Wednesday, November 28, 2012

A Hero for Christmas


I wanted to share with everyone the news that my friend Cheryl Pierson has released a new collection, A Hero for Christmas, that includes four of her previously published Christmas-themed short stories. Cheryl has several irons in the fire at any one time- she writes romance novels, traditional westerns, and is a regular contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She is also a freelance editor.


I first met her when she edited a couple of my books for Western Trail Blazer, and have worked closely with her on the Wolf Creek series from Western Fictioneers. Like most guys, I'm not into the really mushy stuff that goes along with the romance story, though I have many friends who write in that genre and there are a lot of crossover fans between romance and westerns. Last year I decided to give Cheryl's story "Homecoming" a look, because it's a Civil War tale, I know what an excellent writer Cheryl is, and I had heard so many good things about it. And as it turned out, not only did I like the story, it is one of my favorite short stories I've read in the last couple of years. It's included in this collection.

Long story short- especially if you're into romance or family-oriented stories, but even if you're not -you should give this Christmas collection a look.

And, of course, I must also mention the two Christmas anthologies my work appears in this season. The first one is called Christmas Campfire Companion, and features my story "Christmas Comes to Freedom Hill," the tale of a group of ex-slaves trying to establish their own town in Kansas after the war. The second is called Six-Guns and Slay Bells: A Creepy Cowboy Christmas, and includes my story "Bitter Mountain" -a heartwarming family tale of murder and zombies. Both volumes also include stories by some of the best western writers working today -and Six-Guns and Slay Bells has a story by the aforementioned Cheryl Pierson, "Keepers of Camelot," that is very, very good.

Any or all of the three books would make a great stocking stuffer for someone on your Christmas list. Each is available in both digital and paperback format.





15 comments:

  1. Troy! What a nice thing to do! I appreciate this so much. I can't say enough how much I have enjoyed working with you in the past and looking forward to more projects in the future. I loved your "heartwarming tale" of zombies in Six Guns and Slay Bells. I'll certainly be buying Christmas Campfire Companion, as well. I'm so glad to know that you enjoyed HOMECOMING so much--that was a story that had to be written but I wasn't sure if I could sell it. Since it came out, I have had so many wonderful compliments on it--it just goes to show, write what's in your heart and it will show through. Thanks again for letting me know how much you liked it. You are a dear friend that I'm lucky to have, and I appreciate you!
    Cheryl

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  2. Cheryl's stories are so good I've read some of them more than once. I am so glad she has her Christmas stories all in one book. Hero for Christmas is my idea of heaven. It's the book to pull out every Christmas season to get in the spirit of Christmas.I have the Six Guns and Slay Bells Creepy Christmas book and can't wait to dig into it.

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    1. Hey Sarah! God love you for your unfailing support--I can't tell you how much that means! I'm so glad you enjoyed A HERO FOR CHRISTMAS, and I know you will love SIX GUNS. Lots of good reading in there, for sure, including Troy's 'heartwarming' zombie story. LOL Thanks so much for coming by!
      Cheryl

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  3. I love Cheryl's stories, and this anthology is on my TBR pile (which is taller than I am). It sounds like the perfect read for this weekend.

    Although, I must say, Slay Bells definitely caught my interest. I love zombie stories.

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    1. Thank you, Keena! That's a wonderful compliment. I know you are up for an EPPIE award for your story, SOMETHING SPECIAL right now, too--very deserving! Oh, you must get SIX GUNS AND SLAY BELLS, too! You won't be disappointed--the stories are all different and very entertaining! Troy's zombie story is a keeper for sure.

      Thanks so much for coming by!
      Cheryl

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  5. Troy,
    I love Cheryl's tales! Homecoming was not what expected. When I was asked to designed the book cover for Homecoming, I thought I'd just skim the story to get an idea for the cover. However, once I started reading the tale, I couldn't stop. lol

    Six Guns and Sleigh Bells has me intrigued. Westerns and the supernatural-- I'm so there. :)

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    1. Karen, thank you so much! I love that book cover for Homecoming. Well, I have to say, I love every book cover you've ever done for me. I know you will love Six Guns and Slay Bells, paranormal lover that you are!
      Cheryl

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  6. No Kindle versions? That's the only way I buy books these days.

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    1. Shannon, all three books have Kindle versions. I only read on Kindle, too. Love the adjustable font and when that isn't enough, text-to-speech.

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    2. Shannon, I understand that, for sure! LOL Yeah, all of these books have Kindle versions. I hope you'll give them a try!
      Cheryl

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    3. hi Shannon! I put up links to the paperback versions, thinking they'd make good stocking stuffers... but there are kindle versions as well.

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  7. I love Christmas stories! One nice thing about ebooks is we can buy Christmas stories anytime we want to now. Six-guns and Slay Bells was awesome, and I look forward to reading Cheryl's anthology as well. This is the first I've heard of Christmas Campfire Companion, so I'm glad I stopped by. Best of luck with these books.

    Merry Christmas, Troy and Cheryl, and thanks for bringing such wonderful stories into our lives. :)

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    1. Thanks, Jacquie! I love the fact that we can buy Christmas stories whenever, too! I am ALWAYS ready for a good Christmas story, even in July. Sometimes I buy myself a few Christmas books on my birthday in July--just a treat for ME. LOL I'm gonna order the Chirstmas Campfire Companion, too. I hope you enjoy my collection, A HERO FOR CHRISTMAS!
      Cheryl

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    2. Merry Christmas to you too, Jacquie!

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