The Great Western Drive: Keeping Up The Good Fight

Today is the final day of The Great Western Drive, and I hope you all had as much fun reading about our insanity (me, Kristie and Sybil) as we did putting it all together for you.

In honor of getting all of our happy cattle to market, I thought I would use this post to reflect on why we (OK, so it really is all Kristie's fault) felt the need to put together this week-long celebration of westerns. In the sake of full disclosure, I'll be brutally honest.

We're desperate women.

People, I can only go to so many Publisher Spotlights at the annual RWA conference and hear so many times, "We don't want your stinky westerns filled with their stinky western cooties" from the editors before I find myself fantasizing about stabbing someone with the complementary pen that always comes with the conference tote bag.

I'm not kidding. Really. I'm not.

(I've probably just effectively scared all editors off from the Librarian Event at conference. Sorry about that RWA!)

This year, while standing in a line at conference someone casually asked me what my favorite sub genre was. When I replied, "I love westerns." She shook her head and said, "Oh you poor dear." Not because she thought I had horrible taste. No, because it's damn, damnity, damn hard to be a western lover in today's romance market place.

So yeah, we're not above whining. And hell, we aren't even above begging. The whole purpose of this "drive?" To hopefully convince some of you who think you "don't like westerns" to give one a look. Pick one up and read it. Maybe you'll like it, and maybe you won't. But please for the love of my sanity, at least try one.

Now I'll admit it, westerns are a bit like erotic romance. There are potential mine-fields all around you. There are terrible westerns out there. Truly awful. That's why we literally beat you over the head with recommendations this week. Kristie, Sybil and I have excellent taste (no really, we do!), and we wanted to give you lots of choices on what we like and hopefully you'll find something that you like too.

If you start picking up westerns, and discover you like them? Do what I do. Buy them new. Always, always, always buy them new. Start selling your blood if you have to, just buy any western romances that sound interesting to you new, and preferably right around the release date. I've been doing this for years, and so far it hasn't made a damn bit of difference, but maybe if more people did what I'm doing? Maybe it would send a message to publishers that yes, people still like and want westerns. Please publish some already! I don't purchase every single western romance published, but the ones I do want? Yeah, I'm forking over my cold hard cash. That's how great my love is for this sub genre.

Now, in honor of me ending my whine (ha!), we have a contest!

One lucky commenter (on this post) will receive their very own copy of Jo Goodman's September release, Never Love A Lawman. Thanks to the fine folks at Kensington Publishing for offering up copies for us to give away! Squeeee!

What do you have to do to be eligible to win? Tell me something that you "got" out of The Great Western Drive? Maybe you liked one of the recommendations? Maybe you discovered a new-to-you blogger? Maybe you like to read grown women beg? (in which case, you my friend are a sick little monkey). A winner will be drawn at random Wednesday, August 26.

And while this technically is the last day of The Great Western Drive (gah, am I tired!), I think it would be helpful for me to dump some links in a "wrap-up"-style post for tomorrow. Between me, Kristie and Sybil there's been a ton of "stuff" to read through. Putting it all in one post will probably be helpful. Yes? Look for that tomorrow.