Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Wednesday Guest - Lynne Marshall

YOU CAN PUT A HAT ON A COUNTRY SINGER, BUT IT DOESN’T MAKE HIM A COWBOY, by Lynne Marshall.

Country singers often like to think of themselves as modern day cowboys. Though there may be a few similarities between the two, in reality, cowboys and country singers aren’t even kissing cousins twice removed. Here are a few reasons why.

Rodeo circuit:
Cowboys work the rodeo circuit riding bucking broncos and bulls, roping and tying cows and calves, and dodging charging animals and weird clowns. Country singers go on road tours taming rowdy crowds, dodging wild fans, and having to deal with the occasional heckling clown. The road trip is long and tiring for both cowboys and country singers.

Roping: The only thing country singers know about lariats is lassoing in a crowd with a few good songs and an entertaining show.

Wrangling:
Cowboys spend the day in the saddle herding cattle. Country singers spend the day in their Wranglers shopping for western styled clothes for the next concert.

Singing:
After a long day on the trail, cowboys like to sing a song or two around a campfire. After a long concert, the only thing a country singer wants to do is get paid.

Breaking a wild stallion:
This is one of the most dangerous jobs for a real cowboy. Many female country fans dream of taming the wild stallion on the stage, also a dangerous job, and often they wind up getting bucked off and left on their backs.

Chuck Wagon food: Hardy, greasy food, aka “chuck,” to fill up the cowboy after a long day on the trail. Country singers eat greasy spoon food at the nearest diner after a long day on the road.

Cowboy hats:
The cowboy hat was originally made to protect from extremes of weather, such as sun and rain. Its useful wide brim works great for fanning campfires and is easy to spot waving down another cowboy across the dusty trail. Whether wearing a Cattleman, a Stetson, or a Shady, the only thing country singers wear cowboy hats for, is to look sexy. And they do!

What similarities or differences do you find between cowboys and country singers?


Lynne has written ten books for Mills & Boon Medical Romance, has her debut Harlequin Special Edition, Courting His Favorite Nurse, set for March 2012 release– and she writes contemporary romance featuring mature heroines for The Wild Rose Press. Visit Lynne: www.lynnemarshall.com

ONE FOR THE ROAD
by Lynne Marshall, features a has-been country singer named Tyler White on the lookout for cheap transportation to make his comeback tour, and forty-six year old D’Anne Palmer, an unsuspecting widow with a forty-foot RV.

Blurb
D’Anne Palmer leads a life others dream of until she’s widowed and broke. Now she must return to California by hiring out her deluxe RV. One-hit wonder Tyler White hopes his three-week tour will recharge his career. Journeying from Nashville to Las Vegas, can close quarters help a has-been singer and the widow with California style find love?

On the wildest detour of her life, D’Anne learns there’s no place like home, BUT home is where the heart is.

Check out a One for the Road excerpt here: http://lynnemarshall.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Exerpt_One_for_the_Road.pdf

ONE FOR THE ROAD by Lynne Marshall is available at The Wild Rose Press

and Amazon

26 comments:

Janie Emaus said...

Great comparisons! And a great read to start my day.

Lynne Marshall said...

Hi Janie,
Thanks for reading and commenting. Sometimes we just gotta have fun, right?

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Lynne and Paty:

I don't have much expertise in country music; however, I do know some cowboys and are they misrepresented. The ones I know don't wear hats; they wear ball caps. Not boots-big work boots. Not horses any more. ATVs.

BUT, they're still sexy. LOL

Lynne Marshall said...

Hi Vicki,
Thanks for clarifying the modern day cowboy. I confess, I don't know any cowboys, that's why I don't write them. Hmm, though. I don't know any country singers either, but I sure shootin' wrote one. Well, that blows that theory. LOL.
Thanks for reading and commening, Vicki. And yes, I totally agree, cowboys are sexy, rought working hands and all. : )

Dee J. said...

Great Post! I once dated a cowboy. I ended up never listening to country music ever again. LOL.

Anonymous said...

I live in North Texas and was raised in farm & ranch country. I now live the cutting horse capital. I really enjoyed your post. There is one class of cowboy youleft out, the "Drug Store" Cowboy. These were the ones who could talk the talk, but not walk the walk. You could find them hanging out around the local drug store or cafe usually in the evening, spreading their own brand of tall tales and BS.
G W Pickle

Lynne Marshall said...

Hey, Dee J, sorry about your bad experience, but hey, don't give up on the music!

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Lynne Marshall said...

Hi G.W.!
thanks for reading the blog, I'm glad you enjoyed it. LOL on the drugstore cowboy. I learned something new today, and can add it to the list.

thanks!

Mia said...

Still laughing at the comparisons which were fabulous as is the book Lynne.

Lynne Marshall said...

Hi Mia!
So glad I gave you a chuckle or two today. I had fun writing this blog.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Unknown said...

Most country singers couldn't find the south end of a north bound horse.
Great comparisons!

Caroline Clemmons said...

Lynne, we live in an area where seeing genuine cowboys/ranchers is routine, but I remember growing up we called the pretenders "drug store cowboys." Even if country western entertainers are not "real" cowboys, I thin they still qualify a little due to their music choice and audience.

Paty, that is a wonderful photo of you and your horse. And only a brave woman wears a sleeveless top for a photo! Go you.

lisekimhorton said...

Feels like there should certainly be a book in this comparative study! Thanks for the laugh.

Paisley Kirkpatrick said...

Fun post - those cowboys do look fine in the hats and tight pants. I do believe one country singer, George Strait, rode the rodeo and may still do it.

Lynne Marshall said...

Roz, as usual, well spoken, and hilarious.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Lynne Marshall said...

Hi Caroline!
That's two votes for including Drug store cowboys, and I'll give it to you, there may be plenty of country singers who know a little something about cowboys.

Also, I agree that Paty's picure is wonderful. I noticed that first thing this morning.

Thanks so much for reading the blog and commenting.

Lynne Marshall said...

hI Lise,
I'm glad I could coax a laugh out of you today. Hmm, who's going to write that book?

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Lynne Marshall said...

Hi Paisley,
Oh, now you've mentioned my all time favorite. George Strait. Love that guy. He does look good in his neatly pressed shirts and tight jeans, doesn't he. And he strikes me as such a gentleman. It may all be fantasy, but he fits the bill, doesn't he?

Thanks for reading and commenting today.

Sharla Rae said...

I've always been a sucker for a man in a cowboy hat. Like you said, sexy! Probably why I like writing about them.

Shelley Munro said...

Fun post. Cowboys are more likely to have a natural tan. :)

Anonymous said...

Here's some cowboy trivia. What is the difference between a rancher and a cowboy?
The answer is they're basicly the same, except the rancher owned the ranch. He still rode and worked the ranch with the cowboys and often went on cattle drives to help out during the drive and take care of the business at the end of the drive. The rancher made sure he got he got the money for the cattle and every one got their pay.
G W Pickle

Lynne Marshall said...

Hey, Sharla - I'm with you on men in cowboy hats. Especially if they're a tall drink of water to begin with. : )

Lynne Marshall said...

Hey Shelly, you made me laugh. Yeah, I can see country stars getting the spray on tan, and cowboys getting tan the old fashioned way.

I'm glad you enjoyed the blog. Thanks for stopping by.

Lynne Marshall said...

Dear G.W. - you are a wealth of information, and I am so glad you are sharing it with us here. I like the distinction between the rancher and the cowboy. Makes perfect sense.

Do they still work along side the cowboys, these day do you think? Somehow I doubt it. Maybe some.

:)

Anonymous said...

Lynne
In the older days, especially on the drives, they did cowboy work. These days the rancher is more in the office. They have college degrees and ride in cars.
G W Pickle

Lynne Marshall said...

G.W. - That kind of takes the rugged glamor out of the equation, doesn't it?

I guess that's a sign of the times. Hopefully, some of them, at least the ones in romance books, roll up their sleeves and work along with their cow hands, at least part of the time.