
When I started the Chisholm Cattle Company series though, I didn't much care for any of the Chisholms -- because I was still in love with the Winchesters. I thought I would never write another family that I liked as well.
I'm here to tell you that I was wrong. It took a while before I fell for the Chisholms. I don't think I really fell until the last book. By then, I was invested in their lives.
By the time I wrote CORRALLED (it comes out in March after too long a wait, I know), I was loving the Chisholms. (Ignore the "check to LOOk inside unless you go to Amazon.com )
I didn't realize how badly I'd fallen though until two nights ago when I read the final draft and last book in the Chisholm series: WRANGLED (It comes out in June). I hadn't seen the book in months. I'd been working on a larger book for HQN (UNFORGIVEN comes out in August from Harlequin). So it was like reading a brand new book for me.
You won't ever hear me say any of my books are great. I know a lot of authors do say that about their books, but I don't feel comfortable doing that even when I like a book a lot. I figure how good the book is is up to the reader -- not me. I'm too biased.
But I was breathless reading the last 100 pages of WRANGLED. For the last 20 pages I was in tears. (I usually cry at the end of my books. Just not this much.) Yep, I was completely hooked and sad to see the Chisholms stories end.
Often when I finish a book, I can't tell if the tears (if I don't cry at the end, why would a reader?) are those of exhaustion or emotion for the story. So it is nice to get that last line edit and be breathless and in tears. I can send the manuscript off now and get on another one. My job is done. The Chisholm Cattle Company story has been told.
I just can't wait for you to read the last two Chisholm stories and tell me what you think. That, after all, is the true test.
