it’s not so much that I look at all these pics for the ideas of hair, eyes etc., but I look at them and think of the girlie, fanning-self reaction I’d get if I came face-to-face with them (okay so me, I’d probably clam right up and act like I didn’t even know who they were for fear of acting like a total fan-girl and embarrassing myself, but still…). I try to translate that into the book when the hero and heroine meet for the first time.

And, who doesn’t want pics of gorgeous guys on their desk?!?!

Labels: COWBOYS, inspriration, writing