Interview (and GIVEAWAY) with C.H. Admirand, author of Tyler (The Secret Life of Cowboys)

Looking for a new good cowboy romance novel? Today I am honored to have author C.H. Admirand on Laura's Reviews to discuss her novel, Tyler. (My review of the book can be found here). Her interview is great - I can imagine myself in her shoes if I suddenly found myself in a "ladies club." LOL! Thank-you to C.H. Admirand for such an intertaining interview and novel!!


LAG: I must admit, once I read the description of this book (a sexy cowboy who gets a job as a stripper at a local ladies’ club to save the family ranch), I was hooked. What was your inspiration for this story?
CA: It all started with a hurricane in a bar in Houston (the yummy kind that I first tasted during RWA down in New Orleans). My good friend and fellow author, Tara Nina suggested that we support her publisher and the Ellora’s Cave models by going to a nearby club. Now being that I don’t get out much, it didn’t even cross my mind that the ladie’s club was a strip club. I now know the difference! Somehow she roped Veronica Towers along to support the EC models, and our posse was ready to ride. I was totally embarrassed and while I was sitting there with my arms crossed in front of me (the smudges on the black lacquered tabletop creeped me out) my creative self started to stretch and flex her fingers—and then a larger-than-life cowboy strutted on the stage, wearing chaps, a black Stetson, boots and yes truly a pair of black spandex briefs that said “Git’r Done” on the backside! And I started wondering what would it be like if it was a real cowboy up on the stage? He’d be so far out of his element…then I wondered what would ever possess him to get up on that stage? And I thought of all of my childhood cowboy heroes and knew…he’d do it to save the Circle G Ranch.

LAG: What research did you have to do to write about a ladies’ club. I was frankly a bit scared of the overly feisty customers!
CA: We attended LeBare in Houston, Texas. It’s actually a chain, and also apparently quite upscale as far as ladies’ clubs go. It had mirrored walls in the entry way, and interestingly enough the bar was the same lacquered black as the round tables set up around the stage. The lighting focused on the stage, so the bar, etc. was like a backdrop for it. Now having been to LeBare and surviving, I honestly have no desire to try another club, so this is only based on my experience at one club. The women waving those dollars (some tens and twenties were being clutched tightly in those frantically waving fists) were hooting and hollering so loudly it was hard to think. I watched in fascination as they waited their turn to stuff their bills wherever they wanted—YIKES—can you say ouch? I did start to wonder if the poor guys up on stage had had their shots recently.

LAG: You live in New Jersey, but Tyler takes place in Texas. Did you make any trips out to Texas before you wrote this novel?
CA: I’ve been to Texas a couple of times. When I was 14 our family drove cross country and made a couple of stops in Texas. My favorite site was the Alamo, but it seemed so odd to see it surrounded by tall buildings and not all alone out on the sagebrush filled plains like in the movies. I’ve been to both RWA and RT Conferences in Dallas and Houston. Someday I’d like to go back just to site see and for pleasure.

LAG: You have written ten novels. Are your novels typically western romance or is it a new area for you?
CA: My first novel, THE MARSHAL’S DESTINY, is a Historical Western…the first in my Irish Western Series. I’ve also written a Medieval Trilogy and the first book in my Regency-era Trilogy. TYLER is my first Contemporary Western Romance. I’ve already turned in DYLAN, who’s waiting for edits, and am working on JESSE’s story. Then I have two other trilogies in the works! (LAG - These all sound like different romance genres that I would like to check out. I need to add them to my TBR list!)

LAG: What are you currently working on?
CA: The youngest brother, Jesse Garahan’s, story. If you’ve read TYLER, the Take Pride in Pleasure Celebration and Rodeo happen in this book…along with the All Male Revue, which will include the handsome Garahan brothers and their Garahan cousins from NYC (all firefighters) and their Justiss cousins from Colorado (all lawmen). I’m also writing spinoffs featuring the New York City Garahans coming out west to start over after an earth-shattering experience on the job; and the Justiss family from Colorado (I love Colorado and set my Irish Western Series there); and another series entitled Cowboys and Angels featuring rodeo cowboys (a whole other breed of cowboy) and the guardian angels who watch over them.

LAG: What books are currently on your bookshelf?
CA: I have every book Nora Roberts and Julie Garwood have written—and have re-read them. They are my top favorites, but I also love Sherrilyn Keynon and have read and re-read her Dark Hunter Series…then there’s Sandra Hill…I loved her Cajun Cowboy series. I’ve had to cull through my collection of romances, my hubby gets a little testy when he starts tripping over the pile that is supposed to fit beneath the edge of our platform bed. He just eyes the bookshelves lining the north wall of our bedroom and sighs. He’s come to understand my addiction. ;) I’m way behind on my TBR and my TBP list because of my hectic virtual tour schedule (it’s my first ever) and judging the RITAs…but here are the ones on my TBR pile: Honky Tonk Christmas by Carolyn Brown, Wild Jinx by Sandra Hill, Yours for the Taking by Robin Kaye, Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn, The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries, Christmas in Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber, I Dream of Genies by Judi Fennell, Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs, Murphy’s Law by Lori Foster (a great book to re-read), Must Be Magic by Patricia Rice (another great book to re-read), The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanne Renee Hieber. My TBP list has some new authors for me: The Werewolf Upstairs by Ashlyn Chase, Taste Me by Tamara Hogan, It Happened One Bite by Lydia Dare, and I think Patricia Rice’s second book in her Wicked Wyckerly series is available soon.


TYLER BY C.H. ADMIRAND – IN STORES MARCH 2011
Desperate times call for desperate measures…When Tyler Garahan said he’d do anything to save his family’s ranch, he never thought that would include taking a job as a stripper at a local ladies’ club. But the club’s fiery redheaded bookkeeper captures Tyler’s attention, and for her, he’ll swallow his pride…
And one good turn deserves another…Emily Langley feels for the gorgeous cowboy. It’s obvious that he’s the real deal and wouldn’t be caught dead in a ladies’ revue if he wasn’t in big trouble. And when he looks at her like that, she’ll do anything to help…

Working days on the ranch and nights at the ladies’ club, Tyler is plumb exhausted. But could it be that his beautiful boss needs him just as much as he needs her...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
C.H. Admirand was born in Aiken, South Carolina. She has published 9 bestselling novels for the library market. Tyler is her tenth book and her first mass market release. She lives with her husband, who is the inspiration for all of her heroes’ very best traits, in northern New Jersey. For more information, please visit http://www.chadmirand.com/.


Giveaway Details

Sourcebooks has been kind enough to offer two copies of Tyler by C.H. Admirand for a giveaway.

If you would like to win a copy of Tyler, please leave a comment about what intrigues you about the novel or this interview.

As part of your comment, you must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner.

For an additional entry, blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar. Provide a link to this post in your comment.

I will be using random.org (or a monte carlo simulation in excel) to pick the winners from the comments.

This contest is only open to US and Canadian residents (Sorry!).

No P.O. Boxes.

The deadline for entry is midnight, Friday March 25th.Good luck!