Hi-ho, Hi-ho, it's off to Oregon we go!

Greetings Earthlings!
 
I have the fabulous Maddie Taylor visiting today! She's here to discuss her latest book, The Trail Master's Bride! It's a really great story!

 
You have written a couple of westerns in your past. What is your favorite thing about writing a western? 
All of my westerns have been historical, which I think is what I like the best. Yes, a sexy, take charge, no nonsense cowboy is hot, not matter the era, but the time period, which for me has always been Victorian, seems to lend itself to a strong hero who above all protects his woman. If that means a few OTK spankings or some intense love scenes along the way, so be it. And, no one seems to bat an eye. Who am I to argue with history?

What is your least favorite thing?
It does require some research. I like to get the as precise as I can. But, I’m a bit of a history buff so I don’t find it a chore at all.  

You must love the history channel. They always seem to have great western documentaries on. Your story took place in 1852 along the Oregon Trail. What made you chose that time era?
When you think of the wild west, you think of the Marshals, the outlaws, the Indians and the pioneers. At least, I do. With The Trail Master’s Bride done, I can check 2 of 4 off my list.

You had an unexpected twist at the end of your story. Is it easy for you to come up with these plots or does it take a lot of work?
What would a Maddie Taylor story be without a who done it moment or the heroine getting into trouble. This story is no different. Most often, I love to hate the villain so much that its easy to figure.
 

Very true, it seems that all of your books have great twists in them. The Trail Master's Bride was a shorter story for you. How long did it end up taking you to write?
Its 53k-ish and only took about 2 weeks. Editing and beta reading another two, so this was quick. Sometimes it goes that way and the story pours out of you. My last book Second Time Lucky was my longest at 140K. The story was easy but editing that epic was a bear. I’ve figured out why most in our genre are about 50k

Now it's time for my favorite game... The Five Question Game!
What was your favorite childhood T.V show?
Oh, Lord, Meredith or should I say Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! You're dating me! I have to admit I was a Brady Bunch junkie. I was a little younger than Cindy when the show started and also had a lisp. Mom would call us in from playing to watch every Friday night at 8 pm (I think, and yes we played outside until after dark in my neighborhood!). I then watched it in syndication and also loved the spoof movies.


 

You aren't dating yourself. That show came out about give or take 25 years before I was born and I own all five seasons, I can quote the episodes. I love it! People won't date you just because you like an older T.V show. What is your favorite way to relax?
Floating around in my pool with a Lemon Drop Martini! In the winter, soaking in my hot tub with a Lemon Drop Martini.

What is one of your pet peeves?
Typos. Is here such a thing as a perfect manuscript?

You would make such a good editor, I bet that you'd find every typo and correct it. Where is your favorite place to write?
My great big chair and a half in my den. Soon, I’ll have an office in my home for writing. As long as my chair is in there and it’s quiet, I’ll be happy.

 

How old were you when you wrote your first story for fun? (It doesn't have to be a romance one)
I took creative writing in high school so that would have to be it. My love of romance novels came from my mother who kept a continuous supply of 70’s bodice rippers flowing into the house. Thanks, Mom!

Aww! That's so sweet! Now can we please have a snippet from your story? 

The setup for my snippet:

Running in off in a fit of temper is not a good idea after dark, especially for a city-bred miss who does it in the middle of Indian Territory. Of course, the trail master will see to her safety and afterward, see about setting her straight on the rules of his wagon train.





The snippet...

“I was going to wash up before bed, if you don’t mind.”

“As a matter of fact, I do mind.” She blinked in surprise as he leaned down and put his face next to hers. “I mind a woman stomping off in a huff in the dark, unescorted. I mind a woman ignoring orders for her safety. I mind having to babysit a greenhorn tenderfoot who doesn’t know better than to take off by herself in the middle of Indian Territory. And, I mind being saddled with a brat to play daddy to for another eighteen hundred miles, so we are going to nip this behavior in the bud, here and now.” He pulled her along toward the trees.

“Wait. Where are you taking me?”

“You wanted to run off? Fine. The trees will be the perfect place for me to teach you a little lesson on how things will be now that you’re under my protection.”

He stopped by an uprooted tree and without releasing her, seated himself on the fallen trunk. The next instant, her belly hit his hard thighs and her view of the world inverted, what she could see of it, that is, through the hem of her skirt, which was suddenly flung over her head. She yelped as a sharp smack landed on her upraised bottom. Before her brain could formulate words to lodge a protest, his hand fell again, and again. The sting was breathtaking and in her shock, it was all she could do to sputter unintelligible sounds of dissent. Relentlessly, his hard, broad hand fell on her vulnerable bottom, her thin drawers and one petticoat providing little barrier to the crack of his palm.

“Stop!” she gasped, struggling against his hold. The iron band around her waist didn’t give an inch, only tightened.

“I’m not stopping until I whup some sense into your foolish, risk-taking, city-girl head.”

The Trail Master's Bride Blurb
Being cast out of her childhood home by her horrid stepmother and forced into a marriage by her uncaring father were bad enough, but it is only when twenty-year-old city girl Mina Hobart begins the journey west on the Oregon Trail with her detestable new husband that she begins to truly understand life’s cruelty. She hates every minute of each hot, dusty day, and her husband’s constant insults certainly don’t make matters any better.

Mina’s life takes another abrupt turn when tragedy strikes and she is left a widow. The west is no place for a young, newly single woman, and the job of keeping Mina safe—and keeping her in line—falls to Weston Carr, the rugged trail master. Weston quickly proves more than ready to tame the feisty redhead’s careless ways and sassy tongue, even if that means taking her over his knee for a good, hard, bare-bottom spanking.

Unfortunately, even as Mina does her best to learn to cook over a camp fire, make coffee properly, and do the laundry in a creek, jealousy and gossip among the other wives quickly build into significant strife in the wagon train. To quell the gathering storm, Weston is forced to take matters into his own hands and make Mina his bride, whether she likes it or not.

Despite Weston’s rough ways and firm-handed discipline, Mina soon finds pleasure in his arms far beyond anything she has experienced before. But when a series of mishaps befalls the wagon train—incidents in which Mina is the prime suspect—the new couple’s growing bond is badly strained. Can Mina prove she is not at fault before things come to a head, and if she does, will Weston be able to protect her from whichever of their travelling companions is up to no good?

Publisher’s Note: The Trail Master’s Bride is an erotic romance novel that contains sexual scenes and spankings, including domestic discipline in a historical setting. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.

Buy Links
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
AllRomance

Contact Links: You can keep up with Maddie Taylor via her blog, her Twitter and Facebook pages, and her Goodreads profile, using the following links:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Maddie's Blog

Thank you for visiting today Maddie!

Have a great day everyone! :-)