Promiscuous Diva: Debra's Bandit Blog Tour

She’s going to find out what that something is and convince him there’s more to life than the tomfoolery of outrunning a posse.

Forced to flee his home in Chicago, Gage Cantrell shed his greenhorn ways and joined an outlaw band. He’s spent the last six years dodging bullets and a Pinkerton determined to bring him to justice. Now that Gage has settled for a spell in Revolving Point, Texas, hoping to win the heart of the woman he loves, his past is about to catch up to him. Trouble is, Debra doesn’t know about Chicago. If she’ll forgive his cowardice on that fateful night, he’ll finally know peace. That is if he can thwart the Pinkerton and send him packing—for good.Raised in the St. Louis orphanage, Debra Moore has known more hard times than good. Riding with her brother and Gage as they raided the west brought about a longing for a real home, and for Gage to return her love. She’s found a comfortable haven in Revolving Point and wants Gage to cease to his bandit ways and put down roots with her. But Gage has never been the settling type, and lately he’s been more secretive than usual. Something’s bothering him. She’s going to find out what that something is and convince him there’s more to life than the tomfoolery of outrunning a posse.

Hello Julie! Welcome to Promiscuous Diva!

I’m so delighted you’ve agreed to allow us to get to know you and your book better.

When you aren’t writing, what are you doing? (Aside from being a dad/mom)

Cleaning the house, running errands, helping out at my son's school (I'm on the PTO Board), reading, watching football, taking a walk, or a nap, playing Solitaire on the computer.

You chose a specific genre, a place and time to write about, what made you choose it?

I have always had a love and fondness for horses, cowboys, ranches and the 1800's. That came about when I was young and watched my first John Wayne movie. As a young girl, it was my dream to have a barn filled with horses and ride every day, but since I don't have horses, I write about what is near and dear to my heart.

In your opinion, what makes a book a great one?

The characters. For me, they have to be likable. If they're not, I don't care what happens to them.

Which author(s) most influenced your love of books from childhood?

I don't have an answer for this. The books I liked to read back then were my mom's from her childhood and I have no idea who wrote them. As an adult, I'm influenced by Judith McNaught, Johanna Lindsey and Linda Lael Miller.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Good vs. evil, love conquers all and two souls who were meant to be together will be together.

Which of your characters is most like you?

Racine Weston from 'No Luck AT All'. Racine is shy and tries not to make trouble for anyone. She'd rather take care of her family and home than be the Belle of the Ball, and that's me in a nutshell.

If you were going to commit the perfect murder, how would you go about it?

I'd hire someone else to do and make sure I was out of the country before they did.

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

Johanna Lindsey's 'Gentle Rogue', because I absolutely love her work and James Malory is my favorite hero.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

You have to have a good sense of humor and tough skin; this business will kick you hard when you least expect it. And you have to know when to walk away from the computer, take a break and let a problem fester in the back of your mind. Do something else while it does, and eventually the clutter will clear and you'll see a solution to the problem.

Do you enjoy giving interviews?

I do. I would rather someone present me with a list of questions to answer verses asking me to write a short blog.

Do you research your novels?

Yes, or rather certain aspects of the novel, such as a city or town I'm not familiar with or historical facts. For the Revolving Point, TX series, I researched prisons back in the 1800's and came across The Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas that was a perfect fit for the series. I also researched transporting beer to saloons in that era to be sure that a nowhere town such as Revolving Point would have a stocked saloon.

What's the loveliest thing you have ever seen?

Aside from my son, the loveliest thing I've seen is the Rocky Mountains covered in snow. There's just something breathtaking when the mountains are covered in white, with a purplish tint from the setting sun.

What is one thing in your writing space that you cannot do without?

Sticky notes. I am forever making notes about everything; the story, chores, errands, a person I have to call. If not for sticky notes, nothing would get done.

Has your dog ever eaten your manuscript? Have you ever accidentally burned it? Deleted it without backing up a copy? Suddenly realized that the entire thing is junk and toss it only to wish you hadn’t? You get the idea . . .

The dog has never eaten a manuscript. I've never burned one, but I did believe I had deleted something of importance only to have the hubby show me what the 'Recycle Bin' is on the computer. I have purposefully deleted paragraphs, scenes and chapters and began anew. The outcome was better than I had hoped.

What is it about your favorite book that makes it a favorite?

Gentle Rogue is my favorite, because of the hero. He is temperamental, deplorable, brutish at times, (and those are some of his good qualities) and his sense of humor is off-the-wall, and that's what makes him lovable to me. I don't know how Johanna Lindsey does it, but every time James Malory opens his mouth to speak, I'm in stitches.

What is the one question you hate being asked in an interview? Is it this one?

The one question I dislike is 'who would play my characters in a movie?' I have a hard time answering that question, because there are not many of today's actors I can see filling my heroes boots. Now if John Wayne and Clark Gable were still with us, the answer would be simple--one of them.

Tour Giveaway!

Two copies of the book to two commenters at the end of the tour.

Enjoy an Excerpt

"You make it a habit of assessing other men?" Gage demanded. "What? No! He—Ow!" Tears welled in Debra's eyes and she dropped something into the water. "What is it?" He crowded close to her. "I cut my hand on a knife," she cried. "Let me see." He gently gripped her wrist and drew her hand toward him, seeing blood and soap suds trickle down her right palm. "It's a flesh wound." Wordlessly, he grabbed a towel from the drawer beside him and wrapped the cloth around her hand. He reached into the cabinet above him and took out a bottle of whiskey, removed the towel and poured a good amount of the rye over the cut. Rifling through the cabinet, he found a piece of linen and wrapped it around her palm, tying the ends off in a knot. “Keep the bandage on so the wound doesn’t fester.” Debra looked up at him. Tears swam in her copper eyes. Two fat drops spilled from the corner of her eye. He watched them trickle down her skin to her delicate jaw before returning his gaze to her watery eyes. Past the rest of the tears she tried to hold at bay he saw something else. A longing not to be ignored, to be loved by him as a man loves a woman. Something inside him shifted, the roots that had been planted long ago digging in deeper. He leaned toward her, telling himself he was only going to ease her discomfort…

Meet the Author

I grew up in an average-size city in upstate New York. All through school I enjoyed writing as long as I could choose the topic. I even tried to write a novel length story in middle school, but since I was young I didn't stick with it all that long.

I met my husband during the latter part of 12th grade and married him two years later. He had already enlisted in the Air Force and I enjoyed accompanying him on his twenty years of service. By marrying young and entering the work force full-time, the writing bug didn't bite again until the early 90's when I read Double Standards by Judith McNaught. I was already hooked on the romance genre and family sagas, thanks to Johanna Lindsey's Malory family, and the little critter of a muse dug his teeth in deep. By combining my love for romance, family and the old west, I have settled into a career writing western historical romance.

Debra's Bandit is the third book in my Revolving Point, TX Series and features outlaw Gage Cantrell and mercantile overseer Debra Moore as the hero and heroine. Currently, I'm working on my next novel, a short story I hope to have out in time for the holiday season. I'm a stay-at-home mom who enjoys taking care of family and home, reading and anything to do with the American West. I also enjoy meeting other fans of the romance genre, so if you've got time, say hello at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/Julielence. www.julielence.com