Celia Yeary: Texas True

Texas True, Book II: The Cameron Sisters
by Celia Yeary

RTW: We're glad to have you visit Romancing The West today, Celia. Please tell us a little about yourself before we start talking books.

CY: I'm a seventh-generation Texan, and my life revolves around family, friends, and writing. San Marcos has been my home for thirty-five years. I have nine published romance novels, a short story, two novellas, three anthologies, and published essays with a local magazine. I'm a former science teacher, graduate of Texas Tech University and Texas State University, mother of two, grandmother of three boys, and wife of a wonderful, supportive Texan. My husband and I enjoy traveling, and we're involved in our church, the community, and the university. I meet with The Write Girls on Tuesdays at a local coffee house.

RTW: Photosynthesis is interesting, but tell us about Texas True, please.

CY: Texas True is the story of the younger Cameron sister. (Texas Promise is the story of the older Cameron sister.) As the Nineteenth Century fades, True Leigh Cameron has been raised like a hothouse flower, loved and protected by everyone. She meets oil field foreman Sam Deleon at a Governor's Ball in Austin and her life completely changes. Without wondering why a mere wildcatter would be at a posh ball, she falls in love...family admonishments are gone unheard. She is determined to make the marriage and her new life work. True is as good as her name, but what kind of man is Sam? She will face disappointment, anger, and heartbreak, before she learns the whole truth...and begins to teach a hard man how to love.

Contest!

Find out how you can win at the end of the excerpt.

RTW: What aspect of life in the Old West intrigues you the most? Did you work that into Texas True?

CY: The Old West history intrigues me, and I love to choose something and place a character there. In this case, I used Austin, Texas just as it was in a booming stage at the end of the Nineteenth Century, the infant oil industry, and also a sprawling Spanish Land Grant ranch in South Texas.

RTW: If you lived in 1899, what modern convenience would you miss the most?



Celia Yeary, author



CY: Running water. Austin, Texas had running water for many homes, and electricity, and a new Capitol building. But the oil camp where True lived when she followed Sam, not only lacked running water, it lacked electricity, too. Later in the story when Sam and True manage to get to the ranch, no running water there, either. You see? I'm obsessed with fear of not having enough water.

RTW: Are there any common errors in western historical romances that bug you? If so, please set us straight.

CY: I don't suppose it bugs me, because I do it, too! But honestly, Jacquie, have you looked at old Nineteenth Century photos? Of course, you have. Those people are generally not beautiful and handsome, with gorgeous hair or big muscled bodies--at least not how we picture them. We authors also fail to properly describe clothing. But...hey...it's fiction!

RTW: Hahaha! Yes, and fiction is fantasy.  While we're on that topic, why is handsome Sam Deleon perfect for True Cameron?

CY: Actually, he's not. He's devious and mysterious--but only on the surface. Deep down, he longs to be a good, respected man. This theme--Redemption--is my very favorite theme for Western Historical Romances.

RTW: I love it, too! And now for an excerpt of Texas True by Celia Yeary!

True whispered to him, "Would you kiss me, Sam? Just a kiss? And maybe hold me a little? I've missed you very much."

Against his better judgment, he placed his arm around her waist and pulled her close, and with the other hand, tipped her chin up so he might give her that little kiss. Mistake. Her scent and warmth instantly set him on fire. He kept her mouth in place as he ravaged it with his tongue, teeth, and lips. With the other hand, he cupped her soft, full breast from the side.

Slowly turning in his arms, True leaned into him and began tugging his shirt from his pants. As soon as she could move her hands under the shirt, she placed her palms flat on his ribs and brought them around and up his back. His skin turned hot where she smoothed the corded muscles of his shoulders. Sliding her hands up, she neatly and efficiently pushed his shirt off his back. Mumbling against his mouth, she instructed in a low, husky voice, "Let me get this off your arms."

Startled, he came to his senses and hissed through clenched teeth, "Whoa, whoa. What are you doing? Stop, True. The children."

Speaking softly and quietly into his ear, she explained that an earthquake would not awaken them. "When they fall asleep, they don't move, and you would be hard pressed to wake them up. I assure you, they won't hear a thing. Please, Sam, make love to me?"

Oh, well, why the hell not, he thought, through the red haze in his brain.

RTW: Thanks for the terrific excerpt, Celia! Where can we buy Texas True?

CY: It's available at Amazon, B&N, and Desert Breeze Publishing

RTW : What do you have in store for us next, Celia?

CY: I have one 99cent Western Historical with Western Trail Blazers (Rebecca Vickery's pubs.) She has two more of mine, so I hope they'll be for sale sometimes in November. Titles: Angel and the Cowboy; Addie and the Gunslinger; and Charlotte and the Tenderfoot. Next WIP: Kat and the U.S.Marshal. All these are around 22,000 words. I find that I love to write these.

RTW : I love to read (and write) novellas, so I'll be looking forward to yours. Where can readers find you on the internet?

CY: To find out more about my books and me, go to my website. For general musings and a little fun, go to my personal blog, and for western research topics and authors, go to Sweethearts of the West. (RTW Note: SOTW is an awesome blog! Be sure to check it out.)

RTW: Anything else you’d like to add?

CY: I'm so pleased to be a guest with you, Jacquie, on Romancing the West. I hope readers who love Western Romances will try The Cameron Sisters series--Book I and Book II.

I'd love to give away more than one thing: a pdf of Texas True, a pdf of Texas Promise, and a pdf of Angel and the Cowboy. Jacquie will help me choose three visitors, I'll ask each winner which story she'd like to have.

Thanks so much, Celia!

Wow, three commenters this week will win! Celia will be here on Thursday with a wonderful article on Judge Roy Bean. Any comment all week enters you to win one of the three books Celia is offering. Be sure to include your email address or we'll have to pick aother winner.

Stop by Thursday for Celia's article on Judge Roy Bean.