The Six Pack Ranch story

Someone recently asked in a Q&A if the Colemans all arrived at once, or if I slowly got to know them.

It's definitely the slow route. And…the long route. Lol.

I started with the idea for the six brothers in the Six Pack family, and obviously I knew there were other cousins etc, since the first book the Coleman boys mentioned that their father, Mike, was also one of six brothers…

But all of the cousins and uncles and etc were on the side lines when I started. I'm glad they were there, though, because looking at the family now, I adore how they fit together. How much the whole clan works as a unit to build something bigger and better than just one family.

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I know for some of you, this is old news. You found me through the Six Rack Ranch books and you've read my books ever since (have I told you lately how much I adore you?)

But a quick recap just for fun: 

This story (series! saga!) started as an attempt to get into a Samhain Publishing cowboy anthology in 2008, right at the start of my career. I'd sold Wolf Signs already, but also wanted to write contemporary—because of course I did.

The three selected short stories were all great, but didn't include Rocky Mountain Heat. 

Instead, I ended up expanding the novella a bit, and another digital only publisher took it on. Rocky Mountain Heat came out for the first time in September, 2009 from Liquid Silver.

To the right is the original cover.

It was a hit.

I wrote the second in series also for Liquid Silver, but it seemed like my Samhain books were getting a little more attention. So in 2011 I sold both Rocky Mountain Heat and Haven to Samhain, extended them to novel length, and wrote the third book.

This cover version came out in November 2011.

Tidbit: 50 Shades of Grey came out the spring of 2011, quietly moving in the ebook world. By November?

BOOM.

Whatever you think of E.L. James's story, there is no dismissing the effect her book had on publishing, romance reading, and my career.

The re-release of Rocky Mountain Heat sold well in November, better in December, and even better in January <==that never happens. Lol.

In January when Rocky Mountain Haven re-released I was shocked and delighted to hear it had hit the New York Times bestseller list.

The brand new Rocky Mountain Desire hit as well in March, and since the stories have continued. 

It's been astonishing and so much fun to see the journey.

It's humbling to get letters from readers who have fallen in love with the Colemans. Who have visited with them during tough times in their lives, beside hospital beds, during chemo treatments. Or the letters from readers who have snuck away to steal private moments during their busy days as a mom, jack of all trades, holiday coordinators and all the rest.

I'm glad.

If you are a Six Pack reader, did you know that I finally put together a “ultimate reading list”. It has the chronological reading order for all the books, short stories, vignettes in the Rocky Mountain house area.

Take a challenge and do a re-read!!  SIX PACK RANCH AND THOMPSON & SONS 

Below are two of my personal favourites in the series.