Drum Roll Please. Our Mystery Author is the talented and clever Tracy Garrett! Welcome Tracy and thank you so much for a well played game. We’re revealing Tracy’s identity a bit early today because our amazing detectives were, well… amazing. The first person to guess Tracy’s identity was PJ! Congratulations PJ we’ll email you your Amazon Gift Certificate tomorrow. Amy S. you came in as a close second, well done.
Tracy writes captivating characters and suspenseful plots – historical romance with a western flavor that will keep you turning the pages.
“As a descendant of the Hatfield clan – of the Hatfield and McCoy feud fame – history is a huge part of who Tracy is. She even has two circuit-riding preachers in her lineage. Growing up in Southern Illinois, Tracy enjoyed studying the settling and growth of the western half of the United States: the Trail of Tears, ancient Native American civilizations, riverboat traffic… the past holds a wonderful fascination for her. She constantly pestered her grandparents for stories of their youth, their families and experiences. Even her first car was vintage: her Grandpa’s dark blue 1952 Chevy with a push-button starter.”
Tracy’s first book, TOUCH OF TEXAS, was released last year and featured one terrific hero – Texas Ranger Jake McCain.
In her new release TOUCHED BY LOVE, Tracy “returns to Texas, 1847, with the story of a love that breaks all the rules…”
“Jaret Walker is a loner, a gun for hire with a heart of ice. He’s never had anyone to call his own, and he likes it that way. But when a promise made to a friend leads him on a ride through the desert and to remote Two Roses Ranch where he meets Isabel Bennett, the woman he’s supposed to protect, all he can think of is making her his. She’s the kind of woman a rough-riding cowboy like him can never have. But her hot gaze tempts him like no other woman has before…
The moment Isabel Bennett lays eyes on Jaret Walker, she remembers the dreams she’s denied for so long. She’s sworn never to marry. It’s the only way to protect her ranch. But when Walker rides into her life, she decides to let herself taste what she’s giving up—a passion that burns through her with each kiss—and a desire that won’t be denied…”
Now that Tracy can talk openly – please feel free to ask her any questions about her writing, her books, her life.
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Maria Lokken
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 5:34 pm:
Tracy – We’re so excited to have you. You really are drop dead funny!
I’m loving the cover of your new book – hubba, hubba.
Have you ever taken a story from your grandparents and put it in one of your books?
Tracy Garrett
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 5:35 pm:
Congratulations, PJ, on being the first to guess who I was. And Amy S., I knew you were close.
Thanks everyone for playing along this morning. Now that you know who I am, what do you think of western historical romances? Like them? Can’t get enough? Have never tried one? Come on, I’m curious.
Tracy – aka MA
Maria Lokken
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 5:41 pm:
I can’t get enough of western historical romances. Marisa turned me on about five years ago. Until then – had no desire to read one. After reading the first – I was hooked. And I’m not a western kind of gal. Or so I thought. Anyone out there who hasn’t read this sub-genre get on your horsey and mosey on over to the bookstore.
PJ
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 5:43 pm:
Hi Tracy! I love western romances. I wish the “powers that be” would publish more of them. Touched by Love is on my tbr and I’m looking forward to losing myself in another of your wonderful stories. Will you have more books out next year? Can you tell us anything about what’s coming next?
Karin
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 5:44 pm:
Congratulations, PJ!
Tracy, it sounds like you and I have some similar interests when it comes to history. I’ve always found the Western expansion of the States to be really fascinating. My favorite computer game when I was younger was the Oregon Trail game. There’s just so much that happened in the 1800s in the Western part of the States and I love reading the history about different sections. Is there any specific reason why you’ve chosen Texas as the setting for your books? Do you see yourself choosing other parts of the Old West as the setting for future books?
Marisa O'Neill
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 5:45 pm:
Hi Tracy! Such a great game this month!
Me? I say bring it on. I can’t get enough of western romances. And I’m very glad you’re writing them. The women and men of that time period were all about courage, passion and testing their strengths to the limits. Their way of life was a hard one and they had a capacity for endurance. I’m always enthralled by stories of people who test themselves. Western historicals offer that at more.
For those of you who haven’t tried westerns – you definitely should. I got Maria hooked by MAKING her read a Jodi Thomas many moons ago – now she’s always looking for a good western romance – or, as you all know, a good time travel.
Tracy Garrett
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 5:46 pm:
Maria, the genre has changed so much from Louis L’Amour to Linda Lael Miller & Stacey Kayne. I’m proud to be in the middle of it.
As for my grandparents’ stories – many of them end up in my books. The two old travelers in Touch of Texas, Henry & Rosa? They were my dad’s folks, even had their names. And my mom’s mother grew up on a wheat farm/ranch in North Dakota – I went to vist her last weekend (she’s 95) and a story she told us about their buggy being attacked by 3 coyotes and her mom beating them off with a buggy whip–that will be in a story soon.
BTW PJ, which clue gave me away?
Tract G.
Maria Lokken
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 6:24 pm:
WOW Tracy – those are some fascinating stories! And I think I have problems navigating traffic jams, what would I have done fending off a coyote attack! The very idea.
PJ
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 6:35 pm:
Wow, Tracy. What a wonderful heritage you have. Have you considered recording the stories so they can be passed down to future generations?
BTW PJ, which clue gave me away?
You were on the short list then perro edged me closer but the white cover was the clincher.
Tracy Garrett
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 6:56 pm:
PJ says:
Hi Tracy! I love western romances. I wish the “powers that be” would publish more of them. Touched by Love is on my tbr and I’m looking forward to losing myself in another of your wonderful stories. Will you have more books out next year? Can you tell us anything about what’s coming next?
Hi PJ! *waving madly* I don’t know if next year will happen since I don’t have my next book under contract yet, but keep your fingers crossed.
The next book will be Wolf’s story. You met him and his son, Calvin, in Touch of Texas. Wolf is so tortured and guilt-ridden, I have to give him his happy ending. Lizzie, his heroine, is a “Calamity Jane” type, as far from Wolf’s idea of what a “perfect woman” should be as I can make her.
PJ says:
Wow, Tracy. What a wonderful heritage you have. Have you considered recording the stories so they can be passed down to future generations?
My sister and I typed out as many stories as my grandmother could remember – and the rest I’m putting in my novels. My very first novel (not yet published) is my grandmother’s story. When she read it she said “Wow, that could be me.” Which is great, because it was supposed to be her.
Tracy G.
orannia
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 6:58 pm:
HI Tracy and congratulations PJ!
Tracy – Touched By Love sounds very interesting, and may as be so bold as to say that is a lovely cover
Tracy Garrett
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 7:00 pm:
Karin says:
Is there any specific reason why you’ve chosen Texas as the setting for your books? Do you see yourself choosing other parts of the Old West as the setting for future books?
>I love Texas. Every since I moved there, I knew that would be the setting for my stories. I’m fascinated by the differences within the state, from the salt marshes on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to the unbelievable rock formations of the Big Bend area. It offers an unlimited array of settings – and the history of the state is a wealth of stories in intself.
I’ve done some research for a series set in Wyoming, and also Colorado, so it’s possible. But for now, Texas is it for me.
Tracy G.
Tracy Garrett
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 7:01 pm:
orannia says:
and may as be so bold as to say that is a lovely cover
>You certainly may. The cover gods were very, very good to me on both my Zebra books. I love the Kensington art department.
Tracy G.
Tracy Garrett
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 7:06 pm:
Marisa O’Neill says:
The women and men of that time period were all about courage, passion and testing their strengths to the limits. Their way of life was a hard one and they had a capacity for endurance. I’m always enthralled by stories of people who test themselves. Western historicals offer that at more.
>Marisa, you are so right. Hollywood glamorized the settling of the west, but it was a hard, hard life. I try to bring some of that to my stories, just because the men and women who lived it deserve to have their stories told.
Tracy G.
PJ
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 7:29 pm:
Tracy, I’ll send lots of positive contract vibes your way because I’m really looking forward to reading Wolf’s story!
Fedora
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 8:13 pm:
Hi, Tracy! Love western historicals! I’m a recent convert and do love the setting and the time period–as Marisa said, it was a hard time to live, and I know I’d never survive in reality! And like Orannia said, I love your covers!
Tracy Garrett
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 8:25 pm:
Hi Fedora! Nice to see another familiar face.
Tracy G.
pambook
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 9:10 pm:
Congrats, PJ, the white cover was the clincher for me, too. Tracy, that is a wonderful heritage, great how you incorporate it into your stories.
Maria Lokken
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 10:15 pm:
Thank you Tracy for being a terrific Mystery Author – you played brilliantly and you made the day great fun. We know Touched by Love will be a terrific success. If anyone else has something to say to Tracy, feel free.
Hugs,
Maria & Marisa
Tracy Garrett
on Nov 12th, 2008
@ 10:40 pm:
Thanks so much for having me here, Maria & Marisa. I had a great time today. And congratulations again, PJ.
Tracy G.
PJ
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 8:33 am:
I got my gift card!
Thanks so much Maria and Marisa!
Tracy, you were a terrific Mystery Author! Thanks again for taking the time from your busy schedule to play with us today.
Buffie
on Nov 13th, 2008
@ 2:07 pm:
Wow, congrats to PJ!!!!
Hate I missed chatting with Tracy. I have to say that I am really looking forward to reading this book. And can I be honest and say I would love to get my hands on that man on the cover
Caffey
on Nov 15th, 2008
@ 11:08 am:
I loved the first book and gosh I too missed getting to talk with Tracy. But I’m glad I can come back and read and catch up here!