Tuesday, May 19, 2015

SUMMER READS by Susan Horsnell

Hi and welcome to my first post at this site. I will be a regular contributor on every third Tuesday of the month and I hope you enjoy what I have to offer.

My name is Susan Horsnell and I write Western Romance set in Texas in the 1800s. Mostly sweet, but there are outlaws, robbers, bandits and murderers with pretty gruesome methods of torture and murder. My mentor always says “remind me to never get you offside” haha. I always explain to people who ask - I must have lived a previous life in the great state of Texas as I have such a special affinity with both the state and its people. Hubby and I visited and toured in March and I felt so familiar with everything there. I met so many fabulous Western Romance Authors and hubby and I were hosted in Fort Worth by the brilliant, Caroline Clemmons and her hubby.

My love of Westerns stems from my dad, he would encourage me to watch John Wayne, Audie Murphy etc movies with him and we would discuss the “Goodies” and the “Baddies”. He never did get his wish of seeing the Baddies win!

We live in sunny Queensland, Australia where advertising for the north eastern state promotes it as “beautiful one day, perfect the next.” With our long white sandy beaches and gorgeous warm weather it is paradise in Earth, or so my hubby and I believe. Often there is no one on the more tucked away beaches and we enjoy long walks with our two Jack Russell Terriers who love to swim. We have just returned from 5 hours north of where we live, we spent a week enjoying the luscious surrounds. Being retired has its benefits, we can enjoy all that’s on offer while everyone else is at work.

The theme this month is Summer Reads and as it is pretty much summer all year round here, summer romance fits well. I have so many favourite authors who write romance set in the Mediterranean, The Australian Coast – using our beaches and beautiful weather as their setting. When it is especially hot, I love reading about the blustery and wild weather of Ireland. It can help one to cool down!
My Westerns are set in the heart of Texas where ranch life is tough thanks to regular dry spells. I guess they could pass for Summer Reads. Check out my boxed set – The Glenmore’s – Books 1-4 – Complete Collection at my website: http://horsnells.wix.com/susan--1#!book-packages/c19lc
At this site you can also peruse my other titles including Blind Acceptance – Winner of a Crowned Heart Award for Excellence and nominated for a Rone Award.  This book uses my personal experience as a nurse at a Centre for the Blind. I was tasked with teaching the newly blinded (mostly through accident as in this book) and their families, how to adjust and cope with everyday living. There were some interesting and at times, funny incidents. 

Whatever book/s you choose to read during your summer, I hope you are carried away on an adventure that delights and excites you. Remember though, if you choose to read around the pool, on a boat out at sea or on a sandy beach – “slip, slop, slap,” as we say in Australia. Slip on a shirt, Slop on some sunscreen and Slap on a hat. Skin cancer is claiming far too many lives, please don’t be one of them.

I look forward with sharing again next month.
Until then, stay safe.
Sue


10 comments:

Sarah Raplee said...

Welcome to RTG, Susan!

Unknown said...

Welcome, Susan!

Diana McCollum said...

Welcome, Susan! How wonderful you were able to visit Texas where so many of your stories take place. Congratulations on the Crowned Heart Award for Excellence. Sarah also has a story about a blind heroine, soon to be published. Did you find it hard to write about Texas before you actually visited?

Courtney Pierce said...

Welcome, Susan, from cool and green Oregon. After living in Texas for twelve years, your settings are familiar! Great to have you aboard.

Anonymous said...

"Slip, slop, slap, as we say in Australia. Slip on a shirt, Slop on some sunscreen and Slap on a hat."

Love it! Welcome Susan. I'll add you to my fall reads. Busy, busy, this summer.

Paty Jager said...

Welcome to Romancing the Genres, Susan! What a wonderful place you live. Congratulations on your books. I feel like I must have been a Native American at one time the way I write about them.

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Sue,
Welcome to the group. Great post. You are so lucky living in sunny Queensland as us poor Southerners call it. We can have 4 seasons in the one day, as you know.

Cheers

Margaret

Sarah Raplee said...

I must read your book to see how you wrote your blind hero! Paty wrote a wonderful blind hero in her book, Doctor in Petticoats. I learn so much from reading other authors!

Susan Horsnell said...

Thank you so very much everyone for your welcoming words.
Sarah, I used my experience as a nurse working with the blind to write Blind Acceptance. I hope you enjoy it.
Diana, I did heaps of research about Texas but my books are not really historical so I generalised. I loved Texas, spending time with Caroline Clemmons and a few other wonderful authors. The state is amazing and we had the best time

Judith Ashley said...

Welcome, Sue!

I've been off the grid with limited computer access so I'm a bit late commenting this month.

I've found being retired does not mean I have extra time - thought it might before I did it, but with writing and all those things I said I'd get to once I retired the days just fly by.