Today I’m lucky to be visited by Renee Stevens who shares with us some songs about Wyoming. Toe-tapping stuff! 🙂 Her new book, part of the Dreamspinner Press States of Love collection, sounds wonderful too. I love how these stories transport us all over the United States. Plus there’s a giveaway!
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States of Love – Wyoming
Cover Artist: Maria Fanning
Genre: Contemporary
Blurb
Devon fled Wyoming as soon as he turned eighteen, leaving behind his high school love, Levi. After six years in the big city, Devon returns to his hometown. Not much has changed, except that Levi is no longer in the closet. He’s also single and living his dream—managing the local wild horse population. Both of them are very interested in picking up where they left off, but Devon is no more ready to reveal his orientation than he was as a teenager.
No one is going to shove Levi back in the closet—not even Devon. For a relationship to work, they’ll have to put the past behind them and find the courage to face the future as who they really are—a couple in love. But Devon doesn’t know if he’s strong enough. Maybe Levi would be better off without him—and his hang-ups.
States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.
Songs about Wyoming
I was talking to a friend about the “Song of Wyoming” and his response was: There are songs about Wyoming? So here I am, out to prove they DO exist, and some of them you probably even recognize!
Song of Wyoming by John Denver
There are different versions of this song out there, by difference singers, including one by Chris LeDoux. However, I chose this video because it also shows how scenic Wyoming can be. Sure, there’s a lot of sagebrush, but Wyoming also has some beautiful country.
Wyoming Wind by Bar J Wranglers
This one I had to choose just because of the truth of it. Ask anyone who lives in Wyoming and many of us have decided that the W in Wyoming stands for WIND! On top of that, I like how this song also talks about the call of the coyote, and talks about living the “Cowboy way”.
July in Cheyenne by Aaron Watson
I debated on including this video as it tells a rather sad story. For anyone who has ever followed rodeo, or watched the movie 8 Seconds you probably already know the story behind this song. Lane Frost, a championship bull rider, died at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in July of 1989 on the bull Takin’ Care of Business. This song tells the story behind that day in Cheyenne. In 1993, a statue depicting Lane riding a bull was dedicated at the Frontier Days Park in Cheyenne.
I won’t include any more video’s, but here are a few other songs that are about Wyoming in one aspect or another:
Roamin’ Wyoming by Randy Travis
Why, Oh Why, Did I Ever Leave Wyoming by Roy Rogers
And there’s even more! Just do a google search and you’ll probably be surprised at how many songs there are about Wyoming!
Excerpt
Devon sank down on his couch as exhaustion swamped him. Most of it was from moving in, but the change in elevation didn’t help. He’d gotten used to being closer to sea level, so going back to the dry air at over six thousand feet was going to take some getting used to.
Bloody noses had become the norm while he stayed with Blake. Devon didn’t want to deal with them repeatedly and considered getting a humidifier until he managed to acclimate.
He looked around his living room. Boxes were scattered everywhere, and he should be unpacking, but he was too tired. At least he hadn’t had to carry everything in himself. Blake, Travis, and Seth were waiting for him when he pulled into the apartment complex. They shrugged off his objections and insisted they had nothing better to do. Devon appreciated it, but he wasn’t comfortable around them anymore. He managed to be a proper host, but damn, he was glad they left after a couple beers each. They made noise about getting together again soon, but Devon had used getting settled in as an excuse to keep from committing to anything.
He stood and wandered into his small kitchen. He didn’t bother opening the fridge or any of the cupboards. He knew they were empty. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten for a while. Devon dug his keys out of his pocket and headed for the door. He’d get something to eat and then maybe stop at the store to pick up a few staples. Paper plates, sandwich fixings, some chips, and he’d be good for a couple of days. At least it would give him time to get a few things—like pots and pans—unpacked. Then he could do a full grocery shop.
An hour later he was comfortably full from a greasy burger, fries, and a shake. He’d never eaten a lot of fast food, but he had few other options. He headed to Walmart, determined to stick to his list of sandwich stuff and maybe some eggs. Surely he could dig out some pans before the food expired. He headed to the chips first and scanned for the familiar bag of Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles. They were his all-time favorite, though he also knew he’d want something else after a day or two. So he grabbed a couple of other bags and headed for the eggs and then the freezer aisle.
Sandwiches and chips would get old fast. He found some frozen breakfast sandwiches he could microwave, tossed them in the cart, and moved on. Frozen lasagna quickly joined the few other items in his cart, followed by some potpies, a few TV dinners, and a bag of chimichangas. So what if he wasn’t sticking to his mental list?
He was more focused on getting groceries for the next few days than on the people around him.
“Devon.”
He froze when a familiar voice spoke his name. He closed his eyes briefly, ducked his head, and steeled himself. He knew it would happen eventually, when he found out Levi still lived there. He thought he’d have more time to prepare. He swallowed—hard—and turned to face the man who had at one time meant everything to him. The man he’d risked being found out for. He lifted his head and gazed into the moss-colored eyes.
“Levi.”
About the Author
Renee Stevens first started writing in her teens but didn’t get serious about being an author until her mid-twenties. Since then she’s written a number of contemporary stories, as well as delved into the paranormal. When not writing, or spending time in the outdoors, Renee can usually be found working on GayAuthors.org in her capacity of Admin, Blog Coordinator, and Anthology Coordinator.
Renee resides in Wyoming with her wonderfully supportive husband and a menagerie of four-legged critters. Making the most of the nearly constant negative temperatures and mounds of snow, Renee spends much of the winter months in hibernation with her laptop, the voices in her head keeping her company while her husband works.
When she needs a break from writing, Renee takes to the sewing machine to design, and make, beautiful quilts. When the snow finally disappears, usually around May or June, Renee can be found in the great-outdoors. She spends her time on the mountain, at the lake, and just anywhere that she can do some camping, take some photos, and ride the four-wheelers with her hubby. Once back at home, it’s back to writing.
GIVEAWAY
No More Hiding eBook, Challenging Fate eBook, and $10 giftcard (Amazon, Allromance, or Dreamspinner Press)
Click here to enter the Rafflecopter.
Thank you for letting me visit, Nic!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂