Hello, Everyone!
Since 2014, I’ve been writing the Crystal Creek Series. These books are dear to my heart because the ranch is modeled after the ranch where my father was raised near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I had to make some changes in the ranch. Crystal Creek is near Denver, Colorado, so I placed the town to where Castle Rock, Colorado, is located. The terrain of fictional Crystal Creek is a mixture of the Rampart Range and the lush forests in the White River National Forest on the western slope.
The ranch itself is different than my father’s ranch in that the Whitlochs, the Crystal Creek Ranch owners, breed and train Arabian horses. My great-grandfather and grandfather originally raised horses, but soon turned to cattle. Unfortunately, there is a plant growing in the area sickened the cattle. The plant was nicknamed Loco Weed and made the cattle crazy, hence the name. The ranchers in the area soon sold their cattle, my great grandfather and grandfather included, and raised sheep. The Loco Weed didn’t bother the sheep, but the sheep bothered the cattle ranchers, thus a battle ensued.
Near Castle Rock, Colorado, there are many beautiful equestrian facilities and this is what I patterned the Crystal Creek Ranch after. The Whitlochs are very successful in their breeding and training facility where they raise and train Arabian horses. These horses are beautiful animals and many of my friends own these intelligent creatures but my father and his family owned quarter horses which are wonderful animals, too, but nothing is more stunning than an Arabian horse.
Because I have been horse crazy since I was a child, I wanted to write about a horse ranch. As I created the different characters to be part of the Whitloch family, Max Whitloch, Sr., formed in my mind. He was a hard-charging wildcatter who also is a clever financier. Though he is gruff and sometimes ruthless, he loves his family. Maybe a little too much, as Max has been married and divorced four times. With each wife, Max has fathered children. The Crystal Creek Series is based on Max, his wives, and their children. Each book is centered around one of his adult children.
There are now seven books in the Crystal Creek Series with more to come. I was happy to have this opportunity to tour the internet and introduce readers to Crystal Creek and the Whitloch family. For anyone who joins me on this tour, you’ll receive an opportunity to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Click the link below and join the fun!
Join Laura on the Crystal Creek Book Tour!
I hope you have a wonderful week filled with fun and exciting things.
God bless you and your loved ones!
Love,
Laura
