My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
I grew up loving cowboys and no, I didn't grow up in Texas, Arizona, Colorado or Wyoming. I grew up in farm country in the middle of Missouri. One of my grandfathers was a farmer (soybeans, corn, things like that). The other had a small cattle ranch and horses.
I lived for weekends visiting him and my grandmother - days spent riding my horse (a little pony called Beauty) or snuggled up with him watching an old John Wayne flick. He always smelled like sunshine, as I recall, and smoke because he was basically a chain smoker. He talked and walked like those old cowboys - he was kind of rough, direct and you knew when he was mad. Or annoyed. Or just couldn't take one more reading of Dr. Seuss or Richard Scarry. He was also the gentlest man I've ever known, whether with animals or the people he loved.
His favorites were the early John Wayne movies - McClintock and The Quiet Man were favorites...but he wouldn't turn his nose up at the post-Civil War Texas flicks like Rio Lobo or The Searchers.
Cowboys played a big part in my growing up years...so I supposed it's no surprise that cowboys are my favorite character to write as a grown up. In books, whether I'm reading or writing, I can escape into cowboy-land where men like my grandfather populate the early - they're loud and direct. They know what they want. They go after it.
In my book, What a Texas Girl Wants, Kathleen finds herself pitted against a different kind of cowboy - a Maverick, if you will...the kind of cowboy who knows what he wants and pushes until that something is his forever. Can she take the heat? You'll have to read the book to find out.
So, readers, do you have a connection to those old spaghetti Westerns? Do you love cowboys? Leave me a comment for a chance to win your choice of books from my backlist - What a Texas Girl Wants or The Saint's Devilish Deal!
You'll find more Crimson Wonderland Blog Hop posts here, and don't forget to leave your name and email address on a comment with each one - there are $200 in gift cards available!
There's just something about John Wayne, though, speaking of Mavericks, there's something about James Garner, too! Good post, Kristi.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, James Garner - he's another favorite!
ReplyDeleteMy neice is a trick rider. I get to be around cowboys often at the rodeos where she performs. I get your addiction. :)
ReplyDelete-R.T. Wolfe
as addictions go, it's a good one to have, I think... lol
ReplyDeleteNice post, Kristina! I grew up with John Wayne as my hero (he was also in partnership with a local rancher, so we'd see him around town). I grew up on a horse because, for my mother, that was easier than finding me something to do. Met my cowboy some years later, now we're raising our two cowboy kids. :)
ReplyDeletesherifredricks @charter.net
Gotta love a cowboy! In fact, I think I hooked my current husband in my fake cowgirl outfit I wore one weekend to a dart tournament. Of course he told me he was from Texas. Liar. LOL
ReplyDeleteOh, you know how I feel about this. hehehehehe...
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen too many of the movies, but there was once an exhibition of Italian spaghetti western posters...some of those guys looked mighty hot!
ReplyDeletevitajex(at)aol(dot)com
I'm a big fan of Clint Eastwood's "spaghetti westerns." He's not loud and direct. More like soft-spoken and gentle...as a snake. But man, does he ooze sex appeal!! I saw another commenter mention James Garner--good one!
ReplyDeleteJames Garner, yes, yes! I love him. And I've noticed lately when hubs and I sit down for a movie, I'm searching for an old western. Besides a wonderful hero, I look for the beautiful outdoor scenes. great post, Kristi!
ReplyDeleteAs cowboys of the old era go, I'd have to say Clint Eastwood did it for me. Loved Pale Rider, and many others!
ReplyDeleteWhat about the Hollywood's new era of cowboys? I'd have to say the character Cullen Bohanan from Hell on Wheels! Maybe he will bring the western back.
Don't know much about cowboys or westerns, but I've read enough cowboys romances to know I wouldn't kick one out of bed!
ReplyDeleteI loved Westerns growing up because my dad ruled the TV, and that's what he watched. I loved John Wayne movies, Bonanza, GunSmoke, etc. So I like cowboys, too.
ReplyDeleteI loved Westerns for a long time too. Even though I grew up in the Appalaichain Mountains of West Central Pennsylvania. Loved John Wayne and Bonanza. Guess it's not a surprise cowboys are my favorite heroes too....
ReplyDeleteI used to watch old westerns with my dad when I was little. Cowboys hold a special place in my heart!
ReplyDeletesqwalker2@hotmail.com
Who doesn't like cowboys. Grew up with Bonanza and John Wayne. Put one of these old movies on now and then. Cowboys in books? yes please. These cowboy heroes are strong, honest and know how to treat a woman right. annpa@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI sometimes read about cowboys.
ReplyDeletebituin76 at hotmail dot com
what a wonderful man your grandfather sounds, how lovely Kristi. I love cowboys too, the more the better!
ReplyDeleteIn college I moved to Arizona from MA (we don't have any cowboys up here ;)). Wow. I didn't believe there would be any real cowboys down there, I thought they would all be fat and sweaty and be named Bubba or something. I was wrong. After AZ, I moved to CA and TX, both with cowboys. Yowza. TIght white t-shirts and jeans... Phew. Now I'm back up in the cold Northeast, but I still visit cowboy coutnry when I can! :) melaniermeadors@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love spaghetti westerns! All those classical old films, they're fabulous. As are cowboys!
ReplyDeletetessa.bamberg@kolumbus.fi
Yay!! Just stopping by on my way around the hop! This is so much fun!
ReplyDeleteRionna
Hello!...I am so enjoying the Crimson Blog Hop! What a wonderful way to describe your grandfather he "smelled like sunshine"...loved it!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely love cowboys! I go to the rodeo here every year and it is so fun!!
ReplyDeletebooksconsidered[at]gmail[dot]com
I used to watch the old John Wayne movies with my grandfather. Such wonderful nostalgia.
ReplyDeletemel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
Thanks for participating in the blog hop!
ReplyDeletebme722 at gmail dot com
I do love cowboys! Having grown up in the south only to move to ID in my late teens, I fell in love with a cowboy and your grandfather sounds just like his dad!
ReplyDeleteMy dad used to sit my sister and I down on Saturdays and we'd have to watch old westerns with him. I never was really into them (my head was usually stuck in a Fear Street by RL Stine), but I learned to appreciate classic films. And, of course, even though I wasn't into the gunfights and such, I did swoon for the cowboys. That is where my love of all things country started! :D Good luck with your writing and I wish you continued success!
ReplyDeletekristinelaw03(at)gmail(dot)com
I like cowboys. Never watched spaghetti westerns.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com