Branding Myself…finally!

As most people know or don’t know about me, I was born in the great state of Oklahoma.  Boomer Sooner baby!  I know, people actually think that I’m from Texas but I’m not.  I bleed Sooner Red, not Teasipping burnt orange.  It was drilled in my head from the cradle that the Texas Longhorns are the devil and that the Sooners are the bomb.  Respect Tom Osborn, coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, just don’t cheer for them.  And its okay to cheer for Oklahoma State University when they AREN’T playing OU.  LOL!  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the state of Texas at all.  I married here in Texas, my son was born in Dallas and we now live in East Texas.

Everyone in the family went to OU except for my dad.  My grandparents didn’t have the money to send him.  Shoot, my mother was a Gamma Phi Beta at OU.  One of my uncle’s was an OU football cheerleader and a Lamda Chi.  My other uncles were Delts and my aunts were Chi Omega’s.  Yes, Norman got a lot of money from both sets of grandparents.  Then I had cousins that went there, too.  Yep, more money.

Anywoos…the purpose of the family history is because when I was thinking of my “brand”, I had to figure out some things about myself and what stories I am writing.  So here’s the short list:

1.  Small town Oklahoma is the setting for my books.

2.  My most cherished childhood memories are with my family and extended family and friends in Oklahoma.  My books feature real honest to goodness people.  The names of the *cough cough* innocent changed.  Sorry cousins and friends…

3.  When I think back to what I remember most about growing up, is Oklahoma.  Yes, I have spent 43 of the last 46 years of my life in Texas but Oklahoma is where my heart lives.  I can close my eyes and still remember places, things, people, smells from my childhood like it was yesterday.

4.  Since my stories aren’t erotic in nature going forward, I needed a name that reflected that.  Oh…in my family on the farm…pigs rule but that didn’t look good on the banners, so I opted for horses.  The paint is the perfect picture of our neighbor’s horse when we lived in Gun Barrel City.  I still miss walking out everyday and seeing Trinidad.  *sigh*

As you can tell, Oklahoma is where my heart lies, so Sweet Heat from Oklahoma is my brand.

Again, I love Texas.  Love my Riggins, Coach Taylor, Friday Night Lights, Houston Texans, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and the Dallas Stars.  Shoot, my husband is an Aggie fan.

We vacation in New Brunsfels and float the Comel River for a week every year in July.  Our condo is right on the Comel River with Schlitterbaun Water Park on the other side.  Yes, can literally walk across the Comel River and we are at the park.  We can see Master Blaster water coaster from our balacony.  Come on July 19th!!!!  Woo hoo!  I digress…

So there you have it.  My reasons for my branding and the new banner.  Be honest, what do you think?

Harlie

Coach approves of the brand.

Sorry, just had to have a picture of Riggins. *sigh*