Erica Vetsch - The Cactus Creek Challenge

Good Monday Morning Readers!

Today, Erica Vetsch visits Lagniappe to discuss her latest releases, she has three! 

Welcome, Erica!

Tell us a little about your recently released books!

I am thrilled to say that I have THREE books that recently released, one novel and two novellas. They are all historical romances.

The Cactus Creek Challenge is my latest novel. It’s a ‘fish-out-of-water’ story set in a fictional town in Texas.

Here’s a quick summary:

Anything he can do, I can do better. At least that was what Cassie Bucknell thought before she pinned on Ben Wilder’s badge and took to patrolling the streets of Cactus Creek, Texas. Cassie has been in love with Ben since primer school, but Ben treats her like a little sister. When they are picked to swap jobs for a month as part of the annual Cactus Creek Challenge in their Texas hometown, the schoolhouse is thrown into an uproar, the jail becomes a temporary bank vault, and Cassie and Ben square off in a battle of wills that becomes a battle for their hearts.

A Bride for Bear appears in The Convenient Bride Collection, a group of novellas all about marriages of convenience.

Join nine brides of convenience on their adventures in a variety of times and settings gone by—from a ranch in California…to the rugged mountains of Colorado…to a steamship on the Mississippi…to the dangerous excitement of the Oregon Trail…into high society of New York City. No matter the time or place, the convenient brides proceed with what must be done, taking nuptials out of necessity. . .and never dreaming that God might take their feeble attempts to secure their futures and turn them into true love stories for His glory.

My story is about a gruff mountain man named Bear who inherits three adorable little girls and needs to find a mama for them quick…though he’d rather poke a grizzly in the eye than get married.

And finally my story The Trail Boss’s Bride is part of the Journeys of the Heart collection.

The Trail Boss’s Bride by New York Times bestselling author Erica Vetsch

Trail boss Steve Ketchum hates river crossings, but before he can get his cattle started across he's got to move an abandoned wagon out of the ford. He goes to haul it away--and discovers the last thing he ever expected. The wagon contains a newly-minted widow—and she’s expecting, too

If you could be any character, from any book who would you be? Why?

When I was a child, I wanted to be Maureen Beebe from Misty of Chincoteague. I couldn’t imagine a better life than living on a pony ranch! Now, I think I’d love to take a stab at being John Watson. Hanging out with Sherlock Holmes would be exhilarating and interesting!

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what's on your writing playlist these days?

I listen to instrumental music often. At the moment the soundtrack to Last of the Mohicans is playing. I love that music score. It makes everything I write feel more epic. J

What Bible verse speaks to you the most?

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

¹⁰ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

This has been my favorite verse since I was in middle school. I often need the reminder of how big our God is.

For Christmas, do you prefer white lights or colored lights on your Christmas tree?

White, but my husband prefers multi-colored…so we have both. J

Give readers your brand/tagline and share how you came up with it.

Faith, Love, & History-ever-after. I write historical romance for the Christian market, and this just seemed to roll it all up in a fun little nutshell.

If you could spend the day with a famous author, whom would you choose and why?

I don’t know that she’s so famous anymore, but I wish I could spend a day…a week…a month with New Zealand romance writer Essie Summers. I have all her books, and I love her style of writing. She is one of the authors whose work inspired me to want to write my own romances.

What can we expect from you in the future?

More historical romance! I’ve got novellas releasing next spring, and a year from now, another novel set in the far west corner of Texas.

LIGHTNING ROUND   

C.S. Lewis or J.R.R Tolkien? Tolkien

For Thanksgiving: Pecan Pie or Pumpkin Pie? Pumpkin pie

Crawfish Etouffee or Seafood Gumbo? NOTHING from the sea…ever! J

Fingernail Polish: Jazzy or Subtle? Red. Always Red.

Y’all or You Guys? Y’all

Author Bio: Erica Vetsch is a transplanted Kansan now residing in Minnesota. She loves history and romance, and is blessed to be able to combine the two by writing historical romances. Whenever she’s not immersed in fictional worlds, she’s the company bookkeeper for the family lumber business, mother of two, wife to a man who is her total opposite and soul-mate, and avid museum patron.

• Erica's Goodreads
• Erica's Books on Amazon
• Erica's Facebook Page
• Erica's Newsletter
• Erica's Pinterest Boards
• Erica's Twitter
• Erica's Website

Readers, thanks for visiting Lagniappe.

Erica's question for readers: 

If you could swap jobs with someone for a month, what job would you like to try? 

I pray you find a 

“little something extra" 

in each of your days.

Marian