I’m so excited to have one of my fellow Seekers here for a visit today! Even before we had the pleasure of working together on Seekerville, I was reading (and adoring) Erica Vetsch’s stories like her novellas in Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers Romance Collection (and I still am)!
about the author
Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she married her total opposite and soul mate! When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.
You can connect with her at her website where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at her Facebook author page where she spends way too much time!
website | facebook | twitter
five favorite authors
(who have influenced my writing)
At recess, I would take my book outside, lay in the grass and leave Hageman Elementary behind, inhabiting Laura’s world, living her adventures. Her writing was so accessible and timeless. Children can fall into her stories, and adults still treasure every word. A rare gift.
Beth: I missed out on the LHOTP during my childhood but I have read them aloud to my children!
I was thrilled when my son began reading through them, taking them one at a time from the bookshelf and returning them to get a new one. Walter Farley was the first author I read who didn’t write from a Christian worldview. It was my first time reading about a character who was Muslim, and a horse named Satan? Oh my!
Beth: My daughter went through a horse-crazy stage and enjoyed some of those stories.
Her stories feature wonderful characters, especially her heroes, who are strong, handsome, resilient, and have a love for literature and poetry. I love Essie’s writing, which is rich and detailed and vibrant. She is a great dialogue writer, too!
Beth: Oh interesting! I’ve never heard of Essie Summers!
As I matured, I fell in love with Francis’s literary style, the fast-paced, pithy, first-person narrative that pulled you through the story. It was Dick Francis who first made me understand Author Branding. I was in a bookstore in 2008, and I saw a new DF on an end-cap. I grabbed it up without even knowing what it was about, because I knew what it was about. A hero would be put in a moral dilemma where he would have to choose between what was lawful and what was justice, he would be put in physical peril at the end, and he would have to act on his beliefs.
Beth: Great observation on author branding!
Beth: Every story needs a least a little humor!
Erica: There are LOTS of other writers who have influenced my writing…Anne Perry
Beth: You are what you eat… er, read!
books
Tell us about your latest release
Erica: This month sees the release of 7 Brides for 7 Texas Rangers! Squee! This collection of novellas is a bit different from the norm in that it is a continuity series. Each of the stories overlap and feature characters from the others in the collection. They’re all located in the same fictional town, and they all take place over the course of one year. As a bonus, it’s a bit of a continuation of the continuity series 7 Brides for 7 Texans. Characters from 7 Texans show up in 7 Texas Rangers.
Beth: I simply adored the Seven Brides for Seven Texans romance collection!
Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers Romance Collection
No One Is Too Tough to be Loved
Join seven Texas Rangers on the hunt for a menacing gang, who run straight into romances with women who foil their plans for both the job and their futures.
#7. Guard Your Heart by Erica Vetsch
When Constance Spanner witnesses a murder, Branch Kilborn is tasked with protecting her until she can testify against Cass Markham. This is the Ranger squad’s chance to abolish the Markham gang once and for all, but Branch soon finds that protecting Constance has become about more than just the job.
goodreads | amazon | bookdepository | christianbook
Beth: I’m reading this book right now!
Take a peek at Erica’s next release…
Beth: I’ll share more about First Love Letter Romance Collection in a couple of weeks when it releases!
q&a
What is your go-to drink?
Erica: I am a coffee-shop writer. Which is odd, because I don’t drink coffee. I am a tea-girl all the way. Earl Grey. Hot. J I find that I am much more productive when I write away from home, sitting at my local Caribou Coffee shop, earbuds in, tea at hand, fingers on the keyboard. If I stay home, I piddle-dink the day away, messing about here and there, not concentrating.
Beth: There’s a super adorable coffee shop in my hometown and I’ve been itching to spend a day in there with a cup of hot chocolate and a book!
What am I reading right now?
Erica: I just finished The Blue Castle
Beth: I’ve been there with the bleary eyes! I’ll have to pick that one up, I love Anne with an e! Thank you so much for hanging out with us today, Erica!
giveaway
Erica has generously offered to send one Faithfully Bookish reader friend a copy of Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers Romance Collection! (print US only, ebook international)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Have you read any books by one of Erica’s favorite authors?
Have you read and of Erica’s books, reader friends?
Be sure to add both Seven Brides collections to your tbr!
Faithfully Bookish 
I’ve read My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss and Seven Brides for Seven Texans. Loved them both!
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I did, too!
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I enjoy Erica’s books.
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Me too! ????
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I’ve not read any of her books yet, but it sounds like I would enjoy them. Thank you for introducing us to her, Beth. 🙂
(I am also a tea-drinker. I’ve only just started drinking Earl Gray and have been enjoying it)
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I definitely think you would enjoy Erica’s stories, Phyllis! ????
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Hi Erica! Miss you guys over at CC&C! I love the Little House books and my daughter is reading them right now. I love to see her enjoying them. Looking forward to reading this. I really really love the idea that the stories overlap! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
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“7 Brides for 7 Texas Rangers” – the title alone would have me reaching for it. Then you see the cover which tells the story of the lonely cowboy who needs some loving. Love the way the stories overlap making it come like seven stories in one. I’d very much love the opportunity to read this book. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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I have already read the 7 Brides for 7 Texas Rangers collection and absolutely loved it. Great interview . . . . . . and I need to check out some of these mentor-authors since I love reading children’s books.
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I’ve read books by one of Erica’s favorite authors and several books by Erica, of which I have enjoyed. I also love the novella collections because of the variety of authors, I find new ones to follow all the time this way, and the variety of stories. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of “Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers”, I’ve had this on my wish list since the first time I saw it.
wfnren at aol dot com
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i have not read any of her books but would love to. I grew up on Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey
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Hi, Beth! Thanks so much for having me here at Faithfully Bookish. As you can tell from above, I LOVE Books! Reading, thinking, talking, writing books!! 🙂
MJSH, I am so glad you enjoyed MHBI Fort Bliss and the 7 Texans collection. 7 Texas Rangers is set in the same fictional town, and some of the Hart brothers show up in the stories! 🙂
ANXIOUS58: Waving to you! Thanks for reading my books and chiming in here! ❤
PHYLLIS: Earl Grey is an acquired taste, isn't it? I love bergamot, but some folks very much don't! For me, Earl Grey is the signal to my brain that it's time to work! 🙂
MELISSA: isn't it the best when our kids begin reading the stories we loved as kids? A shared love of a story connects people in a whole new way, doesn't it?
KAY: There's just something about a strong, solitary cowboy that makes our heart beat a little faster, isn't there? Writing continuity series has its challenges, but the end result is so neat!
REBECCA M: Do check out Walter Farley especially. He was a very gifted YA author!
WENDY N: Yay that we share some favorite authors! It's like having a mutual friend, isn't it?
LORI S: My friends and I used to pass Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour books amongst ourselves…and read them in school when we should've been doing schoolwork! GASP! 🙂
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I haven’t read any of Erica’s books or any of the books by her favorite authors. I hope I have a chance to read some of Erica’s books. And I do want to read The Little House on the Prairie books. I feel like those books are classics that I don’t want to miss out on.
I’m a tea drinker, too. Coffee makes me too jittery and on-edge. My favorite is honey vanilla chamomile – soothing and sweet.
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CHANEL: I do hope you give the Little House books a try! My favorites are probably Farmer Boy and The Long Winter, but they are all wonderful! 🙂
Raising my glass of Earl Grey to you!
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I haven’t experienced Erica’s books yet.
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NATALYA: First, I LOVE your name! So pretty! Second, I hope you win a copy here! Third, if you’d like a little taste of my writing, I have a free prequel you can download on amazon or Barnes and Noble. It’s called The Legend of Obadiah Wilder, and it’s the prequel to The Cactus Creek Challenge, a humorous western romance.
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I have read the Little House on the Prairie books. I have read Seven Brides for Seven Texans and His Prairie Sweetheart.
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I forgot to say Hi!
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Hi! I have all the Little House on the Prairie books as well as A Log Cabin Christmas novella, My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas, and Seven Brides for Seven Texans.
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I’ve read all of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books. I’ve read A Child’s Christmas Wish by Erica, and look forward to reading more.
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HI, FISHINGJAN! I hope you enjoyed His Prairie Sweetheart. It was sort of inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder. 🙂
LELANDANDBECKY: So glad you got to read A Child’s Christmas Wish. I’m sad that is my last Love Inspired Historical, but I loved writing it, especially Liesl. 🙂
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Hi! Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of my favorite authors too. My mom read her books to my sister and me every afternoon while our baby brother took a nap. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of Seven Brides for Seven Texas Rangers Romance Collection.
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Hi, JULIE B! I love that your mom read Laura’s books to you. What a sweet memory! I loved reading to my kids and introducing them to all my favorite stories!
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Read this collection and LOVED it!! I highly recommend it to everyone! I haven’t actually read her favorite authors, but I love her!
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I was definitely a Little House on the Prairie girl back i. The day. I think I may have read some of Erica’s books in a collections, but it’s been so long I’ve forgotten.????
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I’ve read a couple and enjoyed them!
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Great interview! I love the Little House books, Louis L’Amour, and The Blue Castle! I have several of Erica’s books on my TBR and I’ve read her stories in two of Barbour’s novella collections 🙂 #mustreadallthebooks
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CRYSTAL! So glad you enjoyed the collection. I love my Texas Ranger, Branch. He’s so…crusty! lol
PERRIANNE, Thanks for stopping by! I love that even when I re-read LHOTP, I still love them!
KATHERINE, Thanks for the shout out!
HEIDI: I hope you have many happy hours of reading ahead of you. My book club is just finishing up the discussions on The Blue Castle, and it’s been really interesting!
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I read The Legend of Obadiah Wilder and I absolutely loved it. It brought back memories of watching TV westerns with my Daddy. Erica has certainly chosen some wonderful writers to influence her writing!
Thanks for this giveaway!
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I want to read this book. I read last years and loved it.
I am using my word press account which is still in the making. I keep trying to find help to finish setting up the blog and then hopefully will be blogging on a regular basis.
Wilani Wahl
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That’s wonderful, Wilani! I’ll be watching for your posts!
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Hi, Erica. You’re a new author to me so I have not read any of your books. I did enjoy watching Little House on the Prairie when I was growing up.
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This sounds like a fun read. Like your guest author, I’m also a tea drinker, and L. M. Montgomery fan. However, I don’t think I’ve read The Blue Castle. Must remedy that. 🙂
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Me too!
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Sounds like an excellent book!
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I enjoyed it very much!
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Thanks for the chance to win this great book!!!
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Hi! Your books sound like a lot of fun and very inspirational to read. Thank you for the giveaway, too. Romans 10:9-13; John 3:16-21
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P.S. I’m a coffee drinker. ????
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I have never read any of her books, winning would be a great way to start
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