Today's Special - - Trish Milburn

It's my pleasure to welcome Trish Milburn back to The Romance Dish today. Those of you who have been with us from the beginning know the important part Trish played here, both in helping us get the blog off the ground and as a monthly contributor. 

Trish is a Kentucky native who spent many years living in Tennessee before recently relocating to Florida. She's been a reader and writer since childhood, working as a magazine editor/writer before leaving to write romance full-time. She was a Golden Heart finalist eight times -winning twice - before selling her first book in 2007. She's since published books in a variety of sub-genre, including young adult, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and women's fiction. When she isn't busy writing, Trish is a self-described "National Park junkie," amateur nature photographer and enjoys cosplay and attending fan conventions such as DragonCon in Atlanta.

Welcome back, Trish! It’s such a pleasure to host you today. We’ve missed you around here. Harlequin recently released the 12^th book in your Blue Falls, Texas series: Her Texas Rodeo Cowboy. Please tell our readers what they should expect from this story.

Thanks for having me here today, PJ! It’s great to be back.

While Her Texas Rodeo Cowboy is officially the 12^th book in my Blue Falls, Texas series, it’s actually the 16^th story set in Blue Falls. The Teagues of Texas trilogy that pre-dated the Blue Falls books are actually set in Blue Falls, too. And there is a Christmas e-novella titled A Cowboy in Her Stocking. As for Her Texas Rodeo Cowboy, it’s the third book about the five adopted Hartley siblings. This one is about the oldest sister, Sloane.

Sloane Hartley is deeply rooted to her family’s ranch in Blue Falls, Texas. So she isn’t about to risk falling for a tempting tumbleweed like Jason Till. To Sloane, Jason is a handsome heartbreak waiting to happen. Like all rodeo cowboys. If she ever let herself love again, she certainly wouldn’t pick someone like him!

Jason only has eyes for one prize—the steer-wrestling

championship. And he can’t afford any distractions. Certainly not a blonde beauty with trust issues like Sloane. She represents everything a cowboy on the circuit can’t have anyway—home, family, a real relationship. Everything he thought he didn’t need. But when he’s with Sloane, Jason can’t remember why winning at the rodeo seemed so important.

When you conceived this series, did you have any idea it would still be going strong? How many more books do you have planned for Blue Falls?

I had no idea, but I’m really happy that readers seem to enjoy them

and Harlequin continued to publish them. With Harlequin, there will be two more books set in Blue Falls. One will be out in March, but I don’t have a date of release on the last one. As you know, the Harlequin Western Romance line is ending next June, and my final Hartley sibling book was slated to come out in August. Harlequin is currently working to give all of us that have contracted books a way to get out those books to readers. All that said, my plan is to continue publishing Blue Falls books myself. I have lots of ideas for other stories, and I’m working on a series bible that has revealed as I’m going back and re-reading the books just how many secondary characters I’ve forgotten about and who could have their own story. One fan favorite is Greg Bozeman, the local mechanic, so I have to find the right lady for him. J

You’ve done a wonderful job of creating a sense of place in these stories. What is it about this area of Texas that calls to you? Have you ever lived there?

Thanks! I’ve not lived there, but I’ve been to the Hill Country several times, first with a friend who was at UT-Austin for grad school a number of years ago, and more recently with fellow author and dear friend MJ Fredrick, who lives in Texas. The Hill Country has a rich history and it doesn’t look like so much of flat, flat, flat Texas. It has a rugged beauty to it. It’s an interesting mixture of ranches, vineyards, tourist destinations, mom-and-pop businesses, German heritage, etc.

I fell hard for Jason. I was drawn especially to his patience with both Sloane and the foster children who attended her camp. Who’s the last hero (not written by you) that you fell for? What made him special?

I really liked Levi Cooper in The Best Man by Kristan Higgins. While externally he could be grouchy, there were very believable reasons for why he became the man he is. And it was really fun to see the real Levi emerge and the unexpected romance between him and Faith develop. I want to be Kristan Higgins when I grow up. J

You recently moved from Tennessee to the Florida coast. Will we see any beachy romances in your future? I really enjoyed your Starfish Shores novellas.

I do plan to write some more stories set in Starfish Shores, especially since beach research will be super easy now since I live about two miles from the beach. I think they will be a nice break from my cowboy stories. But don’t worry, I don’t plan to abandon the cowboys.

With Harlequin closing their Western Romance category line, where should readers look for future Blue Falls, Texas books?  

As I mentioned above, I’ll have two more Blue Falls books after this month’s release with Harlequin. After that, I plan to continue the series on my own as well as a spin-off series. I’ve got lots of ideas percolating, so stay tuned. If readers would like to keep up on the latest book release info, I do a periodic newsletter I’d love to share with more readers. You can sign up here: http://www.trishmilburn.com/about-trish/newsletter-sign-up/

What’s next?

                                          

Twins for the Rancher will be out in March of next year. I also hope to be able to share some good news soon, but nothing is finalized yet.

Where can readers find you online?

www.trishmilburn.com

@TrishMilburn on Twitter

https://www.facebook.com/trishmilburnauthor

https://www.pinterest.com/trishmilburn2/

Would you like to add anything else?

Thanks again for having me on the blog today. It’s always great fun hanging out with you, and it was so wonderful to see you at RWA this summer.

Thanks for visiting with us today, Trish! Would you like to ask our readers a question?

The Blue Falls spin-off series I’m planning is in a little town that is known for its antique/junker stores. I’d like some fun names for these stores. Any ideas? 

I’ll give away a signed paperback copy of one of my backlist Blue Falls, Texas titles to two different commenters. (U.S. only)