Cat Johnson stands barely five feet tall but rarely shies away from anything, including going out on a literary limb and writing romances in niche genres that sometimes require extremely creative research and marketing techniques. A past bartender and tour guide (among countless other jobs) she also isn't shy when it comes to people, and warns everyone to be careful when speaking with her or they may end up in her novel.
Behind the Scenes of Cat's Latest Release—the hot new rodeo ménage Rough Stock
HOW CAT JOHNSON BOUGHT HERSELF A REAL LIVE COWBOY HERO
We asked Cat to tell us how in the world she began by writing a rodeo-themed romance novel and ended up getting a live cowboy and this is what she told us…
"I started out writing Rough Stock confident and cocky that I could get all I needed from research on the internet and watching a few rodeos on television, but that left me with more questions than answers. That's when I did a search for 'Rodeo Cowboys' on MySpace and Mike's profile came up among the results. He described himself as a 'cowboy who is a computer nerd', which was exactly what I needed. I wrote to him totally out of the blue and sweetheart that he is, he not only answered me, but agreed to answer all my rodeo questions for the book.
During one of our conversations on Instant Messenger, I asked Mike how often he gets to ride and he told me not as often as he'd like because of how expensive it can get between entrance fees and gasoline. A few days later the idea hit me. Why couldn't I sponsor Mike's amateur bull riding career the way big corporations sponsor the pros? So now he competes while wearing a denim shirt embroidered with my website. I even ordered him a catjohnson.net magnet for his car. He's such a good sport! I can't imagine what the other bull riders will say!" ~ Cat Johnson
BIO Mike Short
Michael Short graduated in 2005 from Collinsville High School in Oklahoma. A soccer player in school and avid horse rider and trainer, he was always athletic, but it wasn't until he rode his first bull at age 18 that he found his great love in life. Not even skydiving or autocross could equal the thrill of being on the back of a bucking bull, even if it is for only 8 seconds at a time. Mike is currently a student at Oklahoma State University where he studies networking security and intends to compete in amateur rodeos as often as possible. His rituals include never wearing a yellow shirt while riding and never putting his cowboy hat on the bed.
CAT'S TRIVIA –Rodeo terms or 'what the cowboy taught the author during the writing of Rough Stock'.
Enclosure vs. Chute-
Apparently only city folk and rodeo virgins call the tightly fenced-in area where the cowboy mounts the bull an "enclosure". Real western folk call it a "bucking chute". So if you don't want to be outed as a first timer at a rodeo event, you better call it a chute.
Gear Bag
In layman's terms, this is like a purse for cowboys (my words, not his!) and it is where they keep their rope, rosin, cowbell, gloves and other assorted things they need for the ride.
Taking the Wrap
No, it's not like 'taking the rap' for a crime, it is the act of wrapping the rope tightly around the cowboy's hand so he can get a better grip to hang on while riding the bull.
Chaps
The leather leg coverings worn by cowboys over their jeans in the arena. Mmmm Mmmm. Need I say more? (Note: outside of the arena, jeans beneath the chaps are optional)
"Good Luck" vs. "Break a Leg"
Unlike in the theater where you should always wish an actor well by saying "Break a Leg" rather than "good luck", in the rodeo world, where the rider is quite likely to actually break something, it is totally appropriate to simply wish him "Good Luck". Mike has broken both wrists, a bone in his left hand, the ulna in his left forearm, a bone in his right foot, one of the disks in his neck and he messed up his shoulder, but he can't wait to get back on the bulls each week. That's one tough cowboy and no, I don't cover the cost of his health insurance!
'Pick up Men'
No, it's not what I do while out at a bar… a pick-up man in on a horse in the arena during a saddle bronc or bareback bronc competition to help the rider dismount after the ride. Bull riders jump off without aid of a pick-up man because bulls are shorter than horses.
What's Next?
I am currently working with Mike on another cowboy book, this time about professional bullriders. I'll also be on the Linden Bay MySpace Blog (www.myspace.com/lindenbayromance) the first week of December chatting about, and possibly with, hot cowboys and discussing Rough Stock
