Debra Holt's Blog
October 10, 2023
The Texas Cowboys christmas Miracle LAUNCH DAY!
It's LAUNCH DAY! Today the final chapter of the Texas Heritage Series comes out; 'The Texas Cowboys Christmas Miracle'. I am so excited and grateful to complete this series with this book. Continue reading for a glimpse into the story!
All they need for Christmas is a second chance nudge…
Sixteen years ago, MacKenna Davidson was a runaway bride, and she never found the courage to face her jilted fiancé and family back in Burkitt, Texas. Then her sister’s nuptials set off the very chain of events she’s feared: a sense of homecoming she can’t untangle.
Matteo Montez survived MacKenna once, and he refuses to fall for her again. But he has no choice except to team up with her when a fellow attorney informs them that a mutual friend has passed and named Matteo and Mackenna as her children’s guardians. How can he crush these little angels’ hopes for a family, especially at Christmas?
Mackenna is willing to work with Burkitt’s hottest bachelor to build a picture-perfect holiday, as long as her heart doesn’t get involved. Because she, too, has secrets that prevent her from picking up her past. But Christmas is a season of surprises and even a miracle or two—especially when Mackenna and Matteo have a guardian angel rooting for their happiness.
Buy it here!: https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Cowboys-...
All they need for Christmas is a second chance nudge…
Sixteen years ago, MacKenna Davidson was a runaway bride, and she never found the courage to face her jilted fiancé and family back in Burkitt, Texas. Then her sister’s nuptials set off the very chain of events she’s feared: a sense of homecoming she can’t untangle.
Matteo Montez survived MacKenna once, and he refuses to fall for her again. But he has no choice except to team up with her when a fellow attorney informs them that a mutual friend has passed and named Matteo and Mackenna as her children’s guardians. How can he crush these little angels’ hopes for a family, especially at Christmas?
Mackenna is willing to work with Burkitt’s hottest bachelor to build a picture-perfect holiday, as long as her heart doesn’t get involved. Because she, too, has secrets that prevent her from picking up her past. But Christmas is a season of surprises and even a miracle or two—especially when Mackenna and Matteo have a guardian angel rooting for their happiness.
Buy it here!: https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Cowboys-...
August 7, 2022
Introducing the Texas Heritage Series
“Other states are carved or born; Texas grew from hide and horn.”
— Bertha Hart Nance, 1932
Texas ranching has a long, storied history, dating back to Christopher Columbus’ second visit to Hispaniola. He brought with him a herd of cattle, who would go on to become the ancestors of the Texas Longhorn cattle we all know and love today.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, cattle ranching grew throughout Mexico and up into what’s now the state of Texas. Several thousand cattle were raised in the El Paso area, the first Texas ranch. Spanish missionaries owned the ranches, which were worked by vaqueros — think of them like independent contractors with their own horses, saddles, and gear. Privately owned ranches didn’t crop up until the 18th century.
The missionary ranches were decimated by the Mexican War for Independence in the early 1800s. This left room for Anglos to come in and take over the land and the cattle. They brought cows from the east with them. Their cattle mated with the Spanish cattle, and the Longhorn was born.
In 1845, the U.S. annexed Texas, opening large tracts of land for railroads and new cities. The rise in demand for beef was growing throughout the nation, especially in the north and along the Gulf of Mexico. It was around this time that the cowboys we know today came into existence, working as employees of the ranchers.
Men weren’t the only ones owning and working the ranches. One famous example is a former slave named Julia Blanks, who pitched in with roundups, planted and harvested crops, raised animals, and helped with cooking during roundups on the Adams Ranch.
Her daughters came right along with her. Julia said, “My oldest girl used to take the place of a cowboy, and put her hair up in her hat. And ride! My goodness, she loved to ride."
Margaret Borland became the owner of the Victoria ranch after her husband passed. She had 8,000 longhorns in her herd. Six years later, she’d grown the herd to 10,000. Come 1873, Margaret became the first female to lead a cattle drive, taking 2,500 Longhorns, her three kids, and several cowboys along the Chisholm Trail to Kansas.
Recently, ranches have adopted new ways to bring in income, since the cost of cattle and maintaining the land has increased. The historic YO Ranch leased out some of its land for hunting and outdoor sports. The Matador Ranch followed shortly after that.
This past spring, the last ‘grande dame’ of Texas ranching passed on. And last month, one of the last remaining ranching ‘empires’ went on the chopping block.
I call it a chopping block because here in Texas, too many of our great, historic ranches have been sold to the highest bidder — typically someone who lives outside the country, let alone outside the state — and chopped up into small pieces. The land and its resources have been plumbed until nothing that’s worth anything remains. A crucial component of our Texas heritage and history has been wiped away.
The sad fate of a place I considered to be a bit of Texas heaven has inspired this story and the series — the Texas Heritage series.
In the first book, The Texas Cowboy's Proposal, we meet the two granddaughters of Sarah McNamara Burkitt...Laurel and Sammi Jo, who’s the heroine of this first book. She has just been handed a gut-wrenching blow when her older sister shared the details of their grandmother’s will.
What part of your heritage has an impact on your life today?
— Bertha Hart Nance, 1932
Texas ranching has a long, storied history, dating back to Christopher Columbus’ second visit to Hispaniola. He brought with him a herd of cattle, who would go on to become the ancestors of the Texas Longhorn cattle we all know and love today.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, cattle ranching grew throughout Mexico and up into what’s now the state of Texas. Several thousand cattle were raised in the El Paso area, the first Texas ranch. Spanish missionaries owned the ranches, which were worked by vaqueros — think of them like independent contractors with their own horses, saddles, and gear. Privately owned ranches didn’t crop up until the 18th century.
The missionary ranches were decimated by the Mexican War for Independence in the early 1800s. This left room for Anglos to come in and take over the land and the cattle. They brought cows from the east with them. Their cattle mated with the Spanish cattle, and the Longhorn was born.
In 1845, the U.S. annexed Texas, opening large tracts of land for railroads and new cities. The rise in demand for beef was growing throughout the nation, especially in the north and along the Gulf of Mexico. It was around this time that the cowboys we know today came into existence, working as employees of the ranchers.
Men weren’t the only ones owning and working the ranches. One famous example is a former slave named Julia Blanks, who pitched in with roundups, planted and harvested crops, raised animals, and helped with cooking during roundups on the Adams Ranch.
Her daughters came right along with her. Julia said, “My oldest girl used to take the place of a cowboy, and put her hair up in her hat. And ride! My goodness, she loved to ride."
Margaret Borland became the owner of the Victoria ranch after her husband passed. She had 8,000 longhorns in her herd. Six years later, she’d grown the herd to 10,000. Come 1873, Margaret became the first female to lead a cattle drive, taking 2,500 Longhorns, her three kids, and several cowboys along the Chisholm Trail to Kansas.
Recently, ranches have adopted new ways to bring in income, since the cost of cattle and maintaining the land has increased. The historic YO Ranch leased out some of its land for hunting and outdoor sports. The Matador Ranch followed shortly after that.
This past spring, the last ‘grande dame’ of Texas ranching passed on. And last month, one of the last remaining ranching ‘empires’ went on the chopping block.
I call it a chopping block because here in Texas, too many of our great, historic ranches have been sold to the highest bidder — typically someone who lives outside the country, let alone outside the state — and chopped up into small pieces. The land and its resources have been plumbed until nothing that’s worth anything remains. A crucial component of our Texas heritage and history has been wiped away.
The sad fate of a place I considered to be a bit of Texas heaven has inspired this story and the series — the Texas Heritage series.
In the first book, The Texas Cowboy's Proposal, we meet the two granddaughters of Sarah McNamara Burkitt...Laurel and Sammi Jo, who’s the heroine of this first book. She has just been handed a gut-wrenching blow when her older sister shared the details of their grandmother’s will.
What part of your heritage has an impact on your life today?
April 30, 2017
The Travel Diary of a Texas Author on the Trail of Bluebonnets with Debra Holt
Do you have a special place/routine that you retreat to when you need to recharge your mind and body? Mine is heading to the heart of the Texas hill country in spring… to the land of sparkling clear rivers, blue skies, and seas of bluebonnets carpeting rolling hills and pastures. Everything is fresh and renewing itself after a cold winter. White-tailed does and their new fawns are frolicking across green grasses, young hawks are testing their wings on the warming air currents, and the breezes are plentiful and fresh.
My first stop on my whirlwind pilgrimage was as dusk was falling across the hills and bathing the landscape with its soft golden light. We pulled off the road and positioned our cameras across a field of bluebonnets to where the timeless stone edifice of The Bluebonnet House stood just before you reach the town of Marble Falls. Photographers were already there seeking their sweet spots to capture another photo of this iconic place. I found mine and snapped away.
Then came a sunset shot from the shoreline where we stopped for a bite to eat at a local restaurant. Texas sunsets charge the spirit of this Texan. Arrived after dark at the home of our hostess and host… the Pattersons (relatives). Or as we really refer to ourselves, the real Lucy and Ethel and Ricky and Fred. This is due in large part to the adventures we always manage to find ourselves in each time we are together. And we have shared some more than worthy of our own television show! And as is usual, we old folks stayed up until 3 a.m. catching up on news. I don’t recall hitting the pillow before I was out… happy to be back in the land of bluebonnets and Texas-sized adventures to come.
April 8, 2017
The day began with a pilgrimage to visit a sweet angel taken too soon from us… a ladybug named Brooklyn. One of these days, you may find her crossing the pages of one of my books in loving memory.
As it was the noon hour, where else would we wind up but at the famous Gil’s in San Marcos, Texas… a few steps from the campus of Texas State University. I first visited Gil’s over 4 decades ago. I keep going back because of the world-famous, incredible Manske Rolls they make there. Think of a cinnamon roll but three times better!!
Rolling out of there, we headed for some R & R to ready ourselves for the evening’s main event… a climb into the hills above the lakes to the west of Austin, Texas. Anyone who has ever been to the Oasis, knows the best sunsets are to be had from the many terraces of this one-of-a-kind eating establishment perched on the side of a cliff overlooking Lake Travis.
April 9, 2017
Rise and shine early and hit the trail of bluebonnets. We found the best crop of blue at Pedernales Nature Park in Johnson City. They were just about to turn and go to their ‘weedy seedy stage’ but I got some shots that were worthy of the beauty of the hill country and to share with my readers. An hour down the road, my travel buddies and I reached the Texas Bluebonnet Festival in Burnet, Texas. LOTS of arts and crafts booths, carnival, street dances, and a 100-entry kick-off parade. I was soaking up the atmosphere and jotting notes because as many of you know who have read my books to date, these grandest of country customs… the small-town fairs figure in some way in my story lines. I am a people watcher and this is a great spot. While some things change, so many things still stay the same in Texas and I love that.
Lunch time arrived and it was time for some of the best tradition in Texas… BBQ. And since we were in the neighborhood, we drove over to Llano, Texas, and enjoyed ourselves immensely at Cooper’s Old-Time BBQ. The line is out the door and around the building. Charter buses come and go, and there is a never-ending supply of the food served on butcher paper for plates and lots of finger-licking goodness.
More bluebonnet photos were taken along the backroads to our destination for the evening, Marble Falls, Texas. After some stops to shop at local stores, we crashed at our hotel. And no one drives through this town and does not stop at The Bluebonnet Café. Again, the line is long morning, noon and night. But you can’t beat those mile-high towers of meringue on pies that have the diners rushing through meals to get to the best part… dessert. It was a long day, but it was FUN! Good company, beautiful Bluebonnets along with Mexican Blankets, Indian Paintbrush, pink Buttercups, etc., and great Texas food. Head hit the pillow with a smile on my face.
April 10, 2017
Bidding farewell to friends and family, we head for home. My soul and brain have been revived and refreshed from my journey to the hill country. And I came home with more ideas and stories floating around inside my imagination. Can’t wait for next spring and its crop of Bluebonnets!
I hope you have enjoyed my trip to renew and reinvigorate my creative processes. It is this land, this people, this state that underpins my writing and brings forth the stories that I hope you have enjoyed and will continue to do so. I have a LOT more to come over the next few months.
Happy Spring!
My first stop on my whirlwind pilgrimage was as dusk was falling across the hills and bathing the landscape with its soft golden light. We pulled off the road and positioned our cameras across a field of bluebonnets to where the timeless stone edifice of The Bluebonnet House stood just before you reach the town of Marble Falls. Photographers were already there seeking their sweet spots to capture another photo of this iconic place. I found mine and snapped away.
Then came a sunset shot from the shoreline where we stopped for a bite to eat at a local restaurant. Texas sunsets charge the spirit of this Texan. Arrived after dark at the home of our hostess and host… the Pattersons (relatives). Or as we really refer to ourselves, the real Lucy and Ethel and Ricky and Fred. This is due in large part to the adventures we always manage to find ourselves in each time we are together. And we have shared some more than worthy of our own television show! And as is usual, we old folks stayed up until 3 a.m. catching up on news. I don’t recall hitting the pillow before I was out… happy to be back in the land of bluebonnets and Texas-sized adventures to come.
April 8, 2017
The day began with a pilgrimage to visit a sweet angel taken too soon from us… a ladybug named Brooklyn. One of these days, you may find her crossing the pages of one of my books in loving memory.
As it was the noon hour, where else would we wind up but at the famous Gil’s in San Marcos, Texas… a few steps from the campus of Texas State University. I first visited Gil’s over 4 decades ago. I keep going back because of the world-famous, incredible Manske Rolls they make there. Think of a cinnamon roll but three times better!!
Rolling out of there, we headed for some R & R to ready ourselves for the evening’s main event… a climb into the hills above the lakes to the west of Austin, Texas. Anyone who has ever been to the Oasis, knows the best sunsets are to be had from the many terraces of this one-of-a-kind eating establishment perched on the side of a cliff overlooking Lake Travis.
April 9, 2017
Rise and shine early and hit the trail of bluebonnets. We found the best crop of blue at Pedernales Nature Park in Johnson City. They were just about to turn and go to their ‘weedy seedy stage’ but I got some shots that were worthy of the beauty of the hill country and to share with my readers. An hour down the road, my travel buddies and I reached the Texas Bluebonnet Festival in Burnet, Texas. LOTS of arts and crafts booths, carnival, street dances, and a 100-entry kick-off parade. I was soaking up the atmosphere and jotting notes because as many of you know who have read my books to date, these grandest of country customs… the small-town fairs figure in some way in my story lines. I am a people watcher and this is a great spot. While some things change, so many things still stay the same in Texas and I love that.
Lunch time arrived and it was time for some of the best tradition in Texas… BBQ. And since we were in the neighborhood, we drove over to Llano, Texas, and enjoyed ourselves immensely at Cooper’s Old-Time BBQ. The line is out the door and around the building. Charter buses come and go, and there is a never-ending supply of the food served on butcher paper for plates and lots of finger-licking goodness.
More bluebonnet photos were taken along the backroads to our destination for the evening, Marble Falls, Texas. After some stops to shop at local stores, we crashed at our hotel. And no one drives through this town and does not stop at The Bluebonnet Café. Again, the line is long morning, noon and night. But you can’t beat those mile-high towers of meringue on pies that have the diners rushing through meals to get to the best part… dessert. It was a long day, but it was FUN! Good company, beautiful Bluebonnets along with Mexican Blankets, Indian Paintbrush, pink Buttercups, etc., and great Texas food. Head hit the pillow with a smile on my face.
April 10, 2017
Bidding farewell to friends and family, we head for home. My soul and brain have been revived and refreshed from my journey to the hill country. And I came home with more ideas and stories floating around inside my imagination. Can’t wait for next spring and its crop of Bluebonnets!
I hope you have enjoyed my trip to renew and reinvigorate my creative processes. It is this land, this people, this state that underpins my writing and brings forth the stories that I hope you have enjoyed and will continue to do so. I have a LOT more to come over the next few months.
Happy Spring!
December 13, 2016
I am thankful....
December, 2016
The end of this year is coming to a close. Thank Heavens! That was my first thought. It’s been quite a year of shock, grief and loss, and a few nice surprises thrown in to soften the rest. But as I sat to write my blog for this final month of 2016, some other thoughts came to mind. Thankful thoughts I will call them. So bear with me as I meander through them.
Thanksgiving comes once a year and we often save all of our thanks giving to that one day… often around the turkey in the center of our dinner table. But giving of thanks comes more often than that… or it should. Most of us are guilty of not giving enough thanks when we should. As I look back over what I am thankful for in 2016, I came across a few things… and people.
I am thankful that I have a family who loves me, warts and all. I have a daughter who stands up for those who cannot. She fights the good fight every day of her life. My son also has a deep heart and a soul to match for others in this world. He may not be as vocal as his sister and mother, but he is steadfast in loyalty to those he protects with fierceness. He is a good man… no mother could ask for more. I have a husband who might not be as wealthy as others, but who has never shirked from hard work since he was a child. That hard work day in and day out earned him a failing heart. But along came some miracle workers disguised as doctors and nurses this year and we have him with us for some time still to come. And yes, he is still working long, hard hours but that is who he is and his way of protecting this family. If there was ever someone who comes close to being George Bailey from “It’s A Wonderful Life”, then that would be my husband… a huge and giving heart and wealthy, not in money, but because of the people whose lives he has touched and the unbounded love and optimism he gives to all.
I am thankful for a handful of dear, life-long friends who have seen and heard it all and still manage to bring laughter and love to my life. It is true that you may not see someone for quite a while between visits and over long distances, yet your hearts stay as connected as if they were in the next room. That is so true of my dearest compadres. And for those friends who have entered my life only recently, you know who you are, too. You have shown caring in thoughtful ways both big and small. I cherish our lunches, our day trips to search out new adventures and back roads, and sharing hopes and sad times, too. You help to smooth the sharp curves that life’s road throws in our pathway.
I am thankful that I have a job that is both maddening and wonderful… often all at the same time. I get to stay young at heart because of the wonderful young people who cross my path…first as timid freshmen far from home and then I get the privilege of watching them walk out the door in four years as adults with their eyes trained on the stars ahead. The best times are those when they come back for a hug and shared laughter, often with their own spouses and new babies in arms. I am reminded that the cycle of life and hope for us all is still in our grasp and will continue.
I am thankful I was born to a family that wanted me. I knew great love and still feel it around me when times are darkest. The strength I was given as a child has served me as an adult and a parent of my own now-grown children. I was also given the ability to stand on my own feet, reach for my own dreams, accept defeat and learn from it, know the greatest joy and wealth comes not from dollars but from finding like souls to share the earth with and still be able to expect the best is yet to come.
And I am most thankful I was born a Texan and an American. I love Texas with a fierceness that often surprises folks who meet me (such as New York editors!) and that love is only second to that of being an American. This country had too much blood shed for her over centuries to protect us and give us a way of life and freedom that few others have…. but all envy. And when it is under attack from forces outside and now, inside, its boundaries, then I will stand up and use my voice to fight for her. When she is threatened, we all are. And when those who are weaker than I are threatened also, then it is my duty as an American to stand beside them. I don’t shirk from that duty whether the opposition is friend, family, or stranger.
This year saw my writing and publishing of books continue to grow and that is something I will never take for granted. To be able to write a book that brings a smile to someone’s heart that I have never met is an awesome thrill and an inspiring responsibility. I hope the stories I have still to put on the page will continue to make others’ journeys just a bit easier if only for an hour or so… that is my greatest thanks.
The best is still to come….happy holidays and a peaceful 2017 for all,Debra
June 8, 2016
Everything's Peachy in Texas
JUNE, 2016… I was going to say, “Summer’s coming soon,” but it’s already here! Where did May go? Suddenly, the calendar is moving far too fast. I have to say I am not a real big fan of summer. I love to go swimming, but you can keep the heat! Although, there are ways to enjoy those hot days and one of them is by cranking up the ice cream freezer. How many of you have fond memories of sitting and cranking that handle (the old-fashioned, fun way of ice-cream making) before the advent of the all-electric freezers? Anticipation was half the fun! Of course, you needed more than a couple of freezers to make it a real party, because so many people had their personal favorite flavors. What was yours? I am split between vanilla and peach. Never could get into Big Red or Oreo or any of those other fancy ones. My giveaway for the launch of His Country Bride is Everything’s Peachy in Texas . Of course, that ties in with the location of my book, and the attempt of my heroine to make her own peach jelly. It also brings back fun memories I have of summers in the Hill Country of Texas. One particular memory involves a couple of our fun trips over the Fourth of July, to the area around Fredericksburg and Medina, Texas. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law and my husband and myself, would get a cabin in the hills and then plan day trips to do fun things like arts and craft shows, great food stops in out of the way cafes, etc. Well, one of us, who shall remain nameless (ok…it was me) decided it would be lots of fun to stop at an orchard and pick our own peaches for some homemade peach ice cream that evening back at the cabin. We stopped at this great place with acres of trees. They also had other items you could pick too….apples, figs, watermelons, and LOTS of peaches. So off we four go, armed with our empty baskets. We felt so empowered “getting back to the earth”, rolling up our sleeves, gathering our food the old-fashioned way and not from the produce section of the local grocery. I picked with one eye open for anything slithery on the ground, as is my habit. Since spending long summers on a farm in west Texas, I learned that you can meet some not nice creatures in the rows of gardens…but that is a story for another blog. Anyway, we were all enjoying ourselves and gathering our treasures. The sun got to be a little warm and so about an hour or less later, we headed in with our baskets to be weighed. That’s when we noticed one small problem… the size of the vehicle’s trunk might be an issue. The next problem…overabundance. We ended up with several baskets and bags of food…for just four people and three days of meals. To say we got a tad bit carried away in our exuberance of our “farm experience” would be understating the problem. We ate apples, peaches, figs, watermelons until we didn’t want to look at them again for another year. We made a small dent in our quantity. That is the year; my sister-in-law Janet became a supreme “canner” of the highest order. Our treasures were turned into lovely glass jars and given to MANY deserving friends and family members! And they are still coming….LOL Such are the memories of summer… more to be shared later! Enjoy the peaches and homemade ice cream wherever you are,Debra
September 25, 2015
May 30, 2015
January 30, 2015
August 23, 2014
All Things Romantic
I write romances. I love romance...who doesn't? But it is almost a lost art it seems. Romance is different things to different people. I have asked readers to leave their ideas what romance is in the comment section of this blog. I am going to compile a list. Check back to see the list grow! This should be interesting and fun....please join in! I will begin the list with some of my ideas:
1) Walk along the Riverwalk in San Antonio on a lovely spring evening with your special someone.
2) A picnic for two among a field of bluebonnets on a spring afternoon in Texas.
3) Sunset walk on a beach
4) Sharing an umbrella in a soft rain
5) A small bouquet of flowers from the local market for no special reason
6) Watching the moon rise in a cloudless sky
1) Walk along the Riverwalk in San Antonio on a lovely spring evening with your special someone.
2) A picnic for two among a field of bluebonnets on a spring afternoon in Texas.
3) Sunset walk on a beach
4) Sharing an umbrella in a soft rain
5) A small bouquet of flowers from the local market for no special reason
6) Watching the moon rise in a cloudless sky
August 10, 2014
Nationals and what happens next....
What a whirlwind RWA is! If you have never been, you need to experience it at least once. This is especially true if you plan a career as an author. I was surprised...nicely...at how friendly and welcoming fellow authors...both small ones like myself and bigger ones were toward newbies. It was great to actually meet the ladies who write the books I have read for years and enjoy to this day! There were far too many workshops for hours in my day. The ones I missed, I shall purchase the audio tapes for and listen at home when I have time.
Perhaps the most important thing about RWA, is the fact you come home exhausted but rejuvenated at the same time! So many great ideas on social media and publicizing your work, indie publishing if that is the road you choose, craft techniques, etc. There is something for everyone and it all helps you become the writer you want to be.
Now, I have my first book online and have become addicted to watching the grafts and bars on Amazon and trying to act like I know what they all mean. I spend a good deal of time pitching my book on blogs and websites and trying to get those sales up. If I get a magic number, then my book will go into print edition and that is what I need and want.
In the meantime, I am back on my laptop...writing. More stories in my head that must escape!
Perhaps the most important thing about RWA, is the fact you come home exhausted but rejuvenated at the same time! So many great ideas on social media and publicizing your work, indie publishing if that is the road you choose, craft techniques, etc. There is something for everyone and it all helps you become the writer you want to be.
Now, I have my first book online and have become addicted to watching the grafts and bars on Amazon and trying to act like I know what they all mean. I spend a good deal of time pitching my book on blogs and websites and trying to get those sales up. If I get a magic number, then my book will go into print edition and that is what I need and want.
In the meantime, I am back on my laptop...writing. More stories in my head that must escape!
