I’m pleased to welcome author Rain Trueax
to this series of interviews with the writers of
Rawhide 'n Roses – A Western Anthology.
to this series of interviews with the writers of
Rawhide 'n Roses – A Western Anthology.
| Hi, Rain, I’m so glad you could join us here! Please tell us about your story. | 
|
My short story in the anthology, Rawhide 'n Roses, is ‘Connie’s Gift.’ I took characters from my Arizona historicals and updated their lives a few years late. Connie was a natural psychic and healer who had a part in Tucson Moon along with her gambler husband, Del. I thought it’d be interesting to explore a bit more about what that can mean, the struggles of being a seer as well as its risks wherever there are those who see such as from the Devil. I also liked the idea of writing a romance about a long-married couple, who were still passionately in love.
Blurb:
In 1889, psychic, healer Connie Sicilla has been following her gambler husband, Del from boom town to boom town. In a small mining town in California's Sierra's Connie faces a threat to her life and that of her beloved husband as some come to fear she is a witch.
Blurb:
In 1889, psychic, healer Connie Sicilla has been following her gambler husband, Del from boom town to boom town. In a small mining town in California's Sierra's Connie faces a threat to her life and that of her beloved husband as some come to fear she is a witch.
| Excerpt: A rock crashed through the parlor window, shattering glass over the frayed Oriental rug. The yell followed right behind it. “Get out of here, witch.” |
Although it wasn’t winter and the high Sierra air wasn’t that cold, Connie Sicilla shivered. She moved to the wall where she’d not be seen as the shouts continued for long moments.
“We know what to do with your kind!”
“Get out of town!” Was that voice a child’s. Somehow that seemed even more frightening. She was unsure how long it went on as she tried to find peace through meditating and not hearing the hateful words, some with curses accompanying. After what seemed long moments, she realized the voices had stopped.
She gritted her teeth against the temptation to cry, got her dustpan, went down on her knees, and carefully retrieved all visible shards of glass. How would their landlord regard the damage? Would he expect Del and her to pay for it?
Sounds like Connie’s in a dangerous predicament. Readers love to see how – and if - characters get out of trouble.
Rain, do psychic gifts and spirituality/mysticism figure in other works you’ve written?
Yes. My most recently published eBook is the novella, When Fates Conspire, set in Billings, Montana. This is a story with mysticism that came from one of my own dreams. I expanded it into a story about spirit guides, fate, influences on us, and soul mates. It is a love story but goes beyond that to the question of what life is about—what such relationships are about. To me, life is a mystery that it exists at all—after that there are so many possible aspects to the why.
Have other authors ever inspired you? If so, who, and in what way?
Until When Fates Conspire, I had never used quotes by others to start chapters. As soon as I had finished its rough draft, I had this feeling I wanted words by others regarding the meaning of life. Surprising me, I found all I needed written by one author. Durante degli Alighieri, known more popularly as Dante, was born 1265 and died 1321. His poetry and books spoke to all the things I was writing about. I am glad I hadn’t found his words first, or I might’ve thought he influenced my story. As it was, he just highlighted it perfectly.
“We know what to do with your kind!”
“Get out of town!” Was that voice a child’s. Somehow that seemed even more frightening. She was unsure how long it went on as she tried to find peace through meditating and not hearing the hateful words, some with curses accompanying. After what seemed long moments, she realized the voices had stopped.
She gritted her teeth against the temptation to cry, got her dustpan, went down on her knees, and carefully retrieved all visible shards of glass. How would their landlord regard the damage? Would he expect Del and her to pay for it?
Sounds like Connie’s in a dangerous predicament. Readers love to see how – and if - characters get out of trouble.
Rain, do psychic gifts and spirituality/mysticism figure in other works you’ve written?
Yes. My most recently published eBook is the novella, When Fates Conspire, set in Billings, Montana. This is a story with mysticism that came from one of my own dreams. I expanded it into a story about spirit guides, fate, influences on us, and soul mates. It is a love story but goes beyond that to the question of what life is about—what such relationships are about. To me, life is a mystery that it exists at all—after that there are so many possible aspects to the why.
Have other authors ever inspired you? If so, who, and in what way?
Until When Fates Conspire, I had never used quotes by others to start chapters. As soon as I had finished its rough draft, I had this feeling I wanted words by others regarding the meaning of life. Surprising me, I found all I needed written by one author. Durante degli Alighieri, known more popularly as Dante, was born 1265 and died 1321. His poetry and books spoke to all the things I was writing about. I am glad I hadn’t found his words first, or I might’ve thought he influenced my story. As it was, he just highlighted it perfectly.
“In that book which is my memory,
On the first page of the chapter that is the day when I first met you,
Appear the words, ‘Here begins a new life’.”
Dante Alighieri
Do you have an overall theme you enjoy exploring or hope to impart to your readers with your growing body of work?
Growing up on a farm at the edge of wilderness and writing since childhood impacts my view of life as well as my creative work. All my romances emphasize the values of self-worth, hard work, nature, and community. Through my characters, I especially like to show how our choices, good and bad, have consequences. Some of our greatest growth comes through our intimate relationships where the challenges can be the most painful or joy-filled.
Please tell us a little more about yourself.
Married with two grown children and four grandchildren, I work from our Oregon sheep and cattle ranch, a Tucson desert home, or on the road in the inter-mountain west. I have now published eleven contemporary and two historical romances along with two novellas (plus three as yet unpublished Oregon historical romances).
What are you working on right now?
Currently I am working on a western romance set in 1899 with characters from the two earlier historicals as well as a new romance. Setting it in that period led to some interesting discoveries in my research. I always put my stories in places I have spent time, know pretty well, and areas I already know a lot of the history. No matter how much I think I know before I start writing, I learn more as I explore it through the eyes of these characters.
Growing up on a farm at the edge of wilderness and writing since childhood impacts my view of life as well as my creative work. All my romances emphasize the values of self-worth, hard work, nature, and community. Through my characters, I especially like to show how our choices, good and bad, have consequences. Some of our greatest growth comes through our intimate relationships where the challenges can be the most painful or joy-filled.
Please tell us a little more about yourself.
Married with two grown children and four grandchildren, I work from our Oregon sheep and cattle ranch, a Tucson desert home, or on the road in the inter-mountain west. I have now published eleven contemporary and two historical romances along with two novellas (plus three as yet unpublished Oregon historical romances).
What are you working on right now?
Currently I am working on a western romance set in 1899 with characters from the two earlier historicals as well as a new romance. Setting it in that period led to some interesting discoveries in my research. I always put my stories in places I have spent time, know pretty well, and areas I already know a lot of the history. No matter how much I think I know before I start writing, I learn more as I explore it through the eyes of these characters.
Where can we find out more about you and your books?
Links:
http://raintrueax.blogspot.com/
http://rainydaytrailers.blogspot.com/
My books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006UX64X8
https://twitter.com/RainTrueax
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rain-Trueax/200584236675973
Thank you, so much, Rain, for being here today.
Links:
http://raintrueax.blogspot.com/
http://rainydaytrailers.blogspot.com/
My books: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006UX64X8
https://twitter.com/RainTrueax
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rain-Trueax/200584236675973
Thank you, so much, Rain, for being here today.
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