Author's Message

The Rancher’s Reunion began percolating in my mind over twenty years ago. Little did I know then that it would be my debut release for the Harlequin Love Inspired line.
 
Long ago I had the opportunity to work through the ranks at a residential care facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I began as a nurse aide and eventually went on to become Director of Nurses. It was there that I met a young orderly willing to face the incredible odds of Huntington's disease with the woman who loved him by his side. When they shared their engagement news with me, The Rancher’s Reunion was born.
 
The setting changed from a medical facility to a ranch, but how could I not include all the wonderful things I love about Oklahoma, including cowboys and ranchers? I lived seventeen years in Tulsa and love everything about the area. Oklahomans were friendly and welcoming to this former Western New York State transplant. Some of my greatest memories include the Tulsa State Fair, antiquing in the town of Jenks, and driving to Bixby for pumpkins in the fall. And, by the way, if you haven’t had Mazzio’s pizza or a Braum’s cherry-limeade you don’t know what you’re missing.
 
As far as my first sale, I did my homework before submitting to Love Inspired. That includes listening to the editor podcasts and reading the line thoroughly. After submitting a partial to the editorial assistant I was surprised to receive a prompt request for the full. The full met with a two page rejection letter.
 
Fortunately I belong to a support group of writers called Seekerville (www.seekerville.net) and they clued me in. This wasn’t a rejection; it was a revision letter for unpublished writers. I revised and sold the manuscript.
 
Seekerville is a huge part of my life. The group consists of fifteen writers who met on the romance writing road. We were consistency running into each other in contests where we would win and/or place. It only seemed logical to stop working against each other and to work together. Seekerville began in 2005 with fifteen unpublished authors. Today fourteen of us have sold. Those are incredible odds. Additionally our online presence in Seekerville has generated over 250 thousand visitors. Our goal is to help others on the road to publication. The wonderful perk has been the amazing people we’ve met, both writers and readers from all over the world.
 
The Rancher’s Reunion is off to a great start thanks to my support group. Oklahoma Reunion, which releases in October 2011, is veterinarian Ryan’s Jones’ story. He’s the cowboy who almost stole Annie Harris in The Rancher’s Reunion.
 
I can be reached online at www.tinaradcliffe.com and I have a fun contest in progress for The Rancher’s Reunion at the book’s very own web site www.thesullivanranch.com. Stop by and share your thoughts on Will Sullivan, Annie Harris, Rose O’Shea, Ryan Jones and the other folks from the book!
 
And while I admit I’m still a little overwhelmed to have sold my dream book and the follow up story, I look forward to selling more of the manuscripts that are in the completed folder of my computer.

- Tina Radcliffe