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Did You Know? Ramsey was temporarily appointed as a U.S. Marshal, but did you know that marshals are appointed by presidential order? President George Washington had appointed the first sixteen U.S. Marshals by 1791 with the first thirteen having been commissioned in 1789. Though the first three chapters about Eliza's journey to Kentucky ended up on the editing room floor, the history of the Kentucky horse farms was fascinating to research. Did you know that Runnymeade Farm, founded in 1867, is the oldest continuously operated Thoroughbred breeding farm in Kentucky?

Have you ever imagined another way of life? Have you ever dreamed of living in another time? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have an adventure that may seem completely out of reach? Chances are these questions inspire many writers and many books, but each of these is at the core of why I write and how the Gallagher series came to be. The stories didn’t just come to me out of nowhere—they were nurtured by years of dreaming. Ever since I saw my first western movie, I thought how exciting and wonderful it would be to live that life. I had already begun reading historical romances long before this, but it was watching that first western that planted the seed in my mind about historical western romances. I allowed the seed to grow and the ideas to form until I no longer had thoughts churning around in my head. Instead I met the Gallagher family. I began to see their struggles and hard work. I felt their pain and joy, their sorrows and accomplishments. They became as real as the mountains and streams of Montana—they became family. As I walked along the Swan River or stood on top of Mt. Aeneas and looked out over the valley I call home, I knew the Gallaghers would find happiness and adventure in this remarkable place. I saw them build their ranch from nothing and bring a family into the world so that they may carry on the legacy. I knew their lives wouldn’t be easy, but I also knew they would find love and a reason to survive on this wild land. As sure as I’m breathing, there was no way to stop the story from taking on a life of its own. The true inspiration behind the book is the Gallagher family. Without them there would be no story. They inspire me, not the other way around. Gallagher's Choice, book three in the trilogy, is not the last readers will see of the Gallagher family. I'm currently working on a fourth installment for the series—two parts Gallagher-sytle western and one part Christmas story. A fifth installment is planned, this time with the series focusing on Amanda—we met her in the trilogy—and Ben, the Gallaghers' foreman. Whether there will be a sixth installment—a prequel—I cannot confirm at this point, but the idea has been forming. I hope you've enjoyed your time with the Gallaghers as we look forward to more adventures with them on their Hawk's Peak ranch. Update: There are eight Gallagher/Briarwood books as of 2023!

Emma, Hattie, Briley, and Clara have together in The Women of Crooked Creek, a western short story collection. If you haven't tried the Crooked Creek series, now's your chance to get all four stories in one volume. The Women of Crooked Creek Four courageous women, an untamed land, and the daring to embark on an unforgettable adventure. If you love stories of bravery and courage with unforgettable women and the men they love, you'll enjoy the Women of Crooked Creek. EMMA Emma Hawkins is a dedicated doctor in the little town of Crooked Creek, Montana Territory. Casey Latimer is a wounded soldier in search of a new home and a new beginning. When Casey, battered and bruised, falls at Emma's feet, she is duty-bound to help him. What happens next is something Emma never expected. HATTIE Married three months before the war and now a widow, Harriett McBride can either give up and sell her ranch or fight for the life she and her husband came west to build. With the help of a friend and a stranger, she must stop the one who threatens all she holds dear. When Hattie is faced with an unexpected choice, will she bury her heart on the battlefield forever or find a way to love again? BRILEY Far from home and with no family left, Briley Donaghue answers an advertisement from a rancher seeking a wife in Montana Territory. She arrives in Crooked Creek to find an empty cabin, a letter from her fiancé, and too many unanswered questions. Alone and uncertain, Briley forges a new life in an unfamiliar land. CLARA No longer willing to allow society’s opinion to influence her life, Clara Stowe sought a change, and what better place than the frontier. With her young daughter by her side, she embarks on an unexpected undertaking to the Montana Territory. With grit and determination, they arrive in Crooked Creek to shape the life Clara had always dreamed of and honor the memory of the one they lost. There's more to come from the characters of Crooked Creek. Publisher: Packsaddle Press Formats: Paperback, E-Book Paperback: 186 pages Released: March 5, 2016 This post was updated in 2024 with the current cover. The series as of February 2024

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" —Vincent Van Gogh I wonder how many of us could pose this question to ourselves and come up with an honest answer. What would my life be if I had no courage to attempt anything? What would life be if we allowed ourselves to remain comfortable with the way things are? If Van Gogh had never picked up a paintbrush, what would his life have been instead? What if Joyce or Hemmingway never put pen to paper? What if, what if , what if? I've always thought "What if?" to be kind of a scary question. Scary because if I'm asking that question, I'm doing too much wondering and not enough doing. We all get comfortable, but when we're too comfortable, we get lazy. By lazy I mean we stop trying. We become so content with our life as it is, that we remain in our comfort zone because we feel cozy and secure. The big bad world has less of a chance to get us in our little bubble of warm and fuzziness. But that little bubble isn't necessarily the best place to be. For some, it may be all they want--believe me, there's nothing wrong with that. But for others, they need something more. They need to feel their wings open and to know what is to fly in the clouds. They need to feel the rush of water as thye stand beneath a waterfall, or the air whipping around them as they stand atop a mountain. They need to know what it's like to see their painting on the walls of a gallery, to hear their own music on the radio, and to hold the book they never imagined would be in print. "What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" If it's not laziness that stops some of us, what is it? That dreaded four letter word that we don't want to admit we possess, but it creeps up at the most inopportune moments. We're ready to jump out of that plane, but we pull back at the last minute. We've practiced the song for weeks in rehearsals, but we can't step out on that stage. We've spent years writing and polishing that manuscript, but we can't seem to hit the send button and submit it. FEAR. I've experienced fear plenty of times. I used to be afraid of heights, so in high school I started cliff jumping, and in my twenties I went skydiving. Am I still afraid of heights? You bet I am, but I don't regret trying to overcome the fear. I dislike (I could almost say "hate") public speaking. In high school I joined the speech team. Before a competition I couldn't eat and I'd freeze up, well, except my heart which felt like it was thumping way too fast for a human heart. The second year I medaled at state. I tried out for a musical—just for a speaking or chorus part, mind you—and ended up with a solo song—a rather advanced number that I was certain I couldn't do. I rehearsed, but that was one time when I allowed fear to win. I backed out for the sake of the production because I knew down to my soul that I couldn't have gone through with it. That when it mattered most, I wouldn't have been able to step out on that stage. I'm glad I tried out, and thrilled that I landed such an amazing role, but I'll never know if I really could have done it. Sometimes we have to push our own boundaries to discover our greatest talents and strengths. It's okay to not be great at everything. When it came time to share my writing with the world, I didn't give fear a chance to set in. It was one of those situations where you leap and see where you land. With each new book release, there's a little twinge of excitement, but no fear. I've recently been considering my professional options--outside of writing--and I've gone back and forth, back and forth, on the direction I'd like to take. Do I want to remain in my current profession because it's steady, there's always a need, and I've spent more than a decade acquiring and fine-tuning those executive skills, even though I only do it because it was an easy path? Or, do I want to take a risk and venture into something I've always wanted to do, but came up with one excuse after another (finances, time, family, location, blah, blah, etc) not to try something new? I tell myself that there's no reason to mess with a good thing, but I'm too comfortable. The challenge is gone. The excitement, the growth, the potential to become a better version of me--all stagnant because I've become too comfortable. So, I asked myself, "What would my life be if I had no courage to attempt anything?" I don't want to answer that question. I'd rather find the courage within, even if I have to dig deep for it, and I want to attempt many things. Fear? I'm certain we'll meet again soon because I'm about to push myself out of that warm and safe bubble, but I'm looking forward to the ride. Is there something you want out of life but you haven't found the courage to go after it? If so, is it fear or being too comfortable that's stopping you?

Did You Know? Iron City, Dakota Territory is a fictional town based roughly on the present-day town of Hill City, SD. I chose the Black Hills as Amanda's starting point because I was amazed by the rugged beauty and depth of green in the trees of those hills when I visited. Mentioned in the book, Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency, was founded in 1850, more than thirty years prior to when the story takes place. Alan Pinkerton, the founder, was born in Scotland. It is now often referred to as just Pinkerton Detective Agency or Pinkerton Investigations. The 500+ miles Amanda traveled from Dakota to Montana would take only 7-8 hours by car today. Back then by wagon, it would have taken a little over one month. By horse, it would have taken anywhere from 15-25 days depending upon the terrain and horse's endurance. Wagon, horse, and railroad travel are all used in Journey to Hawk's Peak.

Devon Clayton, my third British Agent, is English born, with a family name that dates back to the 10th century, though back then there were different variations of the name. It is locational from various places now called Clayton in the counties of Lancashire, Staffordshire, Sussex and the West Riding of Yorkshire.* Clayton was another one of those names that just fit with the personality and lineage of the character. Unlike his fellow agents, Devon is not titled, but he comes from a family of great wealth. In Alaina Claiborne and Blackwood Crossing, Devon was the devil-may-care, adventure-seeker of the group, possessing more charm than one ought to. In Clayton's Honor, we delve deeper into Devon's personality and past, though he's still as charming as ever. We also see a lot more of Devon's brothers, Derek and Zachary Clayton. Like the other names, I immediately visualize Devon's personality and looks when I say his name. In Clayton's Honor, Devon will face his greatest personal challenge, uncover secrets, and save a woman from herself and the demons who haunt her. *Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Clayton#ixzz3YB73nGgJ The name Doyle in Ireland is thought to be of Norse origin and comes from the Irish Ó'Dubhghaill or dubh ghall, the "dark stranger or foreigner".* I like this description of the name, and it's fitting for our heroine, Anne Doyle. Doyle is one of the most ancient surnames of Ireland, and it is now also quite common. This was one of those surnames where I scoured lists of Irish surnames that are common in the region in which Anne lived. "Doyle" simply fit, though there is nothing simple about the name or about Anne. "Doyle" is a strong name befitting of a strong Irishwoman. Some may think Anne is delicate at first glance, but I wouldn't discount her abilities, or her dedication to justice. In that way, she is much like Devon, our hero of Clayton's Honor. Anne is fiercely proud of her heritage, and though she does not possess great wealth or as lofty a title as her counterparts in the stories, her birthright is just as noble. *Read more: http://www.irelandroots.com/doyle.htm  Clayton's Honor On the wind swept shores of Ireland, a British Agent must leave behind duty to country for the sake of his honor. Anne Doyle lost her father to a foolish war and her mother to madness. Left with debt and an ancient family home, she struggles to keep the rest of her family together even as an enemy attempts to take them away. After witnessing a brutal murder, Anne must enlist aid from the only family she has left if she is to save those she loves. Devon Clayton had no intentions of leaving behind his life of adventure and danger, but when he is charged with protecting a witness and her family, he must choose between duty to the country he serves and a woman who tests his honor and willingness to change. Together they will discover that nothing is what it seems and that without honor, love and life are for nothing.

"The McClintock’s are descendants of the ancient people who occupied western Scotland before the beginning of recorded history. They are believed to be descended from the Dalridians, a branch of the Irish Celtic Tribes who established the Kingdom of Dalrida in the highland region of western Scotland. They were the true Scottish Highlanders and were descended from the early Irish Tribal Kings . . ." (ancestry.com) The true Scottish Highlanders—not only can I not verify that this is true, I don't care, because it's awesome. McClintock may be my "pen" name, but I pulled it off one of the Scottish branches of my family tree for three reasons: it works well with my initials, it fits with all the historical settings in which I write, and most importantly, it's Scottish. The history of this surname and clan is another ancient name of fascinating origins, all of which I don't yet know, but I am learning. I enjoy genealogy work, and though I don't spend as much time with it as I should, delving into my family history has been a rewarding experience. It may sound strange, but it's also helped me to become more in touch with my "inner author." I love my "borrowed" name, and I'm grateful that generations back, a young Scottish lass decided to fall in love with an Englishman, much like Rhona falls in love with Charles in Blackwood Crossing. Unrelated fact time! One of my ancestors who bore the name McClintock, had the given name of Eliza, which is why I chose that name for the Gallagher sister. Now if only I had a Gallagher in the family (still looking) . . .

Charles Blackwood, my second British Agent, is English born, but his family and heritage hail from Scotland. This history not only comes in handy for unraveling a secret someone wishes to keep buried, but it gives him a deeper connection to the heroine, Rhona Davidson. When choosing character names, I first find a name that I like, but then I want to ensure that it works with the character and the story. I love saying the name "Blackwood." Charles showed us his charming and care-free side in Alaina Claiborne, but in Blackwood Crossing, we learn about his past, learn why he became an agent, and what drives him to do what he does.  This ancient Scottish/Old English name spans two countries, as does Charles. The name "Blackwood" conjures all kinds of images in my mind. Whenever I say it or think it, I can visualize Charles' personality, his thoughts, his passions, his dreams, and his darkest of secrets. Blackwood Crossing will unravel secrets the agents never could have imagined, and Charles will have to become someone he thought he'd left behind forever. And to think it all began when I chose his name . . . Blackwood.

Rhona Davidson is a young woman with a Scottish father and English mother. Clan Davidson has a long history believed to date back to the Picts via Brittany. Now, none of that was known to me when I chose Davidson as the heroine's surname. This particular choice was a case of "I like it and it fit." It wasn't until Rhona's character began to develop on the page, that her family's history held any significance. Just as many Americans take pride in their family's colonial history, the clans of Scotland often have an overwhelming pride in their clan's history and traditions. Blackwood Crossing is rife with secrets, all of which must be revealed in order for our hero and heroine to find peace and make room in their lives and hearts for each other. Rhona is such a mystery that even I did not know something significant about her until it actually happened. I had one of those "Ah ha!" moments, and it thrilled me, even as I wondered how it was going to work out. Davidson is a strong and proud name with an interesting history. Rhona's family managed to escape some of the consequences of that history . . . then again, did they?