Friday, May 22, 2015

Food, Cowboys, and Romance...Oh, My!

I'm often asked where I get the inspiration for my books. Writing my Taste of Texas series, the inspiration came from a number of places. 

1. Food: I love of the Food Network and cooking competitions, especially Top Chef. I'm not a big fan of most reality shows, but add some highly talented people into the mix, and I'm in. And in both of my pregnancies, I was obsessed with the Food Network. :)

2. Cowboys: I grew up around cowboys. My family farmed and ranch. Any time we were away from home and my dad wore his cowboy hat, people were always drawn to him. My mom, sister, and I would be shopping at the mall, and we'd come out to find some stranger telling him his/her life story. So I guess I have a soft spot for cowboys.

3. Texas: I live in Oklahoma, and absolutely love it (except for the May tornado outbreaks), but there is also something romantic about a story set in Texas. I grew up just across the Red River from Texas, and there are great people in Texas and plenty of story inspiration. 

Tell me about where you live? Would it make a great setting for a romance? 

Here's more information about my latest release, Kiss the Cowboy:
What if your competition for your dream job…was your dream man?

All Lucy Pickett needs to become executive chef in one of Dallas’s finest restaurants is to pull off the high-profile wedding she’s catering. So what if she’s forced to share duties with Dylan Lawson, a modern-day chuck-wagon cook? So what if he’s got rugged looks and cowboy charm? None of that is going to knock her off her game. Until she learns the restaurateur is considering Dylan for the position she wants. Game on–and it’s a winner-take-all event!

Dylan Lawson finally has the opportunity he’s been waiting for to prove he can do more than just be a ranch hand. The only thing standing in his way is the fiery chef fighting for the same position. Will the heated competition scorch any chance they have for love?
To get all the latest news, sign up for my newsletter at www.JulieJarnagin.com/connect

Julie Jarnagin is a multi-published author of inspirational romance. She recently released a novella, The Art of Falling, and the next book in the series, Kiss the Cowboy, comes out on May 19. Julie grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.  www.JulieJarnagin.com.
Have you signed up for the Sweet Romance Reads newsletter yet? Each issue features sweet romance flash fiction and delightful stories that will warm your heart. It also includes giveaways from our authors and news about their latest releases. Don’t miss another issue. Scroll down the right side of our blog and enter your email address under Newsletter Signup.





And don’t forget to join the Sweet Romance Reads Café!

5 comments:

  1. Julie, I'm always fascinated about where authors get ideas. Loving food, having grown up on a ranch, and lived in Texas, I still don't write about cowboys - lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :) It took me a few books to figure out my niche.

      Delete
  2. Such a fun post, Julie! I write about cowboys, too. It just seemed like a natural thing to do after growing up on a farm around horses, cattle, and cowboys! Your new release looks so fun. Adding it to my TBR list!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cowboys seem very romantic to me as I'm a Brit and we don't have them here. I used to watch so many cowboy movies and series when I was younger. I was horse mad and cowboy mad!

    ReplyDelete