posted on April 2, 2014 by Jodi Linton

The Long and Bumpy Road to Pistol Rock, Texas

Jodi-233x300As a reader and writer, I enjoy finding out the behind the scenes tid bits of how a book came about. Why did the author choose the setting, time, and the characters? DO y’all wanna get the inside scoop on all things PRETTY RECKLESS? There’ll be feisty Texas women, hot bullheaded cowboys, and so many twists and turns your head will spin by the time this showdown sees the light of day.

When I decided to write my debut book, PRETTY RECKLESS, I wanted to write a story about Texans and heartache. I wanted my characters to be flawed, but I also wanted them to be quirky, bad-ass, and smart. And I wanted readers to feel like they were a part of Pistol Rock the same way I could imagine myself a part of Mayberry when, as a little girl, I’d watch The Andy Griffith Show with my dad.

From the town name, right down to Laney Briggs and Gunner Wilson, I had every detail outlined. I was writing about Texas, Rangers, and murder, so I decided to name the west Texas town where everything goes down Pistol Rock. And then came the name for my smooth son- of- a -gun, Texas Ranger Gunner Wilson. I mean, what could be better than giving him the name Gunner? It fit in perfectly with everything Texas.

Lastly, I milled over the main character’s name, our sassy deputy sheriff, for some time. Eventually, I discovered her name, Laney Briggs, while my husband and I would drive home on the country roads to north Texas. During the time we spent on those two-lane, empty roads, I came up with the perfect name for my feisty heroine…Laney. Along those twisty, dusty, and desolate roads taking me back home, I found Laney. She takes quite a bit of her own turns on the road of life, but she eventually ends up where she’s supposed to be.

In the end, I wanted the reader to live, breath, and get sucked into everything Pistol Rock. The joy of reading is to get whisked away by a story, and when you come up for air you wonder where the time has gone.

And Laney and her cowboys aren’t done yet. She’ll be kicking it with more cowboys, crimes, and her lovely family pretty soon.

So now it’s your turn, all you Writerspace bloggers. If you could knock back a drink, or just plain shoot the bull, with any of the Pistol Rock folk, who would it be and why?

~~~~~

PrettyReckless300PRETTY RECKLESS

Welcome to Pistol Rock, Texas where secrets last about as long as the sporadic west Texas rain showers.

Laney Briggs has long been considered reckless, but she’s turned herself around—she’s respectably engaged and she’s become a Pistol Rock deputy sheriff. Everything’s fine until a dead body turns up and her ex, Texas Ranger Gunner Wilson, decides to stick his boots into the town’s first murder case.

Laney will be damned if she lets Gunner trample all over her turf and her chance at a quiet, contented life. His seemingly endless ability to undermine her resolve and her libido is only outdone by her constant urge to butt heads with him. But when the bodies start to pile up, Laney has to ask the lethal bad boy for a hand—and a truce in exchange for his help.

Having an ex-boyfriend as an ally might not be the best idea, but Laney has always been pretty reckless…

jodilinton.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20944652-pretty-reckless

Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.to/1mQSXHY

Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://bit.ly/1fD6usO

EP Book Page: http://bit.ly/1fD6usO

 

 

Jodi Linton

Growing up in a small Texas town didn't have many perks, but it allowed for some colorful writing material. After settling down with her family in central Texas, Jodi found her passion: writing kick-ass, southern contemporary romance stories. Today she can be found cozied up to the computer escaping into a quirky world of tall tales, sexy, tight jean wearing cowboys, and a protagonist with a sharp-tongue quick enough to hang any man out to dry. Blurb: Wherever deputy Laney Briggs goes, trouble always follows behind—except when Laney is the trouble. Right now, Laney is on the hunt for her not-so-bright cousin, who is wanted for gun-smuggling. But there's a sexy, hot-assed Texas Ranger on the same case, and Laney would bet her britches (and everything else she's wearing) that Gunner Wilson knows something she doesn't. It just requires a bit of sexy espionage... Gunner knows all too well just how damned distracting Laney and her little red cowboy boots can be. The pure, unadulterated want between them has never been stronger—and Gunner can't resist making her crazy. But even as she gives into every carnal craving for Gunner, Laney is determined to get her answers, one mind-meltingly hot night at a time. The only question is whether she'll be ready for the truth... In 2001, she traded in the rednecks, cowboys, and mesquite trees of her hometown to chase destiny out west. After a few years of mucking it around with the roughnecks, dust storms, and droughts, she decided to dust off her boots and head home. With a History degree in one hand and a marriage license in the other, she followed her husband in 2006 to central Texas the heartland, fabulous Austin. After settling into the Texas Hill Country with her husband and two kids, she joined the Austin Romance Writers of America, and signed with The Belcastro Agency. Today she can be found cozied up to the computer escaping into a quirky world of tall tales, sexy, tight jean wearing cowboys, and a protagonist with a sharp-tongue quick enough to hang any man out to dry.

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