The Balanced Writer: The Bravery of Women

“If you don’t set me down this instant, you will rue the day you first set eyes on me.”

--The Christmas Calamity

Welcome, new followers. I hope your November is drifting smoothly into late fall with a growing excitement for the holidays. This week visiting author Shanna Hatfield, talks about pioneer women and her sweet, romantic Christmas books. I haven't read them yet, but they sound like a great holiday choice for weekend reading or even as a gift on that new tablet. I'm anxious to check them out. Note also -- Shanna is donating some of her proceeds to charity. Shanna, take it away:

The Bravery of Women

Shanna Hatfield

I’ve always admired strong, brave women.

Trying to image how hard, how challenging, how utterly soul-wrenching life was for some of our pioneer grandmothers, it is almost beyond my ability to fathom. Believe me when I say I would not have been a good pioneer. I like electricity and an endless supply of steamy hot water too much to try it.

Because they have won my admiration and respect, I like to write about those types of women in my stories. The Hardman Holidays series is no exception. Set in the town of Hardman, Oregon in the 1890's, the stories highlight incredibly strong women and the men who come to love them.

Filly is the heroine from The Christmas Bargain, the first book in the series. Much braver than she

thinks, she’s endured her father’s abuse and imprisonment on their farm for thirteen years. Luke Granger accepts her in lieu of payment on a loan just to get her away from the cruel man she used to call Papa. She needs all the courage, strength, and humor she can find when the pastor insists Luke take her as his bride.

Ginny is the feisty lead character in The Christmas Token, the second book in the series. She grew up in Hardman and fell in love with Blake Stratton. Since he came from a poor family, her mother decided to whisk her away before the two teens could wed. Relocated to New York City, Ginny enjoys life there until she arrives back in Hardman quite unexpectedly and realizes she never stopped loving Blake.

In The Christmas Calamity, the newly-released third book in the series, Alexandra Janowski is a prestidigitator on the run from her past, from men out to do her harm, and the opportunity to fall in love. Forced to stay in Hardman while the blacksmith repairs her wagon, she finds her heart and thoughts drawn to banker Arlan Guthry.

At the heart of the series is a common thread of hope, faith and love. Filly faces a dismal future until Luke opens a new door for her. Ginny is running away from her past, trying to find a future. Alex thinks her nomadic lifestyle will keep her from ever experiencing true love. Despite everything, each of them hold onto the hope that tomorrow will be a new, better day.

Isn’t that what we all need - a little faith in today and hope for tomorrow?

Thank you for hosting me today. I’m so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to connect with your readers. I hope those who enjoy historical fiction, sweet romances, or a good western, will consider reading the Hardman Holidays books.

Dependable and solid, Arlan Guthry relishes his orderly life as a banker’s assistant in Hardman, Oregon. His uncluttered world spins off kilter when the beautiful and enigmatic prestidigitator Alexandra Janowski arrives in town, spinning magic and trouble in her wake as the holiday season approaches.

The Christmas Calamity

Excerpt from The Christmas Calamity:

Quietly walking around behind her, he tapped her on the shoulder. She spun around with a hand over her mouth to stifle her scream. Recognition replaced fear and she swatted him on the shoulder then grabbed his hand, pulling him deeper into the shadows of the alley.

“What are you doing?” she hissed, glancing around to make sure they’d gone unnoticed. “You’re going to get me killed, you ninny.”

“What are you talking about?” His breath stirred the curls near her ear as he leaned close, keeping his voice low. “I was on my way to see you and bring you a surprise when I noticed you prowling around in the alley. I think I’m the one with a right to know what you’re about.”

“I’m getting ready to kill a man so you best stand back and be quiet.”

Certain his mouth hung open in shock, Arlan glared at Alex.

She blew out an exasperated huff and met his astonished gaze with calm detachment. “Fine. The plan doesn’t include killing him. I’m waiting for a murderous thief to get blind drunk then I’ll beat him senseless.”

Stunned by her words, Arlan noticed the burly stick Alex carried in her gloved hand. The gleam in her eye did nothing to alleviate his concerns about her current mental state.

Swiftly bending down, he tossed her over his shoulder, jerked the club out of her hand, and started toward the school.

“Arlan Guthry!” Although Alex whispered, she inflicted enough anger into her tone to sound like she screamed at the top of her lungs. “If you don’t set me down this instant, you will rue the day you first set eyes on me.”

Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund®

Now through Dec. 24, Shanna will donate 10 percent of the net proceeds from all her book sales to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. The JCCF is a non-profit organization that assists rodeo athletes who’ve sustained catastrophic injuries and are unable to work for an extended period.

About Shanna Hatfield

A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a bestselling author of sweet romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor. In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.