Artist, Writer & Wild West Woman
Sunday, 22 December 2024
JO. B. CREATIVE!: AUDACIOUS, ADVENTUROUS & UNAPOLOGETICALLY HERSELF
JO. B. CREATIVE!: AUDACIOUS, ADVENTUROUS & UNAPOLOGETICALLY HERSELF: AUDACIOUS, ADVENTUROUS & UNAPOLOGETICALLY HERSELF ALIAS JEANNIE DELANEY - BOOK 1 - GO WEST, GIRL! ONLY 99 CENTS FROM 26TH DECEMBER PA...
BRIGHTEN YOUR POST-XMAS BLUES WITH A GRIPPING WESTERN
AUDACIOUS, ADVENTUROUS &
UNAPOLOGETICALLY HERSELF
ALIAS JEANNIE DELANEY - BOOK 1 -
GO WEST, GIRL!
ONLY 99 CENTS FROM 26TH DECEMBER
PACIFIC STANDARD TIME FOR A WEEK!
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JEANNIE & HER GIRLFRIEND VICKY |
Jeannie Morgan: "Audacious, Adventurous & Unapologetically Herself" is a gripping and rebellious tale that breaks the mold of traditional Westerns.
Jeannie’s story is introduced by the narrator and begins with her birth against the vivid backdrop of 1865 New Orleans where she cuts her hair, adopts pants and rejects societal expectations as a child. She takes on the rugged western frontier to become the fastest gun west of the Mississippi - a fierce, gun-slinging cowgirl who owns her shockingly discovered sexual identity. Jeannie is a heroine who refuses to conform and the story pulses with courage, grit, and defiance as she grows into a tomboy beauty with a charismatic persona whose power extends to everything and everyone around her, tempered by her own unique sense of irreverent humour.
This book is more than a Western; it’s a bold exploration of identity, resilience, and the fight to live authentically in a world that demands otherwise. Readers will root for Jeannie as she takes on the perils of the wild frontier and the prejudices of her time. A must-read for fans of unconventional characters and stories that dare to challenge the norm!
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AUTHOR & PA HUBBY |
Facebook Jo Ballantyne
IF YOU READ & ENJOYED SHARON STONE STARRING IN THE QUICK & THE DEAD OR ANG LEE'S BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, YOU MIGHT LIKE ALIAS JEANNIE DELANEY BOOKS 1 & 2!
OF JEANNIE
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TWO CHAPTER SAMPLES BOOK 1 |
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BOOK 2 |
Friday, 20 December 2024
JO. B. CREATIVE!: BEING SCAMMED & THE RESULT!
JO. B. CREATIVE!: BEING SCAMMED & THE RESULT!: BEING SCAMMED & THE RESULT! Hubby and I have been the victims of a scam - a con artist, but we grew suspicious before anything serio...
Monday, 16 December 2024
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 |
Facebook Jo Ballantyne
IF YOU READ & ENJOYED SHARON STONE STARRING IN THE QUICK & THE DEAD OR ANG LEE'S BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, YOU MIGHT LIKE ALIAS JEANNIE DELANEY BOOKS 1 & 2!
OF JEANNIE
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TWO CHAPTER SAMPLES BOOK 1 |
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BOOK 2 |
Sunday, 15 December 2024
RIP-ROARING REVIEWS!
'Brilliant reviews - and for the record, I’m reading ‘The Outlaw’s Return’ at the moment and am thoroughly enjoying it although it isn’t my normal genre. I’m on holiday in Sardinia and it’s a great holiday read. Looking forward to Book 3!'
'I just grabbed my copy of "Alias Jeannie Delaney - Book 1 - Go West, Girl!" on Amazon. The premise of a charismatic and skilled cowgirl on a journey of self-discovery is absolutely captivating. Kudos on the rave reviews and the unique twist Kit Mackenzie has brought to the western genre.'
'Yee-hah! I'm enjoying this soooo much! Not just because of the story but also because of the quality of the writing, and the loving detail put into it. Clearly a lot of research - Kit Mackenzie writes as though she's actually been there. I so enjoyed reading the novel in detail, and relishing the nuances of the fab writing. Rereading it and absorbing the world and the atmosphere she's created. It's a terrific story with strong characters (to put it mildly!) and a powerful arc.'
BOOK 2 - THE OUTLAW'S RETURN
C S. Ashley-Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars
A different -- and memorable! -- Western adventure
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 February 2024
This story took me right into the world of the wild west -- but far from your usual male-centred shoot'em-ups, this is the story of a young woman of extraordinary courage and skill, and powerful sexuality. What a combination! Highly recommended.
C S. Ashley-Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast, furious fun with historical insights
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 August 2024
I enjoyed 'Go West, Girl' so much that I couldn't imagine that this, the next book in the series, could possibly top it. But ... it did! 'The Outlaw's Return' is a whizzbang adventure, yet full of authentic detail, giving me a window into a world long gone, yet still relevant to our own lives. Lovely job, Kit Mackenzie!
'A unique and fascinating Western theme. Kit Mackenzie has an enviable writing skill!'
'A unique western read. well written and entertaining! Five stars.'
'This is a different take on a western and I really enjoyed it. Jeannie is an independent woman focused on living her life on her terms before it was socially acceptable to do so. It is well written and entertaining!'
'A great western story!' *****
'Not like any Western book I've ever read... Jeannie is best described as a difficult child. I love her grown-up character. She lives life on her own terms, not always liked but well-respected. I'm looking forward to more stories of her life.'
'Just finished reading Alias Jeanne Delaney. I found it a really fascinating and an interesting read. Quite extraordinary. Loved your ability to set the scene, making it feel as if the reader was there themself experiencing the scene and the surroundings. I know that you said it might not be my kind of book but I have to tell you that it is! quite unlike anything I have read before.'
Jeannie's adventures continue...
'Jeannie is back with her band of followers. The author wastes no time in kicking this story in gear. Gun fights, fist fights, bar fights, a dalliance with a saloon girl... On to chapter three... There was a time in the middle-ish that the story seemed to drag a bit. Stay with it - it picks back up and the last third of the book just flies by. I've enjoyed seeing her find her way, trying to do the right thing, and hope to see more.'
THE AUTHOR & HER HUBBY
JO. B. CREATIVE!: CHRISTMAS - A TIME FOR REFLECTIONS
JO. B. CREATIVE!: CHRISTMAS - A TIME FOR REFLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS - A TIME FOR REFLECTIONS Howdy folks - It's approaching Christmas, so, because I'd like to, I want to talk about a bit o...
Sunday, 8 December 2024
JO. B. CREATIVE!: THE BRILLIANCE OF KINDLE UNLIMITED
JO. B. CREATIVE!: THE BRILLIANCE OF KINDLE UNLIMITED: THE BRILLIANCE OF KINDLE UNLIMITED I shared this post a long time ago, and since then, the first two novels of my epic western trilogy, Al...
Saturday, 7 December 2024
THE BRILLIANCE OF KINDLE UNLIMITED
THE BRILLIANCE OF KINDLE UNLIMITED
I shared this post a long time ago, and since then, the first two novels of my epic western trilogy, Alias Jeannie Delaney - Book 1 - Go West, Girl! & Book 2 - The Outlaw's Return (Book 3 is currently being edited) have gone leaping and bounding like a cowpoke on an untamed stallion.
Considering that this is an offbeat western, a traditional, epic western trilogy with a twist, Ah sure ain't complainin'.
The story is controversial. I knew this from the very beginning, but I had to write it. The story I wanted to read back during the seventies, but since no-one had written it, I had to. The reason I had to write it, despite all the blood, sweat and tears that went into it, is a long, convoluted one, told in this post.
Jeannie was way, way ahead of her time back when I began daydreaming her in the late 60s into the 70s, because there were no decent female role models in westerns back then, and my fascination for the wild west and its gun totin', cheroot chompin' gals - there were a lot - was blooming. Intriguing for a Brit gal, now a granny, I know. I finally began writing her story during the 80s, after the births of my kids, knowing that she was way ahead of her time even then.
Even now lovers of traditional westerns spit on the very idea of Jeannie, just as many of the characters in the story itself do. When hubby spotted a poster for Sharon Stone's The Quick and the Dead on the side of a bus when the film first came out, he exclaimed: "Look, they've filmed your story!". So gun slingin' gals were becoming a thing, finally, and Sharon, the Lady, or Ellen in the film, became my closest role model.
The number of readers who've read my novels and don't wish to spit on Jeannie and love the story can't be over estimated, and I am delighted and growing even more so.
Right - here's the download on this extraordinarily gritty western of mine:
The narrative follows half the life of Jeannie Morgan, a devastating and charismatic pants-wearing cowgirl. Her life starts in 1865 New Orleans where she rebels against a girly existence, raids her brother's wardrobe and chops her hair short.The family move west, her Pa takes up ranching, and Jeannie becomes a fearless cowgirl. She becomes the fastest gun in town, ultimately the west - snake strike fast - and she discovers that her sexuality is as fluid as a miner's whiskey
As Jeannie navigates the unforgiving frontier, she must confront her own identity and desires, all while facing down deadly confrontations and personal tragedies. Will she find happiness or will her tomboy beauty, her powerful persona and her lethal gun finally be the death of her? That's for readers to find out.
I'm delighted to say that I have accrued well over 850 readers and many five star reviews and ratings. In order for readers to take a chance on this story, Kindle Unlimited is an invaluable means of doing so.
The e-book can be borrowed through Kindle Unlimited, an Amazon virtual library system, which costs $11.99c a month. A Kindle is smaller than a book, allowing you to read on your e-reader or the Kindle app on your phone or tablet from the palm of your hand. You don't need a Kindle to use Kindle Unlimited. You can use the free Kindle app on your phone or tablet with just a few taps. With Amazon's Kindle subscription service, you can access unlimited books for less than what it would cost you to buy one physical book per month.
There are invariably readers going through my novels on Kindle Unlimited, either Book 1 or Book 2, and always have been. Some of them have steamed through it like a railroad train. As an author on Kindle Unlimited you can access the reader's progress. Apparently when a reader likes Jeannie's story, they really like it, and can't put it down. Amazon itself doesn't show this. Kindle Unlimited is therefore very useful.
The Kindle version of Book 1 - Go West, Girl! and Book 2 - The Oulaw's Return is $2.99 and the paperback version in $12.50.
Here are comments from readers of Book 1:
"I just grabbed my copy of "Alias Jeannie Delaney - Book 1 - Go West, Girl!" on Amazon. The premise of a charismatic and skilled cowgirl on a journey of self-discovery is absolutely captivating. Kudos on the rave reviews and the unique twist you've brought to the western genre."
"Yee-hah! I'm enjoying this soooo much! Not just because of the story but also because of the quality of the writing, and the loving detail put into it. Clearly a lot of research - Kit Mackenzie writes as though she's actually been there. I'm relishing the nuances of her fab writing. I so enjoyed reading the novel in detail, and relishing the nuances of the fab writing. Rereading it and absorbing the world and the atmosphere she's created. It's a terrific story with strong characters (to put it mildly!) and a powerful arc. The writing is 24 carat gold."
"A unique and fascinating Western theme. Kit Mackenzie has an enviable writing skill!"
"I’ve just finished reading ‘Go West, Girl.’ It was a very good read - a real page-turner, or whatever is the right term on a Kindle. Your descriptions were so vivid I could imagine I was in Coyote Creek. I’m not sure whether or not I like Jeannie - I feel sorry for her that she is so unhappy, but realise it’s because she was ahead of her time, and getting frustrated as she kicked against the social rules of her time. I admire that she refused to accept the norms of times - and people like her made things much more equitable for us today. No doubt you’ll keep us posted re the next book."
"A unique western read. well written and entertaining! Five stars. This is a different take on a western and I really enjoyed it. Jeannie is an independent woman focused on living her life on her terms before it was socially acceptable to do so. It is well written and entertaining!"
"Great western story! Not like any Western book I've ever read... Jeannie is best described as a difficult child. I love her grown-up character. She lives life on her own terms, not always liked but well-respected. I'm looking forward to more stories of her life."
"Just finished reading Alias Jeanne Delaney. I found it a really fascinating and an interesting read. Quite extraordinary. Loved your ability to set the scene, making it feel as if the reader was there themself experiencing the scene and the surroundings. I know that you said it might not be my kind of book but I have to tell you that it is! quite unlike anything I have read before. Well done and I hope that it becomes a best seller. I look forward to the next instalment in book 2."
Available in E-book, paperback & Kindle Unlimited on Amazon.
Ps - if you enjoyed the story, or even have constructive thoughts on offer, I'd be extremely grateful if you could write a review for Amazon. This will help sell the story and also be useful for future readers. Thank you so much!
THE AUTHOR & HUBBY
Facebook Jo Ballantyne
IF YOU READ & ENJOYED SHARON STONE STARRING IN THE QUICK & THE DEAD OR ANG LEE'S BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, YOU MIGHT LIKE ALIAS JEANNIE DELANEY BOOKS 1 & 2!
OF JEANNIE
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TWO CHAPTER SAMPLES BOOK 1 |
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BOOK 2 |
Friday, 15 November 2024
JO. B. CREATIVE!: THE MAKING OF JEANNIE MORGAN BY THE AUTHOR - ME
JO. B. CREATIVE!: THE MAKING OF JEANNIE MORGAN BY THE AUTHOR - ME: This is a long one - go put the kettle on! THE MAKING OF JEANNIE MORGAN, THE FASTEST GUN IN THE WEST, BY THE AUTHOR MY ORIGINAL ARTWORKS ...
THE MAKING OF JEANNIE MORGAN BY THE AUTHOR - ME
This is a long one - go put the kettle on!
THE MAKING OF
JEANNIE MORGAN,
THE FASTEST GUN IN THE WEST,
BY THE AUTHOR
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MY ORIGINAL ARTWORKS OF JEANNIE
My view of her is so exciting. But it's impossible for an author to ask their readers to see their heroes in the same way because no-one can peer into another's mind, and the reader might feel completely differently about the hero. But at least one can try describing one's thoughts and sharing them.
My 'fans' - I have a few! 😄- told me that of course I'm Jeannie - who knew?! I shouldn't be surprised.
Jeannie's creation began when I was a teenager, my pubescent imagination conjuring her up before going to sleep. I'd watched sixties westerns where women barely existed, let alone played the fastest gun, and, because my fascination for the wild west was growing, I wanted to redress the balance and, eventually, to write the novel I wanted to read but no-one had written (until the 1995 movie The Quick and the Dead with Sharon Stone came along).
Years later I became desperate to share Jeannie's story. This stems from the times when my parents and siblings found this incredibly creative and offbeat girl - me - would far rather row a boat than housekeep😝and they found me hard to appreciate. I was down-beaten and teased relentlessly. The fact that Jeannie's a cowgirl and that I played the part at living history events happen to be incidental!
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LIVING HISTORY |
As an artist I illustrated Jeannie to bring her alive, but it took years to achieve her look and persona the way I envisaged them in my mind. I was inspired by magazine photographs of people - usually men - in various heroic poses or with the kind of face I imagined, and used them as reference for drawings of her. It excited me tremendously when I was able to make her credible, but horrendously embarrassed about showing them to anyone. Over the years she became more detailed and OTT.
But that's part of the storyline and a hero/ine for you!
I was a teenager when I created my first painting of her, and mother said: 'Oh - is this your Adonis?' I said: 'It's a woman.' 'Oh.' At least mother considered her beautiful.
MY 1ST IMAGE OF JEANNIE, IN OILS - A TAD BUTCH, PERHAPS! PAINTED IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES. |
Years later I finally showed them to hubby. I cringed under a pillow while he looked at them. 'She's sexy! Get on with the story, for goodness sake.' I love that man.
I wanted a stunningly beautiful tomboy. Not chocolate box beauty. A beautiful youth look if you will. Obviously not everyone's idea of beauty is the same, but this is mine for Jeannie. I know every bit of her. Every character trait, every facet of her look. Some of the characters in the story describe her as being a 'pretty boy' before they quickly cotton on to her gender. For a nano moment people might mistake her for a boy or youth, but a nano second later her more feminine features confirm that she is female. Her sensual, curved, full lips verify that. Sleek arched eyebrows. Thick eyelashes. Smooth, bronzed hairless skin, slightly shiny. A long, womanly neck. She has a hero's jaw, but that too is smooth and softly squared, not ugly or exaggerated. High cheekbones. Dimpled cheeks which crease with a lopsided toothy grin. See? I've got her all figured out.
She's 5ft ten and half inches tall. Slim, athletic. Broad shoulders, small but definite bosom, slim hips. She's not top heavy or pear shaped. She has a definite waist. Her hands are fairly large, strong and bronzed, but gentle. In one of my first chapters, a character states: 'Ain't never seen no deputy who looks like that!' She has masculine mannerisms and movements, but they're almost graceful, not cumbersome. There's nothing ugly about Jeannie. I was inspired by descriptions of Wild Bill Hickok: Elizabeth Custer said: 'Physically he was a delight to look upon. Tall, light, and free in every emotion, he rode and walked as if every muscle was perfection.' She clearly fancied him! A newspaper article quoted: 'So graceful in his movements that with his long auburn hair tinged with red and gentle soporific eyes he had an almost feminine mien.'
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WILD BILL HICKOK |
Jeannie's hair is thick and corn coloured, wavy and tousled. Romantic. A semi fringe covers her forehead and hair curls before her ears. Her hair is short at the front but reaches over her collar at the back. Definitely romantic. I was inspired by Michelangelo's David.
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MICHELANGELO'S DAVID |
She generally wears a Stetson, man's shirt, close fitting jeans and cowboy boots worn beneath her pants. A gun belt and Colt.45 adorn her hips. A Bowie knife is sheathed at her waist, and sometimes she wears a fringed jacket. She carries a Winchester rifle beneath her saddle. Extremely sexy and stylish. For posh occasions she wears dapper male clothes - long velvet jacket and pants, a white silk shirt, sometimes a cravat, even a cummerbund. Later in the story she wears a bandana around her forehead, Indian style, denoting her respect and friendship with the Shoshonis.
Her mannerisms and character border on mesmerising. She smokes a slim cheroot, winks at people and pale laughter lines spread out from her eyes. Those eyes are something else. A translucent pale blue beneath sleepy eyelids. Hypnotic and unblinking, they can slice you in two. She's pretty scary. Terrifying sometimes. Cold as ice if she doesn't like you. The only person unafraid of her is her Gran. She adopts boy's clothes aged around eight, after pilfering her favourite brother's wardrobe and cutting her long fair hair short, vowing never to wear female clothes ever again. She has great taste in male clothing and looks stunning the older she grows.
She's wild in her youth and hilarious, remaining funny into adulthood. She's capable of great gentility and kindness, particularly towards animals, kids and old folks, who adore her. She's wall-to-wall charismatic magnetism, and many people are jealous of her. She's the centre of attention the moment she appears on the scene.
She's incredibly sexy and, because of her easygoing sexuality, falls in love with women as well as men, who reciprocate easily, sometimes against their better judgement. Particularly men, whose jealousies over her lethal gun and fighting prowess reign supreme. Many men want her dead. She adores sex, passionate or gentle, because it's the only thing that can make her feel good when times are crappy. She loves art and music, plays a mouth organ, and she's good at dancing a jig.
As the years passed as I developed her, she became devastating in looks and persona, unlike the real Calamity Jane, bless her. The geography of the western frontier treats Jeannie well, even if some of its people don't. She relishes life there and wants to be part of it.
People tell me that I tell Jeannie's story with passion. I'm not surprised! She's been in my head forever, and I needed to share her with the world. Why that is, I'm uncertain, and that still taxes my brain! It has everything to do with my past and my mental issues. Whatever the answer, here she is, in all her glory. 😊
The result of sharing Jeannie with the world? More than I could imagine. The first professional to assure me that my trilogy, as it eventually became, wasn't rubbish, was my editor. She loved it, made great suggestions and edits, and told me that 'Your writing is 24 carat gold!'. I love you, Caroline!
It's almost a year since I published Alias Jeannie Delaney - Book 1 - Go West, Girl! on Amazon, and the results have been tremendous. Numerous five star reviews and ratings, and my 850 readers are keen and waiting patiently for Book 3, which I'm currently editing. Because the story is so offbeat, in a niche of its own and hard to market, we - me and my amazing PA hubby - had to put in the extra work to do it. I collaborated with my excellent cover designer to produce the cover graphics, and used Canva computer software to create marketing materials, so my art has came in handy over and over.
What will happen once the whole trilogy is 'out there'? I won't be finished with Jeannie. There's too much history at stake. I've got other ideas for the future, so it definitely won't be 'Ciao!' as in Jeannie's words, but 'See ya soon!'.
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THE AUTHOR |
A devastating cowgirl comes of age on the wild frontier
Her gun is snake strike fast & her sexuality is as fluid as a miner's whiskey. Jeannie Morgan, the fastest gun west of the Mississippi, is a devastating and charismatic pants-wearing cowgirl who is also a magnificent lover to both men and women. As she navigates the unforgiving frontier, she must confront her own identity and desires, all while facing down deadly confrontations and personal tragedies. Will she find happiness or will her her tomboy beauty, her powerful persona and her lethal gun finally be the death of her? Read the series and find out.
Available in E-book, paperback & Kindle Unlimited on Amazon.
IF YOU READ & ENJOYED SHARON STONE STARRING IN THE QUICK & THE DEAD OR ANG LEE'S BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, YOU MIGHT LIKE ALIAS JEANNIE DELANEY BOOKS 1 & 2!
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MY ORIGINAL DRAWINGS OF JEANNIE |
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TWO CHAPTER SAMPLES BOOK 1 |
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BOOK 2 |
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