July 7th, 2009 | by Melissa MacNeal |
Ok, so you’re sitting alone at the counter at your local diner, drinking a Diet Coke, when the younger, totally hot Native American stranger on the next stool propositions you. Do you:
1) Stare blankly and say, “You wanna what? With me?”
2) Look around frantically to see if anyone you know heard him
3) Say, “Oh, no, I’m not that kind of woman.”
4) Say yes and have the time of your life in a no-tell motel room.
You probably won’t have to guess which option Diana Grant chooses, given that she’s my heroine in “Long Hard Ride,” but believe me, she was not expecting her day to go that way! She’s just learned that the bank is foreclosing on her ranch, because paying for her late husband’s liver transplant totally drained their accounts. Worse yet, the bank prez is really after her land so he can develop it into resort condos, and his wife has already decided she wants her luxury digs right where Diana’s cozy home now sits. The bulldozers are poised, ready to rip the guts out of the Montana horse ranch she and her husband Garrison have loved for twenty years.
I knew that much shortly after my Aphrodisia editor invited me to write a story for an upcoming cowboy anthology (TEMPTED BY A COWBOY, out in July), but then I had to get past the premise and actually concoct a story for this gal! As often happens for me, I sorta set my brain out of gear for the next week or so and the pieces of backstory and research came at me from several different directions! It’s a process that just happens for me, mainly because I’ve come to expect it…and because I now believe it’s how the Universe works for me when I invite it to.
So, I had this premise in my mind, about this beleaguered widow around my age…and I decided I was in the mood for a Native American rodeo rider. Used to live in a rodeo town, so I love the sport and am familiar with its inner workings. And hey, if the fantasy of broad shoulders, cinnamon skin, and long black hair works for me, it works for millions of women, not? Was flipping through my assortment of folders and saw one with a white horse on the front. Ta-DA! Michael White Horse became my hero!
Then I ventured to the RT conference and saw my writer friend, Diana Groe. We caught each other up on our current projects, and she proceeded to tell me about the Indian Relay at the rodeo in Sheridan, Wyoming. And as she described all these young red-skinned guys riding bareback at breakneck speeds, wearing only loincloths and body paint, I knew I had to include such a scene in this story! Got a few pertinent details from her, as research, and my imagination was off and running!
Day or so after I got home, I mentioned the premise to my old college flame, Jack, with whom I exchange the occasional email. So happens Jack, an accountant, used to do the books for a Native American casino on a nearby reservation in upstate New York, and he couldn’t wait to tell me how totally messed up the accounts were. Seems the guys in charge were more bookies than bookkeepers: they went from running a penny-ante Bingo hall to managing a casino that brought in hundreds of thousands each week. Large sums went unaccounted for—or were spent for questionable causes—and Jack, as a white guy, knew damn well he was not being told everything that should’ve been reported.
So voila! I had Michael’s back story and a family conflict he wasn’t at all comfortable with: he’d quit keeping the books for his tribe’s casino. Went back to riding saddle broncs before he got too old to realize his dream of winning at the ProRodeo championship in California. He’s on his way to his first small-time event when his truck breaks down, in the pouring rain, and he’s waiting for the tow truck in the local greasy spoon when Dejected Diana plops down on the stool beside him.
But it’s not enough to assume the rest of the story happens at that nearby no-tell motel, even if this is erotic romance! To make your characters real—the kind readers worry about–they have to have an issue or two that seems insurmountable.
So happens, my oldest brother had just left his job to go on total disability, in preparation for a liver transplant. As we heard about the preparation process, and the way his anti-rejection drugs would run him $6,000 a month in addition to the expenses of the transplant, I was gobsmacked. Unless you have really good insurance (not part of the package for the very small company where my brother worked, unfortunately) how can you even dream of undergoing an organ transplant? Yet if you’re his forty-something wife, how can you not insist that he sign up for this life-saving procedure?
So Diana’s backstory and present conflicted situation was partially drawn from what I was hearing about a real-life family situation. I’m very thankful my brother is still hanging in there, awaiting a donor match. Diana’s husband underwent his transplant, but didn’t fare so well. And after he passed on, his expenses did not: not only is Diana a worn-out widow from being a caretaker, she’s about to lose her home, too.
And Michael, bless him, is a sucker for a damsel in distress. Even if she’s a forty-something damsel with red-rimmed eyes who wears careworn clothes and has a crass bank president posting auction signs on her property.
I did a little online research to figure out Michael’s rodeo circuit route, and to place Seven Creeks ranch in Wolf Point, Montana (where there just happens to be a Native American casino), and from there, my story wrote itself.
Well, practically! I got by with a little help from my friends Diana and Jack, tossed in some real-life financial crises, and when the pieces fell nicely into place I entitled it “Long, Hard Ride.” Seems Michael and Diana play that title from a lot of angles, and I hope you’ll enjoy their story!
Thanks for coming along for this ride! And your reward for reading clear to the end? Ask very nicely…tell me how YOU would respond to the question at the beginning, and there could be a signed book in it for you!
Melissa…what a fascinating view into your mind and how your process works.
And I love how everything fits into place. That often happens, but I’ll be darned if I could explain it quite so well. Half the time I forget the “how” and just think of the words written.
Thanks for sharing the glimpse into your process.
by Bonnie Edwards · July 7th, 2009 at 10:47 amBonnie
Hey Melissa,
I have been drooling over this anthology ever since Delilah started promoting it on her blog.
I so want to be Donna right now
But if it were to really happen to me I would probably be answer #1.
Can’t wait to read it!
by Booklover1335 · July 7th, 2009 at 12:03 pmsorry mean Diana, totally misread it…I mean how many times can you read a name wrong
Guess I was so eager to read the rest of the post I just filled in my own name for your character 
by Booklover1335 · July 7th, 2009 at 12:05 pmTo answer your question at the beginning of the post, I’d go with answer number 4. I’d take a walk on the wild side. Love your characters. Have a great day.
by Roberta Harwell · July 7th, 2009 at 12:40 pmHappy Tuesday to All!
And thanks a bunch for your comments! When I conjured up those questions at the beginning, I could see myself giving each one of those answers…depending on time, place…maybe how old I was at the time…how fat I felt that day…
But in my heart of hearts, I would love to think I could go with the moment–and certainly go with a guy who looks like Michael White Horse–and never feel a flicker of regret!
Melissa
by Melissa MacNeal · July 7th, 2009 at 12:48 pmI’d love to walk on the wild side and respond enthusiastically with #4, but realistically, I’m sure I’d be stunned into #1… *sigh* Thanks for sharing–I love hearing how a story evolves!
by Fedora · July 7th, 2009 at 1:20 pm#4 would be my answer I love to read about native american heros in stories.
Its cool to see how story ideas come to authors. I can’t wait to read it.
by delitealex · July 7th, 2009 at 1:35 pmNice to hear from you, Fedora! I can *so* relate to what I’d want to do in my fantasies but would probably be stunned into saying in reality!
And delitealex, I hope Michael delights you! He was great fun to write–and as it turns out, Diana gets her chance to save his life just like he saves hers in the beginning!
Melissa
by Melissa MacNeal · July 7th, 2009 at 2:43 pmMy first reaction would be #2 and then maybe I’ll proceed with #4.
by Jane · July 7th, 2009 at 2:59 pmOh my…I’m drooling over this book, too.
My old “party gal” personna would honestly answer #2, slowly go to #3, and eventually #4.
by Armenia · July 7th, 2009 at 3:24 pmI’d go with number 1. Then I’d say… ‘I’m married.’
by Regina · July 7th, 2009 at 4:34 pmMelissa, I love how all those stars align. You know it’s a sign when it all seems to gel. I can’t wait to read the story. As for your question, even in my single days, I’d have balked. This is why we read your stories–to live vicariously.
by Megan Kelly · July 7th, 2009 at 6:12 pmI’m all in with number four.
You know I love the way you tell a story. Keep up the good work. (Yes, pun intended.)
by Gini · July 7th, 2009 at 8:08 pmI was reaching out to my screen here to touch that cover!!!
{looking right and left} no hubby watching me type…
4) Say yes and have the time of your life in a no-tell motel room. !
LOL. None of those fit me so I wouldn’t miss the time chatting with him at least!
by Caffey · July 7th, 2009 at 10:55 pm4) Say yes and have the time of your life in a no-tell motel room.
Tempted by a Cowboy sounds great!
by Amy S. · July 8th, 2009 at 6:36 amthis question is tougher then it looks.
If i was a chick in a book I would definetly pick #1 then smoothly move into #4
but *sigh* im not so I would pick #2 then stammer shockingly into #3 and run.
by sara hurt · July 8th, 2009 at 9:07 ambut i so want to read this book.
by sara hurt · July 8th, 2009 at 9:08 amI think #4 would be the answer there.
sounds like a great story. Going to have to check this one out. I love the way you took little things and made them all into one story.
I hope things work out for your brother.
by Larena Wirum · July 8th, 2009 at 1:26 pmHi again, Chix!
Wow, it sounds like I’m in good company here! Tell you what–I’ll wait until first thing Thursday morning and declare a winner or two, since so many have chimed in! Nice to make some new friends with this story!
Melissa
by Melissa MacNeal · July 8th, 2009 at 2:54 pmI would answer with #3 because I am happily married.
However, if I weren’t and depending on what was happening in my life I might throw caution to the winds and go with #4.
The Indian relay you mentioned sounds fascinating.
by Little Lamb Lost · July 8th, 2009 at 9:08 pmIf I were single, my answer would be #4.
by CrystalGB · July 9th, 2009 at 10:40 amI’M DECLARING MY WINNERS!!!
And THANKS to all who read and responded to my post!
I’m pleased to see some new names here, and a signed copy of TEMPTED BY A COWBOY will go out to: 1) Armenia, 2) Sara Hurt, and 3) Larena Wirum!!!
I’ll be contacting you!
by Melissa MacNeal · July 10th, 2009 at 12:51 pmMelissa
Yippee! Yahoo!!
Thanks Melissa!! Emailing with snail addy.
by Armenia · July 10th, 2009 at 4:01 pmWoohoo! Happy reading, Armenia, Sara, and Larena! Thanks for sharing, Melissa! Happy celebrating!
by Fedora · July 10th, 2009 at 4:15 pmOh oh oh,,,,, I so want this book! I love DD! I would have to say….hum. I honestly don’t think I would say too much of anything but hold out my hand so he could grab it and take off!!!!
bjwaldron(at)gmail.com
by Book Junkie · July 16th, 2009 at 3:08 pm