Dakota Skies, by Taylin Clavelli – Book Tour & Giveaway
Today I get to welcome my friend and fellow Wayward Ink Publishing Author – Taylin Clavelli – to my blog. Taylin will have the distinction of having the first novel published by Wayward Ink Publishing. We’re/I’m super excited about the release so read on and learn a bit more about Taylin and her book.
Why write an American Western?
Since I can remember, I’ve loved watching westerns on TV. Champion The Wonder Horse, The Lone Ranger, and Bonanza was my Saturday morning viewing. The 1969 film True Grit was amazing, and I loved John Wayne for his ballsy acting, but mostly for his superb horsemanship. Even though I have forgotten many of the movie titles, I still remember the stars like Henry Fonda, Lorne Greene, Gene Autry, Michael Landon, Clint Eastwood, and I fell in love with Yul Brynner when I saw him in The Magnificent Seven. There are so many more I could mention, but it would end up being like a thank you speech at the Oscars where the producers would be bringing on the hook to get me offstage.
Even in the playground, I used to play cowboys and Indians instead of skipping and tag, or gossiping with the girls. In my early adulthood, I lost track of them for a while, albeit I indulged my love of horse riding. Then, Maverick came to the screen and it rekindled my love for the genre. That’s when I also watched Oklahoma and Calamity Jane. More recently, I enjoyed Cowboys and Aliens, but I was buzzing in my seat when Johnny Depp’s Lone Ranger came to the big screen. My daughter almost disowned me when the original Lone Ranger music accompanied the final sequences of the movie. I was as good as dancing in my cinema seat with a Cheshire cat grin on my face.
So, as you can see, I’ve always been a cowgirl at heart. When I started writing a few years ago, the thought of tackling a western started as a little seed, which as I spoke to my daughter about it, that seed grew and I finally started writing Dakota Skies. I’ve also been to a working ranch in Texas where I rode the trails and learned to rope and shoot.
As far as writing an American Western, it’s the only thing that made sense. I guess I could figure out a plot line for a modern day UK western but given the historical genre I didn’t even consider basing it anywhere else.
Blurb:
Born in the wrong time…
In 1875 Dakota, Sheriff Jamie Carter has to hide his interest in men, even from his gutsy twin sister, Anna. On a good day, the truth can mean a bullet between the eyes, and on a bad, one in the back.
A man on a mission…
Jamie leaves Anna in charge of Blackrock and he hits the bounty hunting trail, along with his faithful equine companion, Houston. Five territories, scores of ‘Wanted’ posters, and many bullets later, his path unexpectedly converges with that of enigmatic loner, Kit Brooks.
Two men with one soul…
Will the smoldering fire between them rage into an inferno and break down protective barriers, allowing them to find love? Or will it separate and kill them?
Beneath Dakota skies…
Jamie and Kit’s story is a sweeping saga of cowboys, Indians, persistent broads, and vengeful villains, where the cowboys aren’t always the good guys, and love can’t be taken for granted.
Book trailer:
Buy the book:
WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/dakota-skies/
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NHPMJ7C/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NHPMJ7C/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dakota-skies-taylin-clavelli/1120358729?ean=9781925222036
About the author:
Taylin Clavelli lives in the United Kingdom, about 15 miles south of Birmingham, and a short journey from the world famous Cadbury’s Chocolate factory. She’s married with children and loves her family with all her heart.
Her love of books has been a long standing affair, with Taylin liking nothing better than to lose herself in an imaginary world.
Until she met Lily Velden, she never considered trying her hand at writing. However, after talking ideas, Lily encouraged her to put pen to paper—or rather, fingers to keyboard. Since, with a few virtual kicks in the right place, she hasn’t stopped. Her confidence eventually led to her writing an original work for submission.
Her first published work was Boys, Toys, and Carpet Fitters, developed for the Dreamspinner Press Anthology – Don’t Try This At Home.
Now she absolutely adores immersing herself into the characters she creates, and transferring the pictures in her brain to paper, finding it liberating, therapeutic, and wonderful.
Outside of writing, her interests include; martial arts (she’s a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwon-do), horse-riding, all of which facilitates her love of a wide variety of movies. Her action heroes include Jet Li and Tony Jaa—finding the dedication these men have for their art combined with their skill both amazing and a privilege to watch. If pressed, she’ll admit to thinking that the screen entrance of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean – Curse of the Black Pearl, and Shadowfax in LOTR, to be the greatest screen entrances ever. Her all-time favorite movies are Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.
The simple things in life that make her day, putting a smile on her face are:
Laughter – especially that of her children.
The smell of lasagna cooking – it makes her mouth salivate.
The dawn chorus – no symphony ever written can beat the waking greetings of the birds.
Social Media links:
Website: http://www.taylinclavelli.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005234535413
Twitter: https://twitter.com/taylinclavelli
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