Sylvia McDaniel - Witty Western Romance

Award-winning author Sylvia McDaniel loves to travel, knit, go fishing or hiking - but she doesn't have much time for any of these. Most of the time, you would find McDaniel working on one of her latest bestselling novels, much to the delight of her readers. Today, we chat with McDaniel about The Rancher Takes a Bride, how a TV special inspired the story of this book and why women love cowboys.

Please give us an introduction to The Rancher Takes a Bride

The Rancher takes a Bride begins with Desiree, Voice of the Dead, holding a seance for people in Fort Worth Texas. One of the clientele is Travis Burnett. When he learned that his mother was giving Desiree/Rose money to speak with his supposedly dead brother, he comes to the seance to run her out of town. But Desiree - real name - Rose is not easily persuaded. 

Rose Severin runs a seance parlor.  Why this backdrop for your story? 

When I was plotting this story, they had a television special on one night and they showed how fake seance parlors were run years ago. It was so interesting to see everything they did. I used many of the things I learned about on that TV show in the book. It was different and unique and fun. 

What appeals to you about Western Romance as a genre?

The men and women who lived in that time period had to be strong people to survive. I admire their endurance and their strength and how they built the west. Can you imagine walking all the way to Oregon? Sleeping in a covered wagon? Eating yucky food just to survive?

What do you think makes cowboys so hot? Why do women like them?

Women love cowboys because they are strong men who are usually polite. Family and values are important to them. They protect their women. 

You weave a lot of humor, mischief and even sadness into your stories.  How important is it to make your readers laugh and cry?

I love adding humor and wish I could find places to add more. Readers read for the emotions that you as a writer evoke and if you’re not connecting with the reader emotionally, then they will put the book down. I always want my readers to have felt something when they read the book.

The Rancher Takes a Bride is the first of a series.  Did you know right from the start that you were going to make it into a series? How do the other books tie in with this one?

Yes, I knew from the beginning that there would be three brothers in this series. What I didn’t plan on was the popularity of the family. So I wrote The Christmas Bride, which is their mother’s story. Now, please, oh please…I hope to write their great-great-great-great grandchildren in 2017.

Travis' mom plays matchmaker and is determined to get the two together.  Do you think that a mother often knows what is best for their child, even in love?

I loved making Eugenia such a wily character. Yes, I often think that a parent, even the father, knows what’s best for their child. My father tried to talk me out of marrying my first husband, even as we were walking down the aisle. I should have listened.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

Secret skills? Hmmmm…I like to knit, but don’t get to do it very often. I love to fish and travel and hike, but I don’t get to do it very often. In a previous life…I was in the insurance business - hated it.

Have you always known you wanted to be a writer? What inspired your debut?

No, I was an avid reader first. I always enjoyed writing, but I didn’t know I wanted to write books. Then one day while reading a book, I thought I could do better than the author. It was presumptuous of me and no, I couldn’t do better than that author at the time. But thirty books later, I’m a good storyteller.

How, would you say have you evolved creatively since publishing your very first book?

Oh, my gosh….night and day. Now I focus so much more on the plot and the characters. If you don’t have good characters driving the plot…you’re in trouble. I am a plotter and every book is plotted before I begin. It’s my story map and sometimes I take detours, or go to unexpected places, but I always make it to the end.

What was the most romantic thing you have ever experienced in real life?

Oh…my second husband is the sweetest man on earth. He buys me gifts and puts sweet, personal notes in the gift. He’s done so many things that none of them stand out. Let’s just say, he’s a keeper. 

What is the best writing advice you’ve received?

Write a down and dirty first draft. Get the story down and then edit. So I take my plot and I set goals for each day. Right now I’m starting a new book and editing on one I just finished. I’m editing the down and dirty draft. 

What are you working on right now?

I’m editing a witches/alien story for S.E. Smith’s Kindle World. I just finished plotting a new series and I’m starting the first one on Friday. 

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

I’m on Facebook too much under SylviaMcDanielAuthor or Sylvia McDaniel. My website address is www.SylviaMcDaniel.com. And I have a newsletter that I offer a free book if anyone signs up.