Featured Guest: Celia Yeary

Please welcome this week's featured guest: Celia Yeary!

Thanks for coming today and sharing the story behind your newest release, Celia. This sounds like a good one.


The Story Behind Showdown in Southfork




When I became acquainted with The Wild Rose Press on the Yahoo loop, I noticed a new series, which looked rather popular—Wayback, Texas—“Where a cowboy falls in love every eight seconds.” I bought the first two immediately—Hot Night at the Blue Bug Saloon by Rita Thetford, and Shadow of the Hawk by Judith Rochelle. I was hooked. Right away, I yearned to be a Wayback author. I studied the download in the Wayback loop, the one that describes the mythical town with its residents, businesses, and rodeo grounds. I read the guidelines carefully. Still, I hesitated, knowing little about the rodeo, and because—I had no idea for a plot.

One day in the newspaper, I read an article about Bobby Cave who owned a ghost town named Albert, Texas. The town is about one hundred miles from where I live in the Hill Country. He had put it up for sale on eBay for 2.5 million dollars. I never knew if he got any takers--but I had my story.

“Albert, Texas offers 13 wooded acres, an 85 year-old dance hall, an ice house stocked with beer, a creek, pecan and peach orchards, and a few more assorted buildings. Population: 4.”

Showdown in Southfork was born. I named my little town—population: 1—Southfork after the Southfork of the Brazos River, which might run near Wayback, Texas, theoretically approximately 15 miles away.

**********************

This is an excerpt:

A chill ran down her arms, as she parked in front of the first building. Clutching the pistol in her right hand, she stepped down from the Jeep, slammed the door, and walked slowly up the dusty street. As she approached, she saw a man wearing faded Levi’s and a sweat-stained straw cowboy hat. He sat in a straight-backed chair, leaned against the wall on the back two legs, whistling snatches of “Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” and whittling on a piece of wood, paying her no mind whatsoever.

“Who are you?” she called.

With the movement of a sloth, he stopped both activities—the whistling and the whittling—and raised his head. After fifteen seconds, he drawled, “Good afternoon.”

“I asked your name, mister.” She held the gun straight out with both hands, as she had seen the detectives do on Law and Order, whether they were male or female.

“Uh,” he began, but stopped to brush the wood shavings off his jeans. He held up a finger and said, “Just a minute.”

With infinite slowness, he wiped the knife blade back and forth on his jeans’ leg, snapped it closed, lowered the chair, and stood. With one hand, he hitched his jeans up a notch on his incredibly lean torso, and with the other, dropped the knife in a front pocket.

“Hurry up!” she yelled. “It’s blazing hot out here!”

Again, he paused and gazed at her. “Yeah. I know. That’s why I’m in the shade.”

“What are you doing here? And I want an answer now.

“Here? You mean on the porch?”

“No, you… No, I mean in this town.”

Now, he ambled down the four steps to the ground but remained in the shade. With his back against the edge of the porch, one foot propped behind him, and his thumbs hooked in the front pockets of his jeans, he asked with a bewildered look, “What’re you doing with a gun?”

“Pointing it at you, you… Why can’t you answer a simple question?”

“Which simple question do you want me to answer first?”

**************

Celia Yeary is a fifth-generation Texan, and her life revolves around family and friends—and writing. San Marcos has been her home for thirty-five years. She has written three romance novels for a small press, essays for Texas Co-op Power magazine, and several different topics for her weekly blog. She also writes women’s fiction and hopes a publisher comes along who likes these stories, too.

The author is a former science teacher, graduate of Texas Tech University and Texas State University, mother of two, grandmother of three, and wife of a wonderful, supportive Texan. Celia and her husband enjoy traveling, and both are involved in their church and the community.

Celia Yeary

www.celiayeary.com

http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thebookspa

http://twrpcactusrose.blogspot.com

ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS-a Cactus Rose—

eBook available at: www.thewildrosepress.com

Print available now at: www.thewildrosepress.com

SHOWDOWN IN SOUTHFORK at: www.thewildrosepress.com



24 comments:

Maggie Toussaint said...

Hi Celia and Cindy! I'm excited to learn more about your Southfork book, Celia! And I dearly love how real life inspiration got you going on a story idea. You're quite an inspiration yourself, the way you set out to write for this series. Kudos!

Keena Kincaid said...

I love this scene, Celia. Each time I read it, I just smile a little bigger. Can't wait to read this one.

Mona Risk said...

Celia--I can feel your love for Texas in your books and your excerpt. Can wait to read the new story.

Sylvie said...

Love the tale about what inspired the story and love your cowboy! Wishing you many sales...now I got to go and get my copy :)

sylvie

Beth Caudill said...

Oh, I heard Wayback.....what? must get out credit card.....caaching.

Can't wait to read it.

Unknown said...

MAGGIE-what a good friend you are. I can say the editor didn't think the premise was believable--but I told her about the ad on eBay!Not many people believe you could buy a town. Celia

Unknown said...

KEENA--this humor thing was a stretch for me. I like to write stories filled with angst. I like my characters to suffer!Celia

Unknown said...

MONA--I do love Texas. There's so much to love! But sometimes, you know how it is--you sort of wish some things weren't as they are. Celia

Unknown said...

SYLVIE--coming from you, I consider that a big compliment--thank you! Celia

Unknown said...

BETH--yes, you hard Wayback! Go! Celia

Liana Laverentz said...

Goodness, the music startled me! Great excerpt, Celia. Love the title, too. Many happy sales!

Unknown said...

Thank you, Liana--I love that gadget Cindy has. I intend to add it to mine sometime, but not sure I have room. Celia

Sharon Donovan said...

Hi Cindy and Celia. You know every time I hear about this series I think about the old nightime soap Dallas. Loved it! I went to a friend's wedding in Dallas/Ft. Worth and really enjoyed the ruggedness of the countryside and oh those ten gallon hats! Your book sounds great, Celia. Wishing you all the best.
Sharon

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Celia,
Great story, wouldn't it be wonderful to own your very own town though. I'd love to visit Texas one day.

Cheers
Margaret

Debra St. John said...

HI Celia! I love hearing about how authors are inspired to write their stories. Yours sounds like a fabulous addition to the series!

Linda Swift said...

Wonderful blog, Celia and Cindy.
I love your cowboy and I'm not even a cowboy fan! I think you just converted me. Your characters always grab me and these are no exception. I am going to get this book now. Good luck with continued sales and ratings. You've got another winner here. Linda

Unknown said...

Thanks, Sharon--Oh, we all loved Dallas, didn't we? There was never another show like it.That was where every character had big bucks, except some slutty woman bent on getting JR for her own. it was all high dollar and high. cotton.Celia

Unknown said...

MARGARET--well, it's not done often. In this case, it was ranchland that happened to have a ghost town on it. Interesting! Celia

Unknown said...

DEBRA--me, too. sometimes, I don't know where my story comes from--just from the depths of my busy little brain. but this one was easy to pinpoint--I knew exactly how it came about. Celia

Unknown said...

LINDA, SWEETHEART--what can I say? You're such a good friend. But really, now--who can resist a good-looking cowboy with tons of personality? Celia

K.M. Daughters said...

Good morning Celia and Cindy! Great blog and engrossing excerpt. Yes, Sharon, we're reminded of the show Dallas, too - we hear the theme song mixed in with the Classical piano (love that Cindy) as we read about Southfork. Good luck with this Celia and with all your writing.

Cindy K. Green said...

Thanks for being here today, Celia! And good luck with the new book.

Unknown said...

Thank you, KM Daughters--both of you sisters--I'm so happy you came by and left a comment. Celia

Unknown said...

Cindy--I noticed several comments onyour music and slide--I love that little gadget. Thank you so much for having me on your blog.Celia