CHRISTMAS - A TIME FOR REFLECTIONS
Howdy folks -
It's approaching Christmas, so, because I'd like to, I want to talk about a bit of writing I've done for ... well, forever.
I'm Jo Ballantyne, Artist, aka Kit Mackenzie, Western Author. A UK granny. Easy to get confused so please forgive. Christmas is all about forgiveness. 😄
Over a year ago I self published on Amazon the first novel of my epic western trilogy Alias Jeannie Delaney - Book 1 - Go West, Girl!. The result was a great surprise. My readers were as keen as an ol' west prospector who'd struck gold. I accumulated a load of five star reviews and ratings, and an ever growing number of readers. A year later I published Book 2 - The Outlaw's Return. The response has been amazing and I've accumulated more five star reviews and reached eight hundred and sixty readers.
The narrative follows the life of a devastating and charismatic pants-wearing cowgirl, Jeannie Morgan, who's the fastest gun west of the Mississippi and a magnificent lover to both men and women. She must navigate the rugged frontier and face her desires and identity through deadly confrontations and personal tragedies. Will her tomboy beauty, her powerful persona and her lethal gun finally be the death of her? That's for the reader to find out.
My readers have said that they thoroughly enjoyed my story and that they had never read a western like it. I'm delighted, and I'm proud of the fact that I've been able to use art that I'd created as a mere youngster as a basis for my front covers and also for promotional material.
I wrote the story at intermittent periods after my kids were born and through depression - I created Jeannie as the individual I wanted to be because my fascination for the wild west and gun totin', cheroot chompin' gals was growing and my biological family found this ultra creative somewhat offbeat daughter/ sister hard to understand.
The whole thing was a struggle, but I'm so pleased that I've done it, and, being an aspiring mental health advocate, I'd like to encourage others in a similar position to go for it, whatever their 'it' is. It's never easy when you're struggling mentally but it can be done. You don't have to write a trilogy, and I don't recommend it unless you really, really mean it like I did, but go for your 'it' if you can, whatever it is.
So, this being Christmas any minute, and gift giving time, how about presenting your nearest and dearest, or even your mates, with Books 1 & 2 of my trilogy? (Book 3 will be out next year). Not everyone will love the story, I know, but maybe they will!
On that note, I'll wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a lovely New Year and see you soon!
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AUTHOR & PA HUBBY |
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TWO CHAPTER SAMPLES BOOK 1 |
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BOOK 2 |
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