The Cowboy and the Hellcat Release Week!

IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME AT THE 4 ACES RANCH!

This is an exciting week for me! My first published western historical will be released from The Wild Rose Press this Wednesday, Nov. 10th. I can't wait. And I can't wait for you to meet Adam Ford and Ellie Merrick. These two have a habit of making sparks fly! Can the magic of Christmas help this Cowboy and the Hellcat find love?

To celebrate, I'll be making several cyber appearances throughout the week.

Join me:
Nov. 9th--Shelley Munro's blog
Nov. 10th--SOS Aloha Blog
Nov. 10th--Historical Romances Excerpts & Promo group (all day e-mail chat)
Nov. 13th--Petticoats & Pistols Blog

And I also have a contest going on now at my Sherry James web site. Stop by and get entered for a chance to win a T-Shirt. I hope to see you around!

Halloween Blog Blitz Winners at ABM

I was so busy posting blogs over at Authors By Moonlight last week I didn't get any posted here. Darn.

But, I have my winners from last week to share. If you are one of these three lucky people, please email me at sherryjames@hamilton.net and give my your snail mail address so I can get your prizes out to you!

Winners are:
Oct. 26th Margaret Tanner
Oct. 27th April R.
Oct. 31st Cathy M.

Congratulations!!!

Love This Time of Year!

I love Autumn. It's such a pretty time of year, and the temps are perfect. I love the mid to upper 70's, and no humidity. Plus, I love the colors of the season and the beauty of pumpkins ripe on the vine. I also love Halloween. It's always been one of my favorite holidays. I think the vibrant array of colors has something to do with it (I love to decorate!), but I admit, the "things that go bump in the night" side of Halloween gives a hint of mystery and fun too. I'd love to have a conversation with a friendly ghost who lived during the time of the Civil War, the Wild West, or Medieval times. How cool! So, to celebrate, I'll be posting some fun Halloween stuff here starting next week, plus more stuff over at the group blog I belong to. Join me here and at www.authorsbymoonlight for some spooktacular fun in the days ahead!

Busy Summer

Wow! It's been a busy summer. That's my excuse for being absent for so long from my blog, and I'm sticking to it! My apologies. But the summer of 2010 is winding down and that means some exciting news for me. Both of my kids will now be in school! Yes, my youngest will be in kindergarten. It's true, the mommy side of me is a a tickle bit sad, but the writer side of me is excited and can't wait to see what I can accomplish. In one more week I'll be home alone all day to take care of the business of writing and keeping up with my career. Yippee!

So, keep watching Sherry James. I hope you'll see some exciting things happening in my career, and some changes coming to my blog and web site!

Authors By Moonlight

Howdy, all!

I'm thrilled to share with you a new blog venture---Authors By Moonlight. I've joined forces with five other authors, Laura Landon, Ann Stephens, Tiffany Green, Fleeta Cunningham, and Francesca Hawley, to create a new blog Where Romance Glows!

We all write romance, but you'll find not only historical and contemporaries, but retro, and sweet to smokin' hot! We're officially launching the site this week, May 10 -15th. Be sure and stop by to meet all of us. Each day one of the ABM authors will be featured. You'll also have a chance to read excerpts. AND, we're giving away prizes each day. You can get entered by simply leaving a comment to our posts.

This new blog is awesome, and one of the main reasons I've been absent from this one for a while. It took many emails, ideas, and coordinating to get ABM up and running. I feel it was worth the effort. I hope you will, too.

So, please stop by and leave a comment. And be sure to bookmark ABM. We have some great guest bloggers lined up for the year. I hope to blog with you by Moonlight!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the Luck of the Irish be with you today! I'm not Irish, but I do love this holiday. Not only is it an excuse to just have some fun ;-), yes, it's true, I've been known to drink a green beer or two, but the day is also a sure sign that Spring is just around the corner. And after the long winter we've had, I'm really ready for Spring. I also happen to love Shamrocks. I think they are so cute, and so green!

Again, I have to apologize for being absent from my blog. Shame on me. But, I have been busy working on a the sequel to Cowboy Fling. Yep, that's right. Country Fling is close to being done and I hope to have some news to share regarding that book soon. I've also been very busy doing a lot of web site work, and have joined forces with five other authors to bring you a new site with all kinds of exciting things. I'll tell you more about Authors By Moonlight very soon.

In the meantime, here is a little Irish verse for you to enjoy today!

May good luck be with you
Wherever you go,
And your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow.

So, how about you? Do you like having a little fun on St. Patrick's Day? If so, what do you like to do? Drink that green beer I mentioned? Eat corned beef? Kiss the Blarney Stone?

Have a Happy & Safe one!

February Cowboy of the Month--Skeeter Kingsolver

If you frequent my blog much, you’ll probably recognize this young cowboy’s name and face from an earlier entry. I had the opportunity to meet Skeeter in early December when he rode at a PBR event near where I live. Although he’s young and is making a huge splash in the bull riding world, Skeeter has all the great manners of a Kansas cowboy. I had the chance to visit with Skeeter and I have to admit I asked him a ton of questions about bull riding and traveling down the road. He was gracious, and eager to share his knowledge and experiences.

Skeeter, also known as The Royal Solution in the bull riding world, made a huge and lasting impression on the sport after getting on his first-ever bull on the Built Ford Tough Series a couple of years ago. Not only did Skeeter receive a 90-point ride, but took the round win as well. Pretty impressive. And, whenever Skeeter makes the eight second buzzer he consistently scores in the mid to upper 80’s.

How did this McClouth, Kansas native get so good? Well, he’s had the desire to ride since a very young age. He started out riding sheep, moved up to steers, attended a bull riding school, has ridden broncs, and has received some sage advice and help from two big names in the sport, Chris Shivers and Gary Leffew. His older brother, Blake, has been a big help and influence, too. And at this stage of the game, in spite of a few injuries, Skeeter doesn’t let fear get in his way. He rides each bull with gusto and isn’t afraid to use his spurs.

Last year Skeeter learned a little bit about the world of television. He was one of several cowboys CMT highlighted in their December television show, The Posse. I asked Skeeter what it was like to do the show. In his down home, good ol’ boy attitude he said it was all right and kind of fun. But, he did admit that after a while being followed constantly by the cameras got a little old.


Skeeter reminds me a lot of my hero, Devlin McCord, from my novella Eight Seconds, Ellora’s Cave Flavors of Ecstasy Anthology Vol. 3. True, Devlin is older than Skeeter, but the two share a love and devotion to the sport of Pro Bull riding. They are both good guys under those big ol' cowboy hats! So, here’s to Skeeter—a young gun who knows what he wants and who isn’t afraid to go for it and live his dream.

How about you? Are you living your dream? Are you going after what you really want in life? Every time I sit down to write I'm living my dream of being a professional romance writer. And, I promised myself that this year is the year to get in the saddle and run those barrels again. Life is short. Live your dreams!

January Author of the Month--Pamela Morsi

Another new addition to my blog this year is featuring a favorite author of mine each month. To kick off the year I’m starting with one of my all time favorites, Pamela Morsi.

The first time I ever met Pam was way back in 1992 in Chicago at the RWA National conference. Her first book, Heaven Scent, had just won a Waldenbooks award and I took advantage of the moment by snapping a picture. Although I hadn’t read the book yet, I was working as an assistant manager for Waldenbooks at the time so I knew who she was.

My first reading experience with one of Pam’s book actually came with her third book, Garters, which came out the following month after that conference in Chicago. We’d received some bookmarks from the publisher there at the book store and since I’d just met Pam I was doubly excited to give one of her books a try. As soon as the book came in I grabbed a copy, read it, and was hooked! Proud, determined Esme Crabb captivated me from page one.

I then went back and read Heaven Scent and Courting Miss Hattie, and waited impatiently for every Morsi book to come down the pike. Eventually, she published a book entitled Runabout. Oh, I absolutely loved that book. Recently jilted Tulsa May Bruder loves the independence the cantankerous Runabout car gives her. Much to her surprise, she ends falling in love with the one man who has a talent for fixing it. This story is a true delight and Morsi delivers a homey, small town, turn-of-the century atmosphere with this story that I just love.


Then in 1995, Pam published Something Shady. Oh! Something Shady is my all-time, A-#1 favorite Morsi book. Yes, all of Pam’s historicals are on my keeper shelf, but if I had to give up all but one, Something Shady is the one I’d fight tooth and nail to keep. Again, Pam does a terrific job of bringing the turn-of-the-century small town to life. And she does it by creating characters you can empathize with, laugh with, root for, and just plain fall for. I love Gertrude Barkley’s unapologetic and independent ways, and when she finds herself in the middle of a sleepy town scandal, she discovers the man next door, who she has known for years, is really the man of her dreams.

And Pam’s writing is always fantastic. The woman has a way with prose, let me tell you. And setting, she’s brilliant when it comes to creating setting and atmosphere. One of my favorites lines from Something Shady demonstrates exactly what I mean. The moon was a mere sliver in the autumn sky, turned like the edge of a teacup pouring out the last dregs of luster on the night. (sigh) What can I say? That one line always inspires me to be the best writer I can be.

Other delightful books, Simple Jess, The Love Charm, No Ordinary Princess, Sealed with a Kiss, Sweetwood Bride, and Here Comes the Bride, followed. All of them are wonderful books I love, but in my eye, Something Shady is the best of the best.

So, a few years ago when the historical market hit kind of a lull and Pam decided to branch out into contemporary, I was bummed. Big time. As a writer I understand the need to make a living, or to spread creative wings and try new things, but oh, how I miss Pam’s historicals. And I’ll be honest here. (Sorry Pam) I haven’t read a single one of her contemporaries. I’m sure I’m missing out on some absolute gems by being stubborn like that, but I so love her historicals that I’m afraid reading a contemporary will taint, or take away some of the magic she created in those historical characters I love so much. I don’t know. It’s my twisted way of thinking, I guess. If Pam would come back to writing her small town historicals you bet I’d be first in line to plunk down my cash.

So, how about you? Are you a fan of Pam’s historicals? If so, why? And, if you’ve read her contemporaries, which one(s) do you recommend? Maybe you can convince me to shove aside my stubborn streak!

January Cowboy of the Month--Trevor Brazile

This month I’m starting a new year-long salute to cowboys. Each month I will profile a cowboy who inspires me to write my sizzling cowboy stories for you! I hope you enjoy, and I look forward to your comments.

To kick off the year I’m starting with the talented Trevor Brazile in honor of his Seventh All-Around Championship win! Yee-Haw! Congratulations, Trevor! Brazile won the title at this past December’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, NV. The 2009 win ties Brazile with bronc and bull rider Ty Murray, a legend in his own right, who dominated in 1989 - 1994.

A Texas native, Trevor has now qualified for the national finals 18 times in Steer Roping and Tie-Down Roping, and is the first cowboy to qualify for the NFR in 4 different events, (steer, tie-down, team roping header and heeler). A tough competitor, Brazile is the Triple Crown winning cowboy of 2007 by winning the All Around, Steer Roping and Tie-Down roping titles. He also holds the highest single-year earnings record for 2007 by banking $425,115.00. And if that isn’t enough, he’s also the youngest cowboy to cross the $3 million earnings mark! Wow! Sorry ladies. He’s happily married. ;-)

How does Brazile do it? Well, he has five things going for him—background, persistence, focus, horsemanship and practice. His rodeo roots run deep. His father, Jimmy, was a four time NFR qualifier in steer roping, and his mother, Glenda, rodeoed as well. While he was learning to walk, Trevor was also learning to swing a rope. And these days when Brazile is not in the arena competing for the gold buckle, he’s in the practice pen. Fellow cowboys say his focus and concentration are uncanny. Numbers don’t lie and it’s obvious this cowboy has no trouble shifting from one event to another at each rodeo. A skill he attributes to his father. "He wanted me to be an all-around cowboy, not just a tie-down roper, steer roper or team roper. He wanted me to excel in all of it," says Trevor. He also gives credit for his mental toughness to his father-in-law, five time World Champion Tie-Down roper and roping legend Roy Cooper.

When not traveling down the rodeo road, Brazile hangs his hat at his Decatur, Texas ranch where he enjoys family life with his wife and young son. He trains quarter horses and hopes to host roping clinics when (someday) he retires from the rodeo circuit.

The thing I like about Trevor is he is a true cowboy with a strong work ethic who lives, eats, and breathes the western life 365 days of the year. He’s tough, yet has the utmost respect and appreciation for his horses, stating that he’d be just another cowboy without the talent and athleticism of his four-legged partners. And, okay, I admit it, Trevor is a cutie, too!

Yeah, Trevor is definitely inspiration for a romance hero. What say you? What makes a cowboy hero material in your book?

Be sure to keep an eye out for February's Cowboy of the month coming soon!

Happy 75th Birthday, Elvis!

Wow! Elvis would have been 75 today. Hard to imagine. We thought he seemed kind of old when he passed away at age 42 in 1977 (of course, I was just a kid at the time and all adults seemed old!). In retrospect, 42 was darn young. Just think of all he could have continued to accomplish in the years since. He was so incredibly talented, handsome, and had an awesome stage presence. Elvis was the first to do so many things in the entertainment industry. No wonder he became such an icon and is still a legend today. And I, for one, still miss him! I never tire of his music and listening to his wonderful voice!


That's why it was such a thrill for me to visit Graceland this past June. My dear husband indulged me and we spent a whole day there (I splurged on V.I.P. passes) and we ended up touring the house twice and taking our sweet time on the grounds. It was great. If you are an Elvis fan, I highly recommend going V.I.P. Having the time to explore and not be rushed is the only way to go if you really want to maximize your Elvis experience.

As we were touring the house, I felt just like Alex and Casey did (Studs for Hire: Woman in Charge) and half expected Elvis to come around a corner, or to see him sitting at the piano, or watching TV. Graceland is still very much alive with his spirit. As I was writing Studs for Hire: Woman in Charge, I really developed a new appreciation for Elvis. I'd had been a fan since I was a kid, but when I was brushing up on my Elvis research, I really began to understand and appreciate all that he did for others, and what he accomplished in a rather short period of time.


In Woman in Charge, I try to honor Elvis in a respective and fun way. And like me, Casey develops a new appreciation for the King of Rock 'n Roll. Casey learns a lot of neat, fun things about Elvis while learning to give love a chance.

Some of my favorite memories of Elvis are his '68 Comeback Special (black leather never looked so good!), his Aloha from Hawaii Concert, plus too many more to bore you with. How about you? Do you have a favorite Elvis memory? Celebrate Elvis' Birthday with me by sharing your thoughts!