COUNTING ON A COWBOY - Debra Clopton - One Free Book

Dear Readers, I’ve loved every book Debra has written since I first discovered her. Cowboys, Texas, Romance, and a touch of Comedy. What’s not to love? I’ve read Counting on a Cowboy and loved it. Debra’s books go to the top of my to-be-read pile. I loved the characters, who leapt from the page into my heart, and the storyline that is different from other books I’ve read. You won’t want to miss this one.

Bio: Debra Clopton is a multi-award winning novelist and has written more than 22 novels. Along with writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra's goal is to shine a light toward God while she entertains readers with her words.

Welcome back, Debra. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I want to sweep people away into a small town world where they can de-stress from their day, or have an adventure, while making them laugh and think at the same time. I want to be a light in a darkening world. God gave me a gift of storytelling and I want to use that gift to make people smile and hopefully shine a light back to him.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I have several happiest days-both of my wedding days, to my first husband, Wayne and then my second husband, Chuck, 6 years after Wayne went to be with the Lord. Both days my sons were born and all 3 days my granddaughters were born. There is no way to separate out a single day. God’s been so good in my life and blessed me in so many ways. There have been very difficult days too but I try to focus on the blessings.

I do, too, Debra. How has being published changed your life?

Being published enabled me to fulfill the ministry God prepared me for, which is exactly how I view my writing.

What is your current work in progress?

I just finished Kissed By A Cowboy, book 3 in my Four of Hearts Ranch Romance series. This is the oldest Monahan brother, Jarrod’s story. This story originally had an entirely different plot but when I sat down to write it, it didn’t work with the first 2 books in the series. I changed it up and am really happy with where the new plot took me. Also, I’m now finishing up Chase book 3 in my shorter New Horizon Ranch of Mule Hollow series which I’m enjoying too. I’m writing constantly but having a great time.

What would be your dream vacation?

Oh goodness, I guess I’d say Kauai and I’ve been blessed to go there twice. With my husband’s career, we travel a lot and see so many amazing places-I’m going to start a Road Tripping with Debra Clopton Blog or something-but I’m usually working while we are driving down the road and at the hotel so its so nice to get away on a real vacation where he and I both can totally get away from everything. Kauai is our favorite place to do that.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I’m known for my small-town Texas settings so I try to set the books in interesting areas of Texas. But I love other states too and see a lot of interesting places so I hope to venture out a little later on.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Road trips with my husband are fun. I used to paint and hope to get back to that one day but right now, my writing and spending time with my family are all the time I have.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

I want my openings to pop, to pull readers in and so it is sometimes hard for me to get started because I work on that so much. I have to push myself to move on with the story and then come back to the beginning. And many times I will finally force myself to change an opening that I have been working on and it finally works with the new opening but it is hard to let that go after I’ve envisioned it in my mind for so long.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

To learn story structure and remember that entertaining the reader is key but there is a structure that helps the story move in a captivating flow that keeps the reader’s attention. And attend writing conferences; I love learning and when I’m at a conference I still attend workshops because I love seeing how others creative process works. And of course finish the book and start a new one! 

Tell us about the featured book.

After losing everything she held dear, Abby never wants to love again. But a certain cowboy may just spur her to wonder if love might be worth the risk.

Running from a past that haunts her, Abby Knightly is drawn to the cozy town of Wishing Springs, Texas. Maybe this small town could offer hope and healing and a future for Abby . . . if she’s brave enough to reach out and take it by the reins.

Bo Monahan isn’t interested in the new romantic destination his little town has become—or the women who might be looking at him like he’s their next Mr. Right. Between taking care of his Pops and his growing stirrup business, he isn’t looking for serious romantic commitments. But when the infant son he never knew about shows up at his doorstep, his world is turned upside down.

This confirmed bachelor might not think he needs a wife, but he sure needs help. Even Abby can see that, and despite her best efforts to keep her distance, she can’t help but be drawn to this new father-son duo. As Abby throws herself into helping Bo navigate fatherhood, hope sparks between them, revealing that maybe, just maybe, they can navigate their dark pasts and emerge together into a future as bright as the Texas sun itself.

Please give us the first page of the book for my blog readers.

“Wake up, Abby,” Abby Knightley demanded of herself through a huge yawn. Sitting straighter, she gripped the steering wheel of her car as if her life depended on it—and it did.

Abby’s stomach knotted at the thought . . . her firsthand knowledge of just how truly life could change in the blink of an eye. She knew getting behind the wheel was always life or death. She’d suffered great loss—she pushed the memories away, unable and unwilling to go there. She blinked back the sting of tears and berated herself for driving while tired. For putting herself in this situation.

She almost pulled over to the side of the deserted road to sleep. But thankfully her GPS reported that her destination, the small Texas town of Wishing Springs, was only about five miles ahead. She could make that . . . just a little farther. And that was the only reason she was still driving . . .

Her eyes blurred and she eased her foot off the gas pedal as the worry gripped her further. She should have stayed in Houston after being delayed so late. But she hadn’t wanted to. She’d feared that if she didn’t leave right then, there might have been another delay tomorrow. And then another one. With so many friends and family trying to talk her out of moving—like today, Abby might not have ever gotten up the determination to leave again if she hadn’t finally gotten in her car and driven off. Of course the fact that she’d sold her home and had a moving company haul her belongings off to storage was a pretty good sign she was going somewhere. But Wishing Springs, Texas?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My recently updated website is www.debraclopton.com and I’m on facebook at www.facebook.com/debra.clopton.5 and on twitter I’m @debraclopton I love to hear from readers!

Thank you, Debra, for sharing this new book with us. I can hardly wait for book three to release.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Counting on a Cowboy - Christianbook.com
Counting on a Cowboy (A Four of Hearts Ranch Romance) - Amazon
Counting on a Cowboy (A Four of Hearts Ranch Romance Book 2) - Kindle

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