Coastal Magic Convention 2025 Author Spotlight & Giveaway - - Dakota Lacoy

Today's featured guest is new on the scene. Readers have described Dakota Lacoy’s work as “fresh, feisty, and flippin’ fun reads by a darling author [who’s] making a splash with her books—not to mention the audio—Hello, Jason Clarke. Yum!” (Goodreads) 

Set in Honky Tonk, Texas, her small-town series finds characters sipping coffee at Pump & Grind, buying flowers at I’m So Thorny, and grabbing fishing supplies at Master Bait & Tackle. 

Please give Dakota a warm Romance Dish welcome!

 

Welcome, Dakota!  It’s a pleasure to have you visit with us today.

Thank you! It is so wonderful to be here. I’d like to start by giving everyone the “Inside Scoop” about my avatar. Is it me? Or isn’t it? 

For those who have yet to discover you, please share what readers should expect when they pick up one of the books in your The Bradford Bros. of Honky Tonk, Texas series and in particular, book one, My Bold Texan.    

My first job as an author is to make sure the book is good, entertaining, and well-written. My second job it to make my readers laugh, tear up, and, ultimately, sigh. You know that sigh that comes when you turn the last page and bask in the aftermath of a story well-told? That’s what I aim to deliver that and that’s what they should expect.

Something to note is that my cowboys are non-ranching. Iow, they are southern and embrace the cowboy culture (hats, boots, buckles, drawl, etc), but they do not live or work on a ranch. They are small town fellas all the way.

With My Bold Texan, they should expect a fun, romantic, and a little bit naughty read. A yummy cowboy who checks on his best friend’s little sister—only to find she’s all grown up. A heroine who can give as good as she gets. And a hero who falls first.

 

I love the best-friend’s-sister/brother’s-best-friend romance trope which is so well depicted in My Bold Texan. What draws you to this trope and what makes it fun to write? Do you enjoy reading it as much as writing it?

One of my favorite quotes is: Some of the best moments in life are the ones you can’t tell anyone about. That’s the underlying impetus for the Best-Friend’s-Little-Sister trope and I enjoy delving into it. I also love pushing the boundaries of the bro-code between men. And there’s no greater bro-code than the unwritten rule that says little sisters are off limits. My personal eReader is full of books with that trope but My Bold Texan was the first time I’d ever written a book based on it. I had the best time ever. J

Paul and Demi Lee made me laugh out loud but also touched my heart. Did you find yourself laughing out loud while writing their story? Did they stick to your writing plan of where you wanted their journey to go or were there unexpected changes along the way?

Paul and Demi Lee were good to me and stuck to the writing journey I’d set out for them (thank goodness). I am a meticulous plotter and have the entire story mapped out, the hero and heroine’s backstories built, and I even know what their living spaces look like in advance. I do this before I ever write the first sentence of the book.

Doing these things fleshes out the characters for me. Makes them more three dimensional. Especially the developing of a backstory because everything that happened to them before Page One effects every action and reaction they have in the book.

I often sketch out a floorplan of their apartment(s) and work places on graph paper, then furnish them. Other times, I find renderings of living spaces that fit my character. I do this to make sure I remain consistent throughout the book. I’ve attached a floorplan I sketched for my hero’s cabin in My Daring Texan.

 

As for the other part of your question, smiling and—even better—laughing while writing is always a good sign. And there was a lot of smiling and giggling during the writing of My Bold Texan. Even some of the walk-on characters wormed their way into my heart, as well. (Think Miss Odette—the 80something bartender at Cowboys Bar & BBQ.) She ended up becoming a “regular” in subsequent books. Here’s the inspiration for her character:

 

Your website says, “When you pick up her books, your chores will be forgotten. Your dinner will be delayed. Your troubles will take a backseat.” I can personally attest that this is true. So, when you – the author – want to be taken away from all your daily trials, to whose (or what type of) books do your turn?

Thank you so, so much. [hearts-in-my-eyes emoji] As a reader, I don’t usually venture beyond the romance genre, but I enjoy exploring several of its subgenres. My favorites are historicals, romantic suspense, romcoms, and contemporaries.

My one-click author in romantic suspense is Sandra Brown. As for the other subgenres, I read all over the place. Because I am an avid audiobook listener, I often search for the narrators I love and find new authors and books that way. When it was time to have The Bradford Brothers put on audio, I managed to snag my all-time favorite narrator: Jason Clarke. (Fanning myself. His growly voice is sooooo yummy.) Here’s a sample of his voice for your listening pleasure. ;) o

Speaking of Jason Clarke, I saw that the audiobook version of My Forbidden Texan has been nominated for a SOVAS award. Congratulations and us about that.

Thank you! I am so crazy excited. Thousands and thousands of titles are submitted to the Voice Arts Awards. We (Jason, My Forbidden Texan, and the production company—One Night Stand Studios) were nominated in recognition of excellence in voice acting and artistry. This is an extremely prestigious award and I’m so thrilled for Jason. Winners will be announced in December at a big gala in Beverly Hills. He’s been nominated a couple of times before (he’s that good), but has never brought the statue home. I’m hoping this will be his year!

Any new books on the horizon? (Because I can already tell I’m going to plow through the remaining six Bradford Brothers lickety split!) 😊

I am working on a brand new Honky Tonk, Texas series but I don’t release any of the books until the entire series is written. So, it will be a while before it will be ready. But rest assured, it is in the works and you’re gonna love it. I can hardly wait to finish it up and make it available. Until I have a pre-order date, though, I’m going to keep those details close to my chest. ;) 

Let’s wrap things up with a few rapid-fire questions.

What are your passions (aside from writing, of course)?

I love to craft. Papercrafting is my jam with scrapbooking and card making being my favorites. But I also stitch, do puzzles, dabble in graphic design, and—of course, read! Here’s a pic of my craft room. (aka my Nirvana)

What would readers be surprised to learn about you?

I once threw a pie in someone’s face. I share behind-the-scenes stuff like this all the time with my subscribers and just happen to have a 2-minute video with the Inside Scoop.  (I usually preserve these for my subscribers, but because I love The Romance Dish, I’ll let this one slip out.)

What are you currently reading or looking forward to reading?

I am currently reading My Beautiful Enemy. A historical by Sherry Thomas (who is such an amazing writer. Love her stuff. Don’t know how this one slipped by me.)

Where can readers find you online?

I’ve lots of fun stuff for readers on my website: DakotaLacoy.com:

·      

   

      A FREE prequel to The Bradford Brothers of Honky Tonk, Texas.

 

·         How to hang out with me and my readers live and in person (details under the “Hangout” tab)

·         An interview with narrator Jason Clarke. This month he answers the question: “Who wakes you up in the morning?” (Under the “Audio” tab)

 I also just released some super-fun, bookish Christmas merch in my store. Simply go to my website and click on the STORE tab. Here’s a peek of one of the new items:

  

 If social media is your jam:

·         I spend a lot of time on Instagram: @dakotalacoyauthor

I have also a presence on:

·         Facebook: @dakotalacoyauthor

·         Goodreads: @dakotalacoyauthor

·         BookBub: @dakotalacoy

·         TikTok (@dakotalacoy (NOT: dakotalacoyauthor—that one is spam)

Thank you for visiting with us today, Dakota.  Would you like to add anything or ask a question of the Romance Dish readers?

I had so much fun! How about we do a giveaway? Who’d like a free eBook, audiobook, or print copy of My Bold Texan? I’ll giveaway one of each. 

Readers, have you discovered Dakota Lacoy yet?

That Nirvana room is a crafter's dream. What's your passion? If you had a special room like that, what would you be doing in it?

Dakota gave up her deeply-held secret, just for us. What would we be surprised to learn about you? 

Will any of you be joining Dakota at the Coastal Magic Convention or CMC Book Signing in Daytona Beach in February?

Three randomly chosen winners who post a comment before 11:00 PM, November 17 will each receive one copy of My Bold Texan (one eBook, one audiobook, one print book - author's choice). 

*If you post anonymously, you must include a screen name or email address in your comment to be included in the giveaway.

The giveaway of e-Book and audio are open internationally.

The print giveaway is U.S. only. 

*Must be 18