The Birth of a Series

How my newest cowboy romance series came to be

I find my book inspirations in the simplest, and sometimes weirdest, of places. It could be something as simple as overhearing a conversation or seeing people while I'm out and about that strikes an idea. But for Broken Rock Ranch, this was not the case.

Broken Rock Ranch was born from a newspaper article that I just happened to see on some random weekday. Midwestern ranching heirs squabbling over their inheritance money and land at the passing of the patriarch.

Now, while I didn't take the entire article for the basis of Broken Rock Ranch, it intrigued me. In fact it took hold of me, so it only took a couple of days for me to lay out the basic premise of each book, the characters and their significant others, and the ranch itself. Probably the fastest I have ever laid out a series!

The Pierce family, as it stands in book one, is the patriarch D.B., Buck and his boys, younger son Jed, and daughter, Tilly, and her family. Others come along later, after twins Nash and Wade, there’s Bo, Deacon, and Adam. Now, Tilly has kids too, and they may get their own books down the line, but for now, we're just focusing on Buck and his sons.

The basis of Broken Rock Ranch is simple, like the news article. It focuses on a family who runs a ranch that has been a part of their family for five generations, if I remember correctly (I have a whole Pierce family tree. lol). In book one, D.B. is still alive and well and running things with his children. But as the series goes on, D.B. has passed, and his will leave some… issues for his heirs. He has stipulations that will either cause his family to come together or break them apart entirely. And if they break apart, so does their beloved ranch and everything on it. So while the men of the Pierce family are finding love, they must also find a way to keep their homes, and the ranch that's been in their family forever.

Now, a disclaimer: Buck's story was not one that I initially intended to write.

I had thought to start with Nash, one of his oldest sons and twin to Wade. Nash first showed up in the book Capturing Jayde, and he made an impression with readers. So, I used this as an opportunity to not only give Nash his own story so that he could tie up loose ends with the woman he fell in love with in Capturing Jayde, but also as an opportunity to explore a new series, a new family, and a whole new setting.

Anyway, back to Buck.

Buck is a widower with twin toddler sons. And while his family is doing their best to help him out while he grieves, continues to work their ranch and raise his sons, it's not enough. Buck’s exhausted from trying to do it all, and the boys aren’t getting nearly the time and attention they need and deserve.

So, Tilly takes matters into her own hands and decides to hire a nanny for the boys. This is not a decision that Buck is a fan of and tries to fight it. But then he meets Kate, and even though they butt heads at every chance they get, he comes to realize that she might just be what they need to make it through this difficult time.

Buck’s story was difficult for me to write because I don't have his perspective or point of view of widowhood, having never lost a partner. It’s hard for me to really imagine what the feelings and thoughts and the grief would be like. While I did my best, and my editor makes me want to pull my hair out with all her notes and suggestions, I know it's for the better, because it makes it a more emotional and thoughtful book to read.

Saving Her Cowboy is currently in rewrites. A new release date will be announced soon. :)

Much love and happy reading

~HCB.